Bringing Others to Jesus

Devotionals 4 Him

 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” John 1: 35-36

John 1:35-42

Bringing Others to Jesus

Andrew is the disciple known for bringing people to Jesus. Immediately after meeting the Lord, he introduced his brother Simon to the Messiah. Another time, when a great multitude was hungry, he found a boy with five loaves and two fishes and brought him to Jesus (John 6:8-9). When some Greeks wanted to meet Christ; Andrew and Philip made the introductions (John 12:20-22). This disciple never lost his enthusiasm for the Savior.

 Andrew's own conversion experience motivated him to let others know about the One who'd changed his life (1:36-37). How about you--have you lost the joy of your salvation? If your Christian life has become stale and musty, it's time to remember what Christ has done for you and to ask that He restore your excitement.

 In addition, Andrew longed to know the Savior and spend time with Him (vv. 38-39). The disciple's example is a good reminder that sweet fellowship with the Lord isn't supposed to end with devotional times. It should also stimulate a desire to share with others the joy we find in our relationship with Christ.

 Finally, Andrew was motivated by his conviction that Jesus was the Messiah (v. 41). He'd found the answer for a lost and hurting world and wanted others to know.

 When Andrew answered the call to discipleship, Jesus told him he'd be "catching men" instead of fish (Luke 5:10). Since we, too, are followers of Christ, we have this same assignment. Our styles and opportunities vary, but we're each responsible to develop a lifelong habit of bringing others to Jesus.

*** PRAYER

Father, use me to impact others, let my life, and all I do and say bring others to Christ. I commit my time, talent, and treasure to You. May people see Your love through my life. In Jesus’ name Amen.

BEING SALT OF THE EARTH

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 5:13

"You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

Today’s Daily Devotion

Jesus is making a statement of fact here when He says, “You are the salt of the earth!” It is not a command or wish list. It is to be reality here and now. The implication is that we are to be what God has already made us to be.

The context is Christians facing persecution. Their numbers are small and they are insignificant. Salt is cheap in some places and expensive in others. We have the saying that a man is worth his weight in salt! Its value may vary yet it has unusual properties that far exceed its value.

This is what should happen when Christians take their stand for God in society. That stand for good renders society infertile for the growth of evil and ungodly influences. When England went through revival under the ministry of the Wesley’s and George Whitefield in the 18th century, a possible bloody revolution such as afflicted France was averted.

Usually it happens on a more moderate scale. Conversations moderated, consciences pricked, respect for others heightened.

The Disciples of Christ did not remain silent about their faith. They did not hide themselves, but lived and worked in places where their influence may be felt. So the light that was in them could then be most fully manifested to others so that they may see the light of real Christian goodness. It is a light not of this world but coming from God, and may in consequence be led to give honor and praise to its Giver.

I read about a seminary in Indonesia that reflects this teaching of Jesus. The seminary is surrounded by a Muslim community where many live in poverty. Rather than live in an isolated enclave, the school and students serve this community with the love of Jesus. They teach literacy lessons; they provide first-aid medical care; they distribute food and clothing to the hungry and naked.

During an outbreak of violence by extremists against churches in the area, an angry Muslim mob approached the seminary one night chanting their slogans and waving their machetes. 

When they arrived at the buildings, they found a circle of Muslim people surrounding the campus holding hands in a large circle. They said to the extremists, “We will not allow you to destroy this school. These people help us and our children with all our needs. You may not harm them!” The mob disappeared.  

***

Being salt and light in the community also has its rewards.

***

Today I resolve to live my life for Jesus in a way
that will positively “salt” my community.

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PRAYER
Help me, Lord, to stand for the good and be a
salty influence for You in the world around me.

***

What are your thoughts on this devotional? I would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments! Thanks! 

Planted by God's River

Today’s Text is: Psalm 1:1-3

 “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

Today’s Devotion

Think about this truth: God has prepared unimaginable joys for us! In fact, He wants to bless us in every part of our lives. He wants us to “prosper and be in health” (3 John 1:2), to be victorious, and “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37).

The Bible is filled with descriptions of God’s blessings and with His instructions for how we can receive them. And there is no clearer path to blessings than putting into practice the insights found in the first Psalm.

