Christian Daily Devotionals

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.” Acts 10:44

Over the years, I have toured many industrial facilities, always having an interest in how things are made, packaged and delivered to the customer. It has also been a good place to ask for votes at election time and I have shaken many hands on assembly lines and lines formed to change shifts.

So, when I was invited to tour a book bindery recently in Bogota, Columbia it didn’t appear to be that exciting of an engagement, but when I walked through the doors and onto the assembly floor, my perspective suddenly changed. You see, this was no ordinary book bindery. It was a Bible bindery, where pre-printed blocks of printed paper are bound into a variety of covers and bindings, for shipment in several languages to a number of countries in the world.

As I stared at the rows of cardboard boxes, I was told that on that floor, ready to be shipped, were a little less than a quarter of a million Bible, in different sized, different bindings and in different languages, but all containing the same message of God’s redemptive love that runs like a scarlet thread all the way from Genesis to Revelation. I wasn’t looking at a book inventory, I was looking at God’s message to the world, all neatly packed in a well sealed, weather protected box destined for shipment to many people in many lands.

As I looked at the hundreds of boxes, I could only visualize the ultimate recipient of each one and what impact it would make on one life. I thought about how each Bible would get placed in the hands of the ultimate recipient and how someone would tell them and help them to grow in a more dynamic, personal and Intimate relationship with Him so that they could become more like Him.

There is nothing more important in the world than knowing Jesus Christ and we know Him through his Word. It is powerful, it is divine, it is life changing … and it has to be communicated. That’s our calling as followers of Christ, spread the Word. But how many of us keep the Word of God tightly wrapped up in a box, failing to share the greatest message in all the world to someone even as close as our next door neighbor?

Looking at those boxes touched my heart. I thought of all who had never had a Bible and had never heard the Word of God or had even an opportunity to appropriate His saving grace. I asked myself how often I take my faith for granted, keep it to myself and fail to share with others before it is too late.

Recently I came upon the scene of a bad automobile accident, right after it happened. People were running from every direction to help as they could, pulling bandages, or whatever they had from the trunks of their car to do what they could until the paramedics arrived. It was a tragic, yet beautiful sight to see people doing everything they could to help people they didn’t even know.

Yet, when we see someone lost without the security of God’s assurance and plan for salvation, how often do we drop what we are doing and run to help before it is too late? I am ashamed to say that all too often, I don’t respond they way I should. How about you? Can we both make a commitment to share God’s Word and make sure Jesus doesn’t stay trapped in the delivery box?

Question: Do you care if those around you hear about Jesus?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/01/31/jg_box/

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by Vonette Bright

“The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but He delights in accurate weights.�? Proverbs 11:1

Amanda received too much change for her purchase.
She knew it and said nothing.
When it came time to report waitressing tips on her tax return, she didn’t reflect all she received.
Amanda was a Christian.  But what were her actions indicating?!

Then she heard a sermon on Proverbs 11.  Verse one says,
“The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but He delights in accurate weights.�?
Her pastor told how merchants would hollow out a five pound weight.
Instead of five pounds, the unsuspecting customer would go home with only four pounds of grain.
Then the pastor applied this verse to today.  God opened Amanda’s eyes to her wrongdoing.

With God’s help, her actions from now on would reflect her faith accurately.
Dear friend, do any of your actions involve “dishonest weights?�?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/12/03/vb_scales/

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by Marilyn Ehle

“You are Simon…you will be Cephas… " John 1:42

"If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!"   2 Corinthians 5:17

As an experiment I recently went to my computer and inserted this into the Google space: “Favorite Baby Names.�? Up came scores of sites with interesting information about the most common baby names currently used in the United States. I then broadened my search by inserting more specific details into the space: “Favorite African or Indian or Mexican or Chinese…. Baby Names.�? My adventure into cyberspace soon became a game that I discovered I could never win! There seemed to be interesting—and unending—information about names.

This project was initiated by a song I recently heard:

I will change your name.
You will no longer be called
Wounded, Outcast, Lonely or Afraid.

I will change your name.
Your new name shall be
Confidence, Joyfulness, Overcoming One.
Faithfulness, Friend of God, One who seeks my face.
(Terry Butler; © 1987 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing)

Some of us love the names we were given by our parents. Others wish to change the name that has perhaps caused ridicule, embarrassment or misunderstanding through the years, but that name has been officially recorded and it takes great time and effort to make an alteration.

We have no indication that the man called Simon particularly wanted a name change; Jesus just took the initiative to give this follower a name that he would “grow into.�? Jesus knew that faithlessness would turn into strength, brash action would turn into steady leadership, denial would turn into lifelong commitment.

But the name change process would take risk, experience, failure and, most important, the power of God’s own Spirit. History has proven that the Simon who was often wounded, outcast, lonely and afraid was transformed into a man of confidence, joy, overcoming and faith. And in the process of seeking God’s face, he became the friend of God.

Whatever your name of the past, you have been given a new name! And it is recorded in the annals of heaven.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/12/02/me_names/

by Rick Warren

“If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin�? Ephesians 4:26 (TEV)

There are helpful ways and harmful ways to release your anger. For instance, sometimes we’d rather remain angry than admit to our anger. Yet, the Bible says that to be angry and not admit that you are angry is lying. And that’s a sin.

Keep in mind: anger is not necessarily wrong. It only becomes wrong if we release it in a way that is inappropriate or destructive. My experience as a pastor is that most of us learned to express our anger when we were two or three years old, and we’re still expressing our anger in the same way as adults. Needless to say, this simply doesn’t work.

Most people express their anger in such a way that they end up farther away from their goal than they were before they became angry. Anger, expressed inappropriately, has the opposite effect of producing the intended results. Blowing up at people never produces lasting change; it only produces more anger and alienation. We know that but we still do it. It doesn’t produce lasting change.

Something to keep in mind is that anger is never really the root problem. It is usually a symptom that reveals one of three things is happening: hurt, fear, frustration. These are the three things that make us angry, and this is why we should always stop and cool down.

It allows us to think:
• Am I hurt?
• Am I afraid? Perhaps feeling threatened, or that I’m going to lose something of value?
• Or, am I frustrated?

Understanding the source of your anger will help you respond in an appropriate manner, so that your anger does not “lead you into sin�? Ephesians 4:26 (TEV)

Question: What often makes you angry, and act out in ways you’d rather not?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/12/01/rw_anger/