Category: Devotional

“My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” – Proverbs 2:1-5.

The year was 1488, and a man named Domenico Ghirlandaio was an Italian Renaissance painter in Italy. A young, thirteen-year-old boy became his apprentice.  Ghirlandaio had trained many apprentices, and all learned similarly—by watching and listening closely to him, paying attention to his direction and guidance, copying masterpieces to learn colors and strokes, and learning the ways of the trade. Ghirlandaio’s young thirteen-year-old apprentice, Michelangelo, certainly learned his trade well. He went on to paint the remarkable frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, completed the dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral, carved his famous Pietà and David statues from marble. It all began with a good apprenticeship.

The message of Proverbs 2 is to be an apprentice. It is a call to listen to the voice of truth and learn the standards of how life works in the world created by God, broken by sin, and redeemed by Jesus. It is a call to trust God, pursue truth, and do the work.

Jesus calls His followers to more than a casual or nominal relationship with him. He calls them to be His disciples, or apprentices, learning from Him day in and day out, becoming like Him and able to do everything He commanded. “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). An apprentice soaks up any teaching and learning from the person they are apprenticing under. In the same way, followers of Jesus learn by apprenticing themselves to Jesus. They learn to live their lives as Jesus would live them if He were living their lives as they apprentice themselves to Him and train to be more Christlike.

Apprentices train through practicing spiritual disciplines such as worship, study, prayer, fellowship, solitude, silence, and fasting. Spiritual disciplines work by helping the disciple form new habits that change their character, ultimately resulting in automatic, Christlike responses.

Training for Christlikeness, being saturated with God’s love and grace, and attending to the care of our souls will result in a character that reflects Christ to the world. Choosing to be an apprentice to Christ means being devoted to Him, loving Him, and following Him.

In short, becoming an apprentice of Jesus, or discipleship, is a journey of learning and growing like Jesus, not just believing in Him. It’s becoming like him through daily practices, spiritual disciplines, and intentional living. This involves being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is the concept of apprenticeship new to you?
2. Why is an apprenticeship important? How is it useful?  

Summary: This devotional explores the idea that recognizing and accepting our limitations can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and God, ultimately fostering humility and reliance on His grace. By acknowledging our human frailties, we can learn to depend on God’s strength and find a renewed appreciation for His limitless love and provision.

We all have limitations. That’s part of being human. Society encourages you to transcend your limitations—to break down or leap over barriers to get where you are trying to go. But the whole gospel of “you can do anything” and “transcend your limitations” is usually false.

We face limits in our bodies, minds, and jobs every day. We experience roadblocks in our relationships. We reach the end of our talents.  And we regularly run into limitations of our character in those temptations we can’t seem to resist. Limitations, though often seen as obstacles, can be part of God’s plan and lead to a deeper relationship with Him. By embracing our limitations and recognizing them as an invitation to rely on God’s strength, we can experience a richer, more fulfilling life.

These trials and limitations we face each day can prompt us to draw closer to our heavenly Father. When we practice the way we mature and become more like Jesus, 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 sums it up nicely: “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.”

This passage encourages us as we walk through life’s trials and struggle against the limitations that seemingly hold us back. Daily surrender to the Lord’s plan as we walk through our days will help us follow Jesus and stay on the path He lays before us, even if it looks different than what we expected and we don’t feel up to the task.

These verses tell us that our limitations have become His invitation. I Chronicles 16:11 says, “Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.” and Psalm 73:26 adds, “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” Hebrews 4:16 says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Jesus is asking us to invite Him into our limitations. They don’t have to be something to cover up or conquer, but are an invitation into deeper fellowship with the God who understands and loves us.

Discussion Questions:

1. What limitations prevent you from achieving or becoming?  
2. What lesson or truth might God be trying to teach me through this limitation? 
3. Limitations can bring us closer to God: agree or disagree, and why?

Summary: Cultivating a deeper relationship with God through regular prayer and reflection is critical to following Jesus. Prayer is a conversation, a way to connect with God’s presence, and a means of experiencing His power and guidance.

Passion, that strong and driving enthusiasm for a particular activity or interest, is a powerful force in life, helping us to find purpose, motivation, and overall well-being. It can be the spark that ignites a career, fuels a hobby, or even motivates a lifestyle change. Passion provides the energy, focus, and drive necessary to overcome challenges, persist through difficult times, and stay focused on your goals.

