Today Daily Devotional

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. . . .

— Ephesians 5:18

In Brazil there is a popular festival each year called Carnival. Sponsored with public funds and promoted by political authorities, Carnival attracts millions of tourists from around the world. Parading cars and floats with all kinds of decorations fill the main streets of large cities. Samba schools parade to the rhythm of the batucada before the euphoria of a crowd thirsty for pleasure. Carnival is the festival of masks. Sadly, it is a drunken party. Carnival is a vain effort to find joy where there are only ashes of frustration.

The false joy that Carnival promotes leaves a bitter taste. In the setting of this festival, decency is sacrificed, immorality is celebrated, and the wise values of dignified family life are tossed aside.

Lulled by amazing spectacles, the crowds jump and dance, animated by worldly ideas of joy. But people’s hearts at the end of this event are empty. Carnival, in fact, is a party where true joy does not find expression.

Instead, however, we can give thanks that God offers us true happiness. We are invited to be filled with the Holy Spirit, who makes our bodies a holy dwelling place for God (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). Only in the Lord can we find the peace and tranquility that our souls long for.

Blessed God, transform our hearts. Free us from trying to solve our problems and to escape our struggles with the excesses of empty celebrations. Turn us to find true life in Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.

— Daniel 5:1

There are parties that end in tragedy. Our Bible reading for today talks about a party that ended with the sudden fall of a kingdom. This happened in the palace of the most powerful king in the world at that time. He literally saw “the writing on the wall” that told him his days were numbered (see Daniel 5:25-30), and the king was terrified. The feast of King Belshazzar of Babylon included only select people. Nothing was missing at this party: the best food, expensive wines, beautiful women, even the golden goblets raided from the temple of God in Jerusalem. Then, in the midst of this revelry, a hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall. But none of the king’s guests or his wise men could read it. The rest of Daniel 5 explains that Daniel was summoned to interpret the writing on the wall. It was a message from God announcing the end of Belshazzar’s kingdom. And on that night the kingdom was overthrown. How hard it is to hear that one’s kingdom is coming to an end! Maybe the words come from a doctor or in a bankruptcy declaration. Maybe the greatest of dreams and plans has gone up in smoke. We cannot live in a way that goes against God or is indifferent to the eternal life that only God can provide. Why would we want just fleeting happiness when the true God offers us life forever, full and free?

Lord, we know that seeking pleasure at all costs brings bitter consequences. Spare us from ruin, turning our hearts to follow you. Amen.

“’He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

— Revelation 21:4

The book of Revelation speaks of conflicts and battles involving mysterious powers of evil, and we may wonder how and when such things might actually take place. Yet all who have hope in Christ have nothing to fear. The final result has already been announced. The Lord of heaven and earth has won the decisive battle through the finished work of Jesus, and the final triumph is assured. When the curtains of history close, there will be “a new heaven and a new earth” in which God lives with his people forever.

God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and mourning, death, and pain will disappear. Imagine the joy of living in the presence of the Lord, who has promised us his glorious inheritance. Our bodies will be renewed, and we will reign eternally with Christ. Sin will no longer be present in our lives, because nothing impure can stand in God’s presence. There will be no sickness or suffering. All injustice and conflict will be things of the past.

All who are redeemed in Christ are welcomed into God’s kingdom by grace. Jesus is the only way that leads to God (John 14:6). And in the presence of God there is and will be fullness of joy forever!

God of all eternity, thank you that one day all our sufferings will cease and you will wipe every tear from our eyes. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord?

— Deuteronomy 33:29

God's people are a blessed and happy people. They know the joy of having new life in Christ, and they have the sure hope of living eternally with him.

For all who belong to the people of God, it is good to be reminded of these words of Moses to God’s people Israel. Moses wanted the people to remember how privileged they were, so he said, in effect, “Blessed are you, Israel! Who can be compared to you? The Lord himself has saved you.”

God’s people are blessed because they have been chosen by God from eternity. They are the object of God's loving care in all circumstances.

Salvation is the greatest of all gifts. It is a gift of eternal consequences. It is an expensive gift that all the riches in the world could not buy. This gift cost God the life of his own Son, Jesus Christ. And through this costly gift God freely gives us salvation.

We cannot do anything to earn or accomplish salvation; nor do we deserve it in any way. God is pleased to give it to us by his merciful grace. Salvation and new life are an undeserved favor.

The happiness of God's people lies in this capital truth: we are saved by the Lord!

We praise your name, O God, for in your gift of salvation, full and free, we are truly and completely blessed! Thank you for loving us so much and for making us your people. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

— Matthew 5:9

Conflict can be difficult to avoid. Not even peace protocols and treaties ensure that nations will exist together without rivalries and tensions. Homes and families, which should be places of harmony and understanding, often become like war zones. In our cities, violence takes over in the streets. Even in sports, which should be a source of fun and healthful enjoyment, rivalries get out of hand.

Christians have a high calling: in a world that creates ever deeper rifts in relationships, we are called to build bridges. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” We have received the precious ministry of reconciliation. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, through whom we call others to be reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). Instead of sowing conflict, we must strive for mutual understanding. Instead of pitting one against another, we should encourage alliance and cooperation. Instead of sowing discord, we should work to heal relationships.

Serving as agents of peace, we find happiness in the Lord. And as peacemakers we are recognized as children of God.

