Daily devotional

March 22 - The land of Canaan and the new heaven and the new earth

Daily devotional

March 21 - God’s first covenant with Abraham and the goal of creation

Daily devotional

March 20 - Faith and its reward

“And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”” - Genesis 15:7 Scr...

Daily devotional

March 19 - Doubting the fulfillment of God’s mission for his glory

Daily devotional

March 18 - Succeeding in being a blessing for the world

“So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” - Galatians 3:9 Scripture reading: Galatians 3:1-14 Israel failed to be a blessing for the world and to live for the other by being a people and a place where heaven and earth meet, but God sent His own Son into the world to do what Israel failed to do. The Lord Jesus Christ perfectly reflected the glorious presence of His heavenly Father by being a person where heaven and earth beautifully met. He perfectly lived for the other with the sacrifices of His life and His death. In Him, all the families of the earth are blessed when they identify with Him and are joined to Him through faith. When they do, they receive the promised Holy Spirit, Who enables them to live for the other by becoming people where heaven and earth meet, because the Holy Spirit reproduces the life of the Lord Jesus Christ in them like a vine reproduces its life in the branches so that God’s mission for His glory is worked out in and through them. What the Lord Jesus Christ did with the sacrifices of His life and His death, He did for you as your substitute and representative. What He has done for you, He now wants to do in you as you entrust yourself to Him, opening yourself to Him entering into your soul with His Holy Spirit so that He becomes flesh and blood in your life. And you can say with the apostle Paul that it is no longer you who live, but Christ Jesus who lives in you (Galatians 2:20). Suggestions for prayer Thank your heavenly Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to enable you to live in the Spirit, through faith, so that it is no longer you who live, but Christ Jesus who lives in you. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

March 17 - Failure to be a blessing for the world

“They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.” - 2 Kings 17:15b Scripture reading: 2 Kings 17:6-23 God encouraged Abram to make a complete break with his past, go to the land of Canaan and be a blessing by living for the other, the nations, by promising him that He would make him into a great nation and that the nations around him would identify with him and his God. In fact, in him, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Were these two promises fulfilled in the Old Testament? Well, the promise of becoming a great nation was fulfilled, even though Sarai was barren and Abraham himself was already 75 years old, and it took another 25 years before Isaac was born. However, Jacob had twelve sons and traveled to Egypt with a family of 70. In due time Israel entered Canaan with a few million people under the leadership of Joshua and reached its high point as a great nation during the time of David and Solomon. But what about the promise of an international community? Did the nations bless Israel? Were they on good terms with Israel and did they identify with this nation and their God? Was this promise fulfilled in the Old Testament? No, it was not, because Israel wanted to be just like the nations. They were idolatrous, worshipping and serving the things of this world instead of worshipping and serving God and their neighbour and living for the other by being people and places where heaven and earth meet, reflecting the glorious presence of their God and drawing others into this glorious presence. Suggestions for prayer Ask your heavenly Father to show you whether there is any idolatry in your life that hinders you in living for the other. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

March 16 - Blessed to be a blessing

“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” - Genesis 12:2-3 Scripture reading: Genesis 12:1-9 God makes a new beginning and calls Abram and Sarai. He is going to use them as a new Adam and Eve and deal with the problem caused by their sin. He is going to use them to subdue the chaos and disorder caused by sin and to invite humanity and creation into His Sabbath rest by reflecting God’s glory through being people and places where heaven and earth meet. In order to do so, He calls Abram to make a complete break with his past, to leave behind everything that is dear to him and to go to the land that He would show him. However, the whole father’s house leaves the city of Ur and travels to the land of Canaan. They settle down in Haran. That’s why Genesis 12:1 can be translated, “God had said to Abram . . . . ” It would seem that God renewed the call that He had made in Ur. He encouraged Abram with the same promises He had made in Ur: the promise of a great nation and of an international community. But the latter promise would depend on a nation’s attitude to Abram. Those who would be on good terms with him and identify with him and his God, God would bless. However, those who would be hostile to him and treat him lightly, God would curse. But God’s overriding concern was that in Abram all the families of the earth would be blessed. God blessed Abram to be a blessing by living for the other, the nations. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to show you how He has blessed you. Then ask Him to use these blessings for the sake of the other. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

March 15 - Called to be a blessing for the world

“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you."” - Genesis 12:1 Scripture reading: Genesis 11:27-32 How are you a blessing to those outside the church as an individual and as a Christian congregation, living for the other by being a person and a place where heaven and earth meet? God had also called Noah and his family to be a blessing for the world by living for the other and by subduing the chaos and disorder in the world by increasingly entering into the fullness of God’s Sabbath rest and urging others to do the same. But the chaos and disorder were not subdued because the intention of the human heart was still evil. And so the chaos and disorder only got worse. However, because God had promised not to destroy humanity and creation with a flood, He confused their language and dispersed them over the face of the earth. So, what does God do? Does He give up? No, He does not! He cannot give up because He is on a mission for His glory to make all things new in a world where His people and His world will once again dwell in His loving presence and be people and places where heaven and earth meet. And He had demonstrated His commitment to advance this goal of His creation with a covenant with Noah and a second covenant with him and all of creation. And so, God makes a new beginning. He calls Abram to be a blessing for the world and to live for the other by becoming a people and place where heaven and earth meet. Suggestions for prayer Ask your heavenly Father to enable you to be a blessing for the world and to live for the other by being a person where heaven and earth meet. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

March 14 - The rainbow as a sign of the goal of God’s creation

Daily devotional

March 13 - God’s covenant with Noah and creation

Daily devotional

March 12 - The recreation of creation

“And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.” - Genesis 8:1b Scripture reading: Genesis 8:1-9:1-7 After 150 days, G...

Daily devotional

March 11 - The uncreation of creation

“...on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.” - Genesis 7:11 Scripture readin...

Daily devotional

March 10 - God’s covenant with Noah (II)

“But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.” - Genesis 6:18 Scripture reading: Genesis 6:9-21 Covenants between God and His people regulate the relationship He has with them and often deal with a problem that causes uncertainty in the relationship. There are two problems that occasion God’s covenant with Noah. First, there is the problem whether Noah and his family and the animals in the ark will really survive the waters of the flood. In order to deal with this problem and the uncertainty that it causes, God makes a covenant with Noah. Just like a groom pledges his commitment to his bride in a marriage covenant, so God pledges His commitment to Noah in the covenant He makes with him. Noah, his family and the handpicked animals will survive the waters of the flood. Second, there is the problem of God’s goal for His creation. God is on a mission for His glory to make all things new in a world where His people and His world will once again dwell in His loving presence and be people and places where heaven and earth meet. Now that God has decided to destroy humanity and His creation with the waters of the flood, except for Noah, his family and the animals in the ark, will He still be able to achieve the goal of His creation? The answer is Yes! Because God’s covenant with Noah is His covenant with him, God will take care that His commitment to the goal of His creation will be fulfilled. This commitment will be confirmed and established! Suggestions for prayer Thank your heavenly Father that His commitment to a new heaven and new earth, where we will live in the fullness of His loving presence, is firm and sure. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

March 9 - God’s covenant with Noah (I)

“But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.” - Genesis 6:18 Scripture reading: Genesis 6:9-21 I’m sure those who are married have not forgotten their marriage vows. Perhaps, as a groom you made a vow like this: “I solemnly declare to take to myself and acknowledge as my wife _______. And I promise that I will, with the gracious help of God, love, honour and maintain her, live with her in the holy bonds of marriage according to God’s ordinance, and never forsake her, so long as we both shall live.” As the bride, you made a similar vow. Why are vows necessary? Why not solemnize a marriage without vows? Well, vows are necessary because of the fall into sin. Before the fall into sin, there was no need for formally bonded relationships, because there was no uncertainty in the relationship. After the fall into sin, all sorts of uncertainty crept into relationships. And so, because of the fall into sin, we make covenants with each other. We seal these covenants with an oath in the presence of God and each other. God Himself also makes covenants with humanity and His people. Why would it be necessary for God to make covenants with human beings? Well, this is necessary because of the fall into sin. Because of the fall into sin, there often is uncertainty in the relationship between God and us. And so, God finds it necessary to formally guarantee His commitment to us as well as His commitment to His purposes for us and His world. This is also the reason why He makes a covenant with Noah. Suggestions for prayer When you feel uncertainty in your relationship with your heavenly Father, ask Him to take this away by having you focus on His commitment to you, signed and sealed with your baptism, a promise that He will provide you with everything good and protect you from evil or turn it to your benefit. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

March 8 - God’s decision to destroy humanity and creation

“So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”” - Genesis 6:7 Scripture reading: Genesis 6:1-8 Today is Sunday. A day on which we remember that the Lord Jesus Christ successfully dealt with the problem of sin, death and the devil with His death on the cross, and ushered in the new creation which had been the goal of God’s first creation: a creation where we cannot sin, cannot die, where there is no devil, and where we bask directly in the light of the glorious, loving presence of God. Sunday is also a day on which we are encouraged to bear witness to the new creation that we are in Christ, by resting from our evil ways and letting the Lord work in us through His Spirit. In doing so we begin the eternal Sabbath in this life. Our Scripture reading is also about evil works. Human wickedness was so great during the time of Noah that people thought and imagined evil continually from morning to night. This evil was so bad that God was sorry that He had made the human race and decided He would blot it out from the face of the earth, including the birds in the air and the animals on the ground; with the exception of Noah and his family, for Noah was a righteous man who walked with God and found favour in God’s eyes. In order to keep Noah and his family alive, as well as at least one pair of every sort of animal, God commands Noah to build an ark to house him and his family and the animals. Suggestions for prayer Thank your heavenly Father for this day of rest He gave you. Ask Him to enable you to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life so that you can learn to rest from your evil works and begin in this life the eternal Sabbath. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

March 7 - Finding rest in the Lord Jesus Christ

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28 Scripture reading: Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:11 Wednesday, we noticed that God commanded Adam and Eve to enter the fullness of God’s Sabbath rest by extending the borders of the Garden of Eden over the whole earth through having an extended family that would spread the glorious presence of God. Moreover, they were to do this by subduing the earth and having dominion over it. Yesterday, we noticed that Adam and Eve failed in fulfilling this task through their lack of obedience. What happened to Adam and Eve, happened time and again throughout history. For instance, the people of Israel were also called to be people and places where heaven and earth meet, reflecting God’s glorious presence to one another and the nations around them. However, they also failed to fulfil their task. Accordingly, many of the desert generation did not enter into the rest of the Promised Land and those who did enter, did not enter into the fullness of God’s promised rest that this land foreshadowed. The Hebrew Christians were running the risk of making the same mistake. Accordingly, they are urged to strive to enter into the fullness of this rest. They and we do this by coming to Jesus and being yoked or joined to Him through faith. When we do, He will not only reproduce His own Sabbath rest in our lives, enabling us to be people where heaven and earth meet, but He also safely leads us to the fullness of this Sabbath rest on the new earth. Suggestions for prayer Ask your heavenly Father to daily enable you to go to the Lord Jesus Christ through faith and experience the rest He gives. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

March 6 - The Sunday as a sign of the goal of God’s creation

Daily devotional

March 5 - The Sabbath Day as a sign of the goal of God’s creation

Daily devotional

March 4 - Entering God’s rest

“And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the s...

Daily devotional

March 3 - God’s glory and God’s rest

“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.” - Genesis 2...

Daily devotional

March 2 - God created for his glory

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” - Revelation 21:23 Scripture reading: Revelation 21:9-22 Why did God create the world? God created for His glory so that human beings and creation would praise Him. However, the glory of God also means His life-giving, light-giving, and loving presence. Thus, God not only created the world so that human beings and creation would praise Him, but also so that human beings and creation would live in His loving presence and reflect this by participating in His life, light and love. However, when we look at the end of Scripture, we see that the end is better than the beginning. The beginning of creation is only the beginning of the life of glory while the new heaven and new earth are the perfection or consummation of the life of glory. In other words, there is room for growth to the perfection and fullness of living in God’s life-giving, light-giving and loving presence. You see this, for instance, in the fact that in the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, there were sun, moon and stars. But in the end, with the new heaven and the new earth, there will be no sun, moon, or stars, for creation and humanity will bask directly in the light of the glory of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. And there is even more. While Adam and Eve could sin and die in the beginning, in the end, God’s new humanity will not be able to sin and die. We will be incorruptible and immortal just like God. Suggestions for prayer Ask your heavenly Father to enable you to live not only so that people will praise Him, but also so that you reflect His life-giving, light-giving and loving presence. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

March 1 - Introduction to God’s mission for his glory

This month’s meditations will be about God’s mission for His glory. God created the world for His glory, that humanity and creation would reflect His life-giving, light-giving, and loving presence by being people and places where heaven and earth meet. As such, God would be praised by both humanity and creation. Because this changed with the fall into sin, God embarks on a mission to make all things new in a world where His people and His creation would once again abide in His loving presence and be people and places where heaven and earth meet (Genesis 3:15). However, from the end of Scripture, we know that the end is better than the beginning. The beginning of creation is only the beginning of the life of glory, while the new heaven and new earth are the perfection or consummation of the life of glory. In other words, right from the beginning of God’s good creation there was room for growth to reach the perfection and fullness of living in God’s life-giving, light-giving, and loving presence. The biblical covenants made or cut in Scripture are designed with a view to advancing and guaranteeing God’s commitment to His goal for creation and to having His people participate with Him in the achievement of this goal. Covenants regulate an existing relationship. Covenants often deal with a problem that causes uncertainty in this relationship. A new covenant often updates an earlier one to the new situation that the new covenant is facing. Because of space restrictions, these mediations only focus on the biblical covenants mentioned in the book of Genesis. That’s why I have entitled these meditations: God’s Mission for His Glory and His Covenants with Noah, Creation, and Abraham. I look forward to continuing this series some time in the future and deal with God’s mission for His glory and His covenants with Israel, His covenant with David and the promise of a new covenant. But that will have to wait for some other time. I enjoyed writing these meditations. I was edified in doing so. I hope and pray that you will be too. God’s mission for his glory “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God".” - Revelation 21:3 Scripture reading: Revelation 21:1-8 In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve lived in the loving presence of God. As such, they participated in His life, light and love and reflected this to one another and throughout the Garden. This made Adam and Eve people where heaven and earth meet. And it made the Garden of Eden a place where heaven and earth meet. As such, Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden reflected the glory of God, His life-giving, light-giving and loving presence. With the fall into sin, all of this changed. Because Adam and Eve lived outside the Garden of Eden, they no longer lived in God’s loving presence nor participated in His life, light, and love as they once used to. Moreover, they no longer lived in a place, nor were they people where heaven and earth met, who could give each other and those around them an encounter with God’s presence, His glory. However, God had no intention of leaving things this way. He immediately declared His intent to embark on a mission for His glory. All things would be made new, where His people and His world would once again dwell in His loving presence and be people and places where heaven and earth meet (Genesis 3:15). Throughout Scripture we encounter God on this mission for His glory. At the end of Scripture, we see that God achieves the goal of this mission for His glory. What a beautiful and encouraging mission this is! Suggestions for prayer Ask your heavenly Father to show you how He is on a mission for His glory in your life. Rev. Dick Moes is a graduate from the Theological University in Kampen, the Netherlands and the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, BC, Canada. He and his wife Elsina have five children and 14 grandchildren. He is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC. and lives in Langley, BC. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 28 - Wholehearted commitment

“So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.” - 1 Kings 19:19 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 19:1-21 | Luke 9:57-62 In retrospect, when Elijah saw Elisha plowing with a yoke of oxen, he cast his cloak upon him. Elisha knew the symbolism of receiving Elijah's cloak. He realized that Elijah was picking him as his successor. But more than that, Elisha realized that the cloak wasn't being presented to him just by Elijah but by the Lord. That's why Elisha did not offer any excuses. He did not say, “I will follow you after we get the plowing finished.” Or, “I will follow you when the harvest is in.” Instead, verse 20 describes how Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. When he caught up to Elijah he had only one request. He said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” By that request, Elisha was not evading the call to serve like those described by Jesus in Luke 9. Rather, Elisha was fulfilling the teaching Jesus would later give to His disciples when He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Elisha’s life of commitment reveals the truth that Jesus would later speak, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). What an example Elisha set! No matter what calling or vocation you have, use your time, energy and talents to serve the Lord. For His glory and the building up of His kingdom! Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord that He calls each one of us to be a fellow worker with Him and gives all of us a place of service within His kingdom, as every Christian is vital to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 27 - Resurrection power

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 13:20-21 | 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 Skeptics of the Bible find 2 Kings 13:21 to be another fanciful story. But to those of us who know the resurrection power of Christ, there should be nothing surprising about that verse. The unique experience of the corpse coming to life points us to the certainty of our bodily resurrection and assures us that death holds no victory for those whose faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ. But this unique account also portrays the gift of everlasting life given to everyone who by God’s grace encounters the Man of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, through saving faith in Him alone Elisha was a type – or foreshadow – of Christ. Chapter by chapter we read how he was called the man of God. He was a foreshadow of the true eternal Man of God, the eternal Christ who took on human flesh, Jesus. And we know that spiritual life is given to all who have faith in Christ, just as physical life was given to the dead man thrown into Elisha’s tomb. As Jesus said, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will” (John 5:21). This passage, along with many others, reminds us that the Lord is the author and giver of life, both spiritual and physical, for which He is to be forever praised! Suggestions for prayer Thank God that even in the valley of the shadow of death we need fear no evil (Psalm 23:4) because death has been swallowed up in victory through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 26 - Lukewarm?

“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” - Revelation 3:16 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 13:14-2...

Daily devotional

February 25 - Warning of God fulfilled

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” - John 3:36...

Daily devotional

February 24 - History as his story

“The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of...