The key here is being filled with God’s Word. This includes bothknowing His Word and putting it into practice. This pattern leads to a life that is fruitful and productive. The psalmist describes how blessings will flow into our lives, with every need supplied in abundance. A life based on God’s Word enables us to be stable and strong.

The Bible pictures us as being “like trees planted along the riverbank.” We don’t need to rush or worry, for His nourishment by this constant stream provides everything we need. We can rest, be confident, and experience God’s peace, knowing that we will “prosper” in everything we do.

But this passage also warns that these blessings can be blocked. How? If we join with mockers, listen to sinners, or “follow the advice of the wicked.” The ungodly are not stable but are like “the chaff which the wind drives away.” They aren’t able to “stand in the judgment.”

***

Today, prepare yourself for God’s blessings. Make sure you are rooted and grounded in the Lord, trusting in Him and delighting in His Word. This will help you steer clear of the path of sinners, enabling you to receive God’s amazing blessings.

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Today’s Prayer: Father, it is my desire to be pleasing in Your sight. I seek Your wisdom, and I delight in Your Word. Thank You for Your blessings and favor! In Jesus’ name Amen

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What are your thoughts on this devotional? I would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments! Thanks!

The Power of an Example

Today’s Scripture:  Philippians 3:17

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 

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One of the reasons God may have chosen Paul to write most of the New Testament is that he wanted us to know him well. The Holy Spirit may have wanted us to grasp Paul’s thinking, motives, attitudes, and choices all the way from the book of Acts through his epistles. Paul’s life ambition was evangelism, his focus was the cross, and his motive was Christ and Christ alone. No wonder the Spirit of God inspired Paul to say to us, “Join with others in following my example.” And Paul could say that without a hint of smug self righteousness.

Faced with accusers? Paul holds his tongue and points to the facts. Assaulted by hardships? He says they will all fit together for good. Confronted with injustice? He patiently states his case and moves forward. Slapped with false imprisonment? He sings praises to God in his cell. Harassed by death threats? He says it would merely send him home sooner to glory. Hounded by loneliness? Paul fixes his eyes on heavenly glories above.

Read the book of Philippians with an eye on Paul’s example. See how in Philippians 3:4–8 he lists all his religious credentials and then calls them “rubbish.” Not only did he consider his religious achievements and awards worthless, he thought they were damning (there is nothing God hates more than a religious spirit). Follow Paul’s example. Let’s not take pleasure in our regular church attendance or pride in how many committees we serve on. Let’s take pleasure in pleasing Christ and Christ alone.

Remember, you are an example to others — whether for good or bad.

***

Today’s Prayer

Lord God, thank You for the example of godly men like the apostle Paul. Help me to learn from his life and make the Cross my focus, evangelism my motive, and the glory of Christ my goal.

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It's easy to get caught up in Check List Christianity, mentally checking off church attendance, going to Bible study, or serving in children's ministry and feeling confident in our religious credentials. But Paul's godly example is pleasing Christ and Christ alone. So what type of example are you sharing with others?

What are your thoughts on this devotional? I would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments on my blog! Thanks!

How to Walk as Jesus Walked

Today’s Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

“By this we may be sure that we are in Him: he who says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

Today’s Daily Devotion

This phrase, abides in Him, means exactly the same thing as fellowships with Him. The Lord Jesus made that clear when He said, as is recorded in John, “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4b). 

You can be in Christ, as a member of the vine, and bear only leaves. That is a mere relationship. But if you want fruit in your life, there must be that further attitude of abiding in Him, resting in Him. That is what produces significant results in life.

The sign of abiding is to walk in the same way in which Christ walked. That does not mean to do the same things that Jesus did; that means to act from the same principle upon which He acted, to reflect the same kind of relationship to the Father that He had. That is the sign of fellowship.

What was the secret of our Lord's power? That is what brought Nicodemus to Him by night: to try to search out the secret if he could. Many others came wondering what the secret of His power was. The amazing thing was that He kept telling people what it was. But we skip over it with easy disregard. He said,

 “The Son of Man does not do these things of Himself. That is, I'm not doing this; the Father who dwells in Me is doing it. I don't speak these words of Myself, but I speak only that which I hear the Father say. It's the Father who speaks the words; it's the Father who does the work. I am a man, available to Him, but He is in Me, and His working in Me is the secret of the things that I do. I am simply counting on Him every minute to be at work and to do these things, and He does them.” (John 14:10-11).

