Daily Devotion

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October 23
Surrendering to God
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 1–2
• 1 Timothy 3

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.
Psalm 37:5

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Psalm 37:1–6
God doesn’t help those who help themselves; He helps those who trust in and rely on Him. Jonathan Roumie—the actor who plays Jesus in the successful TV series The Chosen, which is based on the Gospels—realized this in May 2018. Roumie had been living in Los Angeles for eight years, was nearly broke, had enough food just for the day, and had no work in sight. Not knowing how he would make it, the actor poured out his heart and surrendered his career to God. “I literally [prayed] the words, ‘I surrender. I surrender.’ ” Later that day, he found four checks in the mail and three months later, he was cast for the role of Jesus in The Chosen. Roumie found that God will help those who trust in Him.
Rather than being envious of and fretting over those “who are evil” (Psalm 37:1), the psalmist invites us to surrender everything to God. When we center our daily activities on Him, “trust in [Him] and do good,” “take delight in [Him]” (vv. 3–4), and surrender to Him all our desires, problems, anxieties, and the daily events of our lives, God will direct us and give us peace (vv. 5–6). As believers in Jesus, it’s vital for us to let Him determine what our lives should be.
Let’s surrender and trust God. As we do, He’ll take action and do what’s necessary and best.
By: Marvin Williams
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Reflect & Pray
What parts of your life are off limits to God these days? What will it mean for you to surrender your life to Him today?
Dear God, please help me to surrender to You freely today and experience Your life and peace.

 

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October 24
Don’t Lose Heart
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 3–5
• 1 Timothy 4

We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
2 Corinthians 4:16–18
I don’t remember a time when my mom Dorothy was in good health. For many years as a brittle diabetic, her blood sugar was wildly erratic. Complications developed and her damaged kidneys necessitated permanent dialysis. Neuropathy and broken bones resulted in the use of a wheelchair. Her eyesight began to regress toward blindness.
But as her body failed her, Mom’s prayer life grew more vigorous. She spent hours praying for others to know and experience the love of God. Precious words of Scripture grew sweeter to her. Before her eyesight faded, she wrote a letter to her sister Marjorie including words from 2 Corinthians 4: “We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (v. 16).
The apostle Paul knew how easy it is to “lose heart.” He describes his life as one of danger, pain, and deprivation (2 Corinthians 11:23–29). Yet he viewed those “troubles” as temporary. And he encouraged us to think not only about what we see but also about what we can’t see—that which is eternal (4:17–18).
Despite what’s happening to us, our loving Father is continuing our inner renewal every day. His presence with us is sure. Through the gift of prayer, He’s only a breath away. And His promises to strengthen us and give us hope and joy remain true.
By: Cindy Hess Kasper
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Reflect & Pray
What’s causing you to be discouraged or “lose heart”? Which Scriptures are especially encouraging to you?
Precious Father, thank You for Your faithful love for me and the assurance of Your presence.

 

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THE SIMPLE INVITATION OF JESUS
October 23, 2023
“Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ’What do you want?’ They said, “Rabbi (which means “Teacher”), where are you staying?’ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” John 1:38-39

There is no insecurity in the Son of God. He’s not like us. We subtly beg for compliments, we subversively seek affirmation, and we passive-aggressively look for allies.

Not Jesus.

Jesus knows what He’s about. And He knows what He offers is the only thing that can truly satisfy our insecure souls.

It’s against this backdrop in John 1 that we find a simple, yet profound invitation. John the Baptist knew that he was only a messenger; his entire life was meant to point to another. So when Jesus came walking toward him, the perfect thing for him to do was to deflect attention from himself and onto Jesus:

“Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

John had disciples of his own, but when they heard what John said, two of them stopped following John and started following Jesus. The Bible tells us that knowing these two men were following Him, Jesus turned to them and asked what they were looking for. But they didn’t really know.

At least not yet.

So they responded to Jesus’ question with another question:

“Rabbi (which means “Teacher”), where are you staying?” (John 1:38).

