DAILY DEVOTION, August 20, 2021

But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

In John chapter 6 Jesus said some things that His hearers did not understand. As a result, many who had been following Jesus turned away. Have you ever felt this way? Those who encounter unusual difficulties in life may be tempted to turn their backs on Jesus. I have read books by unbelievers who argue that some of Jesus’ words make no sense, so they reject Him. I recall a woman in my hometown of Peoria, Illinois, who lost a beloved son-in-law to cancer and for a time turned her back on Jesus and His church. Yes, bad things happen to Christian people. We think, “If God loves me, why did He allow this to happen?”

Jesus turns to His twelve apostles as He watches followers leaving in droves and asks, “Will you go away also?” Peter asks. “To whom shall we go?” Good question. If you reject Jesus, where do you go from there? Is there a superior Savior somewhere? Jesus promises eternal life to those who follow Him. That is good enough for Peter even though Jesus sometimes speaks and acts in bewildering ways. I hope it is good enough for you.

Father, I must confess that sometimes I do not understand You or Your Son. Some of His teachings leave me confused. But I agree with Peter. If I reject Jesus, where do I go? Father, help me trust Your Son even when I do not understand His words or ways. I believe He alone can grant eternal life. In His name, I pray, Amen. 

DAILY DEVOTION, August 18, 2021

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matthew 24:44).

We are involved in a study of the return of Jesus in our Wednesday Bible Study. I remember one friend in my childhood cautioning me not to go to the movie theater because Jesus might come while I was watching a movie. He seemed to think that would be awful, but I continued going to the movies!  Our verse tells us to be ready at all times because Jesus will come at an unexpected hour. When you read books suggesting that His coming is just around the corner, we know it is so much baloney! I don’t think “be ready” means we avoid all earthly pleasures. I think it means that we are always seeking to be faithful to Jesus whatever we are doing. The point is not what you are doing the moment He returns. Instead, what are you doing with the totality of your life?

I read a story in another devotional appropriate to this issue. It pertained to a Christian woman who some children ridiculed about her faith. They said, “Do you really believe Jesus is coming again?” She replied, “absolutely!” They said, “You better hurry home and get ready because He might come today.” She replied, “I don’t have to get ready. I keep ready.” If His coming is at an unexpected hour, we need to be ready daily. Am  I ready? Are you ready?

Father, please help me to live each day anticipating the return of Jesus. I don’t want to waste my life on trivia. I want to live each day as a faithful disciple. In His name, I pray, Amen

DAILY DEVOTION, August 17, 2021

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you (John 15:15 NKJV).

The word translated as “servant” is the usual Greek word for “slave” (doulos). Elsewhere in Scripture, Christians are called slaves (for example, see Romans 6:15-20, where the word “slave” is used repeatedly). So, we remain slaves of Jesus, people under obligation to obey Him. But we are also friends of Jesus. We know what Jesus is all about because we possess the divine revelation of His life, death, and resurrection in the Bible.

We are slaves ruled by a Master who is also our friend. We have a Master who loves us and who wants nothing except good for us. And so we sing, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.” We need not fear Him. Instead, we can draw near to Him as we draw near to a friend. Friends here on earth are wonderful. Being a friend of Jesus is wonderful on steroids! Father, I thank you Jesus is my  Master who loves me and calls me His friend. I want to serve Him to the best of my ability. Amen. 

DAILY DEVOTION, August 13, 2021

When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. ²⁰ And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him (Mark 1:19-20).

Jesus is calling His disciples. Here He calls James and John. They are busy mending nets with their father in the boat. They immediately leave their father and begin to follow Jesus. In the first century, a Jew who wanted to become a disciple of a rabbi would leave his home and job and follow the rabbi. They would stay with the rabbi 24/7, learning from him.

James and John follow this pattern. They quickly abandon their family and profession to follow Jesus. They were with Him for three years, observing His miracles and learning from Him.

What does this have to do with us? To be a disciple of Jesus means He is the first priority in life. Yes, we have jobs and families, but Jesus comes before everything else. We devote ourselves to studying the Scriptures. In this manner, we walk with Jesus. If family or job interferes with discipleship, we chose Jesus.

I don’t know what Zebedee thought. We are not told. Perhaps he called out to his sons, “Boys, these nets are not mended yet. Where do you think you are going?” In any event, when Jesus says, “Follow me,” we follow. He becomes our first priority.

Blessed Jesus, I want to follow You. I want You to have first place in my life. Please help me to be a faithful disciple whatever the cost., In Your name, I pray, Amen.