DAILY DEVOTION, March 19, 2022

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17).

Paul prays for the Christians in Ephesus and for us. What a grand prayer it is! Paul prays that God will give to His people wisdom and revelation. Yesterday we saw that we are “more than conquerors” through Jesus Christ our Lord. Today’s verse helps us to see how it happens. Do you need wisdom because you are facing a difficult situation? Have you asked God to speak to your mind and heart for the answer? Paul uses the word “revelation.” While we will not receive revelation on a par with Scripture, God can give us the wisdom we need to see clearly how to overcome the issues we face.

James addressed this same issue. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). So when life throws us a curveball, the first thing we should do is pray. God has promised to give us the wisdom we need. All we need to do is ask.

Father, thank you for this glorious promise! I confess that I regularly need Your wisdom to cope with life. So remind me to seek Your wisdom daily. In the wonderful name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

DAILY DEVOTION, March 18, 2022

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).

Whatever we face as Christians, Paul says we are more than conquerors. No matter what trials or opposition we face as we live trusting in Jesus, we cannot be defeated! “More than conquerors” is one word in Greek. It means that those redeemed have the overwhelming power to overcome anything. Christ dwells within the hearts of those who have faith, and his presence and power cannot be defeated. So whatever we are going through, we need to learn to look at life in the light of Romans 8:37.

In context, Paul lists several factors that might come against us. However, none of them can overpower us. First, of course, we need to face our problems with faith, applying our faith to our specific issues. When life tries to knock you down, Jesus will lift you up. Those who trust Him will always be “more than conquerors.”

Thank You, Father, that the power of Jesus is at work in my life. Please help me to apply my faith to every issue that life throws at me. I want to know Your overwhelming power daily. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Daily Devotion, March 17, 2021

By grace, you have been saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8).

Faith is one of the key words and concepts in the New Testament. We spoke of it yesterday, and we continue the conversation today. What is faith? Faith in the natural world is a belief in something or someone. We have faith that our automobiles will not suddenly burst into flames (although it does happen!). We believe that our commercial airplanes will bring us safely to our destination (although they do crash occasionally!). Christian faith is different. By faith, we believe things that we cannot see but are revealed to us by God in His Word. We believe Jesus died for our sins, but we have no actual first-hand knowledge of that event. We believe it because God tells us it is so. We believe in a heaven we have never seen, but God has told us heaven is real.

How do we obtain saving faith? Paul writes, “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). We open our minds and hearts to divine truth revealed in Scripture, believing what we read. The more we engage in this practice, the stronger our faith.

How does saving faith act? Back to yesterday’s devotion. True faith loves the commands of God and seeks to obey Him. When our faith is weak, it is time to go to the source. The Bible is like a gas station. The more we fill our hearts with divine truth, the more our faith grows. God has shown us how to develop a strong faith. If you have a Bible it’s not difficult!

Merciful Father, I thank You for making it clear how I may obtain a strong faith. Please guide my daily life so that I always find time for Your Word. I want to be a doer of Your Word and not just a hearer that Jesus Christ may be honored by my life. In His glorious name, I pray. Amen.

DAILY DEVOTION, March 15, 2022

Colossians 3:16: “ Let the word of Christ DWELL in you richly…”

The Greek word for “dwell” means to take up permanent residency. We all have visitors to our homes, but we don’t want them to live with us permanently! Paul asks us to allow the word of Christ to dwell with us always. He is not suggesting an occasional visit! He wants Christ and His word to live permanently in our hearts. I think that means we need to pay close attention to the words of Jesus we find in Scripture. The goal is that the words of Jesus become so much a part of us that they have taken up permanent residence in our minds and hearts. Make sure the welcome mat is out for Jesus and His word. He doesn’t want to be an occasional visitor! He wants to be a perpetual resident. The more Bible we have in our minds and hearts, the more we have of the presence of Jesus.

Father, thank You for giving us Your Word in the pages of Scripture. I want the words of Christ to dwell in my mind permanently. In His name, Amen.

Deuteronomy 13:4: It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Daily Devotion, March 16, 2021

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked (1 John 2:2-4).

John wrestles with the question, “Who knows God? Who is truly abiding in Him?” Many people claim to be Christians. They have confessed faith in Jesus. They have been baptized. They are members of a church. While confession, baptism, and church involvement are important, they do not guarantee that we are redeemed. John reveals the heart of the matter, the centrality of keeping the commandments of Jesus. True Christians are obedient Christians.

What does God call persons who profess faith in Jesus but do not obey Him? He is blunt. They are liars who know not the truth. Wow! I would hesitate to call any professing Christian a liar, but God is not hesitant to speak the harsh reality. True faith brings a new birth, a desire to follow and obey Jesus. True Christians embrace a new way of life governed by the commands of God. If that is lacking, true faith is lacking. That is what the above verses teach. We need to listen!

Almighty God, our Father, open my ears to hear Your Word. I love the idea of forgiveness and eternal life, but I know my obedience is weak. Keep me from going through the motions of being a Christian while neglecting the heart of the matter. True faith leads to obedience to Your commands. Please help me in my quest to walk with Jesus. In His name, I pray, Amen.