Posts with the category “devotions”

Come As You AreThe leper came to Jesus unclean, desperate, and empty-handed. He brought no resume of good behavior. He did not negotiate for a partial healing. He came exactly as he was. He simply sai...  Read More

 The Rhythm of the WildernessNews of the miracle spread everywhere. Great crowds gathered to hear Jesus and be healed. The ministry was exploding. The needs were immense. At that very moment, Jesus wi...  Read More

The Hand That TouchesThe crowd backed away from the leper. They saw a threat and reached for stones. But Jesus stepped forward. He saw a man. Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. He did not hav...  Read More

A Man Full of LeprosyA man forced to shout “Unclean!” walked through the city. People slammed doors and threw stones. His disease had become his entire identity. Nobody asked his name. He was simply a...  Read More

 Leaving the Greatest CatchSimon, James, and John brought their boats to land. They walked away from the greatest catch of their lives. From a financial view, the future never looked better. That is p...  Read More

Day 4: From Fish to Forever PeopleJesus did not reveal Simon's sin to leave him in shame. He revealed it so Simon could confess it. He did not bring Simon to his knees to leave him there. He brought h...  Read More

Day 3: He Knew Every Broken PromiseSimon fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Depart from me." He thought if Jesus really knew him, He would want nothing to do with him. But Jesus already knew everything. ...  Read More

Day 2: The Tall One in the Deep HoleImagine two people at the bottom of a thousand-foot mine. One is six feet tall. The other is four feet tall. The taller one says he is closer to the top. But both a...  Read More

Kneeling Among the Flopping FishSimon Peter stood in a sinking boat. Fish flopped at his feet. Nets strained and tore. Just moments before, these fish represented everything he wanted. They meant succ...  Read More

From Empty Nets to Sinking BoatsSimon let down the net. Immediately, fish swarmed into it. The net began to break. The boat began to sink. He signaled his partners for help. They filled both boats wit...  Read More

 Nets, Not a NetJesus commanded Simon to let down his nets. Simon replied that he would let down the net. This may seem like a small difference. But it reveals a hesitant, partial obedience. Simon was...  Read More

The Word "Nevertheless"After teaching, Jesus turned to Simon. He told the tired fisherman to launch into the deep and let down his nets. Simon was the expert. He had fished all night and caught nothin...  Read More

 Used Before FilledJesus asked to use Simon’s boat while it was still empty. He did not fill it with fish first. He used it as it was. We often want the opposite. We tell God we will serve after He bl...  Read More

The Preacher and the Empty BoatJesus stood by the Sea of Galilee. A crowd pressed around Him to hear the word of God. Nearby, Simon Peter washed his empty nets after a fruitless night of fishing. Jesu...  Read More

Light in the WorldDaniel and his friends ate vegetables and drank water for ten days. At the end of the test, they appeared healthier than all the others. God honored their faithful stand. Daniel cont...  Read More

Now God Brought HimDaniel purposed in his heart to obey. Then God went to work. Scripture says God brought Daniel into favor with the official. Daniel could not control the official's heart, but God c...  Read More

A Request with MeeknessDaniel stood firm in his conviction about the king's food. But he did not stand with arrogance. He respectfully requested permission from the official in charge. He was gracious...  Read More

The Learning of the ChaldeansNebuchadnezzar commanded that the young men learn the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Daniel studied Babylonian science, history, and religion. He was not afraid...  Read More

Purposed in His HeartDaniel was taken from his home and placed in the king's palace. He was given a new name and enrolled in a new school. The king offered him the best food and wine. But Daniel had a...  Read More

The Must That Drove Him OnJesus told the crowd He must preach the kingdom of God to other cities. He was sent for this purpose. This divine "must" drove Him beyond comfortable Capernaum. His solitude ...  Read More

  The Rhythm of Axe and AnvilA young woodcutter challenged an older man to a contest. The young man swung his axe without stopping. He saw the older man sitting down and thought he was winning. But th...  Read More

 The Solitude That Sends You OutWhile Capernaum slept, Jesus rose. He slipped quietly out of the house. He walked beyond the city's noise and found a solitary place. He spent the previous day with peo...  Read More

 Beyond the Crowd's ApplauseThe people of Capernaum found Jesus. They tried to restrain Him from leaving. They begged Him to stay. They wanted Him to keep teaching and healing. Their request sounded g...  Read More

The Savior Who Never WeariesJesus preached in the synagogue with authority. A demon-possessed man screamed. Jesus spoke one sentence and the demon fled. He went to Peter’s house and found a feverish w...  Read More

One Touch at a TimeAt sunset, the whole city brought their sick to Jesus. The crowd outside Peter’s house was immense. Jesus could have healed everyone with one word. Instead, He laid His hands on eve...  Read More

Arising to ServeAfter Jesus healed her, Peter’s mother-in-law immediately arose. She did not stay in bed to rest or talk about her sickness. She began to minister to them. She served Jesus and His dis...  Read More

Rebuking the FeverInside Peter’s house, his mother-in-law was sick with a great fever. This was a serious illness. The family did not panic. They brought their need directly to Jesus. They besought hi...  Read More

 The Messiah in a Messy HouseAfter the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon Peter’s house. This was no palace. It was a simple fisherman’s home with stone walls and a dirt floor. Jesus walked in without war...  Read More

  A Scream in the SynagogueJesus taught in the Capernaum synagogue. His words carried authority. Suddenly, a man possessed by a demon cried out. The familiar worship service shattered. Jesus looked at...  Read More

 If My People Will PrayGod gave Solomon a stunning promise. He said if His people would humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from sin, then He would hear them. Then He would forgive them. ...  Read More

Not My Will, But ThineJesus knelt in the garden of Gethsemane. The weight of the cross pressed upon Him. He sweat great drops of blood. He prayed a raw and honest prayer. “Father, if thou be willing, ...  Read More

One Accord in the Shaken PlacePeter and John returned from prison. They reported the threats from the religious leaders. The church faced a crisis. They did not form a committee. They did not hire law...  Read More

The Pattern of the Praying ChristBefore dawn, Jesus left the house. He went to a solitary place. He prayed. He did this before choosing His disciples. He did it before feeding the thousands. He prayed...  Read More

The Invitation to the ThroneThe disciples faced a locked room and a locked future. They felt fear. Then Jesus stood among them. He showed them His hands and His side. He offered them peace. He did not...  Read More

A Flag and an AltarA small flag can tell a big story. It represents the sacrifice of soldiers at Valley Forge and Normandy. It honors those who fought in jungles and deserts. Some came home with scars...  Read More

If My People Will Humble ThemselvesGod gave a clear promise to King Solomon. It was a conditional promise for a nation in crisis. God did not start with the government or the unbelievers. He started w...  Read More

The Pattern of Falling NationsHistory tells a sobering story. Great nations rise and they fall. Egypt stood as a mighty power with vast armies and wealth. Its pharaohs considered themselves gods. Then...  Read More

 Knocking at the Church DoorJesus addressed the church in Laodicea with a startling image. He pictured Himself outside His own church. He stood at the door and knocked. The Head of the Church was seek...  Read More

The Son Makes You FreeJesus spoke to people who knew their religious history. They proudly claimed Abraham as their father. They declared they had never been slaves to any man. Yet Roman soldiers patr...  Read More

The Whole Region Was BuzzingAfter Jesus set the man free, news spread like wildfire. People left the synagogue and told their families. They told their neighbors and coworkers. By supper time, the who...  Read More