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Search TAG: Nearer to God daily devotional

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Daily devotional

June 24 - Consider the heavens

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, A...
Daily devotional

June 23 - Foolishness of idolatry

“To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?” - Isaiah 40:18  Scripture reading: Romans 1:1-24; Isaiah 40:18-22...
Daily devotional

June 22 - Comparing the nations to God

“All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.” - Isaiah 40:17  Scripture reading: Isaia...
Daily devotional

June 21 - Divine wisdom

“Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counsellor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him...
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Daily devotional

June 20 - Divine Measurement

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance?” - Isaiah 40:12  Scripture reading: Psalm 46:1-11 He calculates the dust of the earth in a measure. God knows the exact volume and weight of all the dust of this world! Knowing the number of hairs on your head is a piece of cake in comparison! God never ‘guesstimates’ anything. You and I couldn’t even count the grains of sand in a single handful without losing track. Yet He knows it instantaneously! Years ago, we could view the Canadian Rockies in the distance outside our front window. We also took breathtaking drives through the Cascade mountain range which was even closer by. Yet, as vast and awe-inspiring as the mountains are, our God can pick up the whole Rocky mountain and Cascade range combined and put it on one side of the scale, take up Mount Everest and the entire Himalayan range and place them on the other side, while not straining a single muscle or forming one drop of sweat! God has unlimited power. He has the seas and lakes, mountain ranges, with all their volcanoes and fault lines, in perfect balance. Nothing is ever out of His careful and measured control! This is why it is such a comfort to be able to say, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”Let us, “Be still and know that He is God!” (Psalm 46:1). Suggestions for prayer Thank God His thoughts towards you are more in number than the sand of the seashore. Praise Him for being your powerful Protector and a very present help in trouble! Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 19 - The right approach

“Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.” - Psalm 119:33 Scripture reading: Psalm 119:33-40 Today, we have the privilege of joyfully worshiping our God and hearing the preaching of His Word! The psalmist’s prayer is, "Teach Me, O Lord, the way of your statutes.”We need to remember it’s not a book of man’s statutes, but of God’s! It has all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in it. He purposes that we discover those treasures through the preaching and teaching of the Holy Spirit! Proverbs 2:3-6 (ESV) tells us, “Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Loving God with our whole mind means using it to know God better. It involves listening for the ways God's Word impacts every single facet of our life! Too often we find ourselves sitting in church or reading the Bible without a real hunger for a life impacting experience! If that’s the case, we need to say, "Wait a minute! What am I doing here?” Then pray for God to bless your mind and heart with the truth you are about to hear or to read!" It’s vital to approach worship and God’s Word with a prayerful hunger and thirst for the blessings of salvation and righteousness in Jesus Christ! Suggestions for prayer Proverbs 2:3-6 is really an amazing promise. Quote it in prayer and ask God to fulfill its promise in our lives. Pray also that He would help you to approach both scripture and worship with the right attitude. Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 18 - The father’s hand

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance?” - Isaiah 40:12  Scripture reading: John 10:24-30 Your hand is an astounding creation. It is superior to the most advanced robotics engineered by man. You can do a myriad of things with it. One of the things you can do is cup it. A child’s cupped hand might hold a teaspoon. An adult’s hand? Perhaps a tablespoon. Years ago, I had a couple of elders who had milked cows by hand when they were young. Their hands were so huge they probably could have held two tablespoons in each. But now think of your God! He takes all the waters of the oceans, the seas, the lakes, the rivers, the swamps, the vast underground reservoirs and every particle suspended in vapour form and measures it all in the hollow of His hand! A hand span is the measurement from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger. It averages 7.5 inches. The largest measured human hand span is 12 inches. Now behold your God! He measures the vastness of the heavens with a span of His hand! Jesus says "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”Is it any wonder that no one can snatch you out of a hand like His? Suggestions for prayer Praise God for His creation. Let the marvels of the body and its ingenious design direct you to the reality and creative genius of your God. (I once even had an unbeliever look at his hand and say, it’s true, just this hand tells me there is a God!) Thank Him for His promise to never allow you to be snatched out of His awesome hand! Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 17 - Tender yet almighty