Daily devotional

February 23 - The deadly power of sin’s enticement

Daily devotional

February 22 - God’s perfect timing

“… Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to appeal to the king for her house and land.” - 2 Kings 8:5 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 8:1-6 God’s timing is truly remarkable! In the case of the Shunammite woman, God provided for her through the perfect timing of His providence. When she went to the king to ask for her property back, Gehazi “just happened” to be telling the king how Elisha had restored the woman’s son to life. That is remarkable timing! But it should not be surprising to anyone who knows the God revealed in Scripture. When did the band of Ishmaelites travel by a remote pit on their way to Egypt? It was just after Joseph’s brothers had put him in that pit to die. And when did Haman fall on the couch begging Queen Esther to spare his life? It was when King Ahasuerus walked back into the room and, filled with anger, decreed Haman’s death. And when did the Lord Jesus Christ offer Himself as the Passover Lamb, whose blood alone is sufficient to cover your sins and mine? It was at the time of the Passover when the full significance of His sacrifice would be realized by many gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover feast. The Lord created time; it is His servant to accomplish His purposes. Because of that, whatever events come into your life and mine, even the sad, sorrowful ones, are in God’s hands which should give us great encouragement, as we pray the prayer of the Psalmist, “My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!” (Psalm 31:15). Suggestions for prayer Thank God that our times are in His hands and that He controls the time and season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Especially thank Him that when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5). Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 21 - So close, yet so far

“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.” - Luke 13:28 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 7:3-20; Luke 13:22-30 The remarkable passage in 2 Kings reminds us that for the sake of Christ, God provided food for His people (v.16), just as He does today, in lean times and times of plenty (Matthew 6:25-34). But it also teaches us that we are not to savour the feast without telling others the good news of the gospel. The lepers feasted on the food left behind by the Syrian army. But they realized what they were doing was not right. In verse 9 they said, “What we are doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.” But do you realize that a lot of Christians today do the same thing as those lepers did? Is it possible that in your life, you have done that? I know that in my life, unfortunately, many times I have feasted on the gospel without telling others the good news. The passage is also a graphic warning, reminding us that the punishment of unbelief includes the torment of seeing the blessing, but not partaking of it. Elisha had told the captain, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” The captain was so close to abundant blessings, and yet so far. But he is not alone. All those who reject the Word of God and harden themselves in unbelief will come under the Lord’s judgment. And part of that judgment will include seeing the blessing and glory of salvation for others, but not tasting it themselves (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 13:28). Suggestions for prayer If you have entered the narrow door of salvation (Luke 13:24), thank God for His grace. If you are unsure, pray that God will enable you to strive to enter the door of salvation by faith in Christ alone. Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 20 - The floodgates of heaven

“But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”” - Luke 18:27 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 6:32-7:2 We should not be surprised by the unbelief of the king’s officer who exclaimed, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” In his response, we see the natural response of humanity to God. Unbelief in the human heart is so strong that Jesus taught, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31). It is only by God’s grace that any of us believe in Him. If God, in immeasurable grace, did not transform your heart and my heart by the regenerating power of His Holy Spirit, we would be just as unbelieving as the servant who expressed his great doubt to Elisha. In contrast to a heart of faith is a heart of unbelief. Consider King Jehoram. When he heard that the woman had eaten her son, he immediately blamed the Lord and Elisha (vs.31, 33), even though the Lord had warned the people that such a horrific disaster would come upon them if they rejected Him and His Word (Leviticus 26:27-29; Deuteronomy 28:15, 53-57). The view of Jehoram, that God is to be blamed for our hardships, is hardly a unique view. Proverbs 19:3 serves as an incisive commentary on the wicked blaming the Lord as it declares, When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD. May your heart and mine be focused in faith on Jesus Christ, not doubting His power to save, but always rejoicing in Him! Suggestions for prayer Thank God that all things are possible for Him, even our salvation from sin and the gift of everlasting life through saving faith in Jesus Christ. Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 19 - Worldly sorrow and true repentance

“I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.” - Psalm 38:18 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 6:24-33 King Jehoram surprised the people by wearing sackcloth beneath his royal robe. Wearing sackcloth was highly significant; it denoted great sorrow and implied repentance for sin. However, an outward expression of repentance means nothing if it isn’t sincere. Immediately after revealing that he was clothed in sackcloth, Jehoram described how he planned to kill Elisha that very day (v.31) and blamed God’s servant for the disaster (v.33). Perhaps you have known people who are quick to apologize, but then they go back to doing the same thing that they apologized for. A genuine apology and true repentance require a change in conduct. In fact, that is the meaning of the word repentance. It means to turn. To repent is not just to say to the Lord, “I’m sorry for my sin,” but it involves turning from that sin. All of our life involves repentance, but unfortunately, because of the sinful nature within us, we never completely turn from sin. Instead, until the day we die, we struggle with sin and temptation. In the life of every true believer, repentance from the heart is so crucial, for godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death (2 Corinthians 7:10). King Jehoram, like so many others, including Judas Iscariot, had a worldly sorrow. But by God’s grace may you and I have true repentance that leads to salvation, as our sins are covered by the precious blood of Jesus. Suggestions for prayer Pray the prayer of David, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” (Psalm 51:1-2). Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 18 - God’s angelic army

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right ...

Daily devotional

February 17 - He cares for you!

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” - Matthew 6:34 ...

Daily devotional

February 16 - God is not mocked

“He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.” - Psalm 7:15 Scripture reading: Judges 1:1-7 Reflecting on Naaman...

Daily devotional

February 15 - God knows your heart

“So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.” - 2 Kings 5:27b Scripture reading: 1 John 1:5-10 As we see Gehazi’s leaving Elisha�...

Daily devotional

February 14 - God’s judgment

“For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:14 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 5:15-27 The tenth commandment, prohibiting covetousness, is often broken before any others. Gehazi’s coveting led to a series of lies, which included an elaborate story. In order to lie so convincingly, as Gehazi did to Naaman, leads us to believe that Gehazi had lied many times before. We are surprised and shocked when we hear of a professing Christian who is caught in a heinous public sin. But with further reflection, we often realize that whatever public sin was committed and discovered had probably been going on for some time in secret. But what is a secret to us is an open book before the Lord. Gehazi discovered the truth of Hebrews 4:13 long before it was written: And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Gehazi wanted what Naaman had, and he received it. He got some silver and nice clothes, but he also received Naaman’s leprosy, leprosy that would affect his children and grandchildren for generations to come (v.27). There is only one way to escape the just punishment of God on sin. It is to trust with saving faith in Jesus Christ, for “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Suggestions for prayer Thank God that for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 13 - A gift that cannot be bought

“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” - 1 Peter 1:18 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 5:8-14 Naaman discovered that salvation is a gift of God’s grace that cannot be bought. He could not buy his cure with gold or silver, not even with ten extremely valuable suits. Naaman, to his initial dismay, also found that he could not be cured of leprosy by influence, not even with a letter from the king. Yet there are many people today who try to buy their salvation with deeds of self-righteousness, not realizing that we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment (Isaiah 64:6a). Many others try to be cured of their sin by influence. “I have been a lifelong member of the church,” they might say. Or, “Because of my baptism, I know that God will receive me.” But the sacraments, precious as they are to those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, can never save us. The only way to be cleansed from sin, which is represented by Naaman’s leprosy, is to be cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus which is portrayed by the cleansing that Naaman received as he washed himself seven times in the Jordan River. When we come to Christ in saving faith we are cleansed from something far worse than leprosy; we are cleansed from sin and granted eternal life, which is why we are to live to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)! Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord that the day prophesied by Zechariah was fulfilled at Calvary by Jesus Christ: On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness (Zechariah 13:1). Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 12 - A terminal condition

“…He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.” - 2 Kings 5:1 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 5:1-10 Naaman would be one of those people who would be hard to buy a present for. I’m sure you have encountered that. Maybe you have a friend or family member who seems to have everything. At Christmas or their birthday, what can you possibly buy for them? Naaman was like that. He had everything that those in the world value; he had a great job as the commander of the Syrian army and he had prestige, success and wealth. Yet, even though Naaman had all these blessings, there was not a single person in Syria who would trade places with him, for, as verse 1 points out, He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. His leprosy was no minor rash. It was a serious skin disease. There was no human cure. He needed the cleansing that only God can provide. And in that way, Naaman was just like you and just like me. His leprosy was like our sin. The wages of sin is death, the Bible warns, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). We need the cleansing that only Jesus can provide. Naaman sought out Elisha, the man of God. Have you and I, by God’s grace and Holy Spirit’s power, sought out Jesus, the Man who is true God, yet truly human, sent to save His people from their sins through faith in His cleansing blood? If so, what gratitude we should have! Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord for all His blessings, especially for the cleansing from sin that comes through saving faith in Jesus Christ. Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 11 - A childlike faith

“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” - Mark 10:15 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 5:1-5a; Mark 10:13-16 Naaman had the death sentence of leprosy on his life until, by God’s gracious providence, a young girl witnessed to him. Although this girl was young, she had experienced excruciating trial. Verse 2 explains, Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. It was a terrifying experience to be taken captive. Yet, like Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, she continued to live out her faith in the Lord. And because she did, she had the respect of Naaman and his wife. They listened when she said to her mistress in verse 3, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” Although she had been taken captive in war, she had steadfast faith and trust in God. She had faith that God would work through Elisha to bring healing for Naaman. Despite her circumstances, she focused in joyful faith on the Lord and witnessed to others about Him. Jesus taught that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. In the trials of your life and mine, do you and I remain steadfast in faith, trusting in God’s mysterious providence? And through our trials and our joys, do we witness to the cleansing power of our Lord so that others may know Him? By God’s grace, may you and I follow the example of the young girl and always have a childlike faith! Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to give you the same trust in His Fatherly care that a young child has in a godly earthly father, praying the words of Mark 9:24, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 10 - The bread of life in Gilgal

“Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread...

Daily devotional

February 9 - Life from above

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins …But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were d...

Daily devotional

February 8 - Straight to Christ

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” - Hebrews 4:16 ...

Daily devotional

February 7 - The debt paid

“...even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28 Scripture reading: 2...

Daily devotional

February 6 - Three Kings and God’s prophet

“When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.” - Proverbs 19:3 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 3:1-27 This slice of history teaches us many truths, including the error of making plans without prayer. The first 12 verses describe how three kings were lost and in dire need because they did not inquire of the Lord. But who did Jehoram blame? Not himself, but God! (vs.10, 13). It reminds us that the wicked seldom see God’s hand unless disaster strikes. Even today, a natural disaster is called “an act of God,” but the radiance of a beautiful sunset is attributed to “Mother Nature.” We also see in this passage that God uses the same means, in this instance water, to be a blessing to some (v.17) and to bring judgment upon others (vs.22-24). This is especially true in the response of humanity to Christ. Every person in the world will either be eternally blessed by their relationship to Jesus Christ, or they will suffer eternal judgment because of their rejection of Him. As Simeon said to Joseph and Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed… so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35). Jesus Christ is either the blessed Saviour and Lord of your life, the One Whose praise you proclaim and Whose Word you eagerly strive to obey. Or, He is the stone of stumbling and the rock of offence. By God’s grace, may He be your blessed Saviour and Lord, the focus of your faith! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the privilege of prayer as you seek His guidance for your life with gratitude for the gift of His Son. Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 5 - God’s use of the insignificant

“…Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 3:1-12 This passage reminds us that the Lord often uses insignificant people and events to accomplish His purposes, for nothing is too hard for Him When the three kings realized how perilous their predicament was, Jehoshaphat asked where they could find a prophet of the Lord. Who pointed the way to Elisha? It was an unnamed officer of the king. It was just a common everyday person who answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah” (v.11). The pouring of water on the hands refers to a menial task that Elisha had in his service with Elijah. Elisha had left his family’s prosperous farm to become a humble servant of Elijah’s. During that time, about a decade, nothing is written about Elisha’s service. But we gather from verse 11 that he served willingly in whatever job was put before him, even the menial task of providing water for Elijah. He is an example of what Paul would write to the Colossians about: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23). You might feel insignificant, as though there is no purpose for you in God’s kingdom, but God has no insignificant people. Even those whose names we don’t know are known to God, for He knows each one of us by name, and has a purpose for our lives! Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord that He has a purpose for you. Ask Him to reveal His purpose for you with clarity, and then strive to live according to God's purpose – His will – for your life. Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 4 - Bethel or Beth-aven?

“So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.” - Genesis 35:15 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 2:23-25; Genesis 28:10-22 The account of Elisha at Bethel seems harsh until you consider the history of Bethel. Bethel means “house of God” and was given that name by Jacob after he had a dream about a ladder ascending into heaven (Genesis 28:19). Bethel was later called “Beth-Aven” meaning “house of evil” (Hosea 10:5) because Jeroboam built a temple for a golden calf at Bethel (1 Kings 12:28-30). The jeering of the youths reflected the mindset of the community. They jeered him, not just for his bald head, but because he was a prophet of God and not a follower of Jeroboam’s golden calf. Their mocking phrase, “Go up, you baldhead!” was likely intended to mock the ascension of Elijah. Their taunting and disbelief foreshadowed the taunts given to Jesus on the cross. This short sad account reminds us that religion itself is not ridiculed by the world. False religions are accepted, just as calf-worship was revered in Bethel. It is biblical, Christ-centered religion that is ridiculed (John 15:18-25). It also teaches us that there are blessings for those who listen to God’s Word and accept His messengers (2 Kings 2:19-22), but judgment for those who reject His Word and His messengers (2 Kings 2:24). By way of application, all humanity is either in Bethel or Beth-Aven. But we are only in Bethel – in God’s house – through saving faith in His Son, Who alone is the way, the truth and the life, the only way to the Father (John 14:6)! Suggestions for prayer If you are a member of Bethel, a child of God through faith in Christ, thank God for His grace and mercy! If you are still in Beth-Aven, on the outside looking in, pray remembering the promise of Jesus, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 3 - Living water in Jericho

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” - Luke 19:10b Scripture reading: 2 Kings 2:19-22; Luke 19:1-10 Polluted water is like sin; it has a pervasive, detrimental effect on everyone as it permeates and destroys everything in its path. Although salt seemed to be a strange remedy, it symbolizes God’s covenant with us. Salt was required on all grain offerings and is described in Leviticus 2:13, as the salt of the covenant with your God. The cleansing of water in Jericho foreshadowed the work of Christ. Jesus also went to Jericho to do a work of cleansing. He went to the home of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who was known as a great sinner. The people said, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” But Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:9,10). In that sense, Jesus is still in Jericho because by His Word and Spirit the Son of Man still seeks and saves those who are lost. As He does so, He goes to the source, cleansing the heart of sinners, just as the polluted water was cleansed at the source, at the spring (v.21). The same One who cleansed the waters of Jericho so long ago can cleanse your heart and mine. He does so first by giving us saving faith in Christ as we are justified. And then, having begun that good work in us, He carries it on to completion as He sanctifies us by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Suggestions for prayer Thank God that just as the water in Jericho was permanently cleansed (vs.21, 22), so are we when we believe in Christ, knowing, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

February 2- Taken into glory

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him g...

Daily devotional

February 1 - Introduction to Elisha

On the road to Emmaus, two disciples walked with the resurrected Lord Jesus. Luke describes how beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpre...

Daily devotional

January 31 - Delighting in confessing our only comfort

Daily devotional

January 30 - Sharing our only comfort

“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.” - Psalm 22:27 Sc...

Daily devotional

January 29 - Telling our children

“We will not hide them from our children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.” - Psalm 78:4 Scripture reading: Psalm 84:1-12 For almost a month now we have been reflecting together on the marvelous teaching of Lord's Day 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism. This teaching must remain precious in our hearts. And while Lord's Day 1 is intensely personal, it may never remain only personal. If children have been entrusted to our love and care then, certainly they must hear from our lips, the source of their only comfort found in belonging to Jesus. As I write today, my wife and I have just returned from attending the funeral of a young child whom the LORD brought to Himself at 3 and a half. This young child was learning to delight in the testimony of Psalm 84--the lovely dwelling place where we learn of our eternal comfort and the blessing of those who trust in the LORD. Parents have a blessing and duty to tell, to give evidence of a living and lively faith, and to encourage their children to follow the LORD. While parents cannot give their children faith, they can model this great gift of grace. The best treasure in life is to belong to Jesus, to know His covenant and the promises that cannot fail. Parents pray often for wisdom to be found faithful. “God's purpose is that the Holy Spirit should take possession of our sons and daughters for His service; that they should be filled with the Holy Spirit, consecrated for service. They belong to Him and He to them." – Andrew Murray Suggestions for prayer “I belong to Jesus; He will keep my soul when the deathly waters dark round about me roll" (TPH 187:5). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 28 - How I am to thank God

“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” - Job 23:12 Scripture reading: Psalm 116:1-19 When we look through the prism of God's comforting, fortifying grace; when we meditate on what is necessary to make one belong body and soul to our Messiah, we cannot remain indifferent. When we humbly ponder what Jesus did to set His followers free; to secure salvation; to deliver us to the Father in heaven above, there must necessarily follow a life of thanksgiving and gratitude. Saved from the adversaries' hand and from the wrath of God against our sin, we need not fear the afterlife. Deliverance from and out of our sin and misery is a blessing that has no comparison. Our sin is a breach of relationship with the LORD. Only Jesus by His sacrifice can restore that relationship. And now, we give thanks as we are privileged to do so. How is it that you express your gratitude? If you were to make a list that characterized your thankfulness, what would you put on that list? Certainly, we ought to thank the Lord daily for His abiding favour. Believers have the Word of Truth setting forth the Line of Promise; the way of the covenant; the doctrines of grace; the story of salvation history; the way to live before the face of God. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!! Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it. – AW Tozer Suggestions for prayer "O thank the LORD, for He is good; His mercy e'er endures. So let the LORD's redeemed ones say, the ones He saved from fear. He saved them from their enemies and brought them from the lands, from east and west, from north and south, from adversaries' hands" (TPH 107A:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 27 - I must know how to be set free

“And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”” - Exodus 20:1-2 Scripture reading: John 8:31-36 Apart from Christ, we remain in bondage and slaves to sin. Only Christ can set us free from the penalty and the power of sin. We need deliverance; to be released from condemnation; to experience liberation; to receive double imputation--my sin to Jesus His righteousness coming to me. There is no other name under heaven, by which we must be saved. Jesus, who is the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) Who the Son sets free, is free indeed (John 8:36) For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. (Psalm 118:5) Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (I Peter 2:16) We say it again: only Christ our Redeemer can set us free. Glory Hallelujah! I thought I could have leaped from earth to heaven at one spring when I first saw my sins drowned in the Redeemer's blood. – Charles Spurgeon Suggestions for prayer "O Lord, our Saviour help, and glorify Your name; deliver us from all our sins and take away our shame" (TPH 79B:2). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 26 - I must know my sin

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23 Scripture reading: Psalm 51:1-19 Transgression. Trespassing. Missing the mark. Lawbreaking. Iniquity. Wickedness. In Adam's Fall, We Sinned All. Sin is pervasive and deadly. Sin is an offense against God and His holiness. It is choosing to go our own way. Sin is refusing to obey God's law. Sin rejects God's standards. It is a failure to love God and our neighbour in the way asked of in Scripture. My sinful heart is drawn to sin like metal to a magnet. What must you know to live and die in the joy of the comfort of the gospel? You and I must know our sin. We must know our problem before we can embrace the solution that can only be received in Jesus Christ. We have been corrupted by our sin. Guilty. Apart from Christ we are disreputable, double dealing, underhanded and two faced (O what horrible things to say about us--but true.) The Catechism speaks of how great the offense of sin is against the thrice Holy God. Sin always produces misery making us miserable. Do you recognize the poison of sin in your life? Do you experience a sense of remorse? How are you progressing in the life of repentance and faith David was brought to know his sin after being exposed by the prophet Nathan. You are the man! And so it was. David thought he could ignore/hide his sin. God sees all. “Every sin is an act of cosmic treason, a futile attempt to dethrone God in His sovereign authority.” R.C. Sproul Suggestions for prayer "God, be merciful to me, on Thy grace I rest my plea; plenteous in compassion Thou, blot out my transgressions now; wash me, make me pure within, cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin" (TPH 51C:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 25 - What I must know

“Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool—He is holy.” - Psalm 99:5 Scripture reading: Psalm 25: 1-22 Today, we in God's grace...

