Daily devotional

October 15 - Isaac’s blessing

“By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.” - Hebrews 11:20

Scripture reading: Genesis 27:1-40

This is an interesting verse, because it deals with a situation where Isaac was deceived. Jacob pretended and lied saying that he was the older son, Esau. Yet, when Isaac found out, he did not take the blessing back, but kept it, for he knew it was the will of the Lord. The promise of the covenant would flow through Isaac to Jacob.

The fact that Jacob, who was younger, is mentioned first, is likely either in that order because he was blessed first, or probably because of the covenant prominence as being elect. Jacob and Esau are used later in Scripture in Romans 9 as an example of God’s electing grace. It is not by the will of man, but by the power of God.

Isaac believed the Lord, but it was the Lord who used Isaac in his old age, unable to see, to give the promise first given to Abraham; and the church on earth, through God’s redemption, continues to grow. The battle belongs to the Lord. Moses had to learn this, Gideon had to learn this and we have to continue to remember this. We are called to work and pray, but it is God who ultimately accomplishes His good purposes.

Hebrews 11:20 mentions Jacob and Esau’s future. This is what it comes down to…what will the future hold? Flee to Christ and receive the assurance of an everlasting inheritance from the Lord.

Suggestions for prayer

Thank the Lord for His mighty hand in saving sinners. Ask the Lord to give you a future-oriented heart as you live in the present.

Rev. Steve Swets was born and raised in NW Indiana. He graduated from Mid America Reformed Seminary in 2007, and he is currently the minister at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.

Full Article

Daily devotional

October 14 - Isaac resurrected

“He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” - Hebrews 11:19 ...

Daily devotional

October 13 - Abraham and Isaac

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,” - Hebrews 11:17 Scripture reading: Genesis 22:1-19 Year after year, Abraham and ...

Daily devotional

October 12 - God’s city

“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” - Hebrews 11:16b Scripture reading: Genesis 19:1-...

Daily devotional

October 11 - Pilgrims on earth

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that the...

Daily devotional

October 10 - Stars and sand

“…descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” - Hebrews 11:12b Scripture reading: Genesis 18:1-15 and Gen. 21:1-7 In our Scripture reading from Genesis 18, we see Sarah, Abraham’s wife, laugh at the news that she would have a child. She was already an old woman. But, as the Lord says to Abraham in Genesis 18:13, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” The answer is "No." Isaac was born in Genesis 21, when Abraham was 100 years old. Many more will come. In fact, millions upon millions will come from him. An impactful way to say or explain this, is to go to the beach and grab a handful of sand. Begin to count how many grains of sand there are in your hand. Then look at the beach and think of all the beaches in the world. Once again, when we see Hebrews 11 use the phrase, “by faith”, we must recognize this as a faith that is tested by the Lord. Will Abraham really be the father of a great nation? Will Jesus really be able to purchase a people for Himself with His own precious blood? Will we, though sinful, be able to persevere unto the last day? The answer to all kinds of questions like this is, "No, but for the grace of God." God will always accomplish His will and if that will is to give Abraham descendants as numerous as stars and sand, then it will be so. With man this is impossible, but not with God. We are weak and He is strong. Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord that you are a spiritual descendent of Abraham. Ask the Lord to strengthen your faith, especially in times when you are weak. Rev. Steve Swets was born and raised in NW Indiana. He graduated from Mid America Reformed Seminary in 2007, and he is currently the minister at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 9 - The land of promise

“For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” - Hebrews 11:10 Scripture reading: Genesis 13:1-18 and Hebrews 11:8-10 In Genesis 12, Abraham arrives at Shechem, in the Eastern part of Canaan. It was there that Joshua, in Joshua 24 would renew the covenant with the Lord. It became an important place because of its redemptive history. That land would be the land of Abraham’s descendants. As the Hebrews endured slavery in Egypt, it was the promise to Abraham that was reiterated to Moses. However, even a land that they could call their own was not the ultimate goal. Even possession of the land of promise in this life was still a shakable reality. After all, Babylon and Assyria are remembered in the Scriptures for exiling God’s people from that land. But, Hebrews 11:10, speaks of a different city -not Shechem, not Jerusalem, but rather, Jerusalem the Golden. It is not a city built by the Canaanites or even the Israelites, but rather by God. Our Scripture passage says that God is the Architect and Builder. This Architect drew the blueprint for that city long before Abraham was called by God. From before the foundations of the world this city was planned. Abraham looked and waited for it and we do as well. We are called to be stewards in the world, but, as Philippians 3:20 reminds us, our citizenship is in heaven. Jerusalem will be our dwelling place, by grace through faith, and Hebrews is not talking about Jerusalem in war-torn Palestine. Can you see that city, by the sea of crystal? So did Abraham. Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord for the promise of a city not of this world. Ask the Lord for patience and diligence as we await its appearing. Rev. Steve Swets was born and raised in NW Indiana. He graduated from Mid America Reformed Seminary in 2007, and he is currently the minister at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 8 - Abraham believed

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” - Hebrews 11:8 Scripture reading: Genesis 12:1-9 Abraham obeyed and went where God told him. As we read Genesis 12:1, the natural human response would be, “No.” In the ancient world, it was most desirable to be settled. Even today, moving is not easy. It takes much planning, work and emotional energy, along with the fact that you often have to say good-bye to loved ones. In Abraham’s day, to move anywhere was a tremendous task. But even more, he didn’t know where he was going. He went where God told him to go. Abraham, the father of all believers, is held out as an example of a man who walked by faith. As we continue to see in Hebrews 11, the saints described all received a promise which was not realized or accomplished for a time. In the meantime, whether it was Noah waiting for a flood, or Abraham camping and moving, their faith would have been tested. Then, when Abraham arrived in Shechem, the land of promise was filled with Canaanites. There is no such thing as an untested faith. Think of Noah, Abraham, Moses (see Exodus 5:21-22), the Lord Jesus Christ, and us. The comforting truth is that the testing of our faith is for the strengthening of our faith (read I Peter 1:6, 7; James 1:2-4). Jesus calls us to follow Him. The path will not be easy, but we do not have to walk alone. Suggestions for prayer Confess your doubts to the Lord and ask Him for a greater assurance of faith. Ask for strength to go wherever the Lord may call. Rev. Steve Swets was born and raised in NW Indiana. He graduated from Mid America Reformed Seminary in 2007, and he is currently the minister at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 7 - Noah the righteous (part 2)

“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” - Hebrews 11:7 Scripture reading: Genesis 7-9 or Genesis 8:18-9:17 As with many Old Testament narratives, we see grace amidst judgment. Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord. As a righteous man, when Noah got out of the ark, he sacrificed to the Lord and like Abel before Him, Noah’s sacrifice was pleasing to the Lord. The flood narrative can be compared to the covenant established with believers and their seed. The rainbow becomes a visible proclamation of an invisible reality, just like the waters of baptism. However, the object of the sign must be trusted. We must not put our trust in our baptism or in a rainbow, but in the God who supplies both. The rainbow, like witnessing a baptism, is a continual call to conversion (faith and repentance). In Hebrews 11:7, both condemnation and an inheritance of righteousness are mentioned. If you have been baptized, then you are still outside the ark and in great peril. If you have been baptized, then you must grab hold of that baptism and say in your heart, “Yes, I believe Jesus has washed away all of my sins and He gives me His righteousness.” When you do that, then you may offer a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord. We do not do this with the killing of an animal, but with a living sacrifice of thanks (Romans 12:1-2). Suggestions for prayer Thank God for baptism as a visible reminder of what He has done. Ask God to strengthen you so that your life is a pleasing sacrifice to Him. Rev. Steve Swets was born and raised in NW Indiana. He graduated from Mid America Reformed Seminary in 2007, and he is currently the minister at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 6 - Noah the righteous (part 1)

“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he...

Daily devotional

October 5 - A God-pleasing faith

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek...

Daily devotional

October 4 - Enoch walked with God

“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commen...

Daily devotional

October 3 - Abel still speaks?

“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting hi...

Daily devotional

October 2 - Creation out of nothing!

“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” - Hebrews 11:3 Scripture reading: Genesis 1-2:3 As we continue to look at Hebrews 11, we are reminded that it is by faith we believe that God created the world out of nothing. We believe this because the Scriptures say this. The only thing that was in the beginning, was God. In a day and age where something as seemingly clear as creation has come under attack from within the church, Hebrews 11:3 is an important verse. By faith we believe this. Some argue, "But the evidence for evolution, for pre-Adamites, for the big bang ..." Wrong, the universe was formed at God’s command. What this means is that God spoke and things came into being which were not previously there. Only God can do this. How important is Hebrews 11:3 today, not only to refute evolutionists, but to strengthen our faith. God is mighty and the same God Who made all things out of nothing, the same God Who raised Jesus from the dead, is also the same God Who brings dead sinners to life. Can God do this? He has done this in you, if you believe. He brought into being what was not there, namely, faith. May the creation of the world and our trust in the Lord move us to thank and praise Him. Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord for the world which He has created. Pray for strength to not give in to the vain philosophies of this world in dealing with origins. Thank the Lord for a new heart. Rev. Steve Swets was born and raised in NW Indiana. He graduated from Mid America Reformed Seminary in 2007, and he is currently the minister at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

October 1 - Introduction to the reformation

As we walk in this world as those seeking to be Nearer to God, it is a tremendous comfort to know that others have gone before us. The path that we must walk is a path often taken. Throughout the history of redemption as found in the pages of Scripture, we see the guiding hand of the Lord in those who walked in faith. Some of these saints who have gone before us in the Old Testament are forever remembered on the pages of Hebrews 11. What unites all of those OT believers together was that they trusted God and they believed God’s promise, even though they did not see the fulfillment of God’s promise while they were living on this earth. They were those who were walking down a path to a heavenly country. We hope to pause each day and remember what God has done in their lives and the rich grace each of these “Heroes of the Faith” received. This also is the month we remember the Reformation, when Martin Luther nailed 95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. There began, by the Lord’s providence, a Reformation of the church, of which we are sons and daughters. The last week of October our devotionals will cover the section of Hebrews 11 dealing with the martyrs and there we will illustrate some figures from the Reformation who paid the ultimate price in standing up for the truth. As you open God’s Word each day, open also your heart, that He might shape and form it for His glory. After all, that is the great cry of the Reformation, Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone). What is faith? “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” - Hebrews 11:1 Scripture reading: John 20:24-31 On this Lord’s Day, as we begin our month of looking at what is often called the “Heroes of Faith”, we need to ask the question, “What is faith?” Hebrews 11:1 gives us something of an answer. It is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. In this way, faith described here is very different from what we saw in John 20. Thomas doubted and said unless he sees and feels Jesus, he will not believe. But, faith is not about seeing, it is about trusting. So, the question sometimes comes up, “Is faith therefore blind?” Faith is not blind because it has an object to look upon, namely the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the culmination of all the Old Testament promises. As we look at different men and women of faith, we will see that they were given a promise and they believed. They became faithful instruments to be used by the Lord because they trusted Him and took Him at His Word. Each of the heroes of faith trusted the Lord and, though they were sinners worthy of condemnation, they became trophies of God’s grace through faith. They looked ahead to Jesus Christ and we look back to Jesus Christ. In doing so, the promises are sure; we are promised eternal life. Can we be sure of that? Yes, because the Bible tells us so. Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord for the gift of faith. Pray that the Lord will strengthen your faith. Praise God today for Jesus, the object of our faith. Rev. Steve Swets was born and raised in NW Indiana. He graduated from Mid America Reformed Seminary in 2007, and he is currently the minister at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 30 - To God be the glory!

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” - Romans 11:33: Scripture reading: Romans 11:33-36 Several days ago, we noted that the ocean depths are largely unknown to us. Challenger Deep in the Marianas Trench, near the Philippines, is about 36,000 feet deep. That is almost seven miles. If you plunked Mt. Everest into Challenger Deep, its peak would still be a mile underwater. More people have gone up into space than down into Challenger Deep. “Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33). God’s wisdom is deeper than Challenger Deep. Unlike Challenger Deep, it is impossible to plumb the depths of His ways. God’s glory in creation is worth a Romans 11:33 outburst! This doxology, however, is Paul’s response to God’s wisdom in redemption. In Romans 3:21-11:32, Paul traces for us the astonishing way God has chosen, in Christ, to justify, sanctify and glorify His chosen ones, Jews and Gentiles, and to renew all creation. No human could dream up, let alone implement, such a wise plan! It is wise to study and embrace God’s ways in salvation. It is wise to confess that you have turned from God to go your own, foolish way. It is wise to embrace Jesus Christ and His finished work for you on the cross as the Way back into fellowship with God. Then you can sing with Paul, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36). Suggestions for Prayer Pray the words of the Romans 11:33-36 as a prayer of praise. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 29 - Jesus, the only way

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”” - John 14:6 Scripture reading: John 14:1-6 In Proverbs 9, we met Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly. Both women competed for the attention and affection of the young man about to step out into the big world. Lady Wisdom woos us to walk with her in the way of life in fellowship with God. Lady Folly woos us to walk with her in the way of death, apart from God. Jesus is Lady Wisdom. He tells us, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Lady Folly confronts us through a variety of voices that claim otherwise. They lecture that this exclusive claim is dangerous. It leads to a sense of superiority, oppression and violence. Other voices insist that worshipers from a variety of religions worship the same God. There are many ways to Him, not just one. Maybe you work or connect with people who find the exclusive claims of Christ hateful. Maybe you find that intimidating. First, know in your heart that reconciliation with God through Christ is your deepest need and theirs. Second, drink deeply of the gospel so that humility and love for lost people in your life will drive out all smugness, self-righteousness and superiority. Third, seek to order your life according to God’s wise blueprint in humble reliance on the Holy Spirit. This will make your life attractive. It will give you opportunities to point others to Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for reconciling you to Him in Christ. Ask Him to draw others to faith in Christ through you. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 28 - Heart smart

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” - Proverbs 21:2 Scripture reading: Proverbs 21:2; Proverbs 3:5-6 ...

Daily devotional

September 27 - Deep sea fishing

“The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” - Proverbs 20:5 Scripture readings: Proverbs ...

Daily devotional

September 26 - Gossip

“The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.” - Proverbs 18:8 Scripture readings: Prove...

Daily devotional

September 25 - The fear of the Lord, the fear of man (part 2)

Daily devotional

September 24 - The fear of the Lord, the fear of man (part 1)

“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe... The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” - Proverbs 29:25; 14:27 Scripture readings: Proverbs 29:25; 14:27 Dr. Ed Welch has written a book called “When People Are Big and God is Small.” What a great description of “the fear of man!” When you look at others through binoculars, they look enormous. You magnify them to appear bigger than they are. We do this when we magnify the power of certain people over God to give us the love and approval we crave. We will sin against God rather than risk their disapproval. We become people-pleasers, controlled by others. We also do this when we believe that people who dislike, oppose or hurt us have more power than God over us. They and their power loom large in our hearts, crippling us with anxiety. We are willing to sin to appease them. “The fear of man lays a snare” (Proverbs 29:25a). When you look through the wrong end of binoculars, everything looks smaller and further away. When gripped by the fear of man, we look at God through the wrong end of binoculars. He seems small and far away. Others are big and God is small in our hearts. As you worship today, ask God to flip your binoculars and redirect them upward. As we magnify Him, He delivers us from the fear of man. “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:3). “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27). Suggestions for prayer Ask God to meet you in worship today to deliver you from the fear of man. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 23 - Wisdom about companions (part 2)

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” - Proverbs 18:24 Scripture readings: Proverbs 18:24; John 15:12-17 We use the word ‘friend’ loosely today. Our friends are often acquaintances. We know and enjoy them on a casual basis. We share common interests, enjoy game nights and movie nights with them, or play sports together. Usually, however, such friends are not tuned in to our innermost fears, sins, struggles and hopes. For this reason, they are unable to pray for us and support us when our lives begin to unravel. “A man of many companions may come to ruin” (Proverbs 18:24a). He is surrounded by companions, yet none of them are close enough to warn him of danger or throw him a lifeline. “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24b). A brother is expected to be loyal, to be there for his siblings. In that case, a friend who sticks closer than a brother is a rare gem! When life unravels, people are often surprised at who that friend proves to be. It is the person who shows up and stays when companions back away. We need friends like this so that we will not come to ruin. We need to be friends like that. Ultimately, Jesus is that friend. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends...” (John 15:13-14a). “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!” (Joseph Scriven). Suggestions for prayer Thank Jesus for being the Friend of Proverbs 18:24. Ask Him to help you be such a friend to someone else. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 22 - Wisdom about companions (part 1)

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” - Proverbs 13:20 Scripture readings: Proverbs 13:20; 1 John 1:5-7 When we moved from Winnipeg to Chicagoland, I was determined not to speak like a U.S. Midwesterner. As a Canadian, I would forever put on my ‘sawks’ in the morning, not my ‘sacks’. I would cling to my pronunciations of house and mouse. Over time, however, I have absorbed some Midwest-speak. Immerse yourself in a culture and you will start to sound like them. The same is true with the primary community of people you immerse yourself in. They will rub off on you, for good or for ill. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise” (Proverbs 13:20a). We must walk humbly with our God, the Source of wisdom. We must walk with Jesus Christ in faith, hope and love, to become like Him. We must walk with others who belong to Christ, especially in marriage. That does not mean we cannot reach out to or befriend those who do not share our faith. However, we should not find our primary community among them. To walk with the wise, you must discern who is wise. The more you know God, the more you will recognize those who resemble Him. The more you study wise character and conduct in Proverbs, the more you will spot it in others. Tragically, “the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20b). Perhaps you have witnessed this reality or lived it yourself. If you are a companion of fools, you can still turn to Christ, trust Him and begin to walk with Him. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the gift of godly community. Ask Him for discernment when choosing companions. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 21 - Talk and toil

“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” - Proverbs 14:23 Scripture readings: Proverbs 14:23; Isaiah 55:10-11 “You’re a big talker.” That describes the person who always tells you what he is going to do, but never gets around to doing it. He says, “I’m going to start my own landscaping company” but turns down a summer landscaping job to sit around. She says, “I’m going to run a marathon for charity,” but never gets up early to run. They pledge to meet weekly for prayer, but two-thirds of the group peels off after two weeks. “Mere talk tends only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23b). If you only talk about the great job you’re going to get, but never actually go out and get one, you will remain penniless. In addition, if you never put feet to your ideas, they will remain fruitless. However, “in all toil there is profit” (Proverbs 14:23a). A teenager lands a summer landscaping job. Eventually, he starts his own business. A young woman starts running three miles three times a week. Eventually she runs a marathon, raising $10,000 for missions. A small group meets consistently to pray for conversions in the church and community. The Holy Spirit begins to change hearts. The proverb does not say “talk tends only to poverty”, but “mere talk tends only to poverty. Deeds begin with dreams. Initiatives begin with ideas. Above all, God is not a “big talker.” Isaiah 55:10-11 alerts us that His words give birth to life-giving works. We see this especially in the redemptive words and works of our Lord Jesus. Suggestions for Prayer Thank God that His life-giving words produce life-giving results. Ask Him to help you walk your talk. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 20 - Watch your mouth (part 2)

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” - Proverbs 15:1 Scripture readings: Proverbs 15:1; 1 Kings 12:1-15 I was ...

