Today Daily Devotional

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

— John 6:68

Have you ever had a morning when you crawled wearily out of bed, stubbed your toe, burnt your toast, and had all kinds of other things go wrong? A day like that makes you want to go straight back to bed. Or maybe the circumstances are harder, and someone is telling you to hang on when you want to let go.

I wonder if Jesus’ disciples felt in a way like that when a lot of people turned away from Jesus after he shared some hard but true teachings. I wonder how many times the disciples weren’t quite sure what to do with Jesus. Was it embarrassing or confusing or overwhelming for them? Already fully committed to Jesus, they knew they couldn’t give up or let go. Jesus, who was clearly the Son of God, had met the longings of their hearts—and even on the worst days they had experienced, they knew that traveling with Jesus was enough. When he asked, “Are you going to leave too?” Peter replied with words that confirmed what the disciples were feeling: “There’s no one else to go to, and you are all we need.”

On days when you feel like giving up, throwing in the towel, or walking away from your faith, where will you go? It is too much to walk away from the one who holds you close through his presence and his words. By his character he assures you that even on a bad day, he is there.

Jesus, only you “have the words of eternal life.” Help me to search them out, understand them, and obey them, trusting in you as the Lord and Savior. Amen.

Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

— Matthew 8:13

I was asked to officiate at a funeral for a young man (age 37) who had died from a fentanyl overdose. He had been living on the street for years and was addicted to some pretty strong drugs. He also visited our church during the week and came for most of the worship services. When he wasn’t high, he could carry on great conversations, and I learned so much of his story. Regardless of his state of mind, he had a phrase that he often used, and I repeated it at his funeral. He would say, “I am always safe in the arms of Jesus.” Regardless of what was going on in his life, he had faith, knowing that Jesus offers grace.

In our Bible reading today, a Roman centurion also had faith in Jesus. And even though Jesus offered to go to the man’s home, the centurion said that he knew Jesus could heal his servant by just saying the word—and that’s how the servant was healed. He knew that his servant was safe in the arms of Jesus, even from a distance. And Jesus praised the centurion for having more faith than anyone he had encountered in his ministry.

We too can have faith enough to ask Jesus for all we need. He is willing to come and help, regardless of where we are and what we need. In fact, he promises that he is always with us (Matthew 28:20), so we can trust that we are always safe in his arms.

Lord Jesus, help us to reach out in faith for your grace and help. Thank you that you listen and answer. Amen.

“If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

— Mark 4:23

Someone gifted me a very large flashlight, and I thought, “What a perfect thing to put in our guest room, just in case.” My mom often comes to stay the night, and she uses that room. If she needs to get up in the dark, a big flashlight can be more helpful than a small nightlight.

One day, when I was cleaning that room, I picked up the flashlight and turned on the switch. But no light came on. Checking further, I found there were no batteries in the flashlight. It really would not have helped my mom or another guest that way.

I wonder if sometimes we are like that too. We want to be a light for the world, but our batteries are dead or missing, or we haven’t plugged in our lamp. In this parable Jesus points out that we don’t bring a lamp into a room in order to cover it up. The lamp is there to brighten the room and to show us things that we need to pay attention to.

Charles Spurgeon, a great preacher in his day, once said, “The Bible is not the light of the world; it is the light of the church. But the world does not read the Bible; the world reads Christians! You are the light of the world.”

Today, let your light shine. No more hiding. Be the lamp that illuminates Jesus to the world.

Thank you, Jesus, that you ask us to be your light. Please help us to shine the truth of your love and grace to the world you have called us to brighten up. Amen.

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

— Luke 15:10

Over the years my family members have tried to help me remember where I put things. They really have. They have given me special keychains, electronic devices, and other things to help me locate my glasses, car keys, and so on. My husband now has a checklist for me as I leave the house. I have a friend who assures me she understands completely. Maybe some of you understand too.

Jesus’ parables about lost things inspire me. When my glasses or keys seem to have grown legs and walked away from where I set them down, it often helps to try to think back on my steps and movements to find them. And, like the woman who found her lost coin, I celebrate too.

For her, the loss of a coin that was worth a day’s wages was significant. She was determined to find it, and when she did, she wanted to celebrate with her friends and neighbors. In this story, like the other ones in Luke 15, Jesus is illustrating how important it is when one of his children, who has been lost, is found and can be brought back into his family. Even the angels sing and celebrate.

Jesus’ story is a thoughtful reminder that no matter who you are or what your circumstances are today, there is a Savior who is looking for you and watching over you—always.

Thank you, God, for loving us so much that you come searching to find us when we are lost. Thank you for stories that help us understand your love for us. We are grateful. Amen.

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”

— Matthew 7:4

Jesus gives us an important reminder here.

How quick we can be to look outward and criticize others instead of looking inward to see our own faults.

Some examples of this are what we refer to today as conscious or unconscious bias. We tend to like what we are familiar with, and we tend not to like what we find to be different. And these things have a way of shaping our judgments about others.

We also tend to think that others would be happier if they were like us. But we don’t take the time to think about what that says about us.

Jesus wants us to look inwardly and to see what our own faults are before we address the faults of others. It’s not easy to admit we have blind spots, but when we begin to see them, we have a new appreciation for others, and it is easier to show God’s grace and love.

I wonder what our conversations might look like if we took the time to talk with one another, hear each other’s stories, learn to care for one another, and discover that we might not be so different after all. Today is a good day to try clearing our own faults out of our lives.