Daily devotional

January 24 - Living for Jesus (II)

“And He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.” - 2 Corinthians...

Daily devotional

January 23 - Living for Jesus (I)

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” - Mathew 16:24...

Daily devotional

January 22 - And makes me whole-heartedly willing

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for ...

Daily devotional

January 21 - Christ by his Holy Spirit assures

“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring” - Isaiah 44:3 Scripture reading: John 14:25-28; 15:26, 16:5-11 The faith to believe is a rich gift of God's abounding grace. To travel through life without certainty is no life. Many people invest in insurance. It is said that the purpose of insurance is to provide financial protection against potential losses by transferring the risk from an individual or business to an insurance company. But insurance and assurance are two different things. Insurance has no lasting value. Mature believers rejoice in the lasting value of the gift of assurance. Even when we experience doubts, Christians can always go back to the fact that the LORD will never leave or forsake us. But how can we be sure that Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come? (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Well let me ask you some questions. Do you have a whole-hearted trust in God’s promise not only to others but to you as well to forgive your sins? Do you believe in His gift of grace because of Christ’s merit to grant you eternal righteousness and salvation? In short, do you believe the gospel message rooted in Christ’s perfect once for all sacrifice? If yes, you do know something of the Holy Spirit’s convicting power to bring you under the banner of glorious assurance. If not, you must run to the LORD and seek His favour. Do so today. Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. - Martin Luther Suggestions for prayer “Breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do" (TPH 397:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 20 - Because I belong to him

“Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” - 2 Corinthians 5:5 Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-15 Once more, we have that beautiful word--belonging. Because I belong to Jesus. Believers can never tire of confessing their security in Christ. Jesus’ followers confess because I belong to Him, Christ by His Holy Spirit assures me of eternal life. What glorious, blessed assurance! The good news promises--guarantees--convicts me of what is yet to come. Disciples have an eye on the glory day, and we praise God for it. This world is filled with uncertainties. But in the most holy faith we may confess certainty. God will lead us from this world to the next, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts of the life to come. Christians can live knowing we are safe in Jesus' hands, and it is the Holy Spirit who assures us that Christ's hold is sure. Our calling is to trust the LORD at His word. How tragic it is to know that so many of our neighbours live without the assurance that can only be given through the Holy Spirit. There are millions who are lost. So many remain dead in their trespasses; blind to their need for salvation and the reality that is yet to come. And what a calling to be used by the LORD to persuade others. "The real truth is that while He came to preach the Gospel, His chief object in coming was that there might be a Gospel to preach.” R.W. Dale Suggestions for prayer “I belong to Jesus; He has died for me; I am His and He is mine through eternity” (TPH 187:4). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 19 - For my salvation

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I came to this hour.” - John 12:27 Scripture reading: Mark 14:26-47 The line of promise. The bonds and blessing of the covenant of grace. The abiding mercies of the Lord upholding and protecting the eternal plan before time. The virgin birth of Christ. Our Redeemer's mission and ministry. A ministry opposed each step of the way. Gethsemane. (Lord, forgive us for the times we have read about Gethsemane with dry eyes). Our beautiful Saviour who took the curse upon Himself. He was born of a virgin and laid in a crude cradle. The cruel cross. The Messiah's testimony of His Father's forsakenness. The declaration of victory--it is finished. The curtain was torn from top to bottom. Buried in the stone-cold tomb. Resurrected on the third day. Ascended to the right hand of the heavenly Father. The custodian, keeper, guardian and protector of our souls. The promise of the second coming. Our LORD who saves to the uttermost. Oh, how rich a redemption for the believer. And then to say for my salvation. Simply amazing. If you are reading this as an unbeliever, I urge you to turn to Christ. Salvation is our greatest need. Without it, you are lost eternally. Trust in the promises of the WORD of God. Apart from Christ there is no hope to reach the blessing of eternity. Apart from the One who was sent to be a ransom for many, there is an eternity of separation from the love and grace of God. "Gethsemane is not a field of study for our intellect. It is a sanctuary of our faith.” – Klass Schilder Suggestions for prayer “Sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation, the God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation. My soul with comfort rich He fills, and every grief He gently stills: God all praise and glory" (TPH 214:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 18 - All things

“Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.” - Psalm 115:3 Scripture reading: Romans 8:18-32 All things, not some things for our salvation. This is beyond our understanding and yet of tremendous comfort to the believer. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! John Piper in his book, Future Grace, wrote "Nothing can blow you over when you are inside the walls of Romans 8:28." What security, what certainty, what wondrous holy delight for those who rest in Christ. And what a blessing to confess together as the body of Christ on this Lord's Day that all things must work together for our salvation! Dear reader, does this speak to you? Do you live with the assurance of God's promise that leads you into eternity? Where does eternal hope rest? Meditate deeply on our Scripture lesson. The believer must always hold tight to the truth of I Corinthians 8:6 "yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live." Life will have its own questions, but the answers are with the LORD. Today Christians around the world gather to declare the glory of God. They bear witness to their trust that God is working through all the episodes of our life for our salvation. And then how personal for the believer to attest—my salvation. Praise the LORD! “While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered His authority.” – A.W. Tozer Suggestions for prayer In your prayer testify before the LORD that "The Lord brings to nothing the plans of the nations; He frustrates their counsel and makes their schemes fall. But all that the LORD in His heart has intended, the plans He has made, will forever prevail" (TPH 33:3a). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 17 - Not a hair

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.” - Proverbs 19:21 Scripture reading: John 6:35...

Daily devotional

January 16 - Jesus watches over me

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous r...

Daily devotional

January 15 - Set free from the tyranny of the devil (II)

Daily devotional

January 14 - Set free from the tyranny of the devil (I)

Daily devotional

January 13 - Through the blood of the cross

“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” - Luke 22:20 Scripture reading: Colossians 2:1-15 Life is in blood. You will die if you bleed out. Jesus gave His precious blood to give us life. This must always be soul stirring for us--gripping us by our heart strings. From the Canons of Dort Chapter 2 Article 8 we read: For this was the most free counsel of God the Father, that the life-giving and saving efficacy of the most precious death of His Son should extend to all the elect.1 It was His most gracious will and intent to give to them alone justifying faith and thereby to bring them unfailingly to salvation.2 This means: God willed that Christ through the blood of the cross3 (by which He confirmed the new covenant)4 should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation,5 and tongue all those, and those only, who from eternity were chosen to salvation and were given to Him by the Father. God further willed that Christ should give to them faith,6 which, together with other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, He acquired for them by His death; that He should cleanse them by His blood from all sins,7 both original and actual, both those committed after faith and before faith; and that He should guard them faithfully to the end8 and at last present them to Himself in splendour without any spot or wrinkle.9 1 Jn 17:9; 2 Eph 5:25-27; 3 Lk 22:20; 4 Heb 8:6; 5 Rev 5:9; 6 Phil 1:29; 7 1 Jn 1:7; 8 Jn 10:28; 9 Eph 5:27. (efficacy-to bring about the desired results) Suggestions for prayer Acknowledge before the LORD "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus" (TPH 278:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 12 - Jesus has fully paid

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23 Scripture reading: Isaiah 53:1-12 Jesus paid it all! He paid our debt. He paid to remove the curse. He paid to satisfy God's justice. He paid to wash the believer as white as snow. By God’s grace we testify that the death of Christ has infinite value. We read in the Reformed Confession Canons of Dort Chapter 2 Articles 3&4: This death of the Son of God is the only and most perfect sacrifice and satisfaction for sins,1 of infinite value and worth, abundantly sufficient to expiate the sins of the whole world.2 1 Heb 9:26, 28; 10:14. 2 1 Jn 2:2. This death is of such great value and worth because the person who submitted to it is not only a true and perfectly holy man,1 but also the only-begotten Son of God,2 of the same eternal and infinite essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for these qualifications were necessary for our Saviour. Further, this death is of such great value and worth because it was accompanied by a sense of the wrath and curse of God3 which we by our sins had deserved. 1 Heb 4:15; 7:26.2 1 Jn 4:9, 3 Mt 27:46. Do you believe this? Infinite Value—the fullness cannot be fully comprehended. Trust the final and once for all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. "Faith is never something isolated or alone. You must never divorce faith from its object. Faith is always linked to the object. What is the object? The object is the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect work and his perfect righteousness." – Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Suggestions for prayer Confess before the Lord: "And when before the throne, I stand in Him complete, Jesus died my soul to save my lips shall still repeat. Jesus paid it all, to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, He washed me as white as snow" (TPH 276:4). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 11 - Belonging to my faithful Saviour

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28 Scripture reading: Hebrews 1:1-4; Isaiah 50:4-7 There are many characteristics/qualities that are to be attributed to our Messiah. He is the beautiful Saviour. Believers confess the wisdom, the compassion and the humility of Christ. What a soul strengthening description the opening words of Hebrews 1 give us about the person of Christ. Christians around the world recognize that Jesus is 'the way, the truth and the life.’ Only through Jesus can we arrive safely home in our Father's house. He is the friend of sinners--the LAMB of God who came to take away the sins of the world. He is the light of this dark world. Our H.C. describes Jesus as our faithful Saviour. This is a beautiful confession. Jesus was faithful to His task to the end. He set His face as flint to Jerusalem where He as a sacrifice for our sins would be crucified, dead and buried. The faithful Saviour who saves to the uttermost was unwavering in His commitment to fulfilling God's plan of salvation. He is reliable and trustworthy, always keeping His promises to those who believe in Him. Jesus was fully devoted to God's purpose and mission Today as the body of Christ we bring our worship. Our LORD is worthy of our adoration. Devote yourself to declaring His glory. May our hearts know something of 'Hallelujah what a Saviour'! “The glory of the Gospel is that the one from whom we need to be saved is the very one who saves us." – R.C. Sproul Suggestions for prayer "My song forever shall record the tender mercies of the Lord; your faithfulness will I proclaim, and ev'ry age shall know your name" (TPH 89B:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 10 - Belonging body and soul in death

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty.” - 1 Corinthians 15:13 Scripture reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Once again, we come to the final reality of this life—death. Once again, we remind ourselves life is short; death is sure; sin be the cause: Christ be the cure. One day we will all die (unless Christ returns first). Death will be the last moment in our life, and then eternity. Death has its own sense of foreboding. But with thanksgiving to the LORD, the believer confesses that Christ is never absent, even in this last moment. It is a rich blessing to confess that in His mercy, God keeps His people from getting what they deserve. In His grace, God provides for Christ's followers what they don't deserve. Christians can be sure the LORD will take us from this world to the next. Our brothers and sisters gathered at Thessalonica some two thousand years ago were encouraged that those 'who sleep in Jesus' need not worry for the 'dead in Christ will rise first.' Isn't that wonderful? If you fear that moment of death, be sure to turn to the promises of the LORD which are yea and amen in Jesus Christ. Christ has gone before us! Tomorrow, we gather once again as the body of Christ resting in the fruits of the resurrection. May the LORD so add His blessing. “He died for me; He made His righteousness mine and made my sin His own; and if He made my sin His own, then I do not have it, and I am free." – Martin Luther Suggestions for prayer Acknowledge before the LORD "By grace I am an heir of heaven; why doubt this, O my trembling heart? If what the Scriptures promise clearly is true and firm in every part, this also must be truth divine; by grace a crown of life is mine" (TPH 477:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 8 - Our souls also belong to Jesus

“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peac...

Daily devotional

January 7 - Belonging body

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” -...

Daily devotional

January 6 - I am not my own but belong (II)

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were...

Daily devotional

January 5 - I am not my own but belong (I)

“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whe...

Daily devotional

January 4 - Only comfort in death

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” - Psalm 116:15 Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 Death is the final enemy. "The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). And yet, on this Lord's Day, we together with the congregation gathered in the courts of the LORD confess that death has been defeated. As the body of Christ, we have assembled to declare resurrection glory. Jesus died and arose so that His followers will one day be called out of the grave. Hallelujah PRAISE the LORD!!! One might ask–"Since Christ has died for us why do we still have to die (H.C. Q 42)? How privileged we are to answer "Our death does not pay the debt of our sins. Rather, it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into eternal life.” (H.C. A 42) And how blessed we are to confess with Lord's Day 17 Q. How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us? A. First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, so that He could make us share in the righteousness which He had obtained for us by His death.1 Second, by his power we too are raised up to a new life.2 Third, Christ’s resurrection is to us a sure pledge of our glorious resurrection.3 1 Rom 4:25; 1 Cor 15:16-20; 1 Pet 1:3-5. 2 Rom 6:5-11; Eph 2:4-6; Col 3:1-4. 3 Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 15:12-23; Phil 3:20, 21. Never forget the words of Jesus "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live". John 11:25-26 Yes, Hallelujah PRAISE the LORD!!! Suggestions for prayer "For you will not forsake my soul unto the grave, nor will you leave your Holy One to see the tomb’s decay. Life’s pathway you make known, full joy of boundless store is found with you; at your right hand are pleasures evermore" (TPH 16:5). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 3 - Only comfort in life

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” - Psalm 139:7-10 Scripture reading: Psalm 139:1-18 As we travel to the world to come, our great need remains the comfort of the gospel. Comfort not meaning comfortable but the necessary strength to travel each day with the assurance that our LORD goes before us, come what may. The word "comfort" originates from the Old French "confort", which itself comes from the Late Latin "confortare", meaning "to strengthen greatly". This is our great need in this vale of tears. This is our great need as we prepare for eternity. This is our great need to be enabled to live Coram Deo-- before the face of God. Your life may have had more than its share of struggles. And yet who do we have but the LORD? Let us in the congregation and in our homes praise the LORD that our greatest need has been supplied in the mercies, the grace and the compassion of our great Triune God. It has been given to all true believers who look to Jesus Christ for salvation. As we set ourselves to gather with the congregation in which we have been placed, may the LORD add His blessing, so that we again may be strengthened in the comfort, the wonderful comfort of the blessed promises secured in Jesus Christ our LORD. There is no erratic power or action or motion in creatures, but they are governed by God's secret plan in such a way that nothing happens except what is knowingly and willingly decreed by Him. – John Calvin Suggestions for prayer Confess before the Throne of Grace--"Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me; the changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see; I ask Thee for a present mind, intent on pleasing Thee” (TPH 500:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 2 - My only comfort

“Jesus said to him (Thomas and the rest of the world) I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” - John 14:6 Scripture reading: John 14:1-7 In this world filled with sin and misery it is to our great comfort to speak of our ONLY comfort. While there may be other realities that encourage us in our journey, ultimately there is only ONE comfort--Jesus Christ--Lord and Saviour for all who believe. Do you share this conviction? There are many so-called religions. All claim to have answers to basic questions. All other religions stress what man must do. Christianity insists we must trust what Christ has done and is doing. The Christian faith rejects all other claims. The Christian faith boldly declares that there is but one way to be received into the world to come. Jesus on the road to the cross, declares for all that He alone is the way, the truth and the life. And praise God that through Him, Christ’s followers are promised the abundant life to come. The Christian faith is an exclusive faith. It excludes all who do not receive the Saviour. As someone else has put it: "The most controversial yet fundamental claim in the Christian faith is that Jesus alone has accomplished everything necessary for the salvation of all who believe in Him. For this reason, He must be trusted. This doctrine separates Christianity from every other worldview, and it unites every other doctrine within our faith". “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” – C.S. Lewis Suggestions for prayer In prayer confess before the LORD: "I have no other comfort which life and death endures than that I am my Savior’s, whose death my life secures. To you with soul and body, O Jesus, I belong; You are my only Master and my Redeemer strong" (TPH 480:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

