Devotions
WEDNESDAY - May 9
I Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Love has many dimensions, and one is forgiving love. It is a remarkable kind of love that has power to heal and restore. Jesus demonstrated its tremendous power as He hung on the cross and prayed, “Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). For the past 2000 years people have been discovering His forgiving love and finding restoration and healing from all kinds of brokenness. Consider your own life; who do you know right now who is struggling in some kind of relationship issue that could be resolved if both parties engaged forgiving love? God’s number one priority is to restore relationships; however, this restoration comes with a price. Those of us who choose to engage forgiving love will have to lay down our arms of revenge and retribution. We will have to surrender our pride and admit our guilt. The good news is that restoration is worth the price! Pray that God will help you engage forgiving love. He is the source. As you remember how He has forgiven you, you will find power to forgive others. Pray today for any broken relationships that may exist in your life.
THURSDAY - May 10
I Corinthians 15: 12-15, 17
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead… (Verse 17). And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
The Apostle Paul explicitly declares the truth: Christ died for our sins; He was buried; He was raised; and “He appeared” (see verses 1-8). Jesus appeared to His disciples in bodily form many times after His death and resurrection because He knew that they needed to be convinced of the fact of His bodily resurrection. Their certainty would serve as the cornerstone of our faith. The story of the resurrection of Christ was not due to somebody’s overactive imagination at work. Your salvation is founded upon a reality on which you can build your entire life. Knowing that heaven is your home and that eternal life is yours through Christ gives you power to serve. The Apostle Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (verse 14). Thank God we know the truth! Christ has risen from the dead and the grave is not the end of life. So, “stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (verse 58).
FRIDAY - May 11
II Corinthians 1:3-7
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
In a world marked by confusion, anxiety, and tragedy, Christ calls us to comfort one another. Notice how many times the word is used in these few verses. The dictionary defines it in terms of strengthening, support, and consolation. Paul used the Greek word Parakaleo, which means, “to call alongside.” So to comfort someone means far more than offering sympathy or words to relieve grief. It means holding someone up when they are too weak to uphold themselves. The Apostle Paul certainly knew the value of surrounding himself with people who could provide comfort in times of need. When he was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14); when his life was threatened and his friends helped him escape by night over the side of the city wall (Acts 9:23-25)—he received help and comfort from others. Think about the people around you who need a special measure of the Lord’s comfort. You can be the Lord’s vehicle of comfort to people around you today.
SATURDAY - May 12
Acts 14:19-20
Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
The Apostle Paul blazed a trail for Christianity at great personal cost. With every voyage into a new city, he faced opposition that nearly cost him his life. In this instance, when all the uproar ended and people were sufficiently convinced that Paul was dead, they left him alone. Observe the tenderness of this scene as the disciples gathered around him. Did they carefully wrap their arms around him, pull him to his feet, and carry him back to a safe place? Did they lovingly treat his wounds and encourage him by reminding him of all the new converts his visit had produced? The remarkable conclusion to this story is that the following day Paul and Barnabas left for the next city. What a commitment to the gospel! We have a responsibility to care for our wounded just as those early disciples cared for Paul. Do you know someone today who has been wounded by a difficult life experience? What are you doing to help nurse that person back to health? Consider how you are supporting others in the Body of Christ, especially those who have been wounded and broken.
MONDAY - May 14
Acts 4:32-37
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Unity of heart and mission empowered the early church to move forward with great strength. We see no critical spirit expressed in these passages—no grumbling or complaining. Rather, we see the words, “much grace,” and, “there were no needy persons among them.” The spirit of generosity that fanned the flames of the early church led people to bring their belongings and leave them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to those with needs. These early believers demonstrated heartfelt concern for one another and the compassion of Christ motivated them to make sure that no one among them lived in need. Each of our communities has its measure of homeless, hungry, and under-resourced people. While none of us as individuals has the capacity to feed all the hungry or house all the homeless, we can each do our part to integrate into our lifestyle an ongoing method of care that God can use to help bring relief. The beauty of the Church is that we can accomplish much together when we have unity of heart and mission.
