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Daily devotional

More of Reformed Perspective!

Search TAG: Nearer to God daily devotional

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Daily devotional

June 14 - Jesus’ better intercession (II)

“For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless and undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.” -...
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Daily devotional

June 13 - Jesus’ better intercession (I)

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” - Heb...
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Daily devotional

June 12 - Jesus, the better Melchizedek

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.” - H...
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Daily devotional

June 11 - Jesus, our better Isaac

“Saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”” - Hebrews 6:14 – Scripture reading: Hebrews 6:13-20 ...
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Daily devotional

June 10 - Jesus supplies a better maturity

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.” - Hebrews 6:11 Scripture reading: Hebrews 5:10-6:12 Have you ever wondered… … why the Israelites in the wilderness wanted to go back to Egypt? Especially when they were so close to the Promised Land? … why the people in the wilderness grumbled again and again about the food God gave them?! … why they preferred the fish, the garlic, the leeks and onions, the melons and the cucumbers of Egypt over the huge clusters of grapes from the Promised Land? The answer of the writer to the Hebrews is clear: spiritual immaturity… They were living by their cravings and desires rather than by the Word of God. Let this passage challenge us, and ask ourselves: what am I living for? The Word or, my desires? The author to the Hebrews desires that professing Christians would mature, spiritually speaking. In Hebrews 5:11-14 he shows how he wants to talk about spiritually rich topics, like Jesus as the greater Melchizedek. But he fears that because they are still loving their spiritual baby food, they cannot stomach this spiritually rich banquet, yet. That’s why he says in 6:1: “Let us go on to perfection” (maturity). More than that, in Hebrews 6:4-8, he comes with a stirring warning, thinking back of the wilderness wanderings. Many enjoyed the richest blessings of God, but most of them were not saved and changed… Although he knew that it was different for many of his hearers, yet, he still stirred them up to replace all dullness for diligence and hopeful assurance through faith in Christ (Heb 6: 9-12). Suggestions for prayer Prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal areas in your life where you have been spiritually immature or dull. Pray that you may grow up in Christ to full maturity to be(come) a strong Christian. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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Daily devotional

June 9 - Jesus, better than Aaron (II)

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” - Hebrews 4:14 Scripture reading: Hebrews 4:14-5:10 Jesus, unlike Aaron and every other Old Testament high priest, who was himself subject to weakness and sin (Heb 5:2), was nevertheless tempted and tried in all points like we are. But the difference is, He never sinned! You could of course object and say, well, if Jesus never sinned, would He be able to sympathize with us? Yes, because not only did He become a human being like us but, when Jesus was on earth, He received a thorough training on the job. How? His Father brought His Son through every form of inexpressible human suffering, so much so that He even offered up prayers with vehement cries and tears (Heb 5:7-9). Weeping tears! Loud cries! Deep anguish! Jesus knows what suffering is; listen to Him in Gethsemane! Listen to Him at the cross! This horrible suffering perfectly suits Him to be the sympathetic and compassionate High Priest that we need, when we find ourselves in suffering, difficulties and trials. Would you feel comfortable telling your sin, temptations, pain and troubles to someone who is aloof and looking down on you, and has no experience with it? Of course not! Jesus was tempted without sin. But He did experience the wrath of God over sin. So, He knows... He understands it better than any of us… He can sympathize like no one else! Therefore, come boldly to His throne of grace, and you will find help in your time of need, just at the right time! Suggestions for prayer There is a throne of grace! There is a wonderfully sympathetic High Priest! Come! Pour out your heart! Hold nothing back, sin, troubles, temptations. He can help and sympathize like no other! Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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Daily devotional

June 8 - Jesus, better than Aaron (I)

