Your grief will turn to joy . . . and no one will take away your joy. John 16:20, 22

Today’s Scripture

John 16:16-24

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The Upper Room Discourse (John 14-16) is the main teaching focus of John’s gospel. The night before Jesus went to the cross, He was preparing His disciples for His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and return. He told them that their “grief [would] turn to joy” (John 16:20). One of the main features of Jesus’ teaching in these chapters is the promise of the coming Holy Spirit—Christ’s provision for His people after His departure. This promise was eventually fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2), some ten days after Jesus’ ascension to heaven when the Spirit came to indwell believers in Christ.

Today’s Devotional

“I have the right to be happy,” said a teenager as she spoke before a legislature. Yet she could have been anyone, anywhere, speaking for everybody. It’s our human cry. One self-help guru even said, “God wants you to be happy.”

Is that true? It’s not wrong to pursue happiness. That desirable state of mind, however, ebbs and flows with our moment-by-moment circumstances, and the fulfillment of one person’s desires can crush the happiness of another.

Jesus points us to something better. He knew He was about to be nailed to a Roman cross, where He would bear the weight of the world’s sin. Yet His concern was for His disciples. He told them, “You will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.” But He also said, “Your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20). Then He promised, “No one will take away your joy” (v. 22).

This kind of joy is more than a good feeling based on desirable things happening to us. It grows out of doing the will of our Father in heaven. Jesus also said, “Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Happiness can slip away with the next unpleasant circumstance. The joy that comes from following Jesus can thrive despite those circumstances.

Reflect & Pray

How does chasing what you want ultimately leave you unhappy? What’s the difference between happiness and joy?

Dear Father, please teach me to learn the difference between temporary happiness and lasting joy.

For further study, read Jesus Is in the Room.

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He has sent me . . . to bestow on them . . . a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:1-3

Today’s Scripture

Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11

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In the synagogue of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-19), Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah portions of what we know as Isaiah 61. Isaiah’s prophecy was perfectly fulfilled in Christ (Luke 4:21). Prior to this, the Holy Spirit had descended upon Christ (3:22). He was full of the Spirit and was empowered by Him (4:1,14). Other passages in Isaiah likewise speak of the Spirit as the unique garment of Christ (God’s anointed, His designated ruler). One such passage is Isaiah 11:2-3: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” While Jesus donned the Spirit uniquely and perfectly (see John 3:34), those who belong to Christ are similarly dressed

Today’s Devotional

Two eight-year-old boys in Maine—a rural American state—made their mark by wearing business suits to school on Wednesdays. Soon “Dapper Wednesdays” became a favorite day, as other classmates and school staff dressed up too. James, who launched the idea, loved hearing compliments. “It just made my heart feel really good.” Their Wednesday attire set the kids apart as proud students of their school.

Our spiritual clothing, which sets us apart as God’s own, gladdens our hearts too. “My soul rejoices in my God,” said Isaiah, “for he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).

As the Israelites went into exile, their clothing—spiritual and material—was threadbare and worn. Isaiah offered them a hopeful promise: God’s Spirit would “bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (v. 3).

The same promise rests on God’s people today. Jesus said that by His Spirit we would be “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Christ provides us with a wardrobe of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). Clothed by Him, we reflect His love to the world.

Reflect & Pray

How does God’s Spirit help you “dress” in compassion, kindness, and patience? How are others affected by your Spirit-led behavior?

When I wear worldly values, dear God, please change my spiritual clothing.

Discover biblical insights on walking in step with the Spirit.

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I have filled [Bezalel] with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs. Exodus 31:3-4

Today’s Scripture

Exodus 31:1-11

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God told Pharaoh to “let my people go, so that they may worship me” (Exodus 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3). Two months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites encamped at the base of Mount Sinai (19:1-2) where God gave His people the law (chs. 20-24) and instructions on how they were to live, worship, and serve Him (chs. 25-31). The tabernacle, built according to God’s exact blueprint, was His dwelling place—“a holy sanctuary so [he could] live among [his people]” (25:8 nlt). God appointed two master craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab, and gave them special abilities to lead the work and teach other craftsmen and artisans (31:1-6; see 35:30-34). God also endowed others with enhanced skills to accomplish the work (31:6-11; see 35:35–36:2).

Today’s Devotional

Some of the most famous pianists in the world, including Van Cliburn and Vladimir Horowitz, relied on Franz Mohr, chief concert technician at Steinway & Sons in New York, to ensure that their concert pianos were ready for performances. A master piano tuner, Mohr was sought after for his intricate knowledge of pianos and great skill developed over decades. Mohr believed his skills were an avenue to serve God, and he regularly shared his faith with pianists and performance staff.

