Daily Devotions with Pastor Josh

Daily Devotions with Pastor Josh
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Daily Devotions with Pastor Josh joshengen.substack.com

  1. 5h ago

    What If God Says You’re Wrong?

    Romans 12:2 — “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” I was talking to someone one time, and we had a disagreement about some point of theology. I presented my case for why I believe what I believe, looking at the Scripture passages in context and using logic and reason. And they said, “Well, this is just how I grew up, so I’m not going to change.” Just because you grew up a certain way doesn’t mean that it is the right belief or action. We need to be guided by the truth of God’s Word, not just what we grew up with, what we like, or what the world says is true. We have to come to the Bible humbly and open to being changed. Following Jesus includes the shaping of our thoughts and our knowledge. This transformed mind is brought about through the work of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word. Until we take our last breath, we are always in need of transformation. Are you willing to change your thoughts, beliefs, and actions when you realize you are wrong in some area? Father, give me humility to receive your correction. Renew my mind through your Word, and help me change what you show me needs to change. Amen. Get full access to Josh at joshengen.substack.com/subscribe

  2. 1d ago

    Whose Applause Are You Living For?

    Romans 12:1 — “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the greatest composers who ever lived. But Bach understood that his incredible musical ability was ultimately a gift from God, meant to be used for God’s glory. On many of his musical manuscripts, Bach wrote the letters S.D.G.—Soli Deo Gloria—Latin for “Glory to God alone.” What if we could write S.D.G. across every part of our lives? Across our work, our marriages and families, our money, our time, our hobbies, and our service in the church? Your life is to give God praise and worship. That is what it means to be a living sacrifice. At home: Change the diaper, wash the dishes, take out the trash, care for an aging parent—not because anyone will notice, but as worship. At church: Serve when your name isn’t printed in the bulletin, nobody thanks you, and nobody sees what you did. If God saw it, the right audience saw it. Is your life a living sacrifice dedicated to God, or is your life’s goal to maximize your own comfort? Father, make my everyday responsibilities acts of worship. Help me serve faithfully even when nobody notices. May every part of my life give you glory. Amen. Get full access to Josh at joshengen.substack.com/subscribe

    Whose Applause Are You Living For?

  3. 2d ago

    Where Do You Run When You Fail?

    Romans 12:1 — “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” When you fail this week, run to God’s mercy instead of trying to earn your way back into his favor. When you lose your temper with your spouse or children, instead of thinking, “I need to do better so God won’t be disappointed in me,” confess it, receive his mercy, apologize, and then pursue change because you are loved. When you have a really good spiritual week—you read your Bible every day, came to church, and served someone—don’t start thinking, “God must be really pleased to have me.” You’re still standing on mercy. When you have a terrible spiritual week—you barely prayed, fell into an old sin, or neglected Scripture—don’t think, “I need to get myself straightened out before I come back to God.” Come back because Christ is your righteousness. Remember: on your best day, you need God’s mercy. On your worst day, God’s mercy is still enough. When you fail, do you run to God’s mercy or try to earn your way back into his favor? Father, help me confess my sin and come back to you. Keep me from pride when I do well and despair when I fail. Thank you that Christ is my righteousness. Amen. Get full access to Josh at joshengen.substack.com/subscribe

    Where Do You Run When You Fail?

  4. 3d ago

    Are You Trying to Change Before Receiving Mercy?

    Romans 12:1 — “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” In Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, Jean Valjean is a former prisoner who is struggling to find food and shelter. Finally, a bishop welcomes him into his home, feeds him, and gives him a place to sleep. But during the night, Valjean steals the bishop’s silver and runs away. The police catch him and bring him back. Valjean is expecting punishment. Instead, the bishop tells the police that he gave Valjean the silver—and then gives him two silver candlesticks as well. Valjean deserved judgment, but he received mercy. And that mercy becomes the turning point of his life. God doesn’t say, “Change your life, and then I’ll show you mercy.” God shows us mercy in Jesus—and his mercy becomes the foundation for a changed life. Is your foundation God’s mercy or something else? Father, help me stop trying to earn your acceptance. Thank you for showing me mercy through Jesus. Let your mercy become the foundation for a changed life. Amen. Get full access to Josh at joshengen.substack.com/subscribe

    Are You Trying to Change Before Receiving Mercy?

  5. Sep 26

    If Everything Exists for God’s Glory, What About Your Life?

    Romans 11:36 (CSB) “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.” God does not owe us anything. He is under no obligation to bless us with riches, knowledge, and wisdom. He is under no obligation to give us his Word or send his Son to die in our place. He is not acting in order to repay us. God created it all. He owns it all. Everything already belongs to him. Thus every blessing, every divine revelation he has given to us, has been by his grace and mercy toward us. He sent his Son to die in our place because of his grace. In creation, all things come from him and through him because he created it all, and they are all to him because they are created to give God glory. In our salvation, it comes from God’s grace, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and we are saved to give glory to God. In humility, we learn that God is at the center of all things. In all things, we live, move, work, and play for God’s glory. You give glory to God in your faith in him, through praising him in song, by following his ways, and by giving thanks. So when you look up at the stars, you realize how much you don’t know. When you look out on the ocean, you realize how small you are. But when you look at the cross, you realize how great God’s mercy is. The God who created the heavens and the earth, whose wisdom is deeper than we could ever imagine, sent his own Son to save sinners like you and me. We cannot fully comprehend the depths of his wisdom. We cannot measure the riches of his mercy. And we could never repay him for what he has done. But we can respond. We can repent of our sins, trust in Jesus Christ, and spend our lives giving glory to God. If God is at the center of all things, and all things are for his glory, how does your life fit in with this purpose? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the riches of your grace and mercy. Thank you for sending your Son to save sinners like me. Help me live, move, work, and play for your glory. May my life exemplify your mercy, and may I sing of your mercy and glory forever and ever. Amen. Get full access to Josh at joshengen.substack.com/subscribe

    If Everything Exists for God’s Glory, What About Your Life?

