Today Daily Devotional

Jesus went throughout Galilee . . . healing every disease and sickness among the people.

— Matthew 4:23

This week let’s reflect on a word we might not hear very often: holistic. In mission work we generally define holistic in terms of people’s whole lives. We minister with our whole lives, and we care about the whole lives of the people we minister with.

It’s one thing to think about a definition. It’s a whole other thing to see it in action. That’s what we read about as Matthew 4 describes the ministry of Jesus. Imagine what it would have been like to experience Jesus’ work for yourself. No wonder the good news of Jesus spread everywhere!

All of the mission concepts we have been reflecting on this month show up in this passage: gospel (good news), witness, and holistic. Jesus proclaims the good news of the kingdom of God. People who experience Jesus witness to his goodness and bring others to meet him. And we see the holistic ministry of Jesus “healing every disease and sickness.” People are set free in every part of their lives.

Our theme verse for this month says: “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3). This is what holistic mission is all about.

What does it look like to introduce hurting people to Jesus and his marvelous deeds? We live in a world that desperately needs to experience the loving and healing touch of Jesus.

Jesus, thank you for caring about every part of our lives. Please bring healing to the broken areas of my life, and help me to be a channel of your healing presence to others. Amen.

Like a weaned child I am content.

— Psalm 131:2

The actor Jim Carrey once introduced himself at a Golden Globe awards show as a two-time winner of the award. Half-joking, he made a big deal of winning the award twice. Then he said, with a big smile, “When I go to sleep at night . . . I don’t just dream any old dream. No, sir. I dream about being three-time Golden Globe-winning actor Jim Carrey.” Then he paused, looking at the audience of famous actors and celebrities, and declared, “Because then I would be enough. . . . And I could stop this terrible search.” The audience laughed uncomfortably.

The video clip of that speech went viral because it touches on a vulnerability within many of us. In a society built around consumerism and prestige, our discontentment is easily stirred up. We are told again and again through all kinds of media that we are just one purchase or one achievement away from having complete satisfaction and happiness. Then we will have enough. And we will be enough.

Today, however, we celebrate God’s gift that reminds us that we already have everything we need in Christ. In Christ I am secure. In Christ my hope is found. In Christ I find my deepest contentment, like a weaned child with its loving mother.

May we seek and find that contentment in Christ today.

Lord Jesus, I confess my own issues of discontentment. Forgive me for not trusting that I already have everything I need from you to enjoy the fullness of life. Amen.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long.

— Psalm 71:15

This week we have reflected on what it means to be a witness to God’s saving work. To be a witness is to simply tell about what you have seen and heard. As Christians, we believe that God is always at work around us, so our role is to bear witness to his presence and goodness.

I have an older soccer friend who grew up with a negative view of religion and has often sparred with me about my faith. Several years ago his wife developed dementia, and he spent years caring for her at their home until she recently passed away. In her final months he barely left the house; he was a constant presence at her side. He told me once that as hard as that was, he wouldn’t have wanted to do anything differently. As I thought about his deep faithfulness to his wife, it prompted me to say, “Rick, I know you may not agree with this, but your care for your wife makes me think about how much God cares for us.” He brushed me away. But he didn’t argue.

That interaction reminds me of how we can see God at work—if we pay attention. In addition, if we ask God to help us pay more attention to his work all around us, I wonder how much easier it might become to witness about God’s righteous deeds in our lives and in the lives of others.

God, you call me to declare your power and glory to others. May I see your hand at work in my daily life and in the lives of the people around me. Help me to notice and to bear witness to your greatness. Amen.

“At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

— Matthew 10:19-20

Someone told me recently about an illustration that I used in a sermon several years ago. They said it made a helpful point that they have often shared with their kids through the years. It had to do with the consequences of our actions—if you pick up one end of a stick, you also pick up the other. They said I also used an actual stick to help make the point.

But I don’t remember using that illustration. I don’t even remember using the stick. But I expressed my gratitude that the illustration was helpful, even though I didn’t remember it.

Our passage today talks about the Lord’s promise that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say when we need them the most. I believe this is true, even in situations when we are not being persecuted. If we lean on the Holy Spirit, God can use our words to breathe life, encouragement, and conviction into the hearts of others. God can use our words to bring exactly what someone needs in that moment—even if we don’t remember everything we have said.

Let’s pray that God will give us his words if we are ever being persecuted. And in our everyday conversations, let’s practice witnessing about his goodness so that we are ready.

Jesus, we pray for believers who are being persecuted for their faith in you. Give them strength and your words to say. Please also guide us all as we witness about your goodness. Amen.

“The master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.’”

— Luke 14:23

Let’s return to a parable we looked at last week (Sept. 6). We can reflect on this story through the lens of our call to witness. We are reminded in Jesus’ parable that one of the most compelling pictures of the kingdom of God is that of a great feast.

In fact, the Bible closes with a picture of a wedding feast. Jesus will return one day, and everything that is wrong will be made right. In Revelation 19:9 we read, “The angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” The Lamb is Jesus. And the guests are all who have said yes to his invitation.

Here in Luke, Jesus tells us that as we wait for that great feast, our call is to invite everyone who will come. This is the heart of Jesus’ parable. He deeply longs for every seat to be filled. “Go,” he tells his servants, in effect, “and bring in everyone you can find.” And when the servants do that and there is still room, he sends them out again.

Think of the people you know who need to be encouraged by the beautiful news that God has a place for them at his table. The Lord has invited everyone—won’t you pass the word along? And how can you share the generosity that flows from all the goodness God has given you?

Lord Jesus, fill me with so much gratitude and joy for being invited to your feast that I cannot help inviting others to come as well. Amen.