When the nation of Israel was preparing to build the tent of meeting and other items necessary for worship, they needed individuals with expert skills (Exodus 31:7-11). God appointed two skilled artisans, Bezalel and Oholiab, to do the work and filled them with the “Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs” (vv. 3-4). In addition to their specialized skills, God empowered them with His Spirit to guide their work. Their willingness to use their unique talents in service to God allowed the Israelites to appropriately worship Him.

Whether or not we consider ourselves artistic, each of us has unique, God-given gifts that we can use to serve others (Romans 12:6). Empowered by the Spirit, we can serve and worship God through our work using the wisdom, understanding, and skills He’s given us.

Reflect & Pray

What are some of the talents God’s given you? How might you use them to serve Him?

Heavenly Father, please remind me that the abilities You’ve given me are to be a holy offering.

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God was pleased . . . to reconcile to himself all things . . . by making peace through [Christ’s] blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20

Today’s Scripture

Colossians 1:15-20

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Colossians 1:15-20 has been abused by false teachers who attempt to claim that the Son of God is a created being. So, what does Paul mean when he says, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (v. 15)? Did Jesus have a beginning? The immediate context provides the answer. “In him [the Son] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth . . . ; all things have been created through him and for him” (v. 16). The next verse says, “He is before all things” (v. 17). This makes it clear that the Son (Jesus the Messiah) wasn’t the first to be born among all created things, as some false teachers say. Rather, He is preexistent with the Father and hence was present at the creation of all things. The Creator isn’t a created being.

Today’s Devotional

High-wire artist Philippe Petit became famous in 1971 when he walked a tightrope between the towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Three years later, he got arrested for an unauthorized walk between the Twin Towers that once distinguished New York’s skyline. But in 1987, Petit’s walk looked different. At the invitation of Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek, Petit walked across the Hinnom Valley on a high wire as a part of that year’s Israel Festival. At the midway point, Petit released a pigeon (he’d hoped for a dove) to symbolize the beauty of peace. A strange and dangerous stunt, but all for the cause of peace. Petit later said, “For a moment, the entire crowd had forgotten their differences.”

Petit’s high-wire walk reminds me of another breathtaking moment—the one that occurred when Jesus’ body hung between heaven and earth. The apostle Paul tells us, “God was pleased . . . to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through [Christ’s] blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20). Paul writes that “once [we] were alienated from God” (v. 21), but no longer. Far from a spectacle to promote peace, Jesus the Messiah actually made peace by shedding His blood on the cross. His was a feat never to be surpassed, as there is no need. His peace is everlasting.

Reflect & Pray

What does the word peace mean to you? How would you say you’re experiencing the peace of Jesus?

Praise to You, dear Jesus, for Your everlasting gift of peace.

3 Ways to Practice Peace

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We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Ephesians 2:10

Today’s Scripture

Ephesians 2:6-10

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The creation account in Genesis says that “God created mankind in his own image” (1:27). Ephesians 2:10 also declares that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Jesus set the example for us during His earthly ministry by doing “many good works from the Father” (John 10:32). Peter elaborates and says: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, . . . he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38). As believers in Christ, the Spirit will provide the opportunities and empowerment to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and do good works. The fruit of the Spirit’s work in us is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Today’s Devotional

At first, I ignored the card fluttering to the ground. The father and his little girl who dropped it were just twenty feet away, and I was late for work. Surely they would have realized it, I told myself. But they kept walking. My conscience got the better of me, and I went over to pick it up. It was a prepaid bus ride pass. When I gave it to them, their effusive thanks left me feeling unexpectedly satisfied. Why do I feel so good about doing such a small thing? I wondered.

It turns out that the human body produces chemicals that improve our mood when we’re kind to others. We’re made to feel good when we do good! That’s not surprising, because we were created by a good God who made us to be like Him.

Ephesians 2:10 shows us that blessing others is a part of our very purpose: “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This verse doesn’t simply give an instruction to do good; in a way, it also reflects a part of our God-made nature. We don’t have to be doing great things all the time. If we do something small to help others in our daily lives, we not only get the reward of satisfaction, but we also know that we’re pleasing God—doing exactly what He made us to do.

Reflect & Pray

Who needs a helping hand or an encouraging word? What kind word or simple gesture can you extend to a friend, colleague, or neighbor?

Dear Father, please open my eyes to see how I can be kind to someone today.

Learn how we can take hope to a lost and divided world.

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I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19

Today’s Scripture

Ezekiel 11:14-21

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Just prior to today’s reading from Ezekiel 11, the prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of God’s glory. He looked on the throne of God in the holy of holies (10:1) and saw “the glory of the Lord” rise and move (v. 4). We see the movement of God’s glory from His inner sanctuary in the temple to its threshold and then from the threshold out into the city (vv. 4, 18). Finally, the glory of God left the city by the eastern gate (v. 19).

Ezekiel’s vision shows something the exiled Israelites may not have at first realized: their God went with them. He followed on the same road they traveled, which is why Ezekiel says, “I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone” (11:16).