“… So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest…” - Hebrews 5:5a  Scripture reading: Hebrews 4:14-5:10 What a tragic moment in Israel’s wilderness wanderings it was. Consumed by fire, the earth opened up, and these 250 rebellious people tumbled straight into hell. What a shock! How awful! It had never happened before. Why? What did Korah, Dathan and Abiram do? They were proud! They had sinful ambition! They did not agree with the place God had given Aaron. They sought greater things for themselves. God had set Aaron and his sons apart, in an extensive ritual, for the priesthood (Lev. 8-9). To make God’s choice clear to the people, the rods of all the tribes had been laid before the Lord overnight. And the next day Aaron’s rod blossomed! God had chosen and set Aaron apart! And our text says: So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become a High Priest! Jesus, unlike us, had no sinful pride or ambition… This priestly task was given to Him by the Father. Psalm 2:7 and Psalm 110:4 are quoted to prove this (Heb 5:5-6). Jesus was set apart as the Son of God and the High Priest in Melchizedek’s order, to be a Priest forever, better than Aaron! That’s why He can be such a suitable High Priest for us! No weakness, no sin, no pride, only perfect submission that perfectly pleased His Father who appointed Him (cf. Heb 5:3,8). Do you at times struggle with pride? Do you sometimes struggle to submit? Jesus is the High Priest that you and I need. He is better than Aaron. His staff blossoms! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for Jesus’ perfect sinlessness and submission! His sinlessness can cover your sins of pride and selfish ambition. Ask the Lord to help you kill every last ounce of pride in you. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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June 7 - Jesus’ rest better than Joshua’s (II)

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” - Hebrews 4:9 Scripture reading: Hebrews 4:1-13 In this passage the author to the Hebrews stresses that the rest God offers is still for today. Although the Lord swore the oath negatively, yet, the opposite is true too. Those who believe will no doubt enter into God’s offered rest! Indeed, those who learn to mix the Word of God with faith, while they hear it, will find rest for their souls! Those who learn to rest from their own works, will enter into God’s rest. Although Joshua brought the people into the Promised Land, the people did not yet experience the final and full rest of God’s promises (vs. 8). You remember how the enemies had to be driven out, and were still in the land years later… No, Joshua didn’t bring perfect rest or peace. Five hundred years later David came. He wrote Psalm 95 and tells us that God has not given up on the idea of giving His people rest, but there again the rest was not final. What rest did God promise? Temporal rest? Physical rest in Israel? No! God promises spiritual rest, true sabbath rest, eternal rest! He promises Jesus’ rest, which is better than Joshua’s! He invites us to come and rest today: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Mt. 11:28). This is the rest verse 9 talks about. A rest that points back to creation before the fall, and forward to the future, final and perfect rest in heaven, the glorious Promised Land. Suggestions for prayer Thank and Praise God for offering spiritual rest in Christ! Pray that you might enjoy more of this rest as you live by faith in the promises of God. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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Daily devotional

June 6 - Jesus’ rest better than Joshua’s (I)

“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” - Hebrews 3:19 - Scripture reading: Hebrews 3:7-19 “But there are giants!... and we feel like grasshoppers! The land is amazing, we agree! The land is good! Yes! But we will never be able to overcome them! We will never be able to conquer the land! You should have seen those enormous walls! These people will swallow us up alive! If they all unite against us, we will have a huge problem!” That’s how the people of Israel responded, when they were just at the edge of the Promised land. Almost there! And yet, they did not enter… Why? Unbelief! What a horribly ugly sin, unbelief is. Verse 10 shows us that unbelief makes us go astray and keeps us from knowing God. Verse 12 shows unbelief comes from an evil heart that departs from the living God. Verse 13 shows unbelief hardens our heart and deceives us. The Lord hates unbelief. He swore an oath (Ps. 95) that unbelievers would not enter into His promised rest… This oath is still true today… In contrast, Joshua and Caleb responded in faith… They said: “Let us go up at once! We are well able to overcome it! It is an exceedingly good land! If the Lord delights in us, He will give it to us! The Lord is with us! Don’t fear!” What a beautiful gift of God, faith is. It makes us strong and courageous, it makes us realize that if God is for us, who shall be against us?! Have you found rest in God’s promises? Suggestions for prayer Pray that God will help you kill all remaining vestiges of unbelief in your life, and that the Lord will give you strong and courageous faith, that honors Him and doesn’t fear people and difficult circumstances. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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June 5 - Jesus, better than Moses

