Today Daily Devotional

You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

— James 5:8

Have you heard the story about the father who took his children on a week-long fishing trip? The first day of the trip was rainy, so they stayed in their cabin. The second day was the same as the first. Soon the children began to fight. On the third day the father said, “We are going fishing.”

“But, Dad,” the children cried, “it’s still raining.”

“That’s right,” the father replied, “but if we don’t go fishing, we will just spend our time fighting.” The moral of this story is that when the church is not “fishing” (Matthew 4:19), it is prone to start fighting.

James calls us to wait patiently for the Lord’s return. But this patient waiting is not without a purpose. As Peter teaches, God is not slow in returning but is being patient, “not wanting anyone to perish” (2 Peter 3:9). And we are called to participate in calling people to faith. Jesus calls his followers to take the good news of salvation to all peoples and nations (Matthew 28:18-20). As Paul put it, we are like ambassadors, imploring people to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Already in the days of James, Peter, and Paul, some believers were losing patience waiting for the return of Christ. The situation is certainly no better today. But when we are active participants in God’s mission, each day of delaying his return is another day of opportunity.

Lord Jesus, we are eager for your return, but we also ask that in this time of delay many others will come to know and love you. Amen.

“I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”

— Matthew 5:39

Few teachings of Jesus are more difficult to follow than this instruction to turn the other cheek. When we are wronged, it is natural to want to get even. Yet God calls us to turn the other cheek. Is this a call for us to simply let ourselves be bullied? To never stand up for ourselves? No, it runs far deeper than that.

When we are wronged, it helps to remember that no wrong will go unpunished. Every sin that is committed will be paid for. “It is mine to avenge,” says the Lord, “I will repay” (Deuteronomy 32:35; see Romans 12:17-21). This is a great comfort to believers who are being wronged! Every wrong against us will be punished.

The good news of Jesus is that if the wrong that was committed is repented of, and the wrongdoer asks for forgiveness, the wrong is paid for by Christ on the cross. Jesus came into this world in order to take on the punishment for all human sin, so that all who look to him can be saved.

When a wrong is committed against us, we might think, “Well, I want the one who hurt me to be punished. I want them punished, not Christ.” But we need to remember that we too have wronged many others and that Christ took on our punishment, paying for our guilt as well.

Forgiving God, guide us to be patient with others, especially when we are wronged, so that Christ may be made visible in us. Help us, Holy Spirit, to show your patience in all times and circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

— 2 Peter 3:9

When it comes to frozen pizza, I am not at all patient. I don’t wait for the oven to preheat, and once the pizza is done, I don’t wait for it to cool down. My impatience leads to a poorly cooked pizza that burns my mouth!

But if I changed and became more patient with frozen pizza, that would not necessarily be a sign of the Spirit working in me. When we think of patience as the fruit of the Spirit, it means more than just the opposite of hotheadedness. That is why “forbearance” or “longsuffering” is sometimes listed in place of “patience” in the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.

The Holy Spirit prompted the apostle Peter to remind his readers about the patience—longsuffering and forbearance—of God to all people.

God first showed his amazing patience with humanity in the Garden of Eden when he promised a Savior rather than eternal banishment from his presence (Genesis 3:15). And ever since then, God has patiently continued to call us to repentance. Though he will sometimes send punishment, God does not destroy the people he loves and has called. God continues to wait today for people from every tribe and nation to come to him in faith and repentance. And he calls us to return to him daily and to celebrate his patience with praise and thanksgiving.

Patient God, we thank you for calling us all to faith and repentance. Help us to respond to your gracious call. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

— 1 Peter 5:7

A student sat at a table in the corner of the library. The table was covered with books and papers. In just a few days, classes would be over for the semester, and deadlines for final papers and exams were looming. I asked the student how she was doing, and she told me she was “so stressed out!”

I replied, “Well, I cannot write your papers for you, and I wouldn’t be much of a help in studying—but, if you like, I would be happy to pray with you.”

She said she would appreciate that, so we prayed together. After a few moments, she said, “I don’t feel anxious anymore.” Her response was amazing. She simply said, “I no longer feel any stress.”

Another student in a similar situation said, “I don’t have any reason to feel anxious after bringing my cares to the Lord.”

The words of an old hymn come to mind: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit; oh, what needless pain we bear—all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

The good news for an increasingly anxious world is that the Spirit wants to produce peace in our minds, hearts, and lives, and often that can happen when we open ourselves to the Lord in prayer.

Lord God, we live in anxious times in an anxious world. As we cast our cares upon Jesus, grant us peace. We pray in the name of the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus. Amen.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

— Matthew 11:28

As our world entered into COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, sharp rises in mental health issues soon followed. Everyday life at college and university campuses, among many other settings, turned upside down. Some studies reported that as many as 75 percent of students experienced elevated levels of stress and anxiety. For many, sleep became elusive, and functioning well on a daily basis became a huge challenge.

Stress and anxiety can be described as a lack of inner peace. When we consider the mental health struggles of our world, there is reason for hope. Hope comes when we learn that “the fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace” (Galatians 5:22). The Spirit cares about our inner turmoil and seeks to calm it. And in many cases the Spirit works to bring peace through counseling and medication. These can be helpful means toward healing, if needed. Thankfully we can trust that whatever we need, God cares about ­every aspect of our lives, and in Christ we have the promise of increased peace.

Heavenly Father, we thank you that your concern for us is all encompassing. We pray for inner peace in the midst of our anxious times, and may the Spirit in us provide a calming presence for others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. . . .