 “Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.” - Isaiah 40:10  Scripture reading: Isaiah 40:9-14 The theme of Isaiah 40 is summed up by the words, “Behold your God!” Isaiah’s purpose is that our attention is riveted on and refreshed by our awe-Inspiring God. We often feel limited when it comes to stretching our minds with thoughts and visions of God. We feel even more inadequate when it comes to sharing the glory of our awe-inspiring God with those around us. J.I. Packer, the author of “Knowing God”, describes it this way: “…as clowns yearn to play Hamlet, so I have wanted to write a treatise on God.” Yet, Isaiah knows we have a deep and ongoing spiritual need to “Lift up our eyes on high, and see Who has created these things!” He encourages God’s people to look away from the power of their captors. He is telling them to look away from their own weakness, helplessness and political irrelevance. No matter how weak they may feel, or how strong their oppressors appear, they need to be lifted up in their souls by a sense of the power and might of the eternal God of heaven of earth Who loves them and shepherds them. We’ve seen how God comforts us with the reminder that He is a Shepherd Who faithfully feeds His flock, gathers lambs in His arms and tenderly leads those with young. Yet, He would never have us fall under the illusion that His compassion, tenderness and kindness is in any way exclusive, awe-inspiring power, infinite wisdom, divine genius and matchless superiority to all of His creation! Suggestions for prayer God tells us it is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes (Psalm 118:9). Pray that God will keep us from trusting merely in man or even ourselves. May we rejoice and trust in the fact that He reigns powerfully over all things as He loves and shepherds His people. Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 16 - Our gentle shepherd

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” - Isaiah 40:11   Scripture reading: Psalm 139:4-18 He gently leads those who are with young. The mothers in the flock and their little lambs are treated with special care and consideration. The shepherd knows every individual's needs. He treats them according to their particular weaknesses and their strengths. He may allow some to travel ahead at a more challenging pace because He knows they can. Others may not be able to handle the same challenge, so the shepherd adjusts His treatment of them accordingly. They are His beloved sheep. He knows them better than they know themselves. Are you in His flock? Is His voice familiar to you? Are you telling those He has given you to teach to be familiar with His voice too? There is nothing more important than together knowing and loving the Great Shepherd Who gave His life for the sheep. He died in payment for our sins and rose again so that He might carry and gather each of us into the safety of His eternal fold. Believe and rejoice that this awesome God stooped down to be the Shepherd of your soul and of the souls of your children. Thank God that He Whom the heaven of heavens can't contain gathers you in His arms, carries you close to His bosom, and leads you to eternally green pastures and waters, forever crystal clear! It doesn't and it can't get any better than that! Suggestions for prayer Pray for young expectant mothers. Pray for mothers with young children. There are many constant demands and pressures on their lives. Thank God for their love and faithfulness. Pray for families with special needs and struggles. Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 15 - He gathers the Lambs

“Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.”” - Mark 10:13-14  Scripture reading: Mark 10:13-16 What does Jesus do? He gathers the young lambs with His arm and carries them in His bosom! His bosom is a place of tenderness and safety. When a shepherd leads His flock, young lambs are often first to tire. If they begin to straggle, he scoops them up in His arms and carries them for a while. A shepherd’s strength is wonderfully experienced in his compassionate care and love for the weak. The one time the Lord is said to be “greatly displeased” with His disciples is when they acted like children were low priority for Him and when they rebuked those who brought their little ones to Him. Jesus condemns his disciples' attitude and shows the value He places on their little souls by lifting them up in His arms, putting His hands on them and blessing them. He makes it crystal clear that these children belong to the kingdom of God! Jesus admonishes His disciples about their own need to put away pride and receive the kingdom of God with a child-like trust and humility. In Matthew 18, the disciples ask Him who will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus sets a little child in front of them and tells them, "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”Perhaps it’s time for a reset in our concept of “greatness” as we humbly follow our Shepherd! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for covenant children. Pray that they may become faithful and committed young men and women whom God will use to bless and build His churches in the years ahead. Pray for prodigal sons and daughters, that they may be brought back to the safety and blessing of the fold. Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 14 - The Lord is my shepherd

“Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” - Isaiah 40:10-11  Scripture reading: Psalm 23:1-6 The LORD is my Shepherd. I shall not want! I will never be unprotected. I will never lack anything I truly need. Why not? Because the Lord, my Shepherd, is both a gentle God and yet the God of limitless power and infinite wisdom. He is above us, beyond us, and yet still with us! He will gather the lambs with His arm and gently lead those with young. The youngest, the weakest, the defenceless, the ones with greatest need and least stamina, are special objects of His attention! Who are these lambs? They include any Christian, any weak one, any handicapped one, or anyone with special needs. Without a doubt, this also includes every little child that He gives to believers and to His church. The Greek word in the New Testament for young boy “talya”, and for young girl “talitha”, actually come from this Hebrew word for lam, ”tela”. They are no less important or valuable to Him than you are!! Their souls are just as eternal as yours! He gathers them with His arm. He uses you as parents and grandparents to love, nurture and teach them about Jesus, their Shepherd, Who died and rose again for them! He uses you as elders, pastors, and teachers at home and school to gather them as you teach, lead and love them self-sacrificially! And He shows the power of His arm by working faith in these young hearts and minds and using them to shine as lights in a dark world! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for all those He has used to shepherd your soul. Continue to pray for them, express your indebtedness to God for them. Be thankful for any and all opportunities God gives you to lead and love young souls. Pray for wisdom and faithfulness in doing so. Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 13 - Behold your God

“O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" Tell His people to be ready for His coming! He is coming as King, with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him. Behold His reward is with Him.” - Isaiah 40:9  Scripture reading: Isaiah 40:1-17 In Chapter 40, Isaiah describes how absolutely stunning God is in every facet of His Being! He measures the waters in the hollow of His hand. He weighs the mountains in scales. He doesn’t need to be taught anything… He knows everything! Compared to Him, all the nations are like a drop in the bucket and dust on the scale. This description is not designed to intimidate us. It’s designed to comfort us. God is not just some impersonal unreachable, untouchable force governing everything. He is both our infinitely powerful Creator and our Judge, and yet also our tender Shepherd. He is a compassionate, caring God. He shepherds gather, carries, and gently leads His people. He will tend His flock like a shepherd. The word ‘tend’ represents everything a Shepherd does to care for and protect His sheep. There are bad shepherds and there are good shepherds, but only One is ‘the’ Good Shepherd: “I am ‘the’ Good Shepherd. ‘The’ Good Shepherd lays down His life for the Sheep.” David risked his life defending his sheep from the lion and the bear. Jesus didn’t risk His life. He purposefully gave it to save you from hell and Satan. There is no better place for you or your children than under the protection of the Good Shepherd! Suggestions for prayer Ask God that you will grow in your awareness and appreciation of His stunning power and glory. Thank Him that your fear of Him only needs to be one of reverence and child-like trust, not of terror. Ask God for boldness to lead others to see and know Him as the Good Shepherd Who lays down His life for the sheep. Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 12 - His enduring word

“The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever."” - Isaiah 40:7-8  Scripture reading: Psalm 119:189-196 God knew a fallen man could live for hundreds of years; it would not be good. Evil men would have too long to learn and carry out their evil designs. There is reason to take comfort in the fact that God blows on them, and they perish. However, God’s Word has truth, for you will never wither or fade! “Forever O LORD your Word is settled in the heavens!”  In the fourth century, the Roman emperors Diocletian and Julian ordered their soldiers to destroy every Christian writing they could find. Marxist regimes, which at one point controlled a third of the world's population, destroyed millions of copies in every nation under their grip. Yet, recently, the United Bible Society alone distributed 184 million full Bibles over five years. God’s Word remains the world’s most widely published book. Two hundred years ago, the Bible was available in just 68 languages. In 2020 this rose to 704, with the New Testament in 1,551 languages and portions of scripture available in an additional 1,160 languages. There is a goal in place to eradicate ‘Bible poverty’ by 2033. His Word has stood the test of time. Since God never changes, His Word doesn’t either! The Word of our God is the Word of the I Am that I Am. He guarantees that the Church that gathers to worship Him today from every nation will always have His Word! Suggestions for prayer As you gather to worship God today, pray that God would impress on His people’s hearts that God’s Word never changes because God doesn’t change. Thank God for preserving His word and truth throughout the millennia and for revealing it to you and your loved ones! Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 11 - The brevity of life