As Christians, we should have a passion for prayer. Having a passion for prayer means experiencing a strong desire and enthusiasm for engaging in the practice of prayer and viewing it as a significant and fulfilling act of communication with God.

For some, passion and prayer come together in the form of “bold” requests: requesting divine intervention and believing that God can and will intervene in the regular course of the world that would not (or could not) have occurred otherwise. In other words, a miracle. We look out over our cities, over the continents of this world, and we ask God to do something only He can do. Or we ask God to quadruple the size of the church this year. There’s nothing wrong with seeing a need, looking ahead, and praying big. God sized prayers are a good thing. But among the God-sized prayers, there should be an internal focus on our relationship with God and our desire to improve our relationship with Him continually.

Found within the Psalms is a rich collection of heartfelt expressions to God, ranging from praise and joy to lament and plea for help. They offer a diverse vocabulary for prayer, helping individuals connect with God in various circumstances.  Psalm 63:1-8 says, “God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live,  lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper,  I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.”

This passage expresses David’s intense longing for God, comparing his desire for God to a thirst for water in a desert. He describes his need to experience God’s presence, power, and glory. He finds satisfaction in God’s love and praise, and trusts in God’s protection and guidance. He expresses the satisfaction he finds in praising God and remembering God’s goodness. David’s response wasn’t to withdraw and pull away from God amid trials. His response was to draw nearer to the God who was always there, right by his side. It was to remember His love and faithfulness and lift up praise.

Having a passion for prayer may be simply spending more time in prayer. Maybe it means cranking up a worship song and singing praises to Him. Perhaps it means sharing with a friend God’s faithfulness in your life. All it requires is passion and commitment to connecting and communicating with God.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can I incorporate prayer into my daily routine, making it a regular part of my life rather than just something I do on Sundays? 
2. What specific changes can I make this week to prioritize seeking God through prayer? 
3. How can I overcome the obstacles currently hindering my prayer life, such as distractions, a busy schedule, or feelings of unworthiness? 

 “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD” ― Psalm 27:14.

Most of us struggle with impatience. We have all experienced choosing the wrong line at a store. You arrive at the checkouts and see that one line is much longer than the other, so you join the shorter one. But, before long, the people in the bigger line zoom past you, and you’ve barely moved towards the exit. Even though it’s a 50/50 chance, we always seem to choose the slower line. You probably remember times when you were impatient with God. We tend to resist anything that causes us to wait. This is especially true today, for we have been accustomed to instant gratification.

Impatience is a part of who we are, and as a result of that, ultimately at the bottom of impatience with people and circumstances can be impatience with God, because we do believe that He does control the events in life, and He lets us choose the wrong line amongst other things.

God wants us to rid ourselves of impatience, and it can’t be done unless we learn to wait on God. God is telling us to idle our motors when we want to strip our gears. And God says, “Wait patiently for the LORD.” But we’re not very good at waiting, we prefer the human timetable when we should be fitting into God’s timetable. Learning to trust God’s timing in our lives is one of the most important lessons we can learn when following Jesus. God has a timetable for everything that happens “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NASB).

We often find ourselves in seasons of waiting. We may be waiting for a breakthrough in our careers, for healing, or for an opportunity to open up. It is in these moments of uncertainty and anticipation that our character is refined, and our trust in God deepens. Waiting teaches us patience, perseverance, and the importance of surrendering our desires to God’s perfect plan. It reveals our dependence on Him and invites us to seek His guidance and wisdom. Instead of allowing impatience and frustration to overshadow our purpose, use the waiting period to grow closer to God and cultivate the qualities necessary for effective leadership. It is during the waiting that God often molds us into the person He wants us to be.

We need to remember that God’s timing is impeccable and His ways are higher than ours. Let us seek Him wholeheartedly, trust in His faithfulness, and take comfort in knowing that He is working behind the scenes, orchestrating every detail according to His perfect purpose.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you like to wait? What makes waiting so easy or difficult for you?
2. When you think of the word wait in connection to your relationship with God, what comes to mind?
3. When have you had to wait as a part of God’s will in your life? What was the end result of waiting on the Lord? What happened in you?

