Devotionals

The God Who Waits!

In John 11 we read about the story of Lazurus. Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, instead of going to him right away, He waited. When he got to Lazarus, Mary and Martha were distraught because Lazarus had died. Jesus wept. Then within moments Jesus told Mary and Martha to turn the stone away, and as they did, Lazarus was raised from the grave! Growing up I always wondered why God waited, but now I know. He was on God’s time, not our time.

The question is, was it worth the wait? Was the wait beneficial?

More than just Salvation

Here’s the other thing, though: Sometimes I treat Jesus like a “Get out of hell free” card. I sit there, paralyzed, not moving forward until I reach for Jesus in an attempt to get me out of my personal prison. How sad! What a waste of the abundant life He promises us! Truth is, if we have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins, we are not only prisoners set free, we are children of God! We have a heavenly inheritance and are co-heirs with Christ! Not only that, but right after Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 21:11-17, Matthew 28:10), he referred to the disciples as “ brothers”! Have you ever thought of Jesus not only as your Savior and Lord but as your brother?

Meditation on Faith

Faith is a gift of infinite possibilities. Faith the size of a tiny mustard seed moves mountains and comforts souls.

Faith is our response to God’s invitations. Our daily habits either expand or diminish our faith.

Faith is more than belief. Faith cultivates our journey of communion with the everlasting Father.

God IS More

Jesus stood before the crowd, bloody, battered and bruised, having been beaten, whipped and tortured gleefully by the relentless Roman soldiers. Pilate literally washed his hands of the crucifixion of Jesus that would soon take place. There stood Jesus, not defending Himself, not fighting his oppressors, just standing there. No righting of wrongs, no calling fire down from heaven, just standing there. Surrendered to His Father’s will.

Go Your Way Till The End

Part of me is sad when I realize that Daniel did not know the wonders of Jesus and how awesome his return to earth will be! How incredible our inheritance through Christ is! Yet, I am inspired by Gabriel’s instruction: “Go your way till the end.” My prayer for our church is that we will go the way of Daniel, holding on tight to the Father until the end of our days. As described in Daniel 12:3, may we be resurrected and receive our reward from the Father and “shine” like those who are wise and have led many to the Lord.

The Way We Fight

We live in uncertain times. Seems like there are wars and rumors of wars, doesn’t it? What personal battles are you fighting right now? Do you realize that God hears your prayers and that one of the best, most important ways to fight your battles is on your knees in prayer? Have a family member who is struggling? A co-worker who is hurting? It all starts in the same place and in the same posture. On our knees in prayer. God hears us! May we be a people who are surrendered and devoted like Daniel, to lead a life of prayer, taking any bad news we may receive and giving it to God in prayer.

Champions of God

Gabriel is one of the few angels in the Bible whose name we are told. In Hebrew, the name “Gabriel” means “God is my Strength,” or “Champion of God.” God trusts Gabriel with major assignments. In the Old Testament, Gabriel works with Daniel, interpreting dreams for him and outlining timelines for major events of God’s chosen people and Christ’s mission. In the New Testament, Gabriel announces the birth of John the Baptist, who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. Gabriel also tells Mary that she will deliver and raise the Son of God. Clearly, Gabriel is an important angelic messenger who is a “Champion of Jesus.”

Daniel’s Prayer

In Daniel 9, we find a powerful example of prayer in the life of Daniel. Amidst the challenges of exile and the realization of Jeremiah's prophecy regarding the seventy years of captivity, Daniel turns to prayer with fervency and humility. His prayer offers profound insights into the nature of God, the importance of confession, and the significance of persistence in prayer.

Prophecy

God shared visions and dreams with Daniel to prepare His people for what was to come. These revelations are a source of hope in what will be a time of despair. Historians confirm that Daniel’s interpretations have come to pass as revealed in the Bible. As far as the future is concerned, nations will rise and fall. You will face many difficulties in life. Your loved ones will pass from this earth. A new heaven and earth are coming with the return of Christ! God has infinite blessings in store for his children! Revelation of our futures is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Trust the One who holds your future. He loves you beyond measure.

Lions and Leopards and Bears (Oh My)!

In a culture that shirks responsibility and shuns judgment, here’s the hard truth: there is a God and there will be a judgment. Each of us will stand before a Holy and perfect God and will be judged, not according to our standards, not according to the cultural norms, not in comparison to our jerky next-door neighbor Joe, but according to God’s holy standard. Hearing that may make us bristle. That’s okay, that’s just pride and this is a natural response to a supernatural dilemma. See, in The Book of Life are the names of all who have chosen Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives. These people are seen by God through the blood of Jesus on the cross when he took on the sin of mankind. It’s not because these people are better than anyone else, but because they have chosen to accept the gift Jesus gave them -eternal life- when he bore their sin on the cross.