January 1 - Introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism

Our devotions to begin the Year of our LORD 2026 will be based upon the teaching of Lord’s Day 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism. We will follow our beloved opening Lord’s Day phrase by phrase. Our greatest need is the LORD Jesus Christ, to belong to Him as His possession, to belong to our Redeemer body and soul, and to belong to our Saviour through the pilgrimage of this life, looking past our death to the world to come. What blessing beyond compare to confess that Christ has fully paid for the sins of those who are His own. The Bible teaches that there is a lion in our streets, prowling around, looking for someone to devour. To be set free from the tyranny of the devil is a great comfort. The believer’s greatest comfort is to belong to Jesus. Yes, our faithful Saviour Jesus Christ is our only comfort. It is ours in solitude and in the fellowship of congregational life. It is ours amid the racket and often jarring noise of societal life. It is ours when we travel through the valley of sorrows and as we set our sights on the world to come. Our only comfort is what we need for all situations in life. The Scripture selections will speak for themselves. Most meditations will conclude with a quote as food for thought. The prayer suggestions are based on a stanza from the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. May the LORD add His blessing on our meditations together. Lord’s Day One of the Heidelberg Catechism Q. What is your only comfort in life and death? A. That I am not my own,1 but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death,2 to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.3 He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood,4 and has set me free from all the tyranny of the devil.5 He also preserves me in such a way6 that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head;7 indeed, all things must work together for my salvation.8 Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life9 and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.10 1 1 Cor 6:19, 20. 2 Rom 14:7-9. 3 1 Cor 3:23; Tit 2:14. 4 1 Pet 1:18, 19; 1 Jn 1:7; 2:2: 5 Jn 8:34-36; Heb 2:14, 15; 1 Jn 3:8:; 6 Jn 6:39, 40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess 3:3; 1 Pet 1:5: 7 Mt 10:29-31; Lk 21:16-18: 8 Rom 8:28; 9 Rom 8:15, 16; 2 Cor 1:21, 22; 5:5; Eph 1:13, 14; 10 Rom 8:14. Q. What do you need to know in order to live and die in the joy of this comfort? A. First, how great my sins and misery are;1 second, how I am delivered from all my sins and misery; 2 third, how I am to be thankful to God for such deliverance.3 1 Rom 3:9, 10; 1 Jn 1:10; 2 Jn 17:3; Acts 4:12; 10:43;3 Mt 5:16; Rom 6:13; Eph 5:8-10; 1 Pet 2:9, 10 A most important question: What is your only comfort in life and in death? “Comfort, yes comfort my people! says your God.” - Isaiah 40:1 Scripture reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 By God's glorious grace we have entered the year of our LORD, 2026. And while 'hours and days and years and ages swift as moving shadows flee', believers go forward day by day in the confidence of God's great promises. And where would we be without those precious promises? As the canvas of the new year (D.V.) stretches before us, there will be times of uncertainties (humanly speaking) and perhaps lingering doubts. The world stage is in turmoil. How are Christians 'to proceed'? The opening question of the Heidelberg Catechism with the accompanying answer is foundational for our walk with the LORD. Every day again, we must turn to the LORD seeking His guidance by His Word through the work of the Holy Spirit. Every day again, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1). While we do not know what the future holds, we know who holds the future. We must always believe that our care is His caregiving. Long ago, Isaiah spoke words of comfort to the covenant community, declaring that their iniquity has been pardoned. We need the comfort of that same pardon. Ask for it. Thank the LORD for abounding mercies. We need the comfort of knowing that our LORD goes before us. We need the comfort which confesses we belong to Jesus. If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer – His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable. – John Newton Suggestions for prayer Thank the LORD that you can sing "Comfort, comfort ye my people, speak ye peace, thus saith our God; comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning 'neat their sorrow's load. Speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them; tell her that her sins I cover, and here warfare now is over” (TPH 298:1). Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 31 - And the child grew…

“And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” - Luke 2:40 Scripture reading: Luke 2:39-40 L...

Daily devotional

December 30 - Anna

“And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” - L...

Daily devotional

December 29 - Simeon (II)

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign t...

Daily devotional

December 28 - Simeon (I)

““Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in t...

Daily devotional

December 27 - Holy to the Lord

“And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”” - Luke 2:22-24 Scripture reading: Exodus 13:1-2,11-16 From cradle to cross, our Lord Jesus humbled Himself in our place as one under the law. This began with His circumcision at eight days old. It continued with His consecration to the Lord as firstborn at forty days old. Joseph and Mary followed the LORD’s instruction in Exodus 13. The LORD called His people to respond to His redeeming grace with costly, firstfruits giving. Worshipers sacrificed their firstborn male animals to the LORD. However, the LORD mandated worshipers to redeem their firstborn sons with a sacrificial lamb – a reminder of the Passover when the LORD provided the blood of a lamb to spare Israel’s firstborn sons. Israel is identified as God’s firstborn son, redeemed by the blood of animals in their place. Israel identified with Isaac in Genesis 22, where God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son, then spared his life by providing a ram in his place. Parents brought their redeemed firstborn sons before the Lord to consecrate them for His service. This is what Joseph and Mary did when they brought Jesus to the temple. Little did they know that the LORD would not spare His Firstborn Son as He had Isaac, Israel and Israel’s firstborn sons. Like the Passover Lamb, He would die for all God’s children in the “church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23). “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Hebrews 12:1). Suggestions for prayer Praise God that He consecrated His Firstborn to live and die as our substitute. Pray for grace to offer yourself to Him as a living sacrifice in grateful response. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 26 - Born under the law

“And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” - Luke 2:21 Scripture reading: Galatians 4:1-6 We return to Luke 2. The shepherds have come and gone. The magi have not yet arrived. Jesus is eight days old. In obedience to the angel, Joseph and Mary name him Jesus (Matthew 1:21). In obedience to the law, they have him circumcised. Two thousand years earlier, the LORD had commanded Abraham to apply circumcision, the sign of the covenant, to all boys born into the covenant family when they were eight days old (Genesis 17:12). Circumcision proclaimed the need for cleansing and spiritual renewal. It proclaimed God’s gracious promise to include, cleanse and renew believers and their children in his covenant family. As a bloody sign, it also proclaimed, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus was sinless. He did not need cleansing! He did not need spiritual renewal! Yet he identified with us as sinful humans to receive the sign of inclusion, cleansing and renewal in God’s covenant family. This was part of His humiliation. Paul would later say, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). It was for our cleansing and inclusion in God’s covenant family, that Jesus submitted to circumcision. The shedding of His blood marked the beginning and the end of His life on earth. His blood secures our inclusion, cleansing and spiritual renewal in God’s covenant family. Suggestions for prayer Praise God that Jesus chose to identify with us as sinful humans, so that we might identify with Him by grace as God’s covenant children. Pray that our children might embrace their place and purpose in God’s covenant family through faith in Christ. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 25 - Presents or presence?

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14 Scripture reading: Luke 2:1-20 His parents showered him with gifts. However, he wished they had been around more. They showered him with presents (p-r-e-s-e-n-t-s) but he preferred their presence (p-r-e-s-e-n-c-e). Our deepest need is to be restored to life in God’s presence. “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11b). God the Son became flesh and dwelt among us as Immanuel, God-with-us, to atone for our sin and restore us to life in God’s presence. All who turn from sin to trust in Christ enjoy His presence, by the power of His Spirit, already now. “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b). Jesus is God’s ultimate Christmas present to us! Receive Him by faith, and you will find all God’s other presents wrapped up in Him: forgiveness, righteousness, peace, adoption, the Spirit, spiritual growth and fruit, purpose, an inheritance and resurrection. A rich man lost his only son. He put up his estate for auction. Hundreds came, hoping to snag a treasure. The auction began with a painting of the man’s beloved son. “$1000?” No bids. “$10?” Again, no bids. Suddenly, the son’s friend burst into the hall and raised his hand. “Going once, going twice, sold!” The exuberant man claimed the painting of his friend. The auctioneer then shocked the crowd, saying, “This concludes today’s auction. He who gets the son gets it all.” He who gets the Son gets it all. Merry Christmas. Suggestions for prayer Praise God for His ultimate Christmas present, Jesus Christ, and every other gift we receive in Him. Pray that you might grow to treasure Christ and His gifts more and more. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 24 - Immanuel

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14 Scripture reading: Exodus 40:34-38 We pivot from Luke 2 to John 1 to meditate on the mystery of Jesus as Immanuel. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The Word is God the Son, the eternal, all-powerful Speech of God through whom He created the world, reveals Himself and redeems us. This Word became flesh. He became fully human, like us, yet without sin and without ceasing to be God. John 1:14 literally says, “The Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us.” That’s an echo of Exodus 40:34-38. In Exodus, the LORD delivered His people, made a covenant with them, and said, “I’m going to pitch my tent in the middle of yours and come live with you.” We hold our breath in Exodus 32 as Israel betrays her faithful God to worship a golden calf. Surely Yahweh isn’t going to move in among them now! Shockingly, He continues His tent-building program and moves in among them (Exodus 40:34-38). How can the holy God live among such people? This requires the sacrificial blood of another. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). What the LORD did in Exodus 40 was radical. Far more radical, however, was the way He moved in among us as Immanuel, God-with-us, in Jesus Christ! In Christ, God united Himself with man in the most intimate way. He came as Immanuel to reveal the Father to us, redeem us with His blood, and restore our fellowship with God. Suggestions for prayer Praise God for His radical plan to redeem us by becoming Immanuel in Jesus Christ. Pray that others in your life might be restored to fellowship with God through faith in Him. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 23 - Doxology

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” - Luke 2:20 Scripture read...

Daily devotional

December 22 - Mary’s meditation

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” - Luke 2:19 Scripture reading: Ephesians 3:14-21 Luke briefly leave...

Daily devotional

December 21 - Go, know, and tell

“And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds...

Daily devotional

December 20 - Those who seek will find

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happ...

Daily devotional

December 19 - “Let’s go!”

“When the angels went away from them into heaven,the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”” - Luke 2:15 Scripture reading: James 1:22-25 The angel has just announced good news of great joy. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior; who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12). The astonished shepherds sat around and discussed their experience. “That angel had a great message! He’s a good speaker, too. And the choir was amazing. Well... shall we run to Starbucks for a pink drink? Who’s in?” No, that’s not what happened. These shepherds had just heard the breaking news that the long-expected Jesus had been born in nearby Bethlehem. The angel had just told them they would find a baby wrapped up in a manger. There is only one appropriate response to the announcement that Christ has just arrived in your neighborhood: you go and seek Him! That’s the first thing the shepherds did when the angels returned to heaven. “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” These men were doers of the Word, and not hearers only. Their feet proved their faith in response to the gospel. What about you? Do the sermons you hear via pulpit and podcasts move you to seek the Christ they proclaim? Do they move you to trust and obey Him? Or do they prompt discussion and debate over Sunday dinner and nothing more? Suggestions for prayer Praise God that the Christ proclaimed in the gospel is accessible to all who seek Him. Pray that the Holy Spirit will move you to seek Christ in response to His voice in the gospel. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 18 - Peace on earth

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”” - Luke 2:13-14 Scripture reading: Luke 1:67-80 The gospel of Christ brings glory to God in the highest. It also brings peace on earth. It brings peace on earth “among those with whom he is pleased.” A literal translation of the Greek reads, “peace among men of good pleasure.” Do you long for peace on earth? Do you long for a world with no more war, no more violence and bloodshed? Do you long for a world without divorce, family feuds, bitterness, betrayal, broken friendships and bad blood between people and people groups? Do you long to be at peace with God, others and yourself Only people “of good pleasure” will enjoy the kind of peace promised here forever. The “good pleasure” mentioned in Luke 2:14 is the pleasure God has for His children in Christ. He delights in them only because they share Christ’s delightful status through faith in Him. Thanks to Christ and His perfect life and death in our place, God now says to us what He once said to Jesus: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22b). God’s forgiven children enjoy peace with God through faith in Christ (see Romans 5:1). His Spirit then empowers us to live at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ (see Ephesians 2:14-18; 4:1-3; Romans 12:18). Ultimately, “peace on earth” will include perfect harmony and well-being with God, each other, within, and the rest of creation. Then we will give “glory to God in the highest” perfectly forever. Suggestions for prayer Praise God for the undeserved pleasure and peace we enjoy in Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s power to be a Christlike peacemaker in your relationships and in your sphere of influence. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 17 - Glory to God

‘And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”” - Luke 2:13-14 Scripture reading: Romans 11:33-36 A dear saint in my congregation who has since gone to be with the Lord, approached me one Christmas Day after my sermon on this passage. “Pastor,” she said, “the Bible does not say the angels sang these words.” I conceded she was right. I suppose I love the idea of a mass heavenly choir singing these words. These words have certainly since been put to beautiful music! Whether sung or said, these words proclaim two great results that flow from God’s marvelous work of sending His Son into the world. The first great result is “glory to God in the highest.” The second result is “on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. God deserves all the glory for his jaw-dropping, redemptive work for us in Christ, beginning with the incarnation. He deserves to be acknowledged, admired and adored for His glorious character and attributes displayed in Christ, and His saving work for us. In fact, the goal of God’s redeeming work is to draw us back into fellowship with our Triune God to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. The Romans 11 doxology trumpets the goal and result of God’s astounding ways – His sovereign ways in redeeming a people to glorify Him, beginning with election and ending in glorification. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!... For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33a,36). Suggestions for prayer Praise God, specifically, for all He has done for you in Christ, and what that reveals about His character. Pray that the gospel increasingly fills you with wonder, awe and adoration for our Triune God. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 16 - Only Jesus gets the choir

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”” - Luke 2:13-14 Scripture reading: Revelation 5:1-14 Isaac, Samson and John the Baptist: what do they have in common? They all got heavenly birth announcements. They got heavenly birth announcements, even before they were conceived as men God chose to use in His plan of salvation. Our Lord Jesus also got a heavenly birth announcement before He was conceived. However, He got far more. He got a heavenly birth announcement right after He was born. “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10b-11). Above all, only Jesus gets the choir! Only when Jesus is born does the whole army chorus of heaven burst into praise following the good news of His birth. That is how it should be. The coming of God’s Son, who is also God the Son, is the high point of salvation history. The angels can’t contain themselves! The army chorus shows up again in Revelation 5. Millions of heavenly beings shout in response to the realization that the risen and reigning Christ has taken His exalted place at the helm of redemptive history. In Revelation 5:13-14, all creation joins the chorus. That is the goal of history – that God’s chosen children, redeemed in Christ, along with all creation, take their place in the jubilation choir to glorify and enjoy Him forever. “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150:6). Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the reasons He has given us in Christ to sing and shout with the angels. Ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your heart anew to God’s glory and grace, so that you can praise Him more fully with your lips and life. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 15 - A sign

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” - Luke 2:12 Scripture reading: Isaia...

Daily devotional

December 14 - Christ the Lord

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this ...

Daily devotional

December 13 - A Saviour

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this ...

Daily devotional

December 12 - Good news of great joy

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this ...

Daily devotional

December 11 - Angels

‘And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.” - Luke 2:8-9 Scripture reading: Psalm 103:19-22 Psalm 103:19 reminds us, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” He has a vast army of heavenly troops, eager to carry out His commands. We call them angels. “Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers who do his will!” (Psalm 103:20-21). The LORD often sent angels to deliver messages to His people. In fact, the Hebrew and Greek words for angel mean ‘messenger.’ The LORD often told His people, through angels, what He was going to do next in redemptive history. For example, God told Zechariah, through the angel Gabriel, that his wife would give birth to John, the forerunner of Jesus (Luke 1:5-25). God told Mary, also through the angel Gabriel, that she would miraculously give birth to Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). The Great King now sends an angel to announce the birth of His Son to shepherds in a field. As usual, the glory-of-God radiance of these heavenly warrior-messengers startles and terrifies the shepherds. The shepherds, however, have nothing to fear. God’s warrior has come in grace, not judgment. God’s messenger has come with good news, not bad news. Today, we don’t expect angels to deliver the gospel to us. “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2a). Thank God, we have access to His life-giving voice in the Scriptures. Suggestions for prayer Thank God that He has chosen to reveal the gospel of Jesus Christ to us. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open the hearts of many to believe the gospel and receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 10 - Shepherds

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.” - Luke 2:8 Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Rome is not where the action is, Bethlehem is! The spotlight shifts from Bethlehem to a field not far away. Shepherds are tending their sheep, out in the open, under the night sky. Jewish tradition tells us these men were not trusted or respected in Jewish society. The testimony of shepherds and women were not accepted in court. Jewish society looked down on both. Did you just connect the dots in your own mind? The Lord chose shepherds to proclaim the birth of Christ and women to proclaim the resurrection of Christ! “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Jewish tradition also tells us these shepherds raised sheep for temple sacrifices. Such sheep required special care to preserve them without blemish: no cuts, no scrapes, no wounds. Not far away, the Lamb of God, the Lamb without spot or blemish, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, lay bundled up in a feedbox. He, too, would be raised for a sacrifice, one not far from the temple grounds. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the way He uses humble vessels to accomplish His purposes. Pray that God would form and use you for His purposes, strengths, weaknesses, and all. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 9 - Rome and Bethlehem

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” - Luke 2:6-7 Scripture reading: Luke 1:26-38 When I was in grade school, I hated writing ‘Mediterranean Sea’. The ancient Romans called it ‘Mare Nostrum’ – ‘Our Sea’. I wish it had that name when I was in school! ‘Our Sea’ proclaims, “We own it all.” Under Augustus, the Roman Empire encircled the entire sea and controlled every inch of its coastline. Look at a map of the ancient Roman Empire. See Rome, the power center at its heart. Now look for little Bethlehem, on the eastern fringe of the great empire. Rome and Bethlehem: great is the contrast! Great is the contrast between the emperor in Rome and the baby in Bethlehem. Thankfully, a snapshot in the middle of time does not tell the whole story. Nor does it tell us where history is headed. The angel had said to Mary, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus... The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31,32b-33). Luke 2 begins in Rome, with Caesar Augustus on the throne. Within sixty years of Christ’s birth, however, many in Rome would say, ‘Christ is Lord,’ instead of ‘Caesar is Lord.’ Acts, the sequel to Luke’s Gospel, ends with Paul preaching the gospel of Christ in Rome itself. Augustus is dead, but Jesus lives and rules as king. Bethlehem triumphs over Rome in every age. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for revealing to us that Christ is Lord in a world that says, ‘Caesar is Lord.’ Pray for courage and confidence to show and tell others the good news that Jesus is Lord. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 8 - Veiled in flesh

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” - Luke 2:6-7 Scripture reading: John 1:14-18 Do you envision a small barn with rustic beams, a clean layer of straw, a cozy lantern hanging from the rafters, a V-shaped manger on an X-shaped pedestal, with a donkey, a cow and a couple of sheep encircling Joseph and Mary as they gaze upon the baby in the manger? Those images did not come from Luke 2:6-7. Luke wastes no words reporting Jesus’ birth. His description is matter of fact, understated, ordinary. Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem, and Mary goes into labor. They can’t find a place to stay, so Mary gives birth to Jesus close to a feedbox. Was this feedbox in a barn, a cave, an enclosure? Were animals present? We don’t know. She wraps him tight and lays him in the feedbox. The medium is the message. Luke’s ordinary, unadorned reporting matches the radical chasm God the Son crossed to become flesh, to humble himself as one of us. The circumstances of His birth also foreshadow His humiliation as the suffering Son of Man. He was despised and rejected by men. He died outside the camp, under God’s curse for our sin. Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the Everlasting Lord! Late in time, behold him come, Offspring of the Virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’Incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Charles Wesley. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, stanza 2. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the gift of Immanuel, God with us, the Word made Flesh. Ask God to stir up wonder and adoration in your heart in response. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 7 - Whose decree?