That’s when Jesus said four words that changed their lives. And these same four words can change your life, as well:

“Come and you’ll see.” John 1:39

This is a statement of profound confidence. There is no self-justification; there is no offer of proof; there is no cajoling or sweet talk to get them to follow Him. See, Jesus knows that He alone can offer true and everlasting life. He alone can show us the true nature of all things. Only in following Him will we discover the security we so long for.

And so without any other preamble or elaboration, He offers the simple invitation to come and see for yourself.

Jesus is still extending the very same invitation today – to all of us

When we have come to the end of our collective ropes and are truly looking for life, grace, security, and the fundamental truth of who we are and where we are going, we will not be disappointed in Jesus.

For those truly seeking – those open-hearted and humble enough to come and see – they will find Jesus.

And we will find Him – each and every time.

Written by Michael Kelley, Guest Contributor

To read more of Michael’s writing, check out his daily blog, Forward Progress. http://michaelkelley.co/


DIG DEEPER

Read “Finding the Answer to Life” by Bryant Wright

 

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October 25
One Door for All
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 6–8
• 1 Timothy 5

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 10:13

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Romans 10:8–13
The protocols at the restaurant in my childhood neighborhood were consistent with social and racial dynamics in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The kitchen helpers—Mary, the cook, and dishwashers like me—were Black; however, the in-restaurant patrons were White. Black customers could order food, but they had to pick it up at the back door. Such policies reinforced the unequal treatment of Blacks in that era. Though we’ve come a long way since then, we still have room for growth in how we relate to each other as people made in the image of God.
Passages of Scripture like Romans 10:8–13 help us to see that all are welcome in the family of God; there’s no back door. All enter the same way—through belief in Jesus’ death for cleansing and forgiveness. The biblical word for this transformative experience is saved (vv. 9, 13). Your social situation or racial status or that of others doesn’t factor into the equation. “As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (vv. 11–12). Do you believe in your heart the Bible’s message about Jesus? Welcome to the family!
By: Arthur Jackson
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Reflect & Pray
What evidence is there in your life that you’ve believed the Bible’s message about forgiveness through Jesus? Who do you know that needs to hear the good news about Christ?
Father, my heart rejoices that You so loved the world that You sent Jesus.
Learn more about forgiveness through Jesus.

 

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October 26
Beauty for Ashes
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 9–11
• 1 Timothy 6

The Lord has anointed me . . . to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.
Isaiah 61:1, 3

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Isaiah 61:1–4
In the aftermath of the Marshall Fire, the most destructive fire in Colorado history, one ministry offered to help families search through the ashes for valuable items. Family members mentioned precious objects they hoped were still preserved. Very little was. One man spoke tenderly of his wedding ring. He’d placed it on his dresser in the upstairs bedroom. The house now gone, its contents had charred or melted into a single layer of debris at the basement level. Searchers looked for the ring in that same corner where the bedroom had been—without success.
The prophet Isaiah wrote mournfully of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, which would be leveled. Likewise, there are times we feel the life we’ve built has been reduced to ashes. We feel we have nothing left, emotionally and spiritually. But Isaiah offers hope: “He [God] has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted . . . to comfort all who mourn” (Isaiah 61:1–2). God converts our tragedy into glory: “[He will] bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes” (v. 3). He promises to “rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated” (v. 4).
At that Marshall Fire site, one woman searched the ashes on the opposite side. There, still in its case, she unearthed the husband’s wedding ring. In your despair, God reaches into your ashes and pulls out the one truly precious thing. You.
By: Kenneth Petersen
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Reflect & Pray
What experience in your life made you feel you had lost everything? How did God pull you out of the difficulty?
Dear God, please turn my ashes into beauty.

