These are some devotions I wrote last year for Standard Publishing. They will be published sometime next year.

PRESSING ONWARD

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:18-24

VERSE FOR TODAY: But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit," Matthew 1:20, (New International Version)

HYMN FOR TODAY: We Have a Gospel to Proclaim

In 1793, William Carey set sail from England to become a missionary to India. It was just a year after he wrote an essay that rocked the church, raising the question of why there were no missions to foreign lands at the time.

At the time, most Christians believed the Great Commission had expired. Carey faced opposition even from the church, but because he believed God was behind his vision, he persisted. Carey's motto was "expect great things from God, attempt great things for God." The result of his attempts are the modern day mission movement.

Others followed in his footsteps, and today there are millions of Christians from all over the earth evangelizing and reaching the final few people groups who have not yet heard the gospel message.

Carey was convinced of his vision and of what the Holy Spirit was up to in his life. He saw no fear and would not be stopped.

Today, with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can reach out to the lost whether they are around the world, at the workplace or just down the street. We can overcome our fears by having faith in the one who has sent us.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Lord help me to not give in to fear or to be intimidated by the obstacles the world lays in my path. Thank you that you are able to accomplish in our lives the things that you have given us the desire to attempt in your name.

TICKET TO HEAVEN

SCRIPTURE: John 1:1-14

VERSE FOR TODAY: Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12, New International Version)

HYMN FOR TODAY: Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine

As a reporter covering a college or professional sporting event, one gets special treatment to make the job as convenient as possible. This should result in better reporting, with all obstacles removed. A reporter has access to the game in a way that very few fans ever see. The reporter gets a parking pass, which is usually beside the elevator that takes one to the press box. Any food or drink wanted is provided, as well as a large amount of statistical and background information. Once the game begins, statistics and other information are constantly being updated. After the game reporters go to the locker rooms to talk with athletes. Some stadiums even provide computers and telephones.

In a spiritual sense, we have this kind of access to God through Jesus, which the world will never know. Because we believe in Jesus, we have total access to the Father. Not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus has done on the cross, we are given the privilege of being called a child of God. An added bonus is that the Father, because of Christ, will give us everything we need to accomplish his purpose in our lives.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Lord we praise your name for the things you have given us. Thank you for allowing us to be called your children, which is something we could never have earned on our own if it were not for the sacrifice of Christ.

THE PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:12-17

VERSE FOR TODAY: Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ. (Matthew 1:17, New International Version)

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Great is Thy Faithfulness"

The exile to Babylon was a very bleak time in Israel's history. They were exiled because of repeated sin. They were taken off the Promised Land which God had led them to because they worshipped other gods. Even so, they were aware of the promise of God to bless all people through Abraham (Genesis 12:2). After the exile, the people returned home, but they remained under the rule of foreigners.

Even through the darkest time, their hope was in the Messiah who would someday come. The genealogy attempts to show how Jesus came from Abraham and is the long awaited Messiah. The Jews thought the Messiah would deliver them from Roman oppression, but he came to deliver them for their original oppression, which was sin. The Jews did not recognize Jesus at least in part because they did not realize who their oppressor really was.

In our lives we may have very bleak times as well. It may be caused by sin, or by any number of things that can add difficulty to our lives.

We may seek relief from our physical situation, but maybe God wants to relieve us of a much deeper bondage, which is bondage to sin.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Lord help us to recognize what our needs truly are. Help us to realize that our outward need may not be our deepest need. Thank you that as the divine healer you know what our deepest needs are and you are able to meet them through your son Jesus Christ.

BEING A WILLING VESSEL

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38

VERSE FOR TODAY: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”? Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38, New International Version)

HYMN FOR TODAY: Take My Life and Let it Be

There is no limit to what God can accomplish through us if we make ourselves available to Him.

Mary was perhaps just a normal young lady who believed in God. When the angel appeared to her she may or may not have realized the magnitude of what was happening. She simply trusted God and obeyed. Her response was a simple "may it be so." She may have realized the dangers and obstacles, but her eyes were on God, and she must have had faith that God could handle whatever situation arose. Her top priority was obeying God.