Today’s Devotional

Brock and Dennis were childhood friends, but as they grew up, Brock showed little interest in Dennis’ faith in Jesus. Dennis loved his friend and prayed for him because he knew the path he was going down was dark and depressing. In praying for Brock, Dennis adapted the words of the prophet Ezekiel: “Please God, remove from Brock a heart of stone and give him a heart of flesh” (see Ezekiel 11:19). He longed that Brock would walk in God’s way so he would flourish.

Ten years later, Dennis was still praying faithfully. Then he received a call from Brock: “I just gave my life to Jesus!” Dennis rejoiced, tears brimming, to hear his friend exclaim that he’d finally come to the end of himself and trusted God with his life.

In his prayers, Dennis focused on God’s promises to His people through Ezekiel. Although they’d turned from God with detestable practices, He said He would change their hearts: “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh” (v. 19). With changed hearts, they would follow their God faithfully (v. 20).

No matter how far we’ve turned from God, He delights to give us warm and loving hearts. We need only to turn to Him with faith and repentance as we trust in Jesus to save us from our sins.

Reflect & Pray

How have you experienced God melting any stubbornness or coldness within? How can you pray for a friend today?

Loving God, thank You for releasing me from my sin and shame.

Learn more about having a personal relationship with God.

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There should be no division in the body, but . . . its parts should have equal concern for each other. 1 Corinthians 12:25

Today’s Scripture

1 Corinthians 12:21-26

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The concept of unity that Paul highlights in 1 Corinthians 12 depends on two things. The first is its diversity. Each part of the body has a different function, yet every part is vital. Paul wrote to a society steeped in slavery, and the church brought together groups of people unaccustomed to equality with each other—slave and free, Jew and gentile (v. 13). How could such a diverse body experience unity? Because of God’s Holy Spirit, who unites us in one purpose. This kind of unity was unique in the world. Paul tells us, “We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body . . . and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (v. 13). Whether great or small, each member is important for the body to perform properly. As Paul said, “God has put the body together” (v. 24). Many members. One body. One Spirit.

Today’s Devotional

Late one night, a Kenyan elephant sanctuary received a call that an elephant calf had fallen into a well. The rescue team arrived to cries of despair flooding the darkness and discovered that two-thirds of the baby’s trunk had been lost to hyenas. Transporting the calf to their safe haven, they named him Long’uro, which means “something that has been cut.” Though he possessed only one-third of his trunk, Long’uro healed and was embraced by the rest of the herd at the sanctuary. Elephants innately know they need each other, so they help each other.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul underscores our need to help each other within the body of Christ. He uses the metaphor of the human body and its individual parts to describe how God intends His people to welcome all gifts in all people because all are needed for His body to function (vv. 12-26). Then Paul explains how unity in diversity is accomplished. “God has put the body together,” he wrote, “giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (vv. 24-25).

Whether weak or strong, fancy or common, let’s help each other. Like the elephants, people need each other too.

Reflect & Pray

When have you received help from the family of God? What will you do to help other believers today?

Dear God, please help me to understand the vital value of each member in the body of Christ and show me how to both receive and give help so that together we’re stronger.

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As long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. Galatians 4:1

Today’s Scripture

Galatians 4:1-7

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Huiothesia is used only five times in the New Testament (and only by Paul). This word, translated as “adoption to sonship” in Galatians 4:5, is packed with meaning. Huiothesia is a compound Greek word from huios (“son”) and thesia (“placing”). Adoption took place when a child (almost exclusively males in the ancient world) was placed in a family that lacked a suitable heir. With adoption came privileges, rights, and responsibilities of family membership. Paul used the term adoption, but the concept of family membership is also present in John’s writing: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! . . . Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:1-2).

Today’s Devotional

When Abigail’s parents died tragically in a car accident, she inherited a large real estate portfolio. She also learned that her parents had arranged to place the portfolio in a trust. For the time being, she could access only enough money for her college tuition. The rest would come when she was older. Abigail was frustrated, but she later realized her parents’ wisdom in planning a measured delivery of the inheritance.

In Galatians 4, Paul uses a similar example to illustrate Israel’s situation as promised heirs of God’s covenant with Abraham. God had made a covenant with Abraham to bless him, and circumcision was a sign of that promise (see Genesis 17:1-14). However, the sign wasn’t the promise. Abraham’s descendants would await a future descendant who would fulfill it. Isaac was born and pointed to the future birth of a Son who would redeem God’s people (Galatians 4:4-5).

Israel, like Abigail, had to wait until the “time set by his father” (v. 2). Only then could Israel take full possession of the inheritance. What they wanted immediately would arrive in due time with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. All who put their faith in Christ were no longer slaves to sin, “but God’s child” (v. 7). A new covenant has been established. We have access to God! We can call him “Abba, Father” (v. 6).