Daily devotional

September 19 - Watch your mouth (part 1)

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” - Proverbs 12:18 Scripture readings: Proverb...

Daily devotional

September 18 - Thoughts on wealth and poverty

“A rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.” - Proverbs 10:15 Scripture readings: Proverbs 10:15; 1 Timot...

Daily devotional

September 17 - Wisdom, folly, and sin

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” - Proverbs 28:13 Scripture re...

Daily devotional

September 16 - Check your heart (part 2)

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences.” - Proverbs 10:12 Scripture readings: Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 19:11 “Love covers all offences” (Proverbs 10:12b) does not justify sinful cover-ups. It is sinful to be a judgmental faultfinder who wants to pick fights. It is just as sinful to ignore or cover up the sins of others, based on misguided love and loyalty (see Proverbs 28:13). “Love covers all offences” tells us that the posture of love is patient and gracious, not nit-picky or quick to take offence. “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offence” (Proverbs 19:11). If we make an issue of everything about others that we find irritating, flawed, or mildly offensive, we will be impossible to live with. If others relate to us this way, we will always walk on eggshells. You ask someone a question and the answer comes back slightly snarky. You realize this person is stressed out or having a bad day, so you overlook her response and ask how she is doing instead. In addition, love doesn’t bring up past offences when they’ve been addressed, forgiven and buried (see Proverbs 17:9). This is what “Love covers all offences” means. But love goes further. The word ‘covers’ is also found in Psalm 32:1. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” God loves us so much that He covers our sin when we confess it. It cost Him the precious blood of His Son to do so. When we love others, we desire the same for them. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for covering your offences. Ask Him to help you overlook and forgive the offences of others. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 15 - Check you heart (part 1)

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences.” - Proverbs 10:12 Scripture readings: Proverbs 10:12; Mark 7:20-23 Proverbs 10:12 contrasts two behaviours. Hatred drives the one. Love motivates the other. “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences.” This verse is a diagnostic tool. It helps us to discern, based on symptoms, what is going on in the heart – yours or someone else’s. This requires discernment. Sometimes a person who desires to address and resolve an issue is accused of picking a fight. He might be a biblical peacemaker whose end goal is peace. Those who accuse him might be “peace-fakers” who want to ignore the issue. One who “stirs up strife” is different. He is driven not by a loving desire for peace, but by a fleshly desire to be right, to win a fight and to sit as judge with moral authority over others. He tells himself and others that he is fighting for truth, righteousness or reformed orthodoxy. A discerning observer will realize, however, that strife follows him wherever he goes. We all do well to check our hearts when we find ourselves in conflict. Is our goal to glorify God and pursue peace? Or are we driven by a hateful need in the heart to win a fight, to be right or to lord it over others as their judge? We do well to pray Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Suggestions for prayer Ask God to show you whether your heart in a conflict aims to pursue peace or stir up strife. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 14 - Make hay while the sun shines

“He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.” - Proverbs 10:5 Scripture readings: Proverbs 10:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11 A farmer mows his hayfield. The cut hay must dry before it can be baled and stored. But when it is dry and the sun is high in the sky (Sundays excepted!), you must seize the day and bale the hay. “Make hay while the sun shines.” I remember the haying season as long days, slugging bales by hand under a hot sun, as dust and chaff coated our sweaty skin. Yes, I’m whining, just like I did then. But no one ever said, “It’s too hot. Let’s go to the beach.” That would have been foolish, especially if there was rain in the forecast. Proverbs 10:5 says something similar. Bring in your crops when they are ready. Do not put off till tomorrow what you should do today. That is procrastination. I was a procrastinator in college and seminary. I submitted assignments late and asked for extensions. Then I became a preacher. Sundays came every seven days. I could not ask for an extension. “Can I preach on Monday instead?” My first year was a rough and necessary time of correction. What if you put off dealing with a difficult issue in a relationship with someone? What if you put off seeing a doctor when something might be wrong? What if you put off spending time with your children or instructing them in the fear of the LORD? What if you put off defining where you stand in relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? Make hay while the sun shines. Suggestions for prayer Ask God for wisdom to recognize and seize the opportunities He gives you and to make wise use of your time. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 13 - Laziness and diligence (part 2)

“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” - Proverbs 10:4 Scripture readings: Proverbs 10:4; Colossians 3:23-24 Proverbs 10:4 contrasts laziness and diligence. Laziness is the avoidance of the effort necessary to accomplish a goal. Diligence, however, is the application of the effort necessary to accomplish a goal. “The hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4b). A diligent person applies himself at work. He embraces work as part of God’s wise design for human thriving. He knows that hard work will help him grow, earn the trust of those he works for, and help him advance in the workplace or expand his business. A diligent person knows that if she focuses on her studies, her study habits and learning will develop her character and competence for her next chapter in life. The diligent person is willing to work hard to repair a relationship. She knows that active listening and Christlike communication will not be easy, but they are worth it. The diligent person understands that spiritual growth in communion with God requires gospel-driven effort. Diligent people sometimes lose their focus or slide into discouragement. Isaiah 49:4 prophesies of Jesus, “But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain. I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense is with my God’.” Christ’s diligence produced the salvation of all who repent and believe in Him! “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Suggestions for prayer Thank Jesus for His diligence in our place. Ask God for the faith and discipline to be diligent. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 12 - Laziness and diligence (part 1)

“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” - Proverbs 10:4 Scripture readings: Proverbs 10:4; Galatians 6:6-9 P...

Daily devotional

September 11 - What is a proverb?

“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wis...

Daily devotional

September 10 - With all your heart, in all your ways

Daily devotional

September 9 - Two women, two days

“Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars... The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.” - Proverbs 9:1,13 ...

Daily devotional

September 8 - The beginning of wisdom

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” - Proverbs 9:10 Scripture reading: Proverbs 9:1-10 We have spent a week celebrating wisdom as an attribute of God, displayed in creation. God is the Source of all wisdom. We must look to Him as the Source of wisdom if we desire to be wise. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10). We must fear the LORD to become wise. We must tremble and stand in awe of Him Who reveals such wisdom. We must adore and admire Him for such wisdom displayed in creation and redemption. We must deeply and personally trust Him as our All-Wise, Three-Personal God Who knows and does what is best for creation and us. Some proverbs in Proverbs are from Gentile sources. Those who don’t “fear the LORD,” can know and apply wise truths. For example, many cultures and religions proclaim some variation of the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Golden Rule is like a 2x6 that both Christianity and non-Christian belief systems build into their frameworks of belief, their spiritual houses. Only Christianity, however, builds this 2x6 into the right house. This is the house built on the foundation of Christ and the gospel. This is the Father’s house, in which the Spirit dwells. Only in this house, with our Three-Personal God at the centre of our worship and fellowship, can we truly grasp the self-giving, Christlike love at the heart of the Golden Rule. Suggestions for prayer Ask the LORD to help you fear and trust Him alone as your Source of Wisdom. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 7 - What is wisdom?

“The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight…” - Proverbs 1:1-2 Scripture reading: Proverbs 1:1-7 Already we have marvelled at the wisdom of our Triune God, revealed in His design for the world and humanity, in creation and redemption. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33a). What then, does it mean for us to be wise? Wisdom is knowing God’s wise design for creation and humanity, then living in line with it. It is wise to know the Law of Gravity and, in line with it, to wear a parachute when you jump out of an airplane. It is wise to understand the properties of ice and adjust your speed and braking habits accordingly. It is also wise to grasp God’s design for human relationships and community, His blueprint for human sexuality, His principles for worship, work, money, resolving conflict, etc., and to live accordingly. Ultimately, it is wise to understand God’s wise plan to reconcile us to Himself in Christ and to respond accordingly. These things and more He reveals to us in His Word. Wisdom isn’t just knowing God’s wise design for creation and human life. It is also applying what we know with discernment. On this point, Timothy Keller’s definition of wisdom is helpful. Wisdom is “the right thing, at the right time, in the right way.” For this reason, God, through Solomon, gave us the book of Proverbs. “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight” (Proverbs 1:1-2). Suggestions for prayer Thank God for revealing His wisdom to you in His Word. Ask Him to make you wise. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 6 - The Spirit of Wisdom (part 2)

“For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high…” - Isaiah 32:14-15a Scripture readings: Genesis 1:1-2; Isaiah 32:14-18 In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit hovered over the raw materials of creation to breathe order and life. Sadly, sin entered God’s world through Adam’s rebellion. Sin turns creation back to ‘tohu’ (without form) and ‘vohu’ (void of life). Post-Fall, that means disorder and death. Imagine a neighbourhood after a terrible bombing. All is ‘tohu’, disordered piles of splintered lumber and twisted metal where houses once stood. All are ‘vohu’, lifeless bodies where living people once worked and played. Jeremiah 4:23a uses this language to describe the consequences of Israel’s rebellion against God: “I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form (tohu) and void (vohu).” God sent His Son to redeem our fallen world. He also sent His Spirit to breathe order and life into creation and us again. Isaiah 32:14-18 anticipated how God’s Spirit would reverse the ‘tohu’ and ‘vohu’ of 32:14. When poured out from on high, He would breathe upon a wasteland void of life to fill it with plants and people (32:15,18). He would re-order their disordered hearts and community in line with His wise blueprint for human life, revealed in His word (32:16-17). We are ‘vohu’, spiritually dead, until the Spirit breathes life into our hearts, moving us to embrace Christ in the gospel. Then the Spirit enters our ‘tohu’ to re-order our lives, relationships and communities in line with His wise blueprint for humanity. One day, we will enjoy the Spirit’s finished work, a new creation free of disorder and death. Suggestions for prayer Thank the Spirit for the gift of new life and re-ordering your life in fellowship with God. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 5 - The Spirit of Wisdom (part 1)

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” - Genesis 1:1-2 Scripture reading: Genesis 1:1-2 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). He created it in line with His wise design. Christ turned the blueprint into breath-taking reality. But someone else was also involved: the Spirit of Wisdom (Isaiah 11:2a). Imagine a construction site with piles of material that needs to be ordered into a building, then filled with people and pets. God created the building materials. Then, in Genesis 1:3-31, He formed them into a creation-temple and filled it with life. “Now the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2a). Here we see the jumble of building materials. Creation was still ‘tohu’ and ‘vohu’. That means ‘without form’ and ‘void’ in Hebrew. Now the Spirit enters the text. “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2b). He turned ‘tohu’ into order. He created water, sky and land rooms for creatures to live in. Then He turned ‘vohu’ into life, by breathing life into the creatures that would live in those rooms. Try this with Lego. Dump a jumbled pile of Lego on the floor. That pile is ‘tohu’, without form. Build that Lego into a structure with rooms. The structure is still ‘vohu’, void of life. Put Lego people and toy animals in the structure. Now it is filled with life. God the Spirit breathes order and life into God’s world. Thank Him for His wise and wonderful work! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the way His Spirit breathes order and life in creation and redemption. Pastor Richard Zekveld, his wife Nancy (nee Vandermeer), and their five children live in South Holland, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Richard has pastored Covenant Fellowship Church of South Holland (PCA) since 2015, he also works part-time in jail ministry as a chaplain for Chicagoland Prison Outreach. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

September 4 - Christ, the wisdom of God

“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” - Colossians 1:17: Scripture reading: Colossians 1:15-20 Yesterday we ...

Daily devotional

September 3 - Introducing Lady Wisdom

“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.” - Proverbs 8:22 Scripture readings: Proverbs 8:22-31; Joh...

Daily devotional

September 2 - “What in the world…?” (part 2)

Daily devotional

September 1 - Introduction to God’s wisdom

Wisdom is one of our Triune God’s many glorious and beautiful attributes. He is the Source of all wisdom revealed and discovered in both creation an...

Daily devotional

August 31 - Maranatha, come Lord Jesus!

“And the Spirit and the bride say ‘Come!’” - Revelation 22:17 Scripture reading: Revelation 22:12-21; Philippians 3:7-14; Romans 13:11-14 One of the strongest memories of my childhood is waiting. Waiting every morning for the school bus, waiting for friends to come over, waiting for my grandparents at Christmas, sitting by the front window to see when they would arrive and how many presents they would bring! But nothing compares to the eagerness with which the children of God should await the coming of their King. After all the visions of Revelation, after all the depictions of battle and victory, sacrifice and success, the church has one great, Spirit inspired response. “Come!” How should we respond to God’s Revelation? In the midst of the battle, aware of the King and His foe, hearing that He is coming soon, the Bible tells us our response. “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” The race is nearly over. Our redemption is nearer than when we first believed. As we worship, may we do so with a cry for His coming. As we fight sin, may we do so with a cry for His coming. As we bear witness to the lost, may we do so with a cry for His coming. The Lord lifts up the head of His bride and directs her attention away from the cares of this world towards Himself. The church cannot help but long for her groom’s appearing as she catches a glimpse of Him in these final chapters. Let us never be so focused upon earth that we forget what we are waiting for. Suggestions for prayer O Lord, come! Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

August 30 - The new Jerusalem

“God Himself will be with them and be their God.” - Revelation 21:3 Scripture reading: Revelation 21:1-27; Ephesians 5:25-32; Song of Songs 6:1-3 “With this ring, I thee wed. With my body, I thee worship. And with all my worldly goods, I thee endow.” These wedding vows were used regularly many years ago. They may strike us now as a little over the top. With my body, I thee worship? With all my worldly goods I thee endow? What happens if things don’t work out? But the marriage of a bride and groom on earth is just a pale reflection of the marriage between Christ and His church. When that great, final day comes, Jesus will take us to Himself with a love that surpasses all others. He will give Himself to us in an intimacy that words cannot express, though Revelation 21 comes close. He will be ours, and we will be His. What we have yearned for and felt was missing since the beginning of time. Christ will satisfy to the uttermost. In gaining Christ, all His ‘worldly’ goods become ours. Death and sorrow, crying and pain are destroyed forever as He triumphs over the grave. The water of life graces the wine glasses upon each table at His wedding feast. In the presence of her groom, the church shines in a glory never witnessed here on earth. For Christ, this was always His plan. For Christ, His work in her is complete. He has made her without spot and blemish, and He rejoices in her splendour as she greets Him. Suggestions for prayer Soon and very soon we are going to see the King. O Lord, haste the day! Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

August 29 - Vengeance belongs to God

“Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come…” - Revelation 14:7 Scripture reading: Revelation 14:6-20; Romans 12:14-21 The judgments of God upon evil are sometimes skimmed over by us as 21st century Christians. We may consider them to be opposed to a God of love and grace, but that is not the case. Understanding God’s judgment is essential for Christian living. First, understanding God’s holy judgment will give us a fear of sin as well as a fear of compromise. The deception of the false prophet isn’t half as convincing when we are able to see where it leads! Second, understanding the inevitability of God’s judgment helps us to love our enemies and show mercy to them. Vengeance belongs to God and He will repay. We don’t need to carry bitterness or get even when faced with injustice. God’s perfect justice gives us freedom to love our enemies and even pity them, pleading with them to turn from the wrath to come. Third, understanding God’s judgment helps us to better understand God’s love. Minimizing God’s judgment inevitably minimizes the cross where Jesus bore that judgment on our behalf. Jesus didn’t just shoulder a little of God’s anger so we could be saved. He endured in its awful entirety, God’s perfect and holy wrath against sin. He did so in love to secure our redemption. Thus, understanding God’s judgment helps us understand God’s mission. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and they truly need saving! When we minimize any aspect of God’s character, we insult God and rob ourselves of truths foundational for Christian living. Suggestions for prayer Lord, help me to praise You for Your holiness in judgment. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

August 28 - Redeemed purity

“These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins.” - Revelation 14:4 Scripture reading: Revelation 14:1-5; 1 John 1:5-2;2; Colossians 3:1-4 Do the celibate have a higher standing in the eyes of God? If I am married, or have fallen into sexual sin, can I join the 144,000? The character described in Rev. 14 is the character in Christ of the redeemed. They are redeemed, not perfect. The description of purity is best understood as a picture of the church as she faces the temptation of Babylon to participate in its worldliness (14:8). This means that though believers once fought on the wrong side, they fight on that side no longer and this now impacts the way they live. They are kept pure by actively fighting sin, living for Christ, and resisting the temptation of Babylon. Through daily grace they follow Jesus wherever He goes. God’s word reminds us that, in the end times, holiness matters. Fighting sin matters. While we will still commit sin until glory, God’s call on our lives is that we may not sin. But the emphasis here is not only on holiness, it is also on joy. Following Christ wherever He goes means the redeemed are worshipping Him in Zion even while battling on earth. We sing songs of redemption while still in the fight, while still experiencing daily victories and defeats. We thus see that the Christian life is neither casual with sin, austere in holiness, or having self-righteousness. It is a joy-filled, redemption-secured, Christ-pursuing life that, by grace, lays hold of victory. Suggestions for prayer Lord, help me to have the joy of Christ as I fight daily sin. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

August 27 - The 144,000 take two

“The hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.” - Revelation 14:3 Scripture reading: Revelation 14:1-5; Ephesians 2:1...

Daily devotional

August 26 - The enemies of Christ: the enemies of the church

Daily devotional

August 25 - The place of victory

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…” - Revelation 12:11 Scripture reading: Revelation 12:7-17; R...

Daily devotional

August 24 - The great war

“And war broke out in heaven…” - Revelation 12:7 Scripture reading: Revelation 12:1-6; Ephesians 6:10-20 After the assassination of the Ar...