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the h...

Daily devotional

December 6 - When Caesar says “jump”

“In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was g...

Daily devotional

December 5 - Quirinius

“In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was g...

Daily devotional

December 4 - The decree

“In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” - Luke 2:1 Scripture reading: Isaiah 55:10-1...

Daily devotional

December 3 - Caesar Augustus (II)

“In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” - Luke 2:1 Scripture reading: Mark 10:35-45 Augustus led Rome into an era of prosperity and peace after years of civil war. He tackled government corruption; he ‘drained the swamp’. He developed an amazing road system and effective government structure to bind his empire together. The economy boomed. We call that era “The Pax Romana” – the Roman Peace. It sounds good, doesn’t it? However, Augustus maintained the Pax Romana with an iron fist and expanded it through conquest. His road to power was blood-soaked. Augustus teamed up with two allies to slaughter hundreds in their quest for power. Together, they conquered the empire. Then Augustus defeated the other two to become the sole ruler of Rome. Human rulers usually have a mixed legacy. At worst, they claw their way to the top by trampling others. After that, they fight to stay there. We desperately need our true and perfect King, born in Bethlehem. He did not trample others to seize power. Instead, he “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). Jesus said, “Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). This King came to serve us and our need for salvation. He redeems us to embody His sacrificial servant leadership in our fallen world. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for King Jesus, our perfect and all-powerful King who lowered Himself and laid down His life to save us. Pray for grace to embody His sacrificial servanthood in our fallen world. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 2 - Caesar Augustus (I)

“In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” - Luke 2:1 Scripture reading: Isaiah 9:1-7 “Good news! The Son of God has come. He has taken His rightful place as the chief priest of His people. He has ushered in a golden age of peace and prosperity.” You might be excused for thinking these words describe Jesus Christ. Ironically, these words describe how ancient Rome viewed Caesar Augustus. Caesar Augustus assumed power in Rome in 27 BC. He ushered in the ‘Pax Romana’, a glorious new age of peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire. When Jesus arrived in Bethlehem, Rome had its own ‘redemptive history,’ complete with a miraculous origin story, descent into darkness, and the climactic arrival of a divine son and savior who would lead Rome to her destiny and usher in heaven on earth. Thus, the birth of God’s Son in Bethlehem ensured a clash of kingdoms. On the one hand, see the Kingdom of God with its true Son of God and Savior at the center of the true history of redemption, Who came to usher in the true heaven on earth. On the other hand, see the kingdom of this world with its counterfeit son of God and savior at the center of a counterfeit storyline who came to usher in a counterfeit heaven on earth Today, too, we must discern where the storylines, value systems, doctrine of salvation and utopian visions of our culture clash with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must proclaim “Christ is Lord” to our lost world. We must order our lives accordingly. Suggestions for prayer Thank God that He has revealed Jesus Christ His Son to us at the heart of redemptive history. Pray for grace to proclaim and embody the truth that Christ is Lord in a lost world. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

December 1 - Introduction to Luke 2

Luke 2 enjoys the spotlight at this time of year. Students recite these verses at Christmas programs. Many of us memorized these verses. Pastors preach multiple sermons from Luke 2. We sing Christmas hymns inspired by this passage: Once in Royal David’s City; Angels, We Have Heard on High; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night; Go, Tell it on the Mountain; Silent Night; and Angels from the Realms of Glory; to name a few. Over the centuries this account has been embellished. As we read Luke 2, an image pops into our heads, of a cozy-looking barn, with a clean layer of straw, Joseph and Mary hovering over a manger with baby Jesus with a halo around his head, a group of shepherds kneeling with their lambs around them, a donkey, a cow and a star shining bright above the barn. The three wisemen are also there, offering the newborn king one of the three gifts. Do you see what I see? As a preacher, I confess that as Christmas approaches, I sometimes turn to the much-worked-over, embellished Luke 2 and think, “Do I really want to preach through this passage again?” Yes, I do! I may not preach it every year, but I routinely return to it. In Luke 1-2, Luke has given us the most detailed account of the birth of Jesus, a tremendous gift to the church. It is an edifying rhythm, to return to this account. For this reason, I have chosen to lead you through Luke 2:1-40 over the month of December. Together, we will hear the good news of great joy for all people. We will ponder anew what the Almighty can do (has done) in sending his Son in the fullness of time to be born in humble circumstances on the fringe of the mighty Roman Empire. May Christ himself, by the power of his Spirit, meet us in the verses of Luke 2 and move us to rejoice and respond as the shepherds, Simeon and Anna did. In those days “In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” - Luke 2:1 Scripture reading: Psalm 33:6-11 Luke 2 doesn’t begin in Bethlehem. It begins in Rome. It doesn’t begin with Christ Jesus. It begins with Caesar Augustus. “In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus...” In those days, all eyes were on Rome, not Bethlehem. Caesar’s decrees dominated headlines and news feeds. Caesar’s dictates impacted the daily lives of God’s people, just as they did the lives of others. These days, decrees go out from President Trump and Prime Minister Carney. All eyes are on Washington and Ottawa. Their decrees dominate headlines and news feeds. Their dictates impact our daily lives. Are your eyes so fixed on Washington or Ottawa that you’ve lost sight of Bethlehem? Do you fret excessively over decrees from Washington or Ottawa, leading you to sin? Conversely, do you rejoice excessively that your man is on the throne? Have you put “your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation?” (Psalm 146:3). If your answer is ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, your ‘gut theology’ proclaims ‘Caesar is Lord,’ not ‘Christ is Lord.’ It is time to refocus our eyes and hearts on Bethlehem where the real action is. In those days, the birth of a baby in Bethlehem did not fill the headlines or news feeds. No doubt, Caesar did. We, however, walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11). Suggestions for prayer Thank God that His counsel stands forever, regardless of what happens in Washington and Ottawa. Pray that the Lord will give you grace to walk by faith and not by sight. Rev. Richard Zekveld is the pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church (PCA) in South Holland, Illinois, a Chicagoland suburb. Rev. Zekveld, his wife Nancy, and their five children have lived in the community of South Holland for seventeen years. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 30 - Anticipation and celebration

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” - Philippians 3:20-21 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 No doubt many of you know exactly how many days there are left until Christmas. As excited as some of you readers may be for that day, today’s devotion is asking you to examine yourself with this question: “Are you equally, less, or more excited for the return of Jesus?” When my middle son was young, he’d get so excited for the company that would visit us during the Christmas break. In fact, he’d stand outside, in the cold, for as long as an hour, waiting for the company to arrive. He’d come into the house with them, having been the first to greet them…even though he’d been shivering for quite a while. Jesus will return. The images in the passage are of people who are so intent on watching and waiting for Jesus’ return, that no thief in the night could possibly catch them unawares. Because they are wide awake, so ready for Jesus, they’d catch a robber before he’d rob them. Did you notice the reference to the breastplate of faith, love and the helmet of hope? The breastplate covers the heart, lungs and vital organs. It covered the guts as well. In those days it was thought your emotions came from your intestines. You know the expression, “I feel it in my guts. Right?” Guarding your vital seat of emotion kept alive the hope and expectation of Jesus’ return. On this day of all the week the best, Sunday, may you grow in joyful anticipation that Jesus will return. His arrival is closer than you think. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Spirit of God to renew in your heart and imagination the wonderful expectation of the return of Jesus; pray that during this season many of your friends, co-workers and family members who do not know Jesus will encounter Him and join you in anticipating His return. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com...

Daily devotional

November 29 - Tempted to praiseless prayer

“Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” - Matthew 6:9 Scripture reading: Psalm 81:1-16 Yesterday, a friend sent ...

Daily devotional

November 28 - Tempted to forget the measure of your days

Daily devotional

November 27 - Tempted to Christmas gluttony

“...and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. ” - Proverbs 23:2 Scripture reading: C...

Daily devotional

November 26 - Tempted to greed

“The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.” - Proverbs 15:27 Scripture reading: Luke 12:13-21 One i...

Daily devotional

November 25 - Tempted in charitable giving

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” - Micah 6:8 Scripture reading: Matthew 6:1-4 Christmas is near. Soon, you will hear bell ringers in the mall. Your inbox will be inundated with pleas from local charities. I am aware of a charity in my community that has an honour wall which highlights the most generous donors. In their foyer, you see the names of gold level donors, printed in large letters on gold-colored plaques. The same honour is conferred to silver level donors on silver plaques and lower level donors on bronze plaques. Why are those people giving their gifts? It may well appear that those donors are trumpeting their generosity for all to see. What motivates you to donate to charity? The passage before us today commands believers to practice righteousness. Righteousness is defined in the Bible as caring for widows and orphans in their distress. It also involves meeting the needs of those in distress, and helping the foreigners among us. It is commanded obedience. If you are obeying so that you can be recognized by others, then you are now, already, getting your reward for your obedience. Believers, in view of the great grace and compassion that God has shown them in Christ, are moved by the Spirit to help others. From the rich store house of His goodness, believers desire to show God’s love in practical and demonstrable ways to those within the household of God and beyond her walls, so that many will be drawn to Jesus. The fact that the Father sees what you are doing, is sufficient, a great blessing. Suggestions for prayer Pray that you, as a believer, grow in your willing obedience to do justice (that is, care for the poor). Ask the Holy Spirit to help you examine your patterns of giving and reasons for giving that you may do so with purity of heart to honour God. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 24 - Tempted to wasting time

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” - Ephesians 4:1 Scripture reading: Ephesians 5:15-17 Are you familiar with the term ‘doom scrolling’? My guess is almost anyone 35 or under will immediately recognize the reference. There are so many short media clips, (a.k.a. shorts) available online that a person could easily spend an hour, or hours, just flipping through random clips. It is specifically called doom scrolling, because the scroller consumes content slanted toward sad news, or sensational news which leads people to greater despair and hopelessness. The days are evil. It is an axiomatic statement (an obvious truth that almost doesn’t need to be stated). As in the days of the Apostle Paul, so in our day also, there are enough activities that are evil and would lead the people of God astray into evil activities. However, the call of Scripture is that believers walk in understanding as to what the will of the Lord is. To walk with the Lord means to use your time well, to be temperate, not abusing your body with food, alcohol, or drugs. As you read here in Ephesians, to walk with the Lord means that you, as a believer, will not pollute your mind with what you’re watching. Now is an important time to ask yourself if you’re spending too much time on your phone, or computer, or visiting inappropriate websites? To walk with the Lord means that you as a believer use your resources to be a blessing to others, meeting the needs of those who are in poverty. Such poverty can be spiritual, financial, or social. Suggestions for prayer Appeal to God to bring revival across our land, that evil will be pushed back and the knowledge of God will increase; that the Spirit of God leads you to act in ways that increase your personal walk with God. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 23 - Welcome to the Sunday celebration

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” - Philippians 3:17 Scripture reading: Philippians 3:13-16 Welcome to the Sunday celebration. What a joy it is to rest in the work of Christ our Lord. What a gift it is to gather with the people of God, to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord our God. The rest of the Sabbath is a time when the gains in your faith, made through the grace of God, are acknowledged in thankful worship before the King. Welcome to the Sunday celebration. Paul, by his example of straining toward the upward call of the Gospel, by his desire to take hold of all they’d already attained in Christ, encouraged the people of Philippi. He longed for them to be so united in Christ that the things behind them, their former ways of life and past rivalries would be set aside in view of the greatest goal of serving Jesus, the prize of life, the hope of every longing heart. Is that how you receive the Sunday, as a unifying time where Christ Jesus is your prize? Welcome to the Sunday celebration, where mature Christians, by the example of their engaged involvement in the worship service, model living faith to those who are young in the faith. How you pay attention, sing, how you show yourself to be in a posture of prayer during worship, all these activities lead others to walk in your example. As you worship God with fellow believers, trust that your presence and your involvement, every Sunday, is an encouragement to other believers around you. Suggestions for prayer Give thanks to God for those in your congregation and family who are to you a wonderful example of a mature Christian; bring your thanks to God for some specific ways in which you can see He is leading you to greater maturity. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 22 - Tempted to avoid suffering

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” - 1 Peter 4:19 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19 Think for a minute about who wrote these words. Yes, Peter who pledged to Jesus that even if all the other disciples abandoned Him, Peter would stand up and defend Jesus. When he saw that Jesus was prepared to suffer for the sake of His Father’s glory, Peter crumbled and ran. Worse, he betrayed even knowing Jesus. Rather than dealing harshly with Peter, surely you can empathize. You know how hard it is to stay true to Jesus while friends mock you. It doesn’t matter if you are 10 or 60, the peer pressure that society lobs against Christians tempts you to go soft in your stance for Jesus. First, know that suffering will happen for any Christian. Be assured that suffering confirms that you belong to Jesus. Second, do not claim to be suffering for Jesus, when in fact you are suffering for your own bad behavior. Your bad behavior must be punished so that you will be purified. Third, suffering does not bring you shame if you stand firm against it. In Jesus’ high priestly prayer (which is found in John 17), He asked His Father to glorify His Own Name and His people, as He sends them out into the hostile world. Fourth, suffering guards you against thinking salvation and sanctification are an easy street for believers. They are not. Believers must face suffering. When you suffer, entrust your soul to the care of your Creator, the One Who made you, knowing the purpose for which He designed you. He knows what you can and can’t endure. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Spirit of God to make you aware of the times and circumstances where you are avoiding the necessary suffering to which God has called you to endure. For the suffering you already know you have avoided, ask God’s forgiveness and the grace to be prepared for the next round of it. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 21 - Tempted to drift

“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” - Hebrews 2:1 Scripture reading: Deuteronomy...

Daily devotional

November 20 - Tempted to all kinds of idle talk

“As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And He did not permit him but sai...

Daily devotional

November 19 - Tempted to stinginess

“And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was n...

Daily devotional

November 18 - Opening up for hospitality

“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” - Hebrews 13:1-...

Daily devotional

November 17 - Breaking up the Sunday cliques

“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” - Hebrews 13:1-2 Scripture reading: Acts 2:40-47 Perhaps your church is planning on sending out invitations to your Christmas season worship services. I know of a church that sent out about 1,000 invitations last year, being delivered by church members who did a lot of walking. Why mention this? Many congregations hope that many people who are not used to attending church will show up for Christmas. That is great. Let me ask you a serious question: Are you prepared? If some family, or a few new people, show up, will you welcome them? At Pentecost about three thousand people were added to the Church! Staggering. No wonder the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship and sharing meals. The new believers needed to be taught about Jesus Christ. Old habits and rituals needed to be replaced by a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Those new believers had come from far away and needed lodging and friendship. Some thirty-plus years ago, our family’s home congregation had a two-minute rule. The first two minutes after the worship service each member was required to go speak with someone unknown to him. It might be a fellow worshiper who is unfamiliar. It might be a stranger who happened to be attending. The point is, all too often, church members form Sunday cliques, hanging out with the very same people they already know and with whom they are comfortable. New people feel unwelcome. This Christmas season, plan on welcoming all those whom the Spirit of God directs to your local church. Suggestions for prayer Start praying now that God will by His Spirit, stir up the hearts of people to attend church throughout December and the Christmas season; pray for an openness of your own heart to receive those whom God will send. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 16 - Hold tight those citizenship papers

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” - Philippians 3:14-15 Scripture reading: Philippians 3:12-21 Safely through another week, God has brought us to the blessedness of Sunday, the day in which in addition to daily family and personal devotions, believers have the privilege of gathering with His people and worshiping Him. All such worship is the dress rehearsal for glory. As Paul stated so clearly, our citizenship, right now, is in heaven. We look forward to Jesus Christ’s return from glory and being caught up with Him to the new heavens and the new earth. As Paul wrote, we know the prize of life right now is to walk in close communion with Jesus Christ. Whatever teaching and instruction the Spirit has given in the past will be added to by continuing to hear the Word preached. By this the believer’s sanctification will be increased. Sundays remind the believer that his life is not his own. There is no such thing as “free time” or “me time”. All your days are lived under the gracious, watchful gaze of the Lord of heaven and earth. He is bringing your life here to perfection in Christ, so that at the moment of His choosing, you will be brought to Him. Christians realize life is more than money, politics, houses, vacations, retirement or time with family. While we live on earth now, we are refugees, displaced people, longing for the eternal dwellings with the Father. Public worship unites you with others who also hold tightly the citizenship papers given in Jesus Christ. One day soon He will return. What holy joy awaits! Suggestions for prayer Pray that public and private worship today will inspire in you a longing for fuller life with Jesus now, and greater anticipation of life with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit in eternity. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 15 - Children, youth, what is worth striving after?

