Covenant Grove Daily Devotionals

Covenant Grove Church
Covenant Grove Daily Devotionals

Making the Most of Devotions Devotions are meant to be a conversation – God speaks to you through His Word, and you talk to Him in prayer. The goal is not just to know the Bible – it is to grow closer to God. True spiritual maturity is a life transformed by Jesus. Make a commitment each day to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to remember and live what you have learned. These devotional thoughts are meant to help you understand God’s Word and how it applies to your life. Read the verses in your own Bible or Bible app. A pen and journal are helpful to write out your thoughts and answers to the questions. Below is a simple structure to help you make the most of your devotions. PRAY & LISTEN Begin with prayer, asking God to help you understand His Word. Take a posture of listening to what God wants to teach you. READ What are the verses about? Read slowly and more than once. Pay attention to key words, phrases, or characters. REFLECT Why is this important? Think about principles being taught and why they matter. Understand what is revealed about God or human nature. RESPOND How can I live this in my life? Find ways that the biblical principles can be applied into your life. Create plans to live out what you have learned. PRAY & ACT Respond to God based on what you have read. Ask for God’s help to remember and live what He has taught you.

  1. Matthew 15:1-20

    3H AGO

    Matthew 15:1-20

    Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him, Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat. Jesus replied, And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God says, Honor your father and mother, and Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death. But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, Sorry, I cant help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you. In this way, you say they dont need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God. Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. Listen, he said, and try to understand. Its not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth. Then the disciples came to him and asked, Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said? Jesus replied, Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch. Then Peter said to Jesus, Explain to us the parable that says people arent defiled by what they eat. Dont you understand yet? Jesus asked. Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heartthats what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Don't miss the point of God's word. The Pharisees had followed Gods law and added a few of their own. The rules about food were given to keep Gods people healthy and to set them apart. The Pharisees made more rules about food but missed the heart issue. Jesus came and fulfilled the old covenant; He inaugurated the new covenant, which is about a heart being set apart to the Lord. Christians often do the same thing today, adding rules to Gods word but missing the transformative work of Gods Spirit. This doesnt mean we can ignore the Bible (that would still be making up our own personal rules); we follow Gods word through a relationship with Jesus. He is working to change our wills so that we want what He wants, removing the desire for hate, sexual sin, stealing, lying, slander, and more. These are the deeper sins of the human heart, and they can only be removed through a relationship with Jesus. The Pharisees followed Gods rules but added many of their own. It is not about food or washing your hands. It is about what is happening in your heart: a relationship with the Father that changes your character. Jesus said your actions come from your heart, and those actions can make you unclean. Our choices come from our character. Rules are helpful, like guardrails on the road, but they are no substitute for a genuine relationship with Jesus. If we walk with Jesus, we will fulfill the rules and more. When you are walking with your Friend, you dont need to focus on the guardrails. How can you focus more on a relationship with Jesus than the rules? Our character (heart) includes both intentions and actions. Where do you struggle morewith your inner desires or your actions?

  2. Matthew 14:22–36

    1D AGO

    Matthew 14:22–36

    Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three oclock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, Its a ghost! But Jesus spoke to them at once. Dont be afraid, he said. Take courage. I am here! Then Peter called to him, Lord, if its really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water. Yes, come, Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. Save me, Lord! he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. You have so little faith, Jesus said. Why did you doubt me? When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. You really are the Son of God! they exclaimed. After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭22‬-‭36‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Don't refuse the power of God. This story shows that the amazing power of Christ can be experienced in a human life. Jesus walked on water; no one had ever done that before! Peter became the second person to accomplish the feat because the power of Christ was inside of him. But then he began to sink because he focused on the wind and waves rather than on Christ, the source of all true power. Yet this wasnt a complete failureat least he had gotten out of the boat! Too often we refuse Gods power because we are afraid. We reassure ourselvesthat Jesus wants us to possess safe faith devoid of faith risks; this kind of faith remains in the boat, never experiencing a miracle. The excuse of the disciples: they could say it was a dark, stormy nightnot a good time to walk on water. All Peter wanted was to be closer to Christ. He asked Jesus to command him to come; Jesus did, and Peter did the impossible. Accepting Christs power IS scary; this is why He says, Dont be afraid. Take courage. I am here! Get out of the boat and do amazing things with His power. Where in your life do you need Gods power? What does it mean for you to get out of the boat?