— Ephesians 2:14

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. This rich word means much more than the absence of conflict, war, or strife and a lack of tension or animosity. It points to full flourishing for all people and creation, in which life is exactly as it should be. Prior to their fall into sin, our first parents enjoyed shalom in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2). They fully enjoyed their walks with God in the cool of the day, they enjoyed each other’s company fully, and their work and world were beautiful.

As believers who have been restored to a right relationship with God through the sacrifice of Jesus, we now have a taste—at least to some degree—of what Adam and Eve enjoyed before sin entered their lives. Likewise, in the church and outside of it, we also have a glimpse of the peace that awaits us in God’s presence. Sometimes this taste of shalom is strong, and sometimes it is weak, but it is always there.

We have also been tasked with bringing others to a renewed sense of peace. One way of approaching this is to ask, “How can I make life on earth seem a little more like heaven (or God’s kingdom) for someone else?” Can you think of a way to bring peace into the lives of others today?

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the peace that we have with you through Jesus, and for guiding us to grow in peace with others. Help us to be agents of peace in this broken world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

— Psalm 37:4

The desire to have joy and be happy is universal. It is one of the deepest desires of the human heart. But happiness often seems elusive. Surprisingly our Bible passage today offers the hope of happiness, joy, and peace in all times, places, and situations. The psalmist says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

The question, then, is “How do we ‘take delight in the Lord’?” First of all, we need a right relationship with God—and this is offered freely to us through faith in Jesus. And then we can focus on the full life we are called to in Christ (John 10:10; 15:10-17; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 6:27-36) and how we can begin living that way here and now.

Thinking highly of God the Father, who loves us and sent his Son to save us while we were still his enemies is a start (Romans 5:8-11). Focusing on the Savior, who redeemed us and has prepared the way for us to spend eternity with him and each other in perfect joy, is also crucial. And walking with the Spirit, who guides and comforts us each day, will lead to lasting joy, happiness, and contentment.

Some things in this world bring fleeting joy. But all those things break down, wear out, get stolen, rust, burn up, or betray us and ultimately let us down. When we “take delight in the Lord,” however, the Spirit produces the lasting fruit of joy in our lives.

Giver of every good gift, we thank you for the promise of giving us the desires of our hearts when we delight in you! Amen.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. . . .

— James 1:2

Students sometimes receive lower grades on papers and exams than they have hoped for. Disappointment can lead to frustration and anger. Fear may enter the picture as well: “Because of this low mark, will I lose my place in my program or be suspended from my sports team?”

Students are not the only ones who face difficult and challenging situations. The loss of a job, strained relationships at home, and pressures at work can bring a great deal of stress into our lives. We also struggle when we get sick, or when a family member or friend becomes ill. There is also the heart-wrenching pain of persecution, which remains a reality in our world.

James urges us to “consider it pure joy” when we face ­trials and struggles in our lives. What? This is certainly one of the most challenging commands in the Bible. But James explains that trials and sufferings in the lives of believers produce a stronger and more robust faith. And faith, as Peter puts it when he talks about suffering, is more valuable than gold (1 Peter 1:7).

When we see our struggles from this perspective, we can also begin to understand why Paul calls them light and temporary (2 Corinthians 4:17) and “not worth comparing with the glory” that awaits us (Romans 8:18).

Lord, thank you that through your Spirit we may experience joy in the midst of struggles, as our challenges in life bring us into a deeper relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! . . . The Lord is near.

— Philippians 4:4-5

The end of April is a happy time at the college where I serve as a chaplain. Classes are finished, and final exams are complete! Suddenly stress that has been building for weeks is released, and we see smiling faces all around.

In all kinds of situations, release from stress can lead to smiles and joy and even rejoicing and celebration.

Would you be surprised to know that some variation of “Be happy” is one of the most common instructions to us in God’s Word? While a search of the Bible may not always turn up the word “happy,” when we add the instructions to be glad, to rejoice, and to be joyful, we realize that this command does occur quite often in Scripture. Even the catchy title of a song from a past era, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” is a reflection of this common theme in God’s Word.

What a remarkable blessing it is that God not only commands us to be joyful but also produces joy in us by his Spirit. The Spirit produces joy in the lives of his people not only when they are surrounded by “happy” circumstances. Even while chained in prison, Paul and Silas were able to sing with joy (see Acts 16:25-34). People who walk by the Spirit can find joy in all circumstances.

Holy Spirit, we thank you not only for calling us to rejoice in the Lord always, but also for producing that joy in our lives through your presence, in Jesus’ name! Amen.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. . . .”

— Matthew 5:43-44

In our campus ministry at Medicine Hat (Alberta) College, we gather on campus to sing, to read and reflect on Scripture, and to pray. The students who form our little church were born in many different countries. The tone of our skin ­ranges from very pale to very dark. Though we come from diverse backgrounds, our love for God and for one another is amazing. When I read in Revelation 7:9 of the great multitude in heaven “from every nation, tribe, people and language,” our little campus church comes to mind. Our fellowship is sweet, and we eagerly invite others to join us.

However, our world is very different from this fellowship. The world is deeply divided along political, economic, religious, ethnic, and racial lines. In fact, the divisions in our world are nearly endless. When Jesus calls us to love our enemies, he certainly includes those who are different from me.

Our world is content to live with friend/enemy distinctions, loving friends and hating enemies, but Jesus calls us to love friend and enemy alike. We cannot do this on our own, but through the power of the Holy Spirit we can extend true love to everyone. As we love friend and enemy alike, we give this world a glimpse of what the world to come will be.

Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for us even though we were your enemies. Help us to love our enemies for your sake. Amen.