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. 3 hr ago

    Colony Collapse

    “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” — Matthew 24:6 About 20 years ago, a massive threat to honeybees everywhere on our planet was fearfully announced. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) was named and blamed for about 10 percent of hives’ dying off in 2006-2007. “Would this be the beginning of the end for honeybees?” we wondered. The effects of CCD on crops were also forecast to be catastrophic for humans and for other life on the planet. While the threat of CCD has decreased a bit recently, the menace and mystery remain.Back in the days of Jesus’ teaching ministry, his followers worried about “the end of the age.” And Jesus’ response to their concerns about end-time catastrophes and his coming again is somewhat puzzling and mysterious. Wars, disasters, persecutions, and false teachers/messiahs are ongoing terrors that he calls “the beginning of birth pains.” Since those days and long before them, disasters and disorders have come and gone. CCD and the COVID-19 pandemic are just a couple of new arrivals in our era today.Jesus said, “Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” So we need to listen to his words: “Watch out that no one deceives you.” And we need to remain faithful in following him—showing mercy and bringing the good news of God’s coming kingdom.  Jesus, thank you for rescuing us from the devil’s deceptions and our wayward anxieties. Make us watchful and confident in proclaiming that you have the whole world in your hands. Amen.

  2. 1 day ago

    Our Struggle

    Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the . . . powers of this dark world and . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. — Ephesians 6:12 When we moved to our latest home near a cherry orchard, I imagined that the beautiful cherry blossoms would be a great source of pollen and nectar for our bees. So I was horrified one day to see a tractor rolling through the orchard and spraying insecticide on the cherry trees. I knew the unseen poison would likely harm the bees. The orchard owner offered to spray in the evening when the bees would be in their hives. Yet I knew the bees would be hurt.Honeybees struggle with a host of seen and unseen enemies, including insecticides, from which they need to be defended. First and following generations of bees may be harmed beyond repair, bringing about the demise and death of many bees and even entire hives.Toward the end of his letter to Christ-followers in Ephesus, Paul reminds his listeners that our main struggle is against invisible forces and powerful enemies directed by the devil. Legions of threatening forces can be seen all around and within, yet we must also be aware of the invisible and unseen foes. Throughout life we need to “be strong in the Lord.” And we must make use of every weapon God provides to defend and sustain us “in his mighty power.” May we serve God faithfully against the devil and his schemes.  Lord, empower us to use all the weapons you provide for our defense against spiritual enemies. Together with all Christfollowers, may we stand firm as we depend on you, in Jesus. Amen.

  3. 2 days ago

    Surviving Cold, Dark Times

    I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me. — Psalm 13:5 A question many people ask about honeybees is “How do they survive the cold months of winter?” The answer is that worker bees form a tight cluster around the queen, with their heads pointed toward her in the center. Then they vibrate (shiver) their muscles to generate heat for the queen and themselves. They also shift positions constantly from the warm, inner core to the outer layers of the cluster so that the bees on the outside don’t get too cold. And their stored food gives them the energy to keep going.The main question of Psalm 13 is “How long, LORD?” This question expresses deep dismay over having to endure the attacks and successes of an enemy. The psalmist seems to have wrestled with this enemy’s threats and advances for a long, dark time without relief.Sometimes our struggles and setbacks in life can make us feel that way too. I have also engaged in this kind of wondering if I am lost in troubles of my own making and/or in struggles with the relentless wickedness in our world. A common question is “How are we going to get through this?”A helpful response is in the psalmist’s closing lines. The writer recalls the Lord’s unfailing love and goodness and looks ahead with hope, expressing joy in the Lord’s salvation. May we recognize that the Lord faithfully sustains and preserves our lives each day! Lord, look on us and give light to our eyes amid the cold, dark days of our struggles. Guide us to trust in you and praise you faithfully. Amen.

  4. 3 days ago

    Bees in Winter

    Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22-23 By the time snow began to fall in November last year, our honeybees had been preparing for months for the transition to winter weather. With fading daylight hours and falling temperatures where we live in Michigan, the bees had begun storing up honey and pollen in late summer and “bee bread” (a mix of nectar, honey, and enzymes) in early autumn. When the temperature outdoors dropped to about 55°F (12-13°C), hardier bees in the hive started taking over feeding and warming the queen to keep her alive during the cold, dark days of winter.The prophetic poetry of Lamentations is cold and darkening. God’s people at that time had been steadily approaching the brutal chill of being conquered and exiled. The armies of the cruel, cold-blooded Babylonian Empire were coming.For God’s people whose hearts had grown cold, no reprieve was predicted. The chilling consequences of disobedience and wickedness were approaching as certainly as a bitterly cold, dark winter.Today’s verses appear right in the midst of Jeremiah’s laments on the destruction, devastation, and mass deportation of God’s people during the invasion by Babylon. Like a ray of warm sunshine, these verses assure us that “the LORD’s great love,” compassions, and faithfulness are available to us each day. Let’s remember this in whatever cold and dark times we find ourselves in.  “Great is your faithfulness, O God [our] Father.” In all the seasons of life you have been here with and for us. Help us to trust in you. Amen.