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” - Philippians 3:14-15 Scripture reading: Proverbs 4:1-9 The worst thing in life might be this: to achieve your goal of amassing money, or great power, or having tremendous influence over many people and then, having achieved it, find that it is meaningless and empty. So many powerful and influential people who seem to be on the top of the world reach for the next goal, the next prize, the next thing. Why? Because each achievement that one thought would be awesome and make life good, turns out to be so empty. Little children, sons and daughters of wise parents, the Bible is filled to overflowing with all that is meaningful and worthwhile. In the Bible, wisdom is personified as a woman who teaches and guides you all your life through. Jesus was guided by wisdom all His life. Even when people rejected Him, when crowds wanted to stone Him and authorities persecuted Him, He walked with confident hope in the pathways of God His Father, because He was directed by wisdom. The screens of this world offer so many tantalizing images of what you should strive for. The sad truth is, if you achieve it, then tomorrow there will be some new prize, some new necessary, unworthy achievement. To all perfection I see a limit, but Your commands are boundless (Psalm 119:96 paraphrased). The point is, the closer one draws to God, the fuller one’s commitment to life submitted to Him, the greater, wider and higher will be his boundless joy, boundless blessing and boundless confidence. Following Jesus has boundless adventure and purpose. Suggestions for prayer Parents and children and youth, pray that Jesus will become the prize of your life and your highest joy; ask God to reveal the things or activities in your life which are keeping you from effectively striving for the goal, the upward call of God which leads you to call Jesus your greatest treasure. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 14 - Children, who is your teacher?

“God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” - 2 Timothy 2:25b-26 Scripture reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-9 You know we are living in the end times. The clearest sign is that children are disobedient to their parents. This is precisely what Paul wrote to Timothy. It is a sign that godlessness has so increased in the land that parents have neglected their duties, and not taught their children the fear of the LORD. There are many men I minister to who have never heard about God, creation, love or sin. There is a vast ignorance where there should have been youthful instruction in the Bible, and through it teaching about Jesus. Once in a great while I’ll hear of a man who, when he comes to Bible study of his own accord, credits a praying grandmother, or mother, for his interest in the things of God. In an over-used cliche, a movie or TV show depicts a child in the family as smarter than his dumb parents. He is witty, abusive, rebellious and ungrateful. It is almost as if the script writer read II Timothy to script the ideal child who is in rebellion against God and headed for hell. The world says be different, but then, ironically demands conformity to its ways by wearing brand name jeans, or buying the it cologne. The Bible teaches that if you’d be truly unique, then be lovers of God. If you want to live and know that your life has meaning, then listen to and obey the teaching of your godly parents. Such children escape the snares of the devil, who seeks only to destroy and kill. Suggestions for prayer Repent, children, if you have been in rebellion against God and your parents. Ask the Spirit of God to give you a willing, humble and teachable heart. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 13 - Do not disregard the role of women

“For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he...

Daily devotional

November 12 - Are you faithful leaders, Fathers?

“Hear my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.” - Proverbs 1:8 Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-25 ...

Daily devotional

November 11 - The temptation of nations

“And, when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before ...

Daily devotional

November 10 - Pride and humility

“Thus says the LORD; “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of ...

Daily devotional

November 9 - Praying scripture

“And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor me.” - Psalm 50:15 Scripture reading: Isaiah 12: 1-6 It is common for believers to bring prayer requests to elders and pastors and ask them to include such in the congregational prayer (also known as the pastoral prayer). Psalm 50 reminds believers that our faithful Father invites His people to call on Him, but He also commands His people to thank Him for prayers answered. It seems this is an aspect of prayer that can easily be neglected or overlooked. Today I’ll type out a sample prayer, based on Isaiah 12, that puts into practice some things examined in the last few days. There are two blank lines where you can insert your reasons for thanking God, for giving Him the glory, and why you would make His Name known. We give You thanks, O LORD, for though You were angry with us, Your anger has turned away and You have given us comfort in Christ our Lord. With the eyes of faith we see You, God Who is salvation, and we trust You and are not afraid. You, LORD God, are our strength and our song, You have become our salvation. With joy we are drawing water from the wells of salvation. We give thanks, LORD, for ________________________________. Joining Your people through every generation, we make known Your deeds____________________________. We proclaim that Your Name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. Suggestions for prayer Take a verse or two from your favorite Psalm and turn it into a personal prayer, expressing thanks, or lament, or putting into words what God has placed on your heart. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 8 - Tempted to lazy-praying

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:20-21 Scripture reading: Psalm 47:1-9 Use your imagination for a moment. Imagine your name is Bob. I am your friend asking you for something. “Hi Bob. Well, Bob, I have a favour, Bob, to ask of you Bob.” No doubt, if you were hearing this, you’d be driven to distraction by the repeated use of your name. Listening to some parents, elders, or ministers pray, you’d get the same weird sensation. There is an over-use of a name, like, LORD, or God. It is repeated. Repeated. Repeated, so often like it is a comma. Now look at Psalm 47 once again. God is addressed as: The great King over all the earth. (What a glorious title!). The psalmist calls Him “Our King” and “The God of Abraham”. He is the One Who is highly exalted”. Now consider Hebrews, where He is the “God of peace”. Jesus is “The great shepherd of the sheep.” Jesus is also called “Jesus Christ” meaning the One anointed by God for holy service. The Bible is filled with the names of God. Rather than lazy praying, using one name repeatedly, consider Who you are addressing as you bring His people before Him. Call out to the God of peace to help a family who is in marital conflict. Confess Him as “the great King” when seeking forgiveness for the rebelliousness of people who so often strain against His rule. Looking for, and longing for Jesus’ return, name Him the “great King over all the earth” Whose glory will be revealed when He returns with all His holy angels. Suggestions for prayer Keep a notebook handy as you read the Bible, personally and as a family, so you can write down names for God. Then try to incorporate those names into your personal and family prayers. He has revealed Himself by His names, so that you can approach His throne of grace and find grace and mercy in your time of need. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 7 - Vision and prayer

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.” - Proverbs 11:20 Scripture reading: I Kings 8:41-43 At the dedication of Solomon’s temple, the king prayed that foreigners drawn in by the report of the great Name of God and His mighty works would be received by the LORD. Already at that point in Israel’s history, it was clear that the people of God were meant to be a beacon shining into the darkness of this world, shining the glory of God. As stated in Proverbs 11, believers are to be soul-winners. The prayers of believers are to be persistent, urgent, so filled with love that they are continually imploring God to bring their friends, neighbours, co-workers and people from every tribe and nation and language into the kingdom of God. Dear fellow believers, is this the urgent prayer of your heart? Do you long for people near and far to know the great Name of Jesus, in Whom salvation is alone found? Therefore, it is a critical matter of prayer that saints call out to God for the work of missionaries and ministers, evangelists and parents, teachers and preachers to be effective, that many will come to Jesus. Dear fellow ministers, if your congregational prayers don’t reflect this as much as they might, I’d encourage you to broaden your congregational prayer, so that in accord with the command of Scripture, you faithfully, regularly model prayer for missions and for the harvest to come in. Dear fellow believers, examine your personal and family devotions. Are you praying for workers in the harvest field and for many to be brought in? Suggestions for prayer Get a prayer card from church, and regularly pray for the missionaries your local congregation supports. Go to the website “The Joshua Project: People Groups of the World” and learn about unreached people groups and tribes, and begin praying in an informed way. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 6 - Tempted to prayerlessness

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” - I Thessalonians 5:16-19 Scripture reading: Luke 6:12-16 Let that sink in. Before choosing the disciples, Jesus spent a whole night in prayer, no doubt, imploring His Father in heaven to grant Him the right men. As a man, Jesus needed wisdom and direction from the Father to make right choices. Jesus was given the Holy Spirit without measure (John 3:34). In the strength of the Spirit’s power, Jesus yielded Himself fully to His Father, and asked for the answers He needed. The Gospel of Luke records over a dozen instances of Jesus going away to a desolate place and praying. You are likely tempted to prayerlessness. Excuses include: No time; too busy; don’t know what to pray for. The reading in I Thessalonians is a helpful guide. Prayer includes rejoicing. Recite Isaiah 12. It is a brief passage that shows what rejoicing looks like. (Go ahead. Read it.) Pray with thanksgiving. Here are some reasons for thanksgiving: life in Christ; new hope; your family in Christ. At different times all day, give thanks to God. Ask the Spirit, as the day progresses, for discernment to make morally right decisions at work, to do what is good in contrast to what is popular or easy at school, to show yourself faithful to God in daily life. How did Jesus avoid evil? How did Jesus not step into the temptation traps carefully laid out for Him by the devil? He persisted in prayer. Put reminders in your phone to pray at different times in the day. As you pray, you will find talking to God easier. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Spirit of God to open your mind and heart so that you don’t stop the Spirit’s work in your life; look for reasons all through the day to give thanks to God, then offer these up to God in prayer; requesting that God give you the motivation to be a believer who prays without ceasing. For over six years already, Rev. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

November 5 - Banality* and prayer

“The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. T...

Daily devotional

November 4 - Tempted by prayer shortcuts

“You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not sco...

Daily devotional

November 3 - Desire and knowledge

“Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” - Proverbs 19:2 Scripture reading: Psalm 37:1-7...

Daily devotional

November 2 - Beholding Jesus

“One thing I have asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the bea...

Daily devotional

November 1 - Introduction to temptations

Many people are already, no doubt, knee-deep in their preparations for the celebration of Christmas. There are plans to be made for special meals and family get-togethers. There are worship services and decorations. Many workplaces, which would ordinarily never speak of Jesus, are pleased enough to have parties and time off during Christmastide. It is easy to get caught up in the festivities, and lose sight of the fact that Jesus’ incarnation was necessitated by the sinfulness of humankind. You may have read in my brief biographical paragraph that I am a prison-visiting pastor with Redemption Prison Ministry, Canada. While working among new Christians, those who are incarcerated and those who are paroled, it has become a humbling experience for me to see how deeply these folks hate their sins. Those who are behind bars, but have found true freedom in Jesus Christ, are determined to root out evil and cast temptation far from themselves. Considering these things, and being aware that I have been asked to prepare a series of devotions for November, I thought about purposefully examining various passages of scripture to reveal the various temptations that believers face – temptations that must be addressed. Temptations that are all too often concealed, are being exposed by the beauty of the Word of God, and recognized as dangerous as believers rely on the Holy Spirit. Once the areas of temptation that might assail us have been revealed, then it is easier to be prepared to fight the temptations. Part of this fight is the decision to yield our hearts, minds and all our celebrations to the Lord and King, Jesus Christ, before Whom we one day will lay all our trophies down, and in Whom alone we will find our all in all. Seeing and temptation “When I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them.” - Joshua 7:21 Scripture reading: I John 2:15-17 Ah, the power of seeing. Many people discredit the power of advertisers. Sporting events are crammed with commercials. At the time of writing, popular, paid, movie streaming services have inserted commercials; while irritating the viewer, advertisers know these are effective. What you see, you begin to consider, and what you are thinking about, you begin to want to have for yourself. Eve, though she knew the command of God, saw the beautiful, forbidden fruit, and desired it. She took it for herself, and having allowed temptation to take hold of her, seized it for herself. In like manner, Achan, though he knew all the spoils of war were supposed to be devoted to the God of Glory, admitted that having seen the clothing, the silver and the gold, he desired them. He seized them for himself, not caring about the consequences which might befall all the rest of Israel. Temptations to sin, once the eyes allow them in, are destructive. John, now an old man, the last living member of Jesus’ twelve disciples, wrote to warn the church of God. Temptation is a theme that has run through all the Scriptures. Temptations once recognized need to be fought for the sake of one’s purity before God. What are you looking at? What temptations are you allowing into your life? Suggestions for prayer Pray that the Spirit of God aids believers to recognize how the world and advertisers are seeking to influence them away from total devotion to God; that Jesus will be altogether lovely in the eyes of His people. For over six years already, Rev. Richard T. Vander Vaart has served as the Atlantic Region Representative of Redemption Prison Ministry. He does so as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 31 - Grace be with you all!

“All those with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.” - Titus 3:15 Scripture reading: Number 6:22-27; Titus 3:12-15 Paul’s benediction gives great hope. The benediction is a promise of God’s grace for the present and the future. There could have been many reasons for the people of the church in Crete to lose hope. They were suffering from the troubling circumcision party, and false teaching and quarrels about the law. Plus, these Christians lived among Cretans that were known to be awful, hard, stubborn, beastly people. Maybe you consider the people in your congregation (including yourself), and you can find reasons to despair about the future of the church. There are hard, difficult people everywhere. But when we depend on God’s grace, there is always reason to hope. Today is Reformation Day. There have been several reformations in Christ’s church throughout church history. Every time it is a return to God’s grace—not just a reminder of it, but a renewed dependence upon it. Christ does preserve His church; Christ does build His church; and even if the church gets very small or looks hopeless in a difficult world, it will be preserved in God’s grace. There is also a joyful concluding note here of the unity of the church. Not only is Paul not alone, but neither are the Christians on Crete. There are many others of “the faith” with whom they share God’s love. Christ’s church is found all over the world. Jesus Christ is still working “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect” (1:1). All praise and glory to Jesus Christ our Lord! Suggestions for prayer Praise Jesus Christ for building and preserving His church. Thank Him for making you part of His church. Ask Jesus to continue to renew His church in the Holy Spirit and in sound doctrine. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 30 - Cases of urgent need

“And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” - Titus 3:14 Scripture reading: James 1:19-27; Titus 3:12-15 Paul wants these Christians to keep learning by doing. He is not merely reminding them to do good works, as if he has not emphasized that point all along. He is focusing attention on “cases of urgent “need” and “fruitfulness.” Every church has urgent, pressing needs. Urgent needs in the New Testament varied: caring for widows and orphans, who were unable to provide for their own livelihood, giving to the poor, helping and healing the sick; urgent spiritual needs that required prayer and instruction. We may notice a troubled marriage that needs encouragement, children that need guidance, cancer patients that need car rides to the clinic, a young family that could use free babysitting, a family struggling to cover the costs of God-centered schooling, a lonely church member or visitor ,or a church member under discipline. You can probably think of other such cases. We may not always be aware of the urgent needs in our churches. People who have urgent needs are not always open about those needs. Christians need one another. Helping these urgent needs is another way we can serve one another with God’s gifts. We need to be generous with our time and talents to help in such cases where we are able. Christians need each other. Helping with these urgent needs is another way we can serve one another with God’s gifts. We need to be generous with our time and talents. Suggestions for prayer That God would make any urgent needs in your congregation known. That God might use you to help someone in urgent need. That God would make you fruitful in good works. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 29 - Partners in the gospel

“When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.” - Titus 3:12-13 Scripture reading: Romans 12:3-13; Titus 3:12-15 The endings of Paul’s letters are not always easy to understand. What exactly does the Holy Spirit intend for us in these final greetings? Surely, these endings of letters are not afterthoughts or postscripts. The Holy Spirit has an intended meaning in every passage of God’s Word. Keep in mind these were real people. They were known to Titus and likely to the church in Crete. Artemas we know nothing else about. Tychicus is mentioned elsewhere (Eph. 6.21-22; 2 Tim. 4.12), as a “dearly beloved brother” and “minister.” Perhaps Artemas and Tychicus were both ministers which is why they are being sent to replace Titus. Zenas is a lawyer, perhaps trained in Roman Law. Apollos is probably the Apollos from the book of Acts and elsewhere. All of these men are helpful to Paul in the ministry, and he is urging them to conduct their travel soon because travel to Nicopolis was difficult in winter, so preparations should be made now. The other important point to note is that Zenas and Apollos should be provided for their travel, so “they lack nothing.” The church also serves as a sort of network of material provisions for ministers and elders for the broad ministry of the gospel. Partnership and unity in the gospel of Jesus Christ should show in a practical working together in all these ways. How are you using your gifts in service to the church? Are there other ways you could serve? Suggestions for prayer Thankfulness to God for the various gifts of God’s people for the broad ministry of the gospel. Help to know your own gifts and opportunities to use those gifts in the church. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 28 - Heretics

“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warpe...

Daily devotional

October 27 - Unprofitable and foolish thing

“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissension, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” - Titus 3:9 Sc...

Daily devotional

October 26 - Devoted to good works

“The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to ...

Daily devotional

October 25 - Justified and glorified!

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according ...

Daily devotional

October 24 - Why did Jesus save us?

