Today Daily Devotional

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

— John 15:5

How do we “remain” in Jesus?

I think it has a lot to do with prayer. I grew up in the church, and I remember that when I was young, prayer always seemed boring. We clasped our hands, closed our eyes, and bowed our heads as the pastor prayed for what seemed a long, long time. But as I grew older and Jesus became more real to me, my prayer life started to change.

There’s nothing wrong with the posture of folding your hands and closing your eyes—I still sometimes take that posture to concentrate. But as I grew in faith, prayer became much more about spending time with God. I not only learned to praise God and lift up my requests to him; I also learned to spend time reading the Bible and listening for what the Spirit had to say.

I’ve found that when I make sure to spend time with Jesus in prayer, I’m a much more patient person—even in the midst of life’s challenges. On days when there is too much to do, I’m more likely to be kinder and slower in my responses to family and friends. I’m also more likely to take time for a conversation with a neighbor who passes by. And I’m more likely to look for and respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

Lord, thank you that we’re able to spend time in your presence through prayer. Help us to be intentional about spending time with you so that your love and grace can transform us to become more like you. Amen.

“Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see. . . .”

— 2 Kings 19:16

I recently spent a morning with Pastor Obelto, who leads a network of Haitian church plants in Florida. I will never forget his words: “Like Hezekiah, we prayed and prayed and prayed.”

His growing church was meeting in a storefront when the owners told them they had to leave to make way for a new restaurant that was coming to town. This group of recent Haitian immigrants had very little money, and whatever money they did have they were sending back to their relatives, who were struggling in their home country. But they needed a worship place where they could meet the spiritual needs of their community as they dealt with significant trauma and a sense of displacement.

So they looked to the Bible, and they were inspired by the story of Hezekiah. They called on God with boldness and conviction, and God answered their prayers. I had the wonderful privilege of walking through this answer to prayer with them—a fitting house of worship unique to their Haitian culture that can proudly share the ministry of Jesus.

Today their church provides a place of solace for a community that has been struck by devastation. Their story is a reminder that God hears us when we call on him. God knows all that we need, and he provides.

Lord, I confess that at times I can lose my passion for prayer. Rekindle in me a hunger to call on you like Hezekiah did, and like so many others around the world. In Jesus, Amen.

I want to know Christ. . . .

— Philippians 3:10

Researchers in Europe went door to door, asking people about their belief in God. One question was this: “Do you believe in a God who intervenes in human lives, who changes the course of history, and performs miracles?” A typical response to this question was “No, I don’t believe in that God. I believe in the ordinary God.”

I admit that it can be tempting to prefer “the ordinary God”—that is, a God who is there when I need him but who remains mostly quiet in the background while I go about my life.

Fortunately the Scriptures do not let us settle with that notion of an ordinary God. The Jesus we meet in the New Testament entered our world, carried our burden of sin to the cross, died in our place, and then rose from the dead and later ascended to rule with God in heaven. This is no ordinary God.

The God of the Bible does in fact break into our lives in all kinds of surprising, beautiful, and disruptive ways. In fact, the one true God is beyond extraordinary. And all of this is conveyed in this remarkable prayer of Paul: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings” and then to experience that resurrection as well.

What a prayer! How would my life change if this became my life’s prayer? What could happen if I prayed this for the people in my life?

Dear Jesus, I want to know you. Make me like you so that I may experience the power of your resurrection. Amen.

“. . . the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.”

— Exodus 20:10

I am not very good at resting. I have noticed that I’m becoming more distracted by my phone and more captivated by the world online. I love to learn, and the internet provides endless opportunities to keep exploring information.

I have to admit that for all of my good intentions, my life has gotten busier, not quieter. Busy seasons probably crop up in your life too, even if you are good at taking care of yourself. We live in a world that prizes busyness and ever-increasing productivity.

Well, today is Sunday. This is a reminder that we are not designed to stay busy all the time. God declared long ago that we need a good rhythm of rest and work. Then, to honor the day of Jesus’ resurrection, Christians shifted the celebration of Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.

What I like about celebrating Sabbath on the first day of the week is that it reminds us that we begin our week with rest. Whether or not you are able to rest today, I pray that you may find time in your weekly rhythm to stop, rest, and listen anew to God, taking time to worship the Lord and to rest. Give thanks and praise God for all the good things he has done in this world and in your life. Reflect, pray, and listen to his guiding Word in the Bible and in your heart. What might God be saying to you?

Lord, thank you for the Sabbath. Thank you for giving us time to rest. Help us to rest well today, and to make sure we take time in our lives to rest in your presence. Amen.

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. . . .

— Isaiah 62:6

In this vision of hope we find a powerful call to action. In verse 6, God says: “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night.” This is a powerful picture of intercessory prayer, in which people pray for others and for God’s work in their lives. In ancient times the purpose of watching on the walls of a city was to observe what was happening and to spot enemies or danger that might approach.

We don’t have literal watchers on the walls in our culture today, but there are lots of people who do something similar. Weather forecasters tell us what weather is coming. Financial experts keep an eye on the markets. Others watch what’s going on in geopolitics.

Here, in Isaiah, God says that he has put watchmen on the walls—people who discern what is going on in the spiritual realm and pray about it. They are like believers who pray with passion and deep conviction, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Is there a situation stirring your heart to prayer? How might the Spirit be calling you to pray for your neighbors, co-workers, or fellow students? God invites you to be a watcher on the wall. Strong prayer for others and for the coming of God’s kingdom is a key strategy in his mission.

Thank you, God, for the power of intercessory prayer. As watchers on the wall, we pray for your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith!”