“…And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant…” - Hebrews 3:5a Scripture reading: Hebrews 3:1-6 The Hebrews, who were tempted to go back to Old Testament ceremonies, revered Moses. Moses built the tabernacle (house), just according to God’s plan. Moses delivered the law, just as the Lord told him. Moses, pleaded and interceded for God’s people many times, one time even offering his own life… Moses, the mediator of the Old Testament, was a wonderfully faithful servant of God. He was meek, humble, dependent and he was obedient, at least, for the most part… But Moses could not be the final and faithful Mediator! Moses himself was a sinner in need of grace and Christ. Unlike Moses, Christ was not only a faithful, but a sinless Mediator. Jesus is better! Infinitely better! Why? This passage gives us two reasons: Moses is part of the building God is making, Jesus is the Builder of the house and everything else (vs.3-4)! Yes, He is God Himself! Moses was by God’s grace a living stone in God’s final temple, the church. Moses is a servant in the house of God, but Christ is the Son who has all authority in the house/church! Moses was shepherding the church in the wilderness, but Christ is the Son, the authoritative Heir and Shepherd who laid down His life for His flock! The same is true for us. We are part of the building, we are servants, but Christ is the Builder and the Son. Let us trust His obedience, His life-giving power and sacrifice, and let’s serve Him faithfully! Suggestions for prayer Pray that we realize our place in God’s church, that we serve God faithfully as living stones in His temple (1 Peter 2:5), trusting in Christ’s perfect redemption as the Builder of and Son in God’s Church. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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June 4 - Jesus, lower yet still better than the angels

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” - Hebrews 2:9 Scripture reading: Hebrews 2:5-18 Adam was crowned with glory and honor as one who was created in God’s image. All things were put under his feet. But his and our tragic fall with him, took the crown from our heads. The image of God in us is marred, and all of us must now die… But there is One, who is better than Adam, He is the One under whose feet all things will be placed! His name is Jesus! And in order to stand in Adam’s place… He was made a little lower than the angels… He, for whom the angels bow, and He whom the angels worshipped eternally. Think about that! He became lower than the angels! Why? To suffer death… To taste death for everyone The Father said to Him: “Son, taste death,” when He crawled as a worm and not a man on the ground of Gethsemane! As He looked into this cup of God’s eternal wrath over our sin, this poisonous cup of death… He tasted it, yes, He drank it! Hallelujah! He drained it empty on behalf of His people! And after He tasted death, He rose victoriously and went back to the place of glory and honor, the place higher than the angels! Why? So, that you and I, sinners as we are, can taste the cup of God’s grace, and be crowned with glory and immortality! None of the angels could do this! He who became lower than the angels, is better than the angels! What a Savior! Jesus is better! Suggestions for prayer: Praise Jesus for stooping so low, tasting death for sinners like us. Pray that you would drink deeply from the cup of His grace, and eagerly look forward to being crowned with glory and immortality. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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June 3 - Jesus, better than the angels