  3. Matthew 14:1-21

    2D AGO

    Matthew 14:1-21

    When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, he said to his advisers, This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles. For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herods brother Philip). John had been telling Herod, It is against Gods law for you to marry her. Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodiass daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. At her mothers urging, the girl said, I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray! Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. Later, Johns disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. That evening the disciples came to him and said, This is a remote place, and its already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves. But Jesus said, That isnt necessaryyou feed them. But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish! they answered. Bring them here, he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬ These two stories are both about power. Herod was so worried about losing his power and reputation that he murdered John the Baptist, a godly man who dared to speak the truth. When Jesus heard the tragic news, He took the time to grieve and pray. Yet He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them; He fed over 5,000 people with His power. He challenged the disciples to feed the people: they had the powerwith Christto do it; they just didn't realize it (yet). Jesus was training them to change the world with His power, not their own. Christ fed them all, showing His unending power. Human history is scarred with the stories of the struggle for power; we frantically try to create power with friction. Jesus shows a different way: give up the power struggle and plug into the unending power of God. You won't play the manipulation games of the world, and for that they may hate you. But you will experience the power of God in your life. Draw near to Him, even in your times of grief, and you will experience His power for life. Honestly, are you trying to gain power through closeness with Christ, or through manipulation, strategy, or personality? How have you experienced the impact of Christs power in serving others?

  4. Matthew 13:1-23

    6D AGO

    Matthew 13:1-23

    Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didnt have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. His disciples came and asked him, Why do you use parables when you talk to the people? He replied, You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they dont really see. They hear, but they dont really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them. But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didnt see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didnt hear it. Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and dont understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they dont have deep roots, they dont last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing Gods word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear Gods word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand Gods word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT Jesus frequently spoke in parables, stories from everyday life that made a point. They illustrated the way that God works in the world. Matthew 13 is the third (of five) major teaching sections in the Gospel of Matthew. The stories in this chapter are about organic growth. God doesnt leave us static; He grows us. These parables of Jesus were not always easy to understand though. Sometimes the meaning or meanings were very clear, other times the only thing you could figure out was that you couldn't figure it out! What were you supposed to do? Go ask Jesus for more help. Jesus told the parable of the Four Soils to the entire crowd, but only the DISCIPLES came and asked Him for more information. They were given the secrets of the Kingdom because they asked. The offer for deeper understanding (of God) was for everyone, but only those who realized they need help, and came to God, received more information. This is why Jesus quoted Isaiah; people hear but dont understand. The parable fulfills Isaiahand itself. The disciples understood that they didn't understand. They were the good soil from the story. The story was about the word of God being shared, and the story itself IS the word of God being shared. The people fulfilled the story even as they listened to it. Which soil would they be? Satan fights against truth, deep roots take hard work, and worry and wealth tempt us. Which soil will you be? How has God been working to grow you? Will you let His word sink deep into your life?

  5. Matthew 12:22-50

    MAR 19

    Matthew 12:22-50

    Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldnt speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. The crowd was amazed and asked, Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah? But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons. Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even strongersomeone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. Anyone who isnt with me opposes me, and anyone who isnt working with me is actually working against me. So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgivenexcept blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you. One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority. But Jesus replied, Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is herebut you refuse to repent. The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is herebut you refuse to listen. When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, I will return to the person I came from. So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation. As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told Jesus, Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you. Jesus asked, Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he pointed to his disciples and said, Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭22‬-‭50‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus was (and is) polarizing because He called for absolute obedience. The Pharisees (mostly) did not believe; they couldnt deny that He cast out demons, so they decided that Jesus was possessed by a demon. Jesus knows what it is like to be misunderstood and opposed. Christ said that their defiancecalling the work of the Holy Spirit an act of Satanis an unforgiveable sin. God can forgive any sinexcept the one for which you dont want to be forgiven. A hard heart runs away from grace and love, refusing to be forgiven. Repentance is the first step home. Some of the Pharisees were at least curious about Jesus, and they asked Him for a sign. Jesus said it was a twisted generation that demands a sign, asking God to perform a miracle like a circus trick. The wonders of God are all around us. Satan tempted Jesus to perform signs to make people believe (Matthew 4:6); the Pharisees tried to do the same. They called Him a powerless liar. Even Jesus' own family didn't totally understand who He was. Jesus cared for His earthly family (see John 19:25-27), and they loved Him as family, but that was not enough. We cant just say, I love Jesus, to be in the eternal family of Jesus, we must do the will of the Father. It is hard reaching out to family members who do not believe in Jesuseven Jesus experienced this! He invited His family to believe in Him; at first, they thought He was insane (Mark 3:21) and only later came to believe in Him (Acts 1:14). Jesus never gives up on us! He patiently waits for our hearts to turn to Him, our Creator. Do you sometimes feel responsible for convincing others of Jesus identity and His love, or do you simply tell your faith story? What does it mean for you to do the will of the Father?

