Month: November 2023

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven . . . After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds . . . Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16,17,18

The Joy of Heaven

Daily Devotion – November 30, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17,18


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As a kid, I’d tie or safety-pin a blanket around my neck to create a makeshift cape. Like many children, I wanted to be Superman or some other superhero who could fly. But it’s not just children. It seems that practically from the time Adam named the birds of the air, humans have dreamt of flying.

While the Wright brothers made human flight possible with the assistance of an aircraft, on the Last Day, Jesus will make human flight possible without any aircraft. Can you imagine what that will be like? How exciting!

But the excitement of flying will soon be overshadowed by an even greater thrill. It’s not so much that we are caught up in the air that will make the Last Day exciting, rather, it’s with whom we get to fly. We get to fly with our loved ones who have died in the Lord before us. We will be “caught up together with them in the clouds.” Imagine the joy. Perhaps the best way I can picture it is open seating on Southwest Airlines. If you board early, you watch the passengers go by, wondering who will sit next to you. Maybe it will even be someone semi-famous. How exciting! Can you imagine the joy and excitement if your loved one who has died in the Lord walked down the aisle and sat next to you? After getting over the shock, you wouldn’t be able to wipe the smile off your face.

That’s part of the joy of the day Jesus returns. You will be reunited with your loved ones. Therefore, be encouraged by these words. Be encouraged that your King is coming, and he’ll take you into the air to be with your loved ones.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, fill me with joy and anticipation as I look forward to the reunion in the sky with my loved ones who have died in the Lord. Amen.

God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. . . The Lord himself will come . . . and the dead in Christ will rise first . . . Therefore, encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:14,16,18

The Coming King

Daily Devotion – November 29, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 4:14,16,18


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“They’re going to miss it.” That’s maybe what you thought as you sat by the grave of a loved one. “They’re going to miss their daughter’s wedding. They’re going to miss their first grandchild. They’re going to miss traveling in retirement.” They’re going to miss ‘it,’ whatever ‘it’ is.

And there’s a sadness that comes with this, at least for the survivor. Many of you know what it’s like to experience a wedding, a birth, or some other occasion without sharing the joy of that event with certain loved ones. But there is one event our loved ones who have died in the Lord will not miss. Not only will they not miss Jesus’ return, “the dead in Christ will rise first.” There’s a certain amount of joy that comes with this, isn’t there? As a spectator, I love watching my child get a blue ribbon at the track meet or the spelling bee. I rejoice in seeing my spouse receive an award at her place of employment. We love seeing our favorite players win a championship or our preferred candidates win an election. We find joy when our loved ones win.

While you may miss your loved ones at an upcoming wedding, be assured, they’ll be the first ones to the wedding banquet of heaven. You may miss a Christian friend at an upcoming reunion but be assured they’ll be the first ones in the air, waiting to be reunited with you. Be encouraged by these words. Be encouraged that your King is coming, and he’s bringing those who have fallen asleep with him.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, may the joy of my loved one’s victory overshadow the sadness of me missing them here. Amen.

The Lord himself will come . . . with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God . . . Therefore, encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16,18

A Celebration

Daily Devotion – November 28, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 4:16,18


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One hundred eighty-seven-yard par three, the wind is blowing slightly from left to right. You’re deliberating between the four and five-iron and grab the five. The swing feels smooth. It’s a perfect launch, right at the pin and landing a few feet in front of the hole. The little white orb rolls forward and then disappears. A hole-in-one! You jump up and down and scream in elation. Unfortunately, there’s not a single witness. You’ll tell the story again and again. Some people will believe you, but there will be others who will doubt. And that doubt, even though you know the story is true, has its way of robbing a little bit of your joy.

Perhaps you have known the joy of knowing Jesus as your Savior for years. You know the peace of being reconciled to God through the payment that Jesus made for your sins. You know the comfort of forgiveness and assurance of eternal life. But you’ve been surrounded by doubters who have robbed a little bit of that joy and find yourself defending the truth more than celebrating it. As a result, your celebration of his victory has been a bit subdued.