 

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October 27
Three Kings
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 12–14
• 2 Timothy 1

His people made no funeral fire in his honor, as they had for his predecessors.
2 Chronicles 21:19

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
2 Chronicles 21:4–7, 16–20
In the hit musical Hamilton, England’s King George III is humorously portrayed as a cartoonish, deranged villain. However, a new biography on King George said he was not the tyrant described in Hamilton or America’s Declaration of Independence. If George had been the brutal despot that Americans said he was, he would have stopped their drive for independence with extreme, scorched-earth measures. But he was restrained by his “civilized, good-natured” temperament.
Who knows if King George died with regret? Would his reign have been more successful if he’d been harsher with his subjects?
Not necessarily. In the Bible we read of King Jehoram, who solidified his throne by putting “all his brothers to the sword along with some of the officials of Israel” (2 Chronicles 21:4). Jehoram “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 6). His ruthless reign alienated his people, who neither wept for his gruesome death nor made a “funeral fire in his honor” (v. 19).
Historians may debate whether George was too soft; Jehoram was surely too harsh. A better way is that of King Jesus, who is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Christ’s expectations are firm (He demands truth), yet He embraces those who fail (He extends grace). Jesus calls us who believe in Him to follow His lead. Then, through the leading of His Holy Spirit, He empowers us to do so.
By: Mike Wittmer
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Reflect & Pray
Who are you responsible to lead? How might you show both grace and truth to them?
Dear Jesus, I aim to lead others by following You.

 

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November 2
Everybody Worships
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 27–29
• Titus 3

People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
Acts 17:22

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Acts 17:24–32
I recently visited Athens, Greece. Walking around its ancient Agora—the marketplace where philosophers taught and Athenians worshiped—I found altars to Apollo and Zeus, all in the shadow of the Acropolis, where a statue of the goddess Athena once stood.
We may not bow to Apollo or Zeus today, but society is no less religious. “Everybody worships,” novelist David Foster Wallace said, adding this warning: “If you worship money and things . . . then you will never have enough. . . . Worship your body and beauty. . . and you will always feel ugly. . . . Worship your intellect . . . [and] you will end up feeling stupid.” Our secular age has its own gods, and they’re not benign.
“People of Athens!” Paul said while visiting the Agora, “I see that in every way you are very religious” (Acts 17:22). The apostle then described the one true God as the Creator of all (vv. 24–26) who wants to be known (v. 27) and who has revealed Himself through the resurrection of Jesus (v. 31). Unlike Apollo and Zeus, this God isn’t made by human hands. Unlike money, looks, or intelligence, worshiping Him won’t ruin us.
Our “god” is whatever we rely on to give us purpose and security. Thankfully, when every earthly god fails us, the one true God is ready to be found (v. 27).
By: Sheridan Voysey
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Reflect & Pray
What other “gods” do you see society worshiping today? What do you rely on to give you purpose and security?
Father, forgive me for placing wealth, beauty, politics, or other things first. I take them off the altar of my heart and place You there instead.
Discover how Christianity differs from other world religions.

 

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FREEDOM FROM GUILT
November 05, 2023

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions. And my sin is ever before me.” Psalm 51:2-3

Guilt can cause us to become emotionally paralyzed.

Have you ever experienced this in your life – feeling constant guilt for your mistakes, past failures, or even just personal weaknesses?

If so, I have to tell you – you need freedom from it.

Why?

Guilt saps you physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

So, how do we find freedom from the guilt plaguing our lives?

1. Avoid it or Confess It. The best way to avoid guilt is simply to do the right thing. (Oftentimes, this is much easier said than done.) However, when you do mess up (which we all do), confess your sin to God. When you pursue God’s forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ, with a genuine desire to get things right, it will free you of guilt. The slate is wiped clean.
2. Reconcile with Others. Next, seek forgiveness from those you’ve wronged. Make restitution.
3. Forgive Yourself. For most of us, this is the biggest struggle of all. Remember, that when God has forgiven you, you can forgive yourself. God wants you to forgive yourself.
4. Accept the Consequences. Don’t confuse forgiveness with the removal of consequences. God forgives us immediately, but we all have to deal with the consequences of our sin.

