DEVOTIONS

Monday, February 13 – “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (Isaiah 61:1) These words were written some 500 years before Jesus was born.  Isaiah wasn’t referring to himself, he was referring to the Messiah.  These words were spoken again by Jesus in a synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown.  Jesus had come to worship, and as was the custom, he was asked to read the scroll and teach.  After he read these words he simply stated that they had been fulfilled.  Mic drop!

Tuesday, February 14 – “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.” (Psalm 37:11) Jesus didn’t come to start something new.  Jesus came to fulfill that which has always been.  When Jesus stated “Blessed are the meek” in Matthew 5:5, he wasn’t saying anything new.  He was simply fulfilling the forever will of God.  It was true when David wrote this Psalm.  It was true when Jesus spoke those words.  And it’s true today.  The question for you now is this:  Do you believe it? 

Wednesday, February 15 – “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23) Everyone loves a humble person, win or lose.  Nobody can stand a prideful, arrogant, I’m better than everyone person.  Beware, for if you don’t agree with this reality you just might be the latter, as opposed to the former.  You are who you are and you have achieved what you have achieved, not because of you, but because of the gifts, love, compassion, mercy and power of God.  Gut check time.  Are you prideful and arrogant?  Or are you humble – “lowly in spirit”?     

Thursday, February 16 – “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) These are the words of Jesus.  Notice that Jesus doesn’t pridefully claim to be the best.  He simply claims to be “gentle and humble in heart”.  These aren’t prideful, arrogant, self-proclaimed qualifications to do what Jesus does.  This is a gentle and humble invitation for you to be who Jesus is.  Jesus isn’t giving you his resume, bragging about all that he has done.  He is extending you an invitation to be all that he is.

Friday, February 17 – “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14) The biggest battle that you have, in your relationship with God, is your desire for immediate gratification.  You want what you want and you want it now.  The problem is this: You don’t always know what you truly want. Jesus was speaking to a woman at the well, who thought that all she wanted was something to drink.  Yet, Jesus knew that she was really thirsty for forgiveness, acceptance and ultimately salvation.  What do you want?  Is it what God wants for you?

Saturday, February 18 – “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.  Turn!  Turn from your evil ways!  Why will you die, people of Israel?’” (Ezekiel 33:11) God isn’t sitting up in heaven just waiting for you to mess up, so you can be punished.  God isn’t making a list and checking it twice to see who is naughty and who is nice.  God is living right here, right now.  God offers the same thing to every single person – forgiveness, grace, love and salvation.  And God spends all day and night hoping that you will turn from your wicked ways and live!