Daily devotional

April 14 - The only way we could die

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast...” - Psalm 22:14 Scriptu...

Daily devotional

April 13 - Walking right in

“Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouth at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.” - Psalm 22:12-1...

Daily devotional

April 12 - Facing the bullies

“Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me...” - Psalm 22:12 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:18-25 It is all coming a lot clo...

Daily devotional

April 11 - There is always prayer

“Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.” - Psalm 22:11 Scripture reading: Luke 22:39-46 What we hear in verse...

Daily devotional

April 10 - True trust

“On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.” - Psalm 22:10 Scripture reading: Matthew 6:25-34 Verse 10 parallels verse 9. It is a common literary device in the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly in the Psalms and Proverbs. The theme of the safe-keeping of the Lord God is replicated to bring it home to us. You cannot help but note this when reading the two verses. And how much doesn’t verse 10 wrap up the theme here with saying, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God? The Psalmist knows in whose hands he is in. Despite all that he finds himself against, he trusts in God. Bishop Hooper of Gloucester showed this same spirit. When Queen Mary, the strong Roman Catholic monarch, came to the throne after young Edward VI died, he did not flee. After being imprisoned for his faith (in September 1553), he wrote, All men and women have this life and this world appointed unto them for their winter and season of storms. The summer draweth near, and then shall we be fresh, orient, sweet, amiable, pleasant, acceptable, immortal, and blessed, forever and ever; and no man shall take it from us. We must therefore, in the meantime, learn out of this verse to say unto God, whether it be winter or summer, pleasure or pain, liberty or imprisonment, life or death, ‘Truly God is loving unto Israel, even unto such as be of a clean heart.’ Is this same spirit in you, too? Are you confessing that God is good to you and yours? Then you’re a true disciple following in the footsteps of the Master. You are truly trusting. Suggestions for prayer Pray for the spirit of the Messiah in this verse to be in you. Ask God to see more clearly His way in what can be very bleak and dismal days. Rev. Sjirk Bajema currently serves the RCNZ Oamaru, in Oamaru, New Zealand. Over the past thirty-eight years Rev. Bajema has been privileged to minister with four congregations in Australia and New Zealand. 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

April 9 - Yet!

“Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.” - Psalm 22:9 Scripture reading: Psalm 139:1-16 Yet! This is the conjunction which completely turns the text around as verse 9 begins. But how is this so? What has changed things here? There is nothing that has changed, though. He is still cut off and universally scorned. However, here something stronger comes through all this. Something similar to what verse 3 introduced. For there he responds by looking higher whereas, here in our text he looks deeper. Having set his mind on God’s glory and fame in verses 3 to 5, David now focuses on God’s personal, life-long care of him. This is about the Father’s compassionate love. Here Charles Spurgeon notes: Our birth was our weakest and most perilous period of existence; if we were then secured by Omnipotent tenderness, surely we have no reason to suspect that divine goodness will fail us now? He who was our God when we left our mother, will be with us when we return to mother earth, and will keep us from perishing in the belly of hell. Exactly when you think this man would be full of doubt, he looks a different way. Instead of looking at those around him, he looks within. He realizes how he got to where he currently is. Imagine: If you and I know God’s care for us how much more wouldn’t the Saviour realize His Father’s love for Him in all circumstances? Suggestions for Prayer Thank God the Father for His love for us – His chosen and precious children – and, especially, His love for His Son. Rev. Sjirk Bajema currently serves the RCNZ Oamaru, in Oamaru, New Zealand. Over the past thirty-eight years Rev. Bajema has been privileged to minister with four congregations in Australia and New Zealand. 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

April 8 - Words do hurt

“All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”” - Psalm 22:7-8 Scripture reading: Matthew 4:1-11 Christ will be disdained in the most despicable way. Matthew 27 showed that through five different derisions, he suffered. All the people were unanimous in their mocking laughter – priests and people, Jews and Gentiles, soldiers and civilians – and all at the moment he was completely helpless and about to die. Perhaps you’re familiar with that childhood retort: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” But they do, don’t they? How many times don’t abusive messages on a cell phone, taunting on the playground, or nasty remarks on social media, become factors in teenagers committing suicide? So, what could hurt the true man of God more than his God being scorned before him? Moreover, that’s what unbelievers do, because they argue from the erroneous idea that God is here to do just what they want him to do. Have they seen nothing? Don’t they realize we could never treat God as just a button we push? Well, yes, they do. But now they’re trying to push our buttons. They do the devil’s deed. Indeed, wasn’t it Satan who tempted Jesus in Matthew 4 this way – three times? And in Matthew 27:40 his henchmen cry out to the Lord, “Come down from the cross!” Let’s answer them the right way. Let’s say with our Lord, “It is written.” Suggestions for prayer Pray for God’s wisdom and power to stand up against Satan. And pray for the correct words to say to unbelievers who are trying to push our buttons. Rev. Sjirk Bajema currently serves the RCNZ Oamaru, in Oamaru, New Zealand. Over the past thirty-eight years Rev. Bajema has been privileged to minister with four congregations in Australia and New Zealand. 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

April 7 - This pains because be belongs

“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.” - Psalm 22:6 Scripture reading: Luke 23:13-25 We come here to another extreme punishment which Christ alone went through. We know it could not apply to David, because here the sufferer moves from being completely isolated to being totally hated. It is not now about what God doesn’t do, because He has hidden His mercy, but what man does to God. It is vividly clear with the way verse 6 begins, for what could more graphically describe someone so badly treated by others than the word “worm”? A worm – the weakest of creatures is an animal as low as you could get, the one who is so often crushed, and is definitely helpless, powerless and unnoticed. This organism shows what you mean when you say, “I’ve never felt so low!” And when a worm is crushed, what can it do? This is some comedown for the One who is the great “I AM”, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, the King over all kings. Here He is the lowest of the low! By adding that He is “not a man”, it really brings it home what Jesus will be suffering. Even the common acts of humanity are denied Him. For us, He will be absolutely hated – completely cut off from the society of men. Isaiah 49:7 declares He would be despised and abhorred by the nation, and in Isaiah 52:14, He’s described as being marred beyond human likeness. Suggestions for prayer Confess your part in alienating the Messiah, cutting him off from mankind. Thank Him that He went this far for us. Rev. Sjirk Bajema currently serves the RCNZ Oamaru, in Oamaru, New Zealand. Over the past thirty-eight years Rev. Bajema has been privileged to minister with four congregations in Australia and New Zealand. 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

April 6 - Where the past comes in

“In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame...

Daily devotional

April 5 - He looks up

“Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” - Psalm 22:3 Scripture reading: Revelation 4:1-11 Verse 3 shows this sufferer’s ...

Daily devotional

April 4 - A type of grief

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not ...

Daily devotional

April 3 - Why?

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not ...

Daily devotional

April 2 - The psalm of the cross

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” - Psalm 22:1a Scripture reading: Psalm 22:1-8 These are words we all know. And we especially know them because they became the words our Lord and Saviour cried out when he hung upon the cursed cross as the ultimate sacrifice for all of our sins. We may well wonder how David’s experience could come anywhere near to being what Christ suffered for us. But here we must understand the hint of the substance that was to come in Christ and which so much drenches the Hebrew Scriptures. And how much don’t we see this the further on we read through this psalm? It is as Peter says in Acts 2:30-31, that, as a prophet, David saw what was ahead and so spoke of the Christ. Charles Spurgeon in his inimitable way says of this psalm, It is the photograph of our Lord’s saddest hours, the record of his dying words, the sadness of his last tears, the memorial of his expiring joys. David and his afflictions may be here in a very modified sense, but, as the star is concealed by the light of the sun, he who sees Jesus will neither see nor care to see David. Before us we have a description both of the darkness and of the glory of the cross, the sufferings of Christ and the glory which shall follow. Oh for the grace to draw near and see this great sight! Suggestions for prayer Pray for the grace to draw near and see this great sight; pray that many would come to see He who is the Light. Rev. Sjirk Bajema currently serves the RCNZ Oamaru, in Oamaru, New Zealand. Over the past thirty-eight years Rev. Bajema has been privileged to minister with four congregations in Australia and New Zealand. 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

April 1 - Introduction to the prophecies of the Messiah

The Old Testament is full of prophecies regarding the coming Messiah – the greater Son of David. Isaiah has often been called ‘The Gospel According to Isaiah’ as it is so detailed in describing the birth, ministry, suffering, death and victory of God’s Son – the Servant King. In the New Testament we see many references from the Psalms, to God’s promise working itself out in His coming to live amongst us. Psalm 22 stands out amongst these songs as particularly foretelling what Jesus Christ would experience in His suffering and death. Hence, journeying through its verses will provide much encouraging reflection in this time of Lent, as we look forward to remembering the passion of Christ and His victory over sin and death and the devil. It is no surprise that Psalm 22 has become known as ‘The Psalm of the Cross.’ May you not only be humbled in seeing what He suffered for you but also appreciate the great comfort this good news brings to a world so full of bad news. Reading the whole Psalm Psalm 22:1-31 - To the choirmaster: according to the doe of the dawn. A Psalm of David Scripture reading: 1 Chronicles 23:1-6 An elder was once reproached following a worship service where he had read a psalm. The man admonishing him was quite clear: “You didn’t read the whole psalm!” He replied he was sure he had read all the verses in the psalm. Then the man said, “But you didn’t read the title of the psalm. You know that’s a part of the psalm also, don’t you?” He was right. The titles given at the beginning of many of the psalms are a part of what was originally written. In the Hebrew Scriptures these titles count as the first verse of those psalms. You will find an extra verse in many psalms, because their numbering begins with the title. It is the title that can give us an insight into the subject of that psalm. But let’s also note it tells us how it’s sung. It is to be sung by a choir. In preparing the way for temple worship taking over from what God’s people had had in tabernacle worship, David set aside specific families within the Levitical priesthood to be singers. These are words especially for them as they led that ancient worship. Next it is given a tune to sing by – according to the doe of the dawn. These singers knew the tunes, and now they had the words to sing to that tune! Finally, consider King David himself – used by the Lord to reinvigorate His people’s worship of Himself through the institution of Temple worship. How inspired wasn’t he as the Lord wrote these words through him? Suggestions for prayer Praise God for faithful congregations joyfully singing God’s Word. Pray that where there is no wholehearted looking to the Lord, His Spirit will bring it about through His Word. Rev. Sjirk Bajema currently serves the RCNZ Oamaru, in Oamaru, New Zealand. Over the past thirty-eight years Rev. Bajema has been privileged to minister with four congregations in Australia and New Zealand. 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 31 - The Father of lights who does not change

“…the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” - James 1:17 Scripture reading: Psalm 100:1-5 James calls God, the Father of lights. He created the sun and the moon and the stars, and put them all in their places, so that they would shine on us. In a very real way, we can say, when we see the glory of the sunshine and we feel its warmth, and we see how it brings the world to life, when we stand in awe of the beauty of the stars in the heavens, we’re seeing and feeling the goodness of God. In our perception, those heavenly lights seem to change. We say that the sun comes up and the sun goes down. The moon and stars shine in the night sky, but they disappear in the daytime. Sometimes clouds hide the sun and the moon; in an eclipse, the sun’s light is darkened in the middle of the day. But the truth is that those heavenly lights are always shining, whether we can see them or not. James says that’s how it is with God. Sometimes you see the light of God’s goodness so clearly. But when you lose a loved one, or feel alone, or trouble hangs like a dark shadow over your life, you don’t feel the warmth of His love. But God is the Father of lights. Just like the sun and the moon and the stars still shine behind the clouds, on the other side of the world, the goodness of God always shines on us, without variation or shadow due to change. Suggestions for prayer Confess to the Lord that sometimes you have a hard time seeing His goodness and ask Him to help you believe that His love for you is unchanging. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 30 - We have thought on your steadfast love

“Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.” - Psalm 48:12-14 Scripture reading: Psalm 78:1-8 “Walk about Zion, go around her.” The psalmist asks that when you look at the church of Jesus Christ, do you see the glory and the strength of Zion? “Number her towers, consider well (or set your hearts on) her ramparts, go through her citadels.” Pay careful attention to where he goes with this. He’s not leading us on a tour of the literal city of Jerusalem, to show us how thick the walls are and how high the ramparts are. He points to the real defence, the real strength of Zion: “that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever.” This is the miracle of worship, of the ministry of Jesus Christ through His church: God is here, in His Word and Spirit, to save us, to sanctify us, to lead us in the way of salvation. We want our children and grandchildren to know God, to serve Him and worship Him. The Holy Spirit says this is how you lead the next generations in the way of faith: let them see the delight in your eyes, and hear the awe in your voice when you worship God. Testify to them in your homes about His goodness and grace and wisdom. Point to God and tell them, “Look at our God, children! Trust in Him, worship Him, serve Him.” Stay close to Him, because “He is our guide forever!” He will lead you in the way of life. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to lead your children and grandchildren, by your words and by your example, to trust, worship and obey Him. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 29 - God is good

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to chang...

Daily devotional

March 28 - Lured and enticed to our death

“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” - James 1:15 Scripture reading: 1 Jo...

Daily devotional

March 27 - Be watchful

“Desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” - James 1:15 Scripture reading: 1 Peter...

Daily devotional

March 26 - Tempted in our suffering

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” - James 1:14 Scripture reading: Hebrews 4:14-5:10 Usually, wh...

Daily devotional

March 25 - Lured and enticed by our own desires

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” - James 1:14 Scripture reading: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Lord’s Day 52 of the Heidelberg Catechism teaches us that we have three sworn spiritual enemies – the devil, the world and our own flesh – and that they never stop attacking us. James doesn’t say anything here about the devil, or the world. He focuses on the attacks that we experience from within ourselves, from our own flesh. He says that’s where temptation comes from: “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.” It’s critical for us to believe what James tells us, that our own desires are at work to lead us to destruction. Whenever you meet trials, and you find yourself thinking that you have good reason to be angry at God or to pull away from the church, to close your Bible and to give up on prayer because you’re so disappointed by what God is allowing to happen to you, remember: that’s exactly what your enemy wants you to do, because it serves his purpose. Our natural reaction to disappointments and setbacks is anger, stress and fear. We just want our problems to go away and our lives to go the way we thought they would. James says that reaction is natural, but dangerous: your own flesh will use your desires to rob you of your contentment and your faith in God’s promises. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Suggestions for prayer Acknowledge to God the sinful desires that live in your heart, and ask Him to recognize what your spiritual enemies are up to when they attack you. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 24 - Temptations make us exercise our faith

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one.” - James 1:13 Scripture reading: I Corinthians 10:1-22 When we meet trials, we have lots of questions. For a believer, the hardest questions are about God and why God would want us to go through hard times. We know that God is involved. We know that our struggles don’t come to us by chance, but from His hand. But James says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one.” Our trials bring us both tests and temptations. God tests our faith, but He doesn’t send the temptations. God is good and holy. God can’t be tempted by evil, and He never tempts anyone. He has promised and He has confirmed in Christ that He seeks your salvation. God works to bring us to spiritual maturity. The pressure to turn away from Him, the inclination to give up on Him, certainly doesn’t come from God. He would never lead you into sin. But He does allow you to be tempted. Martin Luther said, “My temptations have been my masters of divinity.” It sounds strange until you hear his explanation: “Where faith is not continually kept in motion and exercised, it weakens and decreases, so that it must indeed vanish; and yet we do not see nor feel this weakness ourselves, except in times of need and temptation, when unbelief rages too strongly; and yet for that very reason, faith must have temptations in which it may battle and grow.” Suggestions for prayer Thank God that He would never tempt you to sin and ask Him to help you to exercise your faith when you are being tempted. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 23 - We have thought on your steadfast love

“We have thought on Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple.” - Psalm 48:9 Scripture reading: Psalm 103:1-8 The writer of Psalm 48 says that the survival of the church depends on what she hears, and what she thinks about in worship, worship that will ensure that the church will survive and flourish in faithfulness. It has to be all about God, as we know Him in Christ. He says, “We have thought on Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple.” When we talk about God, there are lots of things that we can speak and sing about. God is holy and sovereign, almighty and perfectly wise. But this is the heartbeat and the great theme of the gospel. And it’s not that we say, God is holy, but He also loves us; God is sovereign, but He loves us. In worship, we marvel and rejoice that God has chosen to reveal His holiness and sovereignty, wisdom and power in this remarkable, amazing way: by loving us with His steadfast, covenant, saving love. Paul says in Ephesians 3 that this is why God sent Jesus Christ to die, and gather Jews and Gentiles to build them into a dwelling place for Him: it is so that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Today, when you listen to God’s Word, sing your songs of praise and bring your gifts, think of His steadfast love. He will be pleased, and you will be built up in faith. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you by His Spirit to dwell on His steadfast love, that you may worship Him today in true thankfulness and joy. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 22 - Trials and temptations

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”” - James 1:13a Scripture reading: Ephesians 6:10-20 James said that God uses trials to test and purify our faith. But what about when people seem to lose their faith because of hard things that happen to them? How do we explain that? In our minds, trials and temptations are very different: trials purify your faith; temptations make you question God’s promises. Trials bring you close to God; temptations turn you away from Him. Trials and temptations have opposite aims and opposite effects. But in Greek, James uses the same word for both trials and temptations. That tells us something that we need to realize about suffering and prosperity too. In both of these experiences and in both of these circumstances, we’re facing both trials and temptations. In the same events, God is testing our faith, to make us put all of our trust in Jesus Christ, and we’re being tempted; an effort is being made to undermine our confidence in Jesus Christ. In other words, there’s a spiritual battle going on in our lives, which is played out in every experience and every circumstance. As Western Christians, we don’t always understand that, and that leaves us vulnerable. Peter alerts us to the danger: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8). Don’t underestimate the viciousness or deceitfulness of your spiritual enemies, but don’t overestimate their power either: James promises that if you “resist the devil … he will flee from you” (James 4:7b). Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you to remember the spiritual battle that is always going on in your life and to give you strength to resist the devil. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth

Daily devotional

March 20 - We live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord

Daily devotional

March 19 - Thankfulness in poverty and in riches

“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation.” - James 1:9-10a Scripture reading: Proverbs 30:1-9 By na...

