Myreligion Devotionals

For Daily Devotionals And Inspirational Messages

Showing posts with label Our Daily Bread Devotional. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Our Daily Bread Devotional. Show all posts

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Our Daily Braed Devotional For September 30, 2024 : Topic - “Small” Miracles

September 29, 2024 0

Our Daily Braed Devotional For September 30, 2024 : Topic - “Small” Miracles

Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here 

Bible in a Year :

Do not despise these small beginnings.Zechariah 4:10 nlt

Today's Scripture:Zechariah 4:6-10

Insight

Zechariah was one of Israel’s post-exilic prophets. This means his ministry took place after some of the people returned following their seventy years of captivity in Babylon. The Talmud—a written rabbinical commentary on Jewish history and law—says that Zechariah, along with Ezra and Nehemiah, was of the Great Synagogue. This was an assembly of 120 of the leading rabbis and scholars of the day. Zechariah was a Levite born in Babylon and is referred to in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 as well as in Nehemiah 12:16. Like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, he was both a prophet and a priest. The book of Zechariah contains a significant amount of messianic prophecy. The prophet uses messages of encouragement to call the people to repentance and, having physically returned to the land, to spiritually return to God. We too can be challenged spiritually as we consider how wonderful God is.

Message: At our wedding shower, our shy friend Dave stood in a corner clutching an oblong, tissue-wrapped object. When his turn came to present his gift, he brought it forward. Evan and I unwrapped it to discover a hand-carved piece of wood containing perfect oblong concentric woodgrain circles and the engraved sentence, “Some of God’s miracles are small.” The plaque has hung in our home for forty-five years, reminding us again and again that God is at work even in the small things. Paying a bill. Providing a meal. Healing a cold. All tallying up to an impressive record of God’s provision.

Through the prophet Zechariah, the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel received a similar message from God regarding the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. After returning from their Babylonian captivity, a season of slow progress began, and the Israelites grew discouraged. “Do not despise these small beginnings,” God declared (Zechariah 4:10 nlt). He accomplishes His desires through us and sometimes in spite of us. “ ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (v. 6).

When we grow weary at the apparent smallness of God’s work in and around us, may we remember that some of His miracles may be “small.” He uses the small things to build toward His greater purposes.

By:  Elisa Morgan

Reflect & Pray

Where have you seen God’s small miracles in your life? How has He used small things to provide for your needs and the needs of those around you?

Dear God, thank You for working Your small miracles in my life. Please help me to notice all Your works!


Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 29, 2024 : Topic - Heart Healthy

September 29, 2024 0

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 29, 2024 : Topic - Heart Healthy


Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :Isaiah 7-8

Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Insight

Proverbs 4 paints a picture of a life guided and nourished by “the way of wisdom” (v. 11). To be a disciple of wisdom means to let “one’s whole body” (v. 22) be transformed by it—our ears (v. 20), eyes (vv. 21, 25), feet (vv. 26-27), and, most importantly, our heart (v. 23). We’re to cling with unswerving devotion to the way of wisdom, to “guard it well, for it is [our] life” (v. 13).

Friday, September 27, 2024

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 28, 2024 : Topic - Search and Rescue

September 27, 2024 0

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 28, 2024 : Topic - Search and Rescue


Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :

[Jesus] gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age.


Insight

In Galatians, Paul refers to Jesus as our rescuer (1:3-5) and deliverer (5:1). The apostle uses a variety of terms in his other writings to describe what Christ accomplished in His rescue mission. He provides “peace with God” (Romans 5:1); He’s “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7), our “Savior” (Ephesians 5:23), and redeemer (Titus 2:14). The author of Hebrews describes Him as our “great high priest” (Hebrews 4:14). The common thread of these images and metaphors is that Jesus rectifies something that’s wrong. The parables that He told in Luke 15 of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son (more commonly known as the prodigal son) have a similar theme of rescue. Christ described His own work by saying, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (19:10).

