Today Daily Devotional

“I will be a restless wanderer on earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

— Genesis 4:14

While hiking the Appalachian Trail, how can you know if you’re on the right track? You simply follow the white trail markers, or “blazes,” painted on trees along the way. If you see the white blazes, you know you’re still on the path. Yet stepping off the trail and getting lost in the woods is not uncommon. For a hiker, that can be a dangerous sort of “missing the mark.”

In our passage today, Cain turns away from walking with God and is lost.

In this appalling story showing the depths of human sin, Cain attacks and kills his brother Abel because he feels slighted and resentful. The brokenness caused by sin blooms fully in this first murder in human history. Looking back now, who can count the lives lost because of sin?

When God confronts Cain with his hideous deed, Cain isn’t sorry. He is concerned only about his own fate. He is terrified that others will follow his example and kill him. Though God graciously marks Cain to protect him from violence, Cain remains lost as a wanderer and a fugitive.

In the Bible the Hebrew word for “sin” (hatta’t) literally means “missing the mark.” In our alienation from God and from others, we miss the mark. We are all lost. But Jesus finds us and sets us on the right path, the way of following him and loving others.

Lord Jesus, we are lost without you. Help us to walk in your ways and to love others, just as you have loved us. Amen.

The man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day. . . .

— Genesis 3:8

While hiking the Appalachian Trail, I enjoyed the early April wildflowers blooming along the pathway. I particularly noticed a crocus with a beautiful white flower. Sadly, its stem had broken, and it drooped sideways. It reminded me of the first walking scene in the Bible.

Adam and Eve must have enjoyed walking with God “in the cool of the day” in their garden home. But in today’s story from Genesis 3, they were deeply anxious. Earlier in the day, they had disobeyed God, doing the one thing God had told them not to do. God had created Adam and Eve to live in fellowship with himself, with each other, and in harmony with the earth and its creatures. In their disobedience, however, they tried to hide from God, and, as the story continues, we see their alienation from each other and from the rest of God’s good creation.

When he comes to walk with them, God finds Adam and Eve cowering in shame. God explains the consequences of their sin. But in his judgment on the serpent, we glimpse God’s promise to redeem fallen humanity back to fellowship with himself, with each other, and with his world.

As I hiked through Appalachia in April, I found it was often comfortably cool late in the day, and this drew me to look forward to walking with God and all his family in the world he has promised to redeem.

Lord, you have made us for fellowship with you. Thank you for redeeming us through Jesus—to love you, others, and your world. Amen.

Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.

— Deuteronomy 8:6

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” (Chinese proverb). Early one morning in April 2022, I took the first step on a hiking trip along the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine in the eastern United States. While enjoying God’s good and beautiful creation, I also meditated on the theme of “walking” in the Bible.

Since ancient times, walking has been the most common way for people to go from place to place. It’s no surprise, then, that walking is mentioned more than 200 times in the Bible. Whether people took short strolls or long journeys, they moved forward one step at a time. In the Bible, the Hebrew word for “walk” (halak) can also refer to following God and living for him in his world.

In Deuteronomy 8 we find examples of both kinds of walk­ing. God’s people had been walking in the wilderness for 40 years. And now, preparing to enter the land that God had promised them, they were reminded to walk in the ways of the Lord and to honor God in all they would do. And God promised to bless them abundantly.

Wherever we walk today, on short strolls or a long journey, may each step remind us to walk in God’s ways and to honor him.

Lord God, help us always to walk with you in our journeys near and far, seeing your hand in our world and striving to please and serve you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.

— 1 Peter 4:4

Every person’s story is different and unique. Some people were born into religious homes where strict morals and ethics were taught, and they followed these closely from their earliest days. Some people raised in such homes have a “prodigal child” story (see Luke 15:11-24). Still others were brought up apart from religion and yet followed cultural morals, while others grew up more or less wild through and through.

Regardless of our backgrounds, we are called now as believers to live according to the pattern that God sets out for us in his Word. We find this pattern in many places in the Bible such as Ephesians 4-5, Colossians 3, and 1 Peter 4:1-11. A close reading of these passages shows great similarity to the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.

The great news for us is that as we keep in step with the Holy Spirit, we will find that our old sinful nature slowly loses its grip on us. Our “taste” for sinful desires and behaviors gradually fades. Living God’s way takes on a sweeter and sweeter flavor as we live our lives in step with the Spirit.

While most fruit is sweet, none is as sweet as the fruit of the Spirit.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for weaning us from our sinful desires and old ways, showing us that living in step with the Spirit is the best way to live. In Jesus, Amen.

Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

— Ephesians 4:15

A student who graces the college campus where I work always has a smile on his face and speaks with words that are kind and gentle. Proverbs 16:24 could have been inspired with him in mind! While a few well-chosen words are sweeter than honey, rash and poorly chosen words can damage and even destroy relationships.

The Holy Spirit calls us to speak the truth in love. Not everything that is true needs to be said, and when love is not the motive for what we are prepared to say, we would do well simply to remain silent. There is a right way and a wrong way to say things, and there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.

It is easy for us to make excuses for our poorly chosen words. We often think and say things like “I’m just a blunt person,” or, “That’s my nature,” or, “I just say it the way I see it.”

