Colossians 1:19-20 – Call and Response

Christian Walk, Relationships, Thanksgiving

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:19-20 ESV)

Sometimes we forget just how big God is. In fact, we even forget the truth that God is unfathomably big. We are short sighted and self-absorbed so often that we neglect a relationship with a God so amazing. Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart? Have you ever felt the nudging and leading of his hand? That voice that whispers, “Come be with me. Open my word, internalize its truth, I will transform you.” And then rolled over and went back to sleep? Or decided to keep watching your favorite TV show instead? If so, then think on this simple analogy: Continue Reading →

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2 Chronicles 7:2 – God’s Glory Manifest

Church, Devotions, Encouraging, Jesus

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. (2 Chronicles 7:2 ESV)

The weight of God’s glory was so tangible there wasn’t even room for the priests to stand within the Temple. It was God residing in his house for his glory and the people’s good.  When we step back into our place below his throne, our eyes are opened and we see the King of kings reigning, and our response is to declare that “he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 7:3). This God who makes himself known from the beginning is revealing himself still, and we may now belong to his kingdom through the resurrected savior, Jesus Christ, his son. Continue Reading →

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2 Chronicles 7:1 – His Wrath Diverted

Devotions, Gospel, Jesus, Thanksgiving

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. (2 Chronicles 7:1 ESV)

The Temple, the dwelling place of the Lord, was being consecrated by king Solomon, the wisest man of his day. At the end of his prayer, and in the presence of the people of Israel, fire rushed from heaven engulfing the offering and sacrifices in heavenly flame. This display of power awed every person present and sent them to their faces, bowing before the mighty one of Israel. This scene would echo again, some thousand years later, as Jesus hung on the cross, for “it was the will of the Lord to crush him,” (Isaiah 53:10). Continue Reading →

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John 13:34-35 – A New Command

Christian Walk, Church, Devotions, Love

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)

Jesus spoke these words after he had finished washing the disciples’ feet. Firstly, he made it quite clear that our loving one another was not a suggestion, but a “new commandment” to men from God. This love we are to have for one another is not optional, but a required mark of the Christian. Secondly, this love is to be of the same quality as Christ’s. He implied that we would judge the quality of our love by his, “just as I have loved you”. This sentiment should be deeply rooted in every Christian then: I don’t judge my spirituality by comparing myself with others, but with Christ. When we do this there is only one possible response, repentance and humility. Continue Reading →

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1 Timothy 3:1 – The Hardship of a Noble Task

Devotions, Leadership, Ministry

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1)

1 Timothy 3:1 is a verse that is often glossed over.  We tend to focus on the verses after it that describes the attributes of an overseer (we won’t argue about what an “overseer” is, we will just put them in a place of spiritual leadership.) We over look it because we don’t really understand the context of Paul writing to Timothy here.  1 Timothy was probably written in mid 60 AD.  This was when the persecution of the Church began intensifying and then escalated under the reign of Nero and the emperors after him.  By 70 AD, James, Paul, and Peter had been martyred.  Think about this: three of the first spiritual leaders of the Church had been killed only 5 years after Paul told Timothy that it is noble to aspire to be a spiritual leader. Continue Reading →

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Psalm 50:9-10 – God Doesn’t Need Your Sacrifice

Church, Devotions, Psalm, Thanksgiving

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

I will not accept a bull from your house
 or goats from your folds.
  For every beast of the forest is mine, 
the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:9-10 ESV)

We have a problem here. God is telling the Israelites he won’t accept their sacrifices. First of all, he owns the things they are trying to sacrifice to him. This can be a problem. Usually when we sacrifice, we are giving up something of our own and going without it. But, it isn’t much of a sacrifice when you never really owned it in the first place. The Israelites had continued to sacrifice to God even though they weren’t really following him. It almost became a tool to make God do what they wanted him to do. Continue Reading →

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