Acts 5:1-42

To what extent are you willing to obey God? In Acts 5 we see a picture of both disobedience and obedience and the results that follow. First, Ananias and Sapphira wanted to fit into the culture of generosity in the early church, but were not concerned about truly obeying God. They valued social acceptance more than God’s acceptance. The result was death. Disobedience will rarely lead to instantaneous physical death like happened to them. However, when we refuse to obey God, we are drifting away from the source of life; thus voluntarily choosing to experience a taste of death.

In contrast, we have the example of the apostles. They preached the gospel even in the face of imprisonment and death threats. They considered preserving their life as nothing next to obeying God. No matter what the world threw at them, they remained resolute in obeying God. They sought to please God no matter the cost and no matter the result. In walking in obedience, they were able to experience true, full, abundant life and supernaturally amazing joy. Let us have this heart, choosing obedience over any short-term preservation, blessing or reward this world might throw at us. True life is only available in Jesus.

Father God, help me to choose to obey you. Since joy, peace, and life is only available in you, help me to always choose you over anything this world offers. Amen. 

How intentionally are you pursuing obedience in every area of your life? How can you cultivate a greater willingness to always obey God?

Acts 4:1-37

Jesus is unique. As the eternal Son of God, he alone transformed all human history through his life, death, and resurrection. He further wants to transform our lives and our ability to respond to all of life. How do you generally respond to difficult circumstances? Acts 4 shows us a response that is truly supernatural in nature. Peter and John were arrested, and probably wondered if their lives were over. Yet their response in the face of possible death and imprisonment was to proclaim the gospel and pray.

They first used every opportunity to point people to Jesus. Whether the people were spiritual seekers or potential murderers, they wanted everyone to hear of what Jesus had done. They understand that life was about maximizing God’s glory and not about their personal comfort. Secondly, they continuously prayed. Their prayers were acknowledgements of God’s greatness, power, and glory— even in the face of confusing, difficult circumstances. When they prayed, they reminded themselves of God’s power as creator, they prayed Scripture, and asked for God to enable them to continue the ministry they were doing. Read Acts 4:24-30. How do your prayers compare to that? I encourage you to pray with great intensity, creativity and with a reminder of who God is knowing that no matter what you are going through, God can enable you to respond in supernaturally amazing ways.

Father God, thank you that I can draw near to you in prayer. Help me to remember my life is about you and your glory. Amen. 

How can you respond to confusing, difficult circumstances like Peter and John?

Acts 3:1-26

How similar is your life to that of Jesus? In what ways do people see Jesus in you? After receiving the Holy Spirit, the disciples continued the ministry of Jesus. They came upon a crippled man and healed him in the name of Jesus. In the same way Jesus healed for years, these men performed similar acts. When the healing drew attention though, they put all the focus on Jesus. Their miracle was not meant to point people to the greatness of Peter and John, but rather to the greatness of Jesus. Jesus healed through his own power, while the disciples healed through his power. They had no power or ability on their own, it was all derivate of the Spirit’s power Jesus had granted to them.

Though we most likely have never performed a miraculous healing, we are called to continue the ministry of Jesus in the way we respond to the people around us. It may be a beggar, a neighbor, a coworker, a friend, or family member; to everyone we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The way that Jesus spoke, acted, and loved people, becomes the paradigm for us. This is not something we would ever be able to do on our own, but are only capable through the Spirit. Jesus’ life is available to us through the Spirit so it can pour through us onto the lives of others. Let us live as Christ’s representatives continually pointing people to him.

Father God, thank you for your Spirit that empowers me to live in your ways. Help me to represent you well and make you known to the people whose paths I cross today. Amen.

How well does your life and your words reflect the character of Christ and point people to him?

Acts 2:1-47

How is your life different because you know Jesus? In just a few short weeks, the disciples went from a scared group to powerfully experiencing the power of God. The day came when the power Jesus promised descended upon them. The Spirit in-dwelt them, and the proof was in their ability to speak in many languages. This speaking in tongues in the exact way described in Acts 2 was rare evidence of the Holy Spirit, but everyone should display proof of the Spirit’s power. Some of the most common ways of the Spirit working are described in Acts 2:42. We are told the whole church was devoted to “the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

As amazing as speaking in tongues was, the far more significant event was the changed lives of the disciples. They moved from timid, scared people to passionate, courageous disciple makers. The ultimate evidence of the Spirit was a commitment to truth, people, and God. As we consider the work of the Spirit in our lives, we should consider whether it is the same for us. Are we committed to God’s truth, to God’s people, and to God himself ? If we are not, how can we become devoted to what God wants for us? We are to walk as Spirit empowered, Christ-devoted people like the original disciples. They were radically transformed to be disciples who made disciples.

