Devotionals

Enjoy our daily devotionals written by Pastor Randy Dubois. These devotionals can be used as another way to grow in your walk with Jesus and to grow in your understanding of God and His Word.


 

 

The Resurrection of Christ (Day 22)

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
 
   Most churches contain people who do not yet believe. Some are moving in the direction of belief, and others are simply pretending. Imposters, however, are not to be removed (Matthew 13), for that is the Lord’s work alone. The Gospel about Jesus Christ will save us if we firmly believe it and faithfully follow it. 

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God Remains Faithful (Day 6)

Read Romans 3:1-8
 
   The Jewish nation had many advantages. 1) They were entrusted with God’s laws (Exodus 19-20; Deuteronomy 4). 2) They were the race through whom the Messiah came to earth (Isaiah 11; Matthew 1). 3) They were the beneficiaries of covenants with God Himself (Genesis 17; Exodus 19). But these privileges did not make them better than anyone else. In fact, because of them the Jews were even more responsible to live up to God’s requirements. 

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Mark: A Walk With Our Savior (Day 42)

Read Mark 10:17-31
 
JESUS SPEAKS TO THE RICH YOUNG MAN
 
   When Jesus asked this young man, “Why do you call me good?’ Jesus was saying “Do you really know the one whom you are talking to?” Because only God is truly good, the man was calling Jesus “good” whether or not he realized it. 
What does your money mean to you? Although Jesus wanted this man to sell everything and give his money to the poor, this does not mean that all believers should sell all their possessions. Most of His followers did not sell everything, although they used their possessions to serve others. Instead, this incident shows us that we must not let our possessions or money keep us from following Jesus. We must remove all barriers to serving Him fully. If Jesus asked, could you give up your house? Your car? Your level of income? Your position or promotion? Your reaction may show your attitude toward money: whether it is your servant or your master. 
 
   Jesus showed genuine love for this man, even though He knew that the man might not follow Him. Love is able to give tough advice; it doesn’t hedge on the truth. Christ loved us enough to die for us, and He also loves us enough to talk straight to us. If His love were superficial, He would only give us His approval; but because His love is complete, He gives life-changing challenges. 
 
   Jesus said it was very difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God because the rich, having their basic physical needs met, often become self reliant. When they feel empty, they buy something new to try and fill that void that only God can fill. Their abundance and self-sufficiency become their deficiency. The person who has everything on earth can still lack what is most important: eternal life. 
 
   This man wanted to be sure he would get eternal life, so he asked what he could do. He said he’d never once broken any of the laws Jesus mentioned, and perhaps he had even kept the Pharisees’ loop-hole filled version of them. But Jesus lovingly broke through the man’s pride with a challenge that brought out his true motives. This challenge exposed the barrier that could keep this man out of the Kingdom: his money. Money represented his pride of accomplishment and self-effort. Ironically, his attitude made him unable to keep the first commandment: to let nothing be more important than God (Exodus 20). He could not meet the one requirement Jesus gave: to turn his whole heart and life over to God. This man came to Jesus wondering what he could do; he left seeing what he was unable to do. What barriers are keeping you from turning your life over to Christ? 
 
   The disciples were amazed. Was not wealth a blessing from God, a reward for being good? This misconception is still common today. Although many believers enjoy material prosperity, many others live in poverty. Wealth is not a sign of faith or partiality on God’s part. 
 
   Jesus assured the disciples that anyone who gives up something valuable for His sake will be repaid a hundred times over in this life, although not necessarily in the same way. For example, someone may be rejected by his/her family for accepting Christ, but he/she will gain the larger family of believers. Along with these rewards, however, we experience persecution because the world hates God. Jesus emphasized persecution to make sure that we do not selfishly follow Him for the rewards. 
 
   Jesus explained that in the world to come, the values of this world will be reversed. Those who seek status and importance here will have none in heaven. Those who are humble here will be great in heaven. The corrupt condition of our society encourages confusion in values. We are bombarded by messages that tell us how to be important and how to feel good, and Jesus’ teaching about service to others seems alien. But those who have humbly served others are most qualified to be great in heaven.