Author: Kerry

It was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer. . . After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied, by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great. . . For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:10-12

Greatness

Daily Devotion – October 26, 2024

Devotion based on Isaiah 53:10-12


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How do you define greatness?

According to one dictionary, greatness is defined as “a person who has achieved importance or distinction in a field.”

Would you define greatness with the name Felix Baumgartner? On October 14, Baumgartner set the record for successfully skydiving from a height of 24 miles above the earth. He also became the first person to break the speed of sound outside of a vehicle. That is pretty great. According to the world, greatness is often displayed through outward acts of glory.

God has a different definition of greatness. Through Isaiah, God defines true greatness with the name Christ Jesus. God’s definition of greatness centers on humble service.

Our sinful flesh doesn’t want to hear this. It screams to be first. But the Bible says, “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). There is no place in the Christian life for selfish ambition. Selfish desire for greatness separates us from God and casts us under his judgment.

But God doesn’t want anyone to suffer for sin. Instead, it was the Lord’s will to crush Jesus under the weight of our sin and cause him to suffer for our guilt.

When it comes to greatness, no one has achieved greater importance or distinction than Jesus. Felix Baumgartner descended from 24 miles above the earth. Jesus came from heaven itself. Baumgartner broke the sound barrier. Jesus bore the sins of the world, breaking the sin barrier between us and God. Jesus is great, not because he performed signs and wonders, but because he provided our salvation.

Prayer:
Jesus, you are the greatest! Help me achieve greatness through a life of humble service to you. Amen.

He poured out his life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:12

He Even Added Intercession

Daily Devotion – October 25, 2024

Devotion based on Isaiah 53:12


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“Put in a good word for me.”

That’s what people say when they ask you to be a reference for them on a job application. You will be especially helpful to them if you already work for the company and have a good reputation there. You can intercede for them like no one else can. But if you know that the person will be a bad worker, do you still put in a good word for them?

Jesus knew that all people who ever lived would not be good workers. They would sin against him. He died to take the punishment for that sin as if he did it himself. God made him who had no sin to be sin for them.

Then, without even being asked, Jesus put in a good word for them. He interceded for them with God the Father and said, “I know those people have sinned, transgressing against your holy law. But I took the punishment for it, so you can forgive those people and welcome them to heaven.”

Jesus is taking the time right now to put in a good word for you. He has an excellent reputation with God the Father, and his intercession is enough to guarantee you a permanent place in the kingdom of God.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for pleading for me and giving me the opportunity to serve you. Amen.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:10

You Will Never Suffer Hell

Daily Devotion – October 24, 2024

Devotion based on Isaiah 53:10


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Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah got a glimpse of what Jesus would do. The details in Isaiah chapter 53 lead us to believe that Isaiah saw pretty clearly how Jesus would die on a cross. The selfless sacrifice of the suffering servant of the Lord is portrayed in graphic terms.

Isaiah also spoke of the purpose of the suffering. The death of Jesus was an offering for sin. But Jesus had never sinned! Separated from God the Father while hanging on the cross, Jesus suffered hell, the appropriate punishment for sin. He declared that this suffering was for every sin ever committed by anyone in the world, and he proved that he paid the price for all that sin by rising from the dead. He still lives, and he always will.

Jesus suffered hell for you so that you will never suffer hell. Connected to Jesus by faith, you receive forgiveness for your sins and eternal life with him in heaven. God wants you to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Nearly two thousand years after Jesus died, you have an even clearer view of the details and purpose of his suffering than Isaiah did.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for suffering hell in my place and promising me eternity in heaven with you. Amen.

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. . . I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19,23

Doing What’s Best for Others

Daily Devotion – October 23, 2024

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 9:19,23


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It may be a virtue to put other people’s needs ahead of your own, but it can burn you out fast. Compassion fatigue is a real thing. Needy people can take everything out of you. Unappreciative people can make you resentful.

If you are going to find out other people’s needs and try to meet them, it’s best to have a clear purpose for doing that. In today’s Bible reading, the encouragement is to do all that for the sake of the gospel.

That means that while you are sympathetic to the perceived needs of people, you know that their real greatest need is a connection to Jesus as their Savior. People need to acknowledge that they are sinners, and they need to hear that Jesus forgives them. That’s the gospel.

