On our own, we can never be good enough for a perfect God, but He freely gives His goodness to all who believe. Hebrews 9:11-14 Sometimes comparing ourselves to others leaves us feeling insecure, but other times it stirs up false pride. When we see others being mean, selfish, or lazy, we might think we’re better—and deserving of a place in heaven. In reality, we can always find someone “lesser” to make ourselves feel more holy. But compared to God’s perfect holiness, every person is lacking.  The truth is, whether or not we go to heaven has little to do with us—and everything to do with our heavenly Father. He was the one who made a way for our righteousness, and it wasn’t in response to our behavior. In fact, God decided long before we were born—before we had the chance to do anything good or bad—that He would offer the gift of salvation. Paul wrote to the Ephesians that God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him”...

  Because of His great love for us, God made a way for us to know Him personally. Romans 3:21-26 Today’s verses and many other Bible passages tell us that God is just. What this communicates is that He’s true to His own principles. It also means that God, who is holy and perfect, cannot be one with a sinner. Instead, “the soul who sins will die” ( Ezekiel 18:4 ). It’s a frightening thought for imperfect people like us, isn’t it?  That’s why our heavenly Father provided a solution for all mankind. Jesus Christ, who was sinless, took our sin upon Himself and died in our place—so that we could be reunited with our Creator. The Lord continues to be just and holy, and we are declared a righteous child of God. As Paul wrote to the Romans, our Father is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). Notice that our righteousness and unity with God has nothing to do with our efforts—it was a gracious and merciful decision made by the Lord. Our good works will ...

  Our ultimate fulfillment is found only in the presence of our heavenly Father. Romans 1:21-32 ;  Romans 2:1-4 Did you know the Lord created you to worship Him? Many people dedicate their life to worshipping money, popularity, accomplishment, or pleasure but ultimately still feel a vacuum of unfulfillment.  King Solomon observed this longing in mankind, writing that God “set eternity in [our] heart” ( Ecclesiastes 3:11 ). And hundreds of years later, Jesus Himself confirmed this truth when He said, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life” ( John 4:14 ). Why, you wonder? It’s all because the Lord wants a personal relationship with us. Unfortunately, we often indulge in sin rather than worship God, and in the first chapter of Romans, Paul surveys the many lesser gods we settle for. He wanted the Romans to know that sin and false gods dist...

  I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32:5   Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand to “hide” from predators—as if closing their eyes will make them invisible? No—they lay their eggs in the sand and occasionally stick their heads in to check on and rotate the eggs until they hatch. Even ostriches know they can’t hide from reality. Recommended Reading: John 6: 61 – 64 We sometimes think God can’t see us or our sin if we don’t encounter Him in prayer or worship. Like David of old, we avoid Him and our sin until our guilt becomes too much to bear (Psalm 32). But we can’t hide from God. He is all-seeing and all-knowing; He knows what is in the heart of man (John 2:25). So we may as well raise our eyes and meet His in honest confession and agree with Him about our sin. That's what confession means—“to say the same as; to agree.” Thankfully, ou...

  Tuesday, April 18, 2023 There are denominations that focus on saints: praying to saints, looking to saints, dwelling on the saints. We tend to take pride in the fact that we don't get caught up in the saints. Are you looking at your brothers and sisters in the Lord? The Bible says they're saints. Sometimes believers lose sight of God because of the saints. Do you have your eyes on the saints, what they've done or haven't done? Expecting from them what you should be expecting from God? It's no better than the people who bow down to statues. It's time to get your eyes off of the saints, time to release and forgive. It is time to stop obsessing about other saints, trying to get your needs met from anyone other than God. Start looking to God and receive from Him. He will provide what you need. Let the saints be saints, and let God be God. You too, are a saint. Make your focus the Lord of the saints. Trust in Him with all your heart. He will never let you down. Scr...