Daily devotional

August 23 - Faithful until death, rewarded in resurrection

“The beast…will make war…and kill them…But after three and a half days…” - Revelation 11: 7, 11 Scripture reading: Revelation 11:7-19; Mathew 24:9-14 When one of our members faced a difficult diagnosis a fellow Christian said to them, “Don’t worry, you’re immortal till your work is done.” The quote was first given by George Whitefield, a preacher of the great awakening in the 1700s. It reminds us both of the power of God in believers enabling them to serve in His kingdom and the sovereignty of God to determine when He alone shall end the earthly journey of those believers. In Revelation 11 we learn that near the end of time the work of the church as a public, visible witness will end. The church will never die, but she will externally diminish. Under persecution she will go underground. God will continue to build His church, but her visible presence will appear small and insignificant and the world will rejoice. God wants us to witness in power while being ready to suffer for Jesus. He wants us to know that when it seems the world has won, the Saviour is around the corner, and glory is soon to come. It was the future martyr, Jim Elliot, who said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” The church is the witness of Christ, and she shall carry out her work both in power and in humiliation, in joy and in suffering. God will sustain her just as He wills, until her work is done and she enters His glory. Suggestions for prayer Lord may we be faithful in suffering, immortal until our work is done. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

August 22 - The two witnesses

“I will give power to My two witnesses…” - Revelation 11:3 Scripture reading: Revelation 11:1-6; Zechariah 4:1-7; Acts 1:6-8 Super heroes again? The book of Revelation is filled with them. Here they are- two witnesses. No enemy can harm them, nor stand before them. It is a wonder the modern superhero movie craze hasn’t made a show about this! Verse 4 tells us these witnesses are the olive trees and the lampstands standing before the Lord. It’s a challenging description because, in the book of Revelation, lampstands are repeated symbols of the church (see Rev. 1:20ff). The olive trees are the source of oil that keeps the lamp's flame from running dry; Zechariah 4:1-7 shows a similar picture to remind Israel that it is, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.” Once again we see a remarkable truth; the super hero witnesses are a picture of the church. The church, standing by God’s Word and Spirit, will carry out the role of witness as Jesus Himself declared in Acts 1. They will do so with power, authority, and the unfailing protection of God. In a day of increasing evil, it is all the more necessary to make the Gospel light shine. We may feel intimidated, but God empowers His witnesses with unfailing power. This is carried out in the official ministry of the church, but also through the daily lives and witnesses of God’s people in the world. In the end there are very few great evangelists, but there is a great God who empowers His redeemed bride. Suggestions for prayer Lord help me to stand as a witness for Jesus. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

August 21 - Eating the word

“Take and eat it…” - Revelation 10:9 Scripture reading: Revelation 10:8-11; Ezekiel 2:1-3:15 I once stood waiting for an elevator, with my Bible in my hand. The man standing next to me, noticing it, broke the silence to say, "Have you ever cut yourself on that thing?” When my mind caught up to his clever wit I smiled and said, “More times than I can count!” In Revelation 10, John is being called to again prophesy about peoples, nations, tongues and kings (v. 11). But before this call is renewed, he is commanded to take the book from the hand of the angel and eat it. It would be sweet to his mouth but bitter to his stomach. The prophets were called to eat God’s word before they brought it to others, and we must do the same. We will soon see God’s witnesses, and see that this is nothing less than the confessing church in the world. How do we maintain that distinctive edge which allows us to see the lies of the enemy and proclaim the truth of God? We must learn what it is to eat the Word. This practice is not always easy. God’s Word is sweet to the mouth, assuring us of God’s love and mercy in Christ, but it can be bitter; we can cut ourselves as God’s Word brings conviction. Whatever the result, our task doesn’t change. As God’s people living in the last times, we must know where the source of strength lies, and we must eat the Word. Suggestions for prayer Lord, help me to love Your Word and study it daily. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

August 20 - The importance of repentance

“But they did not repent…” - Rev. 9:21 Scripture reading: Revelation 9; Psalm 51 Albert Einstein is attributed with the quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” Revelation 9:20-21 is one of the saddest passages in the book of Revelation. At the sound of the seven trumpets the Lord poured out His wrath on the human race. The price of sin is death. Earthly devastation, demonic torment, and widespread death all fall upon the earth. But the human race does not change. They see the fruit of their actions yet, in the terrifying words of Revelation 9:20-21, they do not repent. This hardness of heart is by nature present in each and every one of us. Have you ever seen a little child, caught in a lie, refusing to acknowledge the truth? The heirloom is broken on the floor, the rogue ball lies at their feet, no one else is home but they adamantly maintain it was the neighbour’s cat? The tragedy is not merely that we sin; the tragedy is that we sin and do not repent. We think things will improve without the need to humble ourselves and turn to God. This is insanity, and yet it lives in each of us apart from the redemptive work of Jesus. Where are we refusing to repent? Right now, God in His grace may be seeking you out. Don’t follow the pattern of this world. Return to the God who does not despise a broken and contrite heart! Suggestions for prayer See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

August 19 - Let all the earth keep silent

“There was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” - Revelation 8:1 Scripture reading: Revelation 8:1-12 Revelation repeatedly shows us...

Daily devotional

August 18 - The good shepherd

“The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them…” - Revelation 7:17 Scripture reading: Revelation 7:13-17; Psalm 23:1-6 E...

Daily devotional

August 17 - The centrality of worship

“Be to our God, forever and ever, Amen.” - Revelation 7:12 Scripture reading: Revelation 7:9-17 I had a Christian friend who often reminde...

Daily devotional

August 16 - The 144,000

“Do not harm the earth…till we have sealed the servants of God…” - Revelation 7:3 Scripture reading: Revelation 7:1-8; Luke 21:10-19 T...

Daily devotional

August 15 - Refuge in the blood

“Hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb!” - Revelation 6:16 Scripture reading: Revelation 6:9-17; Psalm 46:1-11 A young child hears the thunder roll and sees the lightning in the sky. Fearfully, he takes refuge under that time-tested defence – the blankets on his bed! In the sixth seal, the day of God’s wrath has come, and along with it worldwide calamity. The earth quakes, stars fall, and thunder and lightning sound. When it comes, the people of this world revert to their childhood. They pull the sheets over their head in the best refuge they can find, but the ‘sheets’ have changed. They ask the mountains to fall on them, and the rocks to cover them in hope of hiding from the wrath of God. There is a great gospel reality revealed in this passage. All of us need a covering, a refuge from the righteous anger of a holy God. A Biblical word for covering is atonement. As God gives atonement through the blood of Jesus, what He is providing for His people is a refuge, a protection and covering from His own holy anger. This blood has special power. It is the blood of the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the word” (John 1:29). It is the blood that shows our debt is paid; we are redeemed. Under this blood we find protection from God’s wrath and assurance of His love. We often seek refuge in the wrong places. Every refuge, except one, will fail. Suggestions for prayer Lord, let me find refuge in the blood of Jesus, that I may never fear your holy wrath. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

August 14 - The voice of the martyrs

"How long, O Lord?" - Revelation 5:10 Scripture reading: Revelation 6:9-11; Isaiah 49:14-23 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?” Of all the relationships on earth, that of a mother and child is among the strongest. God looks at that relationship and questions whether a mother could ever forget her child, and then says, “Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.” The love of God for us is so great that there is no comparison. He will never forget His people. Revelation 6 shows us a people who may feel forgotten. Having lived for Christ upon the earth, they served with such courage and single-heartedness, that when they faced the ultimate test they laid down their lives rather than deny their Lord. They now cry out, “How long O Lord?” They are looking for justice; they are looking for God’s righteous vengeance against sin, and they are weary of waiting. There will be a day when God will judge the wicked and vindicate all those who put their hope in Him, whether they die as martyrs or not. It is not here yet. For today, the redemptive purposes of the Lamb continue. The “Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise…but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). As we wait for His return, let us labour to bring others to repentance, knowing we are not forgotten by the King of kings. Suggestions for prayer Father, help us to be patient in tribulation, and faithful in bearing witness. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

August 13 - The four horsemen and the sovereign God

“Now I saw when the lamb opened one of the seals…” - Revelation 6:1 Scripture reading: Revelation 6; 1 Peter 1:3-9 A.W. Tozer once wrote that, “although it may look like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who has not surrendered His authority.” When Revelation 6 speaks of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, things certainly seem out of control! Conquest, war, famine and death are graphically pictured as some of the judgments God will send upon the earth, and the overall picture is terrifying. When such struggles come, what is to be the response of believers? Revelation 6 teaches us that even things that appear chaotic are not outside of the will and plan of a sovereign God. The child of God can be at rest knowing the King is on His throne and nothing can remove Him; that in fact God works even through difficult circumstances to punish evil and show His just rule. Between Christ’s first and second coming the church will experience times of extreme difficulty with varying degrees of intensity. When we do, we must remember who it is opening the seals. All remains in the hands of the Lamb; all is in the hands of the One who redeemed us by His blood. When God’s judgments come upon the earth, and even when this affects God’s people as they live on this side of heaven, we cannot forget the loving Saviour who uses even these trials for His redemptive purposes and the glory of His name. When things seem out of control, God has surrendered neither His authority nor His goodness. Suggestions for prayer Lord, help me to trust You when the circumstances of life may challenge my faith. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

August 12 - Worthy is the lamb

“For you were slain and have redeemed us to God…” - Revelation 5:9 Scripture reading: Revelation 5 What is necessary to carry out God’s work in the world? Surely qualities like zeal, holiness, or perseverance may come to mind. We may think of the need for better political leaders who can stem the tide of sin through righteous laws and just enforcement. We may yearn for a greater Christian influence in the media. But while all these answers can be God glorifying, the key in enacting God’s will is redemption, accomplished through Jesus, the One who is worthy to open the scrolls. God’s will cannot be accomplished through military power, or even righteous laws. It cannot be done in this way because God’s will is not merely to create an outward show of holiness. God’s will is to create a new people in Christ who will love Him and serve Him not from compulsion, but from the heart. And for this to happen the Lion of Judah must become the Lamb who was slain. For this to happen, we must be redeemed. Sometimes we can forget this all-important quality as we live in a world increasingly polarized between those on the supposed ‘right’ or ‘left’. Sin can anger us, causing us to forget both what God saved us from and the redemptive plan of God for those from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. To paraphrase the old song, “For not with swords loud clashing, or roll of stirring drums, with deeds of God’s salvation, the heavenly kingdom comes.” Suggestions for prayer Lord help us to see Your glory through the power of the Gospel. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

August 11 - The lion of Judah

“The Lion of the tribe of Judah…has prevailed…” - Rev. 5:5 Scripture reading: Revelation 5:1-8; Daniel 12; Matthew 6:9-10 While inte...

Daily devotional

August 10 - O worship the King

Revelation 4:8 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty... Scripture reading: Revelation 4; Isaiah 6:1-8 How important is worship? On a scale of 1-10...

Daily devotional

August 9 - Knowing need and fulfilling need

“But you do not know that you are wretched…buy from Me gold…” - Rev. 3:17-18 Scripture reading: Revelation 3:14-22; Judges 16:16-22; Isai...

Daily devotional

August 8 - Hard pressed, but not destroyed

“For you have a little strength…” - Rev. 3:8 Scripture reading: Revelation 3:7-13; Luke 17:1-10 Have you ever admired those men and wome...

Daily devotional

August 7 - A good name

“Hold fast, and repent.” - Revelation 3:3 Scripture reading: Revelation 3:1-6; Isaiah 42:1-9 A lot can be said about a good reputation, but while a good name is better than riches (Pr. 22:1), reputations aren’t always accurate. As a city, Sardis was surrounded by 1500 foot cliffs and thought to be nearly impregnable. But twice in the history of the city, its reputation proved false, and both times it was the presumption of the defenders that led to their destruction. The church of Sardis was experiencing the same reality. Thinking themselves strong, they were actually distant from God. While their singing may have made visitors think the church was on fire, behind the beautiful voices were cold hearts. The same can be true for all of us; the profession of faith made years (or even days) ago can speak of a reality that is no longer there. Jesus calls us to be watchful and to strengthen the spiritual zeal we may still have. Where do we still feel the conviction or encouragement of His Word and Spirit? Where it exists, fan the flame. What you know to be good, do it. What you know to be evil, stop it. For all who do His will, God promises, He will not quench the smoking wick or break the bruised reed. The Christian life can be restored so that, like a repentant Sardis, Jesus would even boast of us before the Father. May God help us not to live on reputation, but by a living, daily walk with Him. Suggestions for prayer Lord, please renew me to abide daily in Jesus Christ. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

August 6 - A mark of the true church

“I know your works…nevertheless you allow that woman Jezebel…” - Revelation 2:19-20 Scripture reading: Revelation 2:18-29; Acts 20:17-36 Thyatira was a church growing in Christ. Her last works were greater than her first, and she was known for her love, service, faith and endurance. Could a church of such lively growth and faith falter? Jesus says that despite her zeal she is in danger. She ‘tolerates’ or ‘allows’ a so-called prophetess to teach false doctrine, and thus lead members of the church into error. To put this in our current context, the church of Thyatira, for all its growth, failed to practice church discipline. It is not simply that she has false teaching or compromising Christians in her midst. It is that she has this, knows this, and permits it. No one likes to hear a letter of discipline read from the pulpit on a Sunday morning, but did you know that the health of a church depends upon such actions, rightfully carried out? Paul called the Ephesian elders to watch because savage wolves, even from their very midst, would arise and not spare the flock. False teaching in the church is like a bitter root which destroys it, if it is not pulled out. While repentant and struggling sinners must be approached with love and grace, false teachers who lead others into sin cannot be tolerated in Christ’s church. Let us keep our church leaders in prayer that God might enable them to wisely and faithfully shepherd the church, nurturing the sheep and keeping out the wolves. Suggestions for prayer Lord, help us to have a holy intolerance for sin. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

August 5 - Pure devotion

“You have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam…” - Revelation 2:14 Scripture reading: Revelation 2:12-17; Numbers 24:15-25:3 The city of Pergamos was known for idolatry. A large altar to Zeus is believed by many to be “Satan’s throne,” and idolatry was so pervasive that to even work a trade you were required to offer sacrifices to a patron god. A member of the church even gave his life for Christ! The Pergamos believers were willing to face martyrdom to hold onto Christ. Despite this, Jesus will rebuke this church. While they held fast to Christ, they allowed members to teach the ‘doctrine of Balaam.’ Balaam was a prophet, hired by God’s enemies to curse Israel. God turned the curses into blessings, but faced with his failure, Balaam served his Moabite master by suggesting another path. Balaam tempted Israel to compromise holiness (Num. 25:1-3 & 31:15-16) and thus God would punish His people Himself. For all their courage, the Pergamos church had allowed the doctrine of Balaam to creep into the church. They permitted compromise. People taught that faithfulness and holiness were not the same. Loyalty to Christ, they taught, did not necessarily require devotion to His holy will. Believers might verbally profess faithfulness but secretly excuse and participate in sins from which Christ died to save them. Have we held fast to the testimony of Christ, while compromising with sin in secret? God is not fooled. He lovingly calls us to repentance and single-hearted devotion to Him. Only then can we know the joy of the Lord and the reward of following Christ! Suggestions for prayer Lord, help me to be steadfast in my devotion to You. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

August 4 - Poverty and riches

“…but you are rich.” - Revelation 2:9 Scripture reading: Revelation 2:8-22; 2 Corinthians 8:9 The church of Smyrna struggled to make its yearly budget. The pastor worked for peanuts and the people had little more. Church potlucks were well attended and joyful occasions, but not because of an abundance of food. The church lived for Christ, but because of this they learned what it was to suffer and go without. Of the seven churches Jesus writes to in Revelation only two are not rebuked. The first of those two is Smyrna. Living in physical poverty, spiritually they were millionaires. More hardship would come; Jesus reveals they would face prison and even death for His cause. This letter (like them all) is for us. There are times in these last days when to follow Christ will mean letting go of all this world has to offer, both financially and physically. Even today, following Christ can mean being willing to suffer for Him. It may be ridicule at school or work, losing a family business, or simply less earthly comfort as we support kingdom causes. It often means a life we did not anticipate. But Christ is worth it. There is greater glory ahead than what lays behind. Faithfulness unto death gains the crown of life. We are all called to count the cost of following Jesus. Let us join Smyrna, embrace the cross, and be truly rich. Suggestions for prayer Lord help me to follow You whatever the cost, and teach me the joy of gaining Christ. Pastor Greg Bylsma is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and he is currently serving at the Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

August 3 - A loveless church?

“You have left your first love.” - Rev. 2:4 Scripture reading: Revelation 2:1-7; 1 Corinthians 13 The church of Ephesus was known for dili...

Daily devotional

August 2 - Safe in the storm

“I am the Alpha and Omega…” - Rev. 1:8 Scripture reading: Revelation 1:4-8 Anchors may not be considered great treasures, but they can b...

Daily devotional

August 1 - Introduction to the book of Revelation

This month Pastor Greg Bylsma leads us through a series of devotions on the book of Revelation. Two Scripture readings are given for each day. The fir...

Daily devotional

July 31 - Having peace with God

“Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” - 1 Peter 5:14 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 5:14 and Romans 5:6-11 Peter ends his letter similar to t...