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” – Colossians 2: 6-7.

What Paul is saying in this Colossians passage is that you don’t start with something else and then move on to Jesus. There’s no next step or graduating from Jesus to something else. It starts and ends with Jesus. Paul is reminding us to live in Christ. Not just around Him, not just beside Him, but in Him. Christ is not just another element of our lives or a compartment in them. He should be the central part of every area of our lives. Christ lives in us, and we are to reflect that in everything we do and everywhere we go.

The Bible uses the imagery of tree roots to emphasize the importance of a strong faith foundation, the need to address the root causes of issues, and the potential for growth and resilience when we are deeply connected to God. Our faith is the same way. The deeper we go in our relationship with Christ, the greater our impact becomes. Are we spending time with Him, seeking Him, and His wisdom? Our roots must dig deep into Christ through His Word, worshipping Him, and reflecting His character to those around us.

Each plant thrives in a specific location and environment. And so do we. Certain plants need sun while others do not. But even when planted in the perfect location, root development is critical. Trees need time until their roots spread far enough to support them in heavy winds. Water is essential as well. God has planted or transplanted us, even in some cases, not ideal conditions. The reality is that the deeper our roots are in Jesus and His Word, the stronger we will be when faced with life’s challenges. When we have deep roots, we can weather the storm of change, lies, guilt, or difficulty. Psalm 1:3 says, “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”  It takes faith.

Jesus calls us to be rooted in Him.  A life that is rooted in Jesus is a radically different life. It is not about doing extreme things. It is about living life centered on Him. It may seem different or even extreme to the rest of the world, and rightfully so. The teachings of Jesus turned the world upside down: the last become first, and the first end up last. It is the servants who are considered the greatest of all, manifesting the life and love of God.

God is committed to growing His people. He has rooted us in Christ through our salvation and fosters our growth through the Holy Spirit working through His Word.. Paul says in Galatians 4:19,”Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.

The practical application in Colossians 2:6 is to walk in Him in everything. Let this reality transform everything you do, everything you think, everything you desire, everything you say, every decision you make, every interaction you have, do all of it through and with Him.   

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to “walk in Him?” How does this compare to the idea of following Jesus? 
2. What does it mean to be “rooted and built up in Him?”
3. In what areas of your life do you need to be more rooted and built up in Christ? 

Summary: Following Jesus is a lifelong journey that requires consistent effort and practice, not just a one-time decision. It’s about aligning one’s life with His teachings and example, embracing His values, and living a life of discipleship. This involves daily habits of prayer, reflection, and actively choosing to live following His teachings.

Being Christian is not at all natural to us, nor do we achieve being Christian by instinct. Faith and spiritual growth are not passive processes but require intentional effort and active engagement. It emphasizes that becoming a more authentic Christian involves making conscious choices, taking deliberate actions, and pursuing God’s will. Spiritual growth is cultivated through consistent practice and intentional effort.

Our growth in Christ doesn’t come via osmosis, nor is there a passive transfer of God’s character and heart without real practice. Our efforts without practice will be littered with frustrations and failures, starts and stops, like so many New Year’s resolutions. No, we have to allow God to direct our path, to have faith in His leading, to wait upon Him, to surrender and let go of our agenda, exercise faith, to wait on the Holy Spirit for direction. God has a good plan for your life. His will is for you to walk forward, confident in His love, trusting Him to take care of you all along the way. Moving forward means walking toward the purpose God has for us.

In Jeremiah 29:1-11, the prophet Jeremiah speaks to the nation of Israel as they navigate a difficult time. He tells them that while they were waiting for deliverance, they needed to live intentionally, showing up for each day. Even though they didn’t have what they wanted, God still had a mission for them to accomplish, and they needed to practice their faith and trust in God.

The reality is that God doesn’t always provide the answers we want, even though we work hard following Him. It is hard to know when we are face-to-face with trials and troubles. It is in these times that we are called to faithfully live out God’s mission every day by putting our faith into action. We continue practicing the way by caring for our families, loving our neighbors, and participating in a church community. Whether they are large or small, each day we find ways to live on mission for God intentionally.