Reflect & Pray

If you profess Jesus as Savior, how are you no longer a slave to sin but a child of God? What does it mean to know Him as Father?

Loving Father, thank You for sending Your Son to address the sin problem of the world. 

Discover how salvation can impact every area of your life.

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We rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. Nehemiah 4:6

Today’s Scripture

Nehemiah 4:1-9

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Nehemiah is a gripping account of inspiring leadership during intense opposition. The Bible introduces us to other heroic figures during this time of exile and restoration. Daniel was betrayed by rival advisors but survived a den of lions (Daniel 6). His three Jewish friends were also betrayed yet endured a burning furnace (3:8-25). Esther stood up to a genocide planned by Haman, “the most powerful official in the empire” (Esther 3:1 NLT; see chs. 4-8). In a period when Israel wondered if they’d ever have security in their dispersion or in their homeland, God provided hope. He inspired courageous leaders and supernaturally protected His people by turning the tables on their enemies

Today’s Devotional

During a trip to Brazil with a short-term missions team, we helped construct a church building in the Amazon jungle. On the foundation, already laid, we assembled the various parts of the church like a giant LEGO set: supporting columns, concrete walls, windows, steel beams for the roof, and tiles on the roof. Then we painted the walls.

Some people were concerned because they wondered if we could build the church in time during monsoon season. But by God’s grace, the intense rain held off. With help from a few locals and despite various obstacles, we got the job done in record time.

When Nehemiah and the Israelites returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, they faced many obstacles. When their enemies found out what they were doing, they were furious and insulted them (Nehemiah 4:1-3). But Nehemiah prayed and the people persevered together: “We rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (v. 6). When their foes threatened to attack, the Israelites prayed and kept guard as they worked (vv. 7-23). They rebuilt the wall in fifty-two days.

Sometimes we’re faced with a daunting task. Obstacles appear in our way, and we and our brothers and sisters in Christ can lose hope. But times like this can be a triumphant moment with God’s help. Trust Him to hold off the rainstorms and look to Him to overcome.

Reflect & Pray

Why is it hard to live in unity? How can you work together with others?

Dear God, please help me to seek unity with other believers in Jesus.

For further study, read Missing the Mission: Disciples in an Age of Abundance

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Do not worry about your life. Matthew 6:25

Today’s Scripture

Matthew 6:25-27

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In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus promises to provide for our needs. One of the most dramatic examples of God’s comprehensive care took place in the desert as the Israelites journeyed to the promised land. They were totally dependent on the divine Shepherd during their forty-year trek. And, just as God provides for the birds (Matthew 6:26) and clothes the flowers (vv. 28-29), He provided food for His people and clothing that didn’t wear out (Deuteronomy 8:3-4)! Moses explained the purpose of the wilderness classroom: “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna . . . to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (v. 3). Our physical cravings are meant to reveal a deeper, spiritual dependence on God whose words sustain us. We can spend our energy focused on His interests, knowing He’ll take care of all our needs (Matthew 6:33).

Today’s Devotional

Nancy feared the future, seeing only trouble. Her husband Tom had fainted three times during a hiking trip in rural Maine. But doctors at a small nearby hospital found nothing wrong. At a larger medical center, where doctors conducted additional tests, they also found no problem. “I was very afraid,” Nancy stated. As her husband was released, she questioned the cardiologist one last time, asking, “What do we do now?” He gave her words of wisdom that forever changed her outlook. “Go live your life,” he said. “It wasn’t in a flippant way,” Nancy recalls. “It was his advice to us.”

Such guidance captures Jesus’ instruction in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25). Such guidance doesn’t say to ignore medical or other problems or symptoms. Instead, Christ simply said, “Do not worry” (v. 25). He then asked, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (v. 27).

The prophet Isaiah offered similar wisdom. “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come’ ” (Isaiah 35:4). For Nancy and Tom, they’re inspired now to walk more than five miles a day. No longer walking with worry, they step out with joy.

Reflect & Pray

What’s your greatest fear? How can giving your worry to Christ enhance your life?

If I’m feeling worried today, dear Jesus, please grant me confidence to give my fear to You as I live out Your peace.

Discover how to turn anxiety into purposeful action.

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Sensible people . . . earn respect by overlooking wrongs. Proverbs 19:11 nlt

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 19:8-13

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God told Solomon, “I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be” (1 Kings 3:12). Over time, Solomon authored many of the proverbs. His divine wisdom, however, didn’t prevent him from great acts of foolishness. In Deuteronomy 17:16-17, God warned that when Israel had a king, he wasn’t to multiply horses (a symbol of military security) or foreign wives (political alliances for security of the throne). The clear implication was that the king was to find his security in God—the one true king of Israel. Solomon foolishly ignored those warnings, acquiring so many horses that he needed to build cities for their keeping and care (1 Kings 10:26). In addition, he accumulated seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (11:3). These women turned Solomon’s heart away from God (v. 4). Due to Solomon’s foolishness, God dealt with him in judgment (vv. 9-13).