That is the great secret, and that is one of the hardest things for Christians to learn. How did He walk? He walked in total, unrelenting, unbroken fellowship and dependence upon the activity of the Father who indwelt Him.

But that seems so hard for us to learn. With us, it is the Son of God who lives within us, and He has come to reproduce the effect of His death and the power of His resurrection—to live again His life in us. But we have such difficulty with this. Our attitude is, Please, Father, I'd rather do it myself We are brought up with the idea that we have in ourselves an ability to act significantly, that God is looking to us to act on His behalf, and if we fail Him, the whole program will fall apart, but if we do accomplish something for God, He should be eternally grateful to us for our faithfulness.

But this is not what a Christian is called to do. A quiet, unrelenting dependence upon an indwelling God to be always at work in us, reproducing the value of His death and the power of His resurrection—that is what Christianity is, that is what fellowship is, and that is what abiding in Him means.

Today’s Questions: What does it mean to have the life of Christ in us? Have you grasped this abiding reality that Jesus demonstrated to us as the way for us to walk with God?

Today’s Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that You are making provision for me, filling me with Your very life. I pray that I may grasp this more and more and cooperate with You in it.

Please feel free to leave a comment…

We Know That in All Things

Words of Devotion

What a tremendous claim Paul makes in this verse! He does not say, “We know that in some things,” “most things,” or even “joyful things” but “ALL things.” This promise spans from the very smallest detail of life to the most important, and from the most humbling of daily tasks to God’s greatest works of grace performed during a crisis.

Paul states this in the present tense: “God works.” He does not say, “worked” or “will work.” It is a continuing operation.

We also know from Scripture that God’s “justice [is] like the great deep” (Psalm 36:6); at this very moment the angels in heaven, as they watch with folded wings the development of God’s great plan, are undoubtedly proclaiming, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made” (Psalm 145:17).

Then when God orchestrates “all things . . . for the good,” it is a beautiful blending. He requires many different colors, which individually may be quite drab, to weave into the harmonious pattern.

Separate tones, notes, and even discords are required to compose melodious musical anthems; a piece of machinery requires many separate wheels, parts, and connections. One part from a machine may be useless, or one note from an anthem may never be considered beautiful, but taken together, combined, and completed, they lead to perfect balance and harmony.

We can learn a lesson of faith from this:

“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (John 13:7). — J. R. Macduff

"In a thousand trials, it is not just five hundred of them that work 'for the good' of the believer, but nine hundred and ninety-nine, plus one." — George Mueller

God Meant It unto Good (Genesis 50:20)

“God meant it unto good” — O blest assurance,

Falling like sunshine all across life’s way, touching with Heaven’s gold, and earth’s darkest storm clouds. Bringing a fresh peace and comfort day by day. Taws not by chance the hands of faithless brothers sold Joseph captive to a foreign land; Nor was it chance that, after years of suffering, brought him before the pharaoh’s throne to stand. One Eye all-seeing saw the need of thousands, And planned to meet it through that one lone soul; And through the weary days of prison bondage was working toward the great and glorious goal. As yet the end was hidden from the captive, the iron entered even to his soul; His eye could scan the present path of sorrow, not yet his gaze might rest upon the whole. Faith failed not through those long, dark days of waiting, His trust in God was reimbursed at last, The moment came when God led forth his servant to comfort many, all his sufferings past. “It was not you but God, that led me to here,” Witnessed triumphant faith in later days; “God meant it unto good,” no other reason Mingled their discord with his song of praise. “God means it unto good” for you, beloved, The God of Joseph is the same today; His love permits afflictions strange and bitter, His hand is guiding through the unknown way. Your Lord, who sees the end from the beginning, has purposes for you of love untold. Then place your hand in His and follow fearless, till you the riches of His grace behold. There, when you stand firm in the Home of Glory, And all life’s path lies open to your gaze, Your eyes will SEE the hand that you’re now trusting, and magnify His love through endless days.

— Freda Hanbury Allen

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Now Your Turn: 

It can be challenging to acknowledge that God works ALL things — from very painful experiences, to seemingly mundane moments, to celebration events — for the good of the believer, and yet that is what Scripture guarantees.

Imagine seeing the angels singing “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made”...

Does that change how you view God's fingerprint on your circumstances? How so?