The Christian journey is not a passive state but a journey of growth and development. This growth involves studying God’s Word, praying regularly, engaging in meaningful conversations with others, and actively living out one’s faith in daily life

Being Christian takes practice.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some practical ways you are or could be practicing the way of God? What hinders your pursuit of God, and what helps you overcome these obstacles? 

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates.

Once you commit your life to Christ, you start the process of becoming more like Jesus. A necessary part of this process is continually taking an honest inventory of our lives to see where we need to seek transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Self-reflection is a powerful tool we can use to grow closer to and encounter God in the inner workings of our hearts and lives. Regular reflection is something that we, as Christians, need to incorporate into our daily lives. Reflecting on who we are, who God is making us to be, how God is working in us, and how God is working around us will allow us to live more fully Christian lives. Christian reflection will help us reorient ourselves toward God. It may not come naturally to some of us, but it is a great spiritual practice that can truly deepen our relationship with God.

We can take an honest look at ourselves and see our weaknesses and our strengths. Reflection also allows us to keep our spiritual things at the forefront of our minds. If we reflect daily on what God is doing and has done in our lives, it makes living in God’s presence much easier for us. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

In this passage, David comes before God to be searched. He knows not the depths of his own heart and sinfulness, and requests that the Lord search the deep things of his heart, so he can process them and grow. We also need to check our spiritual status from time to time. To do that will require guidance from God and intentional self-reflection.

The spiritual practice of soul searching is hard, but the benefits of the discomfort and, yes, even the pain, are so worth it.  It is through recognizing, acknowledging, and releasing these difficult personal things to God that we are drawn closer to Him.  It is here that we discover God has given us a greater purpose: a purpose that revolves around us.  It is here that we learn to live our lives according to God’s design.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you see self-reflection as a spiritual tool? Yes or no, and why?
2. How can we make that tool a part of our lives?

“Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” ― Matthew 28:5-7.

Central in all of history is the resurrection of Jesus. After He arose, He appeared to some people. Some of those to whom He appeared were women who had come to the tomb where He had been buried, expecting Him still to be dead. But He wasn’t. In a very short period of time, they went from experiencing deep sorrow to exceeding great joy. They realized that their Savior was alive and quickly went to tell the good news to all the others.

Imagine for a second the scene. Jesus cried, “It is finished.” He died, and the people there knew He was dead. On that same day, He was buried and was in the grave. Then He arose, just as He said that He would. It was real. His body could be touched. Jesus expressed this. He said: “Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” (Luke 24:39).

Yet the disciples did not expect the resurrection. They did not expect it, even though Jesus had spoken of it repeatedly. For example, Jesus had said this to His disciples, “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead” (Matthew 20:18-19). Yet even after what He said would happen did happen, even after He had been crucified just as He had said that He would be, they still did not expect Him to rise from the dead.

So these women came to the grave expecting Him still to be dead. They had seen the place where He was buried two days before.  They went to the grave with some spices that they had prepared to anoint the body of Jesus (Luke 24:1). It was an act of love, to be sure. Yet they should not have been seeking the living among the dead.

As they went to the grave, they thought about the big stone that was put in front of the sepulcher. They wondered who was going to roll that stone away from the opening, so that they could get in. Yet when they got close enough to see the stone, they noticed that it had already been rolled away.

When these women saw and heard Jesus, they came close to Him. They recognized Him. While these women were holding Jesus and worshiping Him, “Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there” (Matt. 28:10).

Imagine the joy that must have filled their hearts as they quickly brought the disciples the news.

Discussion Questions:

1. What emotions would you have experienced if you were one of these women, finding the tomb empty?
2. How does the resurrection provide hope for today and for eternity? 
3. How does the resurrection inspire you to live out your faith in the world? 

Summary: Easter celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, signifying victory over death and a promise of eternal life. It’s a time for Christians to rejoice in God’s love and grace, and to reflect on the profound implications of Christ’s death and resurrection from the grave.

Easter is special because it celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, a pivotal event in Christianity that brings hope and offers the promise of eternal life. It marks the triumph of life over death and the restoration of a relationship with God, reminding believers of the transformative power of God’s love. The resurrection of Jesus is the central tenet of Christian belief, proving His divinity and offering hope of eternal life to all who believe in Him. But now that Easter has come and gone, what’s next? Does everything go back to normal? Do we go back to living our regular everyday lives?