Daily devotional

July 30 - Standing in the true grace of God

“I have written briefly to you exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God.” - 1 Peter 5: 12 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 5:12-13 Why is it a blessing to go to church each Sunday? We get to be with the Lord’s people worshipping our Saviour together under the preaching of His Word, and we are reminded of our need for God’s Grace. The commandments exhort us not to trust in ourselves, but in the grace of our Lord. In the preaching, the gospel is declared to us that we might grow in the grace that the Father offers us in the gospel. Peter ends, letting us know that Silvanus helped him so that God’s words of exhortation and declaration of grace could be extended far and wide, even to us today. The whole reason Peter had this letter written, was that God’s beloved children could be told to trust in His grace even in the hardest of circumstances. We are to trust that, because of Jesus' great work on the cross, we can truly know and believe that God will always love us, no matter what hardship we are facing or struggle we are dealing with. The more we trust that God’s unconditional love is real, the less struggles, losses and hardships will control our hearts and minds. The joy of salvation will overwhelm us. Peter says he writes from Babylon, referring to the fact he and those with him are in captivity. Peter is emphasizing that God’s children can go through hard times, but this does not take away the fact that they are chosen children and nothing can separate them from the unconditional love of God. Suggestion for prayer That the exhorting and declaring of God’s grace would sustain God’s children in all times. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 29 - The God of grace restores his children

“The God of grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” - 1 Peter 5:10 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 5:10-11 When we suffer, we naturally look for relief. However, many try to find relief in a way that in the long run, will bring them into a worse situation. Earlier, Peter wrote that Christians will suffer hardships, be attacked and face many temptations. But he also tells us as Christians to cast our anxieties on the Lord, trusting He will get us through the struggles as we seek to live for Him in the joy of salvation. In verse 10, he encourages us to live for the Lord, telling us that no matter what kind of suffering we face, it will come to an end. This life is short compared to the glorious place that Jesus is preparing for us. If we are suffering from temptations that cause us to be overwhelmed, these will one day end. If we are treated badly by others, this also will one day end. When our Lord calls us to glory in heaven, all our suffering and hardships will end. Until that time comes, Peter calls us to trust that the Lord will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us. The Holy Spirit will continue to do this as we place ourselves under the preaching and teaching of His Word. Why is this so? It is because every creature and all reality is under the dominion and power of our Lord. We need God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to continue to help us to see this. Suggestion for prayer That we would trust our Lord in the midst of our struggles and that He will give us what we need until that great day when He calls us home and all suffering will be ended. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 28 - Be sober-minded and watchful

“Cast all your anxieties on him, Because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful.” - 1 Peter 5:7-8a Scripture reading: 1 Peter 5:6-9 When you go through a struggle, do you immediately see God’s hand at work in your life? Do you see that the mighty hand of God will bring you through all difficulties? The raising of God’s mighty hand should remind us that God rescued His people from bondage in Egypt. It should also remind us of Jesus’ victory over sin, Satan and death. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we should see that we are more than conquerors and that God will lift us up at the proper time and exult us. This should cause us to cast all our anxieties on Him. This should also cause us to be sober-minded, able to keep our eyes on anything good and see our need in this broken world as a sinful person. In doing this, we will be able to see more clearly who Jesus is, what He did and so live for His kingdom. The devil is roaming around looking for us to let our guard down, by being lax in our daily Bible reading, our church attendance and our prayer life. We can resist his attacks by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, by reading our Bibles, attending church regularly and spending much time in prayer. Then, we can stay firm in the faith. We will still deal with suffering, but as humble servants of God seeking His glory, His kingdom and His will. The devil will not devour us, and we will look with great eagerness to our future glory. Suggestion for prayer That we would trust God’s mighty hand in the midst of the struggles we face in this life. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 27 - Clothing ourselves with humility

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” - 1 Peter 5:5 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 5:1-5 In today’s passage, Peter addresses both elders in the church and those shepherded by the elders. All are to clothe themselves with humility. Elders are to be examples of humility. Peter addresses them as a fellow elder who witnessed the suffering of Christ and saw the glory of Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration. In saying this, Peter is suggesting that if elders are truly acquainted with the suffering that Christ endured for their salvation and know of the glory that is waiting for them, they will serve not under compulsion, but willingly. They must not have a domineering spirit, but a humble heart, serving Christ’s church as under-shepherds of Christ, the Chief Shepherd. While they are saddened because they still sin, they serve as those saved by grace, looking forward to the coming glory. In the same way, those who are placed under the elders’ leadership are to be subject to the elders. They are to trust that Christ set these elders over them for their spiritual well-being and must listen to them, respecting them, even though they will make mistakes and not always be perfect examples. They can only do this with humble hearts. This is why Peter ends this section by stressing that we all need to continually clothe ourselves with humility. This is to be an ongoing action. It means fighting the temptation of pride and growing in our understanding of grace, keeping this in mind that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Suggestion for prayer That we could continually work on being humble, whether we are in a leadership position or being led by others. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 26 - Entrusting our souls

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” - 1 Peter 4:19 Scriptu...

Daily devotional

July 25 - Purified by God

“For it is time for judgement to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us; what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gosp...

Daily devotional

July 24 - Sharing in Christ’s suffering

"Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you." - 1 Peter 4:12 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 4:12-14 In high school ...

Daily devotional

July 23 - Good stewards of God’s varied grace

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” - 1 Peter 4:10 Scripture reading: 1 Pet...

Daily devotional

July 22 - Showing hospitality

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” - 1 Peter 4:9 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 4:9 If you love someone, it is easy to invite them over and show you care for them. Most in our church show hospitality to family members and close friends because they love them. But if you do not love someone or don’t really know someone, it is harder to show that person hospitality. After telling us to love one another, Peter now tells us to show hospitality. The word Peter uses could be translated as “show brotherly love for strangers”. Peter tells us not to show hospitality just when you have things in common with people, but to show hospitality to all you come into contact with, especially those of the household of faith. We are to do this because Jesus demonstrated His love to us and changed us. He made His home amongst us and showed love to us who were not only strangers to Him, but by nature enemies to Him (Romans 5:10). If we really know the loving embrace of Jesus Christ, this ought to change us so that we are willing to invite over those we don’t know well. Peter adds that we are to do this cheerfully, without grumbling. Jesus invited us into His life by displaying the greatest love He could. He gave His life for us on the cruel cross. We are now called to invite others into our lives in a loving and caring way. This Sunday start inviting someone that you have never invited and show them what Christ-like hospitality is all about. Suggestion for prayer That we would be able to show Christ-like hospitality. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 21 - Being a faithful, loving community

“The end of all things is at hand.” - 1 Peter 4:7 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 4:7-8 Then this age ends, the Lord Jesus will come as the great judge and establish a new order. The end of the world is the next event to occur in Redemptive history. We live in the time when the gospel call goes out to draw people into the kingdom. During this time the church is not only called to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, but its members are also called to live self-controlled and sober-minded lives. Why is this so? Because we are weak in ourselves; the devil and this wicked world continue to actively tempt us to live for the things of this world rather than for our Lord. They also seek to bring false teaching into our lives and the church so that we would forsake our Lord. Peter encourages us to have a devoted prayer life, praying for the ability to honour God’s name with our lives, while living for His Kingdom according to His Word. Peter adds that we have to do this together, as a Christian community, exhibiting great love for each other, and be willing to forgive each other. When we truly show love for each other, we will not only be a hand and foot for each other, but we will be able to forgive each other for our many sins. In this we will truly be ready for the end of all things and be able to encourage each other, showing the world what the good news of Jesus Christ can do to a community. Suggestion for prayer That in knowing the end of all this is at hand, we as a church community would be a faithful loving community. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 20 - Being in the world but not part of the world

“The gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.” - 1 Peter 4:6 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 4:4-6 Believers reflecting on Jesus’ suffering not only become willing to suffer for Jesus Christ, but also grow in their personal fight against sin. As we live in this world with a Christ-like attitude, Peter says unbelievers will be confused by our actions. They will think it strange that we are not willing to join them in what they think is good and pleasurable. They will accuse us of being old-fashioned. As the world grows in its rebellion against the moral standards set in the Bible, we also see it angry with us because we uphold these standards and will not agree with rebellious living. It seeks to allure Christians to its way of thinking, via movies, TV shows, the internet and fine sounding educators. As the world grows in its antagonism to God and His Word, we can easily be discouraged or overly pessimistic and completely withdraw from the world. Peter tells us not to be lured into worldly ways, but he also tells us not to withdraw from the world. We are called to offer the gospel to the rebellious world. The only hope for the world is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is why the gospel was preached in Peter’s time and in the centuries since then. By the power of the Holy Spirit, many turned to Christ when the gospel was preached and are now in heavenly glory with the Lord. As the gospel saved many who lived in past generations, it can also save rebellious people today. Suggestion for prayer That we would be in the world to present Christ, but not of the world. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 19 - Suffering as beloved children of God

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking,..” - 1 Peter 4:1 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 4:1-3 & Psalm 73:1-28 The fourth chapter of this letter tells us how we are to live as God’s beloved children in this rebellious world. As adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus, we should now think like Jesus did in respect to suffering. That is, we have to be willing to suffer in the flesh. Jesus is our great example in this. Peter was writing to Christians who lost their homes, their freedom, and even at times their physical lives because they no longer lived as they used to, but lived for the Lord. This caused those around them to become angry, saying and doing much evil to them. Although Christians today might not have the same struggles, we also need to be ready to suffer as children of God. We have to say no to things that the world says are good. We have to give up some comforts in our service to the Lord. We have to be willing to be seen as “strange” by people of the world for having Sunday as a special day to worship, for serving God above worldly success and pleasure, for saying no to drinking parties, for not doing whatever feels good and for putting God and His commandments first in our lives. This can mean being left out or ignored at times by others and not enjoying things they do. It can mean seeing others having it all while we fight against being jealous. We can only suffer in this way when we see how Jesus suffered for us. Suggestion for prayer That we would trust in the great blessings we have as believers in Jesus Christ and so be willing to suffer as beloved children of God. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 18 - Christ, our risen Lord and Saviour

"Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but made alive i...

Daily devotional

July 17 - Setting apart Christ in our hearts

“In your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy.” - 1 Peter 3:15 Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:13-17 In calling us to brotherly love, Peter ...

Daily devotional

July 16 - Showing we are God’s children

“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” - ...

Daily devotional

July 15 - Healthy relationship

“Wives be subject to your husbands . . . husbands live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honour to the women.” - 1 Peter 3:1 & ...

Daily devotional

July 14 - Following Jesus

“Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.” - 1 Peter 2:21 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:18-25 Peter continues to show us how to conduct ourselves in front of unbelievers, telling us to be subject and respectful to masters. Most early Christians were slaves and many were not treated well. Often, Christians were given an especially hard time. Some masters tried to push their Christian slaves to give up the faith. As Christians then and today, it is hard to be kind, loving and submissive when treated badly by others, especially those in authority over us. Peter tells us that we are showing that God’s grace has changed us when we endure while suffering unjustly. When we endure suffering graciously while doing good, God is pleased. Then we are showing that the grace that He displayed to us is starting to live in us. We are called to live this kind of life. Jesus died for us so that we would follow His ways as His brothers and sisters, eager to do what pleases Him. Jesus was reviled and suffered greatly by those who killed Him, yet He said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus died on the cross to wash our sins away, to make us new people following His example to die to sin and live to righteousness. We are to show that His death on the cross has changed us; that we no longer live as the wicked world around us. We live a new way, by loving those who treat us badly, following our Saviour and Lord’s example. Suggestion for prayer To be more like Jesus in each area of our lives as we grow in our understanding of what He did for us. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 13 - Governing authorities instituted by God

“Be subject for the Lord to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme or to governors as sent by Him.” - 1 Peter 2:13 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:9-17 & Romans 13:1-7 Peter continues the discussion on conducting ourselves so others would see our good deeds and glorify God. He now tells us that good deeds include being subject to all human institutions, even wicked emperors. Every human institution, Christian or not, has been instituted by God. We are called to believe that God uses all things for our good. Therefore, Peter tells us we need to submit to all rulers, even to the wicked emperors as in Peter’s time, trusting that God is using them to form and shape us as we subject ourselves to their authority as followers of Jesus Christ. In doing this, we will silence the ignorance of foolish people. When we subject ourselves to human institutions, even evil ones, and continue to show love to our neighbours, we will silence their false arguments against us. They will see the foolishness of their words and actions against us. It might not stop their wicked action, but it will show they are being foolish. In the early church, as Christians surrendered themselves to unjust punishments, they showed love and concern for even their persecutors. The result was that many hearts were changed. This is why Peter tells them and us, who are free in Christ, not to use this freedom as a cover-up to rebel against those in authority. Instead we are to live as servants of God, seeking to honour God’s name and His Kingdom. We are to do this by honouring everyone, loving the brotherhood of Christians, fearing God and honouring those in authority. Suggestion for prayer That we would be subject to all human institutions for our Lord and Saviour’s sake. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 12 - Being a chosen race

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you.” - 1 Peter 2:9 Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-12 & Exodus 19:1-6 Peter gives us a picture of our new reality as believers in Jesus Christ. We are part of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who belong to God. This privilege is ours, not because we come from a special family or because we are good at something that pleases God. This privilege is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. We are called to trust that, through Jesus Christ, we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. We are not only to believe in the wonderful news, but we are to talk of the greatness of our Lord Jesus so others would know our great and glorious God. Peter adds that we are to fight against the sinful passions of this world, demonstrating that we are part of the kingdom of heaven. In living this way, we will be witnesses to unbelievers. They will see our good deeds done in love for God and our neighbour. We are to love in this way, trusting that others will see that we live for the Lord with true hope and lasting comfort and then ask about our way of life. This will give us the opportunity to talk of our Lord and Savour with the hope they too would repent and believe in our Saviour and glorify God. This is what Peter means when he writes, “…so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they will see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” Suggestion for prayer That we truly believe God calls us through faith in Jesus Christ and that we may show this to those around us. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 11 - Building our lives on the solid rock

“As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house.” - 1 Peter 2: 4-5 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:4-8 & Psalm 118:14-29 Here we see that living the Christian life is an ongoing commitment to Jesus. This involves building our lives more and more on the firm foundation of Jesus and what He did for us. He was rejected by mankind and put on a cross to die. Yet, it was the Father’s will that Jesus would go through this so that He could be that chosen and precious stone in which we can find security as beloved children of God. In Jesus we have a new reality as we build our lives on the firm foundation of Jesus and what He did for us. As believers, we are to see ourselves as being built up together, a spiritual house bringing glory to Christ, Who is building us up. As a holy priesthood, we are to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We are to offer our lives in service to Him, submitting to His commands and will, wanting His name to be adored and His Kingdom to come. We are to see God’s great love in laying Jesus as the cornerstone on which we can build our lives. We are to do this with devotion, not shying away from how Jesus wants us to live and from telling others about Him and what He has done for us. To shy away from this is like stumbling over a rock that you won’t acknowledge. You are not to stumble over Jesus, but acknowledge Him and build your whole life around Him. Suggestion for prayer That we would continue to show that Jesus is the solid rock in our lives, in following His ways and wanting others to follow us in following Jesus. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 10 - Growing in contentment because of Jesus Christ

Daily devotional

July 9 - The living and abiding word of God

“Love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and ab...

Daily devotional

July 8 - Have a proper view of our heavenly Father

Daily devotional

July 7 - Having our focus on Jesus’ return

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passion of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you are to be holy in your con...

Daily devotional

July 6 - The blessing of our position in history

“…the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully.” - 1 Peter 1: 10 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 1:1-12 Yesterday we saw the great joy that is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. Peter goes on to tell us that the prophets in the Old Testament longed to see what we often do not appreciate as much as we should. The Old Testament prophets wrote about the coming of the One, God was going to send to redeem His people. But they did not fully know who this person would be and to what extent He would go to save His people. They did not know the One coming was God’s beloved Son and that He would go to the cross and experience the agony of hell to save His people. They did not fully know the glorious reality we would receive because of Jesus. Jesus’ work allows us to be called sons and daughters of God, having the privileges of God’s family. Paul mentions this in Ephesians 1:3, “In Christ we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Peter, in His second letter, tells us that through faith in Jesus Christ we become partakers in the divine nature. We get what Jesus has as a beloved child of God. Although the Old Testament writers did not know what we know about Jesus, they served us, for we can look back and see that they were speaking about the coming of Jesus. When we read scripture or hear it preached and soak in the good news of Jesus, we are called to rejoice and see that we live in a glorious time in history. Suggestions for Prayer That we would understand the great position we are in history, having the complete revelation of our God. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 5 - The inexpressible joy

“…obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” - 1 Peter 1:9 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 1:1-9 Yesterday we looked at the great gift of a tested and genuine faith. Those who have it know it is more valuable to them than much gold and it causes one to praise and glorify Jesus Christ in the joy of salvation. Peter, in verses 8-9, tells us that this tested and genuine faith causes people to love Jesus deeply even though they have not seen Him while He lived and ministered on earth. That happens because in working this faith in His people, God opens their hearts to see His love for them more clearly than they could see with their physical eyes. Peter says this causes one to rejoice with a joy that cannot be understood by those who do not have this faith. It is like trying to explain the colour red to one who was born blind. Peter wrote his letter first of all to Christians who were scattered and persecuted for their faith. Peter said this tested faith caused them to be filled with a joy that made others wonder what they had. What made them experience this joy in the midst of much hardship? Sometimes the physical comforts we experience in North America can dim the great joy that is ours in Jesus Christ. Peter calls us to reflect on the fact that, through faith in Jesus Christ, we already have the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls. Through faith in Jesus Christ our eternal well-being is secure; nothing can separate us from the love of God. This is our joy. Suggestions for prayer That we would more and more reflect on what we have been given, in having a faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

July 4 - Glorifying God in our struggles

“…that the tested genuineness of your faith … may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” - 1 Peter 1:7 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 1:1-7 Yesterday we saw what a great future is ours because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. But our hope is not just in a future heavenly glory. Peter reminds us that we are guarded by God’s great power, the same power that created the world. God wants us to trust that He will not let us go; that He who began a good work of faith in us will bring it to completion when Jesus returns to take us to our eternal home. Peter encourages us to rejoice in the knowledge that God will continue to work in us by His Word and Spirit so that we will continue in the faith even in the midst of trials. Trusting in God, we should see that He will not only bring us through hard times or temptations, but will also use these for our good. Peter tells us that our loving heavenly Father allows these difficulties in our lives so that our faith will be refined through them to such a degree that they will result in praise, glory and honour when we meet Jesus at His second coming. Jesus said a similar thing in John 15 when He said every branch that bears fruit He prunes, so that it will bear more fruit. Peter really wants us to see that when we suffer in this broken world, while serving our Lord Jesus Christ in a true faith, we will be blessed with a more intimate relationship with God and so praise Him with greater commitment and joy. Suggestions for prayer That we would see that our trials and struggles are in God’s control and He is using them to purify us to draw us closer to him so that we can glorify Him in a deeper way. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 3 - Why we should praise our God

“He has caused us to be born again . . . to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefined and unfading.” - 1 Peter 1:3-4 Scripture reading: John 3:1-14 After praying for grace and peace to be multiplied in the lives of his readers, Peter tells us why we should praise God. It is not because we have nice homes and families, good jobs or health, but because He has caused us to have a new life. Most important of all, we have a living hope because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Peter is calling us to believe that just as Jesus rose from the dead, we now have a new life as children of the living God, an eternal relationship that will never end. While living on this earth with struggles and problems, we can trust that nothing will be able to separate us from the Love of God. This means that we always have a reason to praise our God and Father. But there’s more. Peter says we are to praise our God because we have an inheritance in heaven that will never perish, fade or spoil. Jesus promised that He not only died to secure our inheritance, but went to heaven to prepare it for us. He is there now making a place for us where we will no longer be sinful and the devil will never be able to come there. This inheritance will never go bad, get boring or be too much for us to handle. We will experience the reality of being completely at home, with no sadness or fear, only joy and contentment. This is a great reason to praise our God and Father. Suggestions for prayer That we rejoice in what we have as children of God now and be overjoyed with what is coming our way in heavenly glory. Pastor Richard Bultje is a missionary and pastor of the River of Life church plant in Niagara Falls Ontario. It is a church plant under the oversight of the Wellandport United Reformed Church. Pastor Richard and his wife, Yukyung moved to Niagara Falls in November 2012 with their three children, Calvin, Isaiah and Gloria. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

July 2 - A blessing for Christ’s church

“May grace and peace be multiplied in you.” - 1 Peter 1:2b Scripture reading: Romans 1:1-7 After Peter announces who he is and to whom he ...