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 27, 2024: Topic - Reckless and Careless

September 26, 2024 0

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 27, 2024: Topic - Reckless and Careless

Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

 Bible in a Year :

A fool is reckless and careless: Proverbs 14:16 esv

Today's Scripture:Proverbs 14:7-16


Insight

The book of Proverbs is part of a section of the Old Testament known as Wisdom Literature. Just as Proverbs focuses on practical wisdom, the book of James, considered by some to be the most Jewish book in the New Testament, has a similar focus. In chapter 3, James contrasts the “wisdom” of this world (vv. 14-16) with “wisdom that comes from heaven” (v. 17). This God-sourced wisdom is “pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (v. 17). As Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives, James describes, in a sense, the fruit of wisdom lived out in practical terms.


Message : Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is a tidal island in England connected to the mainland by a narrow road. Twice a day, the sea covers the causeway. Signs alert visitors to the dangers of crossing during high tide. Yet, tourists regularly disregard the warnings and often end up sitting atop submerged cars or swimming to raised safety huts where they can be rescued. The tide is predictable, as sure as the rising sun. And warnings are everywhere; you can’t possibly miss them. Yet, as one writer described, Lindisfarne is “where the reckless try to outrace the tide.”

Proverbs tells us that it’s foolish to be “reckless and careless” (14:16 esv). A reckless person has little regard for wisdom or wise counsel and doesn’t practice attentiveness or diligent care for others (vv. 7-8). Wisdom, however, slows us down to listen and ponder so that we’re not carried away by rash emotions or half-baked ideas (v. 16). Wisdom teaches us to ask good questions and consider the implications of our actions. While reckless people charge forward with little regard for relationships or consequences—or often truth—“prudent [people] give thought to their steps” (v. 15).

While we’ll sometimes need to act decisively or swiftly, we can resist recklessness. As we receive and practice God’s wisdom, He’ll give us the guidance we need when we need it.


By:  Winn Collier

Reflect & Pray

Where have you seen reckless living? How can you avoid living recklessly?

Dear God, we live in a reckless world. Please help me to be wise and live well.

For further study, read Better than Gold: The Life-Changing Wisdom of the Bible.

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 26, 2024 : Topic - What a Friend

September 26, 2024 0

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 26, 2024 : Topic - What a Friend


Read previous Our Daily Braed Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :Isaiah 1-2

Love each other: John 15:17

Today's Scripture:John 15:13-17

Insight

The apostle John referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; see 20:2; 21:20). It wasn’t that Christ loved him alone or the most, but most likely that John keenly felt Jesus’ love. Of all the New Testament books, John’s writing focuses the most on God’s love. He says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (3:16). The apostle also says, “the Father loves the Son” (v. 35; 5:20). Why? Because Christ laid down His life (10:17). In response, we’re to “love one another” (13:34) just as He loved us (15:12). By our love for each other, others will know we’re His disciples (13:35). If we love Him, we’re also called to “keep [His] commands” (14:15). In 1 John, the apostle’s emphasis is again on God’s love: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (4:8).


Message: As favorite backyard neighbors, my mother and Mrs. Sanchez grew also into friendly rivals. The two competed every Monday to be the first to hang their freshly washed laundry on their outdoor clotheslines. “She beat me again!” my mother would say. But the next week, Mama might be first—both enjoying their friendly weekly contest. Over ten years of sharing a backyard alley, the two also shared each other’s wisdom, stories, and hope.

The Bible speaks with great warmth about the virtue of such a friendship. “A friend loves at all times,” King Solomon observed (Proverbs 17:17). He also noted, “The pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice” (27:9).

Our great Friend is surely Jesus. Urging loving friendship from His disciples, He taught them, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). The very next day, He would do just that on the cross. He also told them, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (v. 15). Then He said, “This is my command: Love each other” (v. 17).

With such words, Jesus “is elevating His listeners,” as philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff said, from lowly humans to companions and confidants. In Christ, we learn to befriend others. What a Friend to teach us such love!

By:  Patricia Raybon

Reflect & Pray

How do you experience love in your friendship with Jesus? How can you be a friend like Him?

You call me friend, dear Jesus. Please help me be a loving friend to others.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 25, 2024 : Topic - Mind-Blowing Teaching

September 24, 2024 0

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 25, 2024 : Topic - Mind-Blowing Teaching


Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :

My son . . . keep my commands in your heart.


Today's Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-12

Insight

When she faced “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:917), Eve saw that its fruit was “desirable for gaining wisdom” (3:6), so she took it. The wisdom humans gained in their rebellion set them in opposition to God. Now they could decide for themselves what was good and bad, but that didn’t mean they had an accurate perception of the world.

