Today Daily Devotional ReFrame Ministries

I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. . . .”
— Revelation 14:13

For most people, death stands out as one of their greatest fears. Death spreads panic and terror wherever it goes, without respect for age or social position. The Bible describes death as the last enemy to be defeated, and we take comfort in knowing that Jesus himself has already defeated death. What’s more, Jesus has promised that all who believe in him will one day rise from the grave to live with him forever.
That is why the Scriptures speak of happiness despite the problem of death. In our reading for today, for example, we find a message that comes directly from heaven. This is not something that springs from someone’s imagination. No, it comes to us by way of “a voice from heaven” that says, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. . . .” In other words, though death may come to your body, your soul is safe with the Lord, who has also promised to raise your body to life again when he returns someday.
For all who die in the Lord, death does not have the last word. Death has already been defeated. To die in the Lord is to find rest from toil and struggle. To die in the Lord is to “depart and be with Christ, which is better” than remaining in the body we have now (Philippians 1:23). Those who die in the Lord leave this life behind and enter into the joy of the Lord.

O God, author of life, for all who are in Christ, death means resting in your arms. Your perfect love removes all of our fear. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
— Philippians 4:4

Sadness is the daily portion of many people. The world is full of suffering and hardship, and it can be difficult to find peace and happiness. As a result, people can become bitter about the adversity and struggles in their lives, and many blame God for their hardship and sorrow.
The apostle Paul, however, had a different message to share. Though he was in prison and had gone through many hardships, he knew he could find joy in the Lord, his Creator and Savior. He wrote to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Joy in the Lord is not a trivial or fleeting emotion. Instead it results from the deepest possible peace of knowing that your destiny is secure in God’s hands. As a result, a person can have deep and lasting joy in the Lord even in the midst of great suffering and pain.
Life is not an amusement park. We face struggles and cross dark valleys. But our happiness is not a superficial, fleeting emotion. Our joy does not depend on the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
As Paul puts it, our joy is in the Lord. In other words, Jesus is the source of our joy. He is the content of our happiness. Our happiness is not just in the absence of bad things or in the presence of good things. Our happiness is in Jesus, knowing that he loves and cares for us and is with us always—forever!

Lord and God, help me to have joy in you, knowing that I am secure in you always. In your saving name, Amen.

Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
— Psalm 41:1

A compassionate heart is not among the most popular qualities in our world today. If you want to climb to the top, people say, you often have to trample on others. Compassion is considered an attribute of people who are weak. But what does God say about this?
The Bible says, “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak.” And this does not mean just thinking about people who are disadvantaged; it means caring about them and doing something about it. People who care are those who open their hearts with the willingness to share what they have with people in need. Generosity goes hand in hand with compassion and care as people seek to show God’s love in this world.
We find happiness not when we have everything in our hands but when we share with people in need, giving from our abundance as the Lord has given to us.
The generous person sows happily and reaps the blessed fruit of God’s ongoing favor. God himself multiplies our sowing so that we can continue to give generously. God provides for us and gives us health and strength to do more by spreading his love to others. When we open our hearts, hands, and pockets to share from all that God has given us, we find joy and happiness in giving freely as the Lord gives, without strings attached.

Lord God, help us to open our hearts to care about others and to share from the abundance you have given us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
— Exodus 20:12

Most parents have to deal with disobedience from their children at some time or other.
In the Ten Commandments we find that children who honor their parents receive a special promise from God: the blessing of a long life.
Happiness is the result of obedience. No child can be happy being a nightmare to their parents. No child can build happiness on a foundation of rebellion.
Sadly, children who disobey their parents and other authorities often reap misfortune and tragedy. Many children shorten their days because they follow the slippery path of disobedience, get involved with harmful friends, and seek excitement in dangerous places. They turn away and cover their ears so as not to listen to their parents’ advice. But unfortunately they often do so to their peril.
Where can they look instead to find happiness and a life of blessing? As the Bible teaches, they can find happiness in obedience to the Lord, and that includes honoring their parents. Ephesians 6:1-3 summarizes this way: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’”

Great God, we all need to respect the established authorities in our lives. Help us to start at home, honoring our parents, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
— Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

Sometimes we think that people with more resources have the clear path to happiness. That is why famous artists, actors, athletes, and other celebrities have a large number of followers. We imagine them with the world at their feet and a smile on their lips.
The writer of Ecclesiastes, who probably was King Solomon, dedicated much of his life to the pursuit of happiness. He was the richest, most famous, and most sought-after man of his time. Without limitations, he sought happiness in wealth and the pursuit of pleasures (see Ecclesiastes 2:1-23). He amassed great fortunes and took on great building projects, but all of his money and influence could not bring him true happiness. He sought happiness in the pleasures of wine and feasting and love affairs, but not even a great harem could provide satisfaction.
Ultimately, he sought happiness in fame and success. And the only thing he got at the end of his pilgrimage was a feeling of emptiness.
In the end he found that the object of his long search was actually the Lord, whom he had pushed aside! The happiness he sought in things and in adventures was in God, “for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”

Lord, it is a frustrating and useless task to seek happiness apart from you. It’s like chasing the wind. There is only happiness when you are at the center of our lives. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.
— Psalm 33:12

Is happiness found in social and economic policies? Or in educational and cultural programs? These things can be good and helpful, but a nation can only find true happiness when its people recognize the Lord. This occurs when hearts transformed by the grace of God seek to do his will.
In our pluralistic world today many people claim that all religions are equal and that all paths lead to God. Many national leaders today don’t even recognize the Lord.
Is there any nation that serves the Lord today? Not truly. While some nations may claim to trust in God, their actions show that they follow the ways of the world. Even if they do some things right, their leaders seldom give credit to God. We should not be surprised, then, to see a moral and spiritual vacuum in so many places. Wickedness leads to perversion, and ungodliness leads to immorality.
Within every nation, though, there are people who say, like the psalmist, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.” These are the people of God’s kingdom, and they know true happiness is found in Christ. They share his love with others, and he says to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant[s]! . . . Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21).

Lord and God, you are the solution our nations need today. Help us to honor you and seek to live your way for Jesus’ sake. Amen.