Daily devotional

March 18 - Lowly believers boast in their exaltation

Daily devotional

March 17 - Faith is single-minded in its desire for Christ

“The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” - James 1:6b-8 Scripture reading: James 1:5-8 When James says let him ask in faith, he means, let him ask for what faith expects from Jesus Christ. Faith wants more from Jesus Christ than just having our problems solved. We want salvation; we want to be changed, to be transformed. This is what it means to ask “in faith, with no doubt.” We have to be single-minded in our desire to have all of Christ and nothing else. We’re allowed to ask God to take away our suffering. Jesus Himself asked His Father to let the cup of suffering pass from Him -- but only if it was His Father’s will. What He wanted above all else was that His Father would do whatever He needed to do to accomplish His purpose. “He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” If we say, “I want Christ, but what I want most of all is for You to solve my problems and make my life go the way I want it to,” we shouldn’t imagine that we will receive anything from the Lord. But when you ask in faith, when all your desire is to have all of Christ and His salvation, you may be sure of this: God gives generously to all, without reproach. God will give you the wisdom that you need to count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you by His Holy Spirit, so that you want Christ and His salvation more than you want your problems to be solved. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 - The city of God is beautiful

“… the city of our God, which God will establish forever.” - Psalm 48:8 Scripture reading: Psalm 48:4-8; Matthew 16:13-20 We don’t know the exact historical background of Psalm 48, but it might have been written after the LORD destroyed the Assyrian army and delivered Jerusalem (see Isaiah 36-37). But the point is that “God has made Himself known as a fortress” in Jerusalem, and establishes His city forever because it was the seat of His kingdom and the place where the ministry of salvation took place in the temple. That’s why He sent His angel to put 185,000 Assyrian soldiers to death. The Assyrians’ hatred for Jerusalem was provoked by the spiritual revival under King Hezekiah. The hatred of God’s enemies is provoked when the church proclaims the gospel, and sinners find life in the kingdom of God. The events of Isaiah 37 have been replayed again and again throughout history. But Jesus has promised in Matthew 16, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” And Jesus has been faithful: the church still stands and the gospel of Jesus Christ is still being proclaimed. God promised that the church is established forever, and “as we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God.” Give thanks to Jesus Christ that He has seen to it that you can gather with His congregation today to hear the message of salvation and to rejoice that you “are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19-22). Suggestions for prayer Thank God that Jesus Christ continues to gather, defend and preserve His congregation, and that He has given you the indescribable privilege of belonging to His people. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 - Ask with no doubting

“Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” - James 1:6 Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Some people claim that James is saying that we can ask God for anything, and as long as we believe that He can do it, and that He will do it, God will give it to us. If you’re sick and you ask God to heal you, and your faith is strong enough, then He will heal you. God doesn’t want you to suffer, and He’s so great that He can heal us; He can solve any problem that we might have. If you ask God for help and then you say, “Your will be done,” that just means that your faith isn’t strong enough. Those people assume that when you’re sick, or you’re struggling in some other way, the best thing that God could do for you would be to make you better and solve all your problems. But God can use our suffering to purify our faith (James 1:3-4), so that “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18). In 1 Peter 1, the apostle says that God can use our suffering to help us to find all of our comfort in belonging to Jesus Christ. He can use our suffering to sanctify us; He can use our suffering to humble us so that we repent of our sin and look for salvation in Christ alone. We couldn’t ask for more than that. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you to make your requests in faith, with a single-minded desire for His saving purpose to be accomplished in your life. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God… - James 1:5a Scripture reading: Psalm 111:1-10 Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” The fear of the LORD is, knowing and confessing the truth about the LORD, and applying it to your life and your experiences. Psalm 111 talks about how God’s children love to read and hear and sing about what God has done. That’s how you get to know God’s faithfulness and perfect wisdom, steadfast love and absolute goodness. That’s how God is magnified; His greatness fills the whole scope of our vision. And that changes our experience. Because then we know when we have an accident, or we get that hard diagnosis, and even when someone sins against us, we don’t have to be anxious or worried about what the future’s going to be like. Because God has promised us in His Word and confirmed it in Christ that all things work together for our salvation. The burden of guilt and fear is lifted from our shoulders: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?” (Romans 8:33-34a). This is the struggle of faith, to take what God has promised us, shown us in Christ to our situation and to our experiences, to set what we know about God over our questions. Ask God, by His Spirit, to teach you the fear of the LORD, because the fear of the LORD – knowing and confessing the truth about the LORD – is the beginning of wisdom. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you take what you know about Him, and about His purpose in your life, and apply that to the hard questions and situations that you struggle with. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 13 - We know God from his word and in Christ

Daily devotional

March 12 - Asking God in faith

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith…”...

Daily devotional

March 11 - Ask God for wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” - James 1:5 S...

Daily devotional

March 10 - Do you need wisdom?

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.” - James 1:5a Scripture reading: James 1:5-8 It might seem as if James has changed subj...

Daily devotional

March 9 - The city of God is beautiful

“Within her citadels God has made Himself known as a fortress.” - Psalm 48:3 Scripture reading: Psalm 48:1-3 We confess (in Article 29 of the Belgic Confession) that if you want to be sure that you are in a church where Christ is present and at work, there are three things that you have to look for. First, you have to look for the pure preaching of the gospel. Is the gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins preached in Jesus’ Name? Second, you have to look for the pure administration of the sacraments because the sacraments preach the gospel in pictures, in signs and symbols; and faithfulness in the administration of the sacraments means faithfulness is communicating the gospel. Finally, you have to look for the faithful exercise of church discipline in punishing sin because when the kingdom of God is proclaimed, we are called to repent of our sin, and lead a godly life. If the gospel is faithfully proclaimed, you know that Christ is living and working in the ministry of the church, and you will be saved through that ministry. This isn’t just about what it says in our confession. When you see those three “marks”, you know that you’ll be safe. You can be sure that you’ll find the salvation message there. Thank God for the faithful, saving ministry of Jesus Christ that you receive, as you hear the gospel, as you receive the sacraments, and as you live under the sanctifying work of Christ in your church. That ministry is what makes your congregation beautiful and glorious. Suggestions for prayer Thank God that you may hear the faithful proclamation of the gospel, and live under the saving ministry of Christ. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 - Who wants to be perfect

“…that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” - James 1:4 Scripture reading: Colossians 1:24-29 I don’t know how much we really think about becoming perfect. I don’t know how important it is for us, that our faith would become mature, perfect. But maybe that’s why we tend to respond to the bad things that happen to us in the same way that an unbeliever would. Maybe that’s why we have a hard time really believing that God uses bad things to produce something good, and why we find ourselves becoming discouraged and angry and bitter because of the things that have happened to us. Because growing in our faith isn’t as important to us as having the life we want,or as having things go the way we thought they would, the way we had planned. It's okay, in fact, it’s right and good to cry out to the Lord in our suffering, and God in His Word encourages us to ask Him for relief. Faith prays. Faith means looking to God for all that we need. That’s Jesus’ point in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). But becoming bitter and angry with the Lord is a symptom of immaturity. It means that we can only be happy if the Lord gives us what we want. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you to set your heart on His goal in your salvation: to become mature, and perfect in Christ. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 - The full effect of steadfastness is perfection

“Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” - James 1:4 Scripture reading: Romans 5:1-11 The school down the road from us once had a sign out front that said, ”Aim for success, not perfection.” We understand what they mean: no one’s perfect. We know that we won’t be perfect until Christ comes again. But maybe we know that so well that when we hear James say,” Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing,” we think we shouldn’t take that literally. But that is God’s goal for us. We think that being saved means I'm going to heaven when I die. This is what He promises us, and this is where He’s leading us, to perfection. This is what Paul says in Ephesians 4:13: “Christ has given His gifts to the church, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and become a perfect man” (NKJV). And in Colossians 1:28: “We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ” (NKJV). God’s purpose in our salvation is to make us perfect and that should be what we want too, that we would become mature adults, full grown in our faith. It’s critical for us to remember God’s purpose and to make it our desire too, that He would use our trials to make us perfect in Christ. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you to remember that His purpose in our salvation is to make us perfect in Christ. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 - Steadfastness in faith

“… you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” - James 1:3 Scripture reading: I Peter 1:3-9 God the Father promises in our baptism that He will provide us with all good and avert all evil, or turn it to our profit. God doesn’t promise to avert all evil, period. He promises to avert all evil, or turn it to our profit. That’s what He’s doing when we suffer. He’s turning the evil to our profit. When we face our trials in faith, God strengthens our faith. What does that mean practically speaking? It means that our focus on Christ, and what God gives us in Him becomes sharper. It means that our hope and our joy in Jesus Christ grow deeper and stronger. Our desire to have everything that Christ has for us becomes more intense. Knowing that God the Father is involved in our daily lives, and working for our salvation in all things becomes more real to us. It becomes more and more part of how we look at our lives, and think about what happens to us. We discover that in hard times, His Word comes more alive for us, and that our worship is more genuine, more sincere and more encouraging. What else do we want from God? There is no better thing that He could do for us, or give us. There is no more that we could possibly want from Him. In our trials, God gives us what we pray for more than anything else: our faith grows, our trust and our joy in the Lord become deep and strong. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you to want what He wants: that your faith will grow and that you will find all your comfort in belonging to Jesus Christ. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 5 - The good thing God is doing for you when you suffer

Daily devotional

March 4 - Be on your guard against bitterness

“Count it all joy … when you meet various trials.” - James 1:2 Scripture reading: Hebrews 12:3-17 James promises us that God is working ...

Daily devotional

March 3 - God is at work for your good in all things

Daily devotional

March 2 - The city of God is beautiful

“His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth.” - Psalm 48:1b Scripture reading: Psalm 48:1-3 In Psalm 46:4, it ...

Daily devotional

March 1 - Introduction to James

The meditations for this month are based on James 1:1-18. James calls the people to whom he wrote, the twelve tribes of the dispersion. They were most likely Jewish Christians who had been driven from Jerusalem in the persecution that we read about in Acts 8 and Acts 11, and are now scattered in and around Palestine. They were suffering persecution from Gentiles and from Jews. It’s no surprise, therefore, that the very first thing that James wants to talk to these people about is suffering. And he doesn’t waste any time getting to it. He knew what their life was like because he experienced the very same things. It seems pretty certain that this James, who was one of the brothers of the Lord Jesus, was murdered for his faith. He lived in Jerusalem, and that was one of the most dangerous places in the world for a Jewish Christian. So we can understand why suffering is the very first thing that he talks about in this letter, but we may not understand how he can say to them, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” (James 1:2) That seems like a very strange thing to say to people who are suffering. Would you ever read these words or even think about reading them to someone when you visit in the hospital? We’ll understand what James means, and why he speaks this way as we work our way through this passage verse by verse. A strange thing to say to people who are suffering “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” - James 1:2 Scripture reading: James 1:2-4 James calls the people to whom he wrote, the twelve tribes of the dispersion. They were almost certainly Jewish believers who had been driven from their homes and families in Jerusalem by the persecution that we read about in Acts 8 and Acts 11, and were living as refugees throughout the region. They were hated by Gentiles because they were Jews and hated by Jews because they were Christians. So we can understand why the first thing James wants to talk to them about is their suffering. What’s harder to understand is what he says to them: “Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds.” Not just, “Try to find something to be thankful for in spite of your suffering.” But, “Count it all joy when you suffer.” We do our best to avoid any kind of hardship and if they come, we do whatever we can to fix things up again, because everyone knows that suffering and joy are complete opposites. They’re mutually exclusive. Suffering means no joy and joy means no suffering. But James is speaking the language of faith. He says, There’s something you know, as believers, something that God has told you, that makes all the difference in the way you think about your trials, and what happens to you when you’re suffering: you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. That’s the key to understanding what James is saying: knowing how God uses our trials to produce steadfastness. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you endure trials, trusting that He uses your trials to produce steadfastness. Rev. Dick Wynia graduated from the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary in 1986, and was ordained to the ministry in 1987. He has served four congregations, in Aylmer ON, Calgary AB, Wyoming ON and in Beamsville ON. After almost 37 years in active ministry, he recently became a minister emeritus. 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 - The aftermath (II)

“Mordecai…sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.” - Esther 10:3 Scripture reading: Esther 10:1-3 While Mordecai was proclaiming peace to God’s people near and far, Christ has accomplished a greater peace, which is proclaimed through His church near and far, to Jew and Gentile: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of them that bring good news, who proclaim peace, who say to Zion, ‘Behold, your God’”! (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15). The world needs to hear the good news of Christ’s peace, so that whosoever believes in the Son might not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). The gospel continues to be proclaimed to the visible church of Jesus Christ as well, calling people to faith and repentance, and to live transformed lives in Christ. Rejoicing for the great turnabouts in Esther’s time was appropriate, but they pointed to the greatest of turnabouts that God accomplished in Jesus Christ – changed lives as new creatures in Christ. As new creations in Christ, we look forward to the new heavens and the new earth – a time of full Sabbath rest for the people of God in Christ. If you know that great and restful turnabout in your life, you have reason today to be at peace, to rejoice in the Lord, and to praise Him with a rest-filled worship. If you do not know that restful reversal, then now is the time to turn around, to repent, and believe the call of Christ who says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanks that the Lord has provided the kind of peace that only Christ can provide you – peace with God and the peace of God. Pray that more people may be blessed to respond to the gospel of peace, both in the world and in the visible church of Christ. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 27 - The aftermath (I)

“And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?” - Esther 10:2 Scripture reading: Esther 10:1-3 Mordecai’s greatness is stressed here in the context of Ahasuerus’ greatness, both of which could be verified in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia (6:1; 10:2). This verification of the episodes of Esther and Mordecai remind us as Christians of two important truths about God’s Word: Redemptive history is not comprised of myths, sagas, and made-up stories (2 Peter 1:16). False religion is riddled with myths, deceptive fabrications, and outright lies (Matthew 28:11-15). Scripture’s history, on the other hand, speaks of reality – the Medes and Persians were real people; Jerusalem and other biblical cities were real towns, and some continue to exist to this day. Biblical episodes were legitimately chronicled, researched and witnessed (Luke 1:1-4; 2 Peter 1:16-21). The Biblical message proclaims no fairy tales, but God’s truth. God never does anything in a corner, so to speak; even in a case like the book of Esther, where His Name is never mentioned. God’s acts are done publicly as He takes on the most formidable of foes and defeats them for the sake of His cause in Christ. Whether it is His opponents at Babel, Pharaoh of Exodus, the kings of the earth counselling against Him and His Christ, or whether it is disease or death, God displays His power for the world to see so that, along with the testimony of all creation, no one has an excuse to disbelieve His grace, greatness, and goodness (Romans 1:20). Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanks that the Lord has revealed to you the truth of God’s Word unto salvation in Christ. Pray that the Spirit of God would work mightily in the lives of many to find their lives on the truth of God’s Word. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 26 - The restful reversal celebrated (II)

“The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.” - Esther 9:32 Scripture reading: Esther 9:16-32 Mordecai, as we saw yesterday, is a proclaimer of peace to both far and near (9;30; 10:3), reminding us of Isaiah 57:19 and the far-and-near peace that the LORD proclaims, and reminding us of Christ in Ephesians 2:17, who proclaims peace to those who are far away and near. Such peace won by the Lord is always worth celebrating. In these days, the ascended Lord is the great gift-giver to God’s people: “When ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:8). As the Bread of Life, who provides eternal satisfaction and peace, He calls us to a better celebratory feast of rest today. Every Lord’s Day we celebrate Christ's rest to us as we worship God. Every Lord’s Day, we give of our gifts out of gratitude for Christ’s grace to us. Whenever we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we anticipate the fuller rest that awaits God’s people – the wedding feast of the Lamb and the communion with the Lord that we will one day celebrate eternally. If the people in Esther’s time had reason for joy as they celebrated annually the rest that the Lord provided, how much more are we not privileged to celebrate weekly the rest that the Lord has given to us. Every time the covenant God in Jesus Christ calls us to His worship and to His communion feast, we remember the rest that is ours and the rest that is to come. Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanks for the privilege of worship. Pray that the Lord will help you and others to take joy in the call to worship every Lord’s Day. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 25 - The restful reversal celebrated (I)

“The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.” - Esther 9:32 Scripture reading: Esther 9:16-32 ...

Daily devotional

February 24 - The restful reversal described (II)

“…on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who h...

Daily devotional

February 23 - The restful reversal described (I)

“…on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who h...

Daily devotional

February 22 - The second edict

“…the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives…” - Esther 8:11 Scripture reading: Esther 8:7-17 H...