Daily devotional, Uncategorised

July 1 - Introduction to 1 Peter: holding fast to Christ in a rebellious world

Daily devotional

June 30 - Jesus the radiance of the glory of God

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” - Psalm 19:14 Script...

Daily devotional

June 29 - Jesus the Nazarene

“And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene”.” -...

Daily devotional

June 28 - Jesus a son

“…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son…”” - Matthew 1:20b Scripture reading: Matthew 1:17-25 The reading today focuses on Jesus as a son—the emphasis is on His humanity. What a picture the Bible paints of the humanity of Jesus. We read of Joseph, His earthly father, in the early part of Jesus’ life, but not later in His life. Jesus lost His earthly dad. Before Jesus was tempted, He fasted for forty days and nights. It is such a blasé statement to describe what must have been going on inside His body—He’d be near to starving. He experienced real, gnawing hunger, and was without sin. Jesus saw the crowds coming to Him and He had compassion on them “because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). Jesus Himself had just learned that His cousin, John the Baptist, had died. Around the same time, His disciples who’d been sent out to various towns to prepare them for His coming to teach there, returned to Jesus and clamoured for His attention. He experienced complex emotions. Just before Jesus began the conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, John informs the reader that Jesus was weary from His journey (John 4:6). In other places of Scripture, you read, “Jesus wept”. Why mention all these things? The Bible shows that Jesus is fully human. Because a man sinned against God the Holy One, a man must bear the wrath of God against sin. The Bible shows Jesus to be fully human. Think of Jesus as human as you are and yet, without sin. What a glorious Redeemer He is! Suggestions for prayer Pray that God the Father will teach you more about the humanity of Jesus so that you can draw closer to Jesus and know Him better; so that you can truly love Him and be more amazed at the grace He brings you. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 27 - The Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt out of the house of slavery

“…giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered you from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” - Colossians 1:12-14 Scripture reading: Exodus 20:1-17 Do you think of yourself as rescued? Perhaps you heard the Ten Commandments yesterday. At the start of the Decalogue, the LORD states why He has the right to call for obedience to His Law. He brought Israel out of Egypt. He rescued them from slavery. Have you been rescued from the house of slavery? Yes, you have. In a passage that recalls Egyptian slavery, Paul wrote to the Colossians: “He, the Father, delivered us from the domain of darkness.” Before the Father rescued you, you were bound in sins. The hold of the evil one chained you in patterns of sin. Israel kept on returning to Egypt in heart and action. An illustration of this is the time they made a golden calf to worship it. They remembered the sins of Egypt and the worship they’d seen there. They mimicked the Egyptians in defiance of their covenant allegiance to God. Though they’d been rescued from that slavery, they willingly returned to it. It is true of you as well. Old sins easily assert their mastery. Unless the believer sees how blatantly he sinned before he was rescued and how readily he returns to this sin, he will think that Israel being brought up from the House of Slavery has no relevance to him. But if he is aware of how readily he can return to sin, he will look to the Father Who brought him up out of the Egypt of his sins, and by way of the Ten Commandments, he will live a life of thankfulness. Suggestions for prayer Whenever you see how your old sins so easily cling to you, honour and praise God for rescuing you; pray for your continued deliverance from sin and its effects. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 26 - Jesus: Teacher and Lord

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” - John 13:14 Scripture reading: John 13:12-20 Who in your life has the right to tell you what to do? If you are a youngster, no doubt you realize your parents have the right to tell you what to do. As adults, it is tempting to think, “You can’t tell me what to do”. This is subtly reinforced in church life in that catechism classes are required before membership, but not after becoming a member. It is like saying, “Your education is complete.” Jesus tells us, He is our Teacher and our Lord and continually teaches us as He leads us. The Word of God overflows with the teachings about Jesus and the teachings of Jesus. I have some friends who are new to the faith and they are excited because they just purchased “red letter” Bibles. These Bibles, in the Gospels, highlight Jesus’s words by printing them in red. Interestingly, all the letters of the Bible should be in red, for all the words are God-breathed, inspired by the Spirit. The whole Bible, from start to finish, is the instruction of our Teacher, Jesus. Keep reading the Word so that you will know Jesus, your Teacher. Jesus is your Lord. His words have ultimate authority in your life. What you learn from Him, you are commanded to put into practice. The life of a Christian is imbued with the glorious task of taking the things of God and putting them into practice in daily life. This is the great adventure and mighty work of all who have been saved in Jesus Christ. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to give you a spirit of humility so that you will be teachable and ready to receive the instruction of Jesus; look to God the Father to show you the opportunities He is giving you to put Jesus’ teaching into practice in the ordinary flow of your day and week. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 25 - Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath

“So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation.” - Genesis 2:3 Scripture reading: Matthew 12:1-14 It is confusing for many people to know what the Sabbath means. In his commentary on this passage, Lange noted that from the time Jesus made this declaration as being the Lord of the Sabbath, He was on the run. This title moved Jesus from being acclaimed and loved, to becoming harassed and questioned. Jesus is Lord. He has the right to interpret the Sabbath: why it was given and what it is designed to achieve. Genesis 2 teaches that the LORD blessed the seventh day and made it holy. That first Sabbath, Adam and Eve experienced the joy of knowing Him and being loved by the LORD. Adam’s fall disrupted the pattern of Sabbath. When Jesus fed His disciples or healed the broken on the Sabbath, He was fulfilling Psalm 23. As He prepared to restore the soul, He first provided food and water. The weary, thirsty soul cannot rest content in Him when the belly is growling and the heart is parched. So, it is with Jesus’ works on the Sabbath, He feeds, He heals so that His people can truly be refreshed in the presence of the King. This day, confess your sins, knowing these are forgiven because of Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath, so that nothing will hinder your walk with God. This LORD’s Day, do you know someone who needs mercy or help? Demonstrate the kindness of God so that they will experience the blessing of God. In this way Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath, will be made known to this generation and beyond. Suggestions for prayer Pray that the Lord of the Sabbath will open your eyes to the needs of the people around you, the broken places of their lives where your acts of mercy will help them to see Jesus; praise God the Father that He has given us this joyful day of fellowship and blessing. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 24 - God who hems us in an knits us together

“You hem me in, behind and before…You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” - Psalm 139:5a & 13 Scrip...

Daily devotional

June 23 - Jesus: the holy one, the true one

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: “The words of The Holy One, The True One, Who has the Key of David.”” - Revelation 3:7�...

Daily devotional

June 22 - Jesus: holder of the key of David

“And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David....

Daily devotional

June 21 - Arbiter

“There is no Arbiter between us, Who might lay His hand on us both.” - Job 9:33 Scripture reading: Job 5:7 Perhaps this proverb from Job i...

Daily devotional

June 20 - Jesus who has the seven spirits and seven stars

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of Him Who has the Seven Spirits of God and the Seven Stars.”” - Revelation 3:1 Scripture reading: Revelation 3:1-6 Reading the letters to the seven churches in Revelation has changed for me. Now I pause to consider the revealed Name of Jesus as He gives His words to the churches. Jesus has the Seven-Spirits of God (a.k.a. the Seven-fold Spirit). He Who wields the power of the Spirit is speaking to a church that is spiritually dead. Why is Jesus speaking to this church if it is dead? The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 1:4) is the same Holy Spirit Whom He will give to revive Christians who are in need. This same Spirit has the power to raise the dead. Jesus has the seven stars, the seven angels given to guard the seven churches. Those whom Jesus revives by His Spirit, He protects by sending His angels. What a glorious picture this is. It is also a picture with a long term view. A. W. Tozer noted, “The faith of Christ offers no buttons to push for quick service. The new order must wait for the Lord's own time. It is too much for the man in a hurry. He gives up and becomes interested in something else.” Something happened in Sardis so that people wandered into sin. They refused to repent. But Jesus is here appealing to His people. Listen. Wake up. I will protect you. I will lead you in victory so that you will be conquerors over sin. This is the power I have and this is the power I give to all who hear and are prepared to obey. Suggestions for prayer Thank the Father for the wonderful work of Jesus and the gift of the reviving Spirit. Thank Jesus, Who sends His guardian angels to protect His people. Pray for repentance in the areas of your life where you need to repent so that you may walk in newness of life. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 19 - He who keeps it steady

“We give thanks to You, O God; we give thanks, for Your Name is near. We recount Your wondrous deeds. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I Who keep steady its pillars.” - Psalm 75:1, 3 Scripture reading: Psalm 75: 1-10 Nearly one year ago, on June 29, 2022, the National Physical Laboratory of England recorded the shortest day in history. The usual 24-hour rotation of the earth was shortened by 1.59 milliseconds. Next to this news article were “climate change” predictions. It is important to remember that people have not kept records of the temperature throughout human history. This is a relatively recent phenomenon. The Christian is confident of the promises of the Living God. He Who created the world is also He Who Keeps It Steady. The creation account of Genesis shows believers that the LORD of Glory made the heavens and the earth as a place of meeting between man and Himself. The earth and its fullness are designed to allow for humanity to have a relationship with the LORD of Heaven and Earth. In Jesus Christ, this is perfectly displayed. Though Jesus suffered throughout His life, He walked in submission to the Father, in wondrous peace beyond all understanding. Jesus was drawn near to the Father by the presence of the Spirit within Him. Jesus understood that the fears and horrible predictions of the world of His day were mere jaw-flapping idleness. His Father sets the appointed times for all things. Fellow believer, this is the same blessed assurance we have today. God sustains this world, keeping it steady until the day of Christ’s return. We do not tremble at the fearful predictions of sinful man. The Spirit of God gives us confident hope in the LORD Who keeps steady the pillars of the world. Suggestions for Prayer Recount to God all the wondrous things He has done, especially in times of history when the world was gripped in fear (like Y2K, or World War II) and God showed Himself faithful; express in thanksgiving your confidence that God is keeping this world steady in His tender care. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 18 - The father of lights

“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 change.” - James 1:17 Scripture reading: James 1:1-18 Happy Father’s Day to the fathers among us. Thanks be to God for the blessing of those who are good fathers. For those who did not have their dads with them in their growing years, thanks be to God for uncles and men who stood in as fathers and mentors to young men and women. Whatever our experience may have been, the Bible shows the perfections of our Father. He is the Father of Lights, in Whom there is no variation or shadow. For those who had fathers who promised much and never delivered, God is the Father Who is faithful. What He promises, He does. He is the complete Truth. That is reassuring for those who experienced disappointments with earthly dads. He is the Father of Lights. The light of revelation and wisdom are His to give, so that those who seek to know God, are given the Spirit. As the believer prays to know God better, the Spirit’s powerful presence is God’s answer. The Spirit is the lamp lit within us, Who dispels the darkness of doubt and throws down all fears. He is the Father of Lights. Jesus Christ is the Sun of Righteousness, given by the Father. He brings His healing with Him. In Christ Jesus we have an elder brother Who leads us to our Perfect Father. In Christ Jesus, believers can most clearly see the depths of the Father’s love for His people. Jesus, the Beloved One, given up to death, so that all who believe in Him can know God, the Good Father. Suggestions for prayer Remember all the children who are growing up in homes without dads, that our Father may truly shepherd His own; seek the Spirit’s direction how to be a godly influence in the life of those young ones in need; give thanks for fathers who are faithful and reflect the goodness of God. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 17 - The good shepherd

“I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11 Scripture reading: Ezekiel 34:1-10; John 10:11-16 This may be one of the most familiar titles for Jesus—The Good Shepherd. You may be familiar with this title from Psalm 23. Our reading in the Gospel of John highlights the work of Jesus. The Old Testament reading fills in the background. Why did Jesus need to come? Why did He upset the religious leadership so much? Notice the very ones who were supposed to be caring for the people of Israel, the kings, priests and prophets of Israel, were taking advantage of the people of God. They took as much as they could from the people of God for themselves. Even the vulnerable of the land were ravished with no concern for the fact that the LORD of Hosts Himself was looking at these leaders, judging them, and calling them to account. The glorious, ancient promise of the LORD of Glory was: “I will rescue my sheep from their mouths” (Ezekiel 34:10). When Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd, He was bringing forward this ancient accusation from Ezekiel against all the false shepherds. Jesus called out the priests and prophets. He used the Old Testament prophecy to expose the faults of this false leadership. We call Jesus the Good Shepherd because He laid down His life for the sheep. We experienced being gathered up from our lost condition, our wounds being healed and brought into His people. As Christians we see the sweep of history and, with thanksgiving, recognize that the Living God has fulfilled the ancient promises of coming to the earth to shepherd His people. Suggestions for prayer Bless God as the One Who keeps His promises. Give thanks for Sunday and prepare your mind and hearts to worship God. Ask God to bless His under-shepherds, the preachers and evangelists, missionaries and Bible teachers who will bring the Word. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 16 - The Lord is a man of war

“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

June 15 - The God of peace

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Scripture r...

Daily devotional

June 14 - The Lord the judge

“The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge!” - Psalm 50:6 Scripture reading: Psalm 50:1-23 Little ones have great im...

Daily devotional

June 13 - Jesus the good teacher

“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” - Mark 10:17 Scripture Reading: Mark 10:17-27 What a strange response Jesus gave t...

Daily devotional

June 12 - The Lord, the lifter of my head

“He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore He will lift up His head.” - Psalm 110:7 Scripture Reading: Psalm 3:1-8 Helpful information to explain this Name for God is found in Psalm 110. Jesus regularly quoted from it and applied it to Himself. The imagery presented there is of the Warrior, Who shatters kings. The enigmatic saying, which is quoted above, ends Psalm 110. Think about what a battlefield might be like in ancient times. No public drinking fountains. No taps. No garden hoses. When a warrior drinks, he must stoop down, and the moment he does so, he is utterly vulnerable. But Jesus is not vulnerable. His enemies will be so thoroughly conquered, He can stoop and drink, and He will lift up his head, the Victor. He Lifts His Head over every opponent. In Isaiah 46:1-13 a contrast is made between the worthless idols of all the nations and the power of God. He declares: “There is none like Me” (Isaiah 46:9). It is God alone Who can sustain His people, from the first stirrings of each man’s life, until his hair greys, and every nanosecond in between. He is One Who lifts His people. He protects. He shows them tender mercy and care. Now Psalm 3, with all its imagery of battles, and that strange possibility of sleep even in the middle of what seems like loud-clashing warfare, makes more sense. The Psalmist declared of the LORD: “My Glory and the Lifter of My Head”. Through every battle, in every crisis, God Lifts your head. He gives victory. He alone can guard you until today’s faith becomes sight in eternity. Suggestions for prayer Praise the LORD Who is mighty over every enemy, Who is the Warrior King defeating every enemy; pray, thanking Jesus, that He has disarmed the enemy at the cross, so that in the power of His Spirit you can lift your head in the victory He gives you over sin and death. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 11 - God the creator, part II

“The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” - Isaiah 40:28 Scripture reading: Acts 17:16-34 This passage is pertinent for us today. Many all over the world face a culture, much like the Athenian culture of Paul’s day. It was okay then, as it is for many today, to speak of many gods and all kinds of spirituality. But Paul’s proclamation of the One True God, Who made, from one man, all the nations of the earth, that is entirely a different matter. It was offensive then and is offensive now. There is a tremendous resistance to calling God the Creator. That is why it is encouraging to read, “some joined Paul and believed”. Surely that is the promise of Jesus Christ to His followers, that we are to preach His Name and go with His authority and as His ambassadors. He will supply the needs of His missionary people. Believers know we are God’s offspring. He has fixed the Day of Judgment. Gathering for worship as we do each Sunday, reaffirms our common belief in God the Creator. Praising Him lifts the view from the pew and earth-bound perspectives to the place where God is seated—the Creator, Ruler and Just Judge. Being renewed in our faith through the means of grace, we are prepared once again to share the Good News of God the Creator with the people He has placed in our life. We are prepared to face opposition and ridicule because we know, in our heart and with firm conviction of mind, that He, Who made all things, will bring all things to their rightful conclusion in Christ. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for faithful preachers, missionaries, evangelists and professors who proclaim Good News; pray to be renewed and refreshed in this precious faith so that you will be a bold ambassador for God the Creator and Christ the King, through the power of the Spirit. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 10 - The creator

“The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” - Isaiah 40:28 Scripture reading: John 1:1-18 Perhaps the most radical title for God in this profoundly atheistic age, is Creator. He alone is the everlasting God. Before Him there is no thing. He is Self-existent. All things in the entire universe owe their existence to His Being. Many influential men claim the universe created itself out of nothing. There is a teaching of cosmic evolution. This is coordinated with the teaching of geologic evolution and the false teaching of the evolutionary theory for life. All such theories are constructed to deny the foundational title and work of God—Creator. Calling Him Creator means that the people of the earth are commanded to obey Him. He Who made all things is the One Who has the right and authority to give commandments. If there is no creator, there is no god to obey. When the LORD reveals Himself as the Creator of all things, He declares He alone is worthy of worship. That’s why people in our world today will fight the Title of God as Creator. They want to serve themselves. People want to exalt their own intelligence and celebrate their own skills. This an act of defiance against the Majestic One, the Creator, Who alone is worthy of praise. The Gospel of John also reveals the significance of God as the Creator and Christ as co-creator. Those who receive Jesus are given the right to be children of God. Those who reject Jesus, reject the Father. To do so is to incur the wrath of God and punishment in hell. Suggestions for prayer Pray that scientists and teachers in our school system will know God as the Creator; pray to know God as Creator so that you will worship Him and obey Him in joy and thanksgiving that He has made Himself known to you in this way. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 9 - His name is holy

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy.” - Isaiah 57:15 Scripture reading: Isaiah 57:14-21 Friday is here and Sunday is near. The Sunday liturgy includes a time of confession. Why do we have this communal time of confession? A maturing relationship with God highlights the need for confession. In fact, it becomes an essential activity in the life of the believer. In Isaiah, God declares His Name is “Holy”. Everything about Him Is Holy. His every action is Holy. His character is Holy. His attributes, like love and justice, righteousness and mercy, and how all these work together is in a very real sense, His holiness in motion. How does that relate to confession? Consider these words: “Let me never forget that the heinousness of sin lies not so much in the nature of sin committed, as in the greatness of the Person sinned against” (From the Puritan Prayer: “Humiliation”). That captures the significance of the holiness of God as it relates to sinful man. He is so perfect in His holiness, that any sin is a blasphemy against His Nature. The fact that He has given sinful people an avenue for access to Himself, through the reconciling work of Jesus Christ, is a great gift beyond description. Confession is a wonderful gift. Fellow believer, take time to confess your sins to God. As you do so, cultivate the awareness of His holiness. In so doing, Jesus will truly be for you the Beloved One. The Spirit’s work of sanctifying you will proceed. More sins will be exposed and thrown down and your life will bring God glory. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Spirit of God to increase your awareness of God’s holiness; pray that times of confession will not be mere routine, but true times of making yourself vulnerable to God to allow for deep confession, true repentance and a deeper walk with Him. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 8 - The Lord God is an everlasting rock

“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” - Isaiah 26:4 Scripture reading: Psalm 125:1-5; Philippians 4:7 Our ...