The good news is that freedom from guilt is possible when you seek to get things right – God’s way.

Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

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November 7
Destruction Destroyed
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 40–42
• Hebrews 4

The Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:9

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Genesis 3:1–10
“The baby birds will fly tomorrow!” My wife, Cari, was elated about the progress a family of wrens was making in a hanging basket on our front porch. She’d watched them daily, taking pictures as the mother brought food to the nest.
Cari got up early the next morning to look in on them. She moved some of the greenery aside covering the nest but instead of seeing baby birds, the narrow eyes of a serpent met hers. The snake had scaled a vertical wall, slithered into the nest, and devoured them all.
Cari was heartbroken and angry. I was out of town, so she called a friend to remove the snake. But the damage was done.
Scripture tells of another serpent who left destruction in his path. The serpent in the garden of Eden deceived Eve about the tree God had warned her against eating from: “You will not certainly die,” he lied, “for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4–5).
Sin and death entered the world as a result of Eve and Adam’s disobedience to God, and the deception wrought by “that ancient serpent, who is the devil” continues (Revelation 20:2). But Jesus came “to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8), and through Him we’re restored to relationship with God. One day, He’ll make “everything new” (Revelation 21:5).
By: James Banks
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Reflect & Pray
How has Jesus destroyed the devil’s work in your heart and life? What do you look forward to in Him?
Please deliver me, Jesus, from the devil’s deception. Saving God, give me grace to live for You!

 

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November 9
Jesus’ Ultimate Victory
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 46–47
• Hebrews 6

As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes . . . and they were defeated.
2 Chronicles 20:22

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
2 Chronicles 20:15–22
At some military camps across Europe during World War II, an unusual type of supply was air-dropped for homesick soldiers—upright pianos. They were specially manufactured to contain only 10 percent of the normal amount of metal, and they received special water-resistant glue and anti-insect treatments. The pianos were rugged and simple but provided hours of spirit-lifting entertainment for soldiers who gathered around to sing familiar songs of home.
Singing—especially songs of praise—is one way that believers in Jesus can find peace in the battle too. King Jehoshaphat found this to be true when he faced vast invading armies (2 Chronicles 20). Terrified, the king called all the people together for prayer and fasting (vv. 3–4). In response, God told him to lead out soldiers to meet the enemy, promising that they’d “not have to fight this battle” (v. 17). Jehoshaphat believed God and acted in faith. He appointed singers to go ahead of the soldiers and sing praise to God for the victory they believed they would see (v. 21). And as their music began, He miraculously defeated their enemies and saved His people (v. 22).
Victory doesn’t always come when and how we want it to. But we can always proclaim Jesus’ ultimate victory over sin and death that’s already been won for us. We can choose to rest in a spirit of worship even in the middle of a war zone.
By: Karen Pimpo
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Reflect & Pray
How can you praise God right where you are today? How can you press into the victory that Jesus has won for you?
You’re stronger than my enemies, dear God. I lift up Your name in faith today.

 

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November 10
Love through Prayer
Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 48–49
• Hebrews 7

Pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:28

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Luke 6:27–31
For years, John had been somewhat of an irritant at church. He was bad-tempered, demanding, and often rude. He complained constantly about not being “served” well, and about volunteers and staff not doing their job. He was, honestly, hard to love.
So when I heard that he’d been diagnosed with cancer, I found it difficult to pray for him. Memories of his harsh words and unpleasant character filled my mind. But remembering Jesus’ call to love, I was drawn to say a simple prayer for John each day. A few days later, I found myself beginning to think a bit less often about his unlikeable qualities. He must be really hurting, I thought. Perhaps he’s feeling really lost now.
Prayer, I realize, opens ourselves, our feelings, and our relationships with others to God, allowing Him to enter and bring His perspective into it all. The act of submitting our will and feelings to Him in prayer allows the Holy Spirit to change our hearts, slowly but surely. No wonder Jesus’ call to love our enemies is bound up tightly with a call to prayer: “Pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28).
I have to admit, I still struggle to think well of John. But with the Spirit’s help, I’m learning to see him through God’s eyes and heart—as a person to be forgiven and loved.
By: Leslie Koh
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Reflect & Pray
Why is it important to pray for even the difficult people in your life? What can you pray for them?
Loving God, You know how I feel about those who’ve hurt or irritated me. Please give me Your heart of grace and compassion to pray for them, for You love them.
Learn how to deepen your prayer life.


