Category: Daily Devotions

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:12,13

The Current Temptation

It is a great comfort to know that you will not be tempted beyond what you can bear. When temptations seem so common and powerful, it is good to know that God will provide a way out.

In the section before our Bible verses today, the apostle Paul recalled how the ancient Israelites were tempted to grumble about their life circumstances, to eat and drink until they were out of control, and to commit sexual immorality, all while having the miraculous presence of God among them.

You may feel the same temptations. How will God provide a way out for you? He reminds you of his special presence in your life. When you are baptized, God has chosen you to be a member of his family. When you take the Lord’s Supper, he has been present with you in a miraculous way for the forgiveness of your sins.

Every time you hear the words of the Bible, God is providing his special presence for you, and he intends to do that into eternity. The current temptation is to pay attention to immediate things and forget about what is eternal. Don’t fall into that trap. Instead, rejoice in God’s presence in your life. That’s your way out!

Prayer:
Stay with me, Lord, and provide a way out of every temptation, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of the manna until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, “This is what the LORD commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it.
Exodus 16:19-24

The Lord Provides for Us While We Rest

Since my heart surgery, I have taken a daily walk on a treadmill. The doctor told me it was a good idea, and it seemed like a healthy habit to me. But one day a week, I refuse to use the treadmill. I did not get this idea from the health experts who recommend taking at least one day off from a daily workout routine each week. I got the idea from the way that the Lord taught the Israelites that he was the one who provided their daily bread.

Six days a week, the Lord provided manna. On those days, the manna spoiled if kept overnight. But on the seventh day, the Sabbath day, the Lord did not provide manna. The manna gathered the day before, on the sixth day, did not spoil overnight. It was still good on the seventh day.

The Lord provides us with food, even on the days we rest. The Lord provides us with health, even on the days we rest. Resting each week is a good way to acknowledge that the Lord provides us with all our blessings. Our Lord Jesus has done all the work that needs to be done.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for all gifts of life and health and rest through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’” The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
Exodus 16:15-18

The Lord Provides for Us While We Work

I know a one-year-old who helps her daddy in the yard. When he mows the grass, she gets out her plastic toy mower and does the same. When he weeds the garden, she picks up the pulled weeds and puts them in and out of the bucket. When he harvests the berries, she harvests and eats them too. She takes great delight in helping. Her daddy is doing the work.

When the Israelites needed food while wandering in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land, God provided a type of bread from heaven. In the morning, there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. The Israelites had not seen it before, and the words they spoke to ask what it was sounded like—manna—which is how it got its name.

God gave them work to do, gathering the manna. But to demonstrate that he was actually the one doing the work, God made sure that no matter how much they gathered, they had just enough.

When we pray, “Give us our daily bread,” we acknowledge that God blesses us with everything we need for our bodily welfare on the way to the Promised Land. Sometimes, we are tempted to think that we earn those things by our work, but then we realize that those things are really blessings from God. Our work is something that God provides to keep us busy while he blesses us.

Prayer:
Our Father, give us today our daily bread, and let us all be clothed and fed. Amen.

If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12

Watch Your Footing

In the book The 19th Hole, author Carol Mann recounts how golf legend Arnold Palmer will never forget the day he lost his footing.

It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters Tournament. Palmer had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a satisfying tee shot. As he approached the ball, he saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned Palmer over, stuck out his hand, and congratulated him for the win he was about to secure.

Palmer later said that as soon as he shook his friend’s hand, he knew he was in trouble. After that congratulatory handshake, he lost his mental footing. He hit his ball into a sand trap. Then he put it over the edge of the green. Then he missed a putt. He lost the Masters.

For Christians, the temptation can be strong to assume that we can coast through our Christian lives: We know the Bible stories. We attend church more often than not. We’re on friendly terms with the pastor. After a while, our idea of Christianity can begin to resemble our life insurance policy. It’s nice to know it’s in our filing cabinet if we need it; otherwise, we don’t give it much thought.

And that’s when we can lose our footing.

Christianity is not some cultural formality through which we coast. Nor is it some life insurance document we store away for emergencies. Christianity is about our relationship with the One who has rescued us from the guilt of our sin.

Don’t lose your footing. Stay close to Jesus.

