Monday April 22 – “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17) The formula is very simple and hasn’t changed since the beginning of time. The only way that anyone will have faith in Jesus is if they hear about having faith in Jesus from someone who actually has faith in Jesus. Specifically, faith in Jesus when life gets tough. For faith in Jesus, when life is great, is easy. So easy that it isn’t essential. Yet, faith in Jesus, when life is tough, is hard. So hard that it’s essential. It’s this faith that the world is seeking. Faith that helps us persevere, in the face of trials.
Tuesday, April 23 – “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13) Faith in Jesus will help you persevere, in the face of the trials, that come at you in this life. But the trials that come at you aren’t the temptations that you’re praying God not to lead you into. We pray that God not lead us into temptation. Temptation may cause trials, but temptation isn’t a trial. A trial is something that happens to you. Temptation is something that happens in you. There’s a big difference between trials that come at you and trials caused by your own temptations. It’s always your favorite sins that do you in. So, you’re praying that God never lead you into your favorite sins.
Wednesday, April 24 – “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” (James 5:7) A key characteristic of faith in Jesus is perseverance. For you walk by faith and not by sight. Or it would be better said that you walk by faith, in spite of what you see. Perseverance isn’t about having all the right answers. It’s about having the right perspective. Seeing the big picture. Playing the long game. Who you are today, as a follower of Jesus, isn’t as much influenced by what’s happening today, as it is by what happened 2,000 years ago and what will happen someday, in the future.
Thursday, April 25 – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) A new opera was written, practiced and it was finally opening night. The opera’s composer was sitting front row center, as the curtain went up. The lead was a young, up-and-coming mezzo-soprano. As she belted out the aria someone leaned over and said “You must be so proud”. The composer looked back over his shoulder and said “She’s great. But I can’t wait to hear her sing, after her heart has been broken”. The only way that you’ll grow is through pain. Growth, by it’s very nature, is painful. Perseverance is about standing under the pain and growing. As opposed to avoiding the pain and shrinking.
Friday, April 26 – “Stand firm, and you will win life.” (Luke 21:19) If you stand for nothing, what will you fall for? You can’t ride the fence, sit on the bench or even choose not to decide. Being a follower of Jesus means that you stand firm on your faith in Jesus – As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. This verse is funny. For you could use it to defend anything on which you stand. You could declare that you will win if you stand firm on bigotry. You could declare that you will win if you stand firm on any number of questionable perspectives. But re-read the passage. If you stand firm, “you will win life”. What’s life? Being who you’ve been created to be, right here, right now. And living for eternity in the presence of God.
Saturday, April 27 – “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.” (1 Peter 2:20) The perseverance that you’re called to, as a follower of Jesus, has nothing to do with trials of your own creation. When you mess up, as a follower of Jesus, you’re called to fess up. Yes, your mess up will cause problems in your life. But these are problems of your own creation. These aren’t the trials in which we’re called to persevere. The perseverance that you’re called to practice, as a follower of Jesus, is in the face of trials that happen to you. Sufferings that you endure, for doing good.
Tuesday, April 23 – “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13) Faith in Jesus will help you persevere, in the face of the trials, that come at you in this life. But the trials that come at you aren’t the temptations that you’re praying God not to lead you into. We pray that God not lead us into temptation. Temptation may cause trials, but temptation isn’t a trial. A trial is something that happens to you. Temptation is something that happens in you. There’s a big difference between trials that come at you and trials caused by your own temptations. It’s always your favorite sins that do you in. So, you’re praying that God never lead you into your favorite sins.
Wednesday, April 24 – “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” (James 5:7) A key characteristic of faith in Jesus is perseverance. For you walk by faith and not by sight. Or it would be better said that you walk by faith, in spite of what you see. Perseverance isn’t about having all the right answers. It’s about having the right perspective. Seeing the big picture. Playing the long game. Who you are today, as a follower of Jesus, isn’t as much influenced by what’s happening today, as it is by what happened 2,000 years ago and what will happen someday, in the future.
Thursday, April 25 – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) A new opera was written, practiced and it was finally opening night. The opera’s composer was sitting front row center, as the curtain went up. The lead was a young, up-and-coming mezzo-soprano. As she belted out the aria someone leaned over and said “You must be so proud”. The composer looked back over his shoulder and said “She’s great. But I can’t wait to hear her sing, after her heart has been broken”. The only way that you’ll grow is through pain. Growth, by it’s very nature, is painful. Perseverance is about standing under the pain and growing. As opposed to avoiding the pain and shrinking.
Friday, April 26 – “Stand firm, and you will win life.” (Luke 21:19) If you stand for nothing, what will you fall for? You can’t ride the fence, sit on the bench or even choose not to decide. Being a follower of Jesus means that you stand firm on your faith in Jesus – As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. This verse is funny. For you could use it to defend anything on which you stand. You could declare that you will win if you stand firm on bigotry. You could declare that you will win if you stand firm on any number of questionable perspectives. But re-read the passage. If you stand firm, “you will win life”. What’s life? Being who you’ve been created to be, right here, right now. And living for eternity in the presence of God.
Saturday, April 27 – “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.” (1 Peter 2:20) The perseverance that you’re called to, as a follower of Jesus, has nothing to do with trials of your own creation. When you mess up, as a follower of Jesus, you’re called to fess up. Yes, your mess up will cause problems in your life. But these are problems of your own creation. These aren’t the trials in which we’re called to persevere. The perseverance that you’re called to practice, as a follower of Jesus, is in the face of trials that happen to you. Sufferings that you endure, for doing good.
You try to eat right. You drink plenty of water. you exercise. don't forget your spirit - feed it!
daily devotions