I would love to hear your input! Please leave your thoughts and comments on my blog. ~ Daily Devotionals

Jesus is calling out your name today and He is

“Looking for someone to lead them (the lost) to my cross
I need your help; I need your help…
Won't you be My voice calling
Won't you be My hands healing
Won't you be My feet walking into a broken world
Won't you be My chain-breaker
Won't you be My peacemaker
Won't you be My hope and joy
Won't you be My Love”*

What will you do, are you to busy?

Is there to much noise, that you can’t hear His voice?

The lost are dying and going to hell, are you the one God wants to use to reach out to them?

Jesus is calling….YOU!!

*(lyrics from ‘Won’t you be my love’ by Mercyme)

Love Accepts All Things

Love . . . always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7

Love . . . bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

Words of Devotion

Wouldn't it be nice if love were like a cafeteria line? What if you could look at the person with whom you live and select what you want and pass on what you don’t? What if parents could do this with kids? “I’ll take a plate of good grades and cute smiles, and I’m passing on the teenage identity crisis and tuition bills.”

What if kids could do the same with parents? “Please give me a helping of allowances and free lodging but no rules or curfews, thank you.”

And spouse with spouse? “Hmm, How about a bowl of good health and good moods. However job transfers, in-laws, and laundry are not on my diet.”

Wouldn't it be great if love were like a cafeteria line? It would be easier. It would be neater. It would be painless and peaceful. But you know what? It wouldn't be love. Love doesn't accept just a few things. Love is willing to accept all things.

“Love is willing to accept all things.” Do you find this difficult? Why?

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I would love to hear from you! Please leave your comments on my blog.

Trust and Obey

Today’s Passage: Psalm 84:11-12

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Words of Devotion

Feeling called to ministry, John Sammis left a career in business. Born in Brooklyn in 1846, he was ordained in 1880 and served churches before becoming a teacher at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles.

In 1887, a friend of his, Daniel Towner, told Sammis about a young man he saw at a crusade of Dwight Moody in Brockton, Massachusetts. Talking about his Christian life, the man confessed that he didn’t know all the doctrines. So, he said, “I’m going to trust, and I’m going to obey.” Struck with the insight of this perspective, Towner wrote down the words.

Sammis was moved as well, and he was inspired to write a hymn we still sing today, called “Trust and Obey.” He wrote, “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.”

The message of this hymn was simple: “There’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Sammis knew we can encounter doubts and problems, but “not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, but His smile quickly drives it away; not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, can abide while we trust and obey.”

When we trust and obey, we can give our burdens to Jesus, and realize that “the favor He shows” and “the joy He bestows” are for those who trust and obey.

Today: Are you carrying burdens today? Do you have questions or doubts? Needs and worries? Just commit them to God. Don’t make it complicated. Simply trust Him, and obey His Word.

Today’s Prayer: Father, I trust in You and will obey Your Word. Thank You for taking away my burdens. Help me to please You and serve You. I commit my life to You. In Jesus’ name Amen

Just Like Jesus

 “A Christian’s life should be nothing but a visible representation of Christ.” Thomas Brooks

Today’s Passage: 1 John 2:6

Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.

In Word It seems obvious, but somehow we miss this truth. We who claim salvation by faith in Jesus-that we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and worship our Father in spirit and truth-are often remarkably unlike our Savior.

What causes such incongruity in our lives? Do we want only the benefits of salvation without its responsibilities? Do we grab the “free gift” of grace while forgetting the cross-carrying side of discipleship? Whatever our reason, we are not alone.

Every religion has followers who claim to follow it’s precepts but are noticeably indifferent to them. Christians are skillful at such games as well. We fool ourselves into thinking that agreement with the gospel equals living it. But it doesn't.

Perhaps as John wrote this sentence he was recalling the sharp words of Jesus when He asked His disciples a penetrating question: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

John had seen crowds surround the miracle-working Jesus with admiration and even worship, and he had also seen them walk away when the teaching got tough.

Are we only miracle seekers as well? Do we seek a salvation that doesn't disrupt our lives? Do we claim to live in Him and yet not live like Him?

In Deed First John was written to help believers know whether their faith was genuine or not. High on the list of indicators for authenticity is a consistent lifestyle. John tells us, in essence, that there is no such thing as an un-Christlike Christian.