Prayer:
Forgive me, Lord, for all the times I have forgotten how I need you every moment of my life. Empower me to stand in you alone. Amen.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:18

Rescued From Evil

The apostle Paul was in prison again. This time, it would be his last. Arrested, tried, and convicted before the tribunal of Nero, he had been condemned to death. Paul didn’t despair, however, because his confidence rested in the grace and power of God to rescue him.

Jesus predicted that believers would be harassed and helpless in this sinful world. They would be persecuted by those who misuse power and assaulted by lies and deceptions. The devil will use people and ideas for his purposes. He will ally himself with all kinds of evil and employ it to turn people away from Jesus to forfeit the gift of heaven!

But the devil, with his evil work, has been defeated by Jesus. Speaking about his death on the cross, the Savior declared: “Now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12:31). Jesus crushed the devil’s power when he paid for the guilt of the sins of the world by his innocent death. Though the devil still strives to accomplish his evil purposes, trusting in Jesus, we are assured that our Lord will rescue us from every one of those evil attacks.

And finally, Jesus will bring us to his heavenly kingdom where no evil can ever harm us again! We will be permanently and perfectly rescued from the devil and his evil work.

Like Paul, we are certain that our Lord will faithfully fulfill his word to rescue us from every evil attack and bring us safely into his heavenly kingdom. Confident in his grace and power, we proclaim praises to our eternal King: “To him be glory forever and ever!”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, fill my heart with the certainty of deliverance from every work of evil, and fill my heart with words of praise and glory to you, my Savior and King. Amen.

As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Mark 6:54-56

Can Jesus Help Me?

You have a rare disease. It is eating away at your body and destroying your health. Every day, you are a little bit weaker.

And then you hear that there is a miracle cure. It is hard to obtain and requires a flight to a different country. It will likely be of great cost. Do you say, “Forget it. It’s not worth it. I will accept feeling terrible and getting more sick every day.” Or do you seek the cure?

Once Jesus and the disciples land across the Sea of Galilee, people recognize him. The sick and dying are carried on mats to be placed in front of Jesus. The afflicted were desperate for even a touch of the edge of his cloak as he walked by. And they were healed.

The truth is, I do have a terrible disease. I am a carrier of it. Eventually, this disease will take my life. No pills can touch it, and no therapy will control it. This disease will end in my death. You carry it, too. It is the disease of sin.

But there is a cure for this disease. It is absolutely free. No doctor needs to prescribe it, and no expensive pills need to be purchased. In fact, you don’t even need to go to the pharmacist to pick up the prescription. The Healer brings it to you. All it takes is his touch.

The one who healed the bodies in the markets also heals souls for eternity. His blood that was shed cleanses you. His obedient life purifies you. One day, we will experience in the joy of heaven what it really means to be healthy and alive. Until that day, trust his cure.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for taking my ills upon yourself. Strengthen me to serve you in the blessing of this life you have given me. Amen.

Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Mark 6:51,52

Why Are You So Surprised?

The disciples had just been part of a miracle. Including women and children, Jesus had fed an estimated total of ten to fifteen thousand people with five small barley loaves and two small fish. He had given the loaves and fish to the disciples, and they had distributed that food to all the people and kept sharing until everyone had eaten their fill. And then his disciples even gathered up twelve baskets full of leftovers.

Somehow, that was not enough. It was not enough to convince the disciples that Jesus truly was the Son of God. It did not convince them that Jesus had supernatural power over all creation. So when Jesus walked on the water to them and then calmed the winds they had been fighting, they were amazed.

The Gospel writer Mark lets us know that if they had truly understood what Jesus did in the first miracle, the second would have been easy for them to see. They had not rejected Jesus. They just couldn’t fully see who he was.

Do we have problems seeing Jesus for who he is? Do we forget his power? Do we dismiss his love?

But the greatest miracle of all that day was not the feeding of the 5,000 or walking on the water. The greatest miracle was that Jesus was willing to climb in the boat with his disciples.

Because Jesus would have every reason to be frustrated by their unwillingness to trust him and just leave them to their problems. But he didn’t. He climbed in with them.

Remember that! Jesus was willing to come to this frustrated world. He is not a God who merely hovers over us and shakes his head in frustration or sadness—either unwilling or unable to help. He took on our flesh. He gave himself for our sins. He promises that he will be with us always.

And when we face our doubts and fears—when we feel overwhelmed with sadness or crushed with guilt—remember the God you have. He climbs into the boat with us.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me to always see your amazing love. Amen.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Mark 6:50

Where Is Your Focus?

