Today Daily Devotional

They cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

— Acts 1:26

At a professional basketball game, have you looked at all of the players sitting on the bench? Most of them still have their warmups on and aren’t sweating at all. They all have plenty of skills, or they wouldn’t even be allowed to sit on that bench. They were probably stars at whatever previous level of basketball they played. But for now they sit on the bench and patiently wait for a turn to play.

I wonder if Matthias felt in a way like that. He had been following Jesus from the beginning. He had heard everything that Jesus had taught. He had seen all of the miracles Jesus had done. He may have been one of the 72 followers Jesus had sent out during his ministry. Matthias must have had many stories to share about what he had seen and done while following Jesus. Certainly he was a qualified and loyal follower of Jesus. But he wasn’t one of the 12 apostles until his name came up and was drawn by lot.

Sometimes the message we get from Jesus is “Wait.” We may be ready to go where he sends us or to do what he wants us to do. But he tells us to wait. Wait for the opportunity and for the time to be right. Wait for Jesus to call on us.

I imagine Matthias was excited to become part of the leading group of Christ-followers who would go out and change the world. I hope you are excited to be a part of that movement as well.

Lord Jesus, when you call us to follow you, move us to say yes with excitement and joy for what you have in store for us. Amen.

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

— Matthew 28:16

When our kids were old enough to look after themselves at home while Mom and Dad went out, we always had lots of instructions for them. Feed the dog, water the plants, vacuum the living room, load the dishwasher, and be in bed by 10 p.m. In our absence we wanted things to get done, and we needed our kids to know they had to get them done.

In some ways, it seems, Jesus had a similar plan when he was about to leave his disciples. He had spent years with them, training them and preparing them for this exact moment. He was about to return to the Father in heaven and leave them with the task of furthering his kingdom on the earth. So before he left, Jesus gave them these tasks: “Make disciples of all nations.” “Baptize people into my family.” “Teach them everything I have commanded you.” And he promised, “I will always be with you.”

These were essential for the disciples, and they are essential for us today. We continue in this important work as Jesus’ followers even now. Jesus’ message to his disciples is his message to us.

We have our job description, and we have Jesus’ promise of his eternal presence with us. And these are things we can be sure of.

Jesus, thank you for your promise to be with us always and for the tasks you have given us. Help us to fulfill your kingdom purposes on the earth every day. In your name, Amen.

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time. . . .

— John 21:17

Jesus’ questions parallel Peter’s three denials. On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter was asked three times if he was associated with Jesus, and each time Peter said no (John 18:15-18, 25-27). Now Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” And while Peter is obviously hurt by this, no doubt Jesus was hurt by Peter’s denials as well.

The rebuilding of Peter’s relationship with Jesus was important. Jesus needed to hear that Peter still loved him. Jesus still had a role for Peter to fill in his growing kingdom. And Peter needed to know he was forgiven and still welcome in Jesus’ kingdom work. In fact, Peter might have thought he wasn’t welcome to follow Jesus anymore after his denial—and that might have been at least partly why he went back to fishing so soon after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Whatever the case, Peter needed to know that he was still welcome.

Nothing Peter could do would separate him from Jesus’ love. The same is true for us (Romans 8:38-39). We might deny Jesus and turn our backs on him in any number of ways. But Jesus never does that to us. He is always waiting for us, asking us if we love him, and giving us a continued purpose in his kingdom. Jesus’ love never fails. This is a promise we can depend on every day.

Jesus, thank you for the gift of forgiveness and for continuing to call us to follow you. Thank you for providing us with salvation and a new life with you! Amen.

Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.

— John 21:1

If you’re an expert at something and have done it for a long time, it can be difficult to take advice from someone else. In our reading today, though, we find that even though Jesus’ disciples are experienced fishermen, they take advice from a stranger who calls out to them from the shore.

