Daily devotional

Sunday July 22 – The last Passover celebration

“… I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom o...

Daily devotional

Saturday July 21 - O Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets...!

Daily devotional

Friday July 20 – Get away, Herod wants to kill you!

Daily devotional

Thursday July 19 – You give them something to eat!

Daily devotional

Wednesday July 18 - Take up your cross and follow Jesus!

And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me…” – Luke 9:23-26 Scripture reading: Luke 14:25-35 Time and time again the Lord Jesus called people to follow Him, including His disciples and others like the rich young man. It was wonderful when people accepted this command, but He also made it clear that following Him was not easy. His way would go through suffering to glory via the cross to resurrection and eternal life. Those whom He called to follow Him, He also commanded to take up their cross. What this meant differed for every disciple and follower, today also. It could mean trouble, persecution, rejection, and hatred. It also means fighting against our sins, as Christ bore our sins on the cross. Today, still, we are called to crucify our old nature and walk in newness of life. It means that we should deny ourselves, denouncing our own will and submitting to God’s will. That’s never easy! There is much in this world that appeals to us; to sacrifice ourselves and abstain from anything sinful and selfish won’t be easy. It will help a lot, though, when we realize that the reward for sin is death, eternally, while the reward of righteousness in Jesus Christ (a life of obedience) is eternal life. It may seem as if believers have to give up a lot as if their lives lack pleasures and joy. Looking at the destiny, however, of those who live for themselves (which is death), will make the yoke of Christ seem light. Take up your cross, therefore, and follow Him! It’s not a heavy cross, but a way of joy and hope and love! Suggestions for Prayer Pray for endurance, and ask the Lord for His Spirit to strengthen you as you follow Christ and bear your cross, whatever it is that you may have to bear or sacrifice in love to Him. This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. William den Hollander (Sr.) is minister-emeritus of the Bethel Canadian Reformed Church of Toronto....

Daily devotional

Tuesday July 17 – Fasting while the Bridegroom is away

Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away…" – Matthew 9:14-15 Scripture reading: John 3:22-36 The people of Israel fasted on the Day of Atonement. Also on other occasions, when the situation demanded it, they would fast and pray. For instance, they fasted for their sins, for their unfaithfulness, and for their longing for the Messiah. When the Lord Jesus had come, however, and manifested Himself as the Messiah, the matter of fasting became an issue between the disciples of John the Baptist and Jesus’ disciples. That’s when Jesus’ disciples had their Bridegroom with them and therefore didn’t fast. His presence, however, at this time was only temporary. This is the explanation Jesus gives the disciples of John to justify why Jesus’ disciples weren’t fasting while the Bridegroom was with them. This also is His explanation for the fasting in the time following His departure; no, not a fasting as a good work to merit salvation (as some made it to be), but fasting as a longing for His return, or for their sins and weaknesses, and their struggle with temptations. This New Testament fasting, however, differs in practice and meaning. Today we may spend extra time in prayer, or abstain from worldly pleasures for the sake of His kingdom; also the situation of the church in certain times (of persecution) could necessitate a time of fasting and prayer. “Fasting and prayer” have become an expression that doesn’t necessarily mean abstaining from food, but as an expression, it denotes a time of sobriety and prayer. For God’s kingdom, we may have to sacrifice as well, prayerfully in love for our Lord! Suggestions for prayer Pray for the persecuted church. Ask for help to abstain from worldly pleasures and worldly conformity, instead, seeking His kingdom. This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. William den Hollander (Sr.) is minister-emeritus of the Bethel Canadian Reformed Church of Toronto....

Daily devotional

Monday July 16 – "I came not to call the righteous but sinners"

As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him… – Matthew 9:9-13 Scripture reading: Luke 15:1-10 By the preaching of the Lord Jesus, God’s kingdom is opened or closed. It was opened, for instance, to the tax collector, Matthew. As tax collector, he was known for his crooked business, defrauding his fellow Jews. This man was far from the kingdom of God, far from a place among Jesus’ followers. Now to this man, Jesus gives a place among His disciples. How could that be? What would people say of such a gospel? Still, as the Lord Jesus shows in this passage, that’s exactly why He had come: He came to those who were lost; He came for the sick; He came to call sinners! Imagine that Jesus would have come to call the righteous, people who were worthy of being God’s child and office bearer in God’s church and kingdom. There would be no one who qualified! That’s what should make this event so amazing; yes, that’s what should amaze us about the fact that we may belong to Jesus! Just like Matthew, who followed the Lord Jesus all his life and served Him, so we should wish to respond in thanksgiving and service! Yes, just like Matthew, who brought many more sinners to the Saviour, so we should share this gospel with whomever we can! The Pharisees and scribes did not like this approach to the gospel. They wanted a church for the elite, of people righteous in themselves, righteous like them. The Lord Jesus, however, sends them away with the message that God desires mercy and not sacrifice, not self-righteousness and an unforgiving attitude! Suggestions for prayer Pray for humbleness and for a clear knowledge of our sins and misery. Thank God for His mercy to you and for the gospel. This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. William den Hollander (Sr.) is minister-emeritus of the Bethel Canadian Reformed Church of Toronto....

Daily devotional

Sunday July 15 – "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?"

