Refreshing Words
|
Posted:Jan 27, 2024 7:29 am
Last Updated:Apr 26, 2024 12:1 am 2838 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: Proverbs 25:23–27
Bible in a Year: Exodus 16–18; Matthew 18:1–20
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25
Standing in the kitchen, my exclaimed, “Mom, there’s a fly in the honey!” I quipped back with the familiar adage, “You will always catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” While this was the first time I’d (accidentally) caught a fly with honey, I found myself quoting this modern proverb because of its wisdom: kind requests are more likely to persuade others than a bitter attitude.
The book of Proverbs gives us a collection of wise proverbs and sayings inspired by God’s Spirit. These inspired sayings help to guide us and teach us important truths about how to live in ways that honor God. Many of the proverbs focus on interpersonal relationships, including the profound effect our words can have on others.
In a section of proverbs attributed to King Solomon, he warned against the harm caused by speaking falsely against a neighbor (Proverbs 25:18. He counseled that a “sly tongue” results in dreary relationships (v. 23). Solomon warned against the chilling effect of constantly using complaining words (v. 24). And the king encouraged readers that blessing comes when our words bring good news (v. 25).
As we seek to apply these truths, we have God’s Spirit who helps us give a “proper answer” (16:1). Empowered by Him, our words can be sweet and refreshing.
When have you seen the profound effect of words? How might the Spirit guide you to use refreshing words?
Heavenly Father, please help me to reflect Your compassion in my interactions by using gracious and kind words.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
No More Prejudice
|
Posted:Jan 26, 2024 3:54 am
Last Updated:Jan 26, 2024 3:54 am 2794 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: 1 Samuel 16:1–7
Bible in a Year: Exodus 14–15; Matthew 17
People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16.7
Many years ago, Julie Landsman auditioned for principal French hornist for New York’s Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The MET held their auditions behind a screen to avoid prejudice by the judges. Landsman did well in her audition and ended up winning the competition. But when she stepped out from behind the screen, some of the all-male judges walked to the rear of the room and turned their backs on her. Apparently, they were looking for someone else.
When the Israelites asked for a king, God accommodated the people and gave them a man who was physically imposing like the other nations had
(1 Samuel 8:5; 9:2). But because Saul’s first years as king were marked by faithlessness and disobedience, God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king (16:1–13). When Samuel saw Eliab, the oldest , he assumed that God had chosen him to be king because he was physically impressive. But God challenged Samuel’s thinking: “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7). God had chosen David to lead His people (v. 12).
When evaluating people’s ability and suitability for His purposes, God looks at character, will, and motives. He invites us to be attuned to see the world and people as He does—focusing on peoples’ hearts and not their outward appearance or credentials.
Why is it vital not to judge someone based on personal prejudices? What does it mean for you to have a true heart for God?
Compassionate God, please help me not to evaluate people based on their appearances.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Strange Places
|
Posted:Jan 25, 2024 3:37 am
Last Updated:Apr 26, 2024 12:1 am 2791 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: Esther 2:3–4, 12–17 |
Bible in a Year: Exodus 12–13; Matthew 16
Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14
God, why is this happening? Is this really your plan for us?
As a husband and a dad of young , those questions and more swirled in my mind as I wrestled with a serious cancer diagnosis. What’s more, our family had just served with a missions team that had seen many receive Jesus as their Savior. God had been bringing forth evident fruit. There was so much joy. And now this?
Esther likely poured out questions and prayers to God after she was plucked from a loving home and thrust into a strange new world (Esther 2:8. Her cousin Mordecai had raised her as his own after she’d been orphaned (v. 7). But then she was placed in a king’s harem and eventually elevated to serve as his queen (v. 17). Mordecai was understandably concerned about what “was happening to” Esther
(v. 11). But in time, the two realized that God had called her to be in a place of great power “for such a time as this” (4:14)—a place that allowed for her people to be saved from destruction (chs. 7–8.
It’s evident that God providentially placed Esther in a strange place as part of His perfect plan. He did the same with me. As I endured a lengthy battle with cancer, I was privileged to share my faith with many, many patients and caregivers. What strange place has He led you to? Trust Him. He’s good, and so are His plans (Romans 11:33–36).
When has God led you to a strange place? Why can you trust in His perfect plans?
Dear God, help me to trust You even when I don’t understand what You’re doing.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Quick to Listen
|
Posted:Jan 24, 2024 5:54 am
Last Updated:Apr 26, 2024 12:1 am 2834 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: James 1:18–20
Bible in a Year: Exodus 9–11; Matthew 15:21–39
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
James 1:19
I felt my heart rate increase as I opened my mouth to refute the charges a dear friend was leveling against me. What I had posted online had nothing to do with her as she implied. But before I replied, I whispered a prayer. I then calmed down and heard what she was saying and the hurt behind her words. It was clear that this went deeper than the surface. My friend was hurting, and my need to defend myself dissolved as I chose to help her address her pain.