The disciples must have been exhausted. Digging deep into the waters of the Sea of Galilee and making slow progress with their wooden oars tired them out. It was now much closer to the sunrise of a new day than the sunset when they set out on this journey. And all they could see was that they were stuck in the water.

Until “It is I” appeared.

Jesus came to them, and what did they see? They thought they saw a ghost. How could they miss the One who was there to help? Their focus was wrong.

Jesus comes to us in his Word with stacks of blessings. He commands the universe. All things have been placed under his feet. He rules all things for the good of his people.

And yet, how often doesn’t life leave us with faces that are white as a ghost? We worry about how we will pay the bills. We fear for the safety of our families and our children. We are scared about what the doctor told us. We stress about how we will get everything done that we need to do.

How will we get through this? “It is I,” says Jesus. And when he tells us to “Take courage!” and “Don’t be afraid,” he means it. He’s not some well-intentioned friend who pats us on the back and tells us everything will be okay but can do nothing about it. Jesus is the one with the power to help.

This doesn’t mean that we will stop facing troubles, just the opposite. Jesus once promised, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) But he doesn’t leave us to stew in it. He also promises, “But take heart, for I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)

In the midst of our problems, Jesus comes to us, too. “It is I,” he promises. It is I who loves you. It is I who has redeemed you. It is I who will remove all your fears one day in the glory of heaven.

Focus on Jesus, not your fears. Keep your eyes on the “I.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, overcome my fears with your promises. Amen.

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Mark 6:47-50

Does Jesus Seem Far Away?

Where was Jesus? The disciples had been sent across the Sea of Galilee by Jesus. But now, hours later, they are still straining against the oars, trying to overcome the wind blowing against them. It sounds like this went on for hours. Perhaps the disciples wondered, “Where is Jesus?”

It turns out not far away at all. Jesus was keeping his eye on them. He knew what they were going through. As the darkness began to be chased away by the coming dawn, Jesus went out to them.

And when their loving Savior comes near them, they cannot see him. The disciples believe they are seeing a ghost. Apparently, there was a popular Jewish superstition that seeing spirits in the night was a sign of an impending disaster. They are terrified.

Does Jesus seem far away from you? Do your persistent prayers result in no visible changes or answers? Have you given up on seeking your God in worship? Have you allowed your Bible to grow dusty, and now you feel disconnected from your God? Do you feel all alone, like Jesus has passed you by in the night?

Take comfort in your Savior’s consistent love. He knows you better than you know yourself. As he was aware of the disciples’ struggles, he is aware of yours.

The truth is that Jesus is never far away from us, no matter how we may feel. He came near to us when he took on human flesh to save us. Before he ascended into heaven, he promised to always be with us—not in some fairytale, imaginary sense, but truly present. Always. And he continues to draw near to us in his Word and the Lord’s Supper, assuring us of his love, forgiveness, and presence.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, keep me close to you through your Word. Amen.

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Mark 6:45,46

Are You Having a Bad Day?

Do you suppose Jesus ever had bad days? Our text almost sounds that way. Jesus made his disciples get into a boat. He dismissed the crowd which had gathered around him after the feeding of the 5,000-plus men and women. He leaves the crowd and the disciples and goes alone to a mountain to pray. Maybe it was just a bad day for Jesus.

John’s gospel gives us some added insight into this text. It says that after the people saw and experienced the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, “They intended to come and make him king by force” (John 6:15).

The people were not there to ask Jesus to teach them deeper truths of the Word of God. They were not there to learn about the forgiveness and peace he would bring. They took the gift that was Jesus and turned it into a selfish desire. “Fill our bellies, Jesus!” was what they cared about.

And so Jesus sends his disciples out across the lake, and he goes himself up a mountain to pray. He separates himself from a devilish proposition—to gather early popularity and show earthly power. No, it was not a bad day. Instead, it was another day for him to focus on saving souls and to draw strength from his heavenly Father.

How is your day today? Are you already dreading what this day has in store for you? Are you struggling with tensions in relationships? Are you stressed out at work? The car won’t start? The kids aren’t behaving? Some days feel better than others.

Remember what Jesus offers. The one who would not be led astray by worldly selfish ambition came unselfishly to win forgiveness for this day and all our days. And he reminds us of the privilege we have to go to our God in prayer. That means this day is looking better all the time.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me and forgiving me every day of my life. Whatever this day brings, help me to draw strength from you. Amen.