— Matthew 15:28

In today’s story Jesus and his disciples were in an area where most of the people did not know or worship God. The disciples were not familiar with the customs and culture and likely would have felt uncomfortable there. Then they met a woman whose daughter was “demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

Jesus’ response to her sounds puzzling. Was he making a point to everyone listening? Was he testing her? He said that as a non-Jewish person, she was not the focus of his ministry. But she was determined to find help for her hurting daughter. She said, in effect, “Whatever crumbs of goodness you are willing to throw to us will be enough.” And Jesus celebrated the woman’s faith and healed her daughter “at that moment.” Amazing!

Sometimes we think that witnessing is about bringing Jesus into our conversations and relationships. But here we are reminded that God is always ahead of us. The woman already had an emerging trust that Jesus was her one true hope. To be a witness is to discern and celebrate where God is already at work.

Where do you see God moving ahead and stirring people’s faith, questions, and longings?

Dear God, give us the eyes to see where you are already at work in the places we go today and in our neighborhood. Help us respond faithfully to the good work of your Spirit. Amen.

In all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

— 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8

Paul thanked God for his Thessalonian friends, who, despite knowing they would suffer for their faith in Jesus, were sure of the security they would find in him. What a witness they were to the Savior! The Thessalonians were persecuted, but they remained steadfast in their faith—and that is not always easy. It can be difficult to remain faithful, especially when life presents unexpected challenges. When Paul sent Timothy to check on the Thessalonians, he was encouraged and filled with joy that their faith had remained strong. He said, “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.”

Remaining firm in Christ is not always easy—but God tells us about the peace, comfort, and redemption he provides when we stay near to him despite our challenges. Life can bring grief, worry, fear, and a host of other difficult and uncomfortable emotions.

It can be hard to accept circumstances that are unpredictable and far outside of our own control, especially when our hearts yearn to make things better. But when we draw near to God, he promises to give us his peace that surpasses all understanding. God’s presence strengthens our weary hearts through challenges, persecution, and unforeseen circumstances—and for that we praise him!

Lord, plant our feet firmly in you. Help us to draw nearer to you in challenging times and to trust in you. Amen.

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted.

— 2 Timothy 3:12

As we explore what it means to be witnesses for Jesus, it is important to talk about the cost of witnessing. Did you know that in the Bible the Greek word for “witnesses” is martyres, which also gives us the word “martyr”?

Since the beginning of the church, there has been strong opposition to the Christian faith. The New Testament includes many stories of the persecution of Christians. And persecution continues today. Christianity Today magazine reported that about 13 Christians worldwide are killed every day because of their faith. In addition, 12 Christian buildings or churches are attacked, and 12 Christians are unjustly arrested each day. More than 360 million Christians in the world live with some kind of persecution or oppression because of their faith. They all bear witness to their faith and trust in Jesus as their living hope and Savior.

In 2 Timothy, Paul describes the ways he was persecuted, and he says that believers can expect persecution for living “a godly life in Christ.” But he offers hope too. Although he faced many persecutions, Paul said, “The Lord rescued me from all of them.”

Paul also reassures us that “all Scripture is God-breathed” and that it trains and equips us to face all kinds of worldly obstacles as we live “through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Lord, please protect all of your servants around the world today. Comfort them as they encounter persecution, and work through them to shine your light to people everywhere. Amen.

“. . . and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

— Acts 1:8

Have you ever received a gift but were not quite sure what to do with it? I once received some freeze-dried army food. I didn’t need it right away, so it sat in my closet for a long time, waiting for the right moment to be used—which never came. One day I quietly got rid of that unopened gift.

Jesus’ gift to us is not like that. He gives us the Holy Spirit, and he explains what this gift is for and where we will use it. “You will be my witnesses,” he said to his followers, “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Those locations had specific meanings for Jesus’ first disciples. Jerusalem was the place they were in, and the Spirit would send them to be witnesses to the people in that local area. Judea was the region around Jerusalem, where the people were a lot like them. Samaria was a neighboring region that included people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The Holy Spirit would send them to those places and then also to “the ends of the earth,” to share the good news of Jesus with people who lived far away.

Jesus offers the same gift of the Spirit to us. Who are the people living in our “Jerusalem,” “Judea,” and “Samaria,” and in all nations to the ends of the earth? How can we support God’s mission in each of those places?

Jesus, thank you for pouring out the gift of your Spirit in our lives, inviting each one of us to join you in sharing the good news in our neighborhoods and around the world. Amen.

“See, I am doing a new thing!”

— Isaiah 43:19

Recently my wife and I replaced our old kitchen stove with a new one. The first time I used it, I put a pan of milk on the range to make oatmeal and turned it on high. I turned around briefly to get some other ingredients—and the next thing I knew, milk was running everywhere, even between the glass panes of the oven door. Would our new stove be ruined? As we removed screws to get at the glass, we wondered, “How did this happen? Will it ever be fixed?”

For many people, it seems the world is that way too. Problems in the world and in our lives can feel overwhelming. We find ourselves asking, “Will things ever be fixed”?

In Isaiah 43, God speaks to his people as they struggle with feeling that way. They are in exile, and their country is in ruins. In despair, they are thinking it will never be fixed. But God declares, “See, I am doing a new thing! . . . Do you not perceive it?” We are reminded that God is at work doing something new, and he invites us to join him.

Our stove eventually got fixed. And God’s plan for the world is far greater. He shows us that things will not just be restored—they will be even better than before! Do we have the eyes to see?

Lord of all, thank you for the new things you are doing in our world. Please give us eyes to see what you are doing today, and help us to notice all that you are making new in our lives! In Jesus, Amen.