Today Daily Devotional

I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God. . . .”

— Revelation 19:17

My first sighting of the flight of tens of thousands of crows at dusk in East Vancouver was eerie and foreboding. But over the years, I’ve grown used to this cacophonous, raucous parade in the sky that takes place twice a day as these birds travel between the beaches and their rookeries.

These midair birds fly higher up than songbirds but closer to the earth than soaring eagles, and they are flourishing in many cities today. They have even been dubbed the “Einstein bird” for the ways they have adjusted their behavior to human patterns. Crows have learned that threats are fewer and food is more plentiful in urban areas, so they live in abundance in protected parks, and they glean from the messes that humans leave behind.

The Bible has many references to these prolific birds that God has appointed in his plan to bring justice, and in Revelation 19 they are called to devour evil rulers. Acknowledging these swarms, or murders, of crows is chilling and unpleasant, but we also have the hopeful promise that God will not allow evil to have the final word. There are things that happen in the world that break our hearts; we recognize corruption and evil. But in Christ we are assured that one day things will be made right again.

God of justice and righteousness, we trust in your promise to make all things new. Let your kingdom come, and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

— Matthew 26:75

While it might be easy for us to overlook sparrows and other small birds in our daily meanderings, it can be hard to ignore a rooster if we see or hear one: the gurgling, jarring, sometimes ear-splitting racket is enough to wake anybody up!

In our reading for today, the sound of a rooster crowing became a devastating wake-up call for Peter. He had promised to be faithful, but when it came right down to it, he chickened out, and he denied ever knowing Jesus. And, of course, Jesus knew that would happen. It isn’t easy to identify with a suffering Savior.

Sometimes today too, the Holy Spirit may use ordinary things in our lives to help us see how we have let Jesus down. It could be on social media, or at work, or when we’re driving that we are suddenly pierced with an awareness of how we haven’t done the right thing, and that we too are capable of denying our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thankfully for us all, God is merciful. In John 21, after Jesus has died and risen again, he lovingly restores Peter, calling him to serve faithfully (John 21:15-19). Through his perfect love, Jesus also reverses our denials by reclaiming us as his own.

Lord Jesus, we are sorry for the ways we have denied you in our lives. Forgive us, restore us, and empower us to claim you as our Lord. In your name, Amen.

“Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”

— Luke 17:37

One time while we were on a hike as a family, we sat on a bluff overlooking a valley, and we took out a bundle of sandwiches made with leftover roast turkey. As soon as we started eating, a large vulture came swooping past us. And just as quickly it flew off again, seeing there was nothing dead or decaying for it to eat. Jesus’ comment about vultures in our reading for today has to do with questions about the end times. People often wonder whether disasters in their era are signs that the world is going to end. Today too, with wars, earthquakes, droughts, hurricanes, floods, and fires causing so much devastation and hardship, people question if these events might be the harbinger of Jesus’ return. But when his disciples asked him to explain about his coming again, Jesus gave a cryptic response about dead bodies and vultures! It seems he was simply saying that if you see many vultures gathering in the sky, you can be certain that something is dying. In another passage Jesus adds that only the Father knows exactly when the end will come—“not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. . . . So . . . be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:36, 44). Knowing that Jesus will eventually come again, we can live faithfully as we continually look forward to his return.

Lord, help us not to grow weary of waiting but to continually hope in you and to live for you as we long for your coming again. Amen.

“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”

— Matthew 23:37

If you have ever watched a hen with her chicks, you might have noticed that the hen will cluck loudly when she senses danger nearby. The chicks hear her warning, and if they know what’s good for them, they run to her for cover. The hen will droop and spread her wings to make room for the chicks, but if they don’t respond to her invitation, they will be exposed to danger.

Two things become apparent when this imagery is used to describe God and his people: God’s character is steady and protective, but human responses are sometimes unpredictable and foolish. Refuge is always available, but we need to seek and go to it as well.

How many of us suffer because we haven’t run to the Father for cover? What needless pain do we bear because we don’t go to the Lord? If we are scurrying around, trying to fix things and worrying about getting attacked, why are we trying to do this on our own? Our only sure protection in life and in death is God our Savior.

Jesus longed to cover God’s people with his protective love, but they wouldn’t listen to his invitation. Even so, on the cross Jesus took the full brunt of the enemy’s attack in order to save us—and through his death and resurrection we can have eternal life!

Lord Jesus, thank you for saving us so that we can live with you. Teach us to seek refuge in you and to live faithfully each day. Amen.

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.”

— Luke 12:24

Today’s reading from Luke is similar to yesterday’s reading from Matthew. Jesus probably taught this lesson often, perhaps even pointing to birds that were nearby at the time.

Jesus urges his listeners to recognize what is most important in life. Is it food? Clothing? Having lots of money and possessions? In many parts of the world, the expectation that people will enjoy a life of security, privacy, and comfort is almost assumed. Yet, after times of disaster, when possessions are destroyed, we’ll often hear, “Those were just things that can be replaced if we really need them—we’re just glad to be alive.”

Jesus knows that a life attached to material things can lead to anxiety. Things are temporary, and we can’t always control when or how our possessions will be taken from us. So it’s better to attach ourselves to each other and to God. Jesus encourages us to live in such a way that people and their needs have priority over possessions and ownership. So let’s not be controlled by worries about possessions or food or money.

Jesus concludes by saying, “Do not be afraid, little flock.” He knows that we’re vulnerable, and he knows what we need. In fact, he promises that God, our Father, will give us the kingdom—much more than we need.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your tender care for us, and for guiding us in the way of wisdom. Help us to care more about each other than about our things. Amen.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”

— Matthew 6:26

When Jesus said, “Look at the birds . . .” his listeners could probably watch these creatures as they flew among the plants and trees on the mountainside. If you can, take some time today to look at birds—even if just for a few minutes. Consider that much of what was written in the Bible took place outdoors, under the bright skies where we can see and make connections to the creation God has made.