Maybe they go along with this advice because they have been out all night and have caught nothing. Fishing on the Sea of Galilee could be unpredictable, and even experienced fishermen could get stumped. Or maybe this stranger spoke with enough authority to convince them to listen to him. This particular stranger, who was the Lord of heaven and earth, surely had abundant authority (see Matthew 28:18).

Whatever the case, it didn’t take long for the disciples to realize who the stranger was. Their catch of fish was so big that they couldn’t haul it in. And John said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Clearly they remembered a time when this had happened before (see Luke 5:1-11).

Back then, Jesus had called these fishermen to follow him, and they had joined him on an incredible journey. Now Jesus was meeting with them again to renew their call to follow him. And they followed.

Jesus calls us to follow him too. Will you join him again today?

Jesus, help us to say yes to your invitation, and guide us to follow you today and every day, wherever you call us to go. Amen.

That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

— Luke 24:13

A friend of mine went to his kids’ sports event, and he found a seat next to a random stranger in the stands. They started a conversation and talked for most of the game. It was only after people pointed out to him later that the person he was talking to during the game was a retired famous athlete. He had had no idea.

Cleopas and his fellow traveler had known Jesus and had interacted with him before his death and resurrection. They were closely connected with his ministry and even knew that the women had found his tomb empty earlier that day. But they didn’t recognize Jesus as he walked and talked with them. I’m not sure why they didn’t recognize him, but that also happened to others who knew him well. Only after he broke bread with them in their home did they realize that the person they had been talking with was Jesus.

I wonder how often we find ourselves in Christ’s presence and don’t realize it. Though he isn’t actually there in person, he can be present with us anywhere at any time because he promises, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). Maybe a conversation with a friend ushers us into Jesus’ presence. Or maybe a worship experience helps us connect with Christ in a new way. Or maybe someone shines the presence of Jesus in a selfless act of service. Whatever the case, let’s keep our eyes open for Jesus in our everyday living. No doubt he is walking with us each day.

Lord, help us to know you are with us always, and to work with you in all we do and say. Amen.

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

— John 20:24

I can understand Thomas’s doubt. For whatever reason, he wasn’t with the other disciples when Jesus first visited them after his resurrection, so he hadn’t seen Jesus firsthand. Maybe he should have taken the disciples’ word for it when they told him they had seen Jesus. Maybe he should have had more faith. Or maybe he was just an untrusting sort of person. Whatever the case, Thomas said he just couldn’t believe Jesus was alive until he saw Jesus for himself.

When Jesus came again and Thomas could see him, Jesus was patient with Thomas. Jesus even showed Thomas what he said he needed to see in order to believe. But Jesus also noted that all who believe without seeing him will be blessed.

Today that includes you and me. Belief without seeing is the nature of our faith most of the time. We probably won’t see Christ in person until we join him in eternity. Until then, though, we believe even though we have not seen.

We are called to have faith in Jesus for who he is, all he has done, and all he has promised. We believe because others have seen, because others have witnessed, and because their testimony is in God’s Word to us, along with all of God’s promises. We believe because the Spirit of God guides us into the truth of God’s Word and gives us faith (see John 16:7-15; Ephesians 2:6-10). And in believing we are blessed.

Lord, help us to believe even though we have not seen. By your Spirit, lead us to know the truth that brings life in you. Amen.

On . . . that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

— John 20:19

The disciples were hiding together behind locked doors in the days after Jesus’ death. They weren’t just afraid of being recognized or ridiculed for following a teacher that had been sentenced and crucified. They feared for their lives. They were afraid of what the Jewish leaders might do to try to wipe out any remaining followers of their enemy Jesus.

Some of us might look down on the disciples for their fear, but I think most of us would have reacted the same way if we were in their position. In fact, we might also act out of fear in our everyday living as followers of Jesus today.

Most of us, if we live in a place of religious freedom, don’t have to fear for our lives because of our faith—but there are many people who do. And even if we don’t fear for our lives, we might have fears about what our friends, classmates, coworkers, or even family members might think of us if we told them what we believe.

