Wednesday, November 20, 2024

The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

—Proverbs 11:20

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Blameless? We can't make a claim to be blameless in our own achievements so how will the LORD delight in me? We are blameless because of Jesus' perfect sacrifice. God has forgiven and cleansed us and the Holy Spirit is working to perfect us so that we can be blameless like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Paul told Timothy that he had been the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:12-17), yet Paul was confident that he would wear a glorious crown of righteousness when Jesus comes again (2 Timothy 4:6-8). His assurance was because of God's grace in Jesus (1 Timothy 1:15-17). I don't know about you, but I am thankful to know that we can bring the LORD delight as our children bring us delight even though they are not fully mature or perfect in their behaviors. We pursue blamelessness because of Jesus' sacrifice. God views us blameless because of that same sacrifice. That means our Father in heaven delights in us!

My Prayer...

May my words and my actions bring you delight, O LORD, my God! You have done so much for me, and I want to bring you great joy as I seek to live blamelessly before you trusting in your grace to make me what I cannot be on my own efforts! In Jesus' name, I thank and praise you. Amen.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

—Deuteronomy 11:19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Moses gives us three crucial messages about God's commandments that were given to Moses for the people of God.

1. As parents, it is our responsibility to teach God's commandments to our children — not the responsibility of the government, schools, or even our churches. While we hope these will reinforce our values, it is our responsibility as parents!
2. We are to teach God's commandments in the everyday course of life as we go about our routines as a family. This organic teaching method should be built into our daily way of life and help connect our children with the practical application of God's commands.
3. We are to teach them continuously by both our words and our example as we seek to raise our children to honor God and his holy values.

My Prayer...

O LORD God, please bless me as I seek to impart my faith to others, especially to those in my family. Please bless me with a consistent and faithful witness to them. Please have the Holy Spirit give me the right words to say and the wisdom to know when the time is right to say them. Please give me the strength and sensitivity to share your truth with loving respect along with the courage to leave a strong Christian example. May those I influence see my joy in living for you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Monday, November 18, 2024

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

—Acts 11:18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Breaking through racial and cultural barriers is never easy, but this was the challenge early church leaders faced when the Holy Spirit led Peter to share the gospel with Cornelius and his household, and they became disciples of Jesus. The Jewish disciples had not anticipated Gentiles to come into Jesus' church. Thankfully, God's Spirit didn't let them settle comfortably into their prejudices. Instead, the Spirit challenged, led, and pushed them to break through racial hatred and cultural ignorance. So must we, today. Let's be the kind of people, Jesus' people, who rejoice and praise God as every racial barrier dividing people fall in Jesus. Let's press on until the triumphant promise of the Gospel is fulfilled: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28). In doing this, we anticipate the incredible chorus of heaven as it praises God with folks from every language, tribe, people, and nation (Revelation 7:9-11). God longs to invite all peoples of the earth into his family of grace, love, and life!

My Prayer...

Holy God, we ask that you bless all those everywhere who are trying to cross cultural, linguistic, and nationalistic barriers sharing the grace of Jesus with those who do not know you. Help them know they are bringing you joy and anticipating the praise that surrounds you in glory! In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Sunday, November 17, 2024

[The LORD said] "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!"

—Zechariah 11:17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

While we do not like to hear bad news and may not appreciate the pronouncement of judgment on others, there is a time when it is appropriate. Jesus was not only our sacrificial lamb, but he is also our Chief Shepherd serving on earth as God with us (Matthew 1:23) as the Shepherd David wrote about in Psalm 23:1-6. When the earthly shepherds of the LORD's sheep do not lead lovingly and faithfully, the LORD will demand harsh justice. Zechariah's message is a strong reminder to all who lead that they must do so righteously and tenderly. God wants those whom ungodly leaders have abused to know that their Father in heaven will punish those ungodly leaders appropriately. God will bring righteous justice upon those who have abused their stewardship of God's sheep and dishonored their pastoral calling. We can rest assured that our Shepherd will wipe away our tears even if our earthly shepherds do not (Revelation 7:15).

My Prayer...

For the LORD, is...

...my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely, goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 123:1-6 ESV).

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Instead, they were longing for a better country — a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

—Hebrews 11:16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Hebrews 11:1-40 is full of reminders of the great heroes of faith from long ago. Many of them risked everything. Others even paid the ultimate price with their lives rather than betraying their faith. How did they live with such a strong faith in the face of such hostility and persecution? They were looking for a better place, a better home, a better country, a better city — a heavenly one. God prepared this better place for them. He is proud to be called their God and promised to welcome them to that better place and an enduring city to be their home with him. And this better place is also promised to us as people of faith today! Jesus promised us that he is preparing for our arrival at our heavenly home, and he will come back and take us to be where he is (John 14:1-4). If the LORD longs for us to join him in this glorious place, we can surely have a deep longing to be with him and live for him in this world. Let's desire our heavenly country and look forward to meeting our Father in the place he has prepared for us!

My Prayer...

Dear Father, thank you for all you have done to save me. Thank you for not being ashamed of me. Thank you for preparing for my arrival at home with you. With so much to anticipate, may I live a victorious life because I am confident in your grace, have faith that I have been forgiven because of Jesus' sacrifice, and am empowered to be holy by your Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I live and offer you this prayer. Amen.

Friday, November 15, 2024

As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

—Joshua 11:15

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Joshua is one of my favorite Bible heroes. He was a great servant to Moses. He refused to be swayed by his peers or by the crowd when he spied out the Promised Land. He followed in the footsteps of a great leader and was a great leader himself — that's not an easy task! Joshua was vigorous and vital even in his old age. Most of all, Joshua was obedient to God and did everything that God had commanded him to do, as well as what God had commanded Moses that he should do. In other words, Joshua was faithful!

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My Prayer...

O LORD God, my Abba Father, when I am gone, and people tell the story of my life, may I be viewed as one who was faithful to all that you have asked of me. I want to serve you with an undivided heart and a life that brings you glory and praise, the glory and praise you deserve for your generous grace. And I want this legacy of faithfulness to be as true in my latter years as I wanted it to be true in my younger years! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.