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TO BE MORE LIKE OUR FATHER
November 12, 2023
“God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:10b -11

We’ve all heard the word…but what does “holiness” really mean?

Holiness means to be set apart in character, spirit, values, or priorities.

It means to be more like our Father. To be more like God. But the journey towards becoming more like God isn’t easy. Since God is holy and we are not, it’s natural that there will be tension as followers of Jesus struggle to grow, learn, and mature in faith.

And we will experience consequences when we veer off course. Discipline is part of the way God shapes us into His likeness.

The Bible compares God’s discipline to that of a loving, earthly father who disciplines his child in order to help him grow into a strong, independent, and wise adult. Even though this father loves his children dearly, he will love them by disciplining them and lovingly guiding them through life’s trials. This is a father’s love.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father disciplines His children out of love. It’s not because He’s cruel. It’s because He loves us and wants the very best for our lives.

But you can be assured of this: when we do mess up and we’ve tried every other option – God will be right there, ready to love and guide us through the consequences of our actions.

God will never stop shaping us into what He has created us to be – a child who is more and more like His Father.

Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH

MORE ABOUT BEING LIKE JESUS

Read “Looking Like Jesus in a Modern World” also by Bryant Wright

 

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November 16
Tell of God’s Goodness
Bible in a Year:

• Ezekiel 3–4
• Hebrews 11:20–40

Let me tell you what he has done for me.
Psalm 66:16

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Psalm 66:5–12, 16–20
Testimony time was the segment in our church service when people shared how God had been at work in their lives. Auntie—or Sister Langford as she was known by others in our church family—was known for packing lots of praise into her testimonies. On the occasions when she shared her personal conversion story, one could expect her to take up a good bit of the service. Her heart gushed with praise to God who’d graciously changed her life!
Similarly, the testimony of the writer of Psalm 66 is packed with praise as he testifies about what God had done for His people. “Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” (v. 5). His deeds included miraculous rescue (v. 6), preservation (v. 9), and testing and discipline that resulted in His people being brought to a better place (vv. 10–12). While there are God-experiences that we have in common with other believers in Jesus, there are also things unique to our individual journeys. Have there been times in your life when God has particularly made Himself known to you? Those are worth sharing with others who need to hear how He’s worked in your life. “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me” (v. 16).
By: Arthur Jackson
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Reflect & Pray
How can you more readily share your experiences of God’s goodness with others? How have you been inspired to trust Him more when you’ve heard others share His awesome deeds?
Heavenly Father, I rejoice in the varied expressions of Your kindness to me. Help me not to keep these things to myself.

 

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November 17
The Adventure
Bible in a Year:

• Ezekiel 5–7
• Hebrews 12

In him we were also chosen . . . that we . . . might be for the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:11–12

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Ephesians 1:3–14
“Christianity is not for me. It’s boring. One of my values I hold on to is adventure. That’s life to me,” a young woman told me. It saddened me that she hadn’t yet learned the incredible joy and excitement that comes with following Jesus—an adventure like no other. I excitedly shared with her about Jesus and how real life is found in Him.
Mere words are inadequate to describe the adventure of knowing and walking with Jesus, God’s Son. But in Ephesians 1, the apostle Paul gives us a small but powerful glimpse of life with Him. God gives us spiritual blessings directly from heaven (v. 3), holiness and blamelessness in God’s eyes (v. 4), and adoption as His own into the King’s royal family (v. 5). He blesses us with the lavish gift of His forgiveness and grace (vv. 7–8), understanding of the mystery of His will (v. 9), and a new purpose of living “for the praise of his glory” (v. 12). The Holy Spirit comes to live in us to empower and lead us (v. 13), and He guarantees eternity in God’s presence forever (v. 14).
When Jesus Christ enters our life, we discover that getting to know Him more and following Him closely is the greatest of adventures. Seek Him now and every day for real life.
By: Anne Cetas
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Reflect & Pray
How would you describe the life of knowing and walking with Jesus? Who might God want you to share this with?
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me and always walking by my side. You’ve given me more than I could have imagined. I love being known and loved by You and sharing You with others.

