We are to be obedient disciples, but what does that mean? What characteristics do we need to possess to be obedient? This devotion looks at what Isaiah said about being an obedient servant of God.
The Faithful Watchers: Simeon
In the last devotion, we discussed why Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were at the temple. We also met Anna. Now, we will turn to meet Simeon.
The Faithful Watchers: Anna
Does God reward us when we watch faithfully for Him to work? When Jesus was presented at the temple, He met two people who were watching for Him. In this devotion, we will discuss Anna.
Going to Bethlehem
God used Caesar Augustus and the innkeeper – whether or not they knew it – to get Mary and Joseph to where they needed to be in Bethlehem so that the Baby could fulfill prophecy. This devotion looks at how He did that.
Does God Give Second Chances?
Do you ever wish God gave you a second chance? He does. What if you don’t do better the second time around? This devotion looks at when God gave the Wilderness Wanderers a second chance.
When God Get Specific
Have you ever thought about how specific God is sometimes? We sometimes have problems with that, though. This devotion looks at the time God gave Noah really specific instructions on how to build the ark.
Paul's Advice to Children and Parents
Isn’t it frustrating when we have issues with our children not obeying us? Don’t we wish we had an instruction manual? In this devotion, we look at Paul’s advice to children.
Why Is Salvation So Hard?
Sometimes, it may look like God doesn’t want us to be saved. There are all these rules we have to follow — that we can’t. They are written out in the Bible, but what we personally are to do isn’t. This devotion looks at whether God is trying to make it so we can’t be saved.
Why Are We to Stick in the Light?
In the middle part of Ephesians 5, Paul has been advising his readers to walk in a way pleasing to God. In verses 7 through 10, he uses the metaphor of light and dark. This devotion looks at how disciples are to walk with those in the light, not the dark.
How Should We Be Fed by Jesus?
Jesus was very good about keeping the focus of His ministry on God’s plan of salvation. However, the crowds more than likely had other things in mind when they came to hear Jesus. This devotion looks at how we are to be fed by Jesus and God’s Word.
How Does God Build a Community?
Continuing his discussion of unity, Paul finished the theme in Ephesians 2 describing the community that God created. This devotion looks at the community with the Trinity, the church, saints in paradise, and angels.
Why Is God Waiting to Show Us Mercy
Oh, do we hate waiting. Isaiah 30: 18 tell us, though, that God waits to show us mercy and will bless us when we wait on Him. This devotion explores what that looks like.
What Does It Mean Wives Are to Be Submissive?
There are several verses in the Bible that call for wives to submit to their husbands. That has caused some to believe the Bible is no longer relevant. This devotion looks at what was meant in those passages.
What Do You Mean Believers Have Other Duties as Assigned?
We’ve been looking at a job description for a believer. Most career job descriptions have an “other duties as assigned” phrase at the end. This devotion looks at what that would mean for our believer’s job description.
How Do We Determine God's Will?
There are times that we wish God would just flat out tell us what He wants us to do. Instead, we have to determine what His Will is. This devotion looks at what God’s Will means and how we can discern it for our lives.
What Are Our Rewards for Delighting in the Law?
This is the second and last devotion in the Delight in the Law of the Lord series. In the previous devotion, we discussed that we are called to delight in law of the Lord. In this devotion, we will explore the benefits we receive for doing that.
How Can We Delight in the Law of the Lord?
The worldview is that God’s laws are not relevant in the world today. The Bible, however, tells us that we should “… delight in the law of the Lord …” (Ps. 1: 2 ESV). This devotion, the first in the Delight in the Law of the Lord series, explores what that means and how we can do that.
Can God Use Just One Person to Accomplish His Plans?
We think that, for the big world-saving plans, God will use someone else to accomplish His plan. Sometimes, He does; sometimes, He uses us. This devotion looks at how God used Esther to save His people.
What Did Jesus' Baptism Mean?
Jesus had kind of an unusual baptism. Through it, though, we can learn much about why we should follow Jesus’ example and be baptized. This devotion looks at Jesus’ motivations to be baptized and heaven’s response.
An Entry in Peter's Diary
Peter correctly answered Jesus’ question of who did people say He was. However, almost immediately, Jesus called him Satan. This devotion looks at what might have been the entry in Peter’s diary describing this
incident.
Does God Keep Secrets?
God as Sovereign Lord has not shared all of His secrets with us. He has shared His law with us as the standard by which we should live. This devotion looks at what scripture tells us about secrets and keeping His law and applies that to society today.
Following the Master's Bidding
Luke tells the story of the Carpenter telling the fisherman how to fish. It is hard when God tells us to keep doing what we are doing even though we don’t see results. This devotion looks at faith, obedience, and persistence.
What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?
The previous devotions looked at the job description for believers: to follow Jesus. Matthew 16: 24 says that we are to come after Him, deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him. The last of four devotions in the series, we will look at what it means to follow Him.
What Does It Mean to Deny Ourselves?
As believers, we are called to deny ourselves. We, unfortunately, look at that more as a giving up of something rather than changing the focus of our lives. In this second devotion of four in the series, we will look at what it means to deny ourselves.
Jesus in the Tomb
There is a lot of information in Luke 23: 50-53. It is especially true when we add them to the verses from the other gospels and to what we know about the culture. This devotion explores what we know about Jesus’ burial.
Why Was It an Honor That Judas Was Jesus' Betrayer?
Jesus was very upfront with His disciples that He was about to die. He even identified His betrayer. This devotion explores why Jesus said He was honoring Judas when He identified him.
What Was the Significance of Jesus Observing Passover?
Passover was the oldest festival observed by the Jewish people. Jesus and His disciples, being good Jewish men, also observed it. This devotion looks at the significance of the Passover and why it was important for Jesus and His disciples to observe it.
How Do We Give God Control in Our Lives?
We really can’t give God total control in our lives until we trust Him. Isn’t that what we think? But what if it needs to be the other way around? This devotion will look at how we can let God take control.
Screech and Trouble
Sometimes, we get asked tough questions. We may not always want to answer those tough questions. This devotion looks at the need for Christians be authentic, honest, and transparent when God’s plan for us takes us somewhere that is difficult for us.
Here I Am
God specifically came to Jacob, as He comes to us. Jacob’s response was, “Here I am.” This devotion looks at what happens in between God’s coming to us and how we should respond when He comes.
What Does "All Things Work Together for Good" Really Mean?
At times, it seems like people think that only good things will happen to followers of Christ. This is because people misread Romans 8: 28. In this devotion, we will see that it means that, no matter what happens, God promises that it will be what believers need and it be what He needs to further His kingdom.
Who Actually Was Called -- Terah or Abram?
God wants us to obey His will. However, sometimes, we may not get a lot of clarification on what His plans are. This fuzziness makes us question if we are on the right path. We know, however, that God knows what our choices in life will be and will work it out to His glory. This devotion looks at how God makes sure we are where He wants us to be.