“… having become so much better than the angels…” - Hebrews 1:4a Scripture reading: Hebrews 1:4-2:4 The Jews believed that one of the greatest works angels ever did, was connected to the giving of the law (cf. Acts 7:53). Therefore, the Jews believed they had to follow all the laws God had given very strictly, including the ceremonial laws in Leviticus. Angels gave the law, but Jesus is better and more glorious than the angels… This passage makes three arguments: Jesus is better… …Because of special Sonship (vs. 4-5) – Yes, angels are called sons of God (cf. Job 1:6, Psalm 82:6) but Jesus Christ is THE Son of God. To prove that, Psalm 2:6 and 2 Samuel 7:14 are quoted. Jesus is the supreme Son of God, not only because He is more beautiful, glorious and powerful than the angels, but He is the only begotten Son of God! Begotten by virtue of His birth, resurrection, and session at God’s right hand. Jesus’ enthronement in heaven is called the day of His begetting. …Because of angelic Worship (vs. 6-7) – There were two special moments in which God the Father called the angels to worship His Son. First, when Christ entered this world by birth and second, when He rose from the grave. The fact that the angels worship Jesus, shows Jesus’ superiority over the angels. …Because of glorious Kingship (vs. 8-14) – In these verses Psalm 45 and 104 are quoted to show the supreme Kingship of Jesus. It speaks about His throne, His Sceptre, His righteous rule, His anointing and His eternal rule! All to say: Angels can’t compare! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the ministry of angels (Heb. 1:7) but thank God even more for Jesus’ ministry. Worship Jesus - along with the angels - for His birth, death, resurrection and heavenly rule and glory. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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June 2 - Jesus, better than the prophets

“…Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…” - Hebrews 1:3a Scripture reading: Hebrews 1:1-4 Jesus is better! He is better than the prophets! God speaks to us through Him. What is God saying to us? Who is Jesus? Why is He better? The answer of verses 1-4 of Hebrews 1 is glorious. Here it is: …Heir of all things – That means: the universe in all its splendor was not just created for Him, it is a gift of God the Father to His Son! Everything was made to reflect God’s glory (cf. Col. 1:16-17). …Brightness of God’s glory – Jesus is the outshining splendor of who God is! He is more glorious than the Sun! In the light of Jesus, we see the glory of who God is! (cf. 2 Cor. 4:6). …Express image of God’s being – Jesus is the exact imprint, representation of God. The best example is a coin with the imprint of a ruler’s face. In the same way, Jesus bears God’s image or imprint (cf. Jn. 14:9). …Upholding everything by His word – In other words, He’s got the whole world in His hands: every nanoparticle of this creation, everything in your and my life, including our bodies! Without His upholding hand everything would collapse and spin out of control. …Purged our sins with His own blood – Ah! The Gospel! What filth He came to cleanse from our hearts. What grace to stoop so low! …Seated at God’s right hand – After His sacrifice, what glory followed! He has a name and a place above every name and every place! Let’s worship Him! Suggestions for prayer Praise God for the glory of Christ, His radiance, His Person, His Power, His Sacrifice, there is none like Him! Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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June 1 - Introduction to Hebrews

The book of Hebrews is not an easy Bible book to understand but, when after diligent study it is opened up to us, we see it is worth the effort! The book of Hebrews was written to Jews who wanted to turn back to the Old Testament shadows and ceremonies. They found it easier – that kind of worship was more physical in nature –  and you can easily go through the routines. But the author to the Hebrews (we don’t know for sure who wrote it) strongly warns his Jewish audience not to return to that kind of worship. Why? Because Jesus is better than anything they have in the Old Testament! Jesus is not only the fulfilment of them all, but if they have Jesus, they have so much more than what they used to have in the Old Testament! This month we are going to explore the book of Hebrews with the theme: Jesus is better! That little sentence sums up what Hebrews is all about. Jesus is better! Jesus was not just better for the Jewish audience to which this book was initially written. Jesus is better, for you and me. He is better than anything this world has to offer. His person is better, His glory is better, His salvation is better, His sympathetic heart is better, His sacrifice is better, His holiness is better. He is everything sinners and saints need! I invite you to come and see for yourselves that Jesus is better. The answers the book of Hebrews gives will show us the glory of God beaming from the face of Jesus! Let’s pray for eyes and hearts to see, believe, embrace and conclude: Jesus is better indeed! Jesus is all I need! Jesus, better than the prophets (I) “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…” - Hebrews 1:1-2a Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4 God spoke, God speaks and continues to speak. But the way God speaks to us has changed over time. In the opening verses of Hebrews, we are told that in the past, God spoke to the fathers and the prophets. Think about how often God appeared and spoke, for instance, in Genesis alone. He spoke to Adam, Eve, Satan, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Hagar, Jacob and Joseph, to mention a few. When He spoke, He spoke in various forms of communication. He used His voice, He used dreams and other ways. God spoke in the past to our fathers and by the prophets. But there is something special in the way God has spoken in these last days, the days in which we live. Not only because the canon is closed but, especially in the way He speaks! Because in these last days He speaks to us primarily by His very own Son: Jesus Christ! He is the Living Word! All of Scripture is about Him, and all of Scripture points to Him! He is God’s final Word to a sinful world! Yes, He speaks to us by His Son! Sinners hear the Gospel: of a perfect Savior, full of radiant glory and redeeming grace! The book of Hebrews is going to show us how Jesus fulfills all the Old Testament shadows and ceremonies, and of how Jesus is better than them all! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the Bible, Jesus and for speaking to us. Pray that you would hear the voice of Jesus in your Bible reading and in study of the book of Hebrews this month. Rev. Pieter van der Hoek has been serving the Heritage Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa, since July 2023. Prior to that he served the Heritage Reformed Church of Burgessville, Ontario. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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May 31 - Without excuse