A problem with so many of us today is that we are often disconnected from what God has made; we read the Bible indoors with our heads down, and we try to distill the truth into statements that are general and abstract. Bit by bit, we can grow out of touch and unsure about what it all means.

Our family’s children’s Bible illustrates this story with a couple of birds casually pushing a grocery cart loaded with food. Even though some birds such as nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers actually keep food in little caches, the sight of these birds gathering pantry items in a cart is comical. But Jesus’ point is that birds simply do what the moment requires them to do; they don’t agonize about their lives. They simply depend on God’s care—always.

Jesus points out that just as God cares for birds, he cares much more for each one of us. And, truly, we can’t add a single moment to our lives by worrying. Best of all, God has given us everything we need in order to have eternal life!

Lord, thank you for your faithful love and care for us. In Jesus, Amen.

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

— Matthew 3:16

The fact that the Spirit rested on Jesus “like a dove” at the moment of his baptism is not insignificant. To understand why, we can start by asking where else in the Bible we have come across doves, and what connections we can make between these stories.

Remember how Noah sent out a dove from the ark? It first came back with nothing, and then, after going out a second time, it returned with an olive leaf in its beak (Genesis 8:11). The fresh green leaf in the dove’s mouth signified the beginning of a new era, a hopeful turning of events, the renewed presence of peace and shalom, and the imminent promise that no such dramatic devastation would have to happen again.

The reference to a dove at Jesus’ baptism is a sign that another new era has begun in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, there is finally a hopeful turning of events: the arrival of a peaceful reign and the promise that Jesus’ coming will be pivotal in history. In this event we see a sign that God is recreating the world in Christ, setting things right, and rebuilding so that his purposes can finally be realized.

Lord Jesus, in your baptism we see the sign of God’s new promise and the unfolding of your great plan to restore the whole world to yourself. We marvel at the beauty of how everything holds together in you, and that the Scriptures point faithfully to your perfect plan. In your name we pray. Amen.

“Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.”

— Hosea 4:3

Through Hosea, the Lord is bringing serious charges in our reading for today. Dangerous conditions brought about by people who care nothing for God and his creation have led to a loss of “the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea.”

Sadly, there are chilling parallels in our pollution and degradation of the earth today. Reckless human action has negatively affected many plants and animals, birds and fish, and the environments they need to live in. Many kinds of pollution have harmed people as well. Wars, chemical spills, nuclear fallout, industrial contamination, and more have left devastating effects on the earth and its creatures, including us.

While some areas are seeing remarkable restoration and many efforts today are being made to show good stewardship, there are still indications that creation is suffering immensely. Animals, birds, and fish are often pushed aside and destroyed as their habitats are altered according to human preference.

While cause and effect in the environment is complex and not always easy to explain, we can still strive to do what we can to preserve and restore God’s good creation.

Lord our God, help us to be aware of the consequences of our decisions, and give us the courage to protect and maintain the earth you have entrusted to our care. Amen.

Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration.

— Jeremiah 8:7

Sometimes, as much as we want to hold on to the way things are, we must face the reality that change is a part of life. Teenagers are encouraged to “leave the nest,” and “empty nesters” gradually become used to different rhythms in life as their children leave home. Still, even when it’s time for a change, we can tend to resist it.

The prophet Jeremiah refers to storks, doves, swifts, and thrushes, contrasting their wise behaviors with the foolishness of people who have turned away from the Lord. Jeremiah laments the thick-skulled attitudes of the people around him, who lack wisdom because “they have rejected the word of the Lord.” The prophet is saying, in effect, “Even the birds know what needs to be done, but these people are so stubborn!” There is a season for everything, and it’s our task to recognize what season it is.

The invitation here is to consider what season it is for each of us. Is it time to repent? Is it time to relinquish? Is it time to restore? The apostle Paul encourages the church to “be alert and always keep on praying” for each other as a way of being ready for whatever the Spirit will lead us to do (Ephesians 6:18).

Lord, it’s easy for us to become distracted or discouraged, and we need your wisdom to know how we should live. Guide us to be alert, paying attention to the seasons in our lives, and to respond as we ought. Amen.

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. . . .”

— Isaiah 40:31

In many places around the world, birds are a significant part of human culture. Just look at flags, stamps, coins, and bills from a variety of nations, and you’ll see a wide array of winged creatures.

Do you know which birds are celebrated where you live? Canada loves the loon because it conveys solitude and peacefulness. China highlights the stork because it symbolizes longevity and wisdom. New Zealand favors the kiwi because of its uniqueness, and India prizes the peacock as a symbol of immortality and resurrection. Ancient Egypt famously profiled the eagle as an emblem of protection and strength, and dozens of countries, including the United States, claim the eagle as their national bird.

Eagles are truly majestic creatures that symbolize strength and independence. Catching sight of an eagle as it soars high above the earth can be breathtaking, and watching one swoop and maneuver its immense wings is awe-inspiring.

The reference to eagles in Isaiah 40 is a comfort for God’s people in a time of weariness and struggle. Our matchless Creator and Sustainer gives us his strength and glory, filling us with the capacity to do far more than we think is possible.

We may feel weak and powerless in our current circumstances, but because of who we are in Christ, we can hold on to the promise that in his strength we will “soar on wings like eagles.”

Lord God, renew our strength each day so that we may reflect your glory. Amen.