Daily devotional

February 21 - The second request of Esther

“…let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite…which he wrote to destroy the Jews….” - Esther 8:5 Scripture reading: Esther 8:1-6 Unfinished business awaits in Esther 8, for Haman’s edict remains in force, though Haman has been executed. God promised from The Fall to bring a Saviour, but the fulfillment of that salvation was not immediate. In the New Testament age, Christ has been raised to royal glory, but His Kingdom’s consummation awaits. As Christians, we know God has justified us with Christ’s blood. Yet we also know that we are works in progress; God is working a good work in us unto the day of Christ (Philippians 1:6). Here, actions took place that needed to be done. Yet, more needs to be done. Esther’s first request was more exalted, but in her second request, she stoops. She differs from Haman, as one pleading for her people, while Haman pleaded only for himself. Because of Esther’s intercession, injustice is averted. Christ, of course, humiliates himself, becoming man, leaving His royal position in heaven to take a humble place for His own on earth. He does not merely stoop, but is humbled to the point of crucifixion for those who deserved nothing but God’s eternal wrath. Because of Christ, God does not treat us as our sins deserve. It is tempting to believe that God does not treat us well. We forget that God did not spare His Son and that He promises to give believers all things along with His Son (Romans 8:32). It is why we can say that nothing in all creation separates us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39). Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving for the biblical promise of God’s inseparable love for you in Christ. Pray that the Lord will help you endure the trying times of life as you remember your Great Intercessor who pleads your cause in heaven. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 20 - The plea of Haman

“Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.” - Esther 7:7 Scripture reading: Esther 7:7-10 What irony for Haman! Earlier he gave the honour that he had expected to Mordecai. Now he bears the shame he had reserved for Mordecai. In triplicate, shame comes to Haman. First, the king declares shame. Haman had been angry because Mordecai would not “fall down” in honour before him (3:2). Now “Haman is “falling down” before the daughter of Mordecai (7:8). Ahasuerus perceives Haman defiling the royal marital relationship. Second, Ahasuerus’ servant covers Haman’s face. Haman covered his own face earlier (6:12), but now another does it. Such covering expressed shame for shameful behaviour (Psalm 44:15; 69:7). Third, shame consummates with Haman’s hanging. “Cursed is anyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). The mighty has fallen! The king’s wrath is satisfied, like with Vashti, as Haman resembles the enemies of Ahasuerus that Mordecai uncovered in chapter 2. Haman, the enemy of Christ’s cause is defeated. Providence is leading to the saving of God’s people, but it also leads to the demise of Christ’s enemies. Haman had almost everything that a person could desire. But Haman was deceived. He fought against God and His cause, and he lost; such fighting is a fool’s errand. Yet we all deserve wrath – not merely that of a temporal king, but that of God – eternally. Only Christ can take that wrath away, so “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:10). Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving if you cherish Christ for taking God's wrath away from you. Pray that more people will come to understand the futility of opposing the cause of Christ and instead see the blessedness of taking refuge in Him. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 19 - The plea of Esther

“Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.”” - Esther 7:3 Scripture reading: Esther 6:14-7:6 Esther pleads for mercy and justice for herself and her people – ultimately for Christ’s cause. Haman seeks destruction; Esther seeks redemption. Esther is revealed as Jewish, but Haman is uncovered as the enemy of God’s people – wicked Haman of Agag. Esther serves royally in Ahasuerus’ kingdom and over God’s people. As a descendant of Kish, the father of King Saul, Esther serves better than her ancestor Saul did with Haman’s ancestor Agag. Agag wanted to destroy Christ's cause and God’s promises, and so Agag was to be annihilated, but Saul disobeyed, and his kingdom was then passed to David (1 Samuel 15). Seeking to destroy the plans of God is as old as redemption’s history. Evil promised man greatness, only to deceive him. God’s plans can never be scuttled, however, even at evil’s pinnacle with Christ’s crucifixion (Psalm 2). Evil still tempts us to believe that we are better off with evil instead of obedience. Evil teaches us that redemption is hopeless, and that fighting against evil is pointless. It is worth the fight, however, thanks to Christ – better than Saul, David, and Esther. Esther pleads her cause for a temporal preservation, but Christ pleads an eternal preservation as the Righteous Redeemer and Advocate. At Judgment Day, in mercy and justice, God will vindicate His people, and death, sin, and Satan will be no more. Our hope is not based on the evil that we see, but on the goodness and faithfulness of our covenant God in Jesus Christ that is promised to Christians. Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving that the hope of evil’s ultimate demise has already been determined at the cross of Christ. Pray with praise that God permits you to see that the fight of faith is a good one to undertake each day. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 18 - The exalted one is humbled

“If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.” - Esther 6:11 Scripture reading: Esther 6:1-13 Jews were once mourning (4:3), and Haman rejoiced. Not anymore. The last has become first and the first last. Suddenly, nothing is working for Haman. His very wife and friends now realize that Haman will lose, for he is literally working against, “the Seed of the Jews” (v. 13). Pilate’s wife said, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream (Matthew 27:19). Gamaliel said in Acts 5:38-39, “Keep away from these men…for if this plan…is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" The gates of hell will not prevail against Christ. You do not win by opposing Christ. Many in the world have seemed to be winners – in power, pleasure, prosperity, and popularity. Yet, we will never know victory unless Christ, the true Seed of Abraham, is our only comfort in life and in death. Do not envy lives that leave Christ out; such exalted will be humbled. Mary said, “He scatters the proud in the thoughts of their hearts, he brings down the mighty from their thrones, and the rich he has sent away” (Luke 1:53). God promised Abraham, “…him who dishonours you, I will curse…” (Genesis 12:3). God will curse those content to dishonour the Seed of Abraham. We see it in Haman, and in all those who find their honour in themselves and not in Christ. Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving that you can take comfort in belonging to Christ, even when the world is taking comfort in merely temporary gains and greatness. Pray that the Lord will continue to help you walk humbly before your God as you serve Him every day in Christ. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 17 - The humbled one is exalted (II)

“Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.” - Esther 6:9 Scripture reading: Esther 6:1-13 Haman tasted the bittern...

Daily devotional

February 16 - The humbled one is exalted (I)

“And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for ?” The king’s young men…said,...

Daily devotional

February 15 - The correction of an oversight

“And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for ?” The king’s young men…said,...

Daily devotional

February 14 - Haman’s plan to destroy

““…tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon .” This idea pleased Haman and he had the gallows made.” - Esther 5:14 Scripture...

Daily devotional

February 13 - Esther’s plan to save (II)

“…let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” - Esther 5:8 Scripture reading: Esther 5:1-8 Sinful man’s decree in chapter 1 was that women were to listen to their husbands regardless. With Esther and Zereth both, men are heeding their wives’ word! God’s sovereignty over the plans of people is at work here. God uses the weak and the lowly in the world’s eyes to shame the self-proclaimed strong and mighty. Christ and His crucifixion are the ultimate example of this. As products of grace in Christ, God uses us in His mighty service. Good news! We may think ourselves small – as may others – but when we serve the saving King, we have a grand calling! Esther’s plan includes another feast; she is portrayed as a feast planner. Esther is in the position of delivering her people from death, so preparing feasts as one delivering one’s people from death, makes biblical sense. Haman thinks it is a great idea; he looks forward to it. We, of course, have a greater deliverer who is preparing a greater feast for His people. Every time that we partake of the communion supper, we are anticipating the great wedding feast of the Lamb, the eternal blessing of communion, not with earthly kings, but with the King of kings, who even now has promised His everlasting presence. Haman looked forward to a temporary banquet, but in Christ we anticipate an everlasting banquet because our communion with God in Christ never ends. If Haman had reason for joy, we have even more reason when we profess Christ as our great deliverer. Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving that Christ has provided us everlasting communion with Him. Pray that more people will come to appreciate what it means to know the inseparable love of God in Christ Jesus. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 12 - Esther’s plan to save (I)

“And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.” - Esther 5:2 Scripture reading: Esther 5:1-8 The two plans in Esther 5 have similarities. Both are devised by the wife of the powerful – Esther of Ahasuerus and Zereth of Haman. Both are to be carried out “the next day.” Yet their goals have a life-and-death difference; one gets realized, and one will not. Esther’s appearance contrasts Mordecai’s in chapter 4. In chapter 1, Queen Vasthi refused to stand in royal splendour before the calling king. Esther risks her life as one not royally called, but comes in royal splendour. Her exalted appearance before the king is fitting, but risk of death looms largely. Yet, Esther does not die. The sceptre is extended to her on this third day after fasting begins. Instead, she is first among God’s people to be delivered from death in the book of Esther. Risking her life by identifying with God’s people, Esther’s life-saving moment foreshadows encouragement to us, for her life is first of many to be saved. Esther risked her life, but Christ gave His life for God’s people and His covenant promises. Esther’s life is spared after three days; Christ’s is resurrected after three days – having clothed Himself in righteous robes to remove our humiliation, so we might be clothed in His saving robes. Esther was a first-fruits of deliverance from death, but the first-fruits of Christ’s resurrection grant us new life for eternity, and new life to serve Christ for today. Christ’s salvation is better, which is why He deserves our profession, our praise, and our practice of His Word daily. Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving that Christ gives us the hope of resurrection as the first-fruits of the resurrection. Pray that the Lord will help you daily to live the new life worthy of the gospel as a believer in Christ Jesus. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 11 - The response of Esther

“I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” - Esther 4:16 Scripture reading: Esther 4:15-17 For the first time, Esther explicitly identifies herself with God’s people. Only she could get an audience with the king and make the saving difference, doing it by identifying with God’s people. She was between a rock and a hard place, just like Jacob was long ago in Genesis 43:14 when he gave Benjamin to his sons to be brought to the second in command before Pharaoh, Joseph. If he did not send Benjamin, the last of his sons, the people would perish. If he did send Benjamin, would Benjamin ever come back? “If I am bereaved, then I am bereaved,” says Jacob. Now this daughter of Benjamin would come before the second in command of the king, and the king, knowing her dilemma. Yet, who else would be able to come before the king and save his people but this daughter of Benjamin? No one! Likewise, our Christ was the only one who could come before the throne of grace and save us. Unlike Esther, He had to die in order to save His people so that they would not perish eternally. He did so as one who identified with His people, as one called the King of the Jews. Jesus is the One that we needed; He still identifies with us today as the true man and the true Israel, not ashamed to call us His brothers. In reflection of Christ, we need to find ourselves identified, not with the world, but with Christ and His people. Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving that Christ is not ashamed to call you His brother (or sister). Pray that the Lord will help you even more to live in the spirit that says, “It is no longer I but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 10 - The challenge to Esther

“And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” - Esther 4:14 Scripture reading: Esther 4:5-14 Esther feared for her life when Mordecai urged her to speak to the king. Queen Vashti refused to come into the king’s presence when called. Now Esther is afraid to come into the king’s presence, having not been called. But Mordecai persists. Identify with God’s people! Judgment comes to those who will not identify with the people of God. Your name will otherwise perish. Only Esther has two names in the book of Esther; this ties her back to Joseph, but also identifies her with two ways of life – the earthly kingdom and heavenly kingdom. Which will take priority now? Mordecai sees the bigger picture. He knows that deliverance will be provided, but he also ponders that Esther may have been placed in her position for such a time as this. Amid sacrifice, judgement may be averted; salvation versus annihilation may occur. Esther’s situation reminds us of Jesus Christ. If He had not taken up the cup of judgment in the fullness of time, all would have been lost for humanity and for creation. But because Jesus Christ took up the challenge that was given to Him, His name did not perish. He received the name that is above every name for being obedient unto death. In Jesus Christ, it is always the time for us to serve our God; such is our challenge every day, to see that we are where we are, not by chance, but by the Fatherly hand of God to serve Him. Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving that in the fullness of time God’s Son was obedient unto death to save you. Pray that the Lord will use you where He has placed you now to serve Him well. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 9 - The approach to Esther

“When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes…” - Esther 4:1 Scripture reading: Est...

Daily devotional

February 8 - The plot against the Jews

“So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdo...

Daily devotional

February 7 - The plot against the king

“Bigthan and Teresh…became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai…” - Esther 2:21-22 S...

Daily devotional

February 6 - The appealing candidate

“Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.” - Esther 2:15 Scripture reading: Esther 2:5-18 In our passage, peace replac...

Daily devotional

February 5 - The advice that pleased the king

““And let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did so.” - Esther 2:4 Scripture reading: Esther 2:1-4 Joseph of Genesis is reflected often in the episodes of Esther and Mordecai – including this passage. Both Joseph, the young man of Genesis 41, and the young men here in Esther 2 have their advice accepted by their respective kings. Joseph’s advice was godly and served God’s saving providence. These young men’s advice was not godly, but it too served God’s saving providence. King Ahasuerus is viewed as owning everything, doing what he wants with both men and women – herding them from their homes, and sterilizing men to serve his purposes. The advice that Ahasuerus receives as he seeks a better queen than Vashti is not admirable; it is simple superficiality. Character means nothing – only beauty. Joseph was attractive to Potiphar’s wife because of his looks (Genesis 39:6); such – would also be the case with Esther and the king (Esther 2:7). Ahasuerus looks all-powerful, but he searches for a better bride superficially and tyrannically. Belonging to Christ and His kingdom is not tyrannical at all; His Lordship frees us from tyranny. The care of God the Father, the pardon by Christ the Son, and the regenerating work of God’s Spirit reveals to us a King who treasures us as His possession. Oh, to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge! Much better to belong to a bridegroom-king such as Christ! It is better than belonging to Ahasuerus, to ourselves, or to anything else. Suggestions for prayer Pray with thanksgiving that Christ has dominion over land and sea, but also pray with thanksgiving that in His Lordship He possesses you as that which He treasures. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 4 - The powerless edict

“He sent letters to all the royal provinces…that every man be master in his own household…” - Esther 1:22 Scripture reading: Esther 1:13-22 A royal conference is called to fix a problem that was not the fault of a woman in the first place, but of a man who did not manage his household well. The conference is comprised of worldly disciples, who are led by the abuse of alcoholic spirits instead of the Holy Spirit. In the process, they promote chaos instead of order by an oppressive law: “Husbands are gods to their wives, like Ahasuerus is a god to his bride and everything else. Every woman must always listen to her husband.” Willing wives of love are not wanted; compelled wives are. What chaos! What a contrast to the kingdom of Christ, whose gospel not only saves believing husbands and wives, but fills their households with sacrificial love and willing service, thanks to the sacrificial love of Christ. True men do not base their roles as husbands on a self-perceived absolute power, but rather on their Saviour who gave His life up for His bride, the church. Laws need not be passed, therefore, compelling women to submit to their husbands; they will do so willingly when they have Christ-like husbands who are willing to sacrifice for their wives and to please them. Such loving sacrifice is true power at work – not the power of the tyrant, but the power of someone touched by Christ’s love. Christ’s love is reflected in the home of a husband who heeds the call to lead in righteousness, devotion and love, not by compulsion and selfishness. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for Christ’s sacrificial love. Pray that Christ’s sacrificial love might be evident even more by Christian husbands, and by all of us who are called to be followers of Christ. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 3 - God’s providence prevails over the shame

“Let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.” - Esther 1:19 Scripture reading: Esther 1:13-22 As we reflect on this shameful summons by Ahasuerus, we also learn how God in His providence uses this shame for His glory. While drunken cohorts declare worldly wisdom about a better one than Vashti, God is preparing a better one to come “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). God’s name is never mentioned in Esther; nevertheless, His good plans for His glory and His people in Christ are evident – even amid foolishness. Others plot evil, yet God’s goodness prevails. This is not the only time, of course, that God uses shameful times for His glory. The greatest example was when the kings of the earth plotted against God and His Christ at the cross (Psalm 2), and yet the One in heaven laughs as He works these devices to His praise. In the shame of the cross, God triumphs over sinful humanity’s plans. As we await the day when sin will be no more, we can rest assured that God is still working His superior plans for His glory, and for the good of His own in Christ despite the evils of humanity. God’s providence was at work in the days of Esther for the sake of His covenant promises in the Christ to come, and His providence continues to be at work in our days for the sake of His covenant promises fulfilled in the coming of the Christ – the Lord Jesus Himself. What good news for all those who trust in this Saviour-King! Suggestions for Prayer Pray that the Lord will help you keep a proper perspective on the world around you, knowing that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. Pray with thanksgiving that this is our Father’s world in Christ. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 2 - A shameful summons

“…the heart of the king was merry with wine…” - Esther 1:10 Scripture reading: Esther 1:10-12 The drunken king of worldly power summons his bride to his banquet table to shame her. Shame on any husband who shames his wife! Yet this is the shameful picture of the husband-king, who holds sway over the world, but does not even know how to manage his own household with love and respect. Vashti’s non-conformity is a right reaction to this shameful abuse and speaks to the limit of Ahasuerus’ power. He had no authority to shame her, for he was under God’s law. His summons pointed to his recklessness, and how the state’s authority – or any authority – goes only so far, particularly when it comes to marriage matters. His is the abuse of power and of God’s order. The kingdom of man differs from the kingdom of God and His Christ, who calls His bride to Himself with all authority – not to shame her in recklessness, but to cover her shame with His saving righteousness. Vashti rightly refused the banquet call. However, we are wrong to refuse to come to Christ’s banquet. He calls us out of our shame to commune with Him forever. Every Lord’s Day we get a foretaste of that communion as we are lifted in worship into heavenly places, where Christ dwells at His Father’s right hand. Refusing the call to worship is to our shame, even as refusing Christ leaves us in our sinful shame. May the call to worship in the presence of our great Husband-King be our delight today. Suggestions for prayer Petition the Heavenly Father that you might find joy each Lord’s Day to worship in the presence of your great Saviour-King. Give thanks to God for providing Christ so that your shameful sin might be covered by His righteousness. Rev. John Vermeer is Pastor Emeritus of Doon United Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa and is currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He has served churches in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois over the course of 34 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

February 1 - Introduction to the book of Esther

The book of Esther is well-known as the book in Scripture where the name of God is never mentioned, but where the providential hand of the covenant Go...

Daily devotional

January 31 - Meeting the LORD

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with ...

Daily devotional

January 30 - The great commission

““Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them...

Daily devotional

January 29 - The life giving Lord

“And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” - 1 Corinthians 15:45 Scri...

Daily devotional

January 28 - Unpopular judgement

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words.” - Jeremiah 19:15 Scripture reading: Jeremiah 19:14,15 Today, any mention of God's judgment is intensely unpopular. This is true not just with worldly people and skeptics, but it is also remarkably unpopular with people who consider themselves to be religious. If you read all of Jeremiah 19, you will discover that was also true of many in the days of God's prophet, Jeremiah. What feeling does our text for today stir within your heart? Have you been so stiff-necked, so wilful, so caught up in yourself, that you no longer really listen to God's Word? Then you do well to fear, because the judgment of God will certainly fall upon sinners who do not repent and turn to Jesus for pardon. Our text makes it clear that the judgment of God is not just going to come on murderers, thieves, adulterers, and others guilty of obvious, public sins. It will also fall upon those who just played at being religious, but who in reality were stiff-necked and who, in their inmost heart, would not listen to God's Word. This message of judgment is unpopular. Unrepentant sinners don't want to hear it. Hypocrites don't want to hear it. It is, however, a basic teaching of God's Word, and popular or not, the message of our text is true. God judges people in this life and in the life to come. May you and I be ready for God's scrutiny. May we be found as those who listen to God's Word, and thus be found as those who live by faith, and practice that faith in humble obedience. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to work in your heart so that you be found a careful listener of God's Word, and one who puts that Word into practice in your life. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - Life in Christ

“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” - Matthew 10:39 Scripture reading: Matthew 10:34-42 As the New Year unfolds, we will be making choices every day. Many are minor; some are major. One of the most important choices we make is: how will I live? Will I live for myself? Will I live just to get the things of this world? If that is all you are looking for, you may get what you desire, but Jesus says that you will lose your life. Strong words, indeed. Jesus calls His disciples to a life of sacrifice. There is no mistaking Jesus' words. If we are unwilling to give our lives in service to the Lord and His kingdom, then Jesus declares that we are not really following Him. That sacrifice, however, is not a source of pain and sorrow, as worldly people might view it, rather it is the choice that leads to life! Only Jesus can secure your eternal destiny. When you give your life a sacrifice for Him, it is evidence that you are, indeed, His disciple. He promises that you will find life eternal in Him. What is that promise worth to you? The Lord tells you: choose life. Dare to sacrifice the things of earth to gain, by God's grace, the joy of heaven. In the days ahead, ask yourself, “What have I lost for Christ's sake. What sacrifice have I made?” By the power of God's Spirit at work within you, choose to sacrifice your most treasured possession, your worldly relationships, anything for the sake of Jesus, your Saviour and King and your loving service to Him. Suggestions for prayer Pray for wisdom to make the right choices each day of the life God gives you. Seek the guidance you need to know what must be sacrificed in your heart and life in obedience to the words of Jesus in our text. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - Celebrating life eternal

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” - Colossians 3:16 Scripture reading: Colossians 3:1-7 Our Scripture reading today praises the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ, now seated at the Father's right hand. This is not just something that we can read and vaguely think about, but, as the chapter clearly teaches, this causes a reaction in the hearts and lives of all those who follow Jesus in faith. Has it caused a reaction in you? A true follower of Jesus wants to praise and worship the Saviour and grow in His grace. That does not happen by accident. Rather, it is something we strive for and this is good to reflect upon today, the Lord's Day, the day of resurrection. This is the day when Christians gather to worship with praise, singing and listening to Biblical teaching as God's Word is read and proclaimed in the midst of His gathered people. You, Christian, are called to set your mind on things above, to live a renewed life, and to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another. That is why your presence at worship is so important. Do not fall for the false teaching, so popular today, which says that worship is optional. That is not at all so. Hearing God's Word proclaimed allows the Word to dwell within your heart, to motivate you, instruct you, correct you, challenge you and comfort you. Do not deprive yourself of that blessing by neglecting to come to worship whenever the doors of God's House are open. Be a faithful worshipper! Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to work within your heart and soul that you will be one who worships in spirit and in truth this Lord's Day. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - The victory

Psalm 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. Scripture reading: Psalm 16:1-11 Tomorrow, the Lord's Day, comes with a call to worship in God's House. Christians worship a living Lord. In the Father's plan for the salvation of His chosen people, His Son would have to suffer and die. This Jesus did. In our text, though, David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, prophesied that death was not the ultimate destiny of Christ, nor of those who are His disciples. Christ could say in confidence to the Father: You will not leave my soul in Sheol. Christ rose from the dead. No decay, no corruption could touch the Holy One of God. By faith, we who share in the righteousness of Christ can also be confident. Although in earthly life we must endure trials and sorrows, although our physical bodies are weak, and at last we die, yet we know that in Christ we are delivered. We have the consolation that, as disciples of Jesus, we, like our Master, will not experience eternal corruption, but we will inherit eternal life and rise at the Last Day glorified and new. May this wonderful promise motivate you to serve the Lord faithfully. May the great consolation that you, if you are a believer, have in Christ Jesus, motivate you to love, serve and worship the Lord. That is the Victory we have in Christ. Those who experience it find that their hearts are filled with a desire to praise and worship the living Lord. May you go up to God's House to worship tomorrow in that spirit of Victory in Jesus Christ, the living Saviour! Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord for His promise of eternal life. Pray for God to work within you and to give you the spirit of Victory in Jesus. Praise Him and prepare to worship Him tomorrow in church. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 24 - Looking for life

“And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” - 1 Corinthians 15:49 Scripture readin...