And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea… – Matthew 8:23-27 Scripture reading: Romans 8:18-30 During Christ’s life on earth, Satan used every way to obstruct the work of Jesus. He possessed people by his demons, brought terrible diseases, bound people for a long time, used his powers over nature, sweeping up the waters and winds where Jesus went, seeking to kill Him and His disciples. The disciples feared these powers of the sea while Jesus was sleeping in the boat. They woke Him up, and cried, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” It’s no wonder these disciples were afraid, fearing death at such a time. As believers, we too have times of fear for the powers of Satan, and understandably so. In this event, however, the disciples have Christ on board. They could have known that His work wasn’t finished, that Satan’s death and demise would come, though not at this time. They had God’s promises and had seen Jesus’ works, and yet… They did not think in faith, live by faith all the time; they had an interrupted faith. At moments like these, they had to learn again Who they had on board. Jesus manifested His power over wind and water; He silenced the storm and settled their fears. This is Jesus Who would conquer all powers of sin and Satan, all powers of destruction in nature as well. He would come again to establish a new heaven and a new earth in which there would be no satanic powers in nature that could affect the creation of God. Suggestions for prayer Pray for peace and tranquillity; ask the Lord for His protection, guidance; and for Christ’s return to make all things new! This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. William den Hollander (Sr.) is minister-emeritus of the Bethel Canadian Reformed Church of Toronto....

Daily devotional

Saturday July 14 – Jesus delivers from sickness and death

Daily devotional

Friday July 13 – Jesus cleanses a leper: "I will; be clean!"

Daily devotional

Thursday July 12 - "Be silent and come out of him!"

Daily devotional

Wednesday July 11 - No prophet is acceptable in his hometown

Daily devotional

Tuesday July 10 - The temptation of Jesus: “All these I will give you…”

Again, the devil took Him to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” – Matthew 4:8-11 Scripture reading: Psalm 2 Satan’s offers are always attractive and presented in an inviting way. As the prince of this earth, he thinks he can use his power to tempt Jesus into a much easier way: just fall down and worship me. Jesus, thus, could get everything this world has to offer, all peoples and nations, all glories of culture and entertainment. Just worship me and it will all be yours. We recognize this temptation today too when we see the glories of this world and the attractions in the world of arts and entertainment. But, like Jesus, we should not even want it, knowing how sinful and godless these things are, and knowing how deceitful this worship and service of Satan will be if we submit to him. Satan doesn’t have a chance tempting Jesus. Jesus certainly will receive all the kingdoms of the earth, as we can read in Psalm 2, but only in the way of obedience to God! In fact, Satan has nothing to give, though he pretends he does, since all things are God’s in the first place! Jesus will receive it in God’s way and at God’s time. He knows that this will be in the way of suffering and death before He will receive all authority in heaven and on earth. We, too, in submission to Jesus, will need to wait for the day that we will inherit the earth and that all its glories will be entered in the kingdom of God! Let’s wait for it with patience, in faith and hope! Suggestions for prayer Pray that God will strengthen you in your struggle with the temptations of the world. Ask God for a true faith and a firm hope as we await the return of Christ in glory with the gift of our inheritance. This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. William den Hollander (Sr.) is minister-emeritus of the Bethel Canadian Reformed Church of Toronto....

Daily devotional

Saturday June 30 - Conclusion

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one to save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love. – Zephaniah 3:17 Scripture reading: Zephaniah 3 Our journey through the seven deadly sins should move us to a more serious understanding of the deceptive nature of sin and our own hearts. We are never safe from its clutches, we can never rest, the devil is always out to destroy us and our witness, and we never graduate from the school of grace as long as we are in this broken world. Lord's Day 44 of the Heidelberg Catechism includes this line: “While praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, we never stop striving to be renewed more and more after God's image...” This work of renewal is the work of the Triune God. Behind it we experience the presence of our Heavenly Father, in our midst, mighty to save. We know the love of Jesus Christ, rejoicing over us with gladness, quieting us by His love. We feel the inward strivings of the Spirit, purifying our hearts and minds. But in response to all this good news, and in His strength, we strive and we purpose to live a life of holiness. Christian, weep and lament – and at the same time, laugh and rejoice. Grace is always good. Suggestions for prayer “Let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.” – The Valley of Vision: Intro Prayer This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Friday June 29 - Lust: a way forward

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. - 1 Timothy 2:22 Scripture reading: 1 Timothy 2 The writer of Proverbs would agree with Paul: the answer to lust is to run hard in the opposite direction. A serious Christian response would be to recognize the gateways in our lives that tend to allure us to lust and provide a strong defense. Walking is not enough; we are called to run and flee. When I reported smelling gas in our house foyer, the gas company came the same day. Their first response was not to search for a leak: it was to shut off the gas at the source. There are practical steps we can take, including internet filters and accountability programs for ourselves and our children. But we need to go deeper. Sexual sin is by its nature selfish, it turns in on itself. Surely part of the solution is to look on my neighbour with respect, to pursue meaningful relationships, especially in the church, and to look outside of myself to ways in which I can serve others. This cannot remain a lonely battle. We need to help one another and pray for each other. It is an issue facing the entire church and we need to stand up to it together. It will not be enough to avoid sexual sin. We must pursue something better, develop an appetite for real love, real pleasure in God's good gifts, and ultimately real joy in Jesus Christ Himself. Suggestions for prayer “I long for nothing but Thyself, nothing but holiness, nothing but union with Thy will. Thou hast given me these desires, and Thou alone canst give me the thing desired.” – The Valley of Vision: Longings After God This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Thursday June 28 - Jesus Christ and our lust

Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. - Ephesians 5:25-26 Scripture reading: Ephesians 5 There is no sin that puts us beyond the reach of the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Martin Luther once said, “We are not to look upon our sins as insignificant trifles. On the other hand, we are not to regard them as so terrible that we must despair.” Preach the good news to your own broken heart 100 times a day. Do not turn away from Christ, but towards Him in solemn repentance and fervent hope. The Song of Solomon is most definitely a marvelous picture of human love in all of its realms; its description of holy sexual love is not easy dinnertime reading. But it also serves as a picture of Christ's love and affection for His church. The entire Bible can be seen as the Heavenly Bridegroom's pursuit of His Bride. Do you see His love for her, His desire for her welfare, His pleasure in her response, His devotion to her joy and future? Sexual sin is partnered with shame and thus is often left in the shadows, where it feels like there is no help or hope. But Jesus Christ pursued death on the cross for sexual sinners, to remove shame and guilt, to break the hold that lust has on so many. This is the great hope for all of us, and the hope we hold out to a world that is so broken. Suggestions for prayer “May I never forget that Thou hast my heart in Thy hands. Apply to it the merits of Christ's atoning blood whenever I sin. Let Thy mercies draw me to Thyself.” – The Valley of Vision: Penitence This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Wednesday June 27 - Lust defined

The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body...Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commi...

Daily devotional

Tuesday June 26 - Lust defined

Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. - ...

Daily devotional

Monday June 25 - Gluttony: a way forward

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. - Matthew 5:6 Scripture reading: Matthew 5:1-20 Eatin...

Daily devotional

Sunday June 24 - Jesus Christ and our gluttony

Jesus said...My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work. – John 4:34 Scripture reading: John 4:1-38 Jesus enjoye...

Daily devotional

Saturday June 23 - Gluttony defined

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. – John 6:27 Scripture reading: Psalm 63 Here's a definition of gluttony: an inordinate desire for food and drink. We take God's good gifts and we want them too much. Ultimately we hunger for something more than for God. Gluttony is more about our hearts than our mouths or stomachs. Frederick Buechner once wrote, “A glutton is one who raids the icebox for spiritual malnutrition.” We easily escape into food instead of drawing near to Jesus. We can fill the void in our stomach as a way of masking our desperate need to cry out, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you...My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food” (Psalm 63:1, 5). Is gluttony really that serious? Does it deserve mention alongside pride and lust? If we are not careful, we will lose our appetite for our true home, the place where true satisfaction lies, and for the true bread, the Bread of Life. We will lose our taste for true spiritual pleasures, we will joy in lesser things, we will notice the smell of meat grilling on the BBQ but miss the presence of the Spirit convicting us of sin and calling us to obedience. Be careful: you live in a land full of abundance. You will have to fight hard to find your joy in Christ. “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Suggestions for prayer “Deliver me from every evil habit...everything that dims the brightness of thy grace in me, everything that prevents me taking delight in thee.” – The Valley of Vision: Confession This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Friday June 22 - Gluttony defined

Food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart. - Psalm 104:14-15 Scripture reading: Psalm 104 The Bible starts with Adam and Eve in a garden full of trees bearing all kinds of good food. The Bible ends with a wedding feast. In between, God rains down food for his people in the form of quails and manna; He appears to enjoy seeing us break bread together! Elijah is discouraged; God sends ravens with food to nourish and comfort him. The sacrificial system and Passover involved eating to the glory of God. Jesus chose to first reveal His power and identity by multiplying wine at a wedding – vats full of the best wine. He saw 5000 hungry and decided to feed them all by multiplying very little. He raises up the daughter of Jairus, and immediately tells them to give her something to eat. Everywhere we look in Scripture we see the affirmation of the aesthetics, the variety, the nourishment, the joy of food and eating. Paul includes the legalistic denial of certain foods as belonging to the “doctrine of demons” - “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (I Timothy 4:4). “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do” (Eccl. 9:7). Suggestions for prayer “I love Thee for giving me clusters of grapes in the wilderness, and drops of heavenly wine that set me longing to have my fill. Apart from Thee I quickly die, bereft of Thee I starve.” – The Valley of Vision: Blessings This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Thursday June 21 – Greed: a way forward

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. - 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Scripture reading: Philippians 4 How often do you feel content with the circumstances, gifts, possessions, people, that the Lord has given to you? You feel very strongly that this is a prize you seem to be chasing your entire life. It can be so elusive. When Paul speaks of experiencing both sides, having little and having plenty, he tells us that he learned to be content (Phil. 4:11-12). During a teaching and preaching trip in India, I noticed that each of the pastors I visited had at least one parent living with them. When I inquired into this, I discovered how normal this was. Parents did not save for their retirement because they had invested their lives in their children and knew they could depend on them for support in their later years. This struck me as a helpful foil to greed and the dream of future financial prosperity. Do not bow to the idolatry of money, to the consumerist plague of our time. Resolve to treat your resources as God's gift to you to be used for His glory. Give away as much as you are able. Live simply but share greatly. Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing; do not be anxious. “You know that you yourselves have a better possession and an abiding one” (Heb. 10:34). Suggestions for prayer “Save me from the love of the world and the pride of life, from everything that is natural to fallen man, and let Christ's nature be seen in me day by day.” – The Valley of Vision: Heart Corruptions This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Wednesday June 20 - Jesus Christ and our greed

