Devotionals

“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”  Matthew 10:1 NIV

Had the disciples not witnessed the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, do you think they would have executed His directive to establish and grow Christianity?  Of course not!  They would have quickly vanished into normal societal roles and we would have never heard of them again.  However, just the opposite happened–a clear sign that they had known Jesus as the Christ and had been irreversibly changed by Him.  

You may have wondered what happened to all of the disciples.  It wasn’t pretty.  But, wow!  What an impact they had on the entire world and continue to have today!  

Matthew was killed by the sword in Ethiopia.                                                                                                                                   

Mark was dragged by horses until death in Alexandria, Egypt.  

Luke was hanged in Greece.
John was boiled in oil in Rome but miraculously survived, sentenced to prison in Patmos (where he wrote Revelation), and died naturally–the only disciple to do so–in Turkey.   

Peter was crucified; he expressed being unworthy to die the same way as Jesus and asked to be placed upside down.
James was thrown from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem, only to survive the fall and be clubbed to death;
James, son of Zebedee, was beheaded in Jerusalem; the Roman officer who guarded him asked to be beheaded as a Christian at the same time.  

Bartholomew was flayed to death with a whip in Turkey.

Andrew was crucified in Patras, Greece, after being whipped severely.  Upon being led to the cross he said, I have long desired and expected this happy hour.  The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.  His death required two days, and he preached until dying.  

Thomas was stabbed to death with a spear in India.

Jude was killed by arrows.
Matthias, who took Judas’s place, was stoned and subsequently beheaded.  

You may be surprised by the disciples‘ outcomes.  They lived roughly 40 more years after the first Easter.  They likely knew Jesus better than anyone else.  They were eyewitnesses to His teachings, His miracles, special private moments with Him, His suffering–everything.  Do you have any doubt that Jesus was the Messiah?  The disciples certainly didn’t.  

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for the disciples who carried Jesus’s message in such a powerful way that it dramatically impacts us some 2,000 years later.  Amen

“Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.  Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.  March around the city once with all the armed men.  Do this for six days.  Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark.  On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.  When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.‘ “  Joshua 6:1-5 NIV

In reading the Bible, especially the Old Testament, do you sometimes wonder if the events described were real or allegorical?  Did they really happen?  I admit this question has occurred to me several times.  It doesn’t mean my faith isn’t strong or I have any doubt about the authenticity of the Bible.  It reflects normal human curiosity and a genuine desire to know.  After all–and you have to admit the truth of this statement–the events were so incredible that they seem surreal and verging on impossibility.

One of the early Sunday School lessons we learned as children related to Joshua and the fall of Jericho.  Just read the above Scripture that introduces this event.  Admit it:  the whole story sounds a little crazy, so it must be an allegory that teaches us some lesson.  Right?  

Let me share some information that’ll blow your mind.  Archeologists have sifted through the ancient city of Jericho and have made some incredible discoveries.  The walls actually fell.  Here’s the wild part.  They were designed to collapse inward.  However, they collapsed outward, which made it easier for an invading army to enter and attack the city.  Also, the historical record of the event, the carbon dating of artifacts from the old city, and Joshua’s documented time of living all coincide to the same timeframe.  

The evidence points to the Jericho story as being true!  I don’t know about you, but these findings encourage me even more about the validity of the incredible Bible stories that we’ve read and heard our entire lives.  

Has this information about Jericho boosted your faith?

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for providing us with additional means to learn more about You and increase our faith.  Amen. 

“I am a stranger on earth.”  Psalm 119:19 NIV

Do you believe in aliens?  It’s a thought that has prompted considerable speculation throughout the ages.  Many governments–especially our own–have spent millions of dollars attempting to communicate with beings from other worlds.  Societies, both of science and quackery, exist that study the possibility, and everyone knows about the UFO reports that seem to be occurring with greater frequency from all over the world.  The possibilities prove captivating of the public’s attention.  

The Psalms constitute the longest book in the Bible, having 150 chapters.  While King David authored most of it, many portions were written by others, including Moses, Heman, Ethan, Solomon, Asaph, Korah’s sons and unnamed persons.  Most scholars believe, but cannot confirm with absolute certainty, that King David penned Psalm 119.  It’s the longest chapter in the entire Bible. 

I love the 19th verse, “I am a stranger on earth.”  King David may as well have written, “I am an alien on earth.”   Do you have the attitude that your current body and residence are merely temporary and not where you really belong?  If not, you should!  