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” - Titus 3:4-7 Scripture reading: 1 John 4:7-13; Titus 3:1-8 Apart from the grace of Jesus Christ, we would still be in our sins, and slaves to it. God intervened in our naturally, sinful lives in which we were inclined to hate God and our neighbor. He did this because of His goodness and loving kindness, not because of us. It is not because we are morally or intellectually, or in any other manner, superior to unbelievers. It is “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy” (see also Rom. 3:19-25). We did not ask for God to save us; He came to us in His Son. Unbelievers have a bad heart and a bad record; so did we. By God’s grace, we now have the “washing of regeneration…of the Holy Spirit.” We are born again. Baptism is the sign and seal of this washing. God promises to wash away our sins with the blood of Jesus Christ and sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Regeneration means we have been taken from a state of being dead in sins and trespasses to a new state of being alive in Christ. People who are alive in Christ can believe, worship, serve and love God. We are also being renewed by the Holy Spirit. This means that He is still powerfully working in us to put sin to death in us, to make us more and more like Christ, and to produce His good fruit in us (Gal. 5:22-23). Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving for the goodness and lovingkindness of God for your salvation. Give thanks that you are no longer enslaved to the various passions and pleasures of sin. Pray for those you know who need the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and power to grow in grace. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 23 - What we once were

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” - Titus 3:3 Scripture reading: Romans 5:5-11; Titus 3:1-8 I enjoy a good fireworks show. Maybe you do, too. I would not enjoy a fireworks show in the late morning on a summer day, however. You could still hear the sound, but the radiance of the colors and designs would be lost against the blaze of the summer sun. Fireworks are best at night, against a black backdrop, because they sparkle the best against that deep contrast. Likewise, the gospel of grace radiates best against the black backdrop of our sinfulness. Paul’s sobering reminder to the Cretans through Titus is a sobering reminder to us as well: remember what you once were. Don’t forget the darkness from which you came. Don’t rewrite your history as so many do today, scrubbing clean from that historical record how wretched you were by nature. These words accurately describe natural human life, even if it sounds harsh at first blush. Apart from Jesus Christ, this is how people are. But here are the bright fireworks of grace: Jesus saved us from this very sad and hopeless condition! We ourselves were once this way (see also 1 Cor. 6:9-11), but no more! Jesus saved us from that wretched condition (described further in vv. 4-8). Does this elicit compassion and patience from you for those who are still “slaves” to various passions and pleasures? Does this supercharge your zeal to tell others about Jesus and what He has done for you? Do you see the need for the gospel to be proclaimed everywhere? Suggestions for prayer Pray for missionaries who are bringing the gospel to far away and difficult regions. Pray for the courage and desire to tell an unbeliever about Jesus and invite that person to church. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 22 - Submission to rulers and authorities

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” - Titus 3:1-2 Scripture reading: Proverbs 11:1-15; Titus 3:1-8 This third chapter applies the sound doctrine of God’s Word to relationships outside the church. Evidently, the new believers were struggling with submitting to the ruling magistrates and authorities. But if we want a decent society, decency starts with us. Only Christians are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Only Christians are saved by grace in Jesus Christ and know what mercy and kindness and love are. Only Christians pray to God through Jesus Christ, praying even for enemies and kings and rulers (Matt. 5:44; 1 Tim. 2:1-2). Society doesn’t know or care, but they need Christians. As Christians, we are often characterized by what we are against, rather than what we are for. We are for human life, the care of the poor and needy, peace from conflicts, private property and wise leadership. We are for these things because we know the God who made all things and preserves all things; all things are His, and we are entrusted with much from Him. This does not make the gospel political or social, but the gospel has political and social implications. If the Cretans are liars, then Christians should do good and speak the truth. If Cretans are evil beasts, then Christians should avoid quarreling, and not pick fights in public or on social media. If Cretans are lazy gluttons, then Christians should do good and show courtesy. Christians should be Christlike. This is not our doing; it is a gift of God. Suggestions for prayer Pray for those who persecute Christians—for their conversion and for God’s justice to be done. Pray that you and all Christians would be salt and light in this present world for God’s glory. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 21 - The perfect pastor

“Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let not one disregard you.” - Titus 2:15 Scripture reading: 1 Timothy 4:6-16; Titus 2:11-15 There are various versions of The Perfect Pastor: the perfect pastor preaches exactly 20 minutes; he condemns sin roundly, but never hurts anyone’s feelings; he makes $400 a week, wears good clothes, drives a nice car, and gives $300 a week to the church. He is 29 years old with 40 years’ experience; he smiles all the time with a straight face; he makes 15 home visits a day and is always in his study to be available when needed. The perfect pastor is also always in another church! This is the toughest verse in the book of Titus. But we have not considered the toughest part of this tough verse yet, “Let no one disregard you.” Ministers will be disregarded, but Paul tells Titus: “don’t let them.” How can a minister—especially one among the Cretans (1:12)—keep that from happening? The way to let no one disregard you, pastor, is to be faithful to the commands here: declare, exhort, and rebuke. Are you doing that in the Name of Christ, as a shepherd called by the Good Shepherd, and can you answer with a good conscience that, yes, you prayerfully labored to faithfully preach in the sufficiency of Christ, seeking the wisdom of the Holy Spirit? And even though it’s Tuesday, and the sermons from Sunday are not as fresh in your minds and hearts, are you able and willing to evaluate your pastor’s preaching on these terms? Did he faithfully preach God’s Word as God’s Word? Suggestions for prayer Pray for your pastor’s calling and work—as a husband and father; for his preaching, teaching, visiting, counseling, and meetings. If you have a complaint or grudge against a pastor, pray for a soft heart toward him and opportunity to reconcile. Give thanks for the gospel ministry. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 20 - The toughest verse

“Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” - Titus 2:15 Scripture reading: 1 Timothy 4:6-16; Titus...

Daily devotional

October 19 - Jesus gave himself to redeem us

“… waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from al...

Daily devotional

October 18 - The appearance of God’s grace

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-co...

Daily devotional

October 17 - Adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour

Daily devotional

October 16 - A model of good works

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching, show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” - Titus 2:7-8 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:1-11; Titus 2:1-10 If sound doctrine should show in soundness of living, certainly that would apply to ministers. A man should “walk the talk.” Hypocrisy cannot reach higher than a teacher who lives contrary to his teaching. Ministers should be striving to do good works in every area of life. Ministers are Christians first, God-fearers and disciples of Jesus Christ. Many ministers are also husbands and fathers, and called to obedience and good works in those relationships. We will write more about this later, but ministers must be faithful and do good in these relationships, and congregations need to respect his commitment and devotion to those relationships. Ministers should also realize that their lives are under observation by the congregation, as an example to follow. They should also be mindful of their conduct and speech when out in the community, especially if the minister is known or comes to be known to be a minister. The world is always watching (the “opponents”; v. 8), and would love to have more ammunition to show hypocrisy. When teaching, ministers are called here to have integrity and dignity and “sound speech” (see again 2:1). That is, a minister’s teaching should be undiluted, not a mix of opinions, but pure, truthful, biblical teaching. His teaching should also be worthy of respect. Ministers need to do their work well—interpreting, studying, reading to understand the truth of Scripture. Congregations need to respect this part of his life and calling as well. Suggestions for prayer Pray for your pastor and his family, that he would be a man of good works, and his teaching would have integrity and dignity. Pray for his encouragement, and that God would give you people in your life who are good examples to follow. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 15 - Self-control

“Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.” - Titus 2:6 Scripture reading: Proverbs 23:19-24:2; Titus 2:1-10 Young men also have it tough in our present day. There’s the injustice of judgmental phrases, like “toxic masculinity,” or being labeled “alpha,” or, worse, “beta.” Many young Christian men are also being allured by ultra-masculine takes, by unbelieving podcasters and influencers online. Masculinity is not inherently evil; it has been twisted and distorted by the curse of sin, like everything else in God’s good creation. But we don’t need to go to the world to find out what manhood looks like. Young men need to exercise self-control. It’s the singular instruction given to them in this book. Yet this one instruction covers a lot of ground, having in view a young man’s physical strength, his zeal, opportunities, leadership qualities, ideas, his tongue, behavior, urges and desires, and his tendency to be proud and arrogant of all he possesses and is capable of. A real man is able to keep himself in control, in self-mastery. Self-control aims at submitting to the will of Jesus Christ. A real man knows his place before his Savior and Lord. Young men, are you humble enough to look to the older men in your life to learn from them? If you are struggling with self-control, are you praying for the help of the Holy Spirit and finding help from other men in your life? Seek out the wisdom and advice of your father, grandfather, pastor, elder in church, or another Christian man who has the character traits of Titus 2:2. Suggestions for prayer Pray for the young men in your family and church. Can you think of a young man who could use the wisdom and advice of an older Christian man? Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 14 - The gift of older christian women

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be reviled.” - Titus 2:3-5: Scripture reading: Proverbs 31: 1-31; Titus 2:1-10 Our present culture is tough on men and women as well. God’s curse that a woman’s “desire would be against her husband” has become a cultural badge of honor. Women are told lies about themselves and their lives: that submission is shackles, that true worth is found in career success, that motherhood is a waste of time and talents and more. What a blessing to have older women in the church who can model, teach and instruct the younger women on what biblical womanhood really is! What an encouragement to a young mother to hear from an older mother that she really is doing OK! What precious instruction to a young wife to hear from an older wife what love and submission really looks like in practice! Between the culture and sinful human nature, women need this kind of biblical instruction and example. Selfishness, laziness and a desire to take control over a husband and family are natural sinful tendencies. As much as not every man grows old graciously, not every woman grows old graciously either. These instructions could be good for the sanctification of the older women as well; to know that they are very useful in the church. And it may stir up their hearts knowing that they are looked up to as examples. Note the importance of this instruction: that the Word of God may not be reviled. The world is watching our behavior. We all need God’s grace, and we need each other in the church as well. Suggestions for prayer Pray for the women in your family and in your church. Can you think of any of those women who could serve the younger women this way? Can you think of any younger women who could use the help of an older woman in the church? Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 13 - The gift of older christian men

“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.” - Titus 2:2 Scripture reading: Proverbs 4: 1-27; Titus 2:1-10 Many older men have been good teachers to me. My father taught me the faithfulness of the Christian life. My father-in-law taught me the joy of the Christian life. My grandfather taught me the love of the Christian life. My wife’s grandfather taught me the peace of the Christian life. A father in the faith taught me the wisdom of the Christian life. Younger men learn from older and wiser men in your church. Older men, be a teacher to the younger. Other older men have taught me what I do not want to be when I am older. Ecclesiastes 7:1 says, “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death is better than the day of birth.” The point is to live well, according to sound doctrine, so that you may live well and be well spoken of with a good reputation when you are older. Some older men are grumpy, complaining, insensitive and irritable. This grizzly disposition might have an explanation, but it begs the question whether the gospel was joyfully received by the brother in humility and meekness. Older men are exhorted to be clear-headed, serious and worthy of respect, and self-controlled in their behavior; in short, they should be wise. Wisdom often comes with age, but it’s neither automatic nor guaranteed. Older men should show a wholesome trust in God (against complaining), love toward others (against irritability), and perseverance (which would counteract a lot of the grumpiness at how things have changed so much!). Suggestions for prayer Pray for the older men in your family and in your church—that they may have these characteristics by God’s grace. Pray that you would be humble and teachable enough to listen to the wisdom and life experience of the older men in your life. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 12 - Sound doctrine and sound living

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” - Titus 2:1 Scripture reading: Nehemiah 8:1-12; Titus 2:1-10 The Cretans sound lik...

Daily devotional

October 11 - Everyone is a hypocrite

“They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” - Titus 1:16 Scripture...

Daily devotional

October 10 - Give thanks in all things

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.” -...

Daily devotional

October 9 - Rebuke them sharply

“Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn aw...

Daily devotional

October 8 - Preach the gospel to these people?

“One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true.” - Titus 1:12-13a Scripture reading: Ephesians 4:17-32; Titus 1:10-16 Sometimes, search committees in churches will send pastors a profile of the congregation, with the history and background, and a summary description of the people and their demographics. Imagine getting a church profile like this! Epimenides was the prophet who wrote this. Polybius also wrote, “greed and avarice are so native to the soil in Crete, that they are the only people in the world among whom no stigma attaches to any sort of gain whatever.” The “shameful gain” the false teachers are seeking is not a surprise, nor is the admonition that elders must not be “greedy for gain.” Our churches also have difficulties. Our churches, however, are not full of sinless people who always get along and submit willingly to every decision of the consistory. We are all capable of lying and do tell lies. We are all capable of following sinful, “animal” instincts, whether in the pursuit of pleasure, in getting quickly defensive, in lashing out in anger, or in following sinful desires or passions. We are all capable of being lazy, whether in work or study, in relationships, or in spiritual disciplines and obedience to God. We are not yet what Christ has saved us unto and is making us into: perfect holiness and righteousness (see Eph. 4:24). We need the gospel. We need the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. We need to grow in Christlikeness by His grace. We need faithful preaching and godly elders as much as the Cretans did! Suggestions for prayer Pray for humility not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. Pray for Christ to use His Spirit and Word to renew our hearts in faithfulness to Him. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 7 - Silencing false teachers

“For there are many insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” - Titus 1:10-11 Scripture reading: 1 Timothy 4: 1-16; Titus 1:5-16 What makes for an engaging action story is a worthy opponent. Sherlock Holmes found one in Moriarty. Moses had Pharaoh. David had the Philistines. Mordecai had Haman. In the New Testament, the opponents are false teachers. They are not simpletons. They are “deceivers”: crafty and cunning. Jude describes them as people who have “crept in unnoticed” (v. 4), and Paul describes them as “imposters” (2 Tim. 3:13). These are worthy opponents that must be confronted with the truth of God’s Word. This is another reason why elders need to know and believe sound doctrine. The best way to spot a counterfeit is to study the original. The false teachers do not submit to God’s Word. These particular false teachers were likely Jewish members who were imposing Mosaic law on other church members, who were swayed by their false teaching. Their goal was monetary gain—not entirely unlike the false teachers today, whose messages and urgings are often followed by instructions on where to send your monetary support for the “ministry.” Titus will have to minister to God’s people, in this kind of church context. The elders appointed will have to minister in the same context. False teachers must be disciplined. Elders will have to learn about these things in order to minister effectively for God’s people and against the false teachers. You need to guard yourself by listening to and studying God’s true Word. May God give wisdom to His elders and ministers! And may Christ protect His blood-bought people from false teaching! Suggestions for prayer Pray that false teaching and false teachers might be exposed by the truth of God’s Word. Pray that elders and ministers would be courageous to “silence” false teachers. Pray for your growth in the knowledge of God’s Word. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 6 - God’s stewards

“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” - Titus 1:7-8 Scripture reading: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:1-9 Elders must also be “above reproach” in their personal character and conduct. The “negative” descriptions are really all a matter of self-control. Is he controlled by arrogance, stubbornness and vanity, or is he a humble servant? Is he controlled by angry and irritable emotions, or is he gentle with even cantankerous sheep? Is he controlled by alcohol, or does he keep it in control? Is he controlled by a bullish attitude, always trying to get his own way, or is he a patient listener and collaborator? Is he controlled by a love of money, garnering favor for potential financial gain, or is he serving for the needs of others, maybe even at his own cost? The “positive” characteristics are also a matter of self-control. Does he open his home and life to strangers, sharing his life and possessions? Are people comfortable and joyful in his company? Does he rejoice in good things and seek good for others? Does he deal justly and charitably with others? Does he live a “set-apart” life? Does he strive to obey the Lord? A man’s knowledge and relationship to God’s Word is a third category. An elder cannot teach sound doctrine if he does not first know and believe sound doctrine. Elders must faithfully receive the means of grace, know God’s Word, and in their teaching and visiting convey sound doctrine. Sound doctrine is the proper basis for teaching and correcting in the church (see also 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Suggestions for prayer Pray for the elders in your church. Pray that the Lord will raise up men as elders with the biblical character. Pray that the Lord will use the elders to shepherd and protect the flock. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 5 - Elder essentials (II)

“If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or subordination.” - Titus 1:6 Scripture reading: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:1-9 We are not naturally bent to submit to authority. We are naturally inclined to be suspicious of authority, to mistrust, to question leadership and authority, and to rebel against it—either with a hard heart, or with an arrogant attitude. We think we should be the authority because we would do it better. Increasingly in the service industry, customers are becoming more demanding. It seems more church members are taking that same consumer attitude toward the church. We expect elders to be perfect. “Above reproach” does not mean perfect; if it did, every man in every church would be disqualified. “Above reproach” means “without blame” or “unaccused”; elders must be of “unquestioned integrity,” or “unimpeachable.” If you consider the doctrine and life of an elder, it should be clear that he has left no loophole open for heinous sin. Elders must be “above reproach” in three particular areas of life: marriage and family, personal character and conduct, and in doctrine. The first set of characteristics do not require an elder to be married; rather, if he is married, he must only have one wife. This would rule out anyone who has multiple wives, or anyone who is unlawfully divorced and remarried. If he has children, it should be clear that they are being nurtured in the Christian faith at home—they should be believers and not rebels or prodigals. 1 Tim. 3.5: “for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” Suggestions for prayer Pray for the elders in your church. Pray that the Lord will raise up men with the biblical character of elders. Pray that the Lord will use the elders to shepherd and protect the flock. Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 4 - Elders essentials (I)

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you…” - Titus 1...

Daily devotional

October 3 - Grace and peace and the common faith

“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” - Titus 1:4 Scripture reading: Ro...

Daily devotional

October 2 - Entrusted with preaching

“…in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in His Word through the pre...

Daily devotional

October 1 - Introduction to Titus

Titus was a “partner and fellow worker” of Paul (2 Cor. 8:23) and served to encourage the Corinthian church to be as generous as the Macedonian ch...