Daily devotional

January 23 - The path of glory

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” - Romans 6:8 Scripture reading: Romans 6:1-11 Each of us, you t...

Daily devotional

January 22 - How are you feeling?

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from ...

Daily devotional

January 21 - Children of the Lord

“My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed ...

Daily devotional

January 20 - Jesus’ sheep

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” - Psalm 23:6 Scripture reading: Psalm 23:1-6 The opening of a new year often makes us think of the passing of time. When we follow Jesus, then our passage through the unfolding years should be marked indelibly with His goodness and mercy. Jesus' disciples should leave behind them a trail marked by that goodness and mercy. Is that true of you? There are those (far too many) who leave behind them a trail of hurt, anger and distress. Their harsh words, thoughtless actions, stubbornness and selfishness leave behind them an aching mark upon everyone with whom they come in contact. No real Christian can live like that. Can you? Do you? If you are a sheep of the Good Shepherd, then goodness and mercy will follow you. You will live as a blessing to all around you. Your words and actions will convince all those near you (family, friends, fellow church members) that the goodness and mercy of the Lord fills you. Is that the reality of your life? Those who truly are a sheep of the Good Shepherd then live with a blessed hope: to dwell in the house of the Lord forever! Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus. Those who are His, belong to Him forever. Now, and all the days of your life, and on into the future serve the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, as He leads and guides you, so that goodness and mercy will follow you. And rejoice to have a place in His house forever. Suggestions for prayer Pray for wisdom and strength to live a truly Christian life, so that goodness and mercy will follow you. Ask for pardon for all those times when that has been missing from your life. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - Jesus, our priest

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” - Isaiah 53:5,6 Scripture reading: Isaiah 53:1-6 On this third Lord's Day of the New Year, we are called to worship the Almighty in His house of prayer in the midst of His people. What do we need there? We need a listening ear to hear God's Word, we need to focus our attention on the prayers offered, we need to sing God's praise (even if our voice is just a joyful noise), and we need to give our thank offerings. One thing we do not need, however, is a human priest. We true Christians have but one priest; He is Jesus, the divine Son of God, our great High Priest of the New Covenant. As Isaiah prophesied, he gave Himself in His perfect sacrifice, once offered on Calvary's cross. There He bore the weight of our sins by providing a totally worthy sacrifice. May your time at worship this day clearly remind you that we stand represented by Jesus, the Christ of God, our only High Priest. We need no further sacrifice for sin, for Jesus paid it all. Let us thank God this day and every day that His love toward us, His people, is so great that He sent His Son to be our priest, the one to represent us, to stand in our place and to die that we might live. In faith and with heartfelt prayer, offer to God this day in worship your full trust in His saving grace and in the all sufficient merits of Christ. He alone is our priest and sacrifice together in His One Person. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to open the spiritual eyes of those who think they need a human priest to intercede for them. Pray that the Lord will direct you to find all that you need in His Son, our great and only High Priest. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - The only Saviour

“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces.” - Galatians 4:8,9 Scripture reading: Galatians 4:1-11 Toleration and compromise are hailed by many, perhaps most today, as the greatest virtues of all. All around us we see adherents of false religions. Some are fanatical, but many and surely the vast majority of those who hold no fixed religious beliefs, believe that all religions lead people to heaven, or at least to peace with a “god.” We Christians know, however, that there can be no compromise here. Either Jesus is the complete Saviour, or He is no Saviour at all. Where do you take your stand? In Galatia, at the time of the Apostle Paul, the Gentiles there were, and had been for ages, slaves to idols, who by nature are not gods. Now some were Christians, praise God! They faced a temptation, though, to fall into the thinking of, “Well, I can have Jesus and maybe still keep some trust in my old gods.” Here in our text the Apostle tells them this is impossible. It is impossible today too. As you prepare for worship tomorrow, search your heart carefully. We all face temptations, in one way or another, to put our faith and trust in someone or something other than Christ Jesus. Those who fall into this trap live in spiritual bondage, slaves to their own human ideas of religion, namely, false religion in all its aspects. Let there be no compromise! As a Christian recognize Jesus alone as your complete Saviour. Put your trust in Him, His Word and His power alone, which saves us. Suggestions for Prayer Pray for the Spirit's work to prepare your heart for worship tomorrow, the Lord's Day. Seek His help to root out all false religion, all vain hopes, and ask Him to guide you to faith without compromise in Jesus, the only Saviour. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - A King’s worth

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.” - Isaiah 9:7 Scripture reading: Isaiah 9:1-7 In 2025, the king business is not what it used to be. The wars and revolutions of the 20th and 21st centuries have greatly depressed the market for kings. Oh there are some left, and it's a well paying job with lots of perks for those who have it, but nowadays, the few kings that are left are mostly just figureheads, symbolic heads of state. There is one king, however, who today rules in might and splendour. One king is powerful and mighty, and He establishes justice and rules with judgment. This is, of course, King Jesus. We Christians celebrate the fact that Jesus is our King, the Son of David, born to reign in us forever. When He establishes His Kingdom in a human heart- in your heart- He removes sin and gives the gift of grace. King Jesus brings His people matchless blessings. Your calling and mine as Christians is to be sure, as the days of this new year go by, that Jesus is ruling our hearts and that by His divine grace we share in His righteousness. Let us exercise our faith, then, to welcome Jesus' rule as King of our hearts and lives. He is the ruler of our lives, and we rejoice to be His subjects, as part of His eternal Kingdom. Those who truly belong to the Lord serve a living King, the Lord Jesus Christ. May He rule in your heart and life, unchallenged and supreme. Suggestions for prayer Seek the powerful working of the Holy Spirit to submit gladly and faithfully to the rule of Christ in your heart and life. Ask the Lord to work in true churches around the world to keep themselves in full submission to Him. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 16 - Nobody is perfect

“For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.” - Psalm 51:5 Scripture reading: Psalm 51:1-9 One of the most commo...

Daily devotional

January 15 - The Lordship of Christ

“Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal son.” - Psalm 2:11-12 Scripture reading: Psalm 2:1-12 ...

Daily devotional

January 14 - Power over fear

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” - Luke 12:32 Scripture reading: Luke 12:22-34 ...

Daily devotional

January 13 - Refusing Christ, refusing life

“…yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” - John 5:40 Scripture reading: John 5:30-40 If you have reached this point in our Nearer t...

Daily devotional

January 12 - Jesus saves

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12 Scripture reading: Acts 4:1-12 Today is the Lord's Day, a time for Christians to gather for worship. We do so, motivated by faith in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. If an unbelieving neighbour or coworker notices this and would ask you, “What is the basic belief that you have which makes you a Christian?” How would you answer? If you would answer, my basic belief is: “Jesus saves!” you would have given a right and true answer. The fact that Jesus Saves, and our faith in the truth of that statement, is what separates Christians from unbelievers. The dividing line between the Christian and the unbeliever, between salvation and condemnation, is the one basic belief of which our text speaks. It is vital for our Christian lives that we share spiritual life in a church that proclaims this basic, Biblical teaching. If you are a member of such a church, be thankful, and do all in your power to build up the communion of the saints there. Those who are saved and those who would be saved must turn in humble faith to Jesus, acknowledge Him as their Saviour and Lord, and share in worshipping Him in His church. God in His grace has provided a place, a shelter from life's storms, where our faith can be strengthened by the means of grace. That place is His church. Be sure that this Lord's Day you attend worship, so that your faith in Jesus will be built up. Let all who truly worship this day find in their salvation by trust in Jesus. Suggestions for prayer Ask that God will bless all those who worship this Lord's Day with strengthened faith in Jesus, the only Saviour. Pray for spiritual renewal in the hearts of those who neglect the means of grace. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - Powerful trust

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” - Psalm 20:7 Scripture reading: Psalm 20:1-9 We Christians are blessed to have the most powerful trust of all: a wholehearted faith in Jesus Christ, the only Saviour. When we trust Jesus to deliver us, we escape the vicious circle of disappointment that worldly people experience as one by one their earthly trusts are betrayed. Those who trust in Jesus are never disappointed, rather they gain a wonderful confidence and peace. Those who trust in earthly schemes, weapons, human reasoning, secular politicians, biased professors and other academics are sure to have their trust betrayed just like those in David's day, who trusted in chariots and horses. Sadly, those who will not put their trust in God, will trust anyone or anything that catches their fancy, no matter how fatally flawed. As a child of God, wisely avoid that trap and put your trust in the Lord alone. In Jesus we find all things necessary for our salvation in this world and in the world to come. Those who put their trust in Jesus find that they share in the most powerful trust of all, because the Lord will never disappoint us. Jesus alone is faithful and able to protect us, to surround us with divine care, to lift us up in sorrow and earthly trials, and to bestow forgiveness and eternal life. In the days ahead, put your trust in God, not in human plans or promises. The more you trust Jesus, the greater will be your spiritual strength, your peace of heart, your experience of pardon, and your joy in the Lord's salvation! Suggestions for prayer Pray for wisdom to turn away from all worldly powers to which the evil one seeks to direct you. Pray that the Holy Spirit will direct you to trust in Jesus alone. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - Starting with hope

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17 Scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 As this New Year unfolds, we look forward to the Lord strengthening us. Surely we need that help in 2025. Our text speaks to us of the good hope that we have, a gift of God, which comes to us through God's amazing grace. Our hope is the expectation we have for the future. Good hope is a positive attitude, a deep rooted feeling of joy, since we know that God will do great and good things for us, His people. David knew that feeling as he composed Psalm 31:24, “Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord.” Daily let your prayer rise up to the Lord Almighty for hope to sustain us in each day that He gives us. When the Apostle Paul wrote this inspired epistle to the Thessalonians, he wrote that God gave them this gift of hope. They had it. Thankfully we Christians of the 21st century can testify to this also. The Lord has been good to us, and in the confidence of faith, we continue to pray to God for the blessing of hope, so that we can have a positive outlook on life, a life which trusts that God is in control. God only gives us the encouragement and strength we need. Look to the Lord, asking Him in humble prayer for His gift of hope, so that strong in faith, sound in doctrine, faithful in good deeds and encouraged in heart, we will live with hearts filled with hope, as we follow Jesus in true discipleship. Suggestions for prayer Seek God's gracious help through prayer for a heart, directed by faith, which is filled with good hope. Ask Him for confidence as you await His will to unfold in your life. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 9 - The path ahead

“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” - Jeremiah 6:16 Scripture reading: Jeremiah 6:16-21 God wants us not only to know the right path: the ancient path where the good was, is the Covenant of Grace. He also wants us to walk in it. This means that we repent from the sin of walking in the wicked way of worldliness. We must decidedly turn off the wicked way of sin, and by the grace of God turn onto the way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. If you have ever read the New Testament, then you know the way. The path has been revealed to you. In this world, however, the problem is that too many know the path of life, but they do not walk in it. They let things big and small, unnecessary doubts and fears, self-will, unconfessed sins become a hindrance to them. We can take a lesson from the inhabitants of Judah who said, “We will not walk in it.” The result was that each passing year grew worse for Judah, until at last they were destroyed. Let nothing hinder you or make you turn aside. Stand by the road; come alive in Christ. Look and see with eyes of faith. See the straight and narrow path that leads to life. Its gate opens only at the Name of Jesus and leads to the Holy City, the new Jerusalem of God. Ask about it. It is ancient and well known, for the Bible speaks plainly about it. Walk in it. Travel forward in the fellowship of faith in Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you as you read the Scriptures, so that you will know the true path of life and walk in it. Pray that those around you, family and friends, will likewise find the path of life and walk in it. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - The Lord’s will

“Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”” - James 4:15 Scripture reading: James 4:13-16 For bel...

Daily devotional

January 7 - A new walk with Jesus

“The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people t...

Daily devotional

January 6 - Expecting the best

“…therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” - Matthew 24:44 Scripture reading: Matthew 24...

Daily devotional

January 5 - Renewing our strength

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall ...

Daily devotional

January 4 - New wine

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” - Luke 5:37-38 Scripture reading: Luke 5:27-38 Jesus' first listeners were familiar with the process of making wine. It was a process that required much care, so that a new batch of wine would prove good. Remember that the people of the ancient near east did not have glass bottles. They used a specially treated, tanned animal skin to store the wine they made. If the wineskin was old and weak, it could not contain new wine, which was still full of the energy of fermentation. The Lord is teaching us here that you cannot contain the energy of newness of Spirit-filled, faithful life in Christ in the old wineskin of unregenerate human nature, which is fatally weakened by stubbornness, hardness of heart, self-will, anger, and spiritual carelessness. If you try, you are bound for disaster. The old wineskin will not be able to take it, and the wine will be spilt and the wineskin ruined. Jesus said that new wine must be put into new wineskins. If you have newness of life in Christ, then you must use the new wineskin of faith, hope, love, obedience and joy. These virtues must mark your life of discipleship. As tomorrow is the Lord's Day, which comes with a call to gather for worship, you need the new wineskin of participation in the life of your congregation. Those who have new life in Christ will be a blessing to the bride of Christ, His church. Use the energy of new life in Jesus to be a blessing and example to those around you. Be sure to worship tomorrow! Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to fill you with the new wine of faithful discipleship. Seek the Lord's guidance as you prepare for worship at church tomorrow. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - New Year’s resolutions

“Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.” - 1 John 2:8 Scripture reading: 1 John 2:1-11 As Christians, we walk in newness of life. We want a new song in our hearts. At the start of 2025 it is good to think of this, since the past is past and the future stretches out before us. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, marks a turning point in history. The Spirit of the Lord applies the perfect work of Christ Jesus to us, His disciples. There is a change that must take place in our hearts and souls, if we are going to live by a new commandment this year. The Apostle, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tells us that this new commandment is to show love. We must shine with the loving light of Christ. The darkness of sin: personal shortcomings, hatreds are passing away, not passed away; we are not yet perfect. Rather passing away, because Jesus, the light of the world, has come and completed His ministry of love for His people, and His Spirit is at work within us to renew us. If you desire a happy 2025, live each day by an old, yet new, commandment: love God above all and your neighbour as yourself. Exercise Christian love in your homes, your congregations, when you interact with family and neighbours. That is the challenge put before you in our text. Only those who turn to Jesus will be able to live by this new commandment. Find newness of life in Him and then live out your faith in practical, Christian living. Make that your prayer in this new year. Suggestions for prayer Pray for a Spirit-directed resolution to live by the new commandment. Pray for opportunities to show the love of Jesus to those around you: family, friends, coworkers, neighbours. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - A sanctified start

“So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.” - Job 1:5 Scripture reading: Job 1:1-5 For many, the Old Year ended with celebrating, and that drew my attention to our text. We read in the opening verses of Job that his children lived in luxury. Daily they held a feast. Weekly their hospitality continued. When each cycle had run its course, Job knew he had to do something. He knew his children were not perfect. Sin easily enters into celebrations. Before we go further into the New Year, we do well to consider our standing, and that of our families, before the Lord. Maybe in our celebrations this season, we have sinned. Can we enter a New Year with a burden of sin upon our hearts? No. Surely it is the desire of every disciple of Jesus that we have a sanctified (that is, holy) start before God, as we advance into the New Year. The Spirit of God gave Job to see that a sanctified life (a life dedicated to God) is no once in a while thing. That is why Job gathered his family for a time of worship with a sacrifice every week. It was his constant practice. May the year 2025 be off for a good start for you. Know your need: you must be sanctified. Offer to the Lord a sacrifice of prayer and praise each week as you attend worship. Above all, look to Jesus and His sacrifice to cleanse and renew you. As a forgiven disciple, enter into the New Year with your burdens removed, your sin pardoned, your heart encouraged and your life set in the right direction. Suggestions for prayer Seek the Lord's forgiveness through the sacrifice of our Saviour. Pray for discipleship that seeks worship, fellowship and forgiveness week by week. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 new year!