The Scriptures are replete with so many references that confirm we are aliens.  God knew us before we were even born.  We are like grass that grows and flowers that bloom but fade and die in a season.  We don’t belong to the world.   Our eternal home is in heaven in the presence of God.  One particular verse really hits home.  It’s John 12:25, which records Jesus’s words to us, ” . . . anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”  That’s a powerful teaching that isn’t intuitive to mere humans.      

The males in my family line have passed away at age 73.  Compared to eternity, this time is a drop in the bucket.  It’s nothing.  We are aliens when we’re alive on this planet.  

Are you an alien?  Do you long to remain here or return to your real home?

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for providing a way through Jesus Christ so that we may live in our eternal home with You.  Amen

Notice:  Unfortunately, to date I have had no way of knowing how many people are following this website regularly.  I can’t tell you if it’s 10 or 10,000.  It would be helpful for me to have some idea for planning purposes.  If you know how to reach me via any means, just let me know.  I’d love to provide my contact information here, but with all the attempts (503) to hack this website, I don’t dare to do so!

“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV

Have you ever encountered someone who claims he doesn’t believe in Jesus because there’s no evidence that He even existed?  All I can do in these cases is to smile and reply with the nice but sarcastic Southern expression, “Bless your heart.”   

The historical record–apart from the Bible–overwhelmingly confirms His existence, His miracles, His death upon the cross, His resurrection, and His ascension.  There’s far more evidence for Jesus’s existence than there is for most anyone who has lived in the last thousand years, including you and me.   People who don’t accept the historical Jesus are akin to the members of the Flat Earth Society.  They simply close their minds to what is so obviously true.  

The Bible alludes to three basic reasons someone may refuse to believe in Jesus Christ:  ignorance, pride, and moral issues.  

Ignorance

“Jesus replied, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.‘ “  Matthew 22:29

Wow!  Can you imagine being in His presence when He made this statement?  Telling the people “You are in error” was an extraordinarily kind and gentle expression.  When the Messiah speaks, we should listen . . . and believe.   

Pride

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.  I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.  I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”  John 5:39-44 NIV

In this instance Jesus was speaking to the Jews who had clung to Mosaic law rather than accepting Him.  Talk about not accepting change!  

Moral Issues

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”  John 3:19-20 NIV

This reason makes the most sense from a worldly perspective.  People who knowingly engage in evil practices know it.  They prefer to continue living in this manner rather than accepting what is right.  

Do you believe?

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for showing us the Way, the Truth, and the Light.  Amen.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

As a 16-year old boy I established the goal of owning a beach home on the Gulf of Mexico.  If you think that’s frivolous for such a young person, I suggest you don’t know me at all.  I learned a valuable life lesson at a very early age:  if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  My dream became a reality for my wife and me 25 years later.  Our little slice of paradise meant so much to us.

However, we feared losing everything to Hurricane Ivan in 2004.  We watched it destroy entire islands as a Category 5 before entering the Gulf of Mexico.  We prepared our home as best we could before being forced by authorities to leave the area.  

Weathermen predicted that Ivan would come ashore about 40 miles due east of our home.  Also, as it approached landfall, the wind speed dropped it to a Category 3.  We started feeling like our home might have a chance.  

Three days before Ivan’s arrival, all the birds in our area headed north.  That’s a really bad sign.  Believe it or not, birds have an instinct for such things, and we immediately realized that Ivan would hit our area and not where the weathermen had predicted.  We prayed for God’s help in this situation, but at the same time we didn’t want harm to come to anyone.  

On the evening before landfall, Ivan made an abrupt turn due east for 40 miles before heading ashore.  At this moment, we felt like our home would be annihilated.  If you check the coordinates of where Ivan made landfall, you’ll find that they match the coordinates of our home to the nearest second.  We received a direct hit!  We expected a total loss.  

After the hurricane passed, it took days before anyone could enter the area.  A neighbor went to another city nearby, rented a boat, and drove it through the Gulf to our development.  He called us and reported that not only was our home still standing, but it had little external damage.  I cannot tell you how remarkable this is.  

Had Ivan come ashore where the weathermen had predicted, our home would have been toast.  Instead, a direct hit saved our home since it remained in the calm eye while inflicting violence for many miles east of us.  

We had leaned on our own understanding of what Hurricane Ivan would do to us.  Instead, our home was graciously spared via a means that we had not expected:  a direct hit.  God was certainly good to us.  

Prayer:  Teach us Your ways God, so that we won’t lean on our own understanding.  Amen. 

“The LORD said to Moses.”  Leviticus 22:1

Leviticus is the third book of the Bible and Torah.  I confess that it’s difficult to read and maintain one’s concentration.  You likely feel the same way.  