While these reactions may make sense, Jesus’ greeting to his disciples should ring in our ears whenever we might be afraid. Jesus greeted his disciples with the words “Peace be with you!” And that same peace is offered to us if ever we are afraid.

Risen Lord, we don’t want to be afraid. Help us always to have your peace in our lives—especially if we are afraid. In your name we pray. Amen.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

— Luke 24:1

When they went to Jesus’ tomb on Sunday morning, the women expected to find Jesus’ body there. They had prepared spices for his burial and a time of mourning. But when they got there, the stone was rolled away and Jesus’ body was gone. Suddenly they saw two men in gleaming clothes who told them that Jesus wasn’t there but had risen from the dead, just as he had told them.

All of that is amazing in itself, but I love what these women did when they left the tomb. They went and told the disciples and “all the others.” They had seen something amazing, and that needed to be shared. So they told everyone they knew.

Other people did the same thing after encountering Jesus. They experienced his amazing power through healings, teachings, forgiveness, and more—and they couldn’t keep from sharing about it with everyone else.

Encountering the risen Lord should draw the same response from us. “Christ is risen” is the best news the world has ever heard. This isn’t news that should be hoarded for ourselves or kept from others who need to hear it. This is good news for all the world to hear. So today, share the good news of Jesus with everyone you meet.

Christ has risen!

Jesus, let us boldly share the news of your resurrection through our words and actions with everyone we meet today. In your name, Amen.

“Go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

— Mark 16:7

We might not like to be singled out, but many of us know what that’s like. It may be for a special honor, or it may be for doing something wrong. Either way, being singled out can be embarrassing and make us want to hide.

Peter was singled out by Jesus here. And while Peter may have gulped deeply when he heard about this, it wasn’t a bad thing. Peter had denied Jesus three times, even after saying he would never leave Jesus’ side (see Mark 14:27-31, 66-72). I can’t imagine the guilt Peter must have felt. But Jesus needed Peter to know that he was still welcome among his followers. He was still invited to the reunion in Galilee that Jesus had mentioned. In fact, he was still part of the plan Jesus had for his disciples and the whole world.

We could all make a laundry list of the many things we do that should separate us from Jesus. There are times when we do what we shouldn’t do and times when we don’t do what we should do. But none of those things separates us from Jesus and his kingdom, because his death has covered all the sins of our lives—even the ones we haven’t done yet. That’s how vast the forgiveness of God is! And when the Lord singles us out, we can be sure he is calling us to join with him.

Can you sense the Lord calling you today?

Jesus, thank you for calling us to follow you, even though we have failed you in many ways. Help us to be faithful, we pray. Amen.

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

— John 20:16

On the morning of Jesus’ resurrection, Mary Magdalene went to visit his tomb early—and when she saw the stone rolled away, she quickly went to tell Jesus’ disciples. They came and saw and then returned to where they were staying. But Mary couldn’t leave. She was overcome with sorrow about Jesus’ death and couldn’t imagine life without him. So she lingered in the garden and wept.

Through her tears she saw two angels in the tomb. She explained why she was crying, and then she turned around and saw Jesus there but didn’t recognize him. It’s hard to know why she didn’t recognize him. Maybe her vision was clouded by tears. Maybe Jesus’ resurrected body was somehow different. Whatever the reason, she mistook him for the gardener and asked where Jesus’ body had been taken. And Jesus simply called her by name: “Mary.”

How often do we encounter Jesus and not recognize him? Maybe we are talking with a person in need. Maybe someone is calling us to repentance. Maybe someone is showing us kindness or grace. Or maybe Jesus is present in a random event. Maybe our vision is clouded by busyness or worry, fear, or inattention. But then Jesus, who knows everything about us, gets our attention, and we immediately know he is there. We can tell that he loves us and is always with us. We know that his grace is for us, and that he calls us to follow him in everything we do.

Jesus, thank you for knowing us and calling us to enjoy new life with you. Amen.