Daily Devotionals

Zephaniah 3:8–13

March 11, 1942, was a dark, desperate day at Corregidor. The Pacific theatre of war was threatening and bleak. One island after another had been buffeted into submission. The enemy was now marching into the Philippines as confident and methodical as the star band in the Rose Bowl parade. Surrender was inevitable. The brilliant and bold soldier, Douglas MacArthur, had only three words for his comrades as he stepped into the escape boat destined for Australia: 

“I SHALL RETURN.” 

Galatians 5:22–23

Will-power is a forgotten word amidst most Christian circles today. Many of us are soft, flabby, and fat either outwardly or inwardly...or both. 

The overindulgence and underachievement of our age have created a monster whose brain is lazy, vision is blurred, hands are greedy, skin is thin, middle is round, and seat is wide. Colour him baby blue! 

Proverbs 16:17–18

As I mentioned yesterday, on many occasions I recall being taught by my parents about the importance of standing alone, setting my own agenda, not trying to be something I wasn’t, and above all, walking humbly with my God.

“Pride will eat you up, son. Just be what ya’ are.” 

I cannot number the times I heard words of Scripture quoted to me that assaulted phoney and faulty arrogance. Verses like: 

Micah 6:8

In my more zany moments, I have been known to do some crazy things. I’m relieved that most of them are not known by most of you. If they were, I sincerely doubt that what little bit of dignified respect I may have earned over the years would remain intact. 

Matthew10:24–39

He was a hated man. He was therefore maligned, threatened, publicly criticized, and privately rebuked. By his own admission he struggled vigorously with sins of the flesh. Especially outrageous anger. His debating disposition, wrote one biographer, caused his writings to “smell of powder; his words are battles; he overwhelms his opponents with a roaring cannonade of argument, eloquence, passion, and abuse.” Sarcasm dripped from his pen. 

Matthew 28:16–20

If you were to do a little, fun research to discover the sheer quantity of activities that happen each day in America, you’d be amazed. Consider, for example, the number of cups of coffee consumed, the number of babies born, the number of people who take a taxi, bury a pet, get divorced, go to the hospital, watch prime-time television, ride on an airplane, and go to school. 

2 Corinthians 1:3–11

Of all the letters Paul wrote, 2 Corinthians is the most autobiographical. In it the great apostle lifts the veil of his private life and allows us to catch a glimpse of his human frailties and needs. You need to read that letter in one sitting to capture the moving emotion that surged through his soul. 

Psalm 15:1-2

September 12, AD 61 

Dear Paul,

2 Timothy 1:7

Looking for a role model on how to handle criticism? It would be worth your while to check out the book of Nehemiah. On several occasions this great-hearted statesman was openly criticized, falsely accused, and grossly misunderstood. Each time he kept his cool...he rolled with the punch...he considered the source...he refused to get discouraged...he went to God in prayer...he kept building the wall (Nehemiah 2:19–20; 4:1–5). 

Galatians 6:9–18

Tough days. We all have them. And most of us, if we’re honest, must admit we don’t handle them well. Others who love us try to help, but they tend to complicate matters. 

Take the four guys who decided to go mountain climbing one weekend. In the middle of the climb, one fella slipped over a cliff, dropped about sixty feet, and landed with a thud on the ledge below. The other three, hoping to rescue him, yelled, “Joe, are you OK?” 

“I’m alive...but I think I broke both my arms!”