Last week Chapter 22 left a distinct impression in my mind.  it records what God instructed Moses regarding His rules on animal sacrifices.  To us today, they seem so strange and we cannot adequately comprehend why they were important to God.  

I think the issue boils down to obedience.  The Israelites were a disobedient and stiff-necked people.  In spite of all their miraculous experiences, it didn’t take much to misdirect them into doing evil.  Perhaps with the Levitical laws, God challenged the people to keep them as a confirmation of their obedience to Him.  

I also see a deeper message in this chapter.  It is one repeated time and again.  God wants us to “get it”.  He knows that most people require continuous repetition to understand even His most basis teachings.  Here’s what He said in Leviticus 22:

Verse 2:  “I am the LORD.”

Verse 3:  “I am the LORD.”

Verse 8:  “I am the LORD.”

Verse 9:  “I am the LORD.”

Verse 15:  “I am the LORD.”

Verse 30:  “I am the LORD.”

Verse 31:  “I am the LORD.”

Verse 33:  “I am the LORD.”

This chapter is only 33 verses long, and God repeated “I am the LORD” to Moses eight times.   

What does it mean to refer to someone as Lord?  The word signifies someone who has power, authority, and influence.  No one on earth below or heaven above matches LORD better than God Almighty.  

When one accepts Jesus as the Christ, an important second step is required.  He must be made Lord of our lives.  This means we yield to Him and not to the world.  Our minds become focused on doing what is right in His sight.  It’s not necessarily an easy task.  Fulfilling worldly desires is tempting, and adhering to holiness can be challenging.  However, making Him the Lord of our lives pays tremendous dividends for all of eternity.   

Who is the Lord of your life?

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for being who You are.  Help me to grow in a relationship to you whereby You are my Lord and I am Your servant.  Amen.

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”  John 21:25

Do you ever wonder about the stuff the Bible doesn’t tell us?  Today’s featured verse certainly indicates the volume is extraordinary.  There’s so much that we don’t know about what Jesus did during his time on earth.  

Realizing that He was both God and man is hard to comprehend.  Where was the dividing line between the two?  Here’s an example of what I mean.  

Suppose you’re at work doing whatever it is you do to earn a living.  A man walks in and approaches you face-to-face.  You may know him casually or have simply heard of him or perhaps don’t have a clue as to who he is.  He invites you to leave everything you know and follow him.  How would you respond?  I can’t imagine anyone today accepting such an invitation.  

The Bible tells us that Jesus used this procedure when rounding up the original 12 disciples.  Say what?  There must be more to the story that isn’t recorded.  Even the differences in time, culture, location, language, etc. can’t explain why these men would leave everything behind and follow Him.  Unfortunately, there’s no separate historical record that elaborates on this event.  As a result, other questions roll around in my head attempting to comprehend how the disciples’ recruitment occurred.  And this is where the dividing line between Jesus being both God and man comes into play.  

My impression is that Jesus knew how every potential candidate would respond before He asked them.  Were the disciples preordained, and if so, had God eliminated their freedom-of-choice that we believe exists for everyone?  Did Jesus simply go to the twelve He knew would say “yes” and not to anyone else?  That is, did He bat 1.000 by hitting 12 of 12?  If potential recruits had freedom-of-choice, how many men did Jesus have to ask before coming up with 12?  

When I think about these kinds of things it always leads to more questions in my mind.  We have a great treasure trove of historical and archeological records that add to the Biblical story, but sometimes I just wish for more.  It reminds me of a feeling that I’ve had most of my life.  With education I have become dumber, because the more I know, the more I realize there is that I don’t know.  

What kinds of questions about Jesus do you have that aren’t revealed in the Bible?

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for the Bible and revealing Your relationship to men and women throughout all ages.  Give us the wisdom to use Your word to the best of our abilities.  Amen.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:  ‘May those who love you be secure.  May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.‘ “  Psalm 122:6-7 NIV

May 14, 2018–What a historic day!  The United States Embassy officially opens in Jerusalem.  Our country finally recognizes Jerusalem as the eternal and undivided capital of Israel!  It has done what no other country has done since Israel was reborn in 1948.  

George Bush promised but didn’t do it.                                                                                                                                                  Bill Clinton promised but didn’t do it.                                                                                                                                                   Barack Obama promised but didn’t do it.                                                                                                                                      Donald Trump promised AND HE DID IT!

I don’t care if you love or hate our President, but he deserves our admiration, appreciation, and gratitude for his action in recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  He has done what our previous Presidents failed to do.  

Jerusalem has been attacked by foreigners 52 times, surrounded but not occupied 23 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, and destroyed 2 times.  Despite this violent history, it still exists!  There’s only one possibility for this happening:  God.  

