DAILY DEVOTION, January 30, 2022

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:3).

What a wonderful promise Jesus makes! He is preparing a place for His people in heaven. We do not know what this special place will be like, but it will be out of this world! When death comes, believers do not really die. Yes, our bodies die and wait in the grave to be resurrected on the last day. However, our souls, our real selves, do not die. The verse gives the impression that Jesus Himself receives us when death comes. What a blessing that will be!

Jesus wants to be with us forever. Does His “coming again” refer to His second coming or to His coming to receive us at death? I don’t know for sure. Interpreters disagree concerning the meaning of that phrase. In my mind, both ideas are true. Jesus will come to receive us at death, and He will come to resurrect our bodies on the last day.

Death is an awesome reality. However, Jesus has removed the sting of death. Trust Him, and death will be the greatest of all adventures.

Father God, death can be a fearful reality. When death comes, it seems like our loved ones are gone forever. Thank You for the fantastic promise Jesus made, that He is preparing a place for His people and that He wants to be with us forever. May His name be praised forever, Amen. 

Marie’s daily verse: The Lord is good,  a stronghold in the day of trouble; and His knows those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7). 

DAILY DEVOTION, January 27, 2022

Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle (John 19:17-18).

Ghandi once asked some missionaries to sing a hymn for him. He wanted them to sing a hymn that expressed the heart of their faith. The hymn sung was this: “When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died. My richest gain I count but loss,  and pour contempt on all my pride.”

The cross. Why did Jesus endure such suffering? He is the Son of God! He could have called upon the angels to rescue Him, or He could have called down lightning from heaven to destroy His enemies. Why did He endure the cross? The answer is the heart of our faith. He died for me. He died for you. He took upon Himself the judgment we deserve. Christians are not full of pride. Christians are full of faith. We understand that we have no hope of salvation apart from the cross. Jesus bore our judgment and grants to us His righteousness. It all happened at the cross. That is the heart of our faith. “In the cross of Christ I glory.”

Gracious Father in heaven, I confess to You that I am a sinner. With gratitude, I place my trust in Jesus. “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”  In His blessed name, I pray, Amen.

DAILY DEVOTION, December 29, 2022

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… (Ephesians 2:8)

I recently read an article on entitlement and decided to return to a familiar verse. There are things we are entitled to possess. If you pay for a car or a home, you are entitled to use them for your benefit. If you buy a show ticket in Branson, you are entitled to watch the show.

Are we entitled to possess salvation? Does God owe us His blessings? The answer is an emphatic NO! Are we entitled to live a trouble-free life, free from tornados and cancer? What does God owe us? The only thing we are entitled to from God is an eternity in hell. That is what we have earned. That is what we deserve. Salvation is by grace. Grace is God giving to us what we don’t deserve. He sent His Son to redeem us. He did this by taking the penalty to which we are entitled. When we trust in Jesus, we enter into the grace of God. God forgives us and grants us eternal life. Do we deserve it? NO! It is a gift from the grace of God given to the unworthy.

Yes, we are entitled to many things, but salvation is not one of them. Therefore, never think that God owes you anything. Instead, receive His grace with gratitude.

Father, thank You so much for Your extraordinary grace that sets me free from sin and death. I don’t deserve it, but I receive it by trusting in Your Son with gratitude. I pray in His name, Amen. 

DAILY DEVOTION, January 28, 2022

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message (John 17:20).

Jesus prayed first for His apostles. He prays that the Father will protect them from the evil one. He prays for their sanctification, that they will reflect holiness in their daily lives. Then He turns His prayers toward us. When Jesus prays, His prayers are always answered. What a confidence builder it is for us to know that Jesus prays for us, Notice the particulars in our verse.

He prays for those who believe in Him. How do we come to believe in Him? Faith is born in us when we see Jesus through the apostles’ message preserved for us by divine providence in Holy Scripture. When we see Jesus portrayed in the New Testament, we are drawn to Him. When we read such words as the familiar words of John 3:16 and place our faith in Jesus, we are told we shall not perish but possess everlasting life. Once faith is born, we then come under the protection of Jesus’ prayers. What comfort and security is ours knowing that Jesus prays for us. Keep trusting in Him, and you will not perish!

Father, I find great comfort in knowing that Jesus prays for me. I know that You will always listen to Him. Keep me in true faith, Father, unto everlasting life. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen. 

DAILY DEVOTION, January 26, 2022

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” (Luke 8:49. NIV).

Jarius[RB1]  had but one daughter, age 12. She was very ill, and Jarius begged Jesus to come and heal her. In the meantime, a woman who had an issue of blood came to Jesus and was healed.  Soon after, the word came from Jarius’ household, “Your daughter is dead.” Those are words none of us want to hear about people we love, but most of us have heard similar words: Your wife is dead.  Your husband is dead.  Your child is dead. Jesus went to Jarius’ child and raised her to life.

While we do not see such miracles today, nevertheless, Jesus has promised life to all who trust in Him. Jarius’ daughter was raised to life only to die again. While we pray for miracles and healings, sooner or later, death comes. The greater miracle is that final healing that comes to all who trust in Jesus. He has promised us that those who believe in Him will never die. When we stand at the grave of a loved one who died in faith, that is our confidence.

Father, I thank You for the promise of life eternal. I know I don’t deserve it, but I trust in Your Son, who died for me. Keep me in true faith unto everlasting life. In the name of my Savior, Jesus, I pray, Amen.