During this conversation, I learned what James meant in today’s Scripture when he urged us to “be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (1:19). Listening can help us hear what may be behind the words and to avoid anger that “does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (v. 20). It allows us to hear the heart of the speaker. I think stopping and praying helped me greatly with my friend. I became much more sensitive to her words rather than my own offense. Perhaps if I hadn’t stopped to pray, I would have fired back my thoughts and shared how offended I was.
And while I haven’t always gotten the instruction James outlines right, that day, I think I did. Stopping to whisper a prayer before allowing anger and offense to take a hold of me was the key to listening quickly and speaking slowly. I pray that God will give me the wisdom to do this more often (Proverbs 19:11).
How has James’ instruction helped you in the past? How can you employ it today?
Gracious God, please remind me to be quick to listen and slow to become offended.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Scraps to Beauty
|
Posted:Jan 23, 2024 5:18 am
Last Updated:Apr 26, 2024 12:1 am 2877 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: Micah 4:1–5
Bible in a Year: Exodus 7–8; Matthew 15:1–20
They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Micah 4:3
My wife, Miska, has a necklace and hoop earrings from Ethiopia. Their elegant simplicity reveals genuine artistry. What’s most astounding about these pieces, however, is their story. Due to decades of fierce conflict and a civil war that rages on, Ethiopia’s geography is littered with spent artillery shells and cartridges. As an act of hope, Ethiopians scour the torched earth, cleaning up the scraps. And artisans craft jewelry out of what remains of the shells and cartridges.
When I heard this story, I heard echoes of Micah boldly declaring God’s promise. One day, the prophet announced, the people would “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (4:3). Tools meant to kill and maim would, because of God’s powerful action, be transformed into tools meant to nurture life. In God’s coming day, the prophet insisted, “nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (v. 3).
Micah’s pronouncement was no harder to imagine in his day than ours. Like Israel of old, we face violence and war, and it seems impossible that the world could ever change. But God promises us that by His mercy and healing, this astounding day is coming. The thing for us, then, is to begin to live this truth now. God helps us to take on His work even now, turning scraps into beautiful things.
Where have you seen evil transformed by God’s love? How can you turn scraps into beauty?
Dear God, please change our world. Work through me to bring beauty here.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
The Right Focus
|
Posted:Jan 22, 2024 6:59 am
Last Updated:Apr 26, 2024 12:1 am 2897 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: Luke 10:17–20
Bible in a Year: Exodus 4–6; Matthew 14:22–36
Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20
We’d known Kha for more than a year. He was part of our small group from church that met weekly to discuss what we’d been learning about God. One evening during our regular meeting, he made a reference to having competed at the Olympics. The mention was so casual that it almost escaped my notice. Almost. Lo and behold, I learned I knew an Olympian who had competed in the bronze medal match! I couldn’t fathom that he’d not mentioned it before, but for Kha, while his athletic achievement was a special part of his story, more important things were central to his identity: his family, his community, and his faith.
The story in Luke 10:1–23 describes what should be central to our identity. When the seventy-two people Jesus sent out to tell others about the kingdom of God returned from their journeys, they reported to Him that “even the demons submit to us in your name” (v. 17). While Jesus acknowledged that He’d equipped them with tremendous power and protection, He said they were focused on the wrong thing. He insisted that their cause for rejoicing should be because their “names are written in heaven” (v. 20).
Whatever achievements or abilities God has granted us, our greatest cause for rejoicing is that if we’ve entrusted ourselves to Jesus, our names are written in heaven, and we enjoy His daily presence in our lives.
What are you focused on? How can you shift your focus to more of an eternal perspective?
Heavenly Father, thank You for writing my name in heaven. I rejoice in knowing You.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Drop By Drop
|
Posted:Jan 21, 2024 5:33 am
Last Updated:Jan 21, 2024 5:34 am 2958 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: 1 John 4:9–19
Bible in a Year: Exodus 1–3; Matthew 14:1–21
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
“In everything / we look for pleasant ways of serving God,” writes sixteenth-century believer Teresa of Avila. She poignantly reflects on the many ways we seek to stay in control through easier, more “pleasant” methods than total surrender to God. We tend to slowly, tentatively, and even reluctantly grow to trust Him with all of ourselves. And so, Teresa confesses, “even as we measure out our lives to you / a bit at a time, / we must be content / to receive your gifts drop by drop, / until we have surrendered our lives wholly to you.”
As human beings, trust doesn’t come naturally to many of us. So if experiencing God’s grace and love were dependent on our ability to trust and receive it, we’d be in trouble!
But, as we read in 1 John 4, God’s love for us comes first (v. 19). He loved us long before we could love Him, so much that He was willing to sacrifice His for us. “This is love,” John writes in wonder and gratitude (v. 10).