“All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.” - Isaiah 40:6-7  Scripture reading: Psalm 39 In Psalm 39, David contemplates how brief life really is. He prays, “Lord make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.” David even answers his own question when he says, “Certainly every man at his best is but vapour!” What is a vapour? It’s the fog that appears for a little while in the early morning. The sun burns it away and you would never know it was there! It’s the warm breath from our mouth that condenses into thousands of tiny water droplets and then they’re gone. Life is like a vapour! A buddy of mine died just after high school in a tragic accident. Another friend died of very brief sickness just after his marriage. A colleague, ordained shortly after me, died some years ago in a bicycle accident. A minister close to me in age just died a few months ago of Covid19. None reached what we consider ‘old' age. It’s good to keep in mind that God hasn’t guaranteed that you will either. But even if you do, this life will soon be at an end. God keeps us from falling into the trap of living as if this is all there is! May God help us travel lightly, laying up our treasures in heaven instead of here. Let Jesus Christ, Who is seated in heaven be your priceless treasure! Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also! Suggestions for prayer Pray with David that God would, “so teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Pray that you would make the best use of your God-given time this week! Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 10 - How to plan and not to plan

“Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."” - James 4:13-15  Scripture reading: Isaiah 40:6-8 We often have a hard time living a lifestyle in harmony with the belief that God is in control. We tend to think and act as if we hold the reins. We plan as if we can forge our own future. When this illusion takes hold of our hearts, our prayers sink to pathetic levels. Prayer then amounts to little more than asking God to sprinkle His blessing on what we plan and want. If we plough ahead without prayer, acting like the authors of our own destiny, we are coming down with a serious case of sinful pride. To those who plan as if the future hinges on themselves, God says, “But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” God warns us to temper our plans with an awareness of the brief, fragile nature of life. You can fill your barns with plenty. You can carefully follow the market and invest wisely. You can get excited about the house you hope to buy, or the one you plan to build. But never forget that you are totally dependent on the Lord for even the smallest measure of success or blessing! Submit everything to Him in prayer. Don’t forget that material accomplishments are temporary and you are only here for a short time. All flesh is grass. Don’t put all your eggs into the basket of your earthly plans and prospects. The chief end of man is not to complete a bucket list! The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him now and forever! Suggestions for prayer Pray that your plans and prayers would always be prefaced with an attitude that humbly says, “If the Lord wills, we will do this or that.” Ask Him to help you to remember what your real purpose in life is! Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 9 - Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;” - Isaiah 40:3-4  Scripture reading: Luke 3:1-18 When the king was coming, his messenger would go before him. Townspeople would clear up the roads. Washouts that they might have put up with for months, were filled in and debris cleaned up. Effort and expense were not spared. Isaiah’s imagery is even more dramatic! Valleys are filled, hills are brought low, and crooked places are straightened. Road construction in northern Ontario often involves levelling granite hills and filling valleys with great quantities of earth. Even allowing for the use of dynamite and powerful machinery, the work that goes into it is still stunning. Using this kind of analogy, Isaiah calls for a radical transformation in our spiritual topography! Hills of pride and self-centredness needed to be levelled. Spiritual depressions, disappointments and backsliding must be filled in with the certainty of God’s covenant promises and faithfulness. The power of the Holy Spirit is the dynamite (Greek: “dynamis”) designed to level mountains of sin and fill in valleys of despair. This ‘dynamis’-fuelled repentance and faith in the multitudes who listened to John’s preaching and prepared them for King Jesus. God graciously used the preaching of John to prepare hearts for the King’s coming. His cry rings down through the centuries for your ears too. Behold the Lamb of God! The King is coming! Every eye shall see Him and every knee shall bow. Be ready for that Day! By the power of His Spirit in you, prepare a highway for Him in your hearts and lives. Suggestions for prayer Pray that by His Holy Spirit, God will use the preaching of His Word to prepare your hearts more fully for His coming! Pray that remaining mountains and obstacles of sin may be levelled and any valleys of discouragement be filled with faith in the promises of God! Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 8 - Does God overdo it?

“…For she has received from the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.” - Isaiah 40:2b  Scripture reading: Isaiah 40:1-5 What does this mean? It almost sounds like God goes overboard in dealing with His people’s sins. We know that sometimes parents are so upset that they lose their temper and go overboard in disciplining their children. Can the same be said of God? No! The word ‘double’ is to be understood figuratively. Isaiah tells God’s people that they have received more than enough for all their sin! But does this mean they’ve received more than enough discipline? Or does it mean more than enough grace and mercy? In a commentary on Isaiah, the Old Testament scholar, E. J. Young, tells us that this phrase can be interpreted either way. Strikingly the dilemma disappears if you understand that God's discipline is itself born of loving grace. Both interpretations then fit, hand in glove, with one another. The loving grace of God’s discipline accompanied by His mercy and forgiveness are more than enough for all our sins. Isaiah is teaching what the apostle Paul would one day echo in the words of Romans 5:20, “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” Rest assured that a Christian will never pay even once, let alone double for a single sin! Jesus paid it all! If God’s hand ever seems heavy on you, remember that His hand in your life of faith is always filled with infinite grace and love for you! Suggestions for prayer Thank God that He is faithful, and will not allow you to be tempted (or tested) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation (or trial) will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). Thank Him that He never loses His temper with you and that He measures everything out perfectly in your lives for your ultimate good. Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 7 - Speak comfort to Jerusalem

“Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.” - Isaiah 49:13  Scripture reading: Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 11:1-10 What do you think of when you hear the word ‘comfort’? Is it a mattress with a perfect amount of support or a nice soft sweater? We certainly tend to be “creatures of comfort”. Yet, John the Baptist didn’t clothe himself in soft garments or sleep in a comfortable bed. He was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; His food was locusts and wild honey. He lived in the discomfort of a wilderness. We need to stop believing that the best Christian life should be stress-free, trial-free, challenge-free and effort-free. Speaking comfort to Jerusalem is never about God promising His people easy living. Actually, God clearly warns us “many are the afflictions of the righteous” (Psalm 34:19), and “…all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). So where’s the comfort? It comes from knowing, “that our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:17). It comes through knowing that Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Our comfort is through believing in Jesus when He says, In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. Comfort ultimately comes from knowing that our iniquity is pardoned and each struggle will serve the good and ultimate purpose for which God has allowed it. Suggestions for prayer Sing, pray and honestly ask yourself, Why should I be carried to the skies, on flowery beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas??! As God comforts you in all your tribulation, pray that He would help you to be ready “to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4). Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 6 - Her warfare is ended

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your God. Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."” - Isaiah 40:1, 2  Scripture reading: Isaiah 40:1-5; 53:1-6 God warned Hezekiah that Judah would be carried away into captivity because of her sin. Yet, nearly 150 years earlier, God inspired Isaiah to author truths to comfort them during this time. Isaiah’s writing is designed to infuse believing hearts with hope and give powerful reasons to know that God had not deserted them. Their suffering would come to an end. Though God has to chastise them, He still calls them “My people”! He says, “You are mine! On the day I make up my jewels, I will not forget you. Though you are suffering right now, the sufferings of this present time will not be worthy to be compared with the glory that’s going to be revealed in you!” Tell her that Her warfare has ended. The spiritual battles involved in discipline and suffering have their place. When we forget our need for Him, God needs to pull the rug out from under us so that we will fall into His arms! God graciously allows sufferings and struggles to burn up dross and purify the gold and silver in us. He uses them to make plain to us our own weaknesses and to reveal His strength and grace to us. Our suffering doesn’t atone for sin. Jesus has done that for us: He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed! The end of warfare and suffering is assured because “our iniquity is pardoned!” Suggestions for prayer Ask God to help you accept suffering as something He can use for good and for His glory. Pray for the “patience of Job” (Jam 5:11) during it. Thank God that all suffering for the child of God will come to an end. The eternal suffering we should have received was endured by Jesus and in Him we are pardoned! Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 5 - The Spirit as wind and fire

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” - John 3:8  Scripture reading: Acts 2:1-21 In Hebrew, the words for breath, wind and Spirit are one and the same. In Greek, the words for wind and Spirit are also identical. ‘Wind’ illustrates the invisible way the Spirit works. You can’t see Him, but the powerful impact He makes on a person’s life is unmistakable. Like the wind, the Spirit’s presence drives away the putrid air of a sinful life and replaces it with the fresh atmosphere of a new life of love for God and neighbour! The 'breath’ of the Spirit is so transforming and powerful it gives new life to the dead. Like fire that warms and illuminates, the Spiritbrightens the souls of men. The oil of the Holy Spirit sets the candlesticks of our hearts aflame and makes us burn like lights in a dark world. As Pentecostal Christians, the wind and fire of the Holy Spirit must be blazing brightly in us for all the world to see! We may not remain cold and dispassionate. We can’t be content to be (theo-) logical but unemotional. We should never ‘notch down’ our zeal and love in order to not draw unwanted attention. If Ukrainian citizens and soldiers are ready to sacrifice everything for earthly freedoms, how can we fail to be willing to sacrifice our all for spiritual freedom? Don’t hesitate to let your faith burn brightly. Let your hearts and tongues be on fire with the message of the cross of Christ and its saving power! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the theological riches and depth of our Reformed faith. Pray that these truths may not just fill our minds but set our hearts aflame. Pray that ‘frozen chosen’ would be furthest from the minds of those who get to know us. Pray that the Spirit may teach us more and more of Christ! Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 4 - A sobering message