And if it’s not doubters from the outside, sometimes the biggest thieves of joy are the doubts coming from within. ‘Did Jesus really win and secure a spot in heaven for me? Is Jesus really coming back?’ When Jesus comes back, there will be no doubts. Everyone will see and hear who he is. “A loud command. The voice of the archangel. The trumpet call of God.” Be encouraged by these words and that your King is coming for all to see.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, erase my doubts with the certainty that you are coming back as my victorious King for all to see. Amen.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven . . . Therefore, encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16,18

Know Where Your Path Leads

Daily Devotion – November 27, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 4:16,18


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Not too long ago, my wife and I went on a long walk. It was a beautiful day, so we decided to walk beyond our planned path. As we meandered through a subdivision on this unmarked path, we weren’t quite sure where it would lead. Nor did we have our phones on us to provide a map.

When we came across two women sitting on the park bench, we didn’t simply ask, “Do you know where this path leads?” Rather, my wife started by asking, “Do you live around here?” When the women said, “Yes,” our confidence level went up. We were encouraged. They would know where the path led because they were from here.

As we go through life, we don’t always know where our paths lead. But considering that our goal is heaven, how encouraging it is to know that’s where our Lord lives. And the reason he’s there is because he finished his work here. Jesus lived a perfect life for you and died to take away your sins. He rose again, sealing his victory over death so he could open heaven to us. Today, in heaven, he is sitting at the right hand of God, ruling over all things for your benefit. Don’t miss the significance of those two little words, “The Lord himself will come down from heaven.” Be encouraged by these words and know that your King is coming from heaven.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, as I go through life, I often get discouraged by the difficulties of life. Today, encourage me with the assurance that you are already in heaven and you are coming back so that I can be with you there. Amen.

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”
Daniel 7:9,10

A Time of Optimism

Daily Devotion – November 26, 2023

Devotion based on Daniel 7:9,10


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Maybe it’s because the days are getting noticeably shorter at this time of year or because we tend to have more cloudy days, but this never seems like a very optimistic time of year. All that it takes is a little bad economic news, or you start to catch a cold, and you get down. You watch the news and see the way the world seems to be getting more and more evil, and don’t you begin to wonder? When will it end? What do you do to get out of that funk?

At first glance, Daniel knew just what that was like. He was standing before a holy and perfect God who would be his judge! How could he, an imperfect human, possibly stand before a perfect and righteous judge?

Daniel knew he could only do this by being perfect himself. But Daniel was far from perfect! God, the Ancient of Days, had promised him to send a solution to that problem. That solution would make it possible.

We have the same solution, but we have information Daniel never had. The solution to that problem is Jesus. His righteous life is given to us to make us righteous in God’s sight, so we can stand before a holy God without fear. Through faith, it doesn’t matter how bad the economic, political, or weather news is. We have the solution to the biggest problem we will ever have. His name is Jesus. What a time to be optimistic!

Prayer:
Lord, you created the seasons and the order of the earth. At this time of year as daylight hours grow shorter, keep us from letting gloom rule our lives. Help us to be optimistic, trusting all that is happening around us is in his perfect hands. Amen.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

Peace

Daily Devotion – November 25, 2023

Devotion based on Philippians 4:7


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Our minds and hearts strain for peace by trying to remove the things that cause stress and hurt. If we get sick, our distress is removed when we are well again. If we find ourselves in serious financial trouble, the stress weighs heavy on our minds, and we are not relieved until the red ink turns black. We tend to equate peace in our lives with an absence of adversity.

How different is the peace of God that we have in Christ! God’s peace far surpasses our understanding of peace. The peace that God gives exists in the midst of difficulties. It settles and flourishes in the minds and hearts of believers. Though we experience all kinds of troubles and struggle to overcome many challenges, we have peace in the midst of everything. The peace of God is founded on what he has already accomplished through Jesus. He charged his Son with the guilt of our sin and inflicted Jesus with the suffering and death we deserved.

True, lasting peace is knowing with our minds and believing with our hearts that our sins have been forgiven by our heavenly Father and that we will spend eternity surrounded by his glory and filled with his blessings. Instead of condemning us to hell, God has promised us heaven. Instead of separation from God, he promises to hold us near and dear to him. God has made us his own through Jesus and will not forsake us. He guards us by his power so nothing can separate us from his love for us in Christ. As God’s own people, we can confidently face every situation—no matter what it is. We have the peace of God through Jesus.