However, there is hope for all of God’s children. In Ephesians 4, Paul gives helpful advice about putting off falsehood and speaking truthfully, avoiding unwholesome talk, and building others up. When we walk with the Holy Spirit, we are changed. With the Spirit’s help we can change the way we speak in our homes and workplaces, in our churches, and in the world.

Father, help us to choose our words well, building others up in faith rather than hurting and tearing down. May our words be attractive to all who don’t yet know you as well. In Jesus, Amen.

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire. . . .

— James 3:5-6

Over the years our family has had many brushes with forest fires. At one point a forest fire came to within a kilometer of our house before being brought under control. We have had vacation plans altered because of wildfires, and on other occasions we seldom left our home because of the poor air quality. Each of these fires began with a spark and a tiny flame before becoming a raging inferno.

James writes that poorly chosen words are like sparks that cause a great fire. Both bring immeasurable damage. A little gossip runs its course, and who knows how much damage it causes! A careless word is spoken, and a person is left wounded and scarred for a lifetime. Sadly, I may be the one who uttered those words.

The good news is that the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Though “no human being can tame the tongue,” the Spirit of God can. When we walk in step with the Spirit, we will notice that the Spirit helps us to control our tongues. And, says James, “with the wisdom that comes from heaven,” self-control in other areas of life follows. Godly wisdom brings peace, love, humility, mercy, and good fruit for life the way God intends it to be.

Heavenly Father, help us to control our tongues. May our words bring honor and glory to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’”

— Acts 2:17

There is an old saying that “Actions speak louder than words.” One of the students in the chaplaincy ministry at our college “oozes” the fruit of the Spirit. His kindness, gentleness, joy, and patience are clearly evident. As people see this, they are attracted to him, and opportunities to share his faith are multiplied. Another student frequently pours out her heart to the Lord in prayer as she pleads for the advancement of God’s kingdom.

The Spirit of God gave Jesus’ apostles the ability to speak in many languages on that day of Pentecost written about in Acts 2, and the same Spirit enables us to speak and to act in winsome ways today. Through the power of the Spirit, God’s kingdom is advancing, and he has called and equipped each of us to be his witnesses in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves.

Today we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. But our cele­bration of Pentecost is not so much meant to be talked about as it is to be lived—in word and deed. By the power of the Spirit working through us, our words and fruit-filled actions are the tools God uses to build his kingdom.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Spirit poured out on Jesus’ followers on that Pentecost day so long ago. Help us to live by the power of the Spirit today and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

— John 8:11

Jesus’ gentleness to the woman who was caught in adultery is heartwarming. According to the law of Moses, this woman could have been stoned to death (Leviticus 20:10). But Jesus knew the religious leaders were more interested in trapping him than in following God’s law. The fact that the woman was caught in adultery means that the man involved was also known. But where was he? He is not even mentioned in the story. The religious leaders simply assumed that if Jesus did not demand the death penalty, he would be guilty of breaking the law, and that would give them a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus turned the tables on the religious leaders and put them into an impossible situation. He said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” So throwing a stone would mean declaring yourself sinless. None of the leaders were prepared to do that. One by one, her accusers went away, and then Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you. . . . Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Similarly, the Lord tells us, “I came into this world not to condemn you but to forgive you; repent and sin no more” (see John 3:17-21). “And with the gentleness that I treat you, treat everyone around you” (see Matthew 7:12).

Jesus, we marvel at your gentleness with all of us sinners. Thank you for being such a gentle Savior, and help us to be gentle with others. Amen.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

— Isaiah 40:11

Isaiah 40 speaks of the power and might of God with amazing clarity. Estimates hold that the observable universe is 45 billion light years across, and yet, according to Isaiah, that is only like the breadth of God’s hand. Ultimately, though, comparing the infinite God to the finiteness of this universe—as expansive as it is—would be futile.

Even so, when we consider that the almighty God scoops up his people in his arms and carries them like lambs, close to his heart, we are moved to marvel at his gentle love. Knowing that God has written our names on the palms of his hands (Isaiah 49:16) and that he sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17) as he carries us along is comforting beyond words.

Today some of us need to experience the comfort of our gentle God. Reading of his gentle loving care is a good start. However, God’s gentleness is experienced in an incarnational way (in the flesh) when we treat others with the gentleness that God has shown us.

In what ways can you show gentleness to everyone around you today?

Father, you are infinite and almighty. We are small and weak. You pick us up in your arms, and you love us and bless us. May we find shelter in your love today, and may we be shelter for people who are hurting. In Jesus, Amen.

“See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

— Matthew 21:5

In Jesus’ statements of blessing (often called the Beatitudes) in Matthew 5:3-11, we read, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Today we equate meekness with being shy and timid. But the biblical concept of meekness is closer to gentleness. When a powerful person sets aside their power and acts humbly and gently for a better good, they are displaying meekness.

Long ago Zechariah prophesied about a king who would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. This was quite unusual because a deliverer king would normally ride a horse as a symbol of power and victory. Jesus, however, came in gentleness, freeing his people from the grip of sin and death by humbling himself and dying on a cross. And then in amazing and surprising power he rose in victory over death and the grave. He did all of this for our sake, promising new, full life forever for all who believe in him.

There is a time to use power for righteous reasons, and there is a time when it’s better to serve with gentleness. Let’s ask the Spirit to guide us in showing gentleness for Jesus’ sake.

Holy Spirit, teach us when to be strong and bold and when to be humble and gentle so that your kingdom and people may be built up. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.