  5. 4 days ago

    A New Thing

    “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” — Isaiah 43:19 When my son and I started beekeeping, we were especially keen on harvesting honey from our beehives. Minimizing our investment in equipment was also a goal. The solution was to use a primitive method of harvesting by scraping the honey-filled combs from our frames and draining the honey from the wax. Happy with the yield of honey, we wondered what to do with the pile of beeswax that resulted from this process.Beeswax itself is a treasure. Beekeepers and YouTubers supply loads of information about processing and using beeswax. The virtues of beeswax candles for home and worship are well known, for example. These all-natural candles are eco-friendly, smell like the fragrant outdoors, and are safe for air quality. Many fans also tout the benefits of beeswax as lip balm and for treating rashes and acne. Some people even claim that beeswax can help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and lower cholesterol levels.Some of these benefits might be debatable, but in God’s creation we often learn that nothing need be wasted or thrown away. Similarly, with God, anyone can be rescued, refined, and repurposed. People facing judgment amid catastrophe needed to hear this in Isaiah’s day, and we also need to hear this wisdom today. God loves us and is with us always. He will deliver us and do new things in, with, and through us.  Lord, thank you for telling us that we are chosen and loved by you. Guide us to face change and to embrace the new life you make possible for us through Jesus. Amen.

  6. 5 days ago

    Eating Honey

    He said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. — Ezekiel 3:3 My morning ritual includes a cup of tea mixed with apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of honey. I believe this bittersweet drink is good for digestion and fighting allergies. It seems also that a spoonful of honey may be good medicine that keeps my head clear.In Ezekiel’s time as a prophet, he received messages from God to warn his people of the coming destruction from Babylon. The messages were bittersweet and meant to prepare God’s people for a great disaster, the loss of their homeland and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s words of prophecy were intended as medicine to purify and preserve God’s people.For too long these people had been mixing with other religions and eating at the tables of false gods. So they could not stomach the messages of this edible scroll, and they would not listen. Ezekiel was able to bring the messages because he had ingested, digested, and internalized the “sweet as honey” Word of God in his heart and mind. The Word of God sustained and energized him to speak the Lord’s message.God’s Spirit-breathed Word in the Bible, given and gathered over thousands of years, is true and bittersweet. What are you doing to ingest, digest, and internalize this Word? Is God’s Word purifying and energizing you so that his message can go out to others?  Lord, protect us from the sickening messages of the toxic world around us. Plant your Word in our hearts. Rescue, purify, and use us to speak your words of life. Amen.

  7. 6 days ago

    Finding Honey

    If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit. — Proverbs 25:16 Late summer to early fall is usually the time when beekeepers “find” honey. At that time of year for bees, the days of gathering pollen and nectar are winding down. Wise beekeepers provide extra room in the hive, taking advantage of the bees’ hoarding instinct and “tricking” them into making more honey than they need. A healthy hive will often have two to three times as much honey as the bees will need for winter. The beekeepers then take the extra honey, making sure to leave enough for the bees to survive on.Finding honey is not so difficult with the hive boxes and removable frames we have today. In the wild, though, it can be a lot more challenging to find and gather this treasure. Through the centuries people have learned to search for honey in hollow trees, small caves, remote cliffs, and other protected spots that are near abundant varieties of flowering plants.While honey is sweet, our proverb for today tells us to “eat just enough” and not too much. It makes good sense not to overdose on honey—or on any of the sweet things in life. Wisdom calls us to a healthy balancing act.Sadly, the siren song of our world today is that “more is always better.” But finding honey reveals the wisdom of enjoying sweet things in life within wholesome limits.In what ways is the Spirit of God directing you to set wise limits in your life?  Thank you, Lord, for the sweet things in life. Guide us to follow you and to gain a heart of wisdom. In Jesus, Amen.

  8. 21 Jul

    Sweet Honey

    How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! — Psalm 119:103 Reading books to my children and grandchildren is one of my sweetest memories. And stories about Winnie the Pooh always make me chuckle:Isn’t it funny, How a bear likes honey? Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!Before we became beekeepers, my son and I took a class. At the outset, the instructor noted that most people get into beekeeping for the honey. This was a major goal for us as well. Honey’s reputation for sweetness is richly deserved. The flavor varies with the nectar and pollen gathered by the bees. People often say that eating local honey helps to combat allergies as well.Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, savors God’s Word in its many forms. The Word blossoms as God’s law, providing us with direction. It blooms in the shape of God’s judgments, which help us to learn right from wrong. God’s Word also flowers in his testimonies to inspire us to be faithful and true, like God.The most beautiful form of God’s Word was revealed when “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). This Word, Jesus Christ himself, is the whole package—all of God’s promises are fulfilled in him.May we all trust and love Jesus! Each day we can take in God’s Word like the sweetest honey.  “Beautiful Savior! King of creation,” in all the pages of the precious Word of God, help us to see you, Jesus, as the one who leads us into everlasting life. In your name, Amen.

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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    ReFrame Ministries
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 1977-2026 ReFrame Ministries
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    Today Daily Devotional

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