Fool...so is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. – Luke 12:21 Scripture reading: Luke 12:1-21 What could you buy on the streets of Jerusalem? I'm not sure exactly, but I do know that it pales in comparison to the options we have today. And yet, the worship of money, greed for stuff, is one of Jesus' favourite topics. The Son of God came down to earth and was appalled at how much people were captivated by what they could acquire and at how little they were captivated by His Father and His plan of redemption. Their love of money had blinded them to their need for Him. Jesus came to expose the empty claims to joy that greed believes in. Feel his sadness as the rich young ruler walks away from the Hope of the world because his money and possessions owned him. He has come to break the power of greed in our lives. And how far he has come: “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake, He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). His life was filled with giving away what He had, denying His own rights, putting aside the glory He deserved. His was a life of giving, not taking: “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again” (John 10:17). Suggestions for prayer “Give me a holy avarice (greed) to redeem the time, to awake at every call to charity and piety. Let me live a life of self-distrust and dependence on Thyself.” – The Valley of Vision: The Infinite and the Finite This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Tuesday June 19 – Greed defined

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves w...

Daily devotional

Monday June 18 - Greed defined

Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." – Hebrews...

Daily devotional

Sunday June 17 - Sloth: a way forward

“Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us… Consider Him w...

Daily devotional

Saturday June 16 – Jesus Christ and our sloth

Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated a...

Daily devotional

Friday June 15 – Sloth defined

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. – Proverbs 19:15 Scripture reading: 2 Samuel 11 I heard that sloths sleep 15-20 hours a day. Physical laziness, a lack of ambition, a faltering imagination, are symptoms of a core lack of interest in God Himself. It is not necessarily a lack of activity; we have so much to do, so many gadgets to fiddle around on, so many TV channels to surf through. William Willamon writes, “Failing to have our attention grabbed by anything of lasting value, our eyes, our minds wander, restlessly roving, failing to alight on anything worth having.” I call it the David vs. Daniel phenomenon. In 2 Samuel 11, we find David growing rather apathetic as his kingdom has grown and his wealth has increased. He is surrounded by distractions and opportunities for pleasure. His lack of zeal and godly energy serve as gateway sins that end with lust, adultery, murder, lying, and much more. Daniel, on the other hand, the teenaged exile in the land of Babylon, one who we might excuse much more for lacking in energy and passion, fights to maintain his grip on God. His refusal to eat the delicacies at the king's table is not ultimately a matter of fidelity to Jewish dietary laws. He works hard to maintain his identity in a pagan, ungodly world. Where is your passion for God's Word, for the kingdom of Jesus Christ? Have you fallen into a spiritual malaise? What's wrong with us when we can spend hours on Facebook but have trouble spending ten minutes of quality time getting to know our Savior more? Have we become bored with God? Suggestion for prayer “Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to Thee, tightly entwine itself round Thee, be allured by Thee.” – The Valley of Vision: Journeying On This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Thursday June 14 - Sloth defined

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. - Proverbs 24:30-31 Scripture reading: Proverbs 24 As though answering our confusion about sloth being on this list, Proverbs loves to give us visual pictures of the dangers of this besetting sin (just do a Google search on sloth). It is not just his lawn and garden and grounds that are unkempt and disordered. It is symptomatic of his heart and life. His plans and priorities and energies are skewered with thorns, strewn with nettles, ineffective like a broken stone wall. C.S. Lewis once wrote: “You will say these are very small sins... it does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turning, without milestone, without signposts.” This is sloth, a true slippery slope towards apathy, disinterest, indifference. Dorothy Sayers describes it as: “the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, enjoys nothing, seeks to know nothing, loves nothing, hates nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive only because there is nothing it would die for.” We will encapsulate it this way: sloth is boredom with God. Suggestions for prayer “I have no green shoot in me nor fruit, but thorns and thistles; I am a fading leaf that the wind drives away; I live bare and barren as a winter tree...Lord, dost thou have mercy on me?” – The Valley of Vision: Heart Corruptions This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Wednesday June 13 – Anger: a way forward

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. – James 1:19-20 Scripture reading: James 1 Anger serves as a helpful whistleblower in our lives. Follow your anger to the passions and desires you have and you will find what you are actually in love with. Pray to the Spirit to thus reveal the idols of your heart and allow you to reorient your love in the direction of Christ and His kingdom. This broken world is full of anger; sprinkle the salt of kindness, gentleness, patience and mercy for all to see. “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools” (Eccl. 7:9). Practice humble forgiveness for those who have done you wrong. Embrace mercy towards others with the type of earnest passion that Jesus demonstrated towards others. Be slow to speak and to judge another person; take your time and listen. Get angry at the right things: your own sin and failures, as well as the broken world and the broken hearts all around you. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger...be put away from you...Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph 4:31-32). Suggestions for prayer “I bless Thee for the discoveries, invitations, promises of the gospel, for in them is pardon for rebels, liberty for captives, health for the sick, salvation for the lost.” – The Valley of Vision: Living for Jesus This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Tuesday June 12 – Jesus Christ and our anger