For those of us who follow a calendar basically inherited from the ancient Romans, this month of January marks the start of the New Year. We Christians do not follow the Old Testament calendar, which marks a new year near the beginning of autumn. (Rosh Hashanah - in 2025 this falls on September 22). Although there is no Biblical demand that we celebrate the New Year starting on January 1, this holiday does mark an event in human life, noted around the world, which should cause us to reflect on the passing of time and our responsibility before God to use our time wisely. It is my hope and intention that this month of devotionals will do exactly that: urging us on to spiritual reflection and serious consideration of our use of the time God gives us throughout the course of our earthly lives, as each day that we receive is a gift from the Lord of time and eternity. May God bless us, one and all, in this Year of Our Lord 2025. First things first “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.: - Matthew 6:33 Scripture reading: Matthew 6:25-33 Today is the start of a New Year! All of 2025 stretches before us. We prayed our first prayer, ate our first meal. Many attended the first worship service of 2025 this morning. In our text, Jesus calls us to seek, before all else, a living relationship with Jesus by seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. That relationship is not just going to fall into our lap. Those who treat Christianity as a minor aspect of their existence, who do not faithfully attend church, who never pray or open their Bibles are not going to find the power, beauty and joy of a life lived fully in God's kingdom. Jesus' command is: Seek first! Right at the top of your agenda for 2025 must be a willingness to invest time and energy in God's Kingdom. Also, we are to seek “His righteousness.” Here is a challenge for us all. Often we seek God's forgiveness, but how often do we actively seek His righteousness? The Lord calls us to live a holy Christian life. A righteous life is a powerful witness of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is vital for ourselves, our families, our congregations and our witness that we seek Christ's righteousness in all we say and do in 2025 and onward through life. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. May that be your guiding light in this New Year. Rise to the challenge. Dare to live by Christ's high standard. Those who do, will not lose, for “all these things will be added to you.” Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to work His sovereign will in your heart, mind, and soul so that as 2025 unfolds you will, indeed, put first things first. Pray for wisdom to make God's kingdom and righteousness the first priority of your life. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. He is presently retired and living in Toronto. 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 - The Bride and Spirit in sync

“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come, let the one who desires t...

Daily devotional

December 30 - His reward is with him

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” - Revelation 22:12 Scripture reading: Rev...

Daily devotional

December 29 - Keeping the vision

“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” - Revelation 22:7 Scripture reading: Rev...

Daily devotional

December 28 - His name on our foreheads

“They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” - Revelation 22:4 Scripture reading: Revelation 22:1-5 The blessedness ...

Daily devotional

December 27 - The trees of life

“Also, on either side of the river, the tree of life, with its twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” - Revelation 22:2b Scripture reading: Revelation 22:1-5 The picture of paradise continues with a picture of a tree of life on both sides of the river of life. We read of the tree of life in Genesis where Eden was at the headwaters of four great rivers. There Adam worked and lived in fellowship with God, glorifying Him in true knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. The tree was a sign and seal of God’s favour, which is the essence of life itself. Apart from God’s favour, there is death. So we see that since man sinned, death reigns along with increasing corruption and disease. Paradise restored gives access to the tree of life on both sides of the river. All restrictions from it are removed, and not only do we have the river that nourishes us, but we continually have the marvellous fruit of the tree of life and its leaves! In glory, we have healing from all our diseases. We have abundant life, indicated by 12 kinds of fruit every month! On either side of the river flowing down the center of the city, we have a picture of a park or paradise. It portrays a place of marvellous fellowship with God and each other. No more curse, for the price has been paid. God Himself will provide all we need for fellowship with Him and each other. God is enthroned in our midst! We will worship Him in our submission to His will, being and doing what we are made to be and do. Suggestions for prayer Pray for the day when there will be no more sin and its consequences. Pray for the day when nothing will inhibit our worship, our glorifying and enjoyment of God in all we are and do. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - The river of life

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the city.” - Revelation 22:1-2a Scripture reading: Revelation 22:1-5 The beauty of the church is her fellowship with God. The Lamb’s wife, for eternity, shall live with Him and He with her. The church is here described as a garden (paradise) inside the city, as it were, and we first see the River of Life. The river of the water of life flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, and down the middle of the great street of the city. A River of Life! Life is essentially found in fellowship with God, something we have on the merits of Christ’s life and work. Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39). In the paradise of God, a river flowing from the Throne symbolizes that the Triune God is our eternal source of life and strength. In Ezekiel 47, the river flowed from the temple, the presence of God into all the world to gather the elect. In glory, we will have pure fellowship with the Triune God because of the work of the Spirit poured out by the glorified Christ and the Father. One life, through the Spirit, fills all believers, uniting us in fellowship with the Triune God. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to fulfill His promises speedily and thank Him for His Spirit Who is a guarantee of our eternal inheritance found in Christ alone. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - Christ, the light of the world

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” - Revelation 21:23 Scripture reading: Revelation 21:9-27 Today, we celebrate the incarnation of Christ as the Light of the world. In the new heavens and earth, where our dwelling with God will be perfect, we shall see clearly, for we shall see Christ, Who is the light of God, face to face, and He shall illumine all things. Now we see as through a glass darkly, but then we shall see clearly. No temple is in the city, because God dwells with His people and they with Him in perfect fellowship. There is no sun or moon because Christ Himself perfectly radiates God. The glory of God radiates everywhere, so the nations walk in His light. Haggai prophesied a day when God would shake the earth and the wealth of the nations would pour into the temple. Believers are the precious jewels that come pouring into this radiant fellowship with God. John sees the gates of the city open, and people from all nations entering. But no one and nothing evil shall be found within the gates, within the wall. Only the glory and honour of the nations, those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, are found in this city. All impurity, falsehood and what is detestable will not be found in the city coming down out of heaven. If we have done shameful, impure things, do we have hope? Yes, there is forgiveness in Christ, Who took on flesh to bear our guilt. Everyone who trusts Him has their name written in the Lamb’s book of life. Suggestions for prayer Praise God for the birth of Jesus, Who took on flesh to take away our guilt so that we could be restored to perfect fellowship with God. Thank God for the purity we have in Jesus, and our eternal fellowship with our Triune God. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - A view of the city #2

“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” - Revelation 21:22 Scripture reading: Revelation 21:9-27 As we read the description of the city for the third time we certainly must see that its description is rather fluid. The wall is jasper, clear as crystal. Jasper is usually green, red, or blue, but here it is like a crystal, so pure. The city itself is made of gold, but pure gold, like clear glass. The wall has 12 foundations, and 12 angels at the 12 gates. The names of Israel’s tribes are on the gates, and the names of the apostles on the foundations. Each gate is a single pearl. The idea portrayed is that the church is a combination of Old and New Testament believers, perfectly united in faith in Christ. Ephesians 2 says, “Consequently you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” The church is portrayed as a city, not because she is made of buildings, but because she is a new society, a sharp contrast to Babylon. Babylon’s work, recreation, art and education was all for the glory of man, but the church exists for the glory of God. People come from all directions into this unity with Christ! So beautiful! Suggestions for prayer As you reflect on Christ’s first coming, remember that He came to earth to bring us to heaven. Pray for His second coming, when all the elect shall be gathered in and the church will be complete, one in Christ. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - A view of the city #1

“ showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jas...

Daily devotional

December 22 - The vision of the bride

“Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” - Revelation 21:9b Scripture reading: Revelation 21:9-27 When the Queen of Sheba ...

Daily devotional

December 21 - Trustworthy and true words

“It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without paymen...

Daily devotional

December 20 - The new heavens and the new earth II

Daily devotional

December 19 - The new heavens and the new earth I

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” - Revelation 21:1 Scripture reading: Revelation 21:1-8 In the book of Genesis we see the devil’s deceit, but here in Revelation we see him thrown into the lake of burning sulphur. Genesis shows man hiding from God, while Revelation shows man restored to fellowship with God. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God.” Here the theme of Revelation comes to light. God has faithfully delivered the salvation He promised in the garden. Christ has crushed the serpent’s head. Christ triumphs and we are delivered from the curse and enter a renewed heavens and earth. Hallelujah! In Isaiah 65:17 God said, “Behold I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” 2 Peter 3:13 says, “But according to his promise we are waiting for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” John here sees, in a vision, this happening. As Jesus says, “I make everything new.” What a blessing it will be. As Isaiah 66:22-23 says, “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me … so shall your offspring and your name remain … all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord.” What a marvellous hope we have. All things shall be made new, and the former things (sins) shall not be remembered (Isaiah 65:15). Suggestions for prayer Pray that Jesus may come quickly. How we long for the day when sin shall be no more, and all things shall be made new, and we will have perfect fellowship with our Savior and Lord. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - Day of judgement

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it … And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened … and the dead were judged by what was written in the books.” - Revelation 20:11, 12 Scripture reading: Revelation 20:11-15 Today we catch a glimpse of the day of judgment. We see the great throne and Him Who was seated on it. Creation is seen to flee from God’s presence and it is as if all people were left ‘alone’ before the Judge. All are here; even the sea, and death and hades give up the dead. No one misses judgment day! Then the books opened, including a book of life. All who have died were judged, along with all who are yet living, by what was written in the books, according to what they had done, which reflects what was in their hearts. We see Death itself and Hades thrown into the Lake of fire, along with everyone whose name was not written in the book of life. All who believe, whose sins are covered in the Lamb’s blood, whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world (see chapter 13:8), are saved. Not because they are worthy, but because God graciously gave them faith and life eternal, clothing them in the righteousness of Christ, and they believed and followed Jesus, striving to live as He lived, loving and forgiving as He loved and forgave them. Jesus secured their salvation in His death, resurrection, and ascension. He loses none of those who are His. Believe this and rejoice in the certainty of Christ’s work! Don’t fear the final judgment: your Judge is your Redeemer. Only those who do not believe need fear Jesus’ coming. Suggestions for prayer Pray for the coming judgment and give thanks to God that we are, by God’s mercy, clothed in the righteousness of Christ and our names written in the Lamb’s book of life. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - The destruction of Satan

“…the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever...” - Revelation 20:10 Scripture reading: Revelation 20:7-10 At the end of the Thousand years (a symbolic term for the age of the Christ reigning in heaven) the devil will be released to deceive the nations again, and he will unite the world in opposition to Christ. We have already seen pictures of this great battle in which the beasts are destroyed along with the great city. “Gog and Magog” is an expression taken from Ezekiel 38-39 that refers to a great attack against the people of God. Little chance of survival, yet God’s people survived. This pictures, just before the final judgment, how the devil, when he will try once more to be victorious over the seed of the woman, will be defeated and thrown into the lake of burning sulphur where the beast and false prophet had been thrown. From this he will never escape, but suffer torment forever. Hallelujah! Christ is victorious. So here is another assurance of the defeat of Satan and our enemies. Nothing, no one will stop the Word of God from accomplishing what He says, what God has planned from before the foundation of the world. As we read in Ephesians 1, His purpose is to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and on earth. And in Him, we who believe have the guarantee of the Spirit until we acquire possession of our inheritance, to the praise of God’s glory. Considering the growing opposition we see to our Lord and His church, we should take courage and rejoice. Our victory is certain. Suggestions for prayer Give God glory. Express your trust in His Word, His promises of our inheritance in the new heavens and earth, of an eternity of fellowship with our Triune God. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - The victorious in Christ

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection.” - Revelation 20:6 Scripture reading: Revelation 20: 4-6 Now John sees thrones upon which are seated those who have been given authority to judge. Here are those who have died for Christ’s sake and all believers who died prior to the second coming. They are reigning. Early Christians expected a quick return of Christ, and when family and friends began dying, they began to wonder about the reality of the kingdom and the promises of Christ. John's vision shows them that they are alive with Christ and share in His victory and authority. They have come to life and reign with Him. Those in glory are one with us who yet live. The first resurrection includes all who confess Jesus and follow Him rather than serve the creation and the gods of this world. All who have died to sin with Christ share in His life, His resurrection, and since we are raised with Him, we also reign with Him in glory. Even on earth, we are the authority of the Word, which has the power to make alive forever those who are dead in sin. In Christ, as 1 John 2 says, we have been given victory over the evil one. Those who are not in Christ do not share this new life, but blessed and holy are those who know the joy of this first resurrection. Though we die, we still live, forever! Our Mediator reigns, and we with Him by faith while we yet live on earth, but by sight if we have ascended to glory. Suggestions for prayer Praise our Triune God for the marvellous blessing of everlasting life, for God has set us apart for His praise for all eternity. Pray for the day of complete and final victory. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - The binding of Satan

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hands the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, th...

Daily devotional

December 14 - The great feast

“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great...

Daily devotional

December 13 - The rider on the white horse

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes wa...

Daily devotional

December 12 - The marriage supper of the Lamb

“And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are t...

Daily devotional

December 11 - Rejoicing in heaven

“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God for his judgments are true and just, for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his saints.” - Revelation 19:1b-2 Scripture reading: Revelation 19:1-5 The word Hallelujah is used only four times in the New Testament, all in this chapter. It means, “Praise the Lord.” It is sung three times over the destruction of Babylon and once over the marriage feast! In response to the destruction of Babylon, John hears the roar of multitude shouting Hallelujah! This is the response of the Church Triumphant. They are rejoicing because of God’s salvation, power and justice. God promised salvation in the Garden and here at the end it comes – all praise and glory belongs to our God. “Hallelujah, the smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” This is perfectly just. God said that those who seek this life will lose it, while those who are willing to lose this life for Christ’s sake, will find it. God is being perfectly true to His promises. And never again shall rebellion and sin arise. Nothing on earth or in heaven shall again detract from God’s glory. Salvation will be complete and eternal. We see the 24 elders, representing the church of all ages, and the four living creatures worshipping God and saying, “Hallelujah!” And from the throne a voice cries out, “Praise God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” Here we are called to praise God, for sin shall be destroyed and we will live in a new heavens and earth. What a glorious day that will be when Jesus comes to judge the world in righteousness. Let us make ourselves pure for that day. Suggestions for prayer Give God praise and glory for His great plan of salvation that He is working out in time. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - The fall of Babylon

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” - Revelation 18:2 Scripture reading: Revelation 18:1-24 As fascinating and wonderful as our civilization is, we must take note of the warning this chapter gives. After all, most of our culture and world leads us not to the worship and praise of God, but to live apart from Him and for ourselves, for our pleasures, serving created reality rather than the Creator. This is why John hears the voice from heaven calling, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.” For indeed she is headed for destruction. This chapter paints the destruction of the prostitute of Babylon, as sudden and swift. The kings of the earth who committed adultery with her will mourn, “… for in a single hour judgment has come.” Merchants will weep because all their goods will be gone in an hour. Those who transported these goods will mourn, for in a single hour the city is destroyed. This is the final day of judgment when God destroys the world for the sake of God’s people (v. 20). The angel throws a stone demonstrating the violence with which the city will be overthrown. The sounds of culture and civilization will be heard in her no more, for she refused to worship God, and she was guilty of the blood of prophets and saints, killing them physically and spiritually. She was guilty of deceiving the nations. Only the saints of God will be saved for the new civilization of the new heavens and earth, which is pictured later in Revelation. Suggestions for prayer Pray that Jesus will come quickly, and all His enemies be destroyed so that this world will once again be filled with God’s glory, and sin forever banished. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - The beast with seven heads

“I will tell you the mystery … of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.” - Revelation 17:4 Scripture reading: Revelation 17:7-18 The beast, John is told, once was, is not now, but will come out of the abyss and go to its destruction. One head had a fatal wound that was healed. As one early power falls, another takes its place, but will also go to destruction. The seven heads here are seven hills (Rome was built on seven hills), but notice they are also seven kings or kingdoms. Now we need not identify the seven kingdoms or kings because they represent all ungodly governments, and the prostitute is supported by them and headed for destruction. Governments spend much money on cultural things, including arts, sports, civic buildings, all which seem good, yet they do so to glorify themselves and man, not God, and so they can be deadly. Ten horns represent several governments, confederates of the beast as it wages war against the lamb along with the dragon. Yet, John is told that the Lamb will be victorious because He is the Lord of Lords and the King of kings. With Him are His called, chosen and faithful followers. Christ will lose none of those who are His, and here He assures that we are one with Him in victory. Notice how in the last verses the beast turns on the prostitute and brings her down. The kingdoms of the world become disillusioned with peoples and their activities, and God will use this to the destruction of both the prostitute and the beast. Human civilization will always self-destruct. Only in Christ is their lasting victory. Suggestions for prayer Praise God that He is sovereign, and for His promised salvation. Thank Him for the assurance that no matter how powerful our enemies, Christ is victorious in the spiritual warfare, and we share in that victory. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - The great prostitute and the beast #2

“The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.” - Revelation 17:4 Scripture reading: Revelation 17:1-18 Purple is the colour of royalty, scarlet of splendour, but in the Old Testament it was also the colour of sin (Isaiah 1:8), and the colour of the dragon and the beast. The woman wears jewelry and beautiful clothes to entice. She holds a golden cup. Society always offers the best, promising pleasure and prosperity, but it always ends up empty. The cup is only a device to entice people to join her in her evil and ungodly ways. As Christians we must be careful in our world, not to be taken in by the pleasures of sin, or the promises of prosperity in a world apart from God. Divorce can seem attractive, adultery delightful, sexual indulgence thrilling, but it is never satisfying in the long run. The Prostitute has the name Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth. John may have thought of Rome (the culture, people and the government). But it represents all civilization that leads people to find their pleasures in this world, not in the maker of the world. John sees her celebrating victory over Christians (she is drunk with their blood). Many Christians are seduced by the world and she is ecstatic over this. Notice how we see the prostitute and the beast are together. Tomorrow we will look more at the beast, to which John pays more attention. But human civilization depends on human governments and power to succeed. May we be on guard against the Prostitute (Proverbs 1). Suggestions for prayer Thank God that we live where we do by God’s appointment. Pray that we be kept from temptation and delivered from the evil one, so that God receives all glory and praise. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - The great prostitute and the beast #1

Daily devotional

December 6 - The final three bowls

“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” - Revel...

Daily devotional

December 5 - The first four bowls

“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” - Revel...

