Author: Kerry

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
Hebrews 13:17,18

Pray for Your Shepherds

Daily Devotion – July 26, 2024

Devotion based on Hebrews 13:17,18


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A recent poll by the Pew Research Center shows fewer than two in ten Americans trust the federal government. Confidence in leadership is near an all-time low. Most Americans view the government with skepticism rather than trust.

And it’s not just the government Americans aren’t trusting. A 2021 poll by the University of Chicago found that 88% of Americans have little or no trust in religious leaders. In the span of about 40 years, religion went from being one of the most trusted institutions to one of the least.

There are many reasons for this decline, but it doesn’t change the fact that thousands of religious leaders faithfully work in the church. There are pastors who care about the people in their congregation. They know they are the shepherds of their flock and must give an account of their work someday. They study God’s Word—first applying it to their own lives and then to the lives of their people. These pastors strive to love their people the same way Jesus loves them.

The writer to the Hebrews says, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority.” It’s easy to have confidence, trust, and submit when you agree with everything your spiritual leader does. But what about when you disagree? You can still treat leaders with love and respect, even through disagreements. In fact, that’s what God calls his people to do.

Treating each other with love and respect will make the shepherd’s work a joy and not a burden. Joyful service is a benefit in God’s kingdom, while constant strife and complaining can hinder spiritual growth.

Above all, pray for your leaders. Leaders face numerous challenges and temptations and need the strength and wisdom that comes from God. Praying for your leaders helps them remain steadfast in their mission and live honorably.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, my ultimate confidence is found in you. Help the members of your Church treat each other with love and respect. Amen.

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:7,8

Role Model

Daily Devotion – July 25, 2024

Devotion based on Hebrews 13:7,8


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In 1991, the beverage company Gatorade released a commercial called “Be Like Mike” featuring basketball superstar Michael Jordan. Highlights of Michael Jordan dunking and shooting were followed by videos of children imitating his moves and even playing against Jordan.

The commercial was brilliant because it harnessed the wishful desires of many who viewed Jordan as a role model and imagined what it would be like to have that kind of basketball skill. They wanted to be like him, and so they imitated him.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews states the idea of imitation is a sound one. But instead of setting your sights on a sports superstar or celebrity, change your gaze. Imitate the everyday life of the leaders who have modeled for you a Christ-filled life and taught you the gospel truth.

Model the prayer life of the old bedridden widow who prays constantly. Imitate the couple who would sooner miss breakfast than an opportunity to worship in church. Be like the brothers and sisters who give of themselves in the love of Christ.

Are these people perfect? Of course not. But they don’t have to be. They put their faith in the One who is perfect for them and never changes. Leaders come and go. Role models pass away. But what they taught and believed remains the same: Jesus Christ.

Jesus has kept every single one of his promises. Remember your spiritual leaders and role models. Jesus remained faithful to them until the end. Jesus will remain faithful to you always. He will keep every promise to you and does not change. His promises do not waver. His love never fails.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of spiritual leaders and role models. Help me to imitate their faith. May I always find comfort in your changelessness. Amen.

“I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord. “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”
Jeremiah 23:4-6

Compassionate Shepherds

Daily Devotion – July 24, 2024

Devotion based on Jeremiah 23:4-6


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The people of Judah had a leadership problem. The line of kings had failed them. For the most part, these kings led their people astray through idol worship, not listening to God’s prophets, and moral corruption. Instead of shepherding their people to safety and green pastures, they led them to their doom.

That line of kings would end with one named Zedekiah, a name that means “the Lord is righteous.” However, Zedekiah never lived up to that name. He would be the last descendant of the great King David to sit on Israel’s throne. Those kings had failed. So God himself would step in to be their Shepherd King.

And the name of this new King? The Lord Our Righteous Savior. This King would live up to his name. He is none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus is our righteousness because he did everything right in our place. He fulfilled God’s law perfectly for us. Jesus is our Savior because he took the punishment our sins deserved and saved us from eternal death. He is the King, greater than David, and rules eternally.

As our ultimate Shepherd King, Jesus places shepherds into our lives to care for our spiritual needs. Pastors lead us to the green pastures of God’s Word. They calm our fears with the promises found in the gospel, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life with Jesus. Pastors come looking for us when we go astray, calling us back to the Lord. They know their job isn’t about them, but about the Lord Our Righteous Savior.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to be my Shepherd King and for giving me your righteousness so that I can stand before God. And thank you for compassionate pastors who point me to you. Amen.

But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Mark 6:33,34

Compassion for Spiritual Rest

Daily Devotion – July 23, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 6:33,34


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Sheep are needy creatures. They require constant supervision and care. Sheep have no defense against predators like wolves, coyotes, and even birds of prey. They are susceptible to disease and parasites. Sheep must be shorn regularly to prevent overheating. They have to be shown where to eat so they don’t die of starvation and malnutrition. Sheep need a shepherd.