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” - Romans 1:20 Scripture reading: Revelation 22:1-21; John 20:30, 31 Romans 1:20 makes it clear that the majesty of creation leaves us without excuse to acknowledge, trust, and live for God. We do so by saving faith in Christ, having great joy in this life and throughout eternity! But many others are separated from Christ, “having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). Many are separated from Christ because “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Many others hesitate to come to Christ in repentance and faith because of sins in their past and present. If that describes you, remember the lost son who squandered his inheritance on prostitutes and wild living. When he confessed his sin and returned to his Father, he was welcomed with open arms (Luke 15:11-24). God’s grace is greater than your sin! For many others “The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word” and they fall away (Matthew 13:22). Still others, refusing to acknowledge God, are given over in their sin and reap sorrow in this life, and unless they repent, eternal sorrow (Romans 1:18-32). Instead of making excuses not to believe, take to heart the invitation of Revelation 22:17: “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” so that by believing you may have life in His name! (John 20:30, 31). Suggestions for prayer If by grace you have true saving faith in Christ, thank God for His wondrous works of creation, providence, and redemption! And, if you are on the outside looking in, pray that God would graciously give you a new heart and saving faith in Christ alone. Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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May 30 - God’s timeline and our salvation

“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” - John 5:28, 29 Scripture reading: Daniel 12:1-13 Daniel 12, in symbolic language, succinctly describes time and eternity and the destiny of all humanity, both the wicked and the righteous (2, 10). Throughout the Bible we read how God governs time for the specific purpose of saving His people from their sin. Consider that Jesus was born to redeem us at “the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4, 5). Jesus also spoke about time when He described the apostasy, wickedness and false teaching that will overwhelm people toward the end of history as we know it. But even as He described the turmoil that will come upon people living in the last times, He gave this great encouragement in Matthew 24:22: “But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” We see that same truth in Ephesians 1:10 which describes how God’s purpose for history will be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment, for He has “a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” We look at our world in all its depravity, hostility and immorality, and ask, “How long, O Lord?” And God’s answer is to wait for “the fullness of time” when Christ returns. Meanwhile, Scripture teaches us that now is the time of salvation. If you have never placed your faith in Christ, prayerfully seek Him, trusting His promise to freely pardon all who come to Him in humble repentance and true saving faith (Isaiah 55:6, 7). Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord that He governs time so that sinners like ourselves have an opportunity to come to Him without delay, knowing that “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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May 29 - Grateful praise to our ascended Lord!

