“When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not...
“Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” – Isaiah 11:1 Anyone who has ever had a garden or a field or a fruit tree understands active waiting. What I mean is that you have to wait patiently while...
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.” – Isaiah 9:2 One of my very favorite things to do as a pastor is baptisms. There is something incredibly beautiful about the moment when someone gets to make...
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday (not just because...
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11 This afternoon I was having a good discussion with someone about how different it is to have kids in public school today versus when I was young. You cannot send...
“Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Matthew 10:29-31 What makes you happy? When I...
“The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.’” – Revelation 11:15 When I was a music major in college, we sang various...
“Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” – Romans 11:33-34 What do you like to study? We each have a certain...
“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18 For some reason, loneliness always accompanies brokenness. When we have been spiritually crushed by something, we feel isolated, even abandoned. This feeling compounds our anguish. But there is something incredible that can take place to counteract...
“He replied to them, ‘Who among you, if he had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t take hold of it and lift it out? A person is worth far more than a sheep; so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.’” –...
“So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.” – Nehemiah 4:9 In the book of Nehemiah, the Israelites are rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem after they had returned from their exile in Babylon. And as is usually the case, they have enemies who...
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37 How important is forgiveness? Jesus often links our forgiveness of others very closely to God’s forgiveness of us. For instance, in the Lord’s Prayer,...
“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” – Haggai 1:4 During the time that the book of Haggai was written, God had rescued his people from exile and brought them back to the Promised Land. When they arrived, he...
“Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and so that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming...
“From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’” – Matthew 27:45-46 If someone were to ask me what the...
“Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”– Galatians 6:2 I find myself facing the interesting challenge of writing a devotional from a hospital bed today. As I lie here, I thought of all the lessons I’ve taught in the past during trials; I...
“As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’” – 1 Corinthians 12:20-21 As a pastor, I often run into people around town who have been...
August 14, 2024 “Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 4:2 I have a piece of paper hanging over my desk in the office that reads, “My Prayer for Mesa Christian Fellowship: I pray that you would see more clearly and discover new beauty in your...
“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love,...
“Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.” – Psalm 27:10 Rejection. That is a painful word. We have all experienced it in some fashion, whether from an employer, friend, loved one, or even our own parents. The closer the person, the more painful the rejection....
“For through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:26 This week I have been at a family reunion for the children of my grandpa and grandma on my mom’s side. When this group gets together, I am always amazed at the great variety. We are...
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 As many of you already know, working on old cars is my hobby. I...
“So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18 Yesterday my wife and I got to experience a bittersweet moment. We went back to the site of Black Forrest Camp...
“But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.” – Ecclesiastes 12:12-13 Yesterday...
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their chains apart.” – Psalm 107:13-14 The other day my wife and I went to Lowe’s to pick up some things for the house. When...
“If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:8-9 I have seen a couple funny videos...
June 5, 2024 “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound wisdom.” – Proverbs 18:1 Since I broke both of my shoulders and tore several tendons and ligaments, they have lost a lot of elasticity. This means that, though they are often stiff and sore, they are...
“He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.” – Colossians 2:14 When I was a little kid growing up in church, I often heard songs about how beautiful the Cross is....
“How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction! Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart.” – Psalm 119:1-2 As my children are becoming adults, I have noticed that one of the most difficult things to do is...
May 15, 2024 “A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength. The horse is a false hope for safety; it provides no escape by its great power. But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him –...