Daily devotional

September 30 - To God be the glory

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21 Scripture reading: Romans 11:33-36 There isn’t a better way to end this section of Ephesians dealing with God’s merciful salvation than with a doxology. A doxology is a song or poem of praise to the Lord. There is a reason why we end our worship services with a doxology. This is where the gospel takes us. As a believer, I have sung a doxology in my head or heart on so many different types of occasions whether it be the birth of a child, the conversion of an unbeliever, the baptism of a child, the loss of a godly grandparent, or even seeing the beauty of the world around us. Since we are worshipping creatures, those united to Christ have a life informed by doxology. Part of the reason for this doxology in the middle of Ephesians, is due to the mystery revealed (i.e. the inclusion of Gentiles), the love of Christ, and the election of God. With these weighty truths, we see that He is able to do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” The peace in the heart of the believer is strengthened by a recognition that God is on the side of his people and He knows what is best for us. It takes faith to grasp that reality and take it to our hearts. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to help form your life by means of a doxology. Think of all the things you have to be thankful for. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 29 - The love of Christ

“…may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” - Ephesians 3:18-19 Scripture reading: Psalm 118: 1-29 There is a profound truth found in Psalm 118. Towards the end of the Psalm (vs. 22-24) we see Jesus elevated as the “chief cornerstone.” That reality is connected to what we see back in verses 6 and 7. In those verses we see the phrase, “The Lord is for me.” We do not need to fear, because the Lord is for me. We might wonder how God can be for us so consistently. How often do we let him down? How often do we stumble and fall into sin? Daily! But the reason God is for us, is because of the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:19 says that the love of Christ surpasses knowledge. The love of Christ is incomprehensible. It might not be a truth we reflect upon daily, but maybe it should be. Christ’s love for us is so much greater and steadfast than our love for Christ. Let that be an encouragement to you this week. Stop and pause and reflect upon that wonderful truth. Notice, also, what it says at the end of Eph. 3:19, “…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Once again, though all glory goes to God, the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge is revealed to us for our comfort. What a mystery to be filled with the fullness of God. Suggestions for prayer Ask God that your love for Jesus and His work might grow. Examine your heart in prayer and determine to whom you might show that love to those around you. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 28 - Do not lose heart

“So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.” - Ephesians 3:13 Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 As a pastor, I have seen some dear friends in the ministry go through messy church disputes and schisms. It is mentally, spiritually draining upon them. It is easy to wonder what God's plan is, when the individual wants to preach the gospel of Christ. We might have wondered what God’s plan is in that situation. Our vision is limited as we realize we cannot see the whole picture. We do know that the Lord has all things in his fatherly hand. (Rom. 8:28) As Christians, it is to the Lord Jesus Christ that we look. He was mistreated, lived and died for us. Jesus was more deserving of good treatment than anyone. He never uttered one idle word, or had one ungodly thought. Yet, as Isaiah 53 predicted, he was afflicted for us. Let this Lord’s Day remind you of that truth. We will likely not be faced with martyrdom for our faith. Though, there could be some reading this who face real dangers for their Christian convictions. But, even if that is not you at this time, view your present suffering as James 1 explains: God is working in your life. When Guido de Bres, the author of the Belgic Confession of Faith, was being led to the gallows, he had one final opportunity to confess his faith. He had joy over the privilege of dying for the sake of the gospel. He said, “I never dared to think that God would do me such an honor.” Suggestions for prayer Bring before God the burdens of your heart and cast them before him. Ask God to give you patience to start to understand trials in life. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 27 - The power of God’s grace

“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” - Ephesians 3:7-8 Scripture reading: Romans 1:1-7 Our lives are complicated. We have many different opportunities and responsibilities. There are many wonderful and encouraging experiences and opportunities to which we are called by God. For the Apostle Paul, it seemed his main purpose in life was to preach to the Gentiles. Once his life was changed by his encounter with the risen Lord, he was forever changed. Paul’s desire is for the lost and the message he has for them is the message of the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” What greater purpose can a life have than to be the bearer of good news of great joy. When we reflect upon God’s grace in our life, we ought to reflect a similar desire. God’s grace can make the filthiest sinner clean. There might be people in our minds that we think are beyond the potential reach of God’s grace. They are not. God’s grace is sufficient. Paul, in Eph. 3:8, calls himself the least of the saints. We know he thinks this because he was the great persecutor of the church. However, Paul was seized by the grace of God. Let God’s grace seize you as well. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to give you sight to see the power of his grace. Pray for an unbelieving acquaintance, and the opportunity to speak the gospel. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 26 - The mystery of Christ

“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ…” - Ephesians 3:4 Scripture reading: Acts 2:1-13 In the vers...

Daily devotional

September 25 - God’s dwelling place

“In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” - Ephesians 2:22 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:1-3 ...

Daily devotional

September 24 - A solid foundation

“…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” - Ephesians 2:20 Scripture reading: 1 Co...

Daily devotional

September 23 - Citizenship

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” - Ephesians 2:1...

Daily devotional

September 22 - Access to the Father

“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” - Ephesians 2:18 Scripture reading: John 10:22-30 I’ve always wondered what it was like to be the child of someone who was famous. Whether an athlete or movie star or politician, as a child I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to call that person Mom or Dad. At any time, you could simply talk to them about anything. So many people wanted what you had access to. In Jesus Christ, we have far more. Better than being the son of Michael Jordan or Mickey Mantle, we are children of God. Because of that relationship, we have access to God 24/7. In fact, our access and union with him is so great, that it continues without us realizing it. We don’t have to make an appointment to come before God in prayer and fellowship. We don’t have to schedule a time to sing psalms and hymns to our Triune God. We have access to the Father, through Christ at all times. There is no one that can take that away. Therefore, cast your cares upon him. Bring to God your fears and anxiety. Bring before him your frustrations at work or school or in the home. He knows us, and he will minister to us. One day a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and make atonement for God’s people. Since atonement now has been paid in the precious blood of Christ, we have access to God through him. Pray to the Lord and you will know peace. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to help you to pray without ceasing. Focus this week on your access to the Father. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 21 - Preaching peace

“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” - Ephesians 2:17 Scripture reading: Romans 10: 1-21 We have a 30 acre lake behind our house. This past winter my family watched as a bald eagle killed a Canadian goose on the ice. All the other geese watched from a distance. It was quite a bloody spectacle to behold. As I write this now, I am watching a bald eagle on that same small lake. As he flies, the geese start to honk. The eagle is not bringing any peace to the goose population. But it is peace that you should be looking forward to hearing today, the Lord’s Day. After all, what gospel does a minister have to bring but the gospel of peace. It was the message from the angels to the shepherds on Christmas evening, and it is the message that is to be preached to those who are far and near. The Ephesians were in the category of “far off.” But through the preaching of the gospel of peace, they had been brought near. Maybe today you feel far off. Maybe you wonder where you stand before the Lord, and what message He might have for you. Use this day to draw near, not only to worship, but to hear and believe in faith, all that Christ has done for you. We are granted peace. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to use the preaching of the Word to strengthen your faith today. Pray for your pastor that he might faithfully preach the gospel of peace. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 20 - One new man

“…that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace…” - Ephesians 2:15b Scripture reading: Galatians 2:15-21 We are taught in Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5 that when two are united in marriage they become one. We can understand this as a metaphor for the intimacy and union in marriage. When it comes to our union with Christ, this is highlighted above all. Union with Christ is really the foundation of our justification. I fear that as Christians we do not think of this often enough. In Galatians 2, Paul confesses that through his union with Christ, it is no longer he who lives, but Christ who lives through him. Think of the implications of that beautiful truth. The believer is called to daily die to sin and self, and live anew to Christ. This is called daily conversion. The way this can take place is through the leading of the Holy Spirit, the promised Comforter (John 14, 16). It is no longer us against God. The hostility and the enmity have been removed. By grace and through faith we are united to God in Jesus Christ. A marriage in the Lord can be a life-long fulfilling joy of love and peace. But nothing can compare to the extent of the unity in which Jesus is united to his bride, the church, which Ephesians 5 calls a profound mystery. Think through the implications of that relationship in your life. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for your union with Christ. Ask God to help you fight against sin through that beautiful union. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 19 - Our peace

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” - Ephesians 2:14 Scripture reading: Psalm 139: 1-24 In the ancient world, when one king would visit another, he would bring some type of gift to present to the other king. The importance of such a gift was that it was a sign of respect and peace. The visiting king did not want to go to war with the other king. It was something that signified that peace. In Jesus Christ, we not only receive a picture that signifies peace, we receive the actual peace. The need for peace was occasioned by the sin of our first parents. In Adam, we waged war on God. He is the offended Creator. But in Christ, that wall which separated us from God has been broken down. This was pictured at the death of Jesus Christ. When our Lord gave up his spirit upon the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn in two. This pictured our access into the very throne room of God. The Holy of Holies had been opened. So, the question arises, how can we approach the throne room of God empty handed. We have no present to bring. Our works fall short of even a minimal understanding of the law and righteousness. What we bring before God is none other than Jesus Christ. He is our peace, and we are accepted in him. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the peace accomplished in Jesus Christ. Ask God to grow you in your love for your Savior. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 18 - Brought near

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” - Ephesians 2:13 Scripture reading: Acts 8...

Daily devotional

September 17 - For a purpose

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10...

Daily devotional

September 16 - All of grace

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” - Ephesians 2:8 Scripture reading: T...

Daily devotional

September 15 - Resurrection

“…even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” - Ephesians 2:5 Scripture r...

Daily devotional

September 14 - But God…

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us.” - Ephesians 2:4 Scripture reading: Romans 3:9-31 In two simple words, we see the great transition in Ephesians 2. The same thing takes place in Romans 3. Romans 3:21 begins with “But now….” The word “but” shows a transition. The word “but” is a conjunction that connects two ideas together that contrast each other. We had been looking at our natural, sinful and fallen condition. However, God does not leave us there. We are moved from the position of “in Adam” or “in sin” to a place of being “in Christ.” This contrast cannot be overexaggerated. These are polar opposites. We live in a world where Sunday is like a second Saturday. As an unbeliever you can catch up on yard work, you can sleep in, and you can carve out the day for yourself. But for those redeemed in Christ, their Sunday is altogether different. Our regular work in the office, field or classroom stops on this day of rest. On Sunday, we orient our lives around worship, fellowship, service and rest. Why is it so important to be in worship today? Besides God telling us to, we recognize our need for spiritual food. In the coming week we will be in a spiritual battle, and only God can supply the spiritual armour we need (Eph. 6:10ff.). We were lost in our sin and misery, and the condition into which we have been placed in Adam. “But God” does not leave us there. We are now united to Christ by grace, through faith. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for a clear contrast in salvation from unbelief to faith. Ask God to help you sanctify this day for his glory. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 13 - Our natural condition (II)

“And you were dead in…..sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” - Ephesians 2:1-3 Scripture reading: Exodus 32: 1-35 The narrative of the golden calf in Exodus 32 is a sad one. Shortly, after receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites break the 2nd commandment in an Egyptian way. They knew that Yahweh had brought them out of Egypt. In that sense, they were not explicitly breaking the first commandment. Their great problem was that they sought to worship Yahweh THROUGH the means of the golden calf. This was forbidden. What they gave into, is the desire of the flesh. The nations around them had idols. Egypt certainly had idols, and the flesh wants to see with the eyes what is worshipped. That same mentality of discontentment, creeps into our hearts. We are often not satisfied with the means God provides for us to worship him. We have to fight the temptation to improve what God provides. This is especially the case when it comes to worship. Tomorrow you will, Lord willing, sit under the word with the ordinary means of grace to worship the Lord. Trust that God provides us all that we need. Eph. 2:3 calls us “…by nature children of wrath.” Let us not live “by nature”, but rather by “super-nature” redeemed in Jesus Christ. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to remove any idols from your hearts. Thank God for giving us the means of grace (i.e. the preaching of the Word and sacraments). Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 12 - Our natural condition (I)

“And you were dead in…..sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” - Ephesians 2:1-3 Scripture reading: Romans 1:18-25 An accurate portrait of someone will include the “warts and all.” In these days of airbrushing and photo-shopping to make things look better, the Bible paints a picture of humans in their depravity. To put it mildly, the picture isn’t pretty. The words described in Eph. 2 are that we are dead in sin, and we are children of wrath. Romans 1 paints an even fuller picture that lays out the need for redemption in Christ. As sinners in Adam, we have become twisted and perverted spiritually. We trade the truth for the lie, and our hearts, according to the Heidelberg Catechism, are inclined to “hate God and my neighbor.” (H.C. LD 2, QA 5) The reason the Apostle Paul paints humans in such an awful light, is because the clearer we can see our dire situation, the more glorious the following verses will become. They will exalt the love and mercy of God to those who have waged war on him. The enemies of God, by grace and through faith, will become friends of God in Christ. The place, the sinner outside of grace walks, is a path that follows the course of this world. It is a path that rejects God and His ways. It is a world of lies and false promises. It is a world that promises joy and satisfaction, but it cannot supply either. All of us would be walking that path if left to ourselves. Let us flee the course of this world. Suggestions for prayer Ask God for strength to reject the course of this world. Ask God to open your eyes to the false allurement of the present age. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 11 - Head of the church

“And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” - Ephesians 1:22 Scripture reading: Ephesians 5:22-33 In Ephesians 5, we have a beautiful comparison which sets the stage for Christian marriage. In that passage, the husband-and-wife relationship is mirrored with the church’s relationship to Jesus Christ. In a world that rejects biblical norms for marriage, Ephesians 5 is a refreshing picture of the unity and love that can flourish in an obedient marriage. Though Ephesians 5 focuses primarily on marriage, Ephesians 1:22 is speaking of the headship of Christ. As the head of the church, the church is to be obedient to Christ. This enables the church to direct her worship according to the scriptures. The means of grace and Christian discipline are all Christ-centered and focused. The call of the gospel is the call of Christ as he calls in the lost sheep of spiritual Israel. As the Lord sits at the right hand of God the father, He continues to rule His church through her office bearers. That is a tremendous calling for anyone in the special offices. There are many applications flowing from the truth of the headship of Christ over the church. Many of these applications flow out of the word pictures given in the Bible to describe the church. In the New Testament, the church is called a light on a hill. Believers are salt and light. Christians, according to 2 Corinthians 5:20 are “…ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us…” I cannot think of a weightier calling than being an ambassador for Christ. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to make you a faithful ambassador for Christ. Ask God to direct you in ways you can serve the head of the church. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 10 - Christ’s exaltation

“…that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and author...

Daily devotional

September 9 - Praying for the saints

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the ...

Daily devotional

September 8 - Sealed by the Holy Spirit

“…were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory...

Daily devotional

September 7 - The word of truth

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”...

Daily devotional

September 6 - Inheritance obtained

“In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” - Ephesians 1:11 Scripture reading: Psalm 16:1-11 When the will of a wealthy man or woman is read, the family might gather around to see what has been left to them. One might receive a house or a car, maybe a large sum of money or other earthly treasures. In Psalm 16, which speaks of our inheritance, it is God Himself who is the inheritance of his people. “The Lord is my chosen portion…indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. (Psalm 16:5-6)” Sometimes an older relative might tell you what they will leave to you upon the time of their death, while other times you might have no idea. God tells us what our inheritance will be. It is none other than an eternal and unfading salvation. In Eph. 1:11 we read that “we have obtained.” How do we obtain this inheritance? It almost makes it sounds like we earned it or deserve it. However, like our adoption as sons (v. 5), this is all of God’s grace. As we have seen, our election is not merely unto eternal life. Our election in Christ is for this present life as well. It is rooted in our identity and calling before the Lord. Would you live your life any different if you knew that you were going to receive the largest inheritance ever given? How might our inheritance in Christ impact your living day by day? Suggestions for prayer Thank God for your gracious inheritance which is yours by faith. Commit to live out that family identity in Christ. Ask God for help. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 5 - All things in him

“… as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” - Ephesians 1:10 Scripture reading: Revelation 21:1-27 Ephesians 1 takes us from the beginning of the world with our election in verse 4, all the way to the consummation of all things in verse 10. Today's scripture reading, Revelation 21, is often read at funerals or in cemeteries. The reason this is appropriate at the time of death, is because it reminds us that the best is yet to come. God’s grand plan of redemption reaches even beyond the elect image bearers. They obviously are the ones who receive the grace of salvation because of sin. Nevertheless, as the whole creation groans (Rom. 8:22) under the weight of sin, so the whole creation will be impacted by the work of Christ. All things are being united to Christ. Once again, this verse can be easily abused by false teachers, but when it is rightly understood, it affords us greater reason to praise God. It also furnishes us with the call to stewardship since it is clear that God cares beyond simply saving souls eternally. The old world will be purged with fire. Rev. 21 tells us it will pass away. Let that remind us not to set our anchor too deep into this world. But the consummation of all things in Christ will restore the glory of the creation that was lost in the fall. Let us remain planted in this present world with an eye for that which is to come at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for his glorious work of uniting all things in Christ. Pray “Maranatha” Lord Jesus, come quickly. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 4 - Adopted as sons

“He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” - Ephesians 1:5 Scripture reading: Romans 8:1-17 One of the most beautiful pictures of God’s love is the teaching of adoption. The Heidelberg Catechism teaches in Answer 33 that we are God’s children by adoption. This language is seen throughout the scriptures. Already in the Old Testament, God speaks of calling a people that were not his own, to be his own. That is adoption. It also shouldn’t surprise us that God chose a concept from the realm of the family to describe his gracious relationship with his children. Ephesians 1:5 uses the term “adoption…as sons.” What about women? Women are in a sense adopted as sons. Some places in the scriptures speak of those adopted as children of God, but not in Ephesians 1. The reason for this is because it is the sons who had the right to inheritance in the ancient world. Down in Eph. 1:11 we read, “In him we have obtained an inheritance.” This inheritance is obtained because of our sonship in Jesus Christ. It isn’t very good news that you are adopted if the adoptive father is wicked and abusive. But, God, our adoptive father is loving and compassionate. Psalm 103:13 says, “As a father shows compassion on his children, so the LORD shows compassion on those who fear him." Thank the Lord for your adoption as sons, for if you are a son of God, that ensures you that you have an eternal inheritance. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for his adopting love to you. Ask God to comfort you in difficult times with the knowledge that He is a compassionate Father in heaven. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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March 22 - The land of Canaan and the new heaven and the new earth

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March 21 - God’s first covenant with Abraham and the goal of creation

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March 20 - Faith and its reward

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March 19 - Doubting the fulfillment of God’s mission for his glory

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March 18 - Succeeding in being a blessing for the world

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