Today’s Devotional

When I entered my church after several months of quarantine, I was excited to see members I hadn’t seen in a while. I realized that some members, especially older ones, just wouldn’t be back—some due to safety reasons and others, unfortunately, because they’d passed from this life. So I was quite excited when I spotted an older couple coming into the sanctuary and taking their normal seat behind me. I waved at them both. The man returned my greeting, while his wife stared at me without even smiling. I was hurt and wondered why.

It was a few Sundays later that I observed the same woman (who hadn’t returned my greeting) being helped by a friend who was showing her when to stand or sit—acting as her caregiver. My old church friend was apparently very sick and hadn’t recognized me. I’m glad I didn’t approach her or even get upset when she didn’t return my enthusiastic greeting.

Proverbs offers a lot of advice for living wisely, and not being easily offended is one of its gems. In fact, it says “sensible people . . . earn respect by overlooking wrongs” (19:11 nlt). Choosing not to get offended and learning to “control [our] temper” (v. 11 nlt) can bring us honor. It may require patience and “wisdom” (v. 8), but the rewards also are well worth getting over ourselves and choosing to love others.

Reflect & Pray

When were you offended by someone’s actions? When is it the right thing to overlook an offense?

God of mercy, thank You for overlooking the times I’ve offended You. Please give me the wisdom to do the same for others.

Read A Prayer for Patience and invite His peace into your daily life.

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You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. Acts 3:15

Today’s Scripture

Acts 3:15-24

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In Acts 3:12-25, Peter preached the gospel to a crowd after healing a lame beggar. Regarding the people’s part in Jesus’ death, he said: “This is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer” (v. 18). These prophets included David (Psalm 69:4, 21), Isaiah (Isaiah 50:6; 53:4-11), and Zechariah (Zechariah 12:10; 13:7). In Psalm 22, David expresses words that Christ cries aloud from the cross (v. 1; see Matthew 27:46), His mistreatment (Psalm 22:6-8; see Matthew 27:27-31, 41-44), and the dividing of His garments (Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35). Peter’s words in Acts 3:17-18 are reminiscent of Joseph’s words to his brothers: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).

Today’s Devotional

Moses with horns? That’s the way he’s depicted in Michelangelo’s masterpiece sculpture completed in 1515. Two horns protrude from Moses’ hair just above his forehead.

Michelangelo wasn’t alone—many Renaissance and medieval artists depict Moses that way. Why? It has to do with the Latin translation of the Hebrew Bible available at the time, which described Moses’ radiant face after being in God’s presence (see Exodus 34:29). The original language uses a word related to “horns” to describe “beams” of light shining from Moses’ face, and the Latin Vulgate Bible translated it literally. Moses was “misread.”

Have you ever misread someone? After a man unable to walk from birth was healed by Peter in Jesus’ name (Acts 3:1-10), the apostle told his fellow Israelites that they had misread Jesus. “You killed the author of life,” he said pointedly, “but God raised him from the dead” (v. 15). He continued, “This is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer” (v. 18). Peter even said Moses had pointed to Christ (v. 22).

It was “by faith in the name of Jesus,” a “faith that comes through him,” that the man’s life was transformed (v. 16). No matter how we’ve misunderstood Him or what our past contains, Christ welcomes us when we turn to Him. The author of life stands ready to write new beginnings for us!

Reflect & Pray

How have you misread Jesus? What will help you understand Him even better today?

Thank You, Jesus, for always understanding and loving me.

For further study, read The Point of It All—Why We Might Miss Jesus.

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Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:37

Today’s Scripture

Luke 10:27-37

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Luke 10:27-37 features one of Jesus’ more widely known parables—the Good Samaritan. What makes it so remarkable is that Samaritans were outcasts. As a result of Assyria’s invasion of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Israelites intermarried with Assyrians, resulting in this mixed-race people. Though hated by the Jews, Samaritans were clearly people Christ cared about, as seen not only in this parable but also in John 4:1-42 in His encounters with a Samaritan woman and in Luke 17:11-19 with a Samaritan leper. God’s care for the Samaritans is just one example of the comprehensive nature of His love described in John 3:16.

Today’s Devotional

One winter day in Michigan, a delivery man noticed an elderly woman shoveling snow off her driveway. He stopped and convinced the eighty-one-year-old to let him finish the job. Concerned that he’d be late delivering his other packages, she retrieved another shovel. They worked side by side for almost fifteen minutes as her neighbors watched from afar. “I’m thankful you helped me,” she said. “You’re God-sent.”

During a conversation with an expert in the law, Jesus redefined the concept of loving our neighbors (Luke 10:25-37). When Jesus asked him to interpret the law he knew so well, the expert said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ ” (v. 27).