Daily devotional

December 4 - Seven angels coming with final plagues

Daily devotional

December 3 - Reason for optimism

“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire – and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name standing beside the sea of glass with harps in their hands.” - Revelation 15:2 Scripture reading: Revelation 15:1-8 After the vision of judgment in chapter 14, we are given another sign in heaven, seven angels with seven plagues who will finish the wrath of God. Then John sees what looks like a sea of glass mixed with fire. In Revelation 4, the sea was like glass clear as crystal, under and before the throne, but in this vision, it is mixed with fire. God, in His radiant glory, shows perfect anger over wickedness. Standing beside the sea are those who are victorious in the spiritual warfare. They have been faithful in trial, trusting the gospel promises, willing to give up all for Christ. Here they hold harps given by God to enable them to rejoice. As Israel sang after passing through the Red Sea, here the saints sing a song echoing that of Moses, but speaking of the redemption of Christ. Each phrase echoes rich Old Testament truth. Great and amazing are the righteous deeds of the Lord God Almighty (see Ps. 81, 130). The righteousness or justice of God’s ways are based on Deuteronomy 32:4. Therefore they sing, “Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?” They echo Old Testament expectations of the day when all nations would come and worship God (Ps. 86:9), something we see also in Philippians 2:9ff. The day is coming when all creation will worship our God, and God himself will accomplish this through the work of Jesus Christ the Saviour. We have great reason for optimism, for our God is righteous and true. Suggestions for prayer Although we see much opposition to Christ and His church, praise God for His great and amazing deeds, just and true, in Jesus Christ. Rejoice for the day is coming when all nations will glorify God and worship Him. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - The harvest of the earth

“So He who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth and the earth was reaped.” - Revelation 14:16 Scripture reading: Revelation 14:14-20 The last picture in Revelation 14 is of the final judgment described as a harvest with two parts, a general harvest and a harvest of grapes, or the wicked. Notice that it is Jesus Who brings in the harvest, Who swings the sickle in v. 16. He comes to judge. Many do not like to see Jesus this way, but John the Baptist said of Jesus, His winnowing fork is in his hand and He will clear his threshing floor, gathering the wheat into his barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12). In Revelation 19 Jesus is seen treading out the winepress of the fury of God’s wrath. Here the unrighteous are trampled in the winepress of the wrath of God. This happens outside the city because the wicked are not allowed in the city. Those who do not believe in Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for sins will never know the joy of the new heavens and earth, but will suffer the torments of eternal punishment. They will never enter the glory of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:27). While there is time, they should repent and put their faith in Jesus. Today is yet a day of salvation. This picture of the harvest is one of great comfort for believers. We are saved by the grace of God through a faith expressed in our following of Jesus. We rejoice in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life. Jesus comes to judge the world in righteousness. Suggestions for prayer As we anticipate celebrating Christmas this year, pray that we will keep in mind that Christ came to make all things new, and is coming again to do that in the final judgment. Praise God for the hope we have in Him. Pray for courage to call the world to repent before Jesus returns. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 Revelation

In December of 2022, I did a series of devotions on Revelation 1-14:12. I was asked to do a follow-up series on the rest of the book of Revelation. I am happy to do so as this book helps us live in anticipation of the return of our Lord, comforting us with the assurance that Christ our King is returning to bring us to spend eternity with our Triune God in the New Heavens and Earth. Although in this world we face the opposition of the evil one and his minions, our hope is sure. May He come quickly! We begin our devotions this month at the end of a section of Revelation. Each section of Revelation describes the warfare of Satan against God and His church, and God’s response to Satan as He protects and saves His church. Revelation 14:6, which we finished off in our devotions two years ago, shows us the first of three angels who give messages and warnings for the comfort of the saints. This first angel calls us to “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of judgment has come.” This is indeed the awesome news the world needs to hear. The devil’s time is short, and Christ is coming soon! In fact all the signs of His coming are evident around us. We see the false prophet and the beast from the sea, that is, all human powers encouraging men to live apart from God. We see the various partial judgments warning all to repent and believe in Jesus for salvation! It should be evident to all that the destruction of man’s kingdoms is just around the corner! Therefore we are called to worship the Creator and to patiently endure to the end, remaining faithful to Jesus. Jesus says He is coming soon (Revelation 22:20). Assurance of victory “Write this: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.”” - Revelation 14:13 Scripture reading: Revelation 14:6-13 The first angel called all people to fear God and give Him glory, because the time of judgment has come, and he calls all to worship the creator. This is followed by two other angels, the first announcing the fall of Babylon, the second the judgment on those who follow in the ways of Babylon. Babylon represents people united against God in their daily living. Our culture is primarily anti-God, with people united in denying truth to assert their own ‘truth.’ This includes the secular powers (the first beast) and false teachings (the image of the beast) that promote such self-centred living. All will fall since they tempt followers of Jesus to join them in their materialism and godlessness in behaviour. The vividness of this punishment should not escape us. His wrath will be poured out day and night forever. Jesus speaks of unquenchable fire and eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth. All who live according to the principles of this godless culture will perish eternally. Such a picture of hell calls believers to patiently endure, to stay true in following Jesus wherever He leads. God's judgment is coming, and He will bring justice. Believers who die in the Lord before Jesus comes are called blessed, for they rest from their labour. Assurance is given that their works, which are a sign of their faith, will follow them. Let us who believe maintain our faith and follow Christ, not the world. Suggestions for prayer That God would grant His Spirit that we might believe the promises of salvation in Jesus, and remain faithful to Jesus as we follow Him. Pray that we may be kept unspotted from the world. Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, but as a PK grew up in different places, mostly in Canada. He served in four churches: Burdett Alberta (CRC), Telkwa, B.C. (CRC), Trinity St. Catharines, Ontario (CRC/URC) and Covenant URC in Pantego, North Carolina. He retired in September 2019, and he and his wife presently reside in Washington, North Carolina. 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 - Reckless zeal

“...for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.” - Hosea 1:4 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 10:1-36 What a ruthless character is Jehu! What an agent for cleansing the church and state! What an impressive figure as he welcomes Jehonadab into his chariot and says, “See my zeal for the Lord.” Yet, Jehu's zeal was a reckless, self-serving zeal, doing right things the wrong way for the wrong reasons, because his heart was not right before God (verse 31). This is what earned him God's judgment upon his own house, as declared in Hosea 1:4. Though we can marvel at the shrewd ways he destroys the house of Ahab and the idolatrous worship of Baal, Jehu's motives were clearly political. In spite of doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord (verse 30), he did it to secure his own throne. He allowed the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan (verse 29) for reasons of state - to prevent the return of the northern ten tribes to the house of David. Because of his impure zeal, true reform never happened. While Israel continued to be chastised by Hazael, and reduced by his raids, Jehu died, unable to save the nation. It would take another, with a greater and more perfect zeal than Jehu. One who would conquer not merely over flesh and blood, but the power of sin and Satan in our hearts. It's this Lord Jesus Christ Who is coming in judgment to destroy all the godless and to usher in a righteous world. Until that Day, may all of us, unlike Jehu, display a pure and wholehearted zeal for Him! Suggestions for prayer Pray that God, Who sees our hearts, may fill them with a zeal that is motivated by a pure devotion to Him, in all that we desire and do. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - The Lord’s madman

“Rejoice with Him, O heavens, bow down to Him, all gods, for He avenges the blood of His children and takes vengeance on His adversaries. He repays ...

Daily devotional

November 28 - Life and death

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that yo...

Daily devotional

November 27 - Unsolicited grace (II)

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19 Scripture reading: 2 Kings ...

Daily devotional

November 26 - Unsolicited grace (I)

“Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."” - John 9:39 Scrip...

Daily devotional

November 25 - A prophet in Israel (II)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 5:15-27 Naaman brought lots of money and gifts to pay Elisha for his cure. But all he had to do is believe in the promise of God. So, Naaman humbles himself and dips seven times in the Jordan, as Elisha said. Why seven times? To signify total trust and obedience to the Word of God. For though salvation is free, the Gospel must be obeyed. The miraculous happens! His leprosy is gone, he's a new man! Astounding! But even more wonderful is the cleansing of all sinners, who by grace through faith, entrust themselves to Christ and are washed of all their guilty stains. Now Naaman confesses, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel." Thus, what the king of Israel would not confess in his unbelief, this Gentile comes to experience and proclaim. Thankful for his healing, Naaman wants to pay for it. But teaching that God gives salvation purely as a gift of grace that can never be earned or repaid, Elisha refuses anything from Naaman's hands. Gehazi, however, thinks otherwise. What he thought of Elisha's treatment of Naaman, the world thinks of the Gospel. It's too easy and too cheap. Yes, because it's priceless! And receiving payment from Naaman, Gehazi receives, as punishment from God, his former leprosy. Yes, there is a prophet in Israel. And one infinitely greater than Elisha- our crucified, risen and reigning Lord Jesus Christ. Only He can say, I, even I am the LORD, and besides me there is no saviour.(Isaiah 43:11) Suggestions for prayer Pray that our lives may show the wonder of God's grace to us through Jesus Christ alone, and the good works we display as nothing but thankfulness for His salvation. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - A prophet in Israel (I)

“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: 2 Kings 5:1-14;6:1-7 Can guilty sinners such as you and I be saved? We might as well ask, can an incurable leper be healed or an iron axe head float! Naaman was a great general who had given victory to Syria, but he suffered from the miserable, and ultimately fatal, disease of leprosy. By God's grace an Israelite girl, captured by the Syrians, in the service of Naaman's wife, pointed to his cure: the prophet Elisha, in Samaria (Israel). So Naaman goes to Elisha's house. But expecting special treatment by Elisha, himself, he was told by a messenger to wash in the Jordan seven times to be healed. Naaman turns away in a rage. This was an insult to his dignity! The rivers of Damascus are better than any of the waters of Israel. In effect, he says, "If I want to take a bath, why don't I just go there? Since they're far more beautiful and impressive, why not?" For one reason only: because salvation is found in Israel alone! In fact, it's found in Christ and the power of His cross alone! To many, like Naaman, God's prescription for salvation is degrading. And no wonder! For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). Persuaded to believe the word of God's prophet, Naaman was healed. And like a lost axe head, his life was restored. So may we hear and believe God's ultimate prophet, Jesus Christ, and be restored today! Suggestions for prayer Pray that we might not only hear the Word of Christ, our Chief Prophet, but like the captive Israelite girl, cause others to hear His life giving Word, as well. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - The word of life (IV)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” - John 10:10 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 4:38-44 The Word of Life brings Freedom and A Future. And it also brings Favour and Fullness. As verse 38 says, in the midst of a famine, Elisha sought to feed the sons of the prophets. Food was scarce, but to make it worse, one of the men cut up pieces of a wild gourd, a poisonous one, making the stew bitter and inedible. But in obedience to Elisha's command, they bring him some flour, which he throws into the pot, to make the food good. Thus again, we are shown that Elisha's words, when heeded, bring life out of death; bringing what is wholesome out of what is noxious, deadly and foul! So the Word of Christ is for us. Like all people, we also encounter trials and hardships in our lives. But believing God's Word, and knowing that such are sent to us as loving discipline, to make us like Jesus, then we can know the joy of life abundant, as we submit to Him, the Father of our spirits and live forever (Hebrews 12:9). For the world, hardships are only bitter, making their whole life bitter, ending in death. But for the Christian they make life better, under the favour of God, for such is the power of the Word of Life. Finally we see, in verses 42-44, the power of the Word of Life to give Fullness to meet our every need. For out of scarcity, the word of Life brings satisfaction. As what could never feed 20, feeds 100, so Christ, the Word of Life declares, whoever comes to me will never hunger, whoever believes in me will never thirst (John 6:35). Suggestions for prayer Ask God to show you the Freedom, Future, Favour and Fullness you have in Christ, the Word of Life, and to live it out each and every day. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - The word of life (III)

“Women received back their dead by resurrection.” - Hebrews 11:35a Scripture reading: 2 Kings 4:18-37 The Word of Life - Jesus Christ - gives not only Freedom, but a Future, not only for this life, but A Future For Eternity. With the birth of a son, the Shunamite woman and her husband were greatly blessed. But their faith was tried when their child died. Yet, her faith did not die. She shows strength and no complaint comes from her when she asks her husband to provide her a way to go to the prophet Elisha. When he asks, "Why?” she simply responds, "All is well." Literally, she says shalom, for even in the face of tragedy the believer can know peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Her faith convinced her that, somehow, Elisha could again be instrumental in doing the impossible and that God would make sense of this horrible situation. Thus, she goes to pour out her heart to him who bore the Word of Life. Once a person is gripped by the Word of the Lord, they will and must claim that Word for victory and life- no matter what- and never in vain. Elisha is filled with compassion for her- the very compassion that Jesus has for us today. And her son is raised to life! This is no promise of no more funerals, if only we have faith, but a pledge to those who believe in God's Word - the Word of Life - that in Christ - the resurrection and the life - we have an eternally glorious future beyond the grave, and the power to live our lives to the full, today! Suggestions for prayer Pray for the faith to trust the Lord,no matter how turbulent the circumstances, knowing that we can have confidence in Him, for all grace and help, in our time of need. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - The word of life (II)

“The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.” - Proverbs 14:11 “Blessed are the meek, for they shal...

Daily devotional

November 20 - The word of life (I)

“...concerning the word of life- the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was ...

Daily devotional

November 19 - Fighting Moab

“For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.” - Is...

Daily devotional

November 18 - Elijah’s ascension

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to...

Daily devotional

November 17 - Lord of the flies

“Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” - John 3:18 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 22:51 - 2 Kings 1:18 What would you think of one who, seriously sick, refuses the care of a skillful doctor, but seeks the opinion of a quack who has healed no one? Representing all who spurn the grace of God in Jesus Christ was Ahaziah, son of Ahab. The famine prayed down by Elijah, the exposure of Baal's powerlessness on Mt. Carmel, and all the other of the Lord's awe inspiring dealings with his father, were known to Ahaziah. Yet, deadly sick from his injury, he inquires not of Elijah, but of Baal-zebub (lord of the flies whose swarms falsely foretold the future), the god of Ekron, concerning his recovery. In so doing, he proclaimed that in Israel (the Church), the real God is not known, or is unable to save. So we also proclaim when we trust in the gods of security, money, peer acceptance and pleasure, or our own good works, rather than in Christ. Yahweh's omnipotence, however, was strikingly shown when Ahaziah's messengers were intercepted by Elijah. “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub...?... you shall surely die." Rather than repent and submit himself to God, Ahaziah sends three captains of fifty men to arrest Elijah. Two are completely destroyed; one sues for mercy and is spared. But unrepentant Ahaziah dies in unbelief. Today, as you hear the "Word of Christ" (Romans 10:17), may you hear the Word of the Lord, who says, Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live (Isaiah 55:3). Suggestions for prayer Implore the Lord to give you the grace, today and always, to forsake your trust in idols, and to trust in Christ alone. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:22). Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - The 401st prophet

“But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?"” - 1 Kings 22:7 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 22:1-40 If ever there was a need for a true prophet to speak the truth, in politics, education, labor and science, and above all, in the church, the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15), that time is now. Yet, this is nothing new. Determined to regain Ramoth-gilead, Ahab only wanted "prophets" to confirm his will, however misguided, as God's will. Like many preachers, today, who deliver just what their hearers want, his 400 "prophets" knew "what side their bread was buttered on." Thus, with one voice they say, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king." One of them, Zedekiah, acting like a moron with iron horns on his head, said, "With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed." False prophets can quote Scripture - his words come from Deuteronomy 33:17. But Jehoshaphat wasn't taken in by these pseudo-prophets. Thus, they call for Michaiah, who, as the apostate king complains, "Never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." In spite of the pressure to conform, Micaiah breaks with the monotony of the 400 and declares to the king the truth. The truth was confirmed when Ahab, rejecting it, and failing to take Ramoth-gilead, died in battle. As you prepare to hear God's word in church tomorrow, pray that your preacher may in no wise cave to identify with the 400, representing the majority of false prophets today, but with the 401st, who says, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak." Suggestions for prayer Pray that you may both hear and apply the Word of God to your life, as you read it today and hear it proclaimed from the pulpit tomorrow. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - In Naboth’s vineyard

“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession.” - 1 Kings 21:18 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 21:1-29 More than covetousness, murder and theft against Naboth, Ahab's action constituted an attack upon the Kingdom of Christ. That vineyard represented the Lord's inheritance. God said in Leviticus 25:23, The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine.Israel belonged to the Lord, and His peoples' inheritance in it was a pledge of having a part in God's kingdom forever. Naboth and his sons, who were murdered with him (2 Kings 9:26), clearly comprised the 7,000 faithful Israelites who had not bowed their knee to Baal. As a follower of Baal, Ahab was not content with his extravagant land and ivory palaces. He had to have more and wicked Jezebel saw that he would. She paid off two scoundrels (literally, sons of Belial-the devil) to falsely accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king and they stoned Naboth and his sons to death. Hatred for Christ and His kingdom motivated Ahab's wife. More than land, she wanted Nabal's blood! How often such blasphemous and hypocritical pretexts, in the name of justice, are employed in persecuting the righteous today. As God's condemnation by Elijah fell upon Ahab, so it will fall by Christ upon all who oppose Him on the last Day. The mills of God’s justice may grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine! Don't sell your inheritance in Christ for the things of this world. Naboth's vineyard is God's pledge that all who trust in Him will see the punishment of the wicked and the fullness of their salvation in Jesus. Suggestions for prayer Pray for strength to hold on to your inheritance - your faith - amidst all the pressures of the world to deny it. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - Treasonous treaties

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” - James 4:4 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 20:1-43 Here again, the Lord shows Himself as Yahweh Sabbaoth - the Lord of Hosts - the God of the armies of Heaven - calling His people to fight in His Name by putting their trust in Him. Here too, He shows His grace and faithfulness to His covenant people who, under Ahab their king, had become faithless, weak and wicked. Thus, He grants them a tremendous victory over the invading and much larger armies of Ben-hadad, the king of Syria. And not once, but twice! Yet, what does Ahab do? He makes peace with the enemy, literally a covenant or treaty with Ben-hadad, and shows himself an enemy of God. As the prophet declared to him in verse 42, Thus says the LORD, "Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people. "This sentence was soon executed (see 1 Kings 22:37;2 Kings 8:12). Like Israel of old, we are called to holy warfare. We are called to Put to death what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). We are called to fight the good fight of the faith (I Timothy 6:12). We are not to be traitors and enemies of God by forging treaties with Satan, sin and a corrupted world. As Romans 8:37 says, We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. So let us fight the evil within us and without, however great and mighty it may seem. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the victory that is ours in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - The call of Elisha

“Then he (Elisha) arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.” - 1 Kings 19:21b Scripture reading: 1 Kings 19:19-21 In the Lord's callin...

Daily devotional

November 12 - Discouraged?

“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” - Romans 12:11 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 19:1-18 What a contrast to t...

Daily devotional

November 11 - A sound of rushing rain

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the...

Daily devotional

November 10 - The God who answers by fire

“...and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” - Hebrews 12:28-29 Scripture r...