[John] himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

— John 1:8

When we think about sharing our faith, we are often nervous about having the right words to say. What if I say something wrong? What if someone asks me a question I don’t know how to answer? What kind of witness would that be?

I love how the gospel of John describes the work of John the Baptist. It is a reassuring description of what it means to be an evangelist (a messenger) for Jesus. We are told that John came as a witness, to testify concerning the light of Christ. We get this important clarification: “He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.”

Wherever you may be right now, take a look at the closest light near you. Doing so might not be very comfortable for your eyes, though. In general, lights are not designed to be looked at. The purpose of a light is to reveal the things around it. For example, you can read a book and see other things around you because some kind of light is helping you to see those things.

The role of John the Baptist, “who came as a witness to testify” about Jesus, was to help people understand about the light. John was not the light. But he helped people to understand that the One who is the light makes it possible to see what life is all about. In the same way, our witness about Jesus is not about ourselves—it points people to the One who is the light of the world.

Jesus, light of the world, shine in our hearts today. Help us to witness faithfully about you in a world that longs for your light of love and hope. Amen.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”

— John 4:7

Many Christians are uneasy about sharing the gospel message. We don’t want to say the wrong thing or offend people or push them away. I remember how scared I was the one time I did door-to-door evangelism. As a teenager I volunteered in the summer with a group of young people in a neighborhood church. We led vacation Bible school for kids living nearby, and when we followed up to visit with the kids’ families, we were so nervous that sometimes we forgot the name of the church we were serving—let alone how to share our faith!

That model of evangelism tends not to be effective today. Many people have found that building relationships with people and witnessing as friends is more fruitful.

John 4 shows us how Jesus struck up a conversation with a woman at a well. It was culturally unusual for him to speak with a woman he did not know, but she sensed his care for her and her life. He was bold but also highly relational and kind. As she talked with him, she showed that she was a thoughtful but wounded person with broken relationships in her past.

Most situations of sharing the good news do not bring about such a quick turnaround. But we can follow Jesus’ compassionate approach, listening to people’s stories, entering their pain, and speaking with gentleness and respect about the God who loves them.

Jesus, equip me with your Holy Spirit to become increasingly attentive to my connections with others. Help me respond with your compassion. Amen.

“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

— Acts 4:20

When we see or experience something extraordinary, usually we can’t help telling people about it. Whether it is an encounter with a celebrity or a wonderful vacation or a life-changing event, we want to share it. As a young teen, I witnessed the launch of one of the first space shuttles. You can be sure I told all my friends about it when I got back home!

This week, as we think about God’s big mission, let’s focus on our second word, witness. We give witness, or testimony, about God’s work of salvation because God calls us to do so, and the Holy Spirit has come to help us (Acts 1:8).

But we are also motivated internally. If we have experienced the saving love and power of God, and it has completely changed who we are and how we live, how can we not talk about it?

In our passage today, we read that the apostles Peter and John caused a stir among the religious leaders in Jerusalem by healing a lame man. Those leaders wanted to know by what power or authority they had done this work. Peter, bold as ever, declared that they served Jesus and Jesus alone. And as for their work of speaking about Jesus and ministering in his name, how could they keep from sharing about all they had learned from the Savior? Likewise, may our lives spill over with the joy of our salvation!

Dear Jesus, as this passage reminds us, “salvation is found in no one else” but you. May my life overflow with excitement and joy that because of your great love, I belong to you. Amen.

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

— Matthew 11:28

Today is Sunday, so let’s pause our focus on mission themes and take some time out for worship and rest. This is important, because missions can easily focus on all the things we are called to do. And, at times, talking about God’s mission can leave us feeling guilty about things we are not doing. So today we remember that we do not carry the world on our shoulders. We take a day to worship, meditate on Scripture, play, and rest.

This past week we have been thinking about the gospel as good news. In our passage today we hear the most beautiful good news from Jesus: “Come to me and rest.” Notice that he is talking not only about physical rest but also about rest for our souls. Jesus promises eternal rest for us all.

The other day I was reading some bedtime stories to my grandsons—and as we did that together, I could feel them relax into my arms. Secure in a trusted relationship, they were able to let go and fall into a state of peaceful rest.

Jesus invites us to see himself that way. Secure in Jesus, we can release our cares, our burdens, and our problems to him. On this day of rest, may you be reminded and find that the Lord holds you and the whole world in his hands.

Dear Jesus, I surrender all the places in my life where I feel tired and worn out. May I find true and eternal rest in you today on this day of Sabbath. Amen.

Jesus replied, “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.”

— Luke 14:16

Thinking about the gospel reminds us that at the heart of the Christian faith is a life- changing message of joy. That’s why I like this parable so much. Jesus uses a powerful metaphor to describe life with him in the kingdom of God: a great banquet.

In Jesus’ day, banquets often celebrated important events in the community. In fact, Jesus’ first miracle took place at a wedding banquet. To spare the family from social embarrassment when their wine had run out early, Jesus turned several jugs of water into wine (John 2:1-11).

In Luke 14, Jesus tells a story about a wealthy man who hosts a banquet for his friends. They all accept the initial invitation, but when the day of the banquet comes and they are told that the food is ready, they make ridiculous excuses and reject the host’s generosity. So the angry and frustrated host opens his table to whoever wants to come.

This becomes a picture of the kingdom we are invited to enjoy. Sometimes this parable is summed up in a way like this: “God is throwing a party. Are you coming?” I love that! This sounds like good news to me!

Am I willing to see that life in Jesus is better and more delightful than anything this world offers? Am I ready to drop everything and run to the feast?

Jesus, help me to see that life in your kingdom is a great celebration that we can enjoy forever. May I not be distracted by other things in my life and say yes to your invitation today. Amen.