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. – Matthew 11:29 Scripture reading: Matthew 11 This is true love. The Lord of Glory, the Word, the Alpha and the Omega left the joy and glory of heaven to dwell with sinful man in this broken world. The good news is that He did not treat us as we deserve; He did not pour out just wrath on sinful mankind in an act of sudden and permanent judgment. Instead, He bore the wrath of the Father on an accursed tree to set us free. His spirit, even while suffering on the cross, was one of patience and forgiveness (Luke 23:34). This knowledge of our Savior is the starting and ending point of all struggle against the sin of anger. In Mark 3, Jesus heals a man with a deformed hand on the Sabbath. Some religious leaders balked at his carefree attitude towards the law. We read of Jesus in verse 5, “He looked around at them in anger and in deep distress at their stubborn hearts.” You can feel the love of Christ for sinners, even in his anger and distress. We instinctively look to defend and attack, but “as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth” (Is. 53:7). Watch as Jesus exerts His energy and passion against all that threatens the church that He loves. This is how much pleasure He takes in you. He is worthy of every ounce of your faith. Suggestions for prayer “My love is frost and cold, ice and snow; let His love warm me, lighten my burden, be my heaven.” – The Valley of Vision: The Love of Jesus This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Monday June 11 - Anger defined

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have,...

Daily devotional

Sunday June 10 – Anger defined

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity for the devil. – Ephesians 4:26-27 Scripture reading:...

Daily devotional

Saturday June 9 - Envy: a way forward

Now the works of the flesh are evident...envy...but the fruit of the Spirit is love...kindness...goodness... – Galatians 5:19-23 Scripture readi...

Daily devotional

Friday June 8 - Jesus Christ and our envy

Jesus Christ...though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a s...

Daily devotional

Thursday June 7 - Envy defined

Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands...And Saul eyed David from that day on. – 1 Samuel 18:7-9 Scripture reading: 1 Samuel 18 Envy is similar to jealousy, but it is not strictly a desire for something that someone else has that I want. It is a hatred for the person who has it. In fact, because someone has something that I do not, some advantage over me, I cannot be satisfied or happy until it is taken away from him. Envy rejoices with those who weep and weeps with those who rejoice. In the new top ten hits on the streets of Israel, Saul is praised for his exploits, but he can no longer hear the song because David is praised even more. Envy always says, but what about me? Someone is elected to an office in the church that I desired. A fellow employee is promoted ahead of me. A sister in the church has a personality and warmth that you long for. For the envious, these are not reasons to give thanks to God for his blessings upon others; these are reasons for despair and anger. Look in the church nursery. Little Marie may seem as happy as a clam playing with her favourite toy animal until she sees Little Beth laughing over a princess car. Little Marie, green with envy, now cannot be happy until the car is in her possession and Beth is in tears. Only then will she be satisfied. Envy is the opponent of contentment and gratitude; it is the enemy of joy and love. Suggestions for prayer “I bring my soul to Thee; break it, wound it, bend it, mould it. Unmask to me sin's deformity, that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it.” – The Valley of Vision: Yet I Sin This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Wednesday June 6 - Envy defined

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. – Proverbs 14:30 Scripture reading: Proverbs 14 As sinful and ruinous as pride is, envy comes along as a worthy competitor on the scales of deadly sins. In the Faerie Queene, envy is depicted as a man with cankered teeth, chewing on a venomous toad, poison running down his jaws. Elsewhere it is compared to an internal gnawing worm, rust of the heart, the malignant shriek of the shriveled soul. Envy roars when someone gets better grades than I do, has more friends, is more likeable, preaches to more congregants, gets the promotion I think I deserved, is better looking, has nicer parents, is more popular, intelligent, respected, successful. Envy is so uniquely depressing, cold and suicidal. In an ancient Jewish tale, an angel visits a shopkeeper known for envying his rival. The angel offers to fulfill one wish, but warns him that his competitor will receive twice as much of whatever he asks for. Momentarily puzzling over this challenging opportunity, the shopkeeper arrives at his request: he asks to be made blind in one eye. “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16). Before Cain rose up to murder his brother on that dark day, envy was rotting his bones and his heart. Disorder had invaded paradise. Nothing but grief is gained through envy and all that trails behind her: discontentment and ingratitude. Suggestions for prayer “I can scarce open my eyes, but I envy those above me or despise those below...Am I inferior? How much I grudge others' pre-eminence! Thou knowest that...my greatest snare is myself.” – The Valley of Vision: Self-deprecation This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Tuesday June 5 - Pride: a way forward

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you. – 1 Peter 5:6 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 5 We need our pride opposed by God, we need to be humbled by His Word, His Spirit, and the circumstances that He brings into our lives. We need to give up our demand for what we deserve, for what we deserve is judgment and death. Jesus taught His disciples that, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus practiced this without fail in His own life and death and sets it as a pattern for His church. Think about this carefully: what people in your life will benefit from your humble servanthood? As you come to be more like your humble Savior, who will be affected? Think of everyday conversations and interactions. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.” Have you been humbled recently? Feeling weak is the best garden for the flowering of dependence upon God's sufficient grace. Allow the superior satisfaction in God to overpower your self-preoccupation. Ultimately the Father is remaking us in His Son's image. We must be willing to be humiliated as He was. Let us say, with Paul, “...far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” – Galatians 6:14 Suggestions for prayer “Holy Spirit, Make me the lowest of the lowly, that my spiritual riches may exceedingly abound. Keep me humble, meek, lowly.” – The Valley of Vision: Pride This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA....

