Sat, Jan 6 at 9:03 AM

Marie’s daily verse: For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37). 

DAILY DEVOTION, January 6, 2024

Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? ⁸ Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? ⁹ Has God forgotten n to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?” (Psalm 77:7-9).

Psalm 77 reminds us that we are not the only ones troubled by disaster. We are not the first to wonder, “Why has God allowed this to happen?” As we struggle with our various problems, such questions may be on our minds

We don’t know what problems plagued the Psalmist.  We do know what is troubling us, and we wonder why? The Psalmist expresses a solution. As we drop down to verse 11, we read these words: “I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. ¹² I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds. ¹³ Your way, O God, is holy.; Who is so great a God as our God? ¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. ¹⁵ You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph.” 

The Psalmist asks us to remember. Israel had much to remember about the goodness and mercy of God.  We have much more to remember because Jesus has come. We remember how He satisfied the judgment of God, and the result is that all our sins are forgiven. We remember that He promised to be with us always.  We remember that He purchased a place in heaven for us.  As we remember and reflect on these great truths, our problems seem puny in comparison.

Yes, the Psalmist asked the why question. He wondered if God had forsaken His people.  Then he remembered all God had done for Israel. His memory canceled out his questions.  Remember all that Christ has done for you, and you will be able to endure whatever happens. God has not forgotten you.

Prayer:  Forgive us when we allow our questions to weaken our faith. Help us to remember who You are and all You have done for us. Thank you for sending Your Son, who has prepared a place for us in heaven.  Keep us in true faith unto everlasting life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Marie’s daily verse: Psalm 56:3-4: New King James Version3 Whenever I am afraid,I will trust in You.4 In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

DAILY DEVOTION, January 5, 2024

^“ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

What a fantastic statement. Jesus is our High Priest. Under the Old Covenant, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. He performed the rituals that brought forgiveness to the people. Jesus is our High Priest who atoned for our sins on the cross, once and for all. We sometimes think of Jesus as remote, the Son of God. How can He understand what we go through?

The inspired Scriptures teach us that He experienced temptations even as we do. We know Satan tempted him in the wilderness, and we can assume He faced many other temptations. Since He was without sin, we conclude that being tempted is not a sin. Acting on temptation is a sin.

It is difficult for me to conceive of Jesus being tempted like I am, but that is what the text says. “In all points” can only mean that His temptations were similar to ours. I find comfort in knowing that the thought of doing wrong is not sinful unless we act upon it. Jesus must have had thoughts to stray from God’s path, even as we do. Big difference. He never acted on thoughts in conflict with the will of God.

Had He sinned, He could not have atoned for our sins. He was the perfect Lamb of God who was able by one great sacrificial act to remove our sins. When you are tempted, Jesus understands. He sympathizes. He will help you resist temptation as you trust in Him.

Thank You, Jesus, for standing firm against the temptations of Satan. Thank You for atoning for our sins.  Thank You for understanding how difficult it is for us to resist temptation. Help us live close to You so that we might receive Your strength when tempted. In Your name, we pray, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Matthew 6:14: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive yours.

DAILY DEVOTION, January 4, 2024

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

This verse has been the subject of many sermons. The image of light is used to declare the deity of Jesus. We read in 1 John 1:5 that God is light. Jesus, the Son of God, is also light. Like Father, like Son, we say. When we think of light, several functions come to mind. Light reveals, light guides, and light dispels darkness. When Jesus enters our lives, He reveals our sinfulness and also the forgiveness He has provided. He guides us so we begin to live in the light of His truth. We live in a world with much darkness, but the light of Jesus dispels that darkness.

Jesus made a rather startling statement in the Sermon on the Mount.  Not only is He the light of the world, He said of those who believe in Him, you are the light of the world, also (Matthew 5:14). Perhaps the best way to understand this is to think of the sun and the moon. The moon brings light to the Earth, but it has no light within itself. Moonlight is light reflected from the sun. Unless the sun shines on the moon, it is a dark hunk of rock! We cannot function as lights to the world apart from the light of Jesus.  Apart from Jesus, we are spiritually dead, living in darkness. When He enters our lives by faith, His light shines forth from us. Just as the moonlight is puny in comparison to the light of the sun, so the light of God that shines from us is small compared to Jesus, the light of the world.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your light shining in my heart and dispelling the darkness. Often the darkness of doubt, despair, and discouragement can overwhelm me. Lead me in the radiant light of Your love. Thank You for lighting up my life; in Your name, I pray, Amen.

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Marie’s daily verse: Isaiah 43:18: 

Do not remember the former things nor consider the things of old.

DAILY DEVOTION, January 1, 2024

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.  (Revelation 21:1)

I mentioned Sunday that in 1950 I was 14 years old. For some reason, I wondered if I would be alive in 2000. I would be an old man, 64 years old! Well, I made it to the year 2000 and am still kicking in the year 2024. God is good.

John anticipates something better than a new year. He sees a new heaven and a new earth. He catches a glimpse of what God has planned for the future. This old world as we know it is marked for destruction. A new earth is coming. I guess that is what we call “heaven.” Part of the newness will be that sin, evil, disease, and death will be banished forever. It will be what Milton called “Paradise Restored” in his 1671 poem.

This present life is good, especially for those who trust in Jesus and know a better day is coming. It will not be a new year but a new world. I can’t imagine the details of what this new world will be like, but I hope to find out. The admission price is simple. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). But is it true? If you have a better plan, let me know!

Father, I cannot even imagine what the new heaven and earth will be like. I know it will be glorious beyond my ability to comprehend. Thank You, Jesus, for opening the door to heaven for me. Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Psalm 84:12 AMP: 

O LORD of hosts, How blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation].

DAILY DEVOTION, December 29, 2023

I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matthew 28:20).

Life in this world can be challenging. Unfortunately, we all go through some tough times. But, no matter how difficult life can be, we have a tremendous promise. At the close of the Great Commission, Jesus promises to be with us always, to the very end of the age.

Every day, good or bad, Jesus is with His people. Amid trying times, we need to remind ourselves, “Jesus is with me.” If He is with us, He will either carry us through the difficult days or grant us the strength to endure. We ought to get up every morning and, before we do anything else, remind ourselves, “He is with me.” That same reminder should be repeated throughout the day. We do not see Him, but by faith, we know He is with us. That is His promise, and Jesus never breaks a promise. As we live each day walking hand in hand with Jesus, we have nothing to fear. We can rely on His presence.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your promise to be with me always. We sing in church, “I need thee every hour…” Thank You for Your promise to be with me no matter what each hour brings. “Every hour I need Thee…” I know I cannot be victorious in life in my strength. Thank You for promising to be with me. Amen.