The temptation is to return to our safe, everyday routines and view the Easter weekend as the spiritual highlight of the year. Or we could let Easter transform our lives. There were hundreds of people, including the disciples, who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead. Many of Jesus’ disciples were present for His arrest, trial, flogging, and crucifixion. While some fled in fear, others, including Peter, followed at a distance. John the apostle was present at the foot of the cross. The disciples witnessed Jesus being taken into custody, interrogated, and eventually sentenced to death. The Gospels mention various people, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Roman soldiers, who were present and presumably witnessed His death on the cross. Yet, He appeared to over 500 people. Think for a moment about Jesus’ disciples and the hundreds of people who saw Him after He rose from the dead. How could they go back to their everyday lives? If we were there and witnessed what they had, could you go back to life as usual? Probably not.

Knowing that Jesus rose from the dead is widely believed to have had a profound and transformative impact on the lives of the disciples, particularly those who witnessed the resurrection. This belief in Jesus’s resurrection is seen as a primary catalyst for their courage, confidence, and willingness to proclaim the Gospel, even in the face of persecution and death. The same should be true of us. If you know Christ is living and you trust Him as your own Savior, then you should live it out. Tell others. Invest in the lives of others. Let Christ’s love, which so transforms you.

Jesus isn’t just a “good guy” — He’s our Savior, worthy of all praise and attention. We were made for a relationship with Him, a consistent prayer life with Him, and a committed practice of reading His Word. Even in the busyness of our lives, we must tend to our relationship with Jesus every day.

Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways have you let Easter be a passing holiday? How can you change that?
2. What is your basic answer to the question, “Does Easter matter?”

“ Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”).’ – Matthew 27:32-33.

It’s a natural human tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Much of our lives is shaped around this instinct. We’re innately inclined to turn away from what hurts, and to seek safety in what’s pleasurable and familiar. We cling to what’s secure, safe, and feels good in our circumstances and relationships. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, because we were designed to value life.

But following God often means coming out of our comfort spots and setting ourselves aside for His glory. He wants us to trust Him, but we can only do that when we let go and obey. More likely, Simon (mentioned in Mark 15:21, Matthew 27:32, and Luke 23:26) had other things to do that day than get personally involved in Jesus’ crucifixion. His plans and agenda were interrupted when he was given an order to carry the bloody cross for Jesus. It was hard work, bloody, and humiliating, but he carried the cross for Christ and walked with him in His most difficult hours. In doing so, he became part of the greatest story in history.

What a powerful example of what Jesus had taught just a short time before. Even more significant is that what Simon was forced to do, Jesus did willingly. He subjected himself to public mockery, severe beatings, and one of the most horrific deaths the world has ever come up with. As the Son of God, He didn’t have to endure anything; He allowed Himself to be a prisoner of the Roman soldiers. Even in those last excruciating hours nailed to the cross, He could have opted out. But Jesus understood his suffering was not about Him; it was the only way to restore sinners to the heavenly Father.

God doesn’t force us to follow him either. He doesn’t put the cross on us, but asks us to pick it up willingly. Our decision will cost us something; there’s heavy lifting, rejection, and personal interruptions. Actually, it will cost us everything. The only way to get the life we work so hard to protect is to give it back to God and trust Him to take care of it.

Luke is the only Gospel that says Simon carried the cross behind Jesus. “As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.” (luke 23:26). All the other Gospels that mention say he carried it. Does Luke want us to remember Luke 9:23, where he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”  

The Christian faith is the cross and resurrection, sacrificial love, and life. We who are followers of Jesus Christ surrender to the life and death of Christ so that he will be glorified through us. Simon carried the cross provided for Jesus, and that is precisely what we must do today. Simon of Cyrene, who followed behind Jesus with the cross, is a picture of discipleship. Christ has gone first, but can we follow in his steps, bearing the cross behind Him? It is reminiscent of the lyrics to the song “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” written by the Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh: “I have decided to follow Jesus; The world behind me, the cross before me; Though none go with me, still I will follow; My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.”

Discussion Questions:

1. How is Simon an example of discipleship?
2. What can we learn from Simon’s willingness to help Jesus? 
3. In what ways are we often “compelled” to do things we don’t want to do, but that may be part of God’s plan for us?