Daily devotional

Monday June 4 - Jesus Christ and our pride

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who...being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:5, 8 Scripture reading: Philippians 2 The greatest foil to pride in our lives is to come to know our humble Savior, the Lord Jesus, deeper and deeper. Watch as the highest becomes the lowest: in His birth, life, suffering, death and burial. He did not need to lower Himself one inch towards us, and yet He voluntarily bent Himself in submission to His Father's will to accomplish what only He could accomplish. He allows Himself to be baptized – Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God! Confess Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant, in the face of every ounce of pride remaining in your heart. For your Savior was ridiculed, misunderstood, mocked, spat upon, struck, bargained over, pierced with thorns and nails, brutally crucified, killed, all while bearing the unthinkable weight of the sins of the world upon Himself. John Flavel once wrote, “Was not this astonishing self-denial? That He, who from eternity, had His Father's smiles and honours, He that from the creation was adored, and worshiped by angels, as their God, must now become a footstool for every miscreant to tread on.” Suggestions for prayer “Dearest Savior, when I am tempted to think highly of myself, grant me to see the wily power of my spiritual enemy; Help me to stand with wary eye on the watch-tower of faith, and to cling with determined grasp to my humble Lord” – The Valley of Vision: Pride This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Mark Stewart serves the Burlington URC in Burlington, WA. ...

Daily devotional

Sunday June 3 – Pride defined

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. – James 4:6 Scripture reading: James 4 How would you define pride? Self-promotion, self...

Daily devotional

Saturday June 2 - Pride defined

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look... – Proverbs 6:16-17 Scripture reading: Proverbs 6 It's p...

Daily devotional

Friday June 1 - Introduction to June's devotionals

Daily devotional

Thursday May 31 – Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?

Daily devotional

Wednesday May 30 - Who is the man that fears the Lord?

Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. - Psalm 25:12 Scripture reading: Psalm 25 The question posed in Psalm 25 is answered with a promise. Those who fear the LORD receive the LORD’s instruction. Psalm 25 outlines the desire of one who knows the friendship of the LORD. God’s covenant blessing rests on those whose eyes are ever toward the LORD (vs. 15). What blessing is ours when we fear the LORD in reverence, awe and humble submission. We may and must take deep joy in the faithfulness of God. When we seek and wait upon Him, He will not put us to shame. He will make us to know His ways, leading and teaching us. He is the God of our salvation, the God of pardoning grace canceling our debt. How great is the forgiving love of God! If that be our conviction, then it becomes our prayer ever to know His ways and for the LORD to lead and teach us in His truth (vs. 4&5a). There are those who think the Word of the LORD to be too restrictive. But we are not to argue with the Bible. The Word of God is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joint and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13 cf. also II Corinthians 5:10). Do you desire the Lord to teach you His ways? Suggestions for prayer When you pray, you are never alone. The Father listens; the Holy Spirit helps, and our Saviour is always interceding. Pray that we may grow in the fear of the Lord. This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional....

Daily devotional

Tuesday May 29 - What fellowship has light with darkness?

For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? – II Corinthians 6:14b-16a Scripture reading: II Corinthians 6-7:1 In the context of our calling to be ambassadors for Christ (5:20), we receive, in chapter 6, the command not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (6:14a), to be a separated people (6:17). Worldliness is a constant temptation. Moral defilement blackens the reputation of a Christ follower. The Bible teaches that believers are the temple of the living God (I Corinthians 6:19; I Peter 2:5). We represent Christ to those God puts on our path. How do we answer such a calling? There are those who believe that they can ‘play both sides of the fence’. But a true Christian desires to please the LORD (5:9) in a life of grateful obedience. God has said, "Be holy, for I am holy." (Leviticus 11:44). And therefore we need to pay attention to what has our attention. What does it mean to be a separate people? How does this apply to our work or our recreational activities? How do we use the ‘weapons of righteousness” as we live in the world day by day? (vs. 7). These are tough questions. And as we seek to answer them, we must do so in the conviction that, "by ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment. And our sworn enemies, the devil, the world and our own flesh never stop attacking us” (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 127). How we need to daily look to Christ, the Cornerstone. Are you busy looking to Christ – for salvation and sanctification in the Holy Spirit? Suggestions for prayer Pray for the grace to be a living testimony of Christ’s work on our behalf. Pray that daily we would be living stones in His temple. Pray for the Lord to uphold us and make us strong with the strength of the Holy Spirit, so that we may resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory. (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 127) This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional....

Daily devotional

Monday May 28 - How long?

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? - Psalm 13:1a Scripture reading: Psalm 13 Psalm 13 begins with a fourfold lament of penetrating questions all prefaced by the cry, how long? (Verses 1&2, please read again). David is lamenting with expressions of despair and anguish. He is more than down in the dumps. He is initially paralyzed, unable to deal with the realities of his enemies. Are you discouraged? Do you feel like God has forgotten you? Is your heart clouded by sorrow? Are the tests, trials and even tribulations in your life almost too much to handle? Are you overwhelmed by the turbulence in your life? Do you in your situation cry out, how long, O LORD? David is praying and as he pours out his heart, he moves from despair to a plea for God’s answer (Verses 3&4, please read again). We hear his desire for God’s answer. And then in the final two verses (Verses 5&6, please read again), we hear a complete turnaround. David gives expression to the confidence that belongs to him, in faith. He takes strength in the steadfast love of God. He confesses that God, in covenant love, has bound Himself to His people. Psalm 13 moves from despair, to desire, to delight. Prayer is a rich gift. Bring your heart cries to the Sovereign LORD. Be comforted in His promises. Charles Spurgeon wrote: “Believer, when you are on your knees, remember you are going to a king. Let your petitions be large.” Do you trust God to be at your side no matter what the circumstance? Suggestions for prayer Approach God’s throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Pray, trusting God to uphold us in times of turbulence. Remember “...faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” – Martin Luther This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional....