  The Lord wants you to know that you’re never alone. Psalm 139:7-10 Do you ever find yourself asking the question, “Lord, where are You?” Today’s reading is your reminder that God is near, even when His presence is difficult to perceive—and even when you’re completely unaware of Him.  David reflects, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (v. 7). In asking these questions, David communicates that no matter where we might go, the Lord is right there with us. What a comfort to realize we are never beyond the reach of a God who is full of lovingkindness, mercy, and comfort.  In fact, our heavenly Father is and has been with believers every single day. We walk in the presence of the living God, whose Spirit lives in us ( John 14:16-17 ). No matter what season of life you are in—no matter how long, short, painful, or easy it might be—God wants you to know you are never alone. What’s more, He wants you to remember that the darkness is not da...

  Monday, April 17, 2023 Moses, in the wilderness, comes to the burning bush. The voice of God tells him, "Take off your shoes, Moses." God is talking to him and he is receiving a revelation and His high calling. The God of his fathers is choosing him to know God and be the instrument of God, to redeem the entire nation of Israel. The deliverer, liberator, Moses the law-giver. But something strange happens. As he is heading out to Egypt, God is waiting on the way and is about to kill him. His wife quickly grabs a rock and circumcises his children. Why was God about to kill Moses? He was to be the law-giver, but now he was a breaker of the law, by not circumcising his children. Greater entrustment means a greater responsibility. You have great entrustment, but you have to live with a great responsibility, greater sacrifice, greater accountability, greater purity, greater holiness. Do you want to do greater things in God? Live a greater life with greater obedience before God. F...

  No matter what you are facing today, God understands and will faithfully care for you. Deuteronomy 7:7-9 Each year we watch summer turn to fall, which then gives way to winter. And though the timing is less predictable, our lives similarly go through different seasons. Some months are brimming with joy while others are a slog of hardship. But one thing that stays the same throughout is the faithfulness of God.  In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” ( 1 Corinthians 1:9 ). The Lord always does what He says He will do. He keeps His promises to you and will be with you in all seasons ( Hebrews 13:5 ). That means no matter how dark, depressing, or hopeless your circumstances seem—or how good—these three things are true:  1. God will be faithful to you because that is His very nature ( Deuteronomy 32:4 ). 2. God knows all about your situation; you are never alone...

  Helping others feel included demonstrates the love of Christ. To get the most out of this devotion, set aside time to read the scriptures referenced throughout. Throughout Scripture, the Lord makes it clear that hospitality is a requirement, not a request. We’re called to graciously welcome people ( Rom. 12:10-13 ). But hospitality is more than entertaining guests. It’s a way of living and interacting with those around us all year long, making a way to accommodate them when they show up. It’s about letting them know they belong—not only in our homes but also in our communities. Our overtures need not be extravagant—we just have to be willing to give freely, often in small ways. This kindness and warmth are made evident in the little things we do to make others feel comfortable, but sometimes doing so requires inconvenience, surrender, or even sacrifice. However, being the hands and feet of Jesus to others is worth any cost we might experience. God’s love for all that He’s made is...

  The other disciples therefore said to [Thomas], “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25  Scripture Reading :   John 20:26-29 Suppose four different personality types were in the room when word of Jesus’ resurrection reached the disciples. One would have shouted, “Let’s celebrate and tell others!” Another would have said, “The Old Testament prophecies are true!” A third would have asked, “How is Jesus feeling?” And a fourth would have declared, “I’ll only believe it when I see Him.” Thomas was that fourth disciple—faithful but cautious. He was detail-oriented, a man not given to rumors. He wanted to see the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side before he would believe that He was truly risen from the grave. His faith was as strong as the others, but his temperament was different. When he finally saw Jesus in perso...

  Starting each morning with the Lord can change the trajectory of your day. Psalm 63:1-8 Any time of the day is a great time to be with the Lord, but the morning is special because it can affect the remainder of the day. Psalm 63 reveals that David began his day with the Lord, as he described seeking God early (the literal translation of “shall be watching”). He woke up hungry for His Creator, filled his yearning soul with the fullness of the Lord, and broke out in thanksgiving and praise to Him. And when night eventually came and David was lying in bed, he was still thinking about His heavenly Father.  Just imagine having a day like David’s, filled with joy and gratitude to God. Of course, all time with the Lord is precious. But when we set apart the beginning of our day—to hear God speak through His Word, to talk with Him in prayer, to contemplate who He is and how He works—we have the opportunity to continue that mindset throughout the day and into the night.  Do you ...