  6. Matthew 12:1-21

    MAR 18

    Matthew 12:1-21

    At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath. Jesus said to them, Havent you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And havent you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath! Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath? (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) And he answered, If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldnt you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath. Then he said to the man, Hold out your hand. So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus. But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I believe God wants humans to have one day per week with no work: focused on Him, filled with rest, and time with family and friends. (This is debated, and some think that there is no sabbath command in the New Testament. The early Christians even changed their day of worship from Saturday to Sunday to coincide with the resurrection of Jesus. However, I see nothing in the NT that says we should not be resting once a week.) God wants us to work hard and rest wellwe need both. Our culture has two days off per week, and yet we still don't rest. We fill up our days off with activities, chores, bills, and moreresulting in stressful and overloaded lives. When we do rest, we often do nothing more than stare at a screen, which usually drains us even more. Jesus gives true rest, but the rules around rest cannot be more important than serving the Lord or helping others. Our Lord observed the Sabbath, but not in a legalistic way like the Pharisees. His disciples needed food, so they took some of the grain from the edge of the field (called gleaning, a legal practice). The Pharisees got mad because it was on the Sabbath (you were supposed to gather extra food on Friday so you would not gather on Saturday). But Jesus could not gather on Friday because He was doing the work of the Kingdom. He was showing an examplenot that we shouldn't rest, but that God's work needs to take priority in our lives, helping others and serving Christ. This is part of the burden of Christ that leads to deeper rest. Do you have a true day off every week? Does it recharge your batteries? How can you make sure you are part of weekly worship and serving in your local church?

  7. Matthew 11:20–30

    MAR 17

    Matthew 11:20–30

    Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadnt repented of their sins and turned to God. What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you. At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭20‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus started this mini speech by lamenting the lack of faith in Capernaum, Korazin, and Bethsaida, the towns where He did most of His work, teaching, and healing. They saw but would not believe. God has revealed Himself to everyone: in creation, in love, in the whisper of the heart, in conscience, in the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus has revealed the Father; He is the full revelation of God. There is so much of God for every person to seewhy will they not believe? Part of the blindness comes from the burdens we bearyears of pain, hurt, and sin have blinded our hearts to the true love of God. Jesus offers an invitation: I will give you rest. This is what we all want; His rest is what we truly need. This rest eludes us because we spend so much time protecting our self-image and reputation (to ourselves and others) rather than resting in His acceptance of who we are. We are tired because we spend every ounce of energy trying to please others and ourselves, giving God the leftovers. Sometimes we think we need to carry a heavy burden to earn Gods love. Other times we think the commands (or yoke) of Christ are heavy and impossible. Jesus made it clear: His burden is light (because He lives in us and strengthens us), and He expects us to carry it. It is only when we accept His burden that we finally experience the deeply needed rest. What are the burdens you are carrying that Christ wants you to lay down? What does it mean for you to take His burden upon you?

  8. Matthew 11:1-19

    MAR 14

    Matthew 11:1-19

    When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, Are you the Messiah weve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else? Jesus told them, Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And he added, God blesses those who do not fall away because of me. As Johns disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you. I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, We played wedding songs, and you didnt dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didnt mourn. For John didnt spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, Hes possessed by a demon. The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, Hes a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners! But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬ If you have ever struggled with doubt, take heart! Even a hero of the faith like John the Baptist had doubts as well. He pursued the answers and found a deeper faith in Christ. John was Jesus cousin, and he believed in Jesus. He called Jesus the Lamb of God, told his followers to follow Jesus, and didnt consider himself worthy to baptize Christ. But John struggled with doubts because Jesus didnt fulfill all his expectations. Jesus, in His typical way, didnt give John a simple answer but pushed him deeper. Christ pointed to the actions demonstrated in His ministrypowerful results that fulfilled the word of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus would not conform to Johns expectations (or ours), but His answer pushed John to a deeper faith. Jesus and John the Baptist were very different from each other. John was serious and somber (like a funeral song). Jesus was upbeat and celebratory (like a wedding song). God used two different types of people to reach the unrepentant people (unfortunately most didnt respond). The Lord uses different people in different ways to reach others. Sharing the gospel is a (non-negotiable) command, and the world needs each person moving in their unique personality and gifts. Appreciate the different ways our Creator has made people to share the good news. And live out YOUR role in proclaiming Jesus as LORD. What are your doubts, and how are you pursuing deeper answers? What is your role (or personality style) in sharing the gospel with others?

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Making the Most of Devotions Devotions are meant to be a conversation – God speaks to you through His Word, and you talk to Him in prayer. The goal is not just to know the Bible – it is to grow closer to God. True spiritual maturity is a life transformed by Jesus. Make a commitment each day to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to remember and live what you have learned. These devotional thoughts are meant to help you understand God’s Word and how it applies to your life. Read the verses in your own Bible or Bible app. A pen and journal are helpful to write out your thoughts and answers to the questions. Below is a simple structure to help you make the most of your devotions. PRAY & LISTEN Begin with prayer, asking God to help you understand His Word. Take a posture of listening to what God wants to teach you. READ What are the verses about? Read slowly and more than once. Pay attention to key words, phrases, or characters. REFLECT Why is this important? Think about principles being taught and why they matter. Understand what is revealed about God or human nature. RESPOND How can I live this in my life? Find ways that the biblical principles can be applied into your life. Create plans to live out what you have learned. PRAY & ACT Respond to God based on what you have read. Ask for God’s help to remember and live what He has taught you.

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