“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the LORD; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.” - 2 Chronicles 32:24-26  Scripture reading: Isaiah 39:1-8 In Chapter 38 Hezekiah is severely sick. God sends Isaiah to tell him to prepare to die. But Hezekiah prays fervently that God will spare him from dying so soon. Isaiah comes back to Hezekiah with an amazingly gracious message from God. "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city” (Isa. 38:5-6). The king of Babylon hears what happened to Hezekiah and sends a congratulatory note regarding his miraculous recovery. Hezekiah, in turn, thinks highly of himself. As a result, he is overwhelmed by a desire to impress the messengers and he ends up showing everything he has to them. He leaves nothing out. It’s easy, like Hezekiah, to become inflated with ideas of personal accomplishment when we are especially blessed by God. The apostle Paul had the same problem so God had to give him a thorn in the flesh. God responds by sending Hezekiah a sobering warning that Babylon would soon ruin Israel and bring them into captivity. Hezekiah, in turn, meekly acknowledges God’s undeserved mercy in sparing him further personal suffering. God gives us a good reminder here to not so easily trust those who don’t put their trust in Him. Be thankful that He is a God Who, in grace, works to pierce our inflated views of ourselves so that we can serve Him with humility. Suggestions for prayer God tells us that the prayers of a righteous man avail much. Thank Him for being a God who hears and answers prayers. Pray also for grace to keep you from being inflated with pride on account of God’s blessings and to humble yourself if you are. Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 3 - Serious about sin

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” - Isaiah 1:16-18  Scripture reading: Isaiah 1:1-31 Isaiah chapters 1 - 34 are brimming with judgment against the sin and evil that have taken root in the hearts of God's people. They present a stark picture of God’s righteous anger against sin, reminding His people again and again that God is Holy, Holy, Holy! He is not a God to be recklessly ignored or disobeyed. Chapter 1 itself is nearly all about God’s judgment. Yet in the middle of God’s strong warning you find these verses of forgiveness and hope: “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool” (1:17-18). They form jewels of gospel hope which shine all the more brilliantly against the dark backdrop of Israel's sin and rebellion! You can’t sweep sin under the carpet. Jesus said, “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell” (Matt. 5:30). You’ve got to learn to be truly serious about sin in the world and in your hearts. But thank God and rejoice that you can do so in the wonderful assurance that, by Christ’s cleansing power, though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool! Suggestions for prayer Pray for a real dying-away of the old self by learning “To be genuinely sorry for sin and more and more to hate and run away from it.” Pray for the rising-to-life of the new self that results in “a love and delight to live according to the will of God by doing every kind of good work.” (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A. 89-90) Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 2 - The call of Isaiah

“And He said, "Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed."” - Isaiah 6:9-10  Scripture reading: Isaiah 6:1-13 In October 2021, a Barna poll among U.S. pastors asked, “Have you given real, serious consideration to quitting full-time ministry within the last year?” Thirty-eight percent of those polled responded that they had! These past few years have not been easy times for anyone in ministry. The unity of churches has been severely tested by recent political and public health controversies. Sadly it’s pretty clear that as Christians we have not all come through “smelling like roses.” Those who consider quitting may be thinking, “This is not what I signed up for!” If so, it’s good to pause and think of the kind of ministry Isaiah was called to. He was called to ‘pastor’ a people whose hearts were dull, their ears heavy and their eyes shut! Yet he obeyed God’s call. On the other hand, as Christians, we need to ask whether we are really taking to heart the words of Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.  Thankfully chapter 1 ends with this hope: As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump. From the stump of Jesse, Christ would come! This means that in Him you are a holy seed who can not only survive, but also thrive even in tough times! Suggestions for prayer Pray much for your pastor(s). Pray for your elders. Pray that their ministry to you may not be with grief, but with joy. Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