Father God, thank you for the Spirit. May I continually submit to his work in my life. Amen. 

How devoted are you to pursuing truth, Christ-centered relationships, and prayer?

Acts 1:1-26

Acts is the second part of the Gospel of Luke. It picks up after Jesus' death, resurrection, post-resurrection appearances, and ascension. The focus moves from the earthly ministry of Jesus to the work of the Holy Spirit through the disciples. The very same work which continues through us today. The effectiveness of the ministry was tied to two things. First, they were only going to be effective with the Holy Spirit. Their innate skills and talents would never be enough to accomplish the eternal role to which God was calling them. Instead of relying on themselves, they were to wait until the Holy Spirit came upon them. He would give them power to do that which only God can do. This same Holy Spirit now empowers us to accomplish the act of being disciples who make disciples.

Second, they needed effective leadership. This is why Peter is so quick to call them to replace Judas with someone else who could be “a witness with us of his resurrection.” So, lots are cast (a common occurrence in the Old Testament, but the last time this is done in the Bible) and Matthias is chosen. His only qualification is he had been with Jesus and been transformed by him. God calls all of us into leadership as well. You may not have been chosen by lots, but as a follower of Christ you have been chosen—so start leading.

Father God, thank you for the work of Jesus and the power of the Spirit. Help me to recognize the gifts you have given to me and use them to lead others to you. Amen. 

How can you more effectively lead and rely on the Holy Spirit?

John 21:1-25

Do you ever feel like you have drifted too far from God, wracked with guilt and shame you cannot seem to shake? As we consider the love of Jesus, we should always remember that his grace is greater than our sin. John 21 finds Jesus once again appearing to his disciples, this time in northern Israel. He begins his meeting by telling them how to catch an extravagant number of fish. This is how Jesus’ relationship began with the disciples in Luke 5 and how John depicted his final recorded appearance to them. His kindness and compassion are displayed in their massive catch. After caring for the group of disciples he now cares specifically for Peter.

When Peter comes to shore, Jesus asks him about his love three times. Only a week or so before this, Peter had denied Jesus three times. Now Jesus reiterates his love and calling for Peter three times. No matter what we have done, there is always the opportunity through forgiveness and restoration to be brought back to Jesus. Our sin is never greater than Jesus’ grace towards us. So, no matter what you have done, know that Jesus calls you to himself and to live according to the calling he gives all people: be a disciple who makes disciples.

Father God, thank you for your grace. Help me to never allow my sin to keep me from you. Amen. 

Is there anything in your life which you feel disqualifies you from experiencing forgiveness or sharing the gospel? If so, how can you take these things to God and experience his forgiveness?

John 20:1-31

In writing his Gospel, John was not only concerned with the belief of the disciples, but desires for everyone to come to belief in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. He places the purpose for his writing in the final verse. John 20:31 says, “these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John’s writing is not ultimately intended as a history lesson, though it is history, but rather it is meant to move people to faith.

God’s ultimate desire is for all of humanity to be restored into relationship with him. The way this happens is through faith in Christ. Then once we have come to faith, we are called to share the message of Christ with others so they might believe. The first communicator of the resurrection was Mary Magdalene. Her message was simple, “I have seen the Lord.” We may feel like we do not have much to say or do not have the answers for questions that people might raise, but if we have encountered Jesus, then we can simply say like Mary, “I have met the Lord.” Our calling is to be disciples who make disciples. Sharing that Jesus has risen from the dead allows us to participate in this calling.

Father God, thank you that Jesus rose from the dead. Help me to believe and share this message with others. Amen. 

How can you simply share Jesus with someone God has placed in your life today?

John 19:23-42

Three times in our reading today, John points to an event around Jesus' crucifixion which fulfills earlier Scriptures. Often these fulfillments are of a specific prophecy in a specific verse. For example, John 19:24 fulfills Psalm 22:18, and John 19:33 fulfills Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Psalm 34:20, and Zechariah 12:10. Other times the fulfillment seems to be broader than simply a single verse. For example, fulfillment language is used in John 19:28, but no specific Old Testament texts are quoted. It is possible that it is an explicit fulfillment of Psalm 69:21, which is quoted by other Gospel writers but not by John. Or, it may be a fulfillment "not of a particular trait in the scripture picture, but the perfect completion of the whole prophetic image (Westcott)." Regardless, all of these fulfillments point to the truthfulness of Scripture and the perfect work of Jesus.