Daily devotional

Sunday May 27 - Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? - Psalm 15:1 Scripture Reading: Psalm 15 Today, in freedom, we may attend the house of the Lord, seeking His face to worship Him in Spirit and Truth. In the place of worship, we come as guests. Psalm 15 is very clear as to who are invited guests. Psalm 15 outlines the character of worshippers. They are, by God’s grace, people of integrity. Integrity can be defined as "steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code; the quality or condition of being whole or undivided." Integrity is seeking to be true to God’s standards. Honesty and sincerity are hallmarks of integrity. A person who lacks integrity is someone who says one thing and does another – and that person is a hypocrite. Who can reach such a standard? Thankfully, we do not come to the Lord’s house of praise, prayer and proclamation in our own name or by our own merit. We come before the LORD in the Name of the One Who perfectly fulfilled God’s standards, Jesus Christ. And it is in His Name that we seek to honour our heavenly Father with a heart washed in the blood of our Redeemer. In God’s grace, we present ourselves to Him as living sacrifices. We confess the wonder of God’s wonder-working love for needy sinners. As said by another: "We are saved by the gospel of God, in order to worship the God of the gospel." Today again is a day of glorious opportunity. Will you self-consciously offer yourself this Lord’s Day for His honour? Suggestions for prayer Integrity is essential if any believer is to represent God and Christ in this world. Pray for Christ-like integrity as outlined in Psalm 15. Give thanks for our multiple provisions in Christ. This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional....

Daily devotional

Saturday May 26 - If the foundations are destroyed...

Daily devotional

Friday May 25 - Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Daily devotional

Thursday May 24 - What good is it for one to gain the whole world...

Daily devotional

Wednesday May 23 - If God is for us, who can be against us?

Daily devotional

Tuesday May 22 – Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? – Romans 6:1 Scripture reading: Romans 6 The believer rejoices to confess that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. “This is not of our own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:9b). When our faith rests in Christ, our sins are forgiven. While the wages of sin is death, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ. By nature, we are corrupt and totally unable to do any good and, in fact, inclined toward all evil — unless we are born again, by the Spirit of God (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 8). Those who have experienced regeneration are led to a life of repentance and faith and set free from the reign of sin. But the question of Romans 6:1 underscores the tension of remaining sin in a believer’s life. This question is emphatically answered by the forceful expression “By no means!” Grace is not a license to sin. Grace is not an opportunity to live for ourselves. Willful, unrepentant sin in a person’s life makes a mockery of grace and calls into question that person’s salvation (I John 3:6). Sin must not be king in our lives. The LORD calls us to be a slave of righteousness. Yet, we often stumble and fall. Sinless perfection is not possible this side of glory. But Christians, saved by grace, do fight against sin and its far-reaching grasp lest they be ensnared. We are part of a cosmic battle and the enemy’s forces must be resisted. How are you faring in the battle? Suggestions for prayer “Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected” (Jonathan Edwards). Pray to be faithful between glory begun and glory perfected, recognizing there is the race to be run. Pray for ongoing grace to look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (cf Hebrews 12:1-3). This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional....

Daily devotional

Monday May 21 - How can someone be born when they are old?

How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? – John 3:4 Scripture Reading: John 3:1-21 It is the work of the Holy Spirit, through the power of the Word proclaimed, to open our hearts to the gospel of grace. Nicodemus is puzzled/mystified when Jesus tells him that, "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (vs. 3). Just as we do not choose to be born, so too we do not choose to be re-born. As our physical birth was our initiation into this world, so our spiritual rebirth is the starting point of our spiritual life. Our Saviour’s teaching emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation. The new birth, regeneration, is God’s work opening the way for believers to enter into His Kingdom. Another way to say "being born again" is "being born from above." This helps us understand that without God’s intervention, entering the Kingdom is impossible. Entrance into the Kingdom requires a changed heart and evidence of a new life. Rebirth is God’s divine initiative and is a necessary precondition to entering the Kingdom of God. It is the working of the Holy Spirit – all of beautiful and bountiful grace. The Holy Spirit shines the spotlight on the un-surpassing worth of Jesus Christ and His gospel. The Holy Spirit convicts us of the infallibility and inerrancy of God’s inspired Word. The Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit brings to life that which is lifeless. In regeneration, God plants a desire in our hearts for Himself. Is this your experience? Suggestions for prayer Give thanks for God’s divine initiative in salvation. Praise God that the believer may confess that the Holy Spirit has "been given to me personally, so that, by true faith, He makes me share in Christ and all His blessings, comforts me and remains with me forever" (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 53). This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional....

Daily devotional

Sunday May 20 - What does this mean?