 

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November 20
Priceless Results
Bible in a Year:

A cheerful heart is good medicine.
Proverbs 17:22

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Proverbs 17:12–22
On every school day for three years, Colleen has been dressing up in a different costume or mask to greet her children as they exit the school bus each afternoon. It brightens the day of everyone on the bus—including the bus driver: “She brings so much joy to the kids on my bus, it’s amazing. I love that.” Colleen’s children agree.
It all started when Colleen began fostering children. Knowing how difficult it was to be separated from parents and to attend a new school, she began greeting the kids in a costume. After three days of doing so, the kids didn’t want her to stop. So Colleen continued. It was an investment of time and money at thrift shops, but, as reporter Meredith TerHaar describes, it brought a “priceless result: happiness.”
One little verse amid a book of wise and witty advice, largely by King Solomon to his son, sums up the results of this mom’s antics: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” Proverbs 17:22[/URL]). By bringing cheer to all her kids (biological, adopted, and foster), she hoped to prevent crushed spirits.
The source of true and lasting joy is God through the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; Galatians 5:22). The Spirit enables us to shine God’s light as we strive to bring joy to others, a joy that offers hope and strength to face trials.
By: Alyson Kieda
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Reflect & Pray
When has someone done something to bring you joy? What was the result?
Dear Father, thank You for giving me joy. Help me to spread it to others.

 

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BELIEVING IN GRACE – BEHAVING WITH GRACE
November 20, 2023
“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5

Jonathan, you have grace for everyone else in your life. You need to have grace with your family, too.

I didn’t want to admit it, but my wife spoke the truth. I hadn’t been the most gracious husband or father recently. She wasn’t trying to hurt me, yet what she said was like a precise cut from a surgeon’s scalpel. And although painful to hear, I knew her words could ultimately bring healing.

That is… if I allowed them.

WHAT I BELIEVE – – – – HOW I BEHAVE
For healing to happen, I’d have to face the fact that there’s often a disconnect between what I believe and how I behave.

You see, I believe very deeply in the grace of God. Grace, the undeserved favor of God through Jesus Christ, has “made me alive” and fundamentally changed who I am (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Often referred to as the ‘heart of the gospel,’ Ephesians 2:1-8 beautifully describes the grace that is the foundation of my life. I cherish this passage, and others like it, as precious reminders of the grace-filled air I breathe as a born-again child of God.

So, as someone who believes in grace with every fiber of my being, why do I often struggle to behave graciously?

To ask it another way: as a recipient of such a life-changing grace, shouldn’t I freely give grace to others every chance I get?

Here’s the truth: what I believe should directly impact how I behave. In other words, the ‘dots’ should connect. But in my everyday interactions with others, the ‘dots’ are often far apart.

Think about this.

The doctrine of saving grace is not only meant to be believed but lived out every moment of the day. Grace should influence my every action and attitude, infusing all of life with an “aroma of grace” (2 Corinthians 2:15-17).

I’m called to embody grace, not in some theoretical world, but in the real world, filled with real-life situations and relationships.

And yes, this includes my family…especially so.

One day, my wife and kids will reflect on my legacy as a husband and father. Do I really want them to think of me as someone who read about grace, wrote about grace, and sang about grace, but wasn’t very gracious in everyday life?

