Devotions

Ever lost something, and you considered it a lost cause. Heard a story of a lady who lost her wedding band for over a week and discovered it on the bed of her husband’s truck after it had gone on a long trip. She was rejoicing that it was found. The same can be said when you give your life to Jesus. The angels are rejoicing in heaven.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:7

I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Who in their right mind would value the one over the ninety-nine? That sounds pretty reckless to me. More is always better in our minds, but in Jesus’ case, He came for those who were lost (which by the way is everyone). Only the self-righteous don’t think they are sinners or need to repent. Jesus came for those who are open to His salvation.

Being a parent of four children is my greatest joy. That they’ve made it to being teenagers is my greatest accomplishment. All joking aside, being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done. The most challenging part is disciplining them when they have disobeyed. I don’t want to do it, but it is what they needed. God disciplines those He loves, and it is exactly what you need.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:6‬

My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.

The Lord disciplines those He loves. He does it for several reasons. Most importantly, He does it to keep us in line. Any child that is left to his own will eventually wander off the path and into trouble. Jesus knows that and disciplines you to keep you from hurting yourself. His discipline is so much a rebuke as it is a correction. He doesn’t want any harm to come to you.

Running is not my thing. I would much rather ride my mountain bike. For those that run, they will tell you about the runner’s high. It is the feeling you get when you hit your rhythm, and you feel like you have tons of energy. That is what the author of Hebrews tells the Jewish disciples since we have had so many great come before us, in this race of life run with endurance.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Elite marathoners run with very little clothing on their bodies. They obsess over the weight of their shoes because they know any extra weight will weigh them down. The same is true for Christians. We can’t be encumbered with the worries of this world or entangled in sin. We need to be lean and light to reach the finish line. If you are light on motivation, look to those who have run before you.

Dinner parties can be uncomfortable. You have to generate small talk with strangers and make sure you keep your emotions under control. You don’t want to laugh too hard or be too cold. It gets awkward when it is time to sit down and eat because you are unsure where to sit. Take some advice from Jesus and sit away from the head of the table. Take the humble approach.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:10

“But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.”

Eating was a little different back in Jesus’ day. They would eat at tables only a few feet off of the ground. There were no chairs but instead pillows that you would lounge on. It was noticeable if someone got up or down as opposed to being in a chair. So, he tells His listeners to sit at the opposite end of the host’s table instead of in a place closer to him. This showed humility on their part, but then the host would move you up, and it would bring honor.

In the movie Raiders of the Last Ark, Indiana Jones has to cross over a gulch where there appears to be no way. It’s all part of a puzzle to acquire one of the relics that he collects. In the riddle to find the relic, he is supposed to step out, and a way will appear. Jones doesn’t have faith in the riddle, so when he gets to the gulch, he throws out sand and discovers an invisible bridge to the relic. That’s how a lot of Christians treat their faith. God has something incredible for them if they will step out in faith, but they don’t out of fear.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Chapter eleven is what is known as the Fatih Hall of Fame. It goes through history and lists how the famous Bible characters showed their faith. Before the author of Hebrews gets there, he gives us the clearest and concise definition of faith in the Bible. Faith is being sure of things we hope for like heaven and the conviction that things like the Holy Spirit exist. For there to be faith, there has to be hope and conviction. If there weren’t, there wouldn’t be belief.

How many times did your mom tell you to wait and let someone else go first? She wanted to teach you the principle of the last being first. Now, this is not a rock-solid rule in everything. The Dodgers just won the World Championship in Baseball by being first, but in most areas of life, it does apply. A true gentleman opens the door for a lady. When it’s time to eat, we make sure the elderly eat first. These are all part of the principle of the last being first.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:30

“And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day loved to give the impression of being humble, but secretly they loved the attention and craved the honor of sitting at the head of the table. Jesus was the polar opposite. He didn’t wear his religion on His sleeve but lived in how He went about His day. He was humble.

This last summer, my wife and I built a dog run on the side of our house. It mainly consisted of putting a fence and gate up to keep our Labrador Retriever, Molly, in one area. Neither one of us had put up a fence before, so it was a learning experience. It turned out nice, and most importantly, it keeps our dog contained. Jesus said that to enter into heaven is like going through a narrow door. Not everyone will find it or go through it.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:24‬

Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

When someone asked Jesus who will be saved, this is how He answered. Not everyone is going to heaven. This may come as a shock to you but look at Jesus’ words. He says, “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” That means that not everyone is going to enter through it. Jesus is the only way, and you have to believe in your heart and profess with your mouth the He is Lord. If you think being a good person will do it, you’re gonna miss out.

When we are finally in heaven, we will see Jesus seated at the right hand of His Father. All the glory will be given to Him because of the death He died. His atoning work on the cross was the one sacrifice all of us needed to be restored to a right relationship with God. The chasm that was impossible to cross was bridged by the cross Jesus died on. One day every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:12‬

“but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,”

Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father because He accomplished what no one else could, being the perfect sacrifice for our sins. This sacrifice appeased the wrath of a holy God. For that, our sins can be forgiven, our relationship with God restored, and our eternity secured. It took ONE sacrifice to accomplish this, and that was God sending His only Son to do it. (John 3:16).

COVID has made some aspects of life easier. Take grocery shopping, for instance. At least in the United States, you don’t have to go into the store anymore. You can log into your computer and order everything you need, and it will be delivered to your doorstep in a couple of hours. It is more expensive, but easier nonetheless. Did you know that Jesus tells you to take the worry out of your life? He tells us to seek His kingdom.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:31

And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

You can spend a lot of time worrying about things that don’t matter. You can also expend a great deal of energy worrying about putting food on the table. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, we are told not to worry about these things but instead seek the kingdom go God, and all the essentials will be added to you. That’s easier said than done, but Jesus tells us what to strive for.

Science tries to explain the mysteries of the universe. They let us know why events we don’t understand happen like earthquakes happen. When something happens that can’t be explained, they simply say that it can’t be explained. When events are happening in our lives, we have a sovereign God who is in control.

‭‭Job‬ ‭11:7

Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

Job had some of the worst friends in the world. When he was at his lowest, they came and told him that God was judging him and that he deserved everything he was getting. Who wouldn’t want friends like these? One of his friends told Job that God was too deep to understand, which is why Job couldn’t figure out why he was going through this trial.