Then Jesus shared a story about two religious leaders who ignored a robbery victim. But a Samaritan—a person most Jewish leaders in those days considered inferior—sacrificed to help the man in need (vv. 30-35). When the expert of the law realized that the one who had mercy on the man had loved like a neighbor, Jesus encouraged him to do likewise (vv. 36-37).

Loving others isn’t always easy or convenient. But as Jesus overwhelms us with His love, He’ll help us love all our neighbors like the Good Samaritan did.

Reflect & Pray

How has God shown you His love through an unexpected neighbor? Who can you show God’s love to in a practical way this week?

Dear Jesus, please give me opportunities to love all the people You created and who call my neighbors.

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As members of one body you were called to peace. Colossians 3:15

Today’s Scripture

Colossians 3:8-17

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Paul wrote to the Colossian church to correct false teaching about Jesus and to instruct us how to live “worthy of the Lord”—fruitful and faithful lives that “please him in every way” (1:10). The apostle emphasizes the supremacy of Christ in creation, redemption, and the church (chs. 1-2). He then calls for Jesus to be supreme in their lives (chs. 3-4). Using the metaphors of putting on and taking off clothes, Paul says to live a transformed life—a Christlike life reflecting His character (3:1-17). The apostle lists various sins that believers must “put to death” (v. 5): “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed . . . anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language” (vv. 5, 8). Then he instructs believers to replace them with the Christ-honoring virtues of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (v. 12). We’re to “bear with each other and forgive one another” (v. 13) and envelop everything in love (v. 14).

Today’s Devotional

Would they win by arguing? Never, a small-town leader warned residents in Adirondack Park, where a pitched battle between environmentalists and small-business owners ignited the “Adirondack Wars.” The name described their fight whether to save the area’s pristine wilderness in Upstate New York or develop it.

“Go back wherever you came from!” a local leader had shouted at an environmentalist. But soon a new message emerged: “Don’t yell at each other. Try to talk to each other.” A Common Ground Alliance was formed to build bridges between warring factions. Civic dialogue led to progress—with nearly a million acres of wild land protected even as Adirondack towns grew more prosperous than they’d been in twenty years.

Peaceful coexistence is a start, but Paul taught something even better. To the new believers in Colossae, he said, “Rid yourselves of . . . anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Colossians 3:8). Paul urged them to exchange their old ways for a new nature in Christ: “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” he wrote (v. 12).

The invitation is offered today to all believers: surrender our old, cantankerous lives to new life in Christ. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace” (v. 15). Then, in our peace, the world will see Jesus.

Reflect & Pray

Whom could you forgive today? With whom can you make peace?

Dear God, when my old life erupts in anger, please grant me new peace in You.

Discover more on the healing power of forgiveness.

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Love [your wife] as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods. Hosea 3:1

Today’s Scripture

Hosea 3

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The fourteen chapters of Hosea comprise one of the stranger books of the Bible. Why would God command His prophet Hosea to “marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her” (Hosea 1:2)? The answer comes in the first chapter: “for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord” (v. 2). God intended Hosea’s publicly disastrous marriage to be a vivid depiction to the people of what they were doing to Him by engaging in obscene idolatry. He said of them, “She will chase after her lovers” (2:7). Yet God would bring the people back from exile. Hosea 3 anticipates a day when Israel “will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days” (v. 5). God will always love them, as Hosea loved his wife.

Today’s Devotional

What do we do? Scott and Bree agonized over how to relate to friends and family members who’d chosen unbiblical ways of life. As they studied the Scriptures and prayed, a path forward emerged: First, they reinforced their love for their friends and loved ones; second, they expressed what was true and good about them based on God’s good design; and third, they shared how they would lovingly interact with them based on Scriptural wisdom. In time, greater relational trust was built as Scott and Bree extended Christlike love.

Hosea likely wondered how to relate to his wife—a woman whose chosen way of life didn’t honor God or him. God directed the prophet to “show your love to your wife again, though she is . . . an adulteress” (Hosea 3:1). The prophet evidently reinforced his love for her while also expressing what was right and true for them and their relationship before God (v. 3). His relationship with her symbolized God’s own challenge with rebellious ancient Israel. Though they’d chosen a wrong course, He provided a path forward, telling them His “love will know no bounds” (14:4 nlt) but to choose His ways for they “are right” (v. 9).

As God provides wisdom and discernment, let’s continue to extend His love and truth to those who’ve chosen unbiblical ways of life. His example provides the path forward.

Reflect & Pray

How has God shown love and truth to you? How can you show God’s love and truth to those on unbiblical paths?

Loving God, please help me to reflect Your truth and love to those far from You.

For further study, read Evangelism—Reaching Out through Relationships.