Daily devotional

June 7 - Jesus the cornerstone

“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s ...

Daily devotional

June 6 - The Spirit of the fear of the Lord

“And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge an...

Daily devotional

June 5 - The Spirit of knowledge

“ have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.” - Colossians 3:10 … Scripture reading: ...

Daily devotional

June 4 - Receiving the Spirit of might

“And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might…” - Isaiah 11:2a Scripture reading: Ephesians 1:15-23 Today is Sunday, the day on which believers celebrate our new life in Jesus Christ. It is a great blessing to go to church, hear the word preached and meet with other believers. Jesus is the Saviour of the World, our Redeemer and our model. Let me explain. Jesus was fully God, the second Person of the Trinity, from all eternity to all eternity. At a particular moment in time, He took on flesh. He became fully human. In His humanity Jesus was empowered by the Spirit for holy living (in fact, Jesus was given the Spirit without measure, John 3:34). He was a true flesh and blood man, Who walked in the power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture refers to the Spirit as “the Spirit of Might” (Isaiah 11:2). Our passage today, helps us to understand might, also referred to as the strength of the Spirit at work in us. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power that is in you and in all who believe. The expression “might”, or “strength” is used in the Old Testament as the strength for victory in battle. When believers engage in spiritual warfare—against our own flesh, the Devil, and the forces of darkness, it is the Spirit of Might residing in us, Who completes the victory of Jesus in us. His power is at work in us, defeating sin, breaking down strongholds and giving us spiritual gifts so that we can walk in true communion with Jesus and with one another. Suggestions for prayer Thank God that He has reconciled us to Himself in Jesus Christ and that by His Spirit of Might, He guards us in this glorious salvation; pray that the strength of the Spirit would continue to grow in you so that sins are defeated and the victory of Jesus will be more clear in your life. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 3 - The spirit of counsel

“I bless the LORD who gives me counsel…” - Psalm 16:7 Scripture reading: Isaiah 11:1-5 Counsel is a word indicating that someone receiving it, is getting helpful advice that is critical for a situation. Such advice is not something that can be gained by oneself. The Bible is clear that true counsel can only come from the source of all wisdom and knowledge, that is, from God Himself. Believers are given the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Counsel. The Psalm reading today shows the result of receiving counsel is to bless the LORD and grow in one’s delight of Him. This builds from the first psalm in the Psalter, which teaches us not to walk in the counsel of the wicked (Psalm 1:1). There are many people prepared to give all kinds of advice and it is easy to get confused when listening to conflicting opinions. How can one sort out what is important and what is the right decision? It is the Word of God, the treasure given to believers, which was written by men as they were carried along by the Spirit, wherein we find the Spirit’s clearest counsel. The Spirit of God also gifts some with the utterance of wisdom (I Corinthians 12:8). That is the ability to offer sound and clear instruction to someone who is struggling and in need of direction. The Spirit of Counsel becomes ever more familiar and present to the believer who spends time in prayer. The Spirit will direct the conscience of a believer as he wrestles in persistent prayer, seeking to know God more deeply and truly. Suggestions for prayer Thank God the Father for the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit; ask the Spirit to teach you, giving you counsel through the Word; pray for your preacher and the Word to be brought to the people tomorrow. Rev. Richard Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 2 - The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” - I Corinthians 2:12 Scripture reading: Isaiah 11:1-5 and I Corinthians 2:6-16 Wisdom and understanding are closely related concepts. When reading Scripture, one begins to grasp that the seven-fold Spirit of God is the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. The theologian Louis Berkhof defined wisdom this way, “that perfection of God whereby He applies His knowledge to the attainment of His ends in a way which glorifies Him the most.” While God’s wisdom is beyond us, it is the blessing of God to grant the believer wisdom to perceive His goodness and trust His grace in all circumstances. Wisdom, as given by the Spirit, discerns the subtle temptations to sin. The believer heeds the Spirit’s prompts and the lessons of the Word, thereby growing in God’s grace. Understanding is gained through study of the Word. Yet, as Paul wrote, even comprehension cannot come to us by the spirit of this age. Secular scientists can discover facts, but not interpret them with understanding. True understanding of the things of this world and the things of God requires the Spirit of God. True understanding is given to the mind and heart of the believer. More than this, by the guidance of the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the believer sees the work and glory of Christ in both the Old and New Testaments. By this same Spirit, each lesson learned results in praise offered to God the Giver of every good and perfect gift. By the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the believer sees the work and glory of God in creation and by the Word is able to interpret creation correctly. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Spirit to lead you in wisdom and understanding. As you learn and understand more, bring your praises and thanksgiving to God for His goodness shown in your life. Rev. Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

June 1 - Introduction to the Spirit

Is it difficult for you to pray? Many people find it challenging. C. Samuel Storms wrote: “I am convinced that every problem in prayer is traceable to a misconception about God. If we pray less than we should, or not at all, it is probably because we are…deficient in our knowledge of the true and living God” (C. Samuel Storms Reaching God’s Ear, pp.18-19). Therefore, it seemed appropriate for this series of thirty devotional readings to be sharply focused on Who God Is as He reveals Himself in the Bible. The Spirit helps us to know Jesus. As believers come to know Jesus and put their faith in Him, loving Him and obeying Him, they come to understand this teaching Jesus gave to His followers; in speaking with skeptics, Jesus told them “If you knew me, you would know my Father also” (John 8:19). It follows then, that believers who know Jesus and trust Him, know the Father also. The better we begin to know God, the more likely we are to pray. The seven I AM sayings in the Gospel of John are already likely to be very familiar to you. Each of these sayings reveals Jesus, linking Him to the Father in the divinity, power and unity of purpose. However, the Spirit has given many more revelations of God, many other Names, titles and descriptions of God which direct the reader into a deeper and fuller understanding of Who God is. Knowing God increases the faith of believers. Knowing God deepens a believer’s worship and expands his prayer-life. The seven-fold spirit “Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings on earth.” - Revelation 1:4b-5a Scripture reading: Isaiah 11:1-5 Today’s reading introduces the work of the seven-fold Spirit, (or Seven Spirits) referred to in Revelation. The prophet Isaiah, prophesying about the coming of the Messiah, noted that Jesus would be filled with the Spirit. By His great mercy, God the Spirit revealed the focus of His work in Christ. Why do I call that mercy? Because it follows then that those who are in Christ are those who also receive this same seven-fold Spirit. The Spirit is the Spirit of the LORD. He is fully divine and majestic. The Spirit is not a force or something impersonal. The Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, the Great I AM. As the LORD made His covenant with Israel, it is the Spirit Who works in and through the leadership of Israel to empower each one for holy service. According to the New Testament, the Spirit of the LORD is given to all believers. This is the beautiful truth just celebrated a few days ago at Pentecost. The very power and presence of the Living God, the Spirit, is in you, enabling you to remain in Christ. Christians are yet wilful and stubborn. Despite the cornucopia of blessings given to you, do you often turn to your own ways? The Spirit convicts you and leads you to repentance. The personal Spirit speaks to your spirit so that you are reassured you belong to God and the Spirit reminds you no power, and no thing, can ever tear you away from the rich salvation that is yours in Christ. Suggestions for prayer Thank God the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ask to be given more of the Spirit in your life to the increase of your faith in and obedience to Jesus. Rev. Vander Vaart served as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America for over twenty years, before joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is now serving as the Atlantic Region prison-visiting pastor working with Redemption Prison Ministry. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 31 - Jesus, the alpha and omega

““I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”” - Revel...

Daily devotional

May 30 - Jesus, our chief cornerstone (II)

“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.” - Psalm 118:...

Daily devotional

May 29 - Jesus, our chief cornerstone (I)

“Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes in Him will by ...

Daily devotional

May 28 - Jesus, our mercy seat (II)

“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” - 1 John 2:2 Scripture rea...

Daily devotional

May 27 - Jesus, our mercy seat (I)

“…whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness.” - Romans 3:25a Scripture reading: Romans 3:1-31 In this verse, Paul tells us that Jesus is set forth as a propitiation. More literally, Paul is saying that Jesus is our Mercy seat. What was the mercy seat? It was the lid of the Arc of the Covenant. In it there was the law. On it were the two golden cherubim. This was the footstool of the Lord. It was placed in the most Holy Place, which was a picture of God’s throne room, yes, heaven itself. God has set forth His Son Jesus, as a propitiation, as a Mercy seat. Once a year, on the day of Atonement, the High Priest would enter into the Most Holy Place to sprinkle blood on the lid of atonement. He went there to make propitiation, to turn away the wrath of God over His people’s sins. The blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat. But no longer! For now, Christ Himself is what the mercy seat pictured – namely, the place where God’s wrath is turned away. Why? Because of the sacrifice of His blood, God looks upon Christ and can now pass over the sins of His people. He demonstrates His righteousness to all who trust in Him by faith. The blood-splattered lid now covers over a law that condemns sinners. Unworthy sinners, like you and me, may now come boldly to His throne of grace to be given help in our times of need because Christ’s blood is sufficient to once and for all, turn away the wrath of God over sin. Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God that the blood of Jesus turns away the wrath of God over our sins. Thank God for the access we have to His mercy seat through Christ. Come boldly to be helped in your time of need today. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 26 - Jesus, the door

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” - John 10:9 Scripture reading: John 10:1-15 Jesus is the Door. What Jesus means in this context, is that He is the Shepherd that lays Himself down in the opening of the community sheepfold, to protect His sheep. Nobody could enter or leave, except by being allowed in through the Shepherd. So, this name brings us to the question: Are you part of Jesus’ fold and have you entered in through Jesus alone! Jesus is the entrance way to our enjoyment of salvation. It isn’t good works, experiences, tears, spiritual feelings, spiritual conversations, or biblical and theological knowledge. The question is: Have you entered in through Christ?! When we enter, He makes us realize that we have gone astray like lost sheep, and that God has laid on Him our iniquity. When we come to Him, drawn by His love and carried by His grace, we learn to lean on His shoulder, resting on what He does for us to save us, leaning on His finished work and trusting His blood for the forgiveness of all our sins. Jesus' promise is: those who have entered in by Christ will be saved! That is not all. When this verse talks about going in and out, it doesn’t mean that we can somehow lose our salvation. No, it means that now we learn to follow Him wherever He leads us! We listen to His voice and follow Him. He leads us to green pastures. His rod and staff keep us from sin. He teaches us to die to sin. Suggestions for prayer Praise God that Jesus is the entrance door into salvation. Pray for grace to more fully trust His finished work alone. Confess your sins when you realize you have gone astray like a lost sheep. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 25 - Jesus, our city of refuge (II)

“that (…) we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” - Hebrews 6:18 Scripture reading: Hebrews 6:13-20 Jesus is our City of Refuge. When we flee to Him, trusting in His forgiveness, we have good reason to be comforted by His protection. In ancient Israel there were six cities of refuge. They were spread throughout the land, to be easily accessible to all. There is something beautiful about each of the names of these cities because each one of them points us to Jesus in one way or another. There was Kedesh, which means, righteousness… that is what Jesus is for unclean sinners! There was Shechem, which means, shoulder… that is what Jesus is for the weary and heavy laden; Jesus gives us His shoulder to rest on! There was Hebron, which means fellowship… that is what Jesus is for those who feel lonely and forsaken! There was Bezer, which means, a stronghold… that is what Jesus is for those who are filled with fear and anxiety… a safe place! There was Ramoth, which means, exalted… that is what Jesus is for those who are humbled because of their sin, or, in the pit… He will lift them up and place them on the rock Higher than themselves. There was Golan, which means, separated… that is what Jesus does for those who are unable to separate themselves from sin… What a reason we have to be comforted, to have a strong consolation, when we flee for Refuge to Christ! Let us therefore run to Him and lay hold of Him; He is the Hope set before us! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for everything He is in Christ to poor sinners. Take one of the names that best fit your situation and pray that God will exactly be that to you today. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 24 - Jesus, our city of refuge (I)

“that (…) we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” Hebrews 6:18 Scripture reading: Joshua 20:1-9 There is a beautiful picture in the Old Testament which shows us who Jesus is. It is seen in the cities of Refuge to which murderers could flee when they had sinned. How is Jesus our city of Refuge? The city of refuge had to be easily accessible. Jesus is easily accessible – Jesus is said to be close to those who are of a broken heart because of their sin. He welcomes such sinners. The city of refuge was never to be locked at night. Jesus is always available – Jesus is our #1 place to go when all other help fails us. His throne of grace is open 24/7. Heaven can be reached by taking refuge in Jesus by prayer. The city of refuge welcomed murderers. Jesus welcomes the worst – If you had murdered someone accidentally, you were instructed to flee for your life to a city of refuge. Jesus does more than that. He even welcomes Manassehs! The Gospel calls us over and over: Take refuge in Christ, run to Him with all your sin! Only in Christ, are you safe from eternal death and destruction in hell. The city of refuge was a place of protection and care, even more so Jesus! – When someone entered the city, a Levite would be waiting to help with food and clothing. The person would be protected from the law. Much more Christ! When we take refuge in Him, He shelters us from the law, feeds our souls and clothes us with His robe of righteousness! Suggestions for prayer Thank God that we may take refuge in Christ with all our sins. Pray that you will approach Him in the way of true repentance and faith, and that you may enjoy His protection and care today. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 23 - Jesus, our banner (III)

“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit o...

Daily devotional

May 22 - Jesus, our banner (II)

“You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” - Psalm 60:4 Scripture reading: Psalm 60:1-12 ...

Daily devotional

May 21 - Jesus, our banner (I)

"And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place sha...

Daily devotional

May 20 - Jesus, our victorious lion (II)

“…Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll, and to loose its seven seals.” - Revelation 5:5b�...

Daily devotional

May 19 - Jesus, the kingly lion (I)

“Judah is a lion's whelp: (…) The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.” - Genesis 49:9a & 10 Scripture reading: Genesis 49:1-12 Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. When we think of the picture that a Lion evokes in our minds, the first thing that comes to mind is that like a Lion, Jesus is Kingly. That is exactly the point Jacob makes on his deathbed when he reveals that Judah is like a lion’s whelp. He prophecies that a king in the line of Judah will rule. That’s why there is no surprise when verse 10 speaks about a scepter, lawgiver and the obedience of subjects. Just as a lion rules in the animal world, so Jesus rules over the entire world as King of kings and Lord of lords. When we see a lion, we respect the animal. We’d rather not get into trouble with such a powerful creature. How much more so with Christ. We are to respect Him for His power and glory. He is far more powerful than any lion. When a lion roars the whole animal kingdom trembles and is quiet. Every animal in the forest knows who is king. When Jesus is compared to a lion, we are reminded that when we walk in sin, we must expect Him to be like a fierce lion (Hosea 13:7-8). How we ought to tremble with respect for King Jesus, especially since on judgement day, when we all have to meet Him! When He is for us, who will be against us! But, when He is against us, who will be for us?! Suggestions for prayer Pray for awe, respect and obedience to Jesus your King. Rejoice in His world-wide rule. Reflect on your readiness to meet Jesus on judgment day. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 18 - Jesus, the apple tree

“Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.” - Song of Solomon 2:3 Scripture reading: Song of Solomon 2 Song of Solomon’s love can be interpreted as earthly love. However, there are good reasons to interpret the book with a focus on Jesus’ love for His church. And if we consider it that way, perhaps, we find a not so well-known title for Jesus, or should we say, picture of Jesus as the Apple Tree. Some interpreters think it might actually have been an orange or apricot tree, but whichever type of fruit tree it was, it clearly stood out among all the other trees in the forest. This one is incomparable with any other. So it is with Jesus. Jesus is incomparable. He is the perfect sinless Son of God, both God and Man. He stands out in His self-sacrifice on the cross. The value and power of His blood are incomparable! Not only is Jesus incomparable, but He also provides a place of rest for weary sinners. The text says: I sat under his shadow with great delight. Finding a leafy tree on a hot and sunny day brought great enjoyment and delight. Think about Jesus, Who not only invites those who labor and are heavy laden to find rest, but Who especially shelters us from the just wrath of God over our sins. Thirdly, Jesus is a source of refreshment: and his fruit was sweet to my taste. Believers really know Jesus; they don’t just know about Jesus, they really enjoy Him. They have tasted that the Lord is good! Have you? Suggestions for prayer Praise the Lord for Christ, Who is incomparable, gives rest to weary sinners and brings delight to our souls. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 17 - Jesus, the fountain of living waters (II)

“In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.” - Zechariah 13:1 Scripture reading: Zechariah 12:9-13:2 Jesus is the Fountain of living waters. Today we again ask the question: what is it about fountains shows us something of who Jesus is? Jesus is our healing Fountain – Not all fountains in nature are the same. There are fountains that just bubble up clean drinking water that refreshes us. But there are also places where fountains are thought to have healing qualities. People go there to be treated for illnesses, hoping to be healed. As the fountain of living waters, Jesus has exceptional healing qualities for the worst of diseases. No one else can heal the deadly disease of sin. In Zechariah 13:1, we read about this fountain. Years later when the apostle John stood at the foot of the cross, he saw that fountain. It was opened by a soldier piercing Jesus’ side, causing blood and water to flow out! That is the fountain that cleanses dirty sinners from sin and uncleanness. Have you been to that fountain already? Sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains! Jesus is a free Fountain – When you come to places where the fountain has healing qualities, you are often required to pay for that. But, when you come to Jesus, the water that He gives is free of charge! Everyone is invited to come and drink! Revelation 22:17 invites us like this: “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the freeness of His grace. Worship Him for the cross and the water and the blood that can cleanse from sin and sanctify us to serve Him. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 16 - Jesus, the fountain of living waters (I)

“Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”” - John 4:13-14 Scripture reading: John 4:1-15 Jesus is the Fountain of living waters. The question is: what is it about fountains that shows us something of who Jesus is? Jesus is a never-ending overflowing Fountain – A fountain of living water in nature is a place where the water spontaneously bubbles up from the ground. Some fountains can yield water from the ground up to a ton a minute, year in, year out! Jesus is such a never-ending overflowing fountain too. His Words are the waters that refresh our souls. When we believe in Christ and drink from His Word, it renews and refreshes us in the inner man – in our hearts. He promises that His words are an ever-flowing fountain that springs up into eternal life! Jesus is our fresh Fountain – Fountains in nature generally bubble up crystal clear water. In Bible times, in a hot climate, fresh water was absolutely vital; without it, you would die! As sinners we naturally, like this woman, prefer the stagnant and poisonous waters of sin. Instead, Jesus offers us clear water. When He comes into our lives, He brings holiness and purity by His Holy Spirit. When we drink of those waters, we will stop thirsting for sin and thirst more for Jesus. There is nothing more refreshing to our souls than the grace of our Lord Jesus. Come afresh to Jesus and His fountain today and let the flow of His atoning blood not only refresh your soul, but also refresh your hope of eternal life. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for His never-ending and ever-freshly flowing Fountain in Jesus Christ. Pray for His overflowing grace to refresh your soul and focus your hope. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 15 - Jesus, the rock of ages (II)

“And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the ...