“For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” - Hebrews 9:24  Scripture reading: Hebrews 9:11-28 Did you notice how verse 24 points out that Jesus entered heaven “to appear in the presence of God on our behalf”? That phrase describes an amazing truth concerning the ascension. Jesus ascended into heaven to intercede eternally on behalf of those who by His grace have saving faith in Him alone “since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). As He intercedes, He does so with great compassion for He has been tempted in every way as we are, yet is without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He knows the human experience completely. He has experienced hunger, thirst and conflicts from angry people. He has lived under ungodly political rulers. He knows what it is like to live in a fallen world and face the attacks of the evil one. And as the Mediator of the New Covenant, He has shed His blood to cover – propitiate – the sins of His people. Not only does the ascension assure us of our salvation through saving faith in Christ, but it also assures us that just as Jesus ascended bodily into heaven, so will we on the last day when He returns in glory (1 Corinthians 15:35-58; Philippians 3:20, 21). Most people don’t give much thought to the blessings that flow from the ascension. Yet the knowledge of our ascended Savior instills within us praise and adoration. Jesus Christ has entered heaven to intercede on our behalf! Our redemption is complete in Him! He is returning again to receive us to Himself! Alleluia! Suggestions for prayer Thank the Savior, Jesus Christ, for His perfect life of obedience, His sacrificial death, His resurrection, and His ascension into heaven to “appear in the presence of God on our behalf” (24). Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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Daily devotional

May 28 - Immeasurable love

“…Know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” - Ephesians 3:19 Scripture reading: Ephesians 3:1-21 The apostle Paul was amazed at the depth of God’s love for him. He had persecuted the church and yet the Lord still loved him, redeemed him, and used him for His glory. The same was true for Peter. Do you think Peter understood something of the depth of the love of Christ when he was forgiven and restored? He was forgiven and restored even after denying ever knowing Jesus, three times over, with curses, before the rooster crowed. Or what about Thomas? What depth of love Christ used, dealing gently with doubting Thomas, restoring and bringing him into fellowship again! Perhaps there are some who wonder, “Could God really love me? Would God really love me since He is omniscient and knows my thoughts? Does God really love me knowing my actions, knowing my apathy, knowing my sinfulness?” The prayer of the apostle is that you and I would know the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love – that yes, it reaches down into the depth of depravity in your life and mine and redeems us and sets us in the heavenly realms with Christ, for as He Himself said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). Having experienced an inkling of that vast love of God, we are to love Him above all else and our neighbors as ourselves as we look forward to an eternity of discovering the magnitude of God’s steadfast love! Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to give you a greater comprehension of the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love. Pray for increased love for Christ, and pray for His love to radiate out from your life into the lives of others. Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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Daily devotional

May 27 - Eternal grace

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—” - Ephesians 2:4,5  Scripture reading: Ephesians 2:1-10 Grace has been defined in many ways, but the essence of grace is unmerited favor. We deserve damnation, yet those who have saving faith in Christ experience unmerited favor – the grace of God – in the past, present, and future. If you have saving faith in Christ, it is because of God’s “purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9), as your name was inscribed “before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 13:8). We experience God’s grace and are secure in our salvation through the eternal work of Christ, our Savior. But we also experience the grace of God each day of our lives, even in trials. Consider the Apostle Paul: What was the greater blessing for him – having the thorn removed from his flesh, or having the promise that God’s grace is sufficient for every thorn? (2 Corinthians 12:9). But grace isn’t given to us just in the past and the present. We will experience the fullness of God’s grace in the life to come. After describing how it is by grace that we are saved from sin (5), the Holy Spirit describes how we are already in principle raised with Christ in the heavenly realms (6) “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (7). Such is the marvelous and eternal grace of our loving Lord! Suggestions for prayer Sincerely thank God for His immeasurable and eternal grace. And show the sincerity of your prayers by living a life of grateful obedience, doing the good works that God has before ordained for you to do (10). Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...