Lord, teach me to appreciate the rich diversity you have created, and help me not to judge others based only on my perception. Help me to see my own blind spots, and forgive me when I have failed to offer your love and grace. Amen.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

— Mark 10:51

When I am in my car alone, I often have conversations with God. It’s the perfect time to talk out loud and express what is going on in my thoughts and my life. This is really easy as long as I am doing the talking. But when I go silent and listen, it’s a different story. I hear the same question that Jesus asked Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?”

It seems like a straightforward question that I can answer easily. But, knowing about Jesus and how he calls us to live, I realize that I need to think carefully. Fulfilling a desire that is on my mind would be great—but what about that person I know who has not yet come to faith in Christ? Or what about that person who is suffering and needs healing? My list can be rather lengthy. And all of the things on my list are worth asking for.

Bartimeus believed in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of David. He knew he was crying out to the Savior, and he was sure of his answer. And when he was healed, he left everything behind to follow Jesus.

As I write this, I realize that I too need to trust so fully in Jesus that I can see he is the one who is capable of doing anything. Sometimes I want the miracle more than I want the one performing it.

When Jesus asks us, “What do you want me to do for you?” may our trust in him clarify our answer. Then, like Bartimaeus, let us ask boldly.

Lord, have mercy on us. Hear our prayer. Thank you that you are indeed our Savior and Lord who cares for us. Amen.

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

— Matthew 5:44-45

When someone hurts you or wrongs you, it’s easy to think of revenge and wanting to “get even.”

Some people have lived a big part of their lives being the victim of someone else’s cruelty. And it can be very hard to let go of that pain.

Loving someone whom we like is easy, but loving someone who has given us every reason not to like them is hard. Yet Jesus says that if we want to be like him, forgiveness is at the foundation of our Christian walk.

This is what grace is all about. God loved us so much when we were his enemies that he sent Jesus to renew and restore us to him (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8-11). God has every right to reject us—and yet he keeps loving us fully.

What’s more, God asks us to do the same to everyone around us. Grace is the standard that God sets, and if we as believers accept that grace, we are to live with grace and forgiveness toward all others. Jesus modeled that we are to love others regardless of nationality, personality, faith, or circumstance. Jesus challenges us to be the grace differential so that others may know that we too have been loved and forgiven.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace and your perfect example of loving us. Please help us to love everyone with your love, even when it is hard. Teach us to be more like you every day, we pray. Amen.

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

— Matthew 14:31

What is the craziest thing you have ever done? I could mention a few things from my younger days, but let’s leave that to the imagination.

How about in your life of faith? What is the craziest thing God has ever challenged you to do? Were you up for the challenge, or did you hear excuses in your head about why you couldn’t possibly try? Did you jump in with both feet and find, to your surprise, that maybe it wasn’t so impossible after all?

I wonder how big the smile was on Jesus’ face when Peter said, “Lord, if it’s you . . . tell me to come to you on the water.” I love it that Peter was ready to test his faith even when things looked impossible. He stepped out of the boat looking at Jesus. And as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, his steps went in the right direction. Even with little faith, his walk on water was possible. But when Peter looked around him and saw the wind and deep water, he became afraid and started to sink.

When Jesus asks for our trust, he knows there is a bigger story to be written. There are days when circumstances muddy the waters and the trust factor diminishes.

Perhaps today is a day to refocus where you are looking. How can you keep your eyes on Jesus?

Lord, help me to trust you with my life. Will you help me to walk and keep walking toward you? I need your help to keep my eyes focused on you and to trust you in the midst of the impossible. Amen.

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

— John 8:7

The religious leaders tried to set a trap for Jesus. They wanted to be able to accuse him of breaking the law. If Jesus said the woman should not be executed, he would break the law of Moses. But if Jesus said the woman should be executed, that would break the law of the Romans, who said only a Roman judge could sentence someone to death. I have also wondered why the man who was involved with the woman wasn’t brought before Jesus as well.

It didn’t take long for a crowd to gather. People can easily be drawn into an intriguing story.

Jesus responded in a most unusual way. He bent down and began to write in the dirt. As he continued to write, curiosity built and the accusers demanded an answer. Jesus replied that anyone who was without sin could cast the first stone. He went back to writing in the dirt. And, one by one, the accusers left.

I love the fact that Jesus cares more about us than that we keep all the rules.

As he stood alone with the woman, Jesus knew that he was the only one with a right to pick up a stone—and yet he chose forgiveness as he asked where her accusers were.

Today let’s remember that Jesus chooses forgiveness for sinners.

Thank you, Jesus, for your love and your forgiveness. When we feel judgmental toward others, help us to remember that you have forgiven us all our sins. Help us to live as you call us to. Amen.

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

— John 5:7

Do we sometimes hold back from accepting Jesus’ transforming power in our lives? Have we become so used to struggling that we can’t imagine things going another way? Sometimes the crutch we know is easier than the walk we haven’t experienced, and that crutch can become a convenient excuse. It’s often easier to rely on the ways we are familiar with, rather than trying a new way that means change and transformation.

When Jesus asks this man if he wants to be made well, he does not answer with a yes—only a reason why it can’t happen. He’s had 38 years of only seeing the story one way; the thought of anything else hasn’t entered his thinking. But Jesus is offering so much more than this man can fathom or imagine.

When Jesus asks us this question, do we limit him on the basis of our experience, or do we have hope that he can do something more? When we are confronted with the question of change, of thinking bigger than we have imagined before, can we say yes?

When we begin to understand that the one asking the question is our Lord and Savior, our Creator, our healer, and our friend, who loves us and cares about the details of our lives, can we say anything but yes? Today is a day to imagine what the Lord can do if we don’t hold back.

Lord Jesus, forgive us when we limit you to our own thoughts and ideas. Help us to see with your eyes and to say yes when you ask. Amen.