Daily devotional

May 14 - Jesus, the rock of ages (I)

“Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAHWEH, the Lord, is everlasting strength .” - Isaiah 26:4 Scripture read...

Daily devotional

May 13 - Jesus, the light of the world

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” -...

Daily devotional

May 12 - Jesus, the pearl of great price

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that h...

Daily devotional

May 11 - I am the resurrection and the life (II)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” - John 5:25 Scripture reading: John 5:24-29 After winter, it is always a joy to see how nature revives. It is a joy to see the flowers pop their heads out of the ground, the trees filled with buds and how they are ready to leap into full bloom soon. Every year again we receive a tiny, little taste of God’s resurrection power. When all seems dreary and dead, the Lord shows He can resurrect nature all around us. Something far more glorious will take place one day. Christ will bring forth each of those who have died at His coming, back from the dead. He has the power! He shows it every year at springtime. He showed it at the grave of Lazarus. He showed it when He Himself rose from the dead. All can look dreary and depressing. But on that day He will show that He is the Resurrection and the Life! He will show everyone the glory of this name! When you have heard His voice in conversion, you will know something of this power already working in your life. We, who were dead in trespasses and sins, He made us alive. But there is more to come! The resurrection power that we experience when we are born again fills us with a living hope that one day, the whole world will be transformed with life. That is the inheritance that awaits believers (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-4). On that day Resurrection life will flourish as we have never seen before! Praise God for life! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the hope that the resurrection of the dead brings to our lives. And praise God for giving us yearly reminders of His Resurrection power in the seasons. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 10 - I am the resurrection and the life (I)

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection, and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live: And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”” - John 11: 25-26 Scripture reading: John 11:21-46 We are all confronted with death in our lives, death of loved ones; some of us might be alerted to our mortality by the weakness of our body. Death is the enemy that destroys our lives since our fall in paradise. How amazing that Jesus, eye to eye with death, reveals Himself as the Resurrection and the life! Jesus’ friend, Lazarus had died and as He meets with the mourning sisters, He shows on the one hand how unfathomably deep His love and compassion is as He weeps with those who weep (vs. 35). But on the other hand, His heart is also filled with anger. In verse 33 it says that Jesus groaned in the spirit and was troubled. This means that Jesus approaches Lazarus’ grave with a deep anger as He observes the devastation death brings into our world. Here is the Prince of Life Who came to fight the evil of death! He came to destroy and overthrow death in order to give us life. How amazing, therefore, that Jesus reveals Himself as the Resurrection and the life! He is saying that He has the power of the resurrection. He has the power of life in Himself! He is pure life! We will not only hear His voice at conversion, but one day He will call us from our graves, “Lazarus, come forth!” He came to destroy death! All those who believe in Him, even those who have already died, just like Lazarus, will live again! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the fact that Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. Pray for those who mourn that they might be comforted and put their hope in Christ. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 9 - Jesus our soul-physician

“When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”” - Mark 2:17 Scripture reading: Mark 2:13-17 There is no better Soul-Physician than Jesus. However, just like in Jesus’ day, today there are people who are not willing to acknowledge that they need a soul-physician… The Pharisees despised Levi the tax-collector. They thought it dishonoured Jesus to go and eat with him because they would never mingle with sinners like that; they were better. They looked down on sinners. Self-righteous people still do that. Before Levi met Jesus, he didn’t follow Jesus. Neither did he desire obedience or deliverance. Levi didn’t pray… he didn’t breathe, spiritually speaking… he loved his money more than God. Jesus tells us that He came just for such sinners! When Jesus called him, Levi suddenly had the power and desire to leave everything and follow Jesus. Jesus called Levi to repentance. Jesus still calls sinners to repentance. After salvation, we realize more and more how much we need our Soul-Physician because often we can’t breathe the way we want to. We can’t follow the way we want to; we still feel weak at times. And yet, Jesus heals our soul! Are you sick of your sin? There is a Soul-doctor for you! Jesus is His name! He heals by dying in the place of those who are dead in trespasses and sins. He prescribes a simple medicine… Repentance, and He is willing and able to give it to you. Never forget that His prescription is free of charge to us, but expensive for Him. It cost His life! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for Jesus our Soul-Physician and the healing power of the cross, pray for greater spiritual health and deeper repentance. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 8 - Jesus, captain of our salvation

“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” - Hebrews 2:10 Scripture reading: Hebrews 2:1-10 Jesus is the captain of our salvation. What does that mean? The word captain is not just a title for a commander in chief of an army, but it has the idea of a brave commander who goes ahead of a group of soldiers to lead the way. In other words, Jesus is the Captain Who has paved the way so that He can lead His army into freedom and salvation. How does Jesus lead the way to salvation? By fighting our enemies for us. Sin is our greatest enemy. We are to kill it before it kills us. It is a cruel enemy. But we cannot kill sin unless we follow our Captain of salvation in faith. He has entered the battlefield on behalf of His army, a band of weak sinners, and He has won the victory and paved the way to salvation and freedom. Think of David and Goliath. Goliath was a cruel killer. None could conquer him; all trembled at him, except for David. He fought and won the battle on behalf of his people. So, also Christ, led the way where we could have never won the victory. Now He calls us to follow His lead, and kill sin, in His power, knowing that He already crushed Satan's head. Only when we are strong in the Lord and the power of His might, and take from Christ the whole armour, will we be led to full salvation! His full salvation is our full protection. Trust His salvation! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the Christ, our Captain of salvation and the victory and full armour, He gives for our protection. Pray for the grace to kill sin in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 7 - Jesus, our husband

“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” - 2 ...

Daily devotional

May 6 - Jesus, our close friend (II)

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard ...

Daily devotional

May 5 - Jesus, our close friend (I)

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” - Proverbs 18:24 Scripture reading:...

Daily devotional

May 4 - Jesus, our older brother (II)

"For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren." - Hebrews 2:...

Daily devotional

May 3 - Jesus, our older brother (I)

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” - Romans 8:29 Scripture reading: Romans 8:29 & Genesis 44:18-34 It is wonderful to have a big brother who is strong when you get into a fight on the playground. If you have ever had an older brother, you know that in times of trouble it means protection and privileges. When the Bible speaks about Jesus as our older brother, it means that and more. I see a group of distraught brothers stand before a stern-looking Pharaoh. This second Pharaoh of Egypt has made it rather difficult for these men. He asked many questions and discovered they had a younger brother. He demanded he come along next time. Now Benjamin is with them and Pharaoh’s cup is found in his sack. The angry king wants to bind Benjamin and keep him in Egypt! It cuts through their hearts to think what will happen when they return to their father Jacob without Benjamin… Would he die of sadness?! But then Judah, Benjamin’s older brother, stands up. He has become surety for Benjamin. He speaks on behalf of his younger brother; he explains the situation… Jesus is our older Brother! He is willing and able to stand up for younger siblings in big trouble! He knows that we are bound by sin, Satan, death and hell! He is willing and able to stand in our place, taking the punishment! And that is why He is called older Brother, for all who are born again and part of God’s family. What a blessing it is when we belong to God’s family! Suggestions for prayer What kind of trouble or sin do you find yourself in today? Lay it all before the Lord Jesus; He as the Son of God is more than able to deal with them. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 2 - Jesus, the Son of his love; God’s Isaac

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” - Colossians 1:13 Scripture reading: Colossians 1:12-14 & Genesis 22:1-12 Jesus is not only God’s holy Child, but Jesus is also called the Son of God’s love. There is something special about the relationships between father and sons. This is therefore a very special name for Christ. From eternity, the Father delighted in His Son (Proverbs 8:30) with exuberant love and joy. Thinking of this name, the relationship between Abraham and his son, Isaac, comes to mind. For years Abraham waited for his son to be born; it was virtually impossible to have a son. What joy must have flooded Abraham’s heart as he held his Isaac, the son of his love. But then, God calls Abraham to offer up the son of his love… “Go, take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love… Offer him on the mount Moriah. Notice the words: Your son… your only son… Isaac… the one whom you love… The son of your love! Jesus is the Son of God’s love, God’s Isaac! Be assured God loved His Son eternally more than Abraham loved his Isaac. He is the Son with Whom He is well-pleased. With that Son God walked all the way to the mountain of Golgotha. Why? To save fallen, lost sons and daughters of Adam, who have fallen out of love with Him, so that sinners like us can now be accepted and loved by the Father. We are accepted in the Beloved. And yes, loved as much as the Son of His love. Amazing love, how can it be? Suggestions for prayer Praise God for the sacrifice of Christ and pray for faith to embrace and experience more of the love of God in your soul. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

May 1 - Introduction to God’s names

What’s in a name? These days, not always so much. But, especially in Bible times, we see that names are filled with meaning and reveal much about the person. This is certainly true when we think about our Lord Jesus and His glorious Names. Perhaps, we should say, we are going to look at His names and titles. We do so that we might be filled with worship of Jesus, Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. The more we know Him, the more we will be transformed. The more we see of His glory, the more we will love and serve Him. It is my prayer that these names would fix your gaze upon Jesus again and again and transform you into His glorious image. And may Jesus become even more precious to you each day of the month of May. The month is roughly divided as follows: the first week we focus on names that show us something about relationships. The second week we focus on names related to His power and worth. During the third week we want to focus your attention on names about God’s creation that tell us something about Christ. And then roughly the last week, we will focus on names related to things and objects. We know that one day, at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. To the glory of the Father (Phil. 2:10-11), I pray this devotional will assist you to meditate, pray, and start your day making you bow and worship Jesus in all His beauty and glory. O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1a). Jesus, the holy child “… Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, … and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” - Acts 4:27, 30 Scripture reading: Acts 4:24-31 This week we look at titles for Jesus related to our relationships. Let’s start with Jesus as a child. In the reading, we see this title used by the apostles in their prayer, after they were forbidden to speak in Jesus’ name. When they pray, they address Jesus as Your Holy Servant, or as the KJV says: your holy Child. In Greek it can mean both Child or Servant. Years before Christ was born, Job wondered: Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? His answer was: No one! But Job was wrong… God can! Jesus is His holy Child, anointed by the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit and sinless at birth. The angel said to Mary, Jesus’ mother: That Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Surely, as she pondered this mystery of His holy conception, she must have cast Him upon the Lord His God from the womb (cf. Psalm 22:10). Are you troubled that you were born and conceived in sin? (Psalm 51:5). Here is a Savior Who perfectly served God from the womb! How comforting to know that Jesus’ childhood was sinless, as He perfectly submitted to His parents (Luke 2:51), as He increased in wisdom, stature and favour with God and men (Luke 2:52). We can find favour with God through Him alone! Are you troubled by your sins of youth? (Psalm 25:7). Here is the perfect Savior for you! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the fact that Christ is the perfect holy and sinless Child Who can cover our original sin and our sins of youth. Pray for children you know who still need Jesus to cover their sins. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville ON Canada since May 2017. This year he took a call to the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa USA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 30 - The love of Christ

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” - Revelation 3:19-20 Scripture reading: Revelation 3:14-22 Christ’s message to Laodicea is disciplinary, but the discipline communicates affection not rejection. Christ’s love is mentioned only twice in this book, first in 1:5 where it sustains the loyal and here in 3:19 where it pursues the disloyal. Such love ought to ignite in us the flame of repentance to incinerate all indifference. To be lukewarm is dreadful, but not so dreadful as being lost completely. Though disgusted by our persistent sin, Jesus does not want to abandon us. The King of kings appears at the door of our hearts; the Son of God Who suffered for us wants to visit us. He stands patiently and knocks continuously—through providences, impressions and the sermon you will hear today. When you experienced the stings of conscience, the sorrows of life, the movements of the Spirit, was it Christ’s hand knocking on the door of your heart? Jesus extends the most beautiful of invitations, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” With all the rebuke and censure in these letters, there’s no compulsion at the end; there’s simply an invitation, borne of love. Jesus’ persistent knocking rouses us to respond. We bear responsibility for whether we accept or reject Christ. To do nothing is to keep the door shut in the face of Christ. But when we open the door we find ourselves loved and embraced. The hand that knocks bears the scars of the cross, which secured our acceptance and forgiveness. Suggestions for prayer Pray that you would be sensitive to ways in which Christ is knocking on the door of your heart and that you will always remain receptive to Him. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 29 - The cross at the gate

“The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.” - Revelation 3:7b...

Daily devotional

April 28 - The book of life

“I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” - Revelation 3:5b: Scri...

Daily devotional

April 27 - The test of holiness

“I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.” - Revelation 2:21 Scripture reading Revelation 2:18-28 In t...

Daily devotional

April 26 - Creed without conduct

“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons...

Daily devotional

April 25 - The crown of life

“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” - Revelation 2:10c Scripture reading: Revelation 2:8-11 Though Christ’s letters to the seven churches often include critique and threaten discipline, every single one of them ends with the promise of a reward. Such rewards are never earned; they are given. Jesus is generous with His gifts, and to the church in Smyrna He promises a wonderful reward: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” In the Greek of Bible times, there were two words for “crown”. Here the word is not the royal emblem a king wears, but a prize an athlete obtains. When we suffer, we are competing in a contest, and when we finish, we are crowned with life. As he was martyred some 50 years later, Polycarp, the pastor of Smyrna prayed, “I thank you for counting me worthy this day and hour of sharing the cup of Christ among the number of your martyrs.” Perhaps Polycarp was mindful of Christ’s second promise to the believers in Smyrna (v.11): “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” If you are faithful to the point of death—the first death, physical death—you will not be hurt by the second death. You avoid the second death through the second birth, being born again through faith in Christ. Jesus here gives two wonderful promises for those who endure: you will escape hell, which is the second death, and you will enter heaven, which is the victor’s crown. Suggestions for prayer Pray that the rewards Jesus promises the faithful would motivate you to persevere in faith, love, and hope. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 24 - Faithful but frigid

“I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” - Revelation 2:3-4 Scripture reading: Revelation 2:1-7 As the light who stands among the churches, Christ probes dark places and brings everything to light. He commends the Ephesian church for her industry, perseverance and discernment. Though they were busy in service, patient in suffering, and orthodox in doctrine, they were guilty of something as inexcusable as it was incomprehensible: They had forsaken their first love. At their conversion, the love of the Ephesians had been ardent and fresh. Paul had concluded his famous epistle to them with a special prayer for all those “who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (6:24). Thirty years had now passed and their love was faltering, weakening and dying, in part because of controversies with the Nicolaitans. To hate error and evil, we learn, is not the same as to love Christ. The Ephesians were faithful, but frigid. Their orthodoxy was cold because the flame of love for Christ was being extinguished. With the same tenderness that the Lord showed fickle Israel in the Old Testament, Christ, the groom, endeavours to woo the church back to her first love. He pines for her adoration and grieves when His love is unrequited. Love is the first mark of the church. We are not a living church unless we are a loving church. The foundation of the gospel is an act of love: God’s love for us. But the love of God which generates new life in us, also compels us to forsake all other loves, but love for Christ. Suggestions for prayer Pray that God would deliver us from thinking that we are well if we are busy and that He would keep the love of Christ burning in our hearts. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 23 - The hand of Christ

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”” - Revelation 1:17-18 Scripture reading: Revelation 1:9-20 The book of Revelation has a grim context which is well represented by the plight of its author. John is on the island of Patmos, a first-century Alcatraz, where he had been exiled for his ministry and doomed to die and where he had to engage in hard labour, wear shabby clothing, and sleep on rocky ground. Unable to worship with other Christians, John is caught up by the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and translated to a greater assembly where he sees through cracks, as it were, into heaven’s glory, of which our worship today is a faint echo. He hears a loud voice, the voice of God, and he is summoned to write down what he sees and hears. What is revealed to John is Christ, walking among the seven golden lampstands, the seven churches, and holding seven stars, the angels of the seven churches. Just as angels sustained Christ in the wilderness, so angels sustain churches in their wilderness experience. As Jesus stood before John in glory, His face was like the sun shining in full strength. When John saw Him, the experience was nearly unbearable, and John fell at His feet as though dead. But Jesus does something literally touching. He rests His right hand on John’s shoulder, and says, “Fear not . . . I died, and behold I am alive forevermore.” John must have been thrilled to write this down. With Jesus standing among them, the churches need not be afraid. The King of kings, their living Lord, will sustain them. Suggestions for prayer Pray that God would give us a vision of Christ as the King of kings, standing among the churches in order to sustain them. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 22 - Redeeming time

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” - Colossians 4:5 Scripture Reading: Colossians 4:2-6 There are two aspects to time being underscored in today’s passage—namely, its function and its value. Time in the Bible, first of all, is never abstract, but something God appoints for a reason. According to Ecclesiastes, for example, there is a time for everything: a time to sow and a time to reap, a time to dance and a time to mourn, a time to work and a time to rest, etc. In terms of history, we are presently in the age of mission, of the gospel reaching the ends of the earth. The time for this mission will end when Jesus returns. In this time, therefore, walk in wisdom toward outsiders! Time, secondly, is precious because it’s God’s gift. As such, time is a friend, not an enemy. Happiness in marriage is generated by committed love that persists for decades. A tree doesn’t bear fruit instantaneously and wine isn’t produced immediately. Beneath the English translation “making the best use of the time” the Greek text has commercial language, i.e., “redeeming the time” or “purchasing/buying the time.” Because time is so precious, Paul says, “buy it, purchase it!” and use it wisely. How can we redeem time? Paul gives us a concrete example here (v.6): “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” Then and now, salt was prized for its seasoning potential. In the ancient world, boring speech was called “unsalted.” Our conversations today are to be salty, i.e., appealing, alluring, tasty. In the age of mission, purchase time through winsome speech! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the gift of time and pray that He might show you how best to redeem the time. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 21 - Working for the Lord

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” - Colossians 3:23 Scripture reading: Colossians 3:22-4:1 Work for many ...