A skeptic might think that Jesus simply knew the prophecies and sought to fulfill them, but could he really do that while he is on the cross? How could he fulfill prophecies centered around his birth? Jesus has already fulfilled around 300 prophecies, and at his return will fulfill the rest. These fulfillments remind us that Jesus is worthy of our trust, our lives, and has fulfilled everything necessary to be the one who saves us from our sins. Since, Jesus is the truth and Scriptures are true, we can entrust ourselves to them.

Father God, thank you that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah who died for my sins. Help me to trust you and your Scriptures. Amen. 

How should the trustworthy nature of Jesus and the Scripture impact your life?

John 18:25-19:22

Each of us has been given a sphere of authority and are to lead within the areas which God has given to us. So how well are you leading where God has placed you? In John’s depiction of Jesus’ trial, we encounter two different sets of leaders. The religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat to their religious-political system. They had slowly lost followers and fanfare throughout Jesus’ ministry, so they wanted his life to end. They used their power to drag Jesus to Pilate and were willing to lie, deceive, and manipulate to get what they wanted. They had power but used it to lead the Son of God to his death.

Then we are introduced to Pilate. As the Roman governor, he was the only one who had the authority to enact capital punishment. He had power to do what was right, but rather than leading, he simply followed the voices of the crowd. He had the power to free Jesus, but not the will to do so. In the end, he listened to a fanatical crowd, rather than his own conscience. In our places of leadership we must stand for what is right. We may be tempted to take shortcuts to get what we want—like the religious leaders— but that is failed leadership. Or we may be tempted to cave to peer pressure like Pilate, but God instead calls us to courageous leadership where God is glorified.

Father God, help me to lead like you and for your glory. Amen. 

Where do you see yourself falling into the failed leadership of Pilate and the religious leaders?

John 18:1-24

When you wake up in the morning do you primarily think about what you need to accomplish, or how you can serve others? Is your focus on yourself, or on other people? Keep these questions in mind as you read John 18. After an exhausting night which included a meal and intense prayer, a mob came to arrest Jesus. If Jesus’ mindset was selfpreservation he could have fled or denied his identity, but instead, since his focus was on serving the world, he openly acknowledged that “I am he.” Notice the power in his voice. When he spoke, the crowd fell to the ground. The same voice that spoke the world into existence spoke into the darkness with power. Yet despite this power, Jesus’ understanding of his mission gave him a willingness to be arrested. Jesus’ mindset was not about himself but about serving others.

Notice the clear contrast with Peter. When Peter is asked if he is Jesus’ disciple, he denies it. He is worried that he might be arrested, so with a focus on himself, he claims to not even know Jesus. With a self-centered mindset, he finds himself lying, denying his Savior, and separating himself from Jesus. Similarly, when we put ourselves first, we will always drift away from truth and God. .Therefore, we are to remember Christ’s love and sacrifice, openly acknowledge him, and conform to his life.

Father God, thank you that out of a love for me, Jesus was willing to walk in obedience to the end. Help me to live out of a commitment to you and a love for others. Amen. 

How can you live focused more on Christ than yourself?

John 17:1-26

The day before Jesus died, he stopped and prayed for you. Yes, he specifically prayed for you. What an amazing thing —to know that Jesus took the time mere hours before his betrayal to pray. So, let us investigate together what exactly he prayed. Stop and reread John 17:20-23. Notice Jesus’ prayer for us centers around the idea of unity. First, he wants us to experience unity with himself. He wants us to be “in Christ” and to have lives that circle around him. Our lives are to be about him, and our purposes are to be his. Not only does he want us to be unified with himself but also with other believers. He wants the church to function as “one.” We are to be one body, one family, one church. Living this way does not only help us, but also has a missionary purpose. The world should be able to see the unity of the church and understand God’s existence because of it.

Out of all the things Jesus could have prayed we see that unity was the most vital thing. So, how well are we doing responding to his prayer? Are we seeking to love, understand, and live united with others, or are we too busy gossiping, grumbling, and complaining? Let us live out Jesus’ heart for unity by loving God and others.