Loving God, only your grace can restore peace and bring forgiveness. Help us to work against breakdowns in our relationships. Help us to be agents of peace. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

— 1 Timothy 6:7-8

Books about how to get rich fill the shelves of bookstores and are bought up quickly. The main idea is that money can give us security and happiness. Some people preach that message in their churches too. But that is not the message of Christ and the Bible.

People who want only to pursue riches fall into temptation and end up tormenting themselves. Many have strayed from faith in their unchecked greed.

In contrast, the apostle Paul testifies that godliness accompanied by contentment is great gain. When we have enough to eat and clothes to wear, we can be content. Our happiness and our security are not in money but in God.

Is it bad, then, to have wealth? That is not what the apostle is saying. Money in itself is not bad. But “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” This is a helpful warning to believers who have been materially blessed.

Paul urges the rich not to trust in the instability of riches, but in God. Money can be good when we own it, but not when it owns us. Money is a good servant, but it’s a bad master. We can use money to bring happiness when we distribute it generously and wisely, but not if we greedily withhold it or keep it for ourselves.

Lord, help us to be content with having our needs supplied. And help us to share from the abundance you have given so that others too may be blessed—and praise you! Amen.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope. . . .

— 1 Timothy 1:1

Hope is the light that illuminates our pathway in life, leading us onward with the promise of eternal, full life with God. For all who know Christ, hope is an essential part of the journey. Indeed, as the apostle Paul says, Christ himself is our hope. Hope in Christ is not a mere wishful kind of hope that people sometimes talk about when they say, “I hope we have a beautiful day for our picnic,” or “I hope our sports team wins the championship.” If our hope is limited to this life alone, we will not find true happiness.

What’s more, in Christ, our future is not uncertain. We are not heading into the unknown. Our end is not a grave or a tomb. Each day, even as we grow older and our bodies may grow weak and frail, we walk toward glory. We walk toward full life with the Lord, who will one day come again.

We walk toward eternal happiness. As he did with Paul, the Lord pours his grace on us, mercifully forgiving all of our sins. Not one of our sins is too great for God to forgive; Christ’s death paid for them all.

Believing in Jesus gives us hope for eternity. And that hope fills us with energy in the present, helping us to hold fast to Jesus and his promises.

Eternal God, only with our eyes fixed on Jesus can we enjoy the hope of full, eternal life with you. For this we thank you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. . . .”

— Revelation 14:13

For most people, death stands out as one of their greatest fears. Death spreads panic and terror wherever it goes, without respect for age or social position. The Bible describes death as the last enemy to be defeated, and we take comfort in knowing that Jesus himself has already defeated death. What’s more, Jesus has promised that all who believe in him will one day rise from the grave to live with him forever.

That is why the Scriptures speak of happiness despite the problem of death. In our reading for today, for example, we find a message that comes directly from heaven. This is not something that springs from someone’s imagination. No, it comes to us by way of “a voice from heaven” that says, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. . . .” In other words, though death may come to your body, your soul is safe with the Lord, who has also promised to raise your body to life again when he returns someday.

For all who die in the Lord, death does not have the last word. Death has already been defeated. To die in the Lord is to find rest from toil and struggle. To die in the Lord is to “depart and be with Christ, which is better” than remaining in the body we have now (Philippians 1:23). Those who die in the Lord leave this life behind and enter into the joy of the Lord.

O God, author of life, for all who are in Christ, death means resting in your arms. Your perfect love removes all of our fear. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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

— Philippians 4:4

Sadness is the daily portion of many people. The world is full of suffering and hardship, and it can be difficult to find peace and happiness. As a result, people can become bitter about the adversity and struggles in their lives, and many blame God for their hardship and sorrow.

The apostle Paul, however, had a different message to share. Though he was in prison and had gone through many hardships, he knew he could find joy in the Lord, his Creator and Savior. He wrote to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Joy in the Lord is not a trivial or fleeting emotion. Instead it results from the deepest possible peace of knowing that your destiny is secure in God’s hands. As a result, a person can have deep and lasting joy in the Lord even in the midst of great suffering and pain.

Life is not an amusement park. We face struggles and cross dark valleys. But our happiness is not a superficial, fleeting emotion. Our joy does not depend on the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

As Paul puts it, our joy is in the Lord. In other words, Jesus is the source of our joy. He is the content of our happiness. Our happiness is not just in the absence of bad things or in the presence of good things. Our happiness is in Jesus, knowing that he loves and cares for us and is with us always—forever!

Lord and God, help me to have joy in you, knowing that I am secure in you always. In your saving name, Amen.

Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.

— Psalm 41:1

A compassionate heart is not among the most popular qualities in our world today. If you want to climb to the top, people say, you often have to trample on others. Compassion is considered an attribute of people who are weak. But what does God say about this?

The Bible says, “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak.” And this does not mean just thinking about people who are disadvantaged; it means caring about them and doing something about it. People who care are those who open their hearts with the willingness to share what they have with people in need. Generosity goes hand in hand with compassion and care as people seek to show God’s love in this world.

We find happiness not when we have everything in our hands but when we share with people in need, giving from our abundance as the Lord has given to us.

The generous person sows happily and reaps the blessed fruit of God’s ongoing favor. God himself multiplies our sowing so that we can continue to give generously. God provides for us and gives us health and strength to do more by spreading his love to others. When we open our hearts, hands, and pockets to share from all that God has given us, we find joy and happiness in giving freely as the Lord gives, without strings attached.

Lord God, help us to open our hearts to care about others and to share from the abundance you have given us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.