He acknowledges our imperfection and our need to confess, of carouse, but he never implies that we claim saving faith without a serious regard for the way we live. We must be like Him.

Students resemble their teachers. Servants resemble their masters. Children resemble their parents. Christians resemble Christ. It’s a given.

Devote all diligence to this truth. The watching world is skeptical of the faith because it has seen un-Christlike “Christians.”

God’s Word calls His witnesses to be like Him. Do you resemble Christ? 

Treasuring God's Word

Today’s Passage: Proverbs 7:1-3

"My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.

² 

Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers;write them on the tablet of your heart."

³ 

Words of Devotion

The pastor was amazed. Meeting with other clergy from his region, he had made statements that, to him, seemed obvious. They simply were statements about the importance of making decisions that were consistent with the Bible. He had urged them to support Biblical principles.

To his surprise, he found himself isolated as the only pastor willing to make this commitment. Everyone else felt that the Bible was out-of-date or irrelevant, that what was important were issues such as “justice” and social change. How, he argued, could they make such stands without having the guidance of God’s Word? But no one would budge.

Today, many people feel like those clergy—even many who think they are Christians. Sadly, as this story illustrates, even some church leaders reject the authority of the Bible.

Why are they wrong?

First, because the Bible is God’s blueprint for successful living and its principles provide the guidelines to follow if we want to receive the blessings of God, our Creator.

Second, His Word warns us of the dangers and temptations we will face, as well as teaches us how to avoid them and be victorious.

Do you want victory in your life?

Do you want to be equipped to overcome temptation?

Then make sure you know God’s Word. Make a point to read the Bible every day. Study the Bible. Make it your foundation. Believe its promises. Heed its warnings. Keep its commands.

Today remember: Living according to His principles opens the door to His wisdom—to receiving His strength and power, protection and blessing, and all that He has prepared for you!

Today's Prayer: Father, I treasure Your Word. It is the foundation for my life. Give me understanding and wisdom that I might walk in Your ways. Help me to serve You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

What Seems Impossible

Today’s Passage: Numbers 11:21-22

Moses said, “Lord, here are six hundred thousand people standing around me, and you say, ‘I will give them enough meat to eat for a month!’  If we killed all the flocks and herds, that would not be enough. If we caught all the fish in the sea,  that would not be enough.”

Words of Devotion

Moses couldn't believe what he heard! God promised not only to provide food for the Israelite s, but to overwhelm them with meat. To Moses, this sounded impossible. 

Considering every possible resource, he couldn’t imagine how God could fulfill this promise. In fact, even if they killed all of their flocks and herds, and caught all the fish in the sea,” that would not be enough.

Moses seemed to have forgotten the miracles God performed in Egypt and on their wilderness journey, providing water out of solid rock and meeting their other needs. Responding to Moses’ doubt, God asked a blunt question: “Do you think I’m weak?” 

We can wonder what Moses thought about this question. But God continued by declaring, “Now you will see if I can do what I say.”

Convinced and humbled, Moses delivered God’s message. And, just as He promised, God provided meat for His people in a miraculous way: By sending a strong wind that “blew quail into the area all around the camp.” This was more than enough to feed His people.

So how do we react to the “impossible” situations in our lives? We may read God’s promises and react with doubt, sure that they are unrealistic. As we think about our problems, it can feel like defeat is inevitable. We can feel discouraged and hopeless. But we must remember that God did the impossible for the Israelite’s—not just once, but over and over again. He can do the same for us.

Today: In your life, remember that God can turn around any situation. Remember His promises. Never give up hope, but expect answers from God. With Him, nothing is impossible! 

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Today's Prayer: Father, I commit these situations to You: _______. Thank You for the answers! Thank You that I can trust in You to work miracles. In Jesus’ name Amen

God's Plan

Today’s Passage is: Jeremiah 29:11-14a

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord!

Words of Devotion

On the surface, everything seemed hopeless. God’s people had abandoned Him and embraced sin. As a result, judgment was coming. In fact, the people of Judah were about to go into exile.

  

Everything was being shaken.

But in the midst of these uncertain times, God gave His people a powerful reassurance: He still had a plan for their lives. No matter how the world conditions might appear, the Lord had not planned “calamity” for them. Although they would go through uncertainties and difficulties, His plan was for their well being. He already had planned a wonderful “future and a hope” for them.