And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” – Acts 2:12 Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1-5; 2:1-12 Today, as the body of Christ, we gather for worship. It is, as congregations, our greatest privilege and highest responsibility. And on this Lord’s Day, we mark another once for all event in salvation history. On the first Pentecost Sunday (10 days after Christ’s Ascension; 50 days following His Resurrection), now almost two thousand years ago, there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, divided tongues as of fire resting on the apostles’ heads and the speaking of languages/tongues which were spoken in all parts of the eastern Mediterranean region, from Rome to Persia. All of this astounded those who witnessed these three signs and, humanly speaking, no wonder they were filled with wonder. What can this mean? The wind testifies to the power and presence of the Spirit; fire speaks to the Spirit’s cleansing and judging power and the languages of the gospel to be proclaimed to all nations – every tribe and every tongue. These signs confirmed what Jesus had earlier promised. In the gospel of John, Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to be their Advocate, their Helper and Comforter (14:16-17), their Teacher (14:26), testifying/bearing witness to Jesus, guiding them into all truth (16:13). On Pentecost Sunday, Christ’s promise was confirmed and the sheep of the sheepfold live out of the fruit of that promise day by day. The Church of all ages, scattered across the face of the globe, takes strength and joy in the working of the Holy Spirit. Suggestions for prayer Give thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit. Pray that you might grow in the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5). This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Picture is Raphael's "St. Paul Preaching" standing in, of course, for Peter preaching on Pentecost....

Daily devotional

Saturday May 19 – What must I do to inherit eternal life?

“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" – Luke 18:18 Scripture: Luke 18:18-30 No one can possibly go forward in the gracious strength of the LORD until he has first learned to stand still in his own helplessness. The rich ruler did not know his own helplessness. He relied on his own "merits" rather than the merits of Christ. He assumed that his deeds would earn him eternal life. And when challenged and confronted with a choice, he chose his possessions rather than putting God first. We must never forget that we can be right with God only by true faith in Jesus Christ. We must recognize that even though our conscience accuses us of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments and of never having kept any of them, and even though we are still inclined toward all evil. Nevertheless, without our deserving it at all, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to believers the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ, as if the believer had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if the believer had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for His sheep. The believer must simply accept this gift of God with a believing heart (cf Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 60). Jesus knew that materialism and greed were preventing his questioner from truly seeking salvation. The rich ruler did not know his own sin and thus he did not know his need for a Saviour. As the question of the life to come confronts you (as it does every day) how will you answer? Suggestions for prayer Confessing your great need can only be answered in Christ and the power of His washing blood. Praise God for His justifying grace. This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional....

Daily devotional

Friday May 18 – My God, why has thou forsaken me?

Daily devotional

Thursday May 17 – What shall I do then with Jesus?

Daily devotional

Wednesday May 16 – Who do you say that I am?

He said to them “But who do you say that I am?” – Matthew 16:15 Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:13-20 Christ’s question is one of the mos...

Daily devotional

Tuesday May 15 - Will you not receive instructions and listen to my words?

Daily devotional

Monday May 14 - Is anything too hard for the LORD?

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? – Jeremiah 32:27 Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 32 What perplexing moments have you faced in your life? What has happened to you that left you mystified? In our Scripture lesson, God tells Jeremiah (who had been disowned by his immediate family) that his relative will come to ask him to purchase some property that belongs within the extended family. It makes no sense. By normal standards, it is absurd to buy a field when the whole land is about to be lost. Jeremiah does what is asked and then comes before the LORD to ask for understanding. Notice obedience precedes his prayer for clarity. His prayer begins with a deep sigh — in faith he is seeking understanding. He prays, confessing God’s greatness in both creation (vs. 17) and redemption (vs. 20-22). He acknowledges God’s justice (vs. 19). In short Jeremiah is asking for the ability to see God’s purposes. For the world, seeing is believing. For the Christian, believing is seeing. And the Lord’s answer to Jeremiah, as it is to all His people: Nothing is too hard for the LORD! The remnant will be restored. God will see to it. His promise for His redeemed people holds firm. The same God Who holds the stars in their appointed place in the skies beyond is perfectly able to hold our feet on the ground. Trust Him. Believe that His promises will come to fruition. Every one of them! Believe that Jesus Christ is our guarantee. Is there anything too hard for the LORD? Suggestions for prayer Just as the LORD promised His remnant a return to the promised land, so too those who are in Christ can eagerly anticipate in the inheritance of the Promised Land to come. Pray with rejoicing. Rejoice that His promises do not fail. This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional....

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Nearer to God Devotional

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Monday July 23 – They divided my garments among them

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Sunday July 22 – The last Passover celebration

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Saturday July 21 - O Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets...!

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Friday July 20 – Get away, Herod wants to kill you!

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Thursday July 19 – You give them something to eat!

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Wednesday July 18 - Take up your cross and follow Jesus!

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Tuesday July 17 – Fasting while the Bridegroom is away

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Monday July 16 – "I came not to call the righteous but sinners"

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Sunday July 15 – "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?"

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Saturday July 14 – Jesus delivers from sickness and death

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Friday July 13 – Jesus cleanses a leper: "I will; be clean!"

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Thursday July 12 - "Be silent and come out of him!"

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Wednesday July 11 - No prophet is acceptable in his hometown

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Tuesday July 10 - The temptation of Jesus: “All these I will give you…”

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Saturday June 30 - Conclusion

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Friday June 29 - Lust: a way forward

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Thursday June 28 - Jesus Christ and our lust

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Wednesday June 27 - Lust defined

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Tuesday June 26 - Lust defined

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Monday June 25 - Gluttony: a way forward

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Sunday June 24 - Jesus Christ and our gluttony

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Saturday June 23 - Gluttony defined

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Friday June 22 - Gluttony defined

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Thursday June 21 – Greed: a way forward

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Wednesday June 20 - Jesus Christ and our greed

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