When Jesus saw the people, he compared them to sheep without a shepherd. Jesus had compassion for them because their spiritual needs were not being met. And like shepherdless sheep, they would be spiritually doomed. So Jesus graciously gave them what he and his disciples had come for—rest. He gave them that rest by teaching them many things. He shared his words with them.

Spiritually, we are much like sheep. We are needy. We are defenseless against our spiritual enemies and susceptible to false teaching. We carry the burden of our guilt and shame. We forget where to find spiritual food and rest that will sustain us. We need a Shepherd.

Only Jesus, our Good Shepherd, can give us what we spiritually need. When we come to worship, open our Bibles, and listen to a devotion, Jesus’ heart fills with compassion toward us. Just as he loved those people in that large crowd, Jesus loves us. He wants to be our Good Shepherd and to give us spiritual rest.

Jesus loves us so much that he laid down his life for us, dying for our sins so that we could live forever with him. So we can have the forgiveness of sins and the rest that comes through peace with God.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for caring about my spiritual rest. Forgive me for when I’ve looked for that rest anywhere besides you. Amen.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
Mark 6:30-32

Compassion for Physical Rest

Daily Devotion – July 22, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 6:30-32


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You don’t have to look hard to find the benefits of rest. Psychologists and physicians agree that rest is vital for overall well-being. You don’t need an expert to tell you that. You have experienced it yourself. You know the difference a full night of sleep can make. When you’re trying to solve a problem, it can be beneficial to step away from the issue, take a rest, and come back refreshed. Even a five-minute break can make a big difference.

Because rest is so important, it’s not surprising to see Jesus have compassion for those who need physical rest. Jesus’ disciples are called apostles because he sent them out with a message on a mission. They had just returned from that work and needed rest. Jesus looked at them with compassion. He suggested they come with him to a quiet place to rest and recuperate.

Jesus cared about every aspect of the disciples’ lives. When they needed rest, Jesus looked for a way to provide it. Jesus cares about every aspect of your life. He sees you, all of you, body and soul together. He cares for the needs of the soul as well as the body. Jesus knows that you have limits. Jesus has not called you to work endlessly without rest.

Working without an end drains you. It leaves you empty. It gives no opportunity for prayer, meditation, and reflection. It wears you out. From the very beginning, God has given you an example of rest when God rested on the seventh day of creation.

Find your rest in Jesus, the one who cares about all of you. Jesus, who rested from his work of saving you on the day between Good Friday and Easter in a tomb, welcomes you to rest in him.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, when I am tired and worn, help me come to you for rest. Amen.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Mark 6:30-34

Take a Break with Jesus

Daily Devotion – July 21, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 6:30-34


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Everyone needs a break from people, even those who regularly serve people. A doctor cannot always be with patients. A teacher cannot always be with students. Even Jesus took time away from the crowds of people who were coming to see him. He did this to be with his disciples. He did this to show his closest followers some one-on-one attention. Jesus said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Jesus makes the same invitation to you. Take some time to be alone with Jesus and his Word in your Bible. It will remind you that God loves you. It will remind you how Jesus died on the cross for you and rose from the dead to guarantee your forgiveness and a place in heaven with him. Go with Jesus and get some rest.

And then go back and serve the people God has brought into your life, just as Jesus did. “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”

May the moments you spend with Jesus in the Word strengthen you in your service to others.

Prayer:
Compassionate Lord, may the love and attention you have shown me, help me to show love and attention to those I meet today. Amen.

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. For this is what Amos is saying: “‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’” Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.” Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”
Amos 7:10-15

Bad News, Good News

Daily Devotion – July 20, 2024

Devotion based on Amos 7:10-15


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No one likes to be the bearer of bad news. Yet, we sometimes find ourselves in that situation, and there’s nothing we can do about it. The prophet Amos found himself in that position. He was to bring a message of God’s judgment on the people of Israel and tell them that Israel would be conquered because the people rejected God. Amaziah, who served as the most important priest in Bethel, didn’t like the message either. He wanted Amos to stop proclaiming this bad news and to return to his own people. Yet, Amos did not stop. Instead, he pointed out that he must proclaim what the Lord says.

Often, we find ourselves in the same shoes as Amos. Someone we care about is saying or doing something God says they shouldn’t. And when we bring it to their attention, they are less than receptive.

Fortunately, the message of the Lord is not only bad news. He also proclaims the good news that he has saved us from our sin. He points us to Jesus. And in that news, we hear a message that surpasses any bad news we could possibly hear. We hear how he has rescued us from our condemnation through Jesus. What greater message can there be for us to share?