Prayer:
Fill me, O God, with the peace of knowing that in Jesus you love me and are guiding me on the course that keeps me close to you. Amen.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:6-9

Don’t Get Caught Up in the Calendar

Daily Devotion – November 24, 2023

Devotion based on Philippians 4:6-9


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Well, here we are—the day after Thanksgiving! Maybe you’re extra full of food. Or you’re reminiscing about the days of midnight shopping on what sometimes appears to be the American holiday: Black Friday.

Maybe you’re looking ahead to Christmas. The alarm bells of anxiety are going off—probably more than you want them to.

You just looked at the calendar, and there’s no free time in the month until Christmas Eve.

You just looked at your bank account, and it is not what you hoped for heading into Christmas.

You see those beautiful scenes of family gatherings in holiday advertisements and movies, and this Thanksgiving once again proved that you don’t have that. And Christmas promises nothing better.

Your heart and mind are convinced, “I guess it’ll be another Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year that I’ll just try to make it through.”

Or not. Listen again to these promises in our Bible reading for today: “The God of peace will be with you.” And “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Through all of it—whatever happened yesterday and whatever comes between now and Christmas and beyond—the peace of God is guarding your heart, and he’s using Jesus to do it. Right now, you possess peace even amidst all these things; your heart is whole because the God of peace is with you.

Prayer:
God of peace, help me embrace the peace you promise. Give me the strength to offload my anxiety to you. I can’t carry it, but you promise you can, and you invite me to present my requests to you, in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Amen.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” . . . “How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.”
2 Samuel 7:18,22

More Than Thanksgiving

Daily Devotion – November 23, 2023

Devotion based on 2 Samuel 7:18,22


See series: Devotions

Happy Thanksgiving! That phrase will be said millions of times today in America. But stop and think: if you say, “Happy Thanksgiving!’ today, what are you actually saying?

“Have a good time giving thanks today!” That’s perhaps the most literal meaning.
Or perhaps you mean, “Have a happy day of being off work, a happy holiday!”
Or, “Enjoy all the food today—and don’t let that turkey put you right to sleep!”
Or perhaps, “Have a great time with your loved ones today!”

What’s the common denominator there? The person’s action: enjoy, have a good time, a great day.

And let’s be clear: there’s nothing wrong with that. But there’s an even better part of Thanksgiving for the Christian. It’s more than ThanksGIVING—it’s about the giver himself. And I don’t merely mean, “If you’re a Christian, you get to direct your thanks to someone.”

No—Christians get to sit in the love and blessing of the Sovereign (in control of all things) Lord. They get to say like David, “Wow, Lord—who am I, that you’ve blessed me so much?” (By the way, David was the king—he was definitely someone).

The Christian gets to say, “There is no God like you, no God but you—the God who’s taken me, a nobody, and made me a somebody you’ve adopted me into your royal family.”

What a great day this is—maybe you’ll enjoy food, maybe friends and family, maybe a day off of work. But there’s no maybe about this: God has brought you this far and promises to bring you all the way to eternal life.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Thank you for being one-of-a-kind great. Thank you for wanting me to be in your family and choosing to adopt me and paying for me with the blood of Jesus. Who am I? Your royal child. Amen.

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Matthew 25:14-18

Put God’s Wealth to Work

Daily Devotion – November 22, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 25:14-18


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Call it what you want: calling, vocation, talent. Every single one of us has it. No matter who you are! God has given you abilities—more than given them, he’s entrusted them to you. Maybe he’s entrusted a little slice of his knowledge, grace, kindness, encouragement, money, time, energy, or some other piece of his wealth.

And I promise—he’s entrusted it to you. Do you know how I know? Because you’re here. You’re alive. God hasn’t taken you to heaven yet. You’re here to serve because God serves the people of this world through you.

You can do this by sharing the wealth of the gospel: “Jesus loves you. He paid your debt. The Father’s face lights up when he thinks of you because of Jesus’ work for you.”

And you can use God’s gifts in other ways as well, whether it’s your abilities, time, or treasures. You can give a hug, an encouraging text message, a phone call, or a handwritten letter. Or you can simply look someone in the eye and listen to them.

In Jesus’ story today, he uses the illustration of a man who gives bags of gold to his servants. While he’s away, he wants the servants to put that gold to work. In the same way, God has given each of us gifts. And, like the man in Jesus’ story, God wants us to put those gifts to work serving others.

God bless you as you put his wealth to work.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, you’ve blessed every single one of us—including me—with the privilege and responsibility of being the tools with which you love the world. Thank you for entrusting me with that wonderful task. Amen.