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Tabitha . . . was always doing good and helping the poor. Acts 9:36

Today’s Scripture

Acts 9:36-43

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The phrase “doing good” (Acts 9:36) also appears in Acts 10:38 where Peter, preaching in the home of Cornelius, summarized the ministry of Jesus: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and . . . he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Tabitha—a disciple of Christ—followed His example of helping those in need by making clothes as a tangible expression of her care (9:39). Peter, likewise, followed Christ in doing good by using his apostolic gifts. It’s hard to miss the similarities between Acts 9:39-42 and Mark 5:37-43, where Peter had a front row seat at Jairus’ house (see also Luke 8:51) when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. After Christ had returned to heaven, His good works continued through those who believed in Him.

Today’s Devotional

On a five-hour flight, a woman vigorously crocheted a sweater. As she moved her hook in and out of her yarn, she noticed a five-month-old baby who was mesmerized by her motions. Then the woman got an idea: instead of finishing the sweater she was working on; she would make a hat for her little admirer. She had to finish the hat in the remaining time of the flight, however—just one hour! When the woman presented the child’s mom with the little hat, the whole family accepted it with joy while the other passengers smiled and applauded.

Surprise gifts are often received with joy. Whether they’re gifts we need or simply want, through them the giver may also show us the kindness of Christ. In the early church, Tabitha was known for sharing clothes and “always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36). When she died, her beneficiaries displayed “the robes and other clothing that [she] had made . . . them” (v. 39). They testified about her kindness and how she’d touched their lives.

In a dramatic turn of events, Peter, through the Holy Spirit’s power, brought Tabitha back to life (v. 40). His actions filled those who loved her with joy—and led many others to believe in Christ (v. 42).

Our actions of kindness can be some of the most memorable testifying we do. As God provides, let’s share some surprise gifts with others today.

Reflect & Pray

What gifts can you share with others? What has it meant for you to receive gifts of kindness?

Heavenly Father, please remind me to be kind to others—sharing my gifts and treasures.

Discover how not to let your failure stop you from following Jesus.

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Give, and it will be given to you. Luke 6:38

Today’s Scripture

Luke 6:31-38

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The teaching of Luke 6:31-38 is similar to that of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:38-48, which Jesus taught “up on a mountainside” (v. 1). Christ taught the sermon in Luke 6—the Sermon on the Plain—on another occasion: “on a level place” (v. 17) or “in the plain” (kjv). Here, Jesus taught about unconditional love for others, including enemies, so that we can be “children of the Most High” (v. 35). God “is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (v. 35); we’re to be merciful in the same measure that the “Father is merciful” (v. 36). In this sermon, Christ articulated a maxim popularly known as the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (v. 31), espousing the principle of “a man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). Christ spoke of reciprocal treatment, “for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

Today’s Devotional

When Lydia was gifted $10,000 by anonymous donors, she spent little of it on herself. Instead, she gave generous gifts to coworkers, family, flood victims, and charities. Lydia, unbeknownst to her, was part of a study following how two hundred people responded to a no-strings-attached gift of $10,000 through a bank transfer. That study found that more than two-thirds of that gifted money was given away. Sharing this story, Chris Anderson, head of the TED nonprofit media organization, reflected, “It turns out that . . . we human beings are wired to respond to generosity with generosity.”

In Scripture, we find that when people live generously, they reflect the heart of the God who made them. God is generous, merciful, and kind, not just to some but to all—even “to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35). So Jesus instructed those who desire to reflect God’s character to “love,” “do good to,” and “lend to” even enemies “without expecting to get anything back” (vv. 32-35).

When we give without expecting anything back, we’ll find that it’s never a way of life that harms us. Jesus pointed this out too, saying, “Give, and it will be given to you. . . . With the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (v. 38). When we respond to God’s generosity by living generously, we find we’re enriched in countless ways.

Reflect & Pray

How have you found joy through giving? How have the gifts of others enriched your life?

Gracious God, thank You for the joy of giving.

For further study, read The Benefits of Generosity.

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I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13

Today’s Scripture

Genesis 9:8-17

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The word covenant first appears in Genesis 6:18 when God says to Noah, “I will establish my covenant with you.” Though the context in which this word is used determines its specific meaning, broadly speaking, the word covenant refers to a “formal agreement between two or more parties.” Sometimes, as with God’s covenant with Noah (9:8-17) and Abraham (17:9-14), a sign is associated with it. In addition to the Noahic and Abrahamic covenants, other covenants found in the Old Testament include the Mosaic (Exodus 19-24), Davidic (2 Samuel 7), and the New Covenants (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Today’s Devotional

While I stood watching the amazing power of Niagara Falls, I noticed that other tourists suddenly began taking photos. Looking in the same direction, I saw a rainbow had appeared—arching across the river. It seemed to begin at the base of the Horseshoe Falls, ending at the base of the American Falls.

In reality, there’s no end to a rainbow. A rainbow is a full circle, something I’ve seen only once. I was gazing out an airplane window when the sun—shining in just the right direction—revealed a full-circle rainbow in the distance above the clouds. I sat enthralled with the sight until the plane turned and the circle disappeared.

