Devotion Archive
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Devotion for April 2, 2021
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) Jesus and his disciples were eating the Passover meal: lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread. As they shared this time together, only Jesus knew this would be his last night with his followers. Only he knew he would…
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Devotion for April 1, 2021
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:12) On the cross God showed us his love in a powerful way. But the fact is that we didn’t see that demonstration of love with our own eyes.…
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Devotion for March 31, 2021
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8 ) Christians often quote Isaiah 55:8 when life takes a surprising twist. We say something like “Well, God’s ways certainly are not our ways.” But here is the context: “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.…
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Devotion for March 30, 2021
The author of Psalm 42 is in deep distress. He is longing for God, and people around him have been taunting him, saying, “Where is your God?” People in this world also taunt and judge us sometimes. But we should not let that bother us, because people judge others by their own standards. God’s standards…
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Devotion for March 29, 2021
“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! … Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Mark 11:9-10) The Prince of Peace enters the “City of Peace” (“Jerusalem”) as the people cheer, “Hosanna!,” which means, “Save!” Do they know what’s happening? Probably not. “Hosanna!” will become “Crucify him!” by the end of the…
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Devotion for March 28, 2021
“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews …” (Nehemiah 4:1) After a long period of exile and destruction from conquering armies, God’s people were allowed to rebuild the temple of the Lord and the city of Jerusalem (see 2 Chronicles 36). Nehemiah…
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Devotion for March 27, 2021
“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26) Before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, angels of the Lord rescued Lot and his family. “When they had brought them outside … he said, ‘Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the…
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Devotion for March 26, 2021
“Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.” (1 Samuel 23:14) After God rejected Saul as the king over Israel because of his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:11), God had Samuel anoint David to be the next king (1 Samuel 16). Even so, Saul remained king for a…
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Devotion for March 25, 2021
“Take your son, your only son, whom you love — Isaac — and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Genesis 22:2) God tells Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son. Why would God ask such a thing? If I were Abraham, I…