Today Daily Devotional

ReFrame Ministries
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Today is a daily devotional that helps God's people refresh, refocus and renew their faith through Bible reading, reflection, and prayer.

  1. 20 小時前

    Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth

    Those who had been scattered by the persecution . . . traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. — Acts 11:19 For the past few days we have been tracking the spread of the gospel as recorded in the book of Acts. Jesus had said that his followers would be his witnesses in Judea and Samaria and beyond, “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In our reading for today we can see that the gospel spread further to the city of Antioch, which was about 300 miles (500 km) from Jerusalem.There was also something else going on. When Jesus’ followers came to Antioch, they at first spread the word only to Jews, who shared their cultural and religious background. This was natural, of course, but the Spirit would not be held down! Some leaders also began sharing the gospel with Greeks, who did not have the background or traditions of the Jewish faith. And with that we see both Jews and Gentiles welcomed into the family of God.Today we are able to witness and celebrate the gospel at work all over the world, expressed in a multitude of languages and cultures. Indeed, as Jesus said, the good news has spread “to the ends of the earth.”When I am with brothers and sisters from across the globe, I am also humbly reminded that North America represents “the ends of the earth” to them. I need the gospel to resonate from them to me too. Dear Jesus, thank you for calling us to be your witnesses not only in our own area but also to the ends of the earth. Bless all who serve you around the world. Amen.

  2. 1 天前

    Witnesses in Judea and Samaria

    On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. — Acts 8:1 We see Jesus’ words to his disciples fulfilled, in part, in our reading for today: “You will be my witnesses . . . in all Judea and Samaria” (Acts 1:8).But it came at a great cost. The gospel had been spreading through Jerusalem, and that resulted in fierce opposition and persecution. Stephen, a godly Christian leader, was stoned to death for his bold faith (Acts 7). The church community was filled with fear, and many believers sought refuge in the areas outside Jerusalem.It is interesting that one of the places they went to was Samaria, a region beyond Judea. Samaria was notorious as an enclave for Romans and for pagan religions. Maybe the believers felt that their persecutors in Jerusalem would not dare to enter Samaria, and that they would find a good place to hide there. In this way the gospel message spread outward from Jerusalem.Sometimes in the midst of painful situations, God brings new opportunities for the gospel to flourish. We may not understand why we might be suffering now, but we can be assured that wherever we go, God will be with us.If you keep reading in Acts 8, you will see the powerful impact that the gospel message made in Samaria as God directed Philip and other believers. Wherever the Spirit brings us today, may the gospel shine brightly through us with hope and love. Jesus, help us to see the “Judeas” and “Samarias” you have in mind for us in our own context. May we represent you well wherever we go. Amen.

  3. 2 天前

    Witnesses in Jerusalem

    So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly. . . . — Acts 6:7 As we saw earlier in the book of Acts, Jesus promised his followers that the Holy Spirit would empower them to become his witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). For the next few days, we will see how Jesus’ words were literally fulfilled in the book of Acts itself.We start with Jerusalem. This was an intense time in the life of the early church. The church had formed into a tightly knit community, sharing everything in common. God was doing wonderful miracles, working through the prayers of the believers to heal and restore people and to raise up new leaders. We see the maturity of Jesus’ apostles as they responded to the pastoral needs of the community and appointed deacons to assist with the work that needed to be done. The growth of the church was so significant that it threatened the religious leaders of the city, leading to an increase in the persecution of Christians.Strong prayer. Strong leadership. A caring community. All of these factors are used by God to bring people to faith in Jesus. If we think of Jerusalem as representing the community or the neighborhood we live in, how does God invite us to serve in our own context and let the good news of Jesus ring out right where we are? Jesus, you send us to be your witnesses in our own local community. Guide us to pray for our neighbors and for all the people we will encounter today. Help us to be faithful witnesses to your love. Amen.

  4. 3 天前

    The Gospel: Ringing Out! (Part 2)

    The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. — 1 Thessalonians 1:8 Last year, my favorite baseball team came within inches of winning the World Series. There were a lot of sad faces after the team’s loss. I found myself imagining what the team’s home city would have looked like if they had won. People would have poured out into the streets, shouting for joy. Horns would be blowing, and bells would be ringing.In our Bible reading for today, Paul reflects on the powerful message ringing out into the streets and the surrounding areas of Thessalonika. He talks about how he and his companions came to that city and shared the gospel with the community there (see Acts 17). As a result, he says, “You became imitators of us and of the Lord.” The good news of Jesus found a home in the hearts of these new believers, and they couldn’t stop talking about it. Paul describes the Lord’s message as ringing out or resonating from their lives. Listen again to what he says in verse 8: “The Lord’s message rang out [resonated] from you . . .—your faith in God has become known everywhere.” Talk about making a joyful noise for God!As you think about your own faith journey, what would it look like for your life to ring out with the good news of Jesus today, tomorrow, and every day? Dear Jesus, may your life take hold of me and fill me with such joy and excitement that I cannot help talking about you and reflecting your love and grace in all I do and say. Amen.