Father God, thank you that I am part of your family. Help me to pursue unity with other believers and with you. Amen. 

Does God’s heart for unity match yours? In what specific ways can you demonstrate the unity Jesus prayed for, both in your relationship with God and with others in the church?

John 16:1-33

If you had to explain the person of the Holy Spirit to someone, how would you describe him? In John 16, as Jesus heads to his imminent death he stops to provide some critical instructions to his disciples. Out of all the issues he could have discussed, he taught them about the Holy Spirit. He wanted them to understand that he would send the Holy Spirit who would live within them. Though they have not yet received him, Jesus wanted his disciples to understand the reality and function of the Spirit.

Jesus taught was that the Holy Spirit will bring conviction. He will come and provide moral clarity to the world. No matter the number of laws in the Mosaic Law they couldn’t cover every life scenario but the Spirit can. Also, the Holy Spirit functions as our counselor. He leads believers into wisdom and understanding, and help us thrive amid our circumstances. He alone can produce the love, joy, and peace that we so desperately need. Finally, he will lead believers into all truth. He reminds us of what God has said and helps us to know how to live it out. Though Jesus left his disciples, they were never truly alone because of the Spirit. This same gift has been given to us; to counsel, convict, and lead us into all truth, so let us not forget him. When we seem aimless or isolated, let us look to the Spirit to do what he was meant to do.

Father God, help me not to neglect the gift of your Holy Spirit. Help me to live through his power and presence. Amen. 

Are you neglecting the gift of the Spirit? How can you better live in relationship to the third person of the Trinity that lives within you?

John 15:1-27

On Jesus’ last night before his death, he walked from the upper room in Jerusalem to the Garden of Gethsemane. In his teaching, we see some of the essential truths he longed to communicate to his disciples before he was taken from them. He tells his disciples that he is the vine and his followers are branches. He is the source of life, so the only way we can thrive is to remain connected to him. If Jesus were using this illustration today, he might say he is the electrical outlet and we are the plug, if we are not plugged in, there will be no life. Or maybe he would say, we are the car, and he is the fuel— we are going nowhere without him. This teaching is meant to remind us of our neediness for God.

We will never reach a point of self-reliance, but will always need God, his power, and presence. Every day we need to remain connected to Jesus. If we try to do anything on our own, we will not bear the fruit which God wants to produce in us. So, we need to make it the regular practice of our lives to acknowledge our neediness, ask God to work in and through us, and allow Jesus’ life to flow through us. His life will reveal itself in his character, obedience, love, and words becoming ours. We will be conformed to the likeness of Christ the more we remain in him. So, let us not stray, let us not rely on ourselves; instead, rest and remain in him.

Father God, help me to remain connected to your Son. I need you in all that I do, so may your life flow through me today. Amen. 

What does a life of remaining in Jesus look like?

John 14:15-31

Jesus has been modeling and speaking about love throughout the gospel of John, and especially in his upper room discourse in John 13-14. He wants to leave his disciples with a clear understanding of what it looks like to love God and others. If you were to point to one thing in your life which shows your love for God, what would it be? In John 14 Jesus highlights obedience as evidence of love. In verse 15 Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commands." Our love of God is revealed in obedience. Every time we sin and disobey, we are elevating our love of self and the world above that of God.

So, what do you love? Are you choosing to love God by obeying him, or are you choosing to obey your desires? On our own we are going to continually give in to these inferior loves, but Jesus promised to send a gift to enable us to love and obey. This gift is the Holy Spirit. He teaches, reminds, gives peace, and empowers us to obey. Obedience is not self-effort; rather it is the Spirit’s effort working himself out in us. So let us choose the path of love, the way of obedience, and the road of the Spirit as we live our lives. There are so many things we can love, but nothing is worthy of our love and devotion more than God.

Father God, help me to love you through obedience. Help me to love you more than all the things of this world and be led by your Spirit. Amen. 

Why do we so often separate love and obedience? How can you choose to love God more through obeying him?

John 13:31-14:14

What would you show as evidence that you are a follower of Jesus? If someone wanted to convict you as a Christian, what would they bring to a judge? According to Jesus in John 13, the proof we are Christians is the way we love people. Our calling is not to occasionally love others, but to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by loving continually as an overflow of the love he has shown us. Jesus serves us, so we should serve others. Jesus forgives us, so we should forgive others. Jesus encourages us, so we should encourage others. Jesus speaks truth to us, so we should speak truth to others. All the ways we are loved by God need to become all the ways we love others.

