Daily Devotionals

Mark 1:35–37

Dave Cowens, former star basketball centre for the Boston Celtics, suddenly disappeared. Without warning, he walked off the practice court, showered, dressed, and drove away. Alone.

He kept driving to ... somewhere. His only explanation was the familiar comment, “I need to get my head together.” He added that it could take as little as two weeks or as much as 10 years. The sportscasters, management, team, spectators, and fans couldn’t imagine what he was looking for.

I could.

2 Peter 3:10

Romans 5:8–11

It happens to every one of us. Teachers as well as students. Cops as well as criminals. Bosses as well as executive assistants. Parents as well as kids. The diligent as well as the lazy. Gen Xers as well as millennials. Not even pastors are immune. Or corporation heads who earn seven-figure salaries. The same is true of well-meaning architects and hardworking builders and clear-thinking engineers.

Not to mention pro-ball players, politicians, and presidents.

What? Failure, that’s what. Blowing it. And it happens with remarkable regularity.

Philippians 4:11

Someday when the kids are grown, things are going to be a lot different. The garage won’t be full of bikes, unfinished “experimental school projects,” and the rabbit cage. I’ll be able to park both cars neatly in just the right places, and never again stumble over skateboards.

Matthew 19:14–15

Many teenagers get a bum rap. Always have. For some reason, if you’re between 12 and 20, you’re suspect. Cops stare and senior citizens glare. Why? Well ...

You drive too fast, you apologize too slow, you aren’t responsible, and you can’t betrusted. The music you listen to is wild-n-wicked, the stuff you read is shallow or sleazy, the places you go are loud and low class. You’re allergic to things like homework, dirty dishes, vacations with the family, turning off your phone, saying “Thank you,” getting up in the morning and going to bed at night.

Colossians 4:5–6

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me.

Ever heard that expression? I don’t know who wrote it, but he never went to elementary school!

You and I both know how moronic that statement really is. Words can do enormous damage and, at times, destroy a life. In my nearly six decades as a pastor, a high percentage of my counselling sessions have dealt with an adult trying to overcome the painful words of others in their past. Words can sting and cripple or words can lift and heal.

Philippians 4:8–9

2 Samuel 1:11–12; 2:1

Are you ready to step into God’s great unknown and trust Him with the results? Great! But before you jump, be sure of four things:

Be sure it’s the Lord who is speaking.

Be sure the decision doesn’t contradict Scripture.

Be sure your motive is unselfish and pure.

Be sure the “leap” won’t injure others or your testimony.

Acts 20:22

After a long and fruitful ministry, it was time for Paul to leave. In his mind was the necessity of walking by faith as he hugged close friends farewell, standing on an Asian pier. Several of the men wept freely, realizing they would never see their beloved mentor again. The aging apostle looked from man to man, holding each one’s eyes for a brief moment. Then, looking out to sea with his weathered hand pointing south to the stormy skies above the Mediterranean, he voiced these words:

1 Corinthians  6:9–11

Few young people I know have watched a film spun off an 8mm projector. Nowadays, if you were born any year after 1980, you’d have to Google that to catch a glimpse of the bygone contraption. But as a boy, I recall watching home movies of family outings, captured on film with an 8mm camera. If we could look back on our lives before Christ, I wonder if we’d laugh or cringe? Some episodes would make us laugh out loud. Like seeing our hairdos and bell-bottom pants. Still, other scenes might cause us shame, embarrassment, or conjure some regrets.