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, boldly allow me to go and proclaim your message of grace. Amen.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Titus 1:9

Faithful Pastors

Daily Devotion – July 19, 2024

Devotion based on Titus 1:9


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If you could design the perfect pastor, what would he be like? He would probably be a man who was wise, eloquent, and clever. A go-getter who would run the church like an expert CEO. People would come from miles around to hear him speak. Because of him, members who hadn’t come to services in years would return by the truckload, and the church’s offerings would increase by two hundred fifty percent. He would be someone who could single-handedly save your church.

While there is nothing wrong with eloquence and crack management skills, there is one characteristic that every pastor must have, and we often take for granted. In his letter to a young pastor named Titus, the apostle Paul makes it clear that the Lord wants pastors who firmly hold to the trustworthy message as it has been taught in the Bible. In other words, God doesn’t want men who single-handedly save the church. He wants men who proclaim the Savior of the Church.

Is there any other better characteristic to have? The Bible’s trustworthy message is centered on God’s incomprehensible love for us. It is beyond understanding that the Son of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14). It’s even more beyond understanding that the enfleshed Son of God became obedient to death on a cross for your sins (Philippians 2:8). It is a mystery that he rose from the dead, and it is beyond our comprehension how he will raise us, too, but he will!

There’s no such thing as a perfect pastor. What we need are faithful pastors who use that trustworthy message to encourage those who need to hear it and refute those who oppose it. Christ answered for all our sins on the cross and rose from the dead, and faithful pastors deliver that sound doctrine to us so that we have no doubt where we stand with God.

Prayer:
Lord of the Church, help pastors stay faithful to their calling and to love your Word and your people. Amen.

Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.” . . . Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”
Amos 7:12,14,15

What’s Your Motivation?

Daily Devotion – July 18, 2024

Devotion based on Amos 7:12,14,15


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It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book: ignore the message by discrediting the messenger. God had sent Amos to call his people to repentance, and Amaziah ignored Amos’ message by accusing him of being a professional who was only concerned about himself.

That kind of thing happens a lot. Christians speak the truth about sin and are called unloving for their trouble. That’s why staying quiet is often easier than confronting someone with their sin.

The problem is that God does not save people by your silence; he saves people by his truth. So what motivates you? Concern for yourself or concern for others?

God may not have called you to be a prophet, but prophets are not the only ones who share God’s truth. Every Christian gets to do that. And if you’re only concerned about yourself, that would be very difficult to do.

Amos made it clear that he was not a professional prophet. He was a shepherd who would still be at his farm if the Lord hadn’t said, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” In other words, Amos didn’t ask to be a prophet; that’s what God made him.

Something similar happened with you. You didn’t ask God to declare Jesus guilty of every sin you’ve ever committed, nor did you ask him to punish Jesus for all those sins instead of you. But he did because he loves you.

He made you someone who listens to him, so listen to what he has to say: sin is serious and separates us from him, but Jesus is the solution to the sin problem. God grant that people will hear Jesus’ Word from your mouth so that they will see Jesus in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord, give me a genuine concern for the spiritual welfare of others. Amen.

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. For this is what Amos is saying: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile.’”
Amos 7:10,11

What They Need to Hear

Daily Devotion – July 17, 2024

Devotion based on Amos 7:10,11


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The Prophet Amos lived about 800 years before Christ. The twelve tribes of Israel had been a united country under their first three kings, but then there was a civil war, and they split into two separate countries: Israel in the north and Judah in the south.

By the time Amos came along, the divided kingdom had been going on for almost two hundred years. In the northern kingdom, things were going well. The economy was roaring, their territory was increasing, and the people of Israel appeared very religious.

But there was a problem: It was all fake. Yes, there was prosperity, but there was also social injustice and oppression. Their country had a veneer of piety, but it was not in service to the true God. They worshiped God in ways that he had forbidden, and they also worshiped false gods along with him.

Enter Amos. Amos was from the southern kingdom, but God sent him north to preach. He pointed out the nation’s sins and warned them that if they did not return to the Lord, they would be exiled to a foreign land.

His message was not well received. He was accused of being a political revolutionary and reported to the king. But what was Amos supposed to say? If they were sorry for their sin, God would tell Amos to forgive them. But they were not sorry, so he couldn’t. They needed to hear the consequences of their actions. God pleaded with them to stop walking down the road that led to hell.

It’s a lesson worth remembering: when it comes to sin, you may not always be able to tell people what they want to hear, but you can always tell them what they need to hear. Sin has serious consequences, and we have a serious Savior who took those consequences upon himself to forgive us. Like Amos, we can proclaim, “Repent and believe the good news!”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me strength when I tell people what they need to hear about their sin. Amen.