I’m delighted that our President has recognized the importance of Jerusalem.  Whether you like it or not, it is the capital of the world.  If you ever visit this marvelous ancient city, you’ll feel its importance.  It is unmistakable.   

When Jesus returns, he will arrive at the Mount of Olives.  He will take the same path to the Golden (Eastern) Gate that he took on Palm Sunday.  Even though the Muslims sealed this gate centuries ago to keep Him out, you know that won’t present any problem whatsoever!  He’ll enter the Temple Mount through this (sealed) gate and establish His kingdom on earth.  He won’t return as a baby.  He will be the conquering King to rule the entire planet.  

The United States Embassy relocating from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is not a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.  However, one should regard it as a special marker in the inevitable march of Jerusalem being universally recognized as the world’s capital.  

The Palestinians have announced a Day of Rage to commemorate the opening of the U. S. Embassy in Jerusalem.  In turn, we should do what the Scripture has instructed us to do, and that is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Have you prayed for Jerusalem today?

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for our country embracing Israel.  We pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Amen.  

“The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.”  Leviticus 1:1 NIV

Lack of attention to detail looms as a major pet peeve of mine.  I encounter it all of the time, and it’s pretty annoying.  As just one of many examples, I’ve learned to never ask more than one question in an email.  It doesn’t matter how carefully an email is crafted to include two, three or four questions, It’s an absolute guarantee that the recipient will respond to one question only and no more.     

Right now I’m reading Leviticus.  Of all the books in the Bible, this one proves particularly challenging to read and comprehend.  The author is believed to have been Moses, but may have included others.  It’s named after the Israeli tribe of Levi, and it refers to the Law of the Priests.  

The instructions of Leviticus emphasize ritual, legal and moral practices.  It emerged hundreds of years before Jesus, and it outlined the requirements for an acceptable relationship between God and man.  

I won’t delve into all the rules and regulations presented in Leviticus.  Just browse through a few pages and you’ll get the idea pretty quickly.  Talk about attention to detail!  

The message from God was verbal.  It was conveyed to the people by Moses, relying on his memory.  No books to pass out; no pen and paper; and no computer.  There’s no way any of us would have been able to cope!  The bottom line is the Israelites weren’t able to handle it, either.  With all the animal sacrifices required to make atonement, I’m surprised they weren’t eventually forced into being vegans.  

The extraordinary great news or us is that Jesus changed everything.  The Leviticus law disappeared with His crucifixion and resurrection.  We don’t have to offer sacrifices. He became our “once and for all” sacrifice two millennia ago.  He did for us what we could not do for ourselves.  It’s remarkable that God loves us so much.  I really don’t know why He does, but I am eternally grateful that He does.  

Have you thought today about what He has done for you?

Prayer:  God, we exalt and worship You.  Thank you for providing a way for us to have a relationship with You through Jesus.  Thank you for grace.  Amen.

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  Luke 6:42 NIV

Jesus gave us this powerful teaching.  It’s one we need to consider thoughtfully.  Some well-meaning Christians have driven more people away from fellowship with believers than they have attracted, simply from disregarding this valuable teaching.   Non-believers have the knack of spotting religious hypocrites a mile away.  

Have you ever attended a church where the atmosphere just didn’t seem right.  I’m referring to the ones that “talk the talk” but don’t “walk the walk”.  My wife and I have certainly done so.  We’ve listened to pastors and talked with members who have planks in their eyes, but simply don’t recognize it.  And they have tried to tell us how to live.  I don’t think our experiences in such churches are necessarily the exception.  It’s the one primary factor that has caused us over the years to cautiously select a church to attend or decide not to attend.    

Christians shouldn’t be so quick to criticize others’ behavior.  For example, homosexuality is a topic that divides and it shouldn’t.  We have several gay friends and relatives, and they are wonderful people.  Do we approve of their lifestyle?  No, but we don’t judge them because we’re not hypocrites.   With our own faults and weaknesses, we don’t have the moral right to be judgmental about others’ faults and weaknesses.  Homosexuality is labeled as sin in many Bible verses, but usually in the overall context with adultery.  Hello!  I suggest an overwhelming majority of all heterosexuals fall into this same category with divorces, multiple marriages, and even one-time marriage partners with lustful thoughts–just like Jimmy Carter confessed to having years ago.  Let’s get the big ole plank out of our own eyes and quit judging our neighbors.  

Are you accepting of people regardless of their faults and weaknesses?  Do you practice consistent self-examination in order to remove the planks from your own eyes?

Prayer:  Dear God, we pray for clear vision.  Help us to remove the planks from our eyes so that others may be influenced by our example.  Amen.