Daily devotional

April 20 - Eyes on the Lord

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in...

Daily devotional

April 19 - The peace of Christ

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” - Colossians 3:15 Scripture reading: Colossians 3:15-17 The Roman empire was famously cha...

Daily devotional

April 18 - Dress the part

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” - Colossians 3:12 Sc...

Daily devotional

April 17 - Remove the grave clothes!

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” - Colossians 3:5 Scripture reading: Colossians 3:5-11 Our strongest desires are those sensual desires we share with animals—desires for food, sex, sleep, safety—and they are easily gratified. They are also easily mistaken for our deepest desires, but are intended, in fact, to point us to our deepest desires. Our deepest, most important desires are for fellowship with our Creator, for Whom we are made, and these desires are not easily gratified. If you excise God from your worldview, you will necessarily be blind to your deepest desires. You will live as if the only desires you have are those strong and sensual desires we share with animals, as if this earth—the realm of King Sin—is all that matters. It is this orientation that Paul wants us to crucify and mortify when he says (v.5), “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you.” Through His resurrection, Jesus has launched a new creation in which the powers of sin and death are defeated. Christian believers do not live under King Sin, whose realm is this earth without heaven, but under King Jesus, whose realm is earth and heaven. To pursue the vices Paul lists in our text for today is to live an earthly life which denies one’s union with Christ in His resurrection. Since you were raised with Christ, get rid of the old grave clothes. Don’t live as though this earth is all that matters! To do so is to be guilty of worshipping the creation rather than the Creator, and that’s, as Paul says, idolatry. Suggestions for prayer Pray for God to give you the strength to put to death those vices that are generated by a perspective that denies the reality of heaven and the authority of Christ Who is seated there. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional, Uncategorised

April 16 - Set your mind on Christ!

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” - Colossians 3:1 Scripture reading: Colossians 3:1-4 Easter isn’t just a historical event in the life of Jesus; Easter is a personal event in the life of every believer. Faith unites us to Christ so intimately that in some sense we died with Him and were raised with Him. We died to the world and its values and were raised by the power of the risen Son of God to a new life. “If then you have been raised with Christ,” Paul writes, “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” “Earth” here is the realm of sin, and to seek earthly things is to live as though this earth were all that mattered and so to entertain idolatry. To seek the things above is to seek Christ Who is at the right hand of God, occupying the highest position in the universe. Through His resurrection, Jesus has launched a new creation in which the powers of sin and death are decisively defeated. He reigns, not from an urn or coffin, but from a throne. Do you sometimes think about things you shouldn’t? Here’s Paul’s pastoral counsel: set your mind on things above, where Christ is. If this is what you’re doing, you can’t be setting your mind on other things. You can concentrate on only one thing at a time. To seek the things above is to be oriented toward Christ, to make it your goal to please Christ. Suggestions for prayer Pray that God would enable you to live beyond the horizon of the earth and to fix your thoughts on Christ who reigns over all. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 15 - Mystery

“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” - 1 Corinthians 15:51 Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 A mystery for us is something enigmatic or puzzling. In the Bible, however, mystery is a truth that can be known, but only by revelation. Mysteries are truths once concealed and now revealed. The mystery Paul reveals here is that this radical transformation we must undergo to inherit the kingdom of God will take place on the last day when Christ returns. “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” A friend of mine once saw this line cleverly adorning the wall of a church’s infant nursery. It embeds a serious truth, however. Not all will die before Christ returns; some will be alive. All, however, will be changed in a moment, “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed.” The transformation will not be a slow metamorphosis; it will be instantaneous. At the trumpet sound heralding the end of this world, the dead will be raised with imperishable bodies. Our loved ones who believed in Jesus are in heaven, absent from the body, but present with the Lord. Though preferable to earth, heaven is not their or our final destination. Those who are in heaven are still waiting—for the trumpet sound, for the return of Christ. Then their earthly bodies, presently vacated by the soul, will be resurrected and transformed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye and so perfectly suited to inhabit the fullness of the kingdom. Suggestions for prayer Pray for the return of Christ today, for the resurrection of the dead, and for the unveiling of the new creation in which sin and sickness, sadness and suffering, are finally absent. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 14 - A spiritual body

“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” - 1 Corinthians 15:49 Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 15:42-49 There is continuity between the body buried and the body raised and yet, as Paul indicates, “what is sown a natural body, will be raised a spiritual body.” Spiritual body for Paul doesn’t mean non-physical body, but a body perfectly animated by the Spirit to inhabit the new creation. Paul explains this in terms of a contrast between Adam and Christ. Adam was formed from the dust of the earth and became a living being. The gift of life, however, could be taken from him, in which case he would return to the dust, as he did. Jesus, however, does not receive life as a gift; He is the author of life. His life is the eternal, immortal life of heaven which cannot disintegrate into the dust of the earth. We are united to Adam as humans and so we bear his likeness—the likeness of a mortal being. If we are born again and belong to Jesus the second Adam, we share in His life and bear His likeness—the likeness of the heavenly Man. This means that our resurrection life will be incorruptible and immortal! This is what precludes despair in the face of death. Christian hope is distinguished from mere wishful thinking because it is grounded in the past. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we by faith in Jesus will rise from the dead. This joyful expectation of the future, based on a real event of the past, should transform the present with hope! Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to give you faith in the risen Christ and hope for a future resurrection, not least in the face of death. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 13 - Theology in botany

“But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?”” - 1 Corinthians 15:35 Scripture reading: 1 Corint...

Daily devotional

April 12 - God’s acre

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” - 1 Corinthians 15:20 Scripture reading:...

Daily devotional

April 11 - Hinge of the Christian faith

“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” - 1 Corinthians 12:12 ...

Daily devotional

April 10 - In accordance with the scriptures

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was bu...

Daily devotional

April 9 - Come and see, go and tell!

“Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples.” - Matthew 28:6b-7a Scripture reading: Matt.28:1-15 After proclaiming the Easter gospel to the women who visited the tomb, the angel issues a number of commands, the first of which is: “Come, see the place where he lay.” The Easter gospel isn’t wishful thinking. There is factual evidence and the women are invited to see it. They see the empty tomb with their very eyes and later see the risen Jesus Himself. The Bible repeatedly underscores that the risen Jesus was seen by people, hundreds of people (see 1 Corinthians 15:6). No less than, witness testimony is prized today in contemporary courts of law and such testimony of Christ’s resurrection is preserved for us in Scripture. That women were the first to see the empty tomb is strong support that the story wasn’t fabricated by the disciples. Women weren’t regarded as credible witnesses in the ancient world. If you wanted your fabricated story to be compelling, you wouldn’t make women the primary witnesses! The angel doesn’t only summon these women to see the evidence; the angel also commissions them to testify to what they have seen (v.7a): “Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead.” Once you come and see, don’t stay, go and tell! The Easter Gospel, first visible for these women, must now become audible for others. Those who see must tell. That’s how the Easter Gospel spreads. Suggestions for prayer Praise God for Christ’s victory over the grave and ask Him to open doors for you to share the Easter message. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 8 - A powerless lion

“He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth.” - Ephesians 4:9 Scripture reading: Ephesians 4:1-13 The day between Good Friday and Easter has, in the church’s history, been dubbed Holy Saturday. What precisely did Jesus do between His death and resurrection? Several theories, entertained throughout church history, must be dismissed as unbiblical: Jesus did not enter hell to continue His suffering, nor did He access a holding cell for imprisoned Old Testament believers to open for them the gates of Paradise, nor did He visit the underworld to preach a victory sermon to the devil and his hosts. We must see that on Holy Saturday, Jesus experienced the precise sequence of death believers also experience: He dies, His body is buried and His soul enters heaven. He enters the “lower regions,” the realm of the righteous dead. To their great delight, He was present in Paradise that day with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all Old Testament believers. In fulfillment of the promise He made on the cross, Jesus was also with the believing criminal who was crucified beside Him. Our enjoyment of Christ upon death, of course, transcends this because we will enjoy the presence of the risen Christ, not simply the crucified Christ. On Holy Saturday, we celebrate that Christ has the keys to death and Hades. “If you see children playing with a lion,” the church father Athanasius wrote, “don’t you know that the lion must be either dead or completely powerless?” Similarly, death has been rendered completely powerless for all Christian believers. We need not fear death! Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord for rendering death powerless for all believers and for His gracious presence with all believing friends and family who have died. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 7 - Cross purposes

“And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.” - Matthew 27:48 Scripture reading: Matthew 27:45-56 Given the torture He has already endured, and the intensity of the scorching sun, it’s unsurprising that Jesus was parched on the cross. When offered sour wine, Jesus understandably accepts it (especially clear from John’s Gospel). It’s a fascinating development. Earlier when Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh, He declined (v.34) because the drink was a sedative. Jesus did not want His senses dulled or His pain mitigated. When He was offered a second drink, a thirst-quencher, He accepted it. As His final demise approaches, He wants to be invigorated, not sedated. Jesus’ refusal of the first drink and His acceptance of the second demonstrate the same thing: Every aspect of His sacrifice on the cross is voluntary. Enervation must not put Jesus to death. Exhaustion must not spoil anything. Jesus wants to enter death with perfect sensitivity. Invigorated by the wine vinegar, He can complete His sacrifice by yielding His spirit to His father. It is true that at the cross the Father is imposing a punishment on the Son. It is equally true that the Son willingly absorbs such punishment. The Father and the Son, however, are not at cross purposes. The plan of redemption is a Trinitarian plan, and the love of God for sinners is a Trinitarian love. Do you want to know what the love of God is like? Look at the cross. At Christmas we celebrate that God came into the world. On Good Friday we celebrate that He suffered and died for us. Suggestions for prayer Confess your sins today, and praise Jesus for His commitment to offer the sacrifice that atoned for them. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 6 - Jesus’ staying power

“If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” - Matthew 27:40b I Scripture reading: Matthew 27:32-41 Recording little of the physical horror of crucifixion, Matthew emphasizes the rejection of Jesus. He is rejected here by everyone: soldiers and spectators, clerics and criminals. The soldiers were reputed for the violence, the criminals for their crimes, and the spectators were especially vulnerable to mob pressure and herd mentality. What especially shocks us is the participation of the clerics (v.41), “So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him.” This demographic, claiming to know the Word of God, can’t recognize the Son of God. They taunt Him by promising faith, if He comes down from the cross (v.42b): “He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross and we will believe in him.” Could Jesus save Himself? At some level, He obviously could. With armies of angels at His disposal, He had the power to extricate Himself from the cross and it would have been spectacular if He did. At another level, Jesus could not. He was internally constrained, by the will of the Father and by the love of sinners, to remain on the cross. In the end, we must say two things. If Jesus did save Himself, He could not save us and if Jesus did not save Himself, He could save us. Today let’s thank God that Jesus stayed on the cross for us and let’s praise Jesus for His love for us that so compelled Him. Suggestions for prayer Praise Jesus that His love for us, while He was dying, was undying. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

April 5 - Two freedom fighters

“And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”” - Matthew 27:23 Scripture reading: ...

Daily devotional

April 4 - The riddle of King Jesus

“They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him.” - Matthew 26:66b-67 Scripture readin...

Daily devotional

April 3 - A Garden of Grief

"And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I...

Daily devotional

April 2 - What King Jesus provides

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” - Luke 19:38 Scripture reading: Luke 19:35-4...

Daily devotional

April 1 - Introduction to Christ’s death and resurrection

I am grateful that the Canadian civic calendar still aligns with the church calendar in many places. Good Friday, for example, and Christmas remain public holidays. Commemorating these days for me is of course less about a civic or cultural heritage, however, and more about celebrating historic events that have transformed the world in which we live. For our devotional readings and reflections this month, we’re going to study the world-transforming events of Christ’s death and resurrection. Central in Scripture, these events ought to be central in our lives as well. Good Friday and Easter are not only calendrical days and historic events; they ought to be personal experiences! We will begin the month by following Christ down the via dolorosa, the pathway of suffering, and we will stop at the foot of the cross on Good Friday to see our Saviour. Easter Sunday we will accompany the women to the empty tomb to revisit the momentous event of Christ’s resurrection. The following two weeks will be spent walking through chapters on the resurrection, first 1 Corinthians 15 about the importance of Christ’s resurrection and then Colossians 3, the implications of His resurrection. We will conclude the month by contemplating the powerful messages the risen Christ has for the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. What King Jesus needs “The Lord has need of it” - Luke 19:31, 34 Scripture reading: Luke 19:28-40 On this Saturday, as we anticipate Palm Sunday, we attend to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Before Jesus is hailed as a king, He acts like a king by ordering His disciples to find a colt, untie it and bring it back. The colt must be one “on which no one has ever yet sat” (v.30). Alfred Plummer, the late 19th century Bible scholar, compared this colt to the virgin womb in which the Lord was conceived and the virgin tomb in which the Lord was consigned—a tomb Luke would later describe as “one in which no one had yet been laid” (25:53). The colt King Jesus conscripts is uniquely suited for His sacred service—an unbacked and unyoked colt. King Jesus adds an instruction: “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it’ you shall say this: ‘the Lord has need of it’ (v.31). If a king needs something from you, he will say so, and you should comply. When the disciples find a colt and explain to the owners, “the Lord has need of it,” the owners readily volunteer it. They too are disciples of King Jesus—ready to offer their things for Him. What do you have that King Jesus needs? What are you prepared to volunteer for Him? Some of your disposable income? Some of your free time? Suppose the message came to you: “the Lord needs your Wednesday evening.” Would you consent? Suggestions for prayer Seek the Lord’s guidance and wisdom regarding when and what you may volunteer for Him. Dr. Bill DeJong is the lead pastor of Blessings Christian church in Hamilton, ON and adjunct professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

March 31 - Well prepared

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 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 the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 Scripture reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-18 Our month of preparation comes to its end. When in the coming days we attend worship on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter, may we, indeed, be well prepared to thank Jesus, our Saviour, for His ministry of atonement. May we also be prepared to take up our cross and follow Him. Before this series of devotions ends, however, let us yet consider one more event in the ministry of our Lord Jesus: His triumphant return. His second coming will be unexpected, for no one knows the time set, only God the Father. Right now, we disciples are to live in hope as we await the Last Day, when Jesus returns in glory. Our calling as Christians is to be ready, eager to meet the Lord. That readiness comes through a true faith in Jesus. When we have that faith and share it, we can encourage one another. In moments of earthly sorrow and loss, we can lift up our heads, encouraged by Jesus' resurrection. When enemies, earthly or spiritual, attack us, we have the comfort of knowing that at this coming, Jesus will cast all His and our enemies into condemnation. Let us be well prepared now by remembering the past great works of ministry through which Jesus accomplished our salvation. And when our thoughts turn to the future, we know that we shall at last meet the Lord, at Whose return we shall be filled with joy! Suggestions for prayer Make it your constant prayer that Jesus will return to us quickly. Pray that the Spirit will work in your heart and life to be sure that you are well prepared to remember what the Lord has done and to live in hope of His return! 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. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

Daily devotional

March 30 - Preparing without fear

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” - Luke 12:32 Scripture reading: Luke 12:22-34 All around us today people live in fear. This earthly life is all unbelievers care about and so it is all they have. Consequently, they are afraid of anyone and anything that threatens their life and property. They are afraid of virus borne diseases and death. They are afraid of political turmoil and threats of violence. They are afraid that their possessions will be stolen. To His little flock, Jesus says: Do not fear.” We can be sure that Jesus is not asking us to do the impossible. We, who follow Jesus in faith, can live without fear. We can be delivered from the burden of worry. How? The priestly sacrifice of Christ delivers us from the fear of eternal judgment and condemnation. When we know the perfect forgiveness that Jesus provides, we need no longer fear that moment when we shall stand before the judgment throne of God. The glorious resurrection of our Lord drives away our fear. Our Saviour conquered death and although it is an enemy, as Scripture says, we need no longer fear the end of the journey of this earthly life. As we prepare to mark the great days of remembrance next month, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter, let us rejoice to live in confidence, hope and trust. In our time of need, in the hour of struggle and in the moment of temptation, we need not be enslaved by worry and fear. Jesus is victorious! And He has told us: “Do not fear, little flock.” Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord for the victory He gives over fear. Praise the Lord for the forgiveness we have through the cross. Give glory to God for the promise of eternal life in the power of Jesus' resurrection. 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. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Life's busy, read it when you're ready!

Create a free account to save articles for later, keep track of past articles you’ve read, and receive exclusive access to all RP resources.

Search thousands of RP articles

Articles, news, and reviews that celebrate God's truth.

Get Articles Delivered!

Articles, news, and reviews that celebrate God's truth. delivered direct to your Inbox!

Magazine

Recent Articles

Past Articles

Book Reviews

Movie Reviews

Daily devotional

Job Postings

More of Reformed Perspective!

RPTV

Our App!

Newsletter

Real Talk

Manna

VOTC

Links

About Us

Advertise

Search CATEGORY: Daily devotional

Daily devotional

October 15 - Isaac’s blessing

Daily devotional

October 14 - Isaac resurrected

Daily devotional

October 13 - Abraham and Isaac

Daily devotional

October 12 - God’s city

Daily devotional

October 11 - Pilgrims on earth

Daily devotional

October 10 - Stars and sand

Daily devotional

October 9 - The land of promise

Daily devotional

October 8 - Abraham believed

Daily devotional

October 7 - Noah the righteous (part 2)

Daily devotional

October 6 - Noah the righteous (part 1)

Daily devotional

October 5 - A God-pleasing faith

Daily devotional

October 4 - Enoch walked with God

Daily devotional

October 3 - Abel still speaks?

Daily devotional

October 2 - Creation out of nothing!

Daily devotional

October 1 - Introduction to the reformation

Daily devotional

September 30 - To God be the glory!

Daily devotional

September 29 - Jesus, the only way

Daily devotional

September 28 - Heart smart

Daily devotional

September 27 - Deep sea fishing

Daily devotional

September 26 - Gossip

Daily devotional

September 25 - The fear of the Lord, the fear of man (part 2)

Daily devotional

September 24 - The fear of the Lord, the fear of man (part 1)

Daily devotional

September 23 - Wisdom about companions (part 2)

Daily devotional

September 22 - Wisdom about companions (part 1)

Daily devotional

September 21 - Talk and toil

Daily devotional

September 20 - Watch your mouth (part 2)

Daily devotional

September 19 - Watch your mouth (part 1)

Daily devotional

September 18 - Thoughts on wealth and poverty