Lord Jesus, may it never be!

I’m not sure how this message resonates with you, but I’ll bet you somehow share my struggle to demonstrate grace on a daily basis.

What’s more, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. This annual gathering brings together family and friends with various personalities around a common table. Mix in everyone’s moral, political, and religious views, and you have the recipe for a potentially exciting afternoon!

(Heads up! You might have a chance to display grace to someone this Thanksgiving.)

If the opportunity indeed arises…take a deep breath, remember the grace that has saved you, and allow your belief in grace to influence your behavior at the moment. Ask the Lord for the strength to treat the person with kindness, even when they don’t deserve it.

You’ll be glad you did…and your family will, too.

Written by Jonathan Munson, Executive Director, RFTH



DIG EVEN DEEPER

Read “How to Love Each Other Well” also by Jonathan Munson

 

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A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING
November 21, 2023
“I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:17

What comes to mind when you think of the word ‘thanksgiving?’

If you’re like me, you’ll imagine ‘thanksgiving’ as expressing our gratitude to someone.

And it certainly can be that, but when thanksgiving is mentioned in the Old Testament, it’s often described as a sacrifice. The Israelites brought portions from their harvest or livestock as a tangible gift of their thankfulness.

What if, this year, we express our thanksgiving not only in words but in sacrifice?

What if:

…we sacrifice a portion of our finances as a tithe to our church or other ministries, giving thanks to God for what He’s provided for us?

…we sacrifice a portion of our own convenience to serve and care for struggling people around us giving thanks to God for the opportunities He’s given us to be the hands and feet of Jesus?

…we sacrifice a portion of our time to listen to and encourage a friend or family member giving thanks to God for those He’s given us to love?

…we sacrifice a portion of our time to engage in gospel conversations with unbelieving neighbors, co-workers, or classmates, giving thanks to the God who first saved us and commissioned us to share His truth with others?

…we sacrificed a portion of our preferences, serving our family members, friends, or roommates by seeking their interests above our own (Philippians 2:4,5), giving thanks to the God who sent His Son to serve us, rather than to be served Himself (Matthew 10:45)?

…we sacrifice a portion of our attention, spending extra time in the Word and in prayer, giving thanks to the God who made a way for us to have continual access to Him and who sent Jesus, the Word Himself made flesh (John 1:1)?

To be clear – God doesn’t need our sacrifices. Sacrifices don’t earn our salvation, place us in higher standing with God, or force His hand into giving us material blessings. We are saved by grace through faith – not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

But sacrifices have a way of demonstrating – to Him, to ourselves, and to those around us – the treasure we have found in Jesus, for He is more valuable than any sacrifice we could ever make. In fact, He’s more valuable to us than our very lives, because “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

And our sacrifices of thanksgiving to Him may serve to bless others around us with good in a way that points them to the One our sacrifices are truly for – the Giver of all good things (James 1:17), to whom we present our lives as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him, which is our true act of worship (Romans 12:1).

So, as we celebrate this Thanksgiving week, what do you want to thank God for today? How might you bring Him a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” to express your gratitude and bless others?

Written by Kaitlin Febles, Guest Contributor


MORE ON THANKSGIVING

Read “Can You Thank Your Way into Thankfulness?” by Michael Kelley

 

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November 22
Shining Stars
Bible in a Year:

• Ezekiel 18–19
• James 4

You will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Philippians 2:15–16

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Philippians 2:12–16
The first thing I noticed about the city was its gambling outlets. Next, its cannabis shops, “adult” stores, and giant billboards for opportunistic lawyers making money off others’ mishaps. While I had visited many shady cities before, this one seemed to reach a new low.
My mood brightened, however, when I spoke to a taxi driver the next morning. “I ask God every day to send me the people He wants me to help,” he said. “Gambling addicts, prostitutes, people from broken homes tell me their problems in tears. I stop the car. I listen. I pray for them. This is my ministry.”
After describing Jesus’ descent into our fallen world (Philippians 2:5–8), the apostle Paul gives believers in Christ a calling. As we pursue God’s will (v. 13) and hold to the “word of life”—the gospel (v. 16)—we’ll be “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation” who “shine . . . like stars in the sky” (v. 15). Like that taxi driver, we’re to bring Jesus’ light into the darkness.
A believer in Christ has only to live faithfully in order to change the world, historian Christopher Dawson said, because in that very act of living “there is contained all the mystery of divine life.” Let’s ask God’s Spirit to empower us to live faithfully as Jesus’ people, shining His light in the world’s darkest places.
By: Sheridan Voysey
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Reflect & Pray
How can you focus on Christ today, rather than the world’s evil? How can you shine His light today in your neighborhood?
Dear Jesus, thank You for being the Light of the World who brings me out of darkness.

 

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November 23
A Thanksgiving Blessing
Bible in a Year:

• Ezekiel 20–21
• James 5

When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.
Luke 14:13–14

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Luke 14:12–14
In 2016, Wanda Dench sent a text inviting her grandson to Thanksgiving dinner, not knowing he’d recently changed his phone number. The text instead went to a stranger, Jamal. Jamal didn’t have plans, and so, after clarifying who he was, asked if he could still come to dinner. Wanda said, “Of course you can.” Jamal joined the family dinner in what has since become a yearly tradition for him. A mistaken invitation became an annual blessing.
Wanda’s kindness in inviting a stranger to dinner reminds me of Jesus’ encouragement in Luke’s gospel. During a dinner party at a “prominent” Pharisee’s house (Luke 14:1), Jesus noticed who was invited and how the guests jostled for the best seats (v. 7). Jesus told His host that inviting people based on what they could do for him in return (v. 12) meant the blessing would be limited. Instead, Jesus told the host that extending hospitality to people without the resources to repay him would bring even greater blessing (v. 14).
For Wanda, inviting Jamal to join her family for Thanksgiving dinner resulted in the unexpected blessing of a lasting friendship that was a great encouragement to her after her husband’s death. When we reach out to others, not because of what we might receive, but because of God’s love flowing through us, we receive far greater blessing and encouragement.
By: Lisa M. Samra
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Reflect & Pray
When has an unexpected invitation encouraged you? What blessings did you experience?
Heavenly Father, may my invitations reflect a heart that wants to bless others as You lead me.
For further study, read Giving It Away.

 

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November 24
Worthy of All Praise
Bible in a Year:

• Ezekiel 22–23
• 1 Peter 1

I love you, Lord, my strength.
Psalm 18:1

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Today's Scripture & Insight:
Psalm 18:1–6
Many consider Ferrante and Teicher to be the greatest piano duet team of all time. Their collaborative presentations were so precise that their style was described as four hands but only one mind. Hearing their music, one can begin to grasp the amount of effort required to perfect their craft.
But there’s more. They loved what they did. In fact, even after they had retired in 1989, Ferrante and Teicher would occasionally show up at a local piano store just to play an impromptu concert. They simply loved making music.
David also loved making music—but he teamed up with God to give his song a higher purpose. His psalms affirm his struggle-filled life and his desire to live in deep dependence upon God. Yet, in the midst of his personal failures and imperfections, his praise expressed a kind of spiritual “perfect pitch,” acknowledging the greatness and goodness of God even in the darkest of times. The heart behind David’s praise is simply stated in Psalm 18:1, which reads, “I love you, Lord, my strength.”
David continued, “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise” (v. 3) and turned to Him “in my distress” (v. 6). Regardless of our situation, may we likewise lift our hearts to praise and worship our God. He’s worthy of all praise!
By: Bill Crowder
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Reflect & Pray
In what ways do you share your love for God with Him and with others? What might be standing in the way of your worship?
Heavenly Father, You’ve put a new song in my mouth. Please help my worship to express Your true goodness and greatness.
For further study, read Understanding the Bible: The Poetic Books.