At the beginning of John 13, we saw Jesus stooping down to serve his disciples by washing their feet, That is only one example of the way he loved and served. If we want to prove to the world that we are disciples of Jesus, then they need to see God’s love coming through us. So, we need to continue to stay focused on our mission and do everything in love.

Father God, thank you for your love of me. Help me to love others as a response to the love you have shown me, so they might know I am a Christian. Amen.

Are you loving well enough for people to convict you as a Christian? If not, how can you begin loving better?

John 13:1-30

In John 13 we are told that Jesus “now showed them the full extent of his love.” Jesus showed his love through service. He postured himself as the lowest person in a household by washing the disciples’ feet. He humbled himself by becoming a servant to show love. He stooped down to bless others. If we are to follow in the way of Jesus this is the same mindset we need to adopt. In the time of Jesus serving was looked down upon. Today we speak of servant leadership and service as a beautiful thing, but that is only because of the example of Jesus. Without his model, we would probably live in a world where the only way to live was to climb over others to get what we want. Yet Jesus lived a reversal of this mentality; he lived as a king who served.

In contrast to Jesus’ heart of service, we see the betrayal of Judas. Nothing hurts more than being betrayed by someone who we thought loved us. This failure to love wounds deeply. The path of Judas and the path of Jesus are the same options that are open to us. Let us follow in the path of Jesus and choose to love through service. We need to have eyes for whom we can serve and creativity to know how to do this well. Our service may be shocking, perceived as humiliating, or make no sense to others, but this is the way of Jesus. Let us choose to show the full extent of our love and do so by serving.

Father God, give me eyes to see who to serve and wisdom to know how to do it well. Amen. 

How can you more consistently show the full extent of your love for others through service?

John 12:20-50

Jesus’ path to glory is very different from the strategy of the world. Our world tells us to pursue comfort, ease, happiness, and self-fulfillment, while Jesus models a path towards death and sacrifice. As we seek to follow Jesus, we will have to come to terms with whether we are willing to embrace his way of life. Jesus says that “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Jesus speaks to the fact that through his death, life would come to the world. In the same way, Jesus calls us to be willing to sacrifice, suffer, and potentially even die to make him known. This may mean going to a seemingly unsafe country, making time in our busy schedules to engage a neighbor, or learning to give generously, because God calls us to give up our own desires and fill them with God’s desires.

As we move toward the summer, you may have plans for trips and vacations, and there is nothing wrong with those in and of themselves. However, I would encourage you to also make intentional plans of service, evangelism, and sacrifice. God calls us to a life of service, because this is the life of Jesus. If we take Jesus seriously, then we will be willing to give up everything to follow him. He calls us out of darkness (sin, selfishness, lies) and into light (Christ, submission, sacrifice, God’s glory).

Father God, thank you that Jesus served me and the world through his death. Help me to follow him in the way I serve you and others. Help me not to seek to save my life, but lose my life for you. Amen. 

How can you intentionally embark on a path of service and sacrifice?

John 11:55-12:19

In John 12, the last week of Jesus’ life on earth comes into focus. As Jesus heads toward his death, opposition only intensifies. The first source of opposition in John 12 is that of the Pharisees. They have been trying to stop Jesus throughout his ministry, but now commit to doing so at any cost—even a willingness to kill him and Lazarus. They would do anything to keep Jesus from drawing attention from them. This opposition came from outside Jesus’ camp, and would probably have been easier to deal with then the second source. The second opposition comes from Judas—a disciple. A man with whom Jesus had spent three years. Like Peter, when Judas confronted Jesus over his statement about dying, he had a particular plan he wanted to see executed. Sadly, Judas (and Peter earlier), and the Pharisees all reflect a similar heart. They all want their will to do be done rather than God's. They did not start with pursuing God's glory and his will, but instead started with their own desires.

We can fall into this same trap when our prayers stop being about God's coming kingdom, and instead are about our own yearnings. Therefore, let us seek God, pursue his will, and follow him regardless of the cost or how it may seem to appear. We will face opposition. However, we are called to resolutely seek Christ and follow him wherever he leads.

Father God, help me to seek your will and your ways. Help me to live in a way that brings you glory, rather than myself. Amen. 

