Devotions from October 2023

Passage Read: Philippians 3-4 Meditation Verse: 3:15 Paul believes everyone who is mature should have his same view of life and righteousness, that they should all consider their own efforts and privileges and achievements as rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ. All…

Passage Read: Colossians 1-2 Meditation Verses: 1:22-23 We have been reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Jesus' physical body and stand before God holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Not by anything we have done, but by trusting in this…

Passage Read: Colossians 3-4 Meditation Verses: 3:5-10 "Put to death" and "you must rid yourselves" is pretty strong language. Paul isn't saying that, as we have opportunity, we should try to work on changing these things. He also isn't saying that as we are filled…

Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 1-2 Meditation Verse: 2:9 While in Thessalonica, Paul and his team labored night and day while also preaching the gospel to them. He did it so as not to be a burden to them. How were they not exhausted? Was the…

Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 3-4 Meditation Verses: 4:3-8 When we believed the gospel, we were called to live a holy life, not to continue to walk in impurity. The immediate context has to do with sexual immorality, but holiness is not just about that, but…

Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 5 - 2 Thessalonians 1 Meditation Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:1 The day of the Lord will come like a thief; it will surprise everyone who does not know that it is coming. But we are not to be surprised by it,…

Passage Read: 2 Thessalonians 2-3 Meditation Verses: 3:7-9 This is a high bar. To work night and day, both to set an example and to provide for their own needs, even while Macedonian churches were sending gifts to aid them, that's exhausting. Did they take…

Passage Read: 1 Timothy 1-2 Meditation Verses: 2:1-4 Paul wants us making requests and praying for everyone, especially kings and all those in authority, with thanksgiving, so that we could live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Paul links this to men…

Passage Read: 1 Timothy 3-4 Meditation Verses: 3:8-9 This is a high standard for deacons. They have many of the same requirements as elders, and they must hold firmly to the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. What are the deep truths…

Passage Read: 1 Timothy 5-6 Meditation Verses: 6:6-10 Godliness with contentment is great gain. My greatest desire needs to be to grow in godliness, not grow my bank account or earthly assets. I came into the world with nothing, and I will leave the world…

Passage Read: 2 Timothy 1-2 Meditation Verses: 2:23-26 There are foolish and stupid arguments, and they produce quarrels. They have no value, except in producing quarrels. But the Lord's servant is not to quarrel, rather he is to be kind to everyone, even those who…

Passage Read: 2 Timothy 3-4 Meditation Verse: 3:9 How will the folly of these false teachers be clear to everyone when people in the last days are so selfish and given over to their own evil desires? How will their folly be evident to all…

Passage Read: Titus 1-2 Meditation Verses: 2:7-8 Paul wants Titus to teach with integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned. These things Paul teaches, the things Jesus teaches, there is a seriousness to them, a weight and importance to them. They are…

Passage Read: Titus 3 - Philemon 1 Meditation Verse: Titus 3:14 Paul wants all believers to be devoted to doing what is good, which includes providing for their own daily necessities and being productive. He doesn't say that they should work to get rich or…

Passage Read: Hebrews 1-2 Meditation Verse: 1:9 While this is speaking specifically of Jesus, this pattern and principle is consistent with God's rewarding nature. Those who love righteousness and hate wickedness are rewarded with high rank and responsibility in God's kingdom. No one will be…

Passage Read: Hebrews 3-4 Meditation Verses: 3:12-13 The writer is writing to believers, whom he calls brothers, and he warns them not to have a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. He goes on to say that sin is deceitful, and…

Passage Read: Hebrews 5-6 Meditation Verses: 5:7-9 Jesus is the source of eternal salvation to those who obey Him. These few verses are filled with obedience; obedience and submission are the very fabric of God's creation, purposes and will. Jesus submitted to the Father, even…

Passage Read: Hebrews 7-8 Meditation Verses: 8:10-12 The New Covenant is that the Lord forgives our sins and remembers our wickedness no more, which allows us to know the Lord because He puts His laws in our minds and writes them on our hearts. He…

Passage Read: Hebrews 9-10 Meditation Verses: 10:26-29 The author makes the case at the beginning of this chapter that we have been made perfect through Jesus' death and resurrection. Here he makes it clear that if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving instruction and…

Passage Read: Hebrews 11-12 Meditation Verses: 11:13-16 Just a few verses earlier, the author mentions that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were living in tents, like strangers, in the land promised to them. They didn't build houses or settle down as if they owned the place.

Passage Read: Hebrews 13 - James 1 Meditation Verses: Hebrews 13:5-6 Keeping my life free from the love of money requires being content with what I have. If I'm not content, I will need more money. If I am content with what I have, I…

Passage Read: James 2-3 Meditation Verses: 2:1-5 How easy it is to fall into this trap, seeking the favor of rich men and ignoring or belittling the poor, especially when we are involved in an endeavor that depends on money. A church, a mission agency,…

Passage Read: James 4-5 Meditation Verses: 4:7-10 Living for my own pleasures is friendship with the world; James links these two things. The only solution is to purify my heart and mind, to stop loving the world and being its friend. Either I love the…

Passage Read: 1 Peter 1-2 Meditation Verses: 2:18-23 What Christ did applies to everyone, not just slaves. What Christ did, enduring the unjust persecution and murder at the hands of authorities, He did as an example for all of us who follow Him. We are…

Passage Read: 1 Peter 3-4 Meditation Verse: 4:7 The end of all things is near. Every generation since Peter is supposed to think that, so that they will adjust their priorities and live for the kingdom rather than for the world. Peter makes immediate application:…

Passage Read: 1 Peter 5 - 2 Peter 1 Meditation Verses: 1:10-11 We should be continually growing in these areas that Peter points out, so that we can make our calling and election sure, to make sure we will never fail, and to ensure that…

Passage Read: 2 Peter 2-3 Meditation Verses: 3:10-12 The right response to the coming of the Lord and the destruction of this earth is to live holy and godly lives, looking forward to the destruction of this place and the creation of a new heavens…