June 1 - Introduction to the book of Isaiah

This month we will focus primarily on the riches of Isaiah chapter 40. We’ll begin to refresh our understanding of Isaiah and the nature of his ministry by witnessing God’s call to Him in chapter 6. Then we’ll dip into Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 39 to help us set chapter 40 in its proper context. Isaiah chapters 1 through 35 focus on God’s judgment upon Israel by Assyria. Chapters 40 through 66 focus on God’s gracious deliverance of His people from the predicted Babylonian captivity and upon their ultimate spiritual deliverance through Jesus Christ. Chapters 36-39 are a historical bridge between these two sections, paralleling 2 Kings 18:13-20:19. The two main sections are so distinct that critics say they are written by different authors, especially since they assume that an author can only be writing about the past or present. Yet the New Testament clearly attributes the entire book to Isaiah. As someone else has written, “Isaiah’s remarkable prophecies about Christ’s suffering and death put the case for supernatural prophecy beyond reasonable doubt!” God authors amazing prophecies designed to comfort His people during a captivity 150 years in the future. This inspiring message of salvation for God’s people through Jesus Christ, which Isaiah unfolds, continues to thrill the hearts of God’s people through the ages! Isaiah 40 trumpets the call to “Behold Your God” and to prepare yourselves for His coming! Behold Him in all the facets of His glorious Being! He brings an end to warfare and pardons our iniquities! Isaiah sets before our minds both God’s gentleness as our Shepherd, as well His immeasurable power and majesty. Isaiah calls us to 100% confidence in His care, His knowledge, and His provision for our lives. Nothing is hidden from Him and those who wait upon Him will truly renew their strength!   The cleansing of Isaiah “And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged."” - Isaiah 6:7 Scripture reading: Isaiah 6:1-8 Isaiah’s vision of the Lord defies imagination. He sees the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, His train filled the temple! The glory of the Lord is so awesome that even the perfect seraphim cover their faces and feet with wings while they call to each other declaring, “Holy Holy Holy is the LORD of Hosts!” Isaiah feels himself ‘undone’, which means to be ‘cut off’ or ‘destroyed.’ His lips are so unclean that he does not see how he can survive his encounter with God. Isaiah is not far off the mark, because no man with sinful lips can see God and live unless something drastic happens. And it does! The seraphim takes a burning coal from the altar of sacrifice, flies to him and touches his mouth with it. This fire takes away his iniquity and purges the guilt of his sin! How deadly our unclean lips are! If nothing drastic happens to us, encountering God will leave us destroyed by His holiness as well! To enter into God’s presence and not be consumed, you must believe in Jesus Christ. The coal of the altar of His sacrifice on the cross has to touch your mouth and your heart. Don’t avoid it. Don’t put it off. Let it take away your iniquity and purge your sin. Then you’ll be cleansed and ready both to meet Him and to serve Him faithfully in whatever He calls you to do today! Suggestions for prayer Pray for a deep sense of the holiness of God, an intense awareness of your sinful nature, and great peace and joy in knowing that your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is purged! Pastor Maurice Luimes serves as the pastor of the Immanuel Reformed Church (recently relocated to Bolton, 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

May 31 - Living to the praise of his glorious grace!

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him Who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.” - Ephesians 1:11-12 (NKJV)  Scripture reading: Ephesians 1:1-14 If you were to receive a great inheritance, perhaps your parents’ home, retirement accounts or family items that bring back fond memories, would you be grateful? I am sure that you would be! How much more grateful, then, we should be that through saving faith in Christ, we have an eternal inheritance! Furthermore, our inheritance in heaven is not based on our natural parents. Rather we are all adopted children. Our Elder Brother is Christ Himself and we are fellow heirs with Him (Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7). Our heavenly Father has pre-planned our adoption according to the purpose of His will (11). The Holy Spirit has given us new life from above and lives within us, guaranteeing our inheritance (13, 14). How grateful we should be! There are no partial blessings in our spiritual inheritance. Rather our heavenly Father has given us “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (3). He has done so because of Christ, for “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (7). No wonder the purpose of your life and mine is to gratefully praise our triune God! We read about that three times over in this brief passage (vs. 6, 12, 14). As the Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever” (Q. & A. 1). May that be the chief end – the purpose and testimony – of your life and mine, today and forever! Suggestions for prayer Pray, sing and live the familiar hymn, “Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise…” (Robert Robinson, 1758, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing). Pastor Ted Gray is a retired minister in the United Reformed Church of North America. 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....

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