  5. 4 天前

    The Gospel: Ringing Out! (Part 1)

    The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. — 1 Thessalonians 1:8 Old Testament scholars will tell us that in Hebrew writing, the main message of a passage is not usually found at the beginning or the end of the passage but at its center. This literary device is called chiasm. We see chiasm at work especially in the Psalms. One of the most beautiful examples is in Psalm 23, where we read, in verse 4, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Because the Lord is our shepherd, there is no need for us to fear.Today is the middle of September, and with the idea of chiasm in mind, let’s pay close attention to verse 8 of 1 Thessalonians 1. Our theme for this month is “Resonance,” and in 1 Thessalonians 1:8 we find that “the Lord’s message rang out . . .”—it resonated. It’s interesting that this is the only place in the Bible where the original Greek word for resonate is used. Tomorrow we will unpack its meaning, but, for now, let’s simply reflect on this beautiful verse to capture the central theme of our devotions for this month. We celebrate with the apostle Paul that the gospel of Jesus is ringing out with beauty and power.May this verse also powerfully reflect our everyday lives and the ongoing service of the church of Jesus. Dear Jesus, may your message ring out from our lives today—in our conversations and our interactions with everyone we meet. May the joy of our faith be clear and attractive to others, we pray. Amen.

  6. 5 天前

    Resonating Outward

    “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 Picture someone striking a large gong with a mallet, maybe as part of an orchestra or a marching band. The mallet hits the center of the gong, and the sound rings out powerfully. Not many of us have a gong in our homes, but if you have a phone or a computer nearby, take a moment to search online for “gong sound” and play it loud. Hear and feel the sound resonate through the space you are in.This week let’s think about the spread of the good news of Jesus like a resounding gong, moving through the world like a reverberating sound wave.Let’s revisit the poignant time in Jesus’ ministry shortly after his resurrection and just before he returned to heaven. Jesus tells his disciples that although he is leaving, they will soon receive the Holy Spirit to help them continue his work and mission.It may be easy to gloss over the geography that Jesus mentions when he commissions his disciples at this time. But if we imagine this commissioning to be like a resounding gong, we can picture the gong being struck in Jerusalem and its sound ringing out into the surrounding regions, across geographical and cultural boundaries, all the way “to the ends of the earth.”Let’s give thanks together that the gospel has been ringing out this way for nearly two thousand years! Lord Jesus, you have equipped us with your Holy Spirit to be your witnesses wherever you have placed us. May your grace and love ring out from me today like a resounding gong. Amen.

  7. 6 天前

    The Word is Proclaimed!

    “My word . . . will not return to me empty, but will . . . achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” — Isaiah 55:11 On this day of worship let’s return to the words of Isaiah 55 and reflect on the power of the preached Word of God.Human communication is often filled with mistakes and misunderstandings. We are imperfect people who communicate in many imperfect ways. Sometimes the results can be hurtful, and sometimes the results can be humorous.I once suffered a sports injury and was unable to preach in my church on the following Sunday. Before the worship service, an elder explained to the congregation that I had been “hit with a ball in the eye.” I found out later that one of the young people at church had misunderstood him and thought I had been “hit with a ball and died.” She was shocked. She also thought that the congregation didn’t show much concern over my sudden demise.One of the traditional marks of the church is the preaching of the Word of God. This week let’s focus on what it means for the gospel to ring out to the world. Faithful preaching is a vital piece of that task. In Isaiah 55, God reminds us that his communication is always effective. It will accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which he sent it.This is profoundly reassuring. As we gather today for worship, let’s pray that God’s Word will be spoken clearly, with love, power, and grace. Holy God, may your Word be preached faithfully in your church around the world today. And may your Word achieve the purpose for which you have sent it in our lives. Amen.

  8. 9月12日

    The Wonder of the Cross

    The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. — 1 Corinthians 1:18 One of the leaders in our mission organization visited a women’s Bible study in a local church. She knew that most study groups focus on God’s love, Jesus’ teachings, or a particular book of the Bible. But when she visited this group, she was surprised by how much they talked specifically about the cross.“Can you tell me why you focus on the cross so much?” she asked them. Their responses were a beautiful testimony.“The cross proves how much we are loved. . . . Jesus died for us!” said one participant. “The cross shows me how great my sins are and how powerful my need is for my sins to be paid for,” said another. “The cross tells me that Jesus died for everyone, including me. It’s so personal,” added another. The women shared how real the cross is to their faith and how it fills them with humble repentance, gratitude, hope, and love.The power of the cross resounded clearly that day as the Holy Spirit moved those faithful women to speak with heartfelt words, testifying that the cross is not merely a religious symbol but a living sign of the love of the Savior who died and rose again for all who believe in him.Many philosophies have come and gone. The message of the cross continues to resonate through the ages. Do you hear the good news that Jesus also died and rose for you? Jesus, thank you for the wonder of the cross, where you made forgiveness and victory possible for us. May we live in gratitude to you. Amen.

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簡介

Today is a daily devotional that helps God's people refresh, refocus and renew their faith through Bible reading, reflection, and prayer.

資訊

  • 創作者
    ReFrame Ministries
  • 活躍年代
    2018年 - 2026年
  • 集數
    63
  • 年齡分級
    兒少適宜
  • 版權
    © 1977-2026 ReFrame Ministries
  • 節目網站
    Today Daily Devotional

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