But even in her obedience, there is no indication that she realized what all would happen as a result. She probably did not realize that her son, Jesus, would be the most influential person this world has ever known.

It could perhaps be the same with us. We may not realize what God is doing in our lives, or the significance of things that happen. But if we have faith, and keep our eyes on God and not on the obstacles or opposition, we may just surprise ourselves at what is accomplished as we make ourselves available to Gods program.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Lord forgive us for seeing problems and not realizing they are opportunities for you to do great things through us. Lord thank you for loving us, and using us to accomplish your purposes. Help us to be faithful to the calling you have given us.

EVERYONE NEEDS SOMEONE SOMETIME

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:39-45

VERSE FOR TODAY: As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. (Luke 1:44, New International Version)

HYMN FOR TODAY: Blest Be The Tie

Everyone has felt discouragement at one time or another. When the weight or pressure seems too much, we may want to give in to despair. However, if we get encouragement from a trusted friend, we regain our strength and are better able to stand the problems we face. Everyone needs both to have a friend they can count on, and to be a friend that someone else can count on for encouragement.

As an unmarried, though engaged, young woman, Mary was probably the scandal of her small community of Bethlehem. Even though she has seen the angel and heard the message, she was also probably hearing the whispers as she walked in the market or around her community. This would be enough to wear down even the strongest soul, and at that time she needed someone to lean on.

She packed her bags and fled to Elizabeth, a trusted friend, who was a great encouragement to her. After Elizabeth's encouragement, Mary went on to write a wonderful praise song. Obviously her soul was lifted by Elizabeth.

In our lives we need such friends, and to be such friends to others, so we can share our burdens with each other.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Lord I thank you that you have created other people that I can lean on in time of need. Thank you for giving us friends we can count on, and allow us to be a friend to someone when they have the need of a friend to lean on.

IDENTIFY YOUR HUNGER

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:46-56

VERSE FOR TODAY: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:53, New International Version)

HYMN FOR TODAY: I Need Thee Every Hour

A hungry person is well aware of his need for food, and is appreciative when he has food to eat. On the other hand, a rich person who has any desired food readily available might gradually stop being grateful for his food. Such a person might forget what it is like to be hungry, even to the point of not realizing that he needs food each day because it is so common.

A person who is humble, as Mary was, is aware of their need for God and as a result, develops a hunger for God. God always meets that need when we call out to him in spiritual hunger, as Mary says God had done for her. The rich, or those that are not humble, are not aware of their need for God, so they do not ask God to fill them spiritually. These are the ones that are sent away empty, because they are not aware of their need or because they try to fill the need by themselves. Let us not be “rich” to the point that we forget our need for God. Let us be the hungry and needy when it comes to receiving spiritual blessings from the Lord.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Father I hunger for you because I realize I am weak and needy of spiritual things. Lord help me to always hunger for you and to never take for granted the love and kindness you have shown. Thank you for always filling that hunger when I look to you in faith.

THE SOURCE

SCRIPTURE: Daniel 2:17-23

VERSE FOR TODAY: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5 New International Version.)

HYMN FOR TODAY: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Late night television offers advertisements for psychic hotlines. We are promised that if we call we can get all our questions answered by the psychic. As Christians, we may laugh at such nonsense, but if people were not calling those lines, the sponsors could not afford to pay for the advertising to put more ads on television, so someone must be calling them for answers.

In Daniel’s day, the men who were supposed to have the answers were unable to solve the king’s problem even though the king threatened them with death if they could not.

Daniel knew the source of all wisdom and knowledge, so he asked God for the answer. God answered him, solving both Daniel’s immediate problem and the king’s problem.

As Christians, we too have the source of all knowledge and wisdom, spiritually speaking. We should be offering God’s wisdom to hurting people, and to people who have questions. God gives us knowledge for our own good, and so that we may share that knowledge with people who do not know God. It is because people do not know the source of all wisdom and knowledge, that they must look to psychics for answers.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Father you are the source of all wisdom and knowledge. We ask you to give us knowledge in living our lives in a way that is glorifying to you, and in a way that helps others to understand that you are the only true source of life.