That rainbow gave me much to consider—how God has no beginning or end, and that He reveals His promises to us no matter where we are. Our never-ending, eternal God “set [His] rainbow in the clouds” (Genesis 9:13) as a promise to never flood the earth again “to destroy all life” (v. 15). Even today, our Creator shares His reminder of that promise with us, His creation (vv. 13-16).

Isaiah 40:28 says, “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. . . . No one can measure the depths of his understanding” (nlt). What an amazing thought! We will have eternity to learn about our promise keeper, and we’ll never reach the ultimate depth of His understanding.

Reflect & Pray

What attributes of God do you think about when you see a rainbow? How do His promises encourage you?

Thank You, Father, for creating rainbows and revealing them to me as confirmation of Your promise to me.

Learn more about the flood and God’s promises by reading Does God Make Mistakes?

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For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. Proverbs 24:16

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 24:15-22

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Today’s Insights

Proverbs 22:17–24:22 includes the heading “Thirty Sayings of the Wise.” This section is a collection of wise words “of counsel and knowledge” (22:20) to encourage the reader to trust in God and live honest and God-honoring lives (vv. 19-21).

Each saying in this section of Proverbs encourages the reader to adopt or avoid certain behaviors and uses the characteristic injunction “Do not . . .” followed by the reason or consequence of obedience or disobedience (see 22:22-23; 23:3, 4-5; 24:1-2). Proverbs 24:15-22 focuses primarily on our attitude toward evildoers. We’re not to imitate their evil deeds, gloat over their downfall (vv. 17-18), or envy their successes (vv. 19-20). Instead, we’re to fear both God and his agent, the governing authorities, for they will punish evildoers (vv. 21-22).

Today’s Devotional

As a teen, I was enthralled with the sport of figure skating. I loved the blend of artistry and athleticism on ice, with the fast spins, high jumps, and perfect poses. After watching many professional skaters perform, I finally got the opportunity to go ice skating and be part of a group lesson. Along with learning how to glide and stop, we learned some of the most important skills for a skater at any level—how to fall and get back up quickly. Later, I learned many spins and jumps in private lessons, but always had to rely on the basics of how to get up after a fall.

We don’t have to be athletes to know that “falling” is part of life. Perhaps we fall because we’ve sinned, we stumble due to a mistake, or we get knocked down by an overwhelming circumstance. Maybe we find ourselves being attacked by the devil one way or another. “We are . . . persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). No matter the reason, we all fall and experience failure in life.

But we’re not meant to live in defeat, shame, or regret. When the enemy is lurking nearby and trying to plunder from us (Proverbs 24:15), we need to remember that God is fighting for us and will help us get back up, “for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again” (v. 16).

When we fall, let’s quickly turn to God and fix our eyes on Him who gives us the strength to get back up.

Reflect & Pray

How do you handle the falls in life? How has God helped you get back up?

Dear God, thank You for helping me get up after a fall.

For further study read, Do Not Rejoice.

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Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. Acts 16:31

Today’s Scripture

Romans 10:9-11

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The context of the promise in Romans 10 that “if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (v. 9) is the full inclusion of gentiles—non-Jewish people—into God’s people and into a saving relationship with Him. Before Christ came, gentiles could only become part of God’s people by converting to Judaism and following Jewish law. But Paul argued that gentiles were no longer required to follow Jewish law to be considered righteous before God. Instead, “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (v. 4). This means that a relationship with God is accessible to all—“there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (v. 12).

Today’s Devotional

When my wife and I go biking, we like to know how many miles we’ve pedaled. So, I went to a bike shop to buy an odometer and came home with a minicomputer that I discovered was a bit too complicated for me to program.

I headed back to the bike shop, where the person who had sold it to me had it working in no time. I realized it wasn’t as difficult to understand as I thought.

In life, new things and new ideas can seem complicated. Think about salvation, for instance. Some people might think becoming a child of God is complicated.

Yet, the Bible spells it out in simple terms: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). No set of rules to follow. No mysteries to solve.

Here’s the simple truth: We’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23). Jesus came to earth to save us from the penalty of our sin—death and eternal separation from Him (Matthew 1:21; 1 Peter 2:24). He arose from the dead (Romans 10:9). And we’re saved from spiritual death to eternal life by trusting in what He did for us (John 3:16).

Consider what it will mean for you to simply trust and believe in Jesus. Let Him give you “life . . . to the full” (John 10:10).

Reflect & Pray

What will it mean for you to receive salvation in Jesus? If you’ve been saved, what difference has faith in Him made in your life?

Loving God, I realize that I’m a sinner—I do things that are wrong in Your eyes. I also realize that You sent Jesus to earth to die on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me for my sins and redeem me. Thank You for the salvation You’ve provided!

Learn more about having a personal relationship with God.

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