Daily devotional

November 9 - Limping between two opinions

“Whoever is not with me is against me.” - Matthew 12:30 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 18:16-24 There's no half-way in our response to the Lord. For "If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him." God is a jealous God Who will not tolerate rivals (Ex. 20:5). But limping between two opinions -catering to two religions diametrically opposed - that's what Israel, under Ahab, was doing. Thus, he tolerates godly Obadiah along with the 450 prophets of Baal. In a day when many claim to be "spiritual" and in their own way "Christians”, the Word of God confronts us and says, "If the Christ of the cross be the Saviour, then follow Him, but if the "christ" of popular opinion be true, follow him." One demands the surrender of our hearts and wills to Him, and says take up your cross and follow me - that you must lose your life in order to find it. The other is simply an add-on to an otherwise worldly life. One is the pathway of liberty from sin, the other is the "freedom" to sin as you please. One leads to the joy of everlasting life; the other to temporal misery and eternal death. Unwilling to commit themselves to one or the other, many, even in the church today, "limp" between these two opinions, showing little steadiness in their walk, as they continue to attend church, but align themselves with the world. In the midst of a confused generation and a halfhearted church, may we show the world what Elijah's name really means: that "My God is Yahweh (the LORD)"-and that He is Lord alone! Suggestions for prayer Pray for consistency in renouncing the "Baals" of our culture for devotion to Christ. Plead that you not be conformed to the world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind through the Word of God. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - True troublers of Israel

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad...for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” - Matthew 5:11-12 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 18:1-18 After three years of drought, death and despair, faithless Ahab meets the very prophet who by the Word of the Lord had prophesied these calamities upon his covenant breaking nation. Predictably, when Ahab saw Elijah he said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" And Elijah answers, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have...because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals." Like many, when they get into trouble, Ahab fails to lay the blame where it rightly belongs and to confront the real troubler of Israel - himself! For no one could have mistaken the sun's scorching rays from the heat of God's wrath. Yet, Ahab refuses to own his sin. Milton says in Paradise Lost, "Fallen man would rather rule in hell than serve in Heaven." And that's true of all of us, apart from Christ. For anytime you point out sin, in yourself or another, the flesh will cry out against you and accuse you of causing trouble. So it happens, personally, politically and denominationally when people, societies and churches stray from the truth of God's revealed Word and are called to repent. Thank God that One far greater than Elijah has come not only to confront us as the true troublers, but to bear the consequences of our trouble - our sin - on the cross! Suggestions for prayer Ask for a broken, contrite heart that trembles at the hearing of God's Word. Ask for the kind of repentance and faith in Christ that shows your deliverance, not only from the penalty of sin, but from its power. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - The word of truth

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”” -John 11:25 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 17:17-24 Only in the home of the widow of Zarephath, outside of Israel, was there the blessing of food and life in the midst of famine and death. In spite of her dire circumstances, she believed the Word of God through Elijah, promising her unending oil and flour for as long as the drought would last. Responding by faith, she gave all she had left, her very last meal for herself and her son, to God's prophet. And true to God's Word, from that time forward, she and her son never missed a meal! As a foretaste of Pentecost, God was showing His grace to a Gentile. He would show even more in the resurrection of her son when he fell sick and died. Contrary to her first thought, this was not God's judgment upon her past sins, but a demonstration of His grace. Elijah implores the Lord to restore the child's life. This was "in faith" because God had promised this family life. As we see with all of Elijah's prayers, they were powerful because they were always based upon God's revealed will, as declared by His Word. Elijah dared to pray for this because of the truth of God's Word. Presenting her son to her alive, the widow exclaims, "Now I know that... the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth." Yes, because He who says "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6), is also He who says "I am the resurrection and the life." Suggestions for prayer Pray that you may know God's will according to His Word, and pray for what you know He is more than willing to give. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - Blessings in Zarephath

“... there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath.” - Luke 4:25-26 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 17:7-16 These words of Jesus highlight the point of our passage in 1 Kings. Its purpose is not just to show us that apart from heeding the Word of God there is want, nor that wherever the Word of God is, there is blessing, but that these blessings can only be enjoyed by faith. Thus, while God reveals His wrath upon Israel, He reveals His covenant of grace to a pagan, but believing, widow. She is poor; she didn't even have fuel for a fire! She and her young son have just enough food for one meal, before they die. And all they have is exactly what Elijah asks of her, promising that according to God's Word, she will be supplied. In the covenant of grace, God asks for everything! All we have and are. Like this widow, we either entrust everything to the Lord, receive back 100 fold, and with it eternal life, or we hang on to what little we have, die soon after, and lose everything. As the martyr missionary Steve Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Thus, in the midst of famine, this widow and her son were miraculously supplied. Eternal life and the blessings of a covenant relationship with the Lord are not assured by anything but by exercising faith in the Word of the Lord. For as Jesus says, "Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, whoever believes in me will never thirst” (John 6:35). Suggestions for prayer Pray that regardless of your circumstances, you may by faith, commit your life and future into the hands of our faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - Covenant wrath (II)

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land- not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of he...

Daily devotional

November 4 - Covenant wrath (I)

“Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods...then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and He will...

Daily devotional

November 3 - An inscription erased (III)

“In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram, his firstborn, and set up its gates at the co...

Daily devotional

November 2 - An inscription erased (II)

“And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.” - 1 Kings 16:30 Scripture reading: Joshua 6:...

Daily devotional

November 1 - Introduction to God’s faithfulness

From 1 Kings 16:29 to 2 Kings 10:36 we find the rise and fall of the house of Ahab, the seventh king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who had broken away from the southern kingdom of Judah, and the dynasty of David, some sixty-two years before. It's a record of unbelief and sheer apostasy as Israel decides to go her own way, under her own king, and to her own way of worshipping God. Claiming to worship Yahweh, the one true and faithful, covenant keeping God, as the First Commandment stipulates, she failed to worship Him according to His Word, as He demands in the Second Commandment. Hence follows the increasing slide to perdition which reached a crescendo under Ahab and Jezebel. Yet, amazingly, the grace and love of our jealous God confronts His faithless people and calls them to faith through the ministry of Elijah and Elisha. Not until the appearance of God's final prophet, priest and king, our Lord Jesus Christ, would He display such power and grace to such an undeserving and unbelieving people. In the colourful events to follow, may we see Jesus and His grace, love and power, to us and our adulterous generation, to save us from our sins and restore us to abundant life and fellowship in and with Him. An inscription erased (I) “In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by Joshua…” - 1 Kings 16:34 Scripture reading: Joshua 6 (especially verse 26); 1 Kings 16: 29-34 By the Spirit of God, there is attached to the list of sins committed by Ahab, the account of the rebuilding of Jericho's walls. In this, we see just how far he was turning Israel down the path of apostasy (see verse 33). Consider the significance of Jericho's broken walls. As the gateway to Canaan, Jericho was the first city that Israel, under Joshua, 600 years earlier, destroyed. Strategically located, the Canaanites had made it an invincible fortress on the border of their land. But praise God, without a fight its mighty walls collapsed when at His command His people marched around it, blew their trumpets and gave a shout. They destroyed the city through faith in the mighty power of the Lord! Joshua pronounced the curse upon any who would rebuild it. It had to remain an open city, a sign post not to be erased. As the gateway to Canaan, its ruins represented an inscription of grace that applied not only to Jericho but to the entire land of Canaan - the land of promise - and like salvation in Jesus, our true Joshua, was received as a gift of grace through faith. Jericho was to witness how Israel was different from all the other nations - that her salvation and very life was not of herself, but by the grace of her almighty and faithful God. That's why the moment Hiel went to work clearing away the ruins of Jericho, he unleashed the curse pronounced by Joshua. For the Word of God, regarding our blessing or cursing, cannot fail! Suggestions for prayer Praise God that His word cannot be broken, that His promise of life, through faith, in Jesus Christ, just as His curse upon unbelief, will not disappoint. Claim the promises of His Word (John 3:16-18; Jeremiah 17:5-8), by faith. Rev. Barry Beukema is a graduate of Calvin College and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has pastored the Christian Reformed Churches in Burdett, Alberta and Smithers, British Columbia. He then pastored the URCNA churches of Smithers, BC, Thunder Bay, ON, Lacombe, AB, Neerlandia, AB, and is now pastoring the United Reformed Church of Taber, Alberta.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 - Persevering grace

“But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” - Jude 1:20-21 Scripture reading: Jude You might have noticed in yesterday's reading that Jude bookends his short letter by reassurances that Christians are kept (Jude 1) and that God will keep Christians (Jude 24). That's God's preserving grace. But then in verse 21, Jude surprises us by pressing upon the believers the need to keep themselves in the love of God. What's Jude doing here? He's reminding them of what the Holy Spirit reminds Christians of everywhere in the Bible. Christians must persevere in the Christian life. God will finish the work He has begun, and Christians must complete the race they started to run. Christians must work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Or as we see in our reading today, God's power guards us through faith (1 Pet. 1:5). God has prepared an inheritance for His people. It will be revealed when Christ returns in glory. But will we be faithful to the end so as to receive what has been prepared? This is an especially poignant question in light of the various trials we face. The Bible answers that we must. The writer to the Hebrews warns us not to shrink back but to live by faith lest we throw away our confidence (Hebrews 10:37). The Bible also answers that we will be faithful. God enables us. God guards us, and He guards us through faith. Oh, how we must have Christ continually placarded before our eyes that we might always put our trust and confidence in Him Who is faithful. Suggestions for prayer Praise God that the light of the gospel was recaptured in the Reformation during the 1500s. Pray that God would enable us to be faithful with the deposit that we have been given and that we would continue to cling to Jesus Christ, the one mediator between God and man. Ask God to enable your pastor to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Preserving grace

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” - John 10:27-29 Scripture reading: Jude You probably have fastened a picture to the wall with Scotch tape only to have gravity yank it down. You re-attach it, applying pressure until your thumb is paralyzed. You watch it for a while and it stays put. You think you've succeeded, only to have it flutter to the ground the moment you turn away in triumph. Do you think the Triune God has that frustration with those whom He saves? Are they safe one minute and lost the next? The glad and glorious answer is “No!”. Christians are Christians forever. The God Who calls them is the God Who keeps them. As Jesus said, no one will snatch them out of His hand or His Father's hand (John 10:28-29). That is not to say that some won't try. Satan as always attempting to undo the work of God. And he has his allies. The world without seeks to form us in its mould and the flesh within fights against the Spirit to divorce us from Christ. The Christian is the battleground between the forces of light and darkness. And at times the battle can be so intense that Christians can wonder if they will remain Christians. But we have no reason to fear. The hand that measures the waters in its palm keeps us. The hands that were pierced on Calvary and now rule the universe protect us. For Christ there are no lost causes. Christians are kept (Jude 1) and God keeps them (Jude 24). Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord that our salvation depends, from start to finish, on His sovereign grace and mercy. Ask the Lord to humble us so that we might not become either self-reliant or spiritually careless with our Christian walk. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Unstoppable grace

“. . .his dominion is an everlasting dominion. . . He does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” - Daniel 4:35-36 Scripture reading: John 6:25-40 How can the Lord Jesus speak with such confidence when He says, “All that the Father gives me will come to me . . .”? How does He know they will come? What if they don't want to? Will they then be forced to come to Jesus? How can Jesus be so sure? Jesus’ confidence rests on a number of pillars. First, the Bible teaches that God's plans always come to pass and that no one can thwart His purpose. If God, the Almighty One, has purposed to save someone from eternal punishment, that will undoubtedly happen. Second, Christ knows what He is going to do. He knows that He is going to Calvary for the forgiveness of sins of those whom the Father designs to save. He also knows that His death will defeat Satan, the enemy of our souls. That means that Satan's grip on us will be broken and we can be delivered from the domain of darkness. Third, the Lord Jesus has promised the Holy Spirit upon completion of His work on earth. Christ knows that that Spirit, Who is the divine matchmaker, will bring the sinner and the Saviour together. The one chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son will receive new life by the Holy Spirit so that he willingly and freely comes to Christ as He is freely offered in the gospel. It will happen. Guaranteed. The Triune God’s grace is unstoppable. Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord that the Holy Spirit persisted in His work to bring us to the Saviour, conquering our natural resistance to God and to grace. Pray that many would come to the Saviour that they might have life and that we might be instruments to point them to Christ. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Christ’s successful death

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing...

Daily devotional

October 27 - Chosen, not choice

“...For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peo...

Daily devotional

October 26 - Very, very bad

“The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”...

Daily devotional

October 25 - Ascension and succession again

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine ...

Daily devotional

October 24 - Ascension and succession

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” - Luke 24:46-49 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 2:1-14 There's no doubt that Elijah’s leaving would leave a big hole. He had been God's ‘army’ on Israel’s behalf. His loss will be devastating. But God will provide for His work. He has a succession plan in place. In his farewell tour, Elijah visits the school of the prophets, probably to encourage them to continue their fearless promotion of God's claims on His people. There's also Elisha. He had served with Elijah for some years and now it was time for Elisha to fly solo. Elijah tests him by suggesting that he abandon Elijah on his final tour. Elisha refuses to bail. That's the kind of people that the kingdom of God needs, people who will not turn back even when the future is unnerving. And then the final moment arrives. Elisha asked for something that Elijah is unable to give, a double portion of his spirit. How wise that Elisha recognizes that he cannot minister in his own strength. However, Elijah promises his successor that, if he sees him being taken, he shall receive the double portion. Elisha does see the glory of God – God coming down in chariots and horses of fire and therefore receives the promised Spirit. Leaving the Jordan in the power of the Spirit, Elisha does Elijah's farewell tour in reverse, across the Jordan, to Jericho and Bethel, before returning to Samaria. That succession is complete but the succession of the servants of God continues and what we need is what Elisha needed: a vision of God’s glory and the outpouring of God’s Spirit. And God delights to grant both. Suggestions for prayer Pray with Moses, “Please show me your glory.” Confess that our help is in the name of the Lord and ask for the Spirit to be poured out on us so that we may be faithful and effective servants of the Lord. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Our God is a consuming fire

“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” - Psalm 2:10-12 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 1:9-18 Evidently, Ahaziah wasn't keen on the prognosis. But God's announcements of judgement are often conditional. If he had done what Nineveh would later do, that is, repent, we can be confident the Lord would have had mercy and healed him.But Ahaziah doesn't respond this way. With arrogance, he declares hostility against Elijah and his God and demands Elijah come down. The Lord doesn't take kindly to such defiance against His servants and twice sends down fire to consume the king's messengers. The third captain sees what a jealous God has unleashed against His comrades and falls on his knees begging Elijah for mercy. Expectedly, the Lord spares his life when the poor man called and saved him from his troubles (Psa. 34:6). Here is a model response for Ahaziah and us all. In wrath God remembers mercy. In the New Testament (Luke 9:51-56) Jesus is travelling through an unwelcoming Samaritan town. James and John asked if He wanted them to call fire down to destroy them. Jesus rebuked them, in part, because now was a time of grace. If fire was going to fall anywhere, it was going to fall on Him on Calvary just like the fire fell on the altar on Carmel. The story in 2 Kings falls between Carmel and Calvary and reminds us that, if the fire doesn't fall on the God-appointed sacrifice, it will fall on the sinner, if not on Christ for us, then on us. Another hair clad prophet with a leather belt around his waist preaching repentance (Mark 1:4) reminds us of what we ought to do. Suggestions for prayer Pray for the grace of repentance that we might know the blessing of forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Rejoice that Christ willingly became the sacrifice for sinners to reconcile us to God. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Living like an atheist

“The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.” - Psalm 9:9-10 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 1:1-8 Like father, like son. Like mother, like son. Both adages are true with regard to Ahaziah, Ahab's son and successor. Ahaziah’s significant injury left him quite unwell. Concerned about his future, he sends messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the Philistine god of Ekron and to see if he would recover. Everyone who knows the history of Israel sees the folly in this. In the days before the kings reigned, the Philistine gods were helpless before the ark of the God of Israel (1 Sam. 5). The narrator highlights the folly by mockingly changing the name of the god from Baal-zebul (Glorious Baal) to Baal-zebub (Lord of a Fly). What Ahaziah has done is plain silly. It's also plain sinful and this is what Elijah confronts him with. ‘Ahaziah,’ Elijah asserts, ‘you are living as if God does not exist.’ Ahaziah has rejected the God of Israel. That's his sin and that's his folly. God's judgement is that Ahaziah will surely die. Two things I wish to point out for you to ponder. First, who we go to in our troubles is an indication of where our trust is. Why is God often the port of last resort for many troubled Christians? Second, it is a signal kindness of the Lord that intervenes through Elijah to head off Ahaziah’s folly and sin. Ignoring the Lord doesn't make the Lord go away. This isn’t always true; sometimes He leaves us to our sin. But what a mercy when He does arrest us. How will Ahaziah respond to such kindness? How do you? Suggestions for prayer Pray that we would instinctively call on the Lord in times of trouble when we are convicted of sin, concerned about the future, or otherwise in distress. Ask that the Lord would give us sensitivity so that when the Spirit convicts us that we are going the wrong way, we would respond with repentance and gratitude. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Does the Lord not see?

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”” - Jonah 4:1-2 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 21:25-29 We concur with God's announcement of judgement against Ahab. He deserves to die. And so we are wholly unprepared for what happens in vv. 27 to 29. Who would have thought that Ahab would show such humility after his arrogant accusation in v. 20? But what is even more surprising is the Lord's response. He relents. He postpones judgement. Is God gullible? Is He taken in by Ahab's repentance? It is clear from the next chapter that, like many unbelievers, Ahab's repentance is like the morning dew that quickly dries up. Many people show remorse for a time before life returns to normal. And yet God shows mercy to Ahab. How could He? We feel this even more intensely because of the description of Ahab in vv. 25 to 26. It certainly shows that the Lord loves to show mercy. Does that bother you about God, the fact that He is merciful? Jonah hated it. The Pharisees did too. The natural man tends to think that mercy comes to the deserving. God here demonstrates that it doesn't. Thank God it doesn't! It certainly is instructive that Paul describes himself in the same way Ahab was described. Paul complains, ‘I am of the flesh, sold under sin’ (Rom. 7:14). No wonder he laments his wretchedness and lauds Christ for His redemption (Rom. 7:24-25). That is the kind of God we have, one Who delights in steadfast love (Micah 7:18). Just listen to the crucified Lord Jesus asking the Father to forgive those who clamoured for His death. Who would have thought? Suggestions for prayer Pray that the Lord would humble us so that we would see and rejoice in the fact that our salvation is ‘mercy all, immense and free’. Pray that we might point all sinners to drink from the same fountain of grace that has refreshed our souls. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Does the Lord not see?