When you look at your life of service through that lens, you will share in the blessings of the gospel. Acknowledging that you are a sinner makes you more patient with unappreciative people who are sinners, too. Hearing that Jesus forgives you gives you the strength to forgive them.

In fact, the gospel is an endless source of motivation and energy for going out of your way to serve others.

Prayer:
Jesus, give me perseverance and strength to win people for you. Amen.

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:43-45

Servant Leadership

Daily Devotion – October 22, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 10:43-45


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If your main goal in life is to meet the needs of others, not yourself, what does that make you? A flight attendant? The parent of a newborn? Service staff in a restaurant? No, it makes you a Christian. Let me explain.

When Jesus became a human being, he humbled himself. From all eternity, he had been God, and he could have arrived on the earth demanding to be worshiped, but instead, he came to meet the needs of others. He lived the life they could not have lived, and when it came time for him to take the reward of heaven, he chose to take the suffering of hell instead. He died for you. He did not demand to be served. Instead, he earned forgiveness for you. He served.

That means your basic needs are taken care of. As a Christian, you have forgiveness for your sins, and when your sins are forgiven, you get eternal life in heaven.

When you do not have to worry about meeting your own needs, you are freed up to meet the needs of others.

People whose main job is to meet the needs of others are servants. Jesus says that you are free to think of yourself that way, even in areas of leadership. It’s a great paradox. Because of Jesus, Christians are free, subject to no one. In response to that freedom, Christians are dutiful servants of all, subject to everyone.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, forgive me for desiring to be served. Give me opportunities to serve in your name. Amen.

“We are going up to Jerusalem,” [Jesus] said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Mark 10:33,34

The Hard Way Was the Only Way

Daily Devotion – October 21, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 10:33,34


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Do you ever watch people doing something and realize they are doing it the hard way? You wonder how much better their life would be if they were to figure out the easy way of doing it.

Jesus explained to his disciples what it would take to earn their salvation, and it must have looked like the hard way to them. Surely, he could stay away from Jerusalem, where all his enemies were gathered! There was no reason to let them condemn him, mock and spit on him, flog and kill him, was there? How much easier the life of Jesus would have been if he could have found a way to avoid such suffering.

But when it came to your salvation, the hard way was the only way. Someone had to live a perfect life in your place. Someone had to die to take the punishment for your sin. Someone had to fulfill all the prophecies. Someone had to make the selfless sacrifices for his disciples, including you.

Jesus knew he would rise from the dead, and he wanted you to join him in the resurrection. He did everything the hard way so that your life would be better right now. You have peace with God. He did everything the hard way so that your life would be better in the future. You will live forever with him.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for suffering to bring me to glory. Amen.

I do all this for the sake of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:23

For the Sake of the Truth

Daily Devotion – October 20, 2024

Devotion based on1 Corinthians 9:23


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His name was William Charles Macready. In the 1800s, William Macready was one of the most respected actors in Great Britain and the United States. In each stage performance, Macready poured his heart and soul into the character he was portraying. People loved him for it. They packed the theaters to see him at work.

It’s said that there once was a preacher who approached Macready with a simple question. The question was: “What is the reason for the difference between you and me? You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all.”

Macready’s answer was this: “I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction.”

Ouch.

Don’t misunderstand. The Bible is clear that the power to bring hearts to faith in Jesus lies in the power of the gospel—the good news of what Jesus has done on our behalf. Nevertheless, how many times have Christians put a roadblock in front of the gospel by acting as if it’s fiction?

The beauty is that, despite our lack of passion and our bouts of apathy, the gospel remains the most true and real thing there is. After all, whenever the reality of our wrongs crushes us, and we cry out in repentance, there is the gospel. There is the living, breathing Savior who promises that his blood has washed us clean, that we are his, and that he will never leave our side.

Macready did all he could for the sake of fiction. In Jesus, you and I can do all we can for the sake of the truth—the truth of sins forgiven in Christ.

Prayer:
Precious Savior, I confess all the times I have shared your good news so poorly. Forgive me. And empower me by your gospel to do all I can for the sake of the truth. Amen.

Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16

Our Perfect Substitute

Daily Devotion – October 19, 2024

Devotion based on Hebrews 4:14-16


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I remember being a teenager and believing, “My parents just don’t understand. They don’t know what it’s like to be me. They don’t understand the pressure to be popular, the pain of gossip, and the shame of being left out.” I didn’t realize that my parents still remembered what it was like to be a teenager.