In what ways do you find yourself seeking your own glory rather than God’s?

John 11:1-54

“If only….” That hanging phrase causes so much angst. Especially in the case of Martha, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” We may feel in our own lives that there have been many “if only” moments where God did not step in, which caused uncertainty in our lives. When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. Four days of sorrow, grief, and confusion for Mary, Martha, and others. The power of sin and death had been unleashed, and Lazarus was dead in the tomb. Yet this was not the end of the story. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life” (v.25). He called Lazarus from the tomb, and the wrapped Lazarus came forth.

Notice the results of Jesus’ delay, his willingness to cause people to ask the “if only…” questions. Many of the Jews attending the tomb that day “put their faith in him.” Lives were impacted for eternity because Jesus allowed Lazarus to die. It also instigated the religious leaders to become more zealous about killing him which would ultimately allow “one man [to] die for the nation.” Lazarus’ death and return to life, ultimately led to Jesus’ death which became the means of life for all of us. So, the “if only…” may not make sense to us, but God chooses to use those exact scenarios for our good and for his glory.

Lord, I do not understand some of your delays. Help me to trust you will bring glory to your name in your delay. Amen. 

Is there an “if only…” in your life with which you need to trust God?

John 10:22-42

Who is Jesus? The first question Jesus addresses concerning his identity in John 10:22-42 is whether he is the Christ/Messiah. He answers that he is and has proven this through his actions, specifically his miracles. He then continues with his identity as the good shepherd. The focus of the shepherd image in John 10:22-42 is that what he gives his sheep can never be taken from them. His gifts are irrevocable and permanent—specifically eternal life. Receiving this gift means we will never perish and can never be taken away from God. This is true because God is greater than anything else in the universe. What peace and assurance this should bring. We never have to fear being separated from God and eternal life, because of his power and grace.

The final issue of his identity which he addresses is the fact that he is divine. He quotes Psalm 82 which speaks of heavenly beings as being called lowercase gods, while separating himself from these beings, he points to himself as the special Son and his unity/oneness with the Father. So, who is Jesus? Jesus clearly wanted his listeners and us to understand who he is. So, when we consider Jesus, we should know him as the promised Messiah, our good shepherd, and God himself.

Father God, thank you for your Son. Help me to always remember him and trust him through all situations of life. Amen. 

How does knowing Jesus as Messiah, Good Shepherd, and God transform your life?

John 10:1-21

When you think of God what comes to mind? You may think of him as Father, Savior, Triune, or any of the other aspects of his character, but one of the most common images for God in the Bible is that of a shepherd. John 10 helps to develop exactly what it means for Jesus to be our shepherd. When Jesus calls himself the good shepherd, he is inserting himself into the slot which God takes in places like Psalm 23 and Psalm 80. This description is an allusion to the divinity of Jesus and to his character. As the “good shepherd,” Jesus is willing to sacrifice himself for his sheep. Though a good shepherd was willing to put himself between harm and his sheep, it would be foolish for them to sacrifice themselves for an animal. As much as you might love your pets, your life is more valuable than theirs. Yet Jesus in true love and humility is willing to do that very thing for us. He is willing to stand between death and judgment, and us. He knows our flaws, sins, shortcomings, and failures—loves us all the same.

As sheep our response should be to know our shepherd and obey his voice. Christ sacrificed himself for us, which means we need to heed his voice by listening and obeying. What a small response for such a great sacrifice. We are to hear his voice and respond by coming to him for salvation and life. Let us listen and obey well.

Father God, thank you that you, your Son, and the Spirit all shepherd me. Let me hear your voices and obey what you are calling me to do. Help me to listen and obey. Amen. 

How should remembering God is your “good shepherd” impact the way you relate to him and his commands?

John 9:1-41

How can there be an all-loving, all-good, all-powerful God; yet such evil and suffering in the world? This is one of the most asked questions from skeptics to Christians. Jesus gives us one particular reason in John 9. The disciples, who had been with Jesus for a while, asked Jesus why a particular man was born blind. The disciples assumed the blind man was either blind because of his own personal sin or the sin of his parents. Their view only allowed for personal sin as a reason for illness. Jesus quickly corrected them: this man was allowed to be born blind so Jesus could display his power in healing him. It had absolutely nothing to do with personal sin. Instead, it was a condition of the fallen world, which God allowed so he could reveal his power and glory. This never would have crossed the disciples’ minds as a possible rationale for his condition until Jesus told them.