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 24, 2024: Topic - Together in Jesus

September 24, 2024 0

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 24, 2024: Topic - Together in Jesus

Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

 Bible in a Year :

Memory Verse: In Christ we . . . form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.Romans 12:5

Insight

Paul wrote Romans to believers in Jesus living in Rome—a city steeped in the practices of pagan worship. Those pagans brought offerings of meat and drink to their gods hoping that the sacrifice would earn a bit of mercy. And those listening to the apostle’s letter for the first time would have immediately recognized his emphasis of “sacrifice” (12:1).

But the apostle upends the expected order of things. For the believer in Jesus, mercy comes first—not sacrifice—and it’s freely given. Paul made that argument throughout the first part of the letter, and it’s why he begins this section with “therefore.”

So, therefore, on account of God’s great mercy, we offer sacrifice. And that sacrifice isn’t the meat of a goat or cow; we offer ourselves. Paul doesn’t mean we climb onto an altar but that we offer the whole of ourselves as a gift to our merciful God.


Today's Scripture: Romans 12:1-5


Message : Most of the three hundred residents of Whittier, Alaska, live in one big apartment complex, and that’s why Whittier is called a “town under one roof.” Amie, a former resident, says, “I didn’t have to step outside the building─the grocery store, notary public, school, and post office were on our ground floor, just an elevator ride away!”

“Because life there was so comfortable, I often wanted to keep to myself, thinking I didn’t need anyone,” Amie shares. “But the residents are so warm. They look out for each other. I learned that they need me, and I need them.”

Like Amie, we may at times want to keep to ourselves and avoid community. The latter seems less stressful! But Scripture says that a believer in Jesus should have a healthy balance of solitude and fellowship with other believers. The apostle Paul likens the body of believers to the human body. Just as each body part has a distinct function, every believer has a distinct role (Romans 12:4). Just as a body part can’t exist alone, a believer can’t live the life of faith in isolation (v. 5). It’s in the midst of community that we use our gifts (vv. 6-8; 1 Peter 4:10) and grow to be like Jesus (Romans 12:9-21).

We need one another; our togetherness is in Christ (v. 5). With His help, as we “look out for each other,” we can cultivate a deeper relationship with Him and show others His love. 

By:  Karen Huang

Reflect & Pray

How has community in Jesus helped you in your walk with God? How have other believers encouraged you?

Dear God, thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 23, 2024: Topic - No Longer a Foreigner

September 22, 2024 0

 Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 23, 2024: Topic - No Longer a Foreigner


Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :

You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.


Today's Scripture

Insight

As believers in Jesus, we have His promise that we’re not strangers to Him: “You are . . . fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Ephesians 2:19). In fact, His care for us is so intimate that at this very moment, He’s preparing a home where we’ll live with Him forever! Christ said: “I go and prepare a place for you, [and] I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). When we arrive at our eternal home, we’ll be in His presence forever.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 22, 2024 : Topic - Royal Return

September 21, 2024 0

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 22, 2024 : Topic - Royal Return

Read Previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :

Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.

Today's Scripture: Isaiah 45:20-25

Insight

In Isaiah 45:21-22, we read, “There is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; . . . Turn to me and be saved, . . . for I am God, and there is no other.” God is righteous (just) and merciful (He saves). Through Jesus’ death, justice and mercy meet. He declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Paul affirmed, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). We’re reconciled to God only through faith in Christ’s payment for our sins on the cross. There’s nothing we can do to earn salvation: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:5).

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 21, 2024 : Topic - The Ups and Downs of Life

September 21, 2024 0

 Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 21, 2024 : Topic - The Ups and Downs of Life

Read previous Our Daily Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

Today's Scripture: John 16:31-33

Insight

John 13-17, commonly known as the Upper Room Discourse, contains a detailed recounting of what took place as Jesus shared His last Passover meal with His disciples. In the upper room, Christ revealed a great deal about His own mission, His relationship to the Father, and particularly what would happen in the next few hours of His life. He predicted both His betrayal by Judas (13:18-30) and Peter’s denial (vv. 31-38). Perhaps most significantly, Jesus told His disciples that He’d be going away and returning to the Father, but He would send a Comforter, the Holy Spirit (14