I have young children, and the cycle continues. They can’t believe that I can remember how hard it is to be a kid. But I do. I do know what they are going through.

On a much higher level, we struggle to believe that the almighty God knows what it’s like to be human. So, we struggle to pray to God with transparency because it’s difficult to understand how he can relate to our pain.

That is why we love these words from Hebrews chapter 4. The writer says that Jesus is our High Priest. That means Jesus is the mediator between us and our heavenly Father. But he is not a high priest that is out of touch with our feelings. Jesus came into this world and experienced everything we do. He was tempted in every way that we are.

The only difference: Jesus did not sin.

The writer reminds us of Jesus’ holiness, not to shame us but to encourage us. Jesus is our perfect substitute and Savior. Jesus gives us his perfect record as a gift. Therefore, we can approach God with absolute confidence. We can tell him what we struggle with and all our guilt and pain. He hears us and even empathizes with us. And most of all, he forgives us.

Prayer:
Lord God, you know what it’s like to be misunderstood, even hated. You know what it’s like to be tempted. I pray that you would both forgive my sins and lead me to walk in your ways. And I will give you all the glory. Amen.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17

Making a Difference

Daily Devotion – October 18, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 90:17


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“You can do anything you set your mind to.” This quote, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, has been echoed in countless self-help books, whether they are about career goals, financial success, physical fitness, or strategies for winning on the field or court. It is repeated and rephrased in hundreds of commencement addresses every year.

But experience teaches us that it is not true. No matter how much we set our minds to it, few of us have the gifts to play in the NFL or win an Olympic gold medal. The greatest minds in the world may never find a cure for cancer or even a way to eliminate the flu or the common cold.

Psalm 90 is about the brevity of life in this world. Our mortality is a result of the sin in our hearts. Sin foolishly makes me think I can do whatever I set my mind to. I’m in charge. I call the shots. I am my own god. How arrogant!

Thankfully, God sent his Son, whose hands were gentle, to selflessly help us in our sinful arrogance. His hands accepted the guilt for our pride as they were stretched out on a cross to die. He showed those nail-pierced hands to his followers after he had defeated death and been raised to life. Now his hands are lifted up to bless us with his favor and forgiveness every day.

Because of the work of God’s hands, we use our hands not to serve ourselves, not to build our own kingdom that will just pass away, but to serve our eternal, loving God. We pray with Moses, “Establish the work of our hands for us.” Help us live a life that matters. Move our hands to scroll or page through your Word to see your favor and learn what love looks like. Move our hands to cling to your promises and not our achievements. Fold our hands in prayer for those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior. And extend our hands to help someone in need to show them the love of Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, establish the work of our hands, that we may do what matters for eternity. Amen.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom . . . Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:12,14

You Only Live Once

Daily Devotion – October 17, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 90:12,14


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YOLO—You only live once. Take chances; make the most of every day; do what makes you happy because “you only live once.”

One of the thoughts behind this slogan is a very biblical one. Life is short. You never know when your time in this world will come to an end. Your own death or Jesus’ return on the Last Day could come at any time. Remembering this shapes how you live your life.

A man named Moses had seen a lot of death in his life. He was very aware of his own mortality. He rightly saw death as a reminder of the sinfulness of mankind and the reality of God’s judgment. And so, he prayed for wisdom: “Teach us to number our days, Lord. Don’t let us forget that this life is short or that this life is not all there is.”

The Bible teaches us to live life with an eternal perspective and to prioritize what prepares us for what comes after this life. And this is where YOLO usually falls short. Living for the moment, doing only what makes you feel good, and putting yourself first leave us unprepared to stand before God. That’s because God’s law demands that we live our lives not for ourselves but for him and those around us.

And so, Moses prayed, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” God’s unfailing love satisfies us like nothing else can because it gives us certainty for eternity. In unfailing love, God sent Jesus to break the curse of sin and overcome death. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God forgives our selfish shortsightedness and our misplaced priorities. Because of his unfailing love, we can sing for joy and be glad all our days. We can face life and death without fear. We can live each day to serve God, knowing that he has a better life prepared for us, where we only live once, but that life lasts forever.

Prayer:
Lord may your unfailing love move me to live for you every day. Amen.