“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering- since...

Daily devotional

October 19 - The righteous sufferer

“So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear...

Daily devotional

October 18 - From desire to death

“Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person ...

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October 17 - Carrying the cross for Christ

“And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingd...

Daily devotional

October 16 - Joyfully serving Christ

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 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 all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” - Titus 2:11-14 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 19:19-21 Well, that was a surprise! Elisha is plowing on his family's farm and suddenly Elijah throws his cloak on him. Somehow Elisha knew what that meant and joyfully responds. He runs after Elijah, eager to do God's work. He bids farewell to his parents, kissing them goodbye. He slaughters his oxen and burns the yokes, indicating that he was making a complete break both with his former work and future inheritance. And he celebrates his call to service with his friends. Elisha eagerly responds to God’s call. That's a good word for us, isn't it? Our service to God is too often bare duty. We serve in Church office because the congregation elected us. We care for our elderly parents because it is the right thing to do. We attend worship because God calls us to. We resist sin because it is against God’s law. It is right to do things because our Master places these obligations upon us, but shouldn’t there also be delight in our doing? These obligations are opportunities to do something for Christ. And shouldn’t joy saturate our service? It wasn’t going to be easy for Elisha. He was leaving a large farm and an affectionate family. Farming was just becoming fun again now that the drought was over. And the life he was going to lacked security and promised hardship. And notice, he was called to be Elijah’s assistant. Hardly glamorous. By the grace of God, he heeded God's call. Should not Christ’s service to us win our service to Him? Shouldn’t the grace of God make us zealous for good works? Suggestions for prayer Ask that God would forgive us for our, at times, begrudging obedience. Pray that the Holy Spirit might conform us to the image of Christ who said, ‘I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.’ Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - The voice of grace and judgement

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” - Matthew 11:28-30 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 19:9-18 So what does God think of Elijah's accusations? He agrees. Israel deserves judgement. When Moses was on the mount (Exodus 34) God passed by him giving Moses a revelation of Himself. Here in the mount, God reveals Himself to Elijah with four different manifestations: wind, earthquake, fire, and a low whisper. Notice that the first three are destructive, the last one is calm. What does this mean? The three correspond to the three judgements that God will unleash on His people through Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha (verses 15-17). But judgement is not God's only Word. Seven thousand will be reserved as true worshippers. Nor is judgement God's preferred Word. I get this from the contrast between the three and the one. He was not in the three, but He was in the one. That is, though God will bring judgement, he delights to show mercy. Some years later we find Elijah on another mountain with Moses and Jesus (Luke 9:28-36) discussing Jesus’ departure, His coming death, which was God’s Word of judgement against Jesus. Weren’t there also rocks splitting and an earthquake at Jesus’ death? His death was for His people’s failure to keep covenant and to worship God faithfully. And then a cloud enveloped them and a voice spoke. Was it a low whisper? The voice said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him.” Jesus is the voice we must listen to. Today His voice speaks grace and invites us to come. One day it will speak judgement and will command us to depart. Listen to Him! Now. Suggestions for prayer Adore God that the Lord Jesus was willing to take our judgement so that we might hear His voice of grace. Pray that through our personal evangelism and the ministry of Christ’s Church many would come to Jesus instead of bowing knees to idols and kissing false gods. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Covenant prosecution

“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” - 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 19:9-14 The first thing to notice is that Elijah is at Horeb/Sinai on covenant business. Horeb is where God met Moses to commission him to lead Israel out of Egypt in faithfulness to His covenant promises. Horeb/Sinai is where the covenant of God with Israel was given. Horeb/Sinai is where the covenant was broken when Israel worshipped the golden calf. Elijah is at covenant mountain, a place of both grace and judgement, to transact covenant business. When God asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”, God the Judge is inviting Elijah to state his case against Israel. Elijah is the covenant prosecutor laying charges against his own people for their failure to keep covenant with the LORD. Elijah doesn’t mince words: ‘For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword.’ You might think Elijah should speak for Israel rather than against them. Moses often did. But that's not what all the prophets do, nor are they only ministers of grace. Jeremiah accuses God's people of unfaithfulness and God forbids him to intercede for them (Jeremiah 7:16). Instead, he must announce God's rejection of them (Jeremiah 7:29). Elijah's return to Mount Sinai marks the end of one era, one characterized by Divine patience, and the beginning of another, one characterized by Divine purification. The temptation for covenant people is to think God's patience lasts forever. That is simply not true which means that today is always the optimal day to seek the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ. Suggestions for prayer Pray that God by His Spirit would protect us from receiving the grace of God in vain and that we would do the work of God which is to believe in Him Whom He has sent. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Discouraged

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” - Matthew 12:18-21 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 19:1-8 The ESV says in verse 3 that Elijah was afraid. The NKJV translates the same word as ‘saw’ and I think it's correct. It is not that Elijah became unhinged and ran in terror. It's closer to reality to say that Elijah determined from Jezebel's obstinacy that there wasn't much hope for change amongst God's people. Despite the people's confession, Ahab's weakness and Jezebel's opposition led Elijah to conclude that there was no sense continuing his ministry in Israel. In a quest to understand what has happened, Elijah intends to go back to where it all began, to Mount Horeb, where the covenant Lord had first met with His people. We meet up with Elijah in the desert where, exhausted and discouraged, he lies down under a broom tree and asks God to sweep him away. He feels ill-equipped for the ministry of turning the hearts of God's people back to Him. In a sense he's right. A greater Prophet than him or his fathers was needed, one Who could baptize with the Spirit. Elijah is too hard on himself. But God doesn't rebuke him and neither should we. There is something holy about his lament. Paul wept over the Jews (Romans 9:1-3) and Jesus did over Jerusalem (Luke 13:34-35). Don't you think we're too casual about the plight of millions who go to a Christless eternity? The angel ministers to Elijah in his discouragement and provides food for his continued journey to Horeb. Elijah might think he's finished but God has further plans for him just as Jesus did for the Christ-denying Peter. How tender He is to His often discouraged servants. Suggestions for prayer Pray that God would encourage His ministers as they preach the gospel today with evident fruit for their labours. Ask that God would give us a concern for Christ’s honour and the plight of the lost that we might be engaged in evangelisation here and among the nations. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Effective prayer

“...I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end ...

Daily devotional

October 11 - Showers of blessing

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might ...

Daily devotional

October 10 - The contest

“I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” - Isaiah 42:8 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 18:19-40...

Daily devotional

October 9 - Divided hearts

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You canno...

Daily devotional

October 8 - The king and his servants

“But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:43-45 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 18:1-18 Ahab and Jezebel are opposed to God and His Church. Jezebel, aggressively so. That wicked woman cuts off the prophets of the Lord as she seeks to eradicate God’s worship. We wouldn’t do that, of course, but we need to guard against a more sophisticated way of killing the Lord’s prophets, like listening to preaching without submitting to it. Then there is King Ahab. He ignores the plight of his people, but cares for his animals of war, trusting in them for victory rather than in the Lord. He also ignores his soul. He pursues grass and not the grace that would remove God’s wrath and bring blessing to his parched soul and realm. Too many within the church imitate him, giving their best energy to pursue what will wither rather than God’s enduring blessings. They care more about grass than grace. And how stubborn Ahab is! Repentance would bring blessing to him, his people, and his animals. But how the human heart resists repentance. God has His own amidst the apostasy of His Church. There is Elijah and at least 100 other prophets hidden by God’s faithful servant Obadiah. Rather than suggesting that Obadiah compromised to be employed by an enemy of the Church, the passage highlights his devotion to the Lord. Admittedly, Obadiah does hesitate to go public with his devotion but finally agrees when Elijah reminds him of the big God they serve, the Lord of hosts. Aren’t you grateful that Christ cares more for His subjects than Ahab did and is willing to bear God’s wrath for their blessing? And doesn’t this spur you on to serve Him faithfully, whatever the cost? Suggestions for prayer Give thanks for our servant King, the Lord Jesus and ask God that by His Spirit we would be faithful servants of Christ and not exhibit the characteristics of the enemies of the gospel. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Resurrection life

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” - 1 Peter 1:3 Scripture reading: Luke 7:11-17 When hundreds of years after Elijah you read of a prophet raising a dead son to life and giving him back to his mother, who is a widow, you are encouraged to link Elijah’s miracle with that story. Though written by many writers, the Bible has one divine Author and through the similarities between the stories, the Holy Spirit is alerting us that 1 Kings isn’t just about Elijah but about a greater than Elijah, the great Prophet Who has arisen among us, God, Who has visited His people. That is, the Old Testament is about Jesus Christ. So, in reading about Elijah, we should learn about Jesus. In this New Testament counterpart to yesterday’s reading, we learn of Jesus’ compassion for the needy. He is willing to enter enemy territory. By touching the bier, Jesus demonstrates that He shares our uncleanness. He bears our sins and enters our death by experiencing God’s curse on the cross. He engages in conflict with the devil and triumphs. The risen Christ is the victor over sin, death, hell, and Satan. His resurrection life revives our spiritually dead souls and He takes us and presents us to the Father, saying, ‘See, Your son/daughter lives.’ If they glorified God in Nain because they saw the Lord Jesus’ miracle as an evidence of God’s visitation, how much more ought we to glorify God for the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Himself and His resurrection power that raises the spiritually dead. Surely, God has visited us. Suggestions for prayer Pray that God would visit us and bring to life the spiritually dead in our church and nation and praise Him that He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Revive us again

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 8:1 Scripture reading: 1 Kings 17:17-24 How painful! It isn’t just that her son died. That is hard enough. Some of you know this firsthand. He was taken after such a miraculous intervention that spared his life. That makes it particularly poignant. What kind of God had this widow just been introduced to? Does he sustain life just to snatch it? Even Elijah appears flummoxed by this providence (v. 20). In her confusion, she accuses God of being against her and treats this providence as punishment for her sin (v. 18). This is worth probing. Sometimes we feel this way in hard times because there actually is unconfessed sin in our life and the Holy Spirit is convicting us to repent. But at other times we feel this way because, prodded by the devil, we entertain harsh thoughts of God. More than a few Christians are always waiting for something bad to happen in their lives. They haven’t grasped sufficiently the sheer grandeur of grace. Tragedy isn’t God’s punishment for His dear children. We need to say to this woman (and each other), “Your son doesn’t die for your sin. God’s Son dies for your sin!” This is the blessing of the Lord’s Day as we are reminded again of God’s astonishing grace. God does graciously correct her misapprehension. Elijah takes the child and God’s resurrecting power revives him. Through that kindness her spiritual life revives too, and she boldly confesses the truth spoken by the man of God. This trial, like all trials sent by a gracious Father, is for the strengthening of faith. Behold the grace and wisdom of our God. Suggestions for prayer Pray that God would protect us from improper thoughts concerning Himself so that we would neither think Him too soft (that we continue in sin) or too hard (that we despair of forgiveness). Pray that He would keep the cross of our Lord Jesus fixed in our hearts and minds. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Marveling at his grace

“Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” - Romans 11:22 Scripture reading: Luke 4:16-30 As Jesus said, God could have sent Elijah to many widows in Israel. So why to a foreigner? Our multi-tasking God did this for at least two reasons. First, as a judgement on His own people. God’s prophet was unacceptable in his ‘hometown’ and so he was sent to shower grace to a foreigner. He came to his own but his own did not receive him. Second, to showcase His grace. Grace comes to those who don’t seek it. Clearly, the widow wasn’t a believer. She speaks about the Lord, Elisha’s God (1 Kings 17:12). But the Lord sought her. Grace comes to enemies. Zarephath is of Sidon. Wicked Jezebel introduced the worship of the Sidonian god, Baal, in Israel and to that place and those people the Lord sends His servant and His grace. As seen in the incarnation of the Lord Jesus and the Great Commission, God directs His grace to enemy-occupied territory. Grace stops at nothing to save the elect. God used the disobedience of the chosen nation to send His prophet to save this chosen foreigner. The Jews’ rejection means salvation for the Gentiles (Romans 11:11) and the death of His Son is a price God is willing to pay to save His own. Grace comes to those who believe. The widow’s faith is evidenced by her works. She trusted the word of the prophet and ‘did as Elijah said.’ Christ, the final Prophet, invites us to come to Him and faith does precisely that, repenting and receiving the offer of salvation. Suggestions for prayer Pray for the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your hearts that you may marvel at the glory of His grace and mercy. Pray that your minister may faithfully proclaim God’s Word, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, with complete patience and teaching and that you would receive Christ as He is offered to you. Reverend John van Eyk began his ministry in Cambridge, Ontario as Church Planter and Minister of the Riverside Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After 13 years there he served almost 10 years in the Tain/Fearn congregation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in the Scottish Highlands. John currently serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity Reformed Church (United Reformed) in Lethbridge, Alberta. 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 - Not by bread alone

“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that ma...

Daily devotional

October 3 - God’s gracious judgement

“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?...

Daily devotional

October 2 - God’s man

“Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither d...

Daily devotional

October 1 - Introduction to the word of God

The word of God is living and active. It is not only something we study, it studies us. As the Bible reveals truths about itself, it also, simultaneou...

Daily devotional

September 30 - We shall be like him

“Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” - 1 John 3:2 Scripture reading: 1 John 3:1-3, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 We can replace the word love with the name of Christ in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “ is patient and kind; does not envy or boast; is not arrogant or rude. does not insist on own way; is not irritable or resentful; does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. love never ends.” And we all say, “Amen!” Do that with your name or anyone else’s name and no one says, “Amen!” If we are honest, we all fall far short of this portrait of love. But thanks be to God that we see Christ, our Saviour, in this portrait! And we can say, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Here is an amazing truth: One day, in the new creation, we will be able to put our names in vv. 4-8, because one day we will be perfectly like Christ (1 John 3:2). We will love God and each other perfectly. Isn’t that amazing?! What a day that will be! If you long for that day, then strive to walk in love more and more by God’s Spirit, as you behold the glorious love of Christ in the Gospel (2 Corinthians 3:18). Suggestions for prayer Thank God that He, “shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Thank God that Christ loved you to the end (John 13:1). Pray that the Spirit would produce Christ-like love in your life this day and thank God that one day you will be perfectly like Christ. Rev. Brian Cochran is ordained in the United Reformed Churches in North America and has served as the pastor of Redeemer Reformation Church in Regina, SK, for 14 years. This month he starts a new call to Grace URC in Torrance, CA. 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 character of the God we worship

“For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” - Psalm 100:5 Scripture reading: Psalm 100:1-5 Who is the LORD that we worship? “The LORD is good” (v. 5). “The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made” (Psalm 145:9). But above all we see His goodness in our redemption. “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.” And because of Christ, our Savior, we are “justified by grace” and “heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7). Truly the Lord is good! Even more, “His steadfast love endures forever “(v. 5). God is love. And His covenant love for His people endures forever. It’s permanent. It doesn’t fluctuate, like our love so often does. It’s a loyal, eternal love. And it’s supremely demonstrated in the cross of Christ. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Amazing love! Even more, “His faithfulness to all generations” (v. 5). Our God is a promise-keeping God. He always follows through on His Word. We can bank on His promises. If God said He’s going to do it He WILL do it. As Charles Spurgeon put it, “As our fathers found Him faithful, so will our sons, and their seed forever…Our heart leaps for joy as we bow before One who has never broken His word or changed His purpose.” Suggestions for prayer Pray that God would impress His goodness, love, and faithfulness upon your heart and the hearts of those who gather with you for worship today. Pray that you all would worship God with wholehearted thanksgiving today. Rev. Brian Cochran is ordained in the United Reformed Churches in North America and has served as the pastor of Redeemer Reformation Church in Regina, SK, for 14 years. This month he starts a new call to Grace URC in Torrance, CA. 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 - Faith, hope, love: The greatest is love

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13:13 Scripture reading: Romans 8:18-24; 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Faith, hope and love are marks of all true believers. But why is love the greatest? Because now we walk by faith, but at Christ’s return we will walk by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). If faith continues in eternity in some form, we certainly won’t have faith in the same way that we have faith now. Now our faith is dependent on hearing God’s Word. But in heaven we will see the Word of God in the flesh when we see Christ face to face. Similarly, hope vanishes when what we hope for comes firmly into view (Romans 8:24). Our blessed hope is the appearing of Christ (Titus 2:13). When Christ appears, hope will either fade away or be experienced differently in heaven. But we will continue to love in the same way for all of eternity. Love will continue to be patterned after the self-giving love of Christ in the Gospel. In glory, we will love our Triune God and each other perfectly, without any taint of sin. What a glorious thought! Furthermore, faith and hope do not make us like God, but love does. God does not possess faith or hope. But God loves, for He is love (1 John 4:8). And “God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). Let us then “be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Suggestions for prayer Pray that God would help you to know in greater measure His love for you in Christ. Pray that, as a beloved child of God, you would imitate your Heavenly Father today by walking in Christ-like, self-giving love. Give thanks that one day you will love perfectly! Rev. Brian Cochran is ordained in the United Reformed Churches in North America and has served as the pastor of Redeemer Reformation Church in Regina, SK, for 14 years. This month he starts a new call to Grace URC in Torrance, CA. 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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Search CATEGORY: Daily devotional

Daily devotional

April 15 - A suffering all of its own

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April 14 - The only way we could die

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April 13 - Walking right in

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April 12 - Facing the bullies

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April 11 - There is always prayer

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April 10 - True trust

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April 9 - Yet!

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April 8 - Words do hurt

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April 7 - This pains because be belongs

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April 6 - Where the past comes in

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April 5 - He looks up

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April 4 - A type of grief

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April 3 - Why?

Daily devotional

April 2 - The psalm of the cross

Daily devotional

April 1 - Introduction to the prophecies of the Messiah

Daily devotional

March 31 - The Father of lights who does not change

Daily devotional

March 30 - We have thought on your steadfast love

Daily devotional

March 29 - God is good

Daily devotional

March 28 - Lured and enticed to our death

Daily devotional

March 27 - Be watchful

Daily devotional

March 26 - Tempted in our suffering

Daily devotional

March 25 - Lured and enticed by our own desires

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March 24 - Temptations make us exercise our faith

Daily devotional

March 23 - We have thought on your steadfast love

Daily devotional

March 22 - Trials and temptations

Daily devotional

March 21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth

Daily devotional

March 20 - We live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord

Daily devotional

March 19 - Thankfulness in poverty and in riches

Daily devotional

March 18 - Lowly believers boast in their exaltation

Daily devotional