TUESDAY - May 15
John 13:12-16
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
Jesus set a strong example of true spirituality, and it included kneeling down in front of imperfect people to serve them in true humility and love. When is the last time you got your hands dirty as you served the Lord? Christianity is more than Bible study and prayer; it includes service that causes us to get down into the nitty-gritty of life and deny ourselves for the benefit of someone else. When is the last time you spoon-fed a sick patient, cleaned house for a bedridden young mom, or helped build a ramp for a physically challenged person? When is the last time you slept on a hard floor on a mission trip, or fasted and prayed for a friend with an addiction? Christ leads us to serve in ways that stretch us and lead us into new dimensions of self-denial. We are better people for the experience. Follow Christ’s serving example.
WEDNESDAY - May 16
II Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary; but what is unseen is eternal.
We all experience energy drain, and as we age it becomes even more apparent. We are physical, limited, finite creations. The Lord knows our capacity and speaks wisdom when He instructs us: “Do not lose heart” and “fix your eyes on what is unseen and eternal.” These are important disciplines for survival in an increasingly draining world. Here is a tip to help you: engage when it matters, and disengage when it does not. Otherwise you will live with a constant drain that will wear you down physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Ask your teacher, the Holy Spirit, to reveal your areas of energy drain and instruct you as to how to implement these concepts in your life. Learn to release things that do not really matter, focus on things that do, and use your energy to reach for eternal goals.
THURSDAY – May 17
Galatians 3:3-5
Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Spirituality is based on a living relationship with Christ, not on rules and regulations. It is human nature to want to reduce Christianity to a list of “do’s” and “don’ts.” It strokes our pride. It promotes self-righteousness. The Galatians fell into this trap and Paul clearly warned them that faith in Jesus Christ is the only element of true salvation. Their adherence to Jewish rules and regulations did not win them salvation, nor would it enable them to grow in faith and demonstrate righteousness. This is wonderful news for you and I, who live centuries later and know little to nothing about Jewish laws. However, many of us have our own set of “pet rules” that we add on to simple faith in Jesus Christ. We expect a person to look or act a certain way before they are accepted in our churches. Or we impose our spiritual disciplines list on new believers who may not be ready for an all-night prayer meeting. Let us be careful to remember that faith is pure and simple; and it is all about Jesus. If we love and follow Him, He will transform our hearts according to His will and purposes. So, relax and worship Jesus.
FRIDAY – May 18
Galatians 3:26-29
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
We live in a culture fixated on categorizing people. Rich, poor, middle-class, educated, illiterate, fat, skinny—the list goes on and on. The wonder of the gospel is that we are all equal at the foot of the cross. Christ has made us brothers and sisters within one body: His own. Because of this, we should respect and honor one another, no matter our earthly categories. There is no room for pride, or jealousy in the Kingdom of God. Together we lift our hands to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who calls all of us His children. Let us beware of prejudice, which comes in many forms. Let us value one another as Christ values us. Give thanks for the beautiful, multi-ethnic Body of Christ. Pledge to respect and honor one another and endeavor to walk in unity.
SATURDAY – May 19
II Corinthians 12:7-10
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Theologians have debated for countless years about Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” Some think it was a physical problem of poor eyesight. Others believe it referred to the constant tribulation Paul encountered in his ministry. No matter the nature of Paul’s “thorn,” the greater truth is that the Lord’s grace was sufficient. This statement has become a refuge to so many Christ followers throughout the centuries. Believers imprisoned in concentration camps, Christians suffering with debilitating illnesses, missionaries burying loved ones on the foreign field—like Paul, they have declared, “His grace is sufficient for me” and found strength in their time of weakness. Rather than grumbling and complaining your way through life, you can find strength and assurance. You can learn the power of praise, the posture of humility and true dependence upon God. You can discover the peace that accompanies abandonment of your will to God’s will and purposes. What is your point of weakness? God has corresponding strength for you. What is your hardship? Hear His words: “My grace is sufficient for you”