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Daily devotional

May 26 - Mercy, grace, and steadfast love

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” - Psalm 103:8  Scripture reading: Psalm 103:1-22 Three strands of God’s character are intertwined together to form one divine powerful cord. Mercy refers to the compassion of God. He looks upon us as a Father who has compassion for his children (13). With Fatherly compassion, the Lord extends His grace to us, forgiving our iniquity (3), redeeming our lives from the pit of sin and misery, crowning us with steadfast love and mercy (4), and separating our sins from us an immeasurable distance (12). He does not deal with us according to our sins or repay us according to our iniquities (10). Instead, in the ultimate act of grace, God sent His Son, Christ Jesus, to be our sin-bearer. And the Son came willingly, even though it required the sacrifice of His life, which is the pinnacle of love, for “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Yet Jesus laid down His life for us while we were sinners, living in animosity against Him, and by nature objects of God’s righteous and proper wrath because of our transgressions (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:1-3). Such steadfast love is truly astounding! It is a love that is “from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him” and is extended one generation to another (17); it calls us to be faithful to Him who has loved unlovable sinners with a steadfast, eternal love. No wonder David ends the Psalm the same way he begins it: “Bless – (Praise) – the LORD, O my soul!” Suggestions for prayer Praise the Lord with all your soul – with your entire being. Ask Him to keep you faithful to His covenant and commandments (18), with Biblical fear (17) which includes reverent awe and wonder, praise and adoration for God’s mercy, grace, and steadfast love. Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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Daily devotional

May 25 - Christ, our passover lamb

“Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” - 1 Corinthians 5:7  Scripture reading: Exodus 12:1-13; Matthew 26:17-29 When the Lord saw the blood on the doorposts, He passed over those homes with His righteous and proper judgment. By doing so, He foreshadowed the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb. Through saving faith in Christ we are passed over for judgment. Jesus bore the judgment we deserve as He took the curse of our sin upon Himself. He was given a body, conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary, so that He would have blood, blood that He would shed on the cross of Calvary to propitiate – to cover – our sins and thus appease the righteous and proper wrath of our triune God against sin. It is essential that Christ took on human flesh with a body like ours, not only so that He would shed His blood to save us from our sins, but also to take our identity. Since man sinned, a man must pay the debt of sin. But no human could ever pay that debt. Only God could and did. He did so by sending His Son, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, true eternal God, yet born in human flesh to perfectly represent us (Hebrews 2:14-18). We are to respond by “cleansing out the old leaven”, meaning we turn from sin, striving to live holy, pure lives out of gratitude for the redeeming work of Christ. We are called to holy living, not just on Sunday, but every day that God grants us grace to live. Suggestions for prayer Confess to the Lord the “old leaven” – the sin – in your life. Pray for continued sanctification so that you grow more like Jesus and less like Adam. Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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May 24 - The active obedience of Christ

“…So that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21b Scripture reading: Zechariah 3:1-10 When Jesus, in His passive obedience, was crucified to cleanse us from our sins by shedding His precious blood, He did not leave us with a blank slate. Sometimes the redeeming work of Jesus is pictured as Him wiping off all the black marks on a white board so that nothing is left but the white board in all its purity. And that is an accurate illustration as far as it goes, for through saving faith in Christ we are thoroughly cleansed and are given this promise from the Lord: “…Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…” (Isaiah 1:18). But Jesus not only removed the curse of our sin from us, He also imputes – credits – to us His perfect record in keeping the law. Consider that Jesus never used His Father’s name in vain. He never served false gods. He never killed, coveted, stole, or committed adultery. That defines His active obedience. His perfection in keeping the law wasn’t just outward, but inward. In other words, He did not look in lust at the woman at the well. He did not murder anyone in His heart by thoughts of anger and retaliation. Not even the Pharisees. Not even those who crucified Him. He kept the law perfectly, and after removing every transgression from the slate of your life and mine, He writes on that clean slate – the cleansed white board of your life – His perfect record of righteous obedience to every nuance of the law. Suggestions for prayer Sincerely thank God that by grace through saving faith your sins are covered by the shed blood of Christ, the filthy sin-stained rags of self-righteousness are removed, and He clothes you in His garments of glorious righteousness, just as portrayed in Zechariah 3:3-5. Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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Daily devotional