Gradually, gently, little by little, God heals our hearts to receive His love. Drop by drop, His grace helps us surrender our fears (v. 18. Drop by drop, His grace reaches our hearts until we find ourselves experiencing showers of His abundant beauty and love.
In what ways have you experienced God’s grace “drop by drop” in your life? How has God’s love helped you overcome fear in exchange for hope and trust?
Faithful God, thank You for loving me first, even when my heart was too wounded and hurting to trust You. Thank You for the many ways You reach me wherever I am.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Calling Out to God
|
Posted:Jan 20, 2024 6:00 am
Last Updated:Apr 26, 2024 12:1 am 2966 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: Psalm 25:16–22
Bible in a Year: Genesis 49–50; Matthew 13:31–58
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Psalm 25:16
In his book Adopted for Life, Dr. Russell Moore describes his family’s trip to an orphanage to adopt a . As they entered the nursery, the silence was startling. The babies in the cribs never cried, and it wasn’t because they never needed anything but because they’d learned that no one cared enough to answer.
My heart ached as I read those words. I remember countless nights when our were small. My wife and I would be sound asleep only to be startled awake by their cries: “Daddy, I’m sick!” or “Mommy, I’m scared!” One of us would spring into action and make our way to their bedroom to do our best to comfort and care for them. Our love for our gave them reason to call for our help.
An overwhelming number of the psalms are cries, or laments, to God. Israel brought their laments to Him on the basis of His personal relationship with them. These were a people God had called His “firstborn” (Exodus 4:22) and they were asking their Father to act accordingly. Such honest trust is seen in Psalm 25: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, . . . free me from my anguish” (vv. 16–17). who are confident of the love of a caregiver do cry. As believers in Jesus— of God—He’s given us reason to call on Him. He hears and cares because of His great love.
How comfortable are you taking your cries to God? Why? How might you offer up a lament to Him today?
Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your faithfulness to hear my cry and to act.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
God Protective Love
|
Posted:Jan 19, 2024 2:52 am
Last Updated:Apr 26, 2024 12:1 am 3040 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: Matthew 7:13–23
Bible in a Year: Genesis 46–48; Matthew 13:1–30
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15
One summer night, the birds near our home suddenly erupted into chaotic cawing. The squawking intensified as the songbirds sent piercing calls from the trees. We finally realized why. As the sun set, a large hawk swooped from a treetop, sending the birds scattering in a screeching frenzy, sounding the alarm as they flew from danger.
In our lives, spiritual warnings can be heard throughout Scripture—cautions against false teachings, for example. We may doubt that’s what we’re hearing. Because of His love for us, however, our heavenly Father provides the clarity of Scripture to make such spiritual dangers plain to us.
Jesus taught, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). He continued, “By their fruit you will recognize them. . . . Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” Then He warned us, “By their fruit you will recognize them”
(vv. 16–17, 20).
“The prudent see danger and take refuge,” Proverbs 22:3 reminds us, “but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” Embedded in such warnings is God’s protective love, revealed in His words to us.
As the birds warned each other of physical danger, may we heed the Bible’s warnings to fly from spiritual danger and into God’s arms of refuge.
What spiritual warning has been speaking to your heart? How has Scripture confirmed a warning to you?
The Scriptures warn with love, dear God, and we thank You. May we heed those words today.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Washing Feet . . . and Dishes
|
Posted:Jan 18, 2024 5:51 am
Last Updated:Apr 26, 2024 12:1 am 3015 Views
|
Today's Devotional
Read: John 13:6–17
| Bible in a Year: Genesis 43–45; Matthew 12:24–50
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:15
On Charley and Jan’s fiftieth wedding anniversary, they shared breakfast at a café with their Jon. That day, the restaurant was understaffed with just a manager, cook, and one teenage girl who was working as hostess, waitress, and busser. As they finished their breakfast, Charley turned to his wife and and said, “Do you have anything important going on in the next few hours?” They didn’t.
So, with permission from the manager, Charley and Jan began washing dishes in the back of the restaurant while Jon started clearing the cluttered tables. According to Jon, what happened that day wasn’t really that unusual. His parents had always set an example of Jesus who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).
In John 13, we read about the last meal Christ shared with His disciples. That night, the Teacher taught them the principle of humble service by washing their dirty feet (vv. 14–15). If He was willing to do the lowly job of washing a dozen men’s feet, they too should joyfully serve others.
Every avenue of service we encounter may look different, but one thing’s the same: there’s great joy in serving. The purpose behind acts of service isn’t to bring praise to the ones performing them, but to lovingly serve others while directing all praise to our humble, self-sacrificing God.
When has someone unexpectedly offered to help you with a difficult task? Why is humility such an important aspect of serving others?
Loving Savior, thank You for showing me how to be a servant.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