As we wrestle with why God allows suffering, and other questions, we need to hear from God for answers. Then, when God speaks about an issue, we need to submit to what he says. The answer may not sit well with us, or it may not make sense to us; but when God speaks, we need to listen, submit, and believe. There are times we also may not know the answer, but we need to learn to trust a God who we know is all-loving, all-powerful, and all-good.

Father God, help me to understand who you are and the way you work so that I can believe and submit to your ways. Amen. 

What issues of theology do you find difficult to understand or believe? How can you pursue further understanding in these areas?

John 8:31-59

When a baby is born everyone tries to decipher whether the child looks more like the mom or the dad. This practice is an understanding that kids look like their parents. This is not meant to be true only of physical features, but in Jesus’ conversation in John 8, it is meant to be true in the way we live. Jesus lays out two ways in which we are to reflect his life in the way we live. The first mark of discipleship is obedience (v.31, 39). A true disciple obeys what his master and Father says. Obedience requires us to take up our cross daily, prioritizing God's favor over that of people, and fighting against our flesh. Choosing obedience is a daily battle, but one in which there is great reward. Yes, it may increase difficulty in the short term, but will be rewarded in eternity.

A second mark of discipleship is that of love (v.42). We shouldn't just obey out of a sense of obligation but out of a love for God, and a desire to please him. He should be our greatest love, desire, and longing. True disciples love God above everything and everyone else. We can see this most clearly in Jesus' call to hate father and mother, and ultimately everything else, compared to him (Luke 14:26). Jesus is the only one who is worthy of our greatest devotion, commitment, and love. Today let us reflect the character of Jesus in the way we obey and love and allow others to see our Father through us.

Father God, help me to truly follow you today. Help me to follow the path you have set for me and pursue you above all else. Amen. 

What should it look like for you to love Jesus above everything

John 8:31-59

When a baby is born everyone tries to decipher whether the child looks more like the mom or the dad. This practice is an understanding that kids look like their parents. This is not meant to be true only of physical features, but in Jesus’ conversation in John 8, it is meant to be true in the way we live. Jesus lays out two ways in which we are to reflect his life in the way we live. The first mark of discipleship is obedience (v.31, 39). A true disciple obeys what his master and Father says. Obedience requires us to take up our cross daily, prioritizing God's favor over that of people, and fighting against our flesh. Choosing obedience is a daily battle, but one in which there is great reward. Yes, it may increase difficulty in the short term, but will be rewarded in eternity.

A second mark of discipleship is that of love (v.42). We shouldn't just obey out of a sense of obligation but out of a love for God, and a desire to please him. He should be our greatest love, desire, and longing. True disciples love God above everything and everyone else. We can see this most clearly in Jesus' call to hate father and mother, and ultimately everything else, compared to him (Luke 14:26). Jesus is the only one who is worthy of our greatest devotion, commitment, and love. Today let us reflect the character of Jesus in the way we obey and love and allow others to see our Father through us.

Father God, help me to truly follow you today. Help me to follow the path you have set for me and pursue you above all else. Amen. 

What should it look like for you to love Jesus above everything

John 8:21-30

Do you have confidence that you have eternal life? If you do, are you walking in a way that reflects and tastes that life now? Or does your life sometimes feel like a slow death? Three times in the ten verses of John 8:21-30 Jesus uses the phrase "die in your sin(s)." Jesus confronts the Pharisees to make clear what is at stake. Either people will die in their sins and have their wickedness permanently separate them from him, or they will experience God's forgiveness and dwell with him for eternity. There is no middle ground. There is nothing that religion, morality, or obedience can offer, outside of Jesus. What is necessary is belief in Christ.

We all have sinned, and outside of Christ sin remains upon us and ushers us into judgment, while in Christ they are removed. The only way to life is Jesus, every other path leads to death. Sin may not be a popular thing to talk about in our world, but popularity does not equate to the importance or necessity of broaching the subject. Everyone we interact with needs to deal with their sin and the only way it can be dealt with is Jesus. So let us share the hope that Jesus offers in giving life. We can have confidence in our eternal life and can experience the fruit of that life today. So, walk in life and run from death.

Father God, thank you I have experienced your forgiveness through my belief in Christ. Thank you I will not die in my sins; instead, I will dwell with you forever. Amen. 

What are ways of bringing up the concept of sin to people who are far from Christ?