May 23 - The passive obedience of Christ

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin…” - 2 Corinthians 5:21a Scripture reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 In our electronic age, great sums of money can be transferred with the click of a mouse as one account transfers funds to another. But no transfer, even the billions of dollars transferred in corporate buyouts, compares to the transfer that 2 Corinthians 5:21 speaks about. It describes how the penalty for all your sins and mine – our sinful actions, our cruel words, our impure thoughts, as well as our innumerable sins of omission – was transferred onto Jesus at Calvary. There, on the cross the words of Isaiah 53 were fulfilled: “…He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace…and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5, 6). Theologians refer to that as the passive obedience of Christ. In His passive obedience Jesus became our substitute on the cross. He had the power to escape. He told Peter that He could call more than twelve legions of angels for His deliverance. But He added, “How then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:54). By obediently submitting to death on the cross Jesus passively shed His blood, which propitiates the sins of all who have true saving faith in Him alone. To propitiate means to appease the wrath of someone – in this case God – and it is done by covering over that which has caused the wrath, which is our sin. So great is the love of Christ for His people! Suggestions for prayer Confess that your sins drove Christ to the cross. And then express awe and wonder, praise and adoration for the salvation Christ secured in His passive obedience as He covered our sin with His precious blood. Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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May 22 - Redemption through the Son

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” - John 3:14,15  Scripture reading: Numbers 21:4-9 The experience of the Israelites described in Numbers 21 seems far removed from us. Yet we have something in common: Each one of us has been bitten by the deadliest of serpents; we have within us the venom of sin. It is bad enough that we have been bitten by the serpent, but what is worse is that all of our sin, even when it is directed toward another human being, is ultimately against God. Did you notice verse 5? – “The people spoke against God and against Moses.” God, being just and holy, must punish sin. He sent fiery serpents among the people; they bit the people and many Israelites died (6). The wages of sin is death, and the Lord allowed these serpents in the camp to inflict the venom of death. But God is also merciful. He provides a way out from the wages of sin, from the fangs and the venom of the serpent. In verse 8 God graciously provided a means of salvation from the bite of the snakes. A bronze serpent was placed on a pole and when the people were bitten by snakes and looked at the bronze serpent, they lived (9) Jesus used this example to point us to Himself. He alone can save us from our sins (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5). Although we are sinners stricken with the serpent’s venom, through saving faith in Christ we are spared, given new life from above, and adopted into God’s family. Suggestions for prayer Confess your sins, and then thank the Lord that although “…the wages of sin is death…the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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May 21 - New life from the Spirit

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 1:3  Scripture reading: John 3:1-15 Jesus emphasizes to us, as He did to Nicodemus, the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. None of us would have saving faith in Christ if it were not for the Holy Spirit. He regenerates us with life from above as we are “born again” and have a new heart and spiritual eyes to see what so many others miss (1 Corinthians 2:14). The Holy Spirit’s work is crucial for our salvation and our sanctification, that is, our growth in grace, knowledge, love, and service. Yet, have you noticed how often Scripture focuses on the Father and the Son but not on the Holy Spirit? Consider most of the greetings in the New Testament letters, such as 1 Corinthians 1:3. The Holy Spirit isn’t mentioned. The reason is that the Holy Spirit doesn’t seek attention, praise, and glory. Rather, He directs glory to the Son who in turn directs His glory to the Father (John 17:1; 1 Corinthians 15:28). In this way, the Holy Spirit serves – and delights to serve – as the spotlight on the cross. A former church had an illuminated cross that was highly visible at night. Many people asked if I pastored the church with the cross, but no one asked about the necessity, power,and importance of the spotlight that illuminated the cross. Without the spotlight no one would see the cross; without the Holy Spirit, no one would “see” Christ and be reconciled to the Father through saving faith in Christ alone. Suggestions for prayer Thank the Lord that by the Holy Spirit’s power we are given new birth, conviction of sin, assurance of pardon, growth in grace, power in prayer, adoption into God’s family and the guarantee of our salvation and eternal inheritance. Pastor Ted Gray is an emeritus minister of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Before serving in Oak Lawn, Pastor Gray served Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida, and Christian Reformed churches in Vermont and Illinois. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Crown Point, Indiana. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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