  6. Sep 25

    What Happens When God’s Wisdom Is Deeper Than You Can Imagine?

    Romans 11:33–34 (CSB) “Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” We went to the beach this past summer, and our kids love the beach. They love playing in the sand and in the waves. They love the experience of the cool water, the warm sun, and the power of the ocean. They can feel it. They can hear it. They can tell you their favorite thing about the beach. But when they look out on the ocean, the ocean stretches farther than they can see. They have genuinely experienced the ocean, but they haven’t come close to exhausting its depths. That’s what it’s like to know God. We can truly know him because he has revealed himself to us in creation, in Scripture, and in Jesus. But we will never exhaust the depths of his wisdom, knowledge, and riches. Everybody likes to say, “You can’t put God in a box.” And they are right. God is infinite. His wisdom and knowledge are deeper than the deepest ocean. But the same people who say, “You can’t put God in a box,” are frustrated when they don’t understand why God does what he does. Instead of being frustrated with the complexity of God, it should lead us to awe, wonder, and worship of God. We have to remember the creature and Creator distinction. God is the Creator, and we are his creation. This should foster a humble and teachable spirit. Knowing God more is a lifelong process. And when we come face to face with the wisdom of God and can’t wrap our heads around it, in that place of humility, we should turn to God in praise. For his ways are higher than our ways. When you don’t understand why God does what he does, do you respond with frustration, or does his infinite wisdom lead you to awe, wonder, and worship? Prayer: Heavenly Father, your wisdom and knowledge are deeper than the deepest ocean. Forgive me for the times I become frustrated when I don’t understand your ways. Give me a humble and teachable spirit. Help me grow in my knowledge of you and respond to your infinite wisdom with awe, wonder, and worship. Amen. Get full access to Josh at joshengen.substack.com/subscribe

    What Happens When God’s Wisdom Is Deeper Than You Can Imagine?

  7. Sep 24

    What Can Free You From the Prison of Sin?

    Romans 11:32 (CSB) “For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.” Jews and Gentiles have sinned and rebelled against God, and thus God has given them over to their desires, handing them over to the consequences of their sins and allowing them to be slaves and prisoners to their sin and rebellion. We freely choose to sin and disobey our Creator, but when we do that, sin becomes our slave master. Sin becomes our prison. Sin becomes the thing we need not only to be forgiven of, but to be freed from. Jesus came to free the captive, namely to free us from the captivity of sin. It is difficult for me to grasp why God allowed sin into the world. We see the brokenness and the results of evil all around us. While I understand that God did not make us sin, that we freely chose sin, I still don’t like sin and evil in the world. And this is where I have to come to God humbly and say, “I don’t fully understand, but I can understand your mercy.” I can understand that I wouldn’t know your mercy without my sin. Mercy is not getting the punishment you deserve. If you never sinned, you would have no punishment to deserve, and thus never know the depth of God’s mercy. And God’s mercy is available to all people, Jew and Gentile. The way you receive God’s mercy is through faith in Christ. When we see sin in the world, let us turn our eyes to God’s available mercy. And bringing it closer to home, when we sin, let us turn to God and find mercy. Realizing the depth of our sin should increase our vision of the depth of God’s mercy. You don’t have to remain imprisoned in your sin. You can turn from your rebellion, trust in Jesus Christ, and receive the forgiveness and eternal life that only he can give. Are you remaining imprisoned in your sin, or are you turning to Jesus Christ to receive his forgiveness and mercy? Prayer: Heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned and rebelled against you. Thank you for your mercy and for sending Jesus to free us from the captivity of sin. Help me turn from my rebellion, trust in Jesus Christ, and live in the freedom that only he can give. Amen. Get full access to Josh at joshengen.substack.com/subscribe

    What Can Free You From the Prison of Sin?

  8. Sep 23

    How Can Someone Who Received Mercy Look Down on Others?

    Romans 11:29–31 (CSB) “since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy.” Imagine a man sitting in prison. He knows he’s guilty. He knows he deserves the sentence. He has no defense and nothing he can offer to earn his freedom. But then someone comes to his cell with extraordinary news. A pardon has been granted. The door opens, and he is free to walk out. Now imagine that instead of walking out, he begins boasting about how much better he is than the other prisoners! How ridiculous would that be? He didn’t earn his freedom. He received mercy. Instead of mocking the other prisoners or looking down on them, he should want them to experience the same mercy he received. That’s exactly Paul’s point. Gentile believers have received God’s mercy. So rather than looking down on Jewish people who have rejected Christ, they should long for them to receive that same mercy. God loves his enemies. Jesus died for his enemies. Christ died for me and you while we were still sinners. He loves us and offers anyone mercy to become a child of God. Salvation is by the mercy and grace of God, so that no one can boast. Are you looking down on those who have rejected Christ, or are you longing for them to experience the same mercy you have received? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me mercy when I did not deserve it. Forgive me for looking down on others. Help me love and pray for those who have rejected Christ, longing for them to experience the same mercy I have received. Amen. Get full access to Josh at joshengen.substack.com/subscribe

    How Can Someone Who Received Mercy Look Down on Others?
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Daily Devotions with Pastor Josh joshengen.substack.com

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