God wanted them to focus on His sovereignty and trust in Him. He had not abandoned them. As they called upon Him, He promised to hear them. 

However, there was a condition: They needed to seek Him with their whole heart. We feel God’s concern and how much He wanted to help them, heal them, protect them, bless them, and restore them. His thoughts were “of peace and not of evil”. 

The Lord’s words of comfort and assurance still are true today. In our time, there may be problems and uncertainty in the world. No one knows what will happen tomorrow. But we need to remember that God knows the future! His plans are sure, and He wants to prosper us and give us a hope.

God does not just have a plan for the world, but also for you! In fact, you have a role to play in knowing His plan for the world and for you. How can that be? How can you know His plan for the world and you? When you seek Him with all your heart, then you will find Him. Vs 13-14 a

Today, Call on Him today! Seek after Him. He knows the plans that He has for you…and they are GREAT plans! Plans that will really bless you…

Today's Prayer: Father, thank You that You have prepared a future for me. I want to seek You. I submit my life to You. Direct my steps. Help me to serve and please You. In Jesus’ name Amen

Since Jesus Came Into My Heart

Today’s Passage: Luke 19:6-10

“Zacchaeus…took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. ‘He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,’ they grumbled…‘Salvation has come to this home today…For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.’”

Words of Devotion

Rufus McDaniel was a lifelong Christian. Born in 1850, he pastored several churches throughout Ohio and wrote more than 100 hymns. In 1913, he experienced the tragic death of his son, Herschel. As he had done so often, he sought to express his thoughts in a hymn: “Since Jesus Came Into My Heart.”

The words can seem as though they were written by a new Believer. Yet, dealing with a tragedy, McDaniel wrote how “a wonderful change in my life has been wrought.” How light had come into his soul, and he had “ceased from my wandering and going astray.” How his sins were “washed away.”

Jesus had given him a “steadfast and sure” hope. Doubts were gone, and instead “there’s a light in the valley of death now for me.” He even had hope for the future as he could see “the gates of the City beyond.”

McDaniel knew he would “go there to dwell in that City.” Perhaps thinking about his son, this thought made him “happy, so happy, as onward I go.” He repeated, with certainty, that “floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll, since Jesus came into my heart.”

Lives change when Jesus comes into our hearts. Rufus McDaniel knew this. And so did Zacchaeus. He was a tax collector, hated by the common people and called “a notorious sinner.” Yet Jesus completely changed his life and brought him “great excitement and joy.”

Today:Do you know anyone who is troubled? Who needs help? Who needs salvation? Remember: Jesus still changes lives. He can transform not only your life, but also those you love.

Today's Prayer: Father, I commit these people into your hands: ___________. Thank You for intervening and changing them. Use me to impact lives for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Altars

Today’s Passage: Exodus 20:24

“You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings…in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.”

Words of Devotion

On Mount Sinai, God gave Moses an important guarantee: That“in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.” What a powerful promise! A promise of God’s blessing! 

But there was a condition: They must remember His name.

The Lord instructed them to build an altar and make offerings. Altars were places to remember Him—where they would stop their daily routines and focus on God Himself. These altars would be places to make offerings to demonstrate that they really trusted in Him and that He was more important than their possessions or anything else.

This principle still is true. God still promises to bless us. But we, too, must remember Him. We, too, need to build “altars” and make sacrificial offerings. 

It is too easy to become attached to our possessions, clinging on to them for ourselves. But God challenges us to place Him first and trust in Him to meet our needs. 

What are “altars” for us? These could be places where we focus on God, or simply the throne of our hearts and minds. On these altars, we have an opportunity to remember and honor God. In addition to giving specific financial offerings and dedicating our possessions to Him, we can give Him our projects and plans…our thoughts and desires…our whole lives. This kind of commitment unlocks His favor and His blessings.

Today, spend time with God, and make it a time of remembrance. Then place your life on the altar before Him. Make it clear that He is more important than anything else. And make your life a living sacrifice. Then, as you trust in Him and serve Him, be ready to enjoy the blessing of His presence and provision.

Today's Prayer: Father, I commit my life to You. I dedicate my time, talent, and treasure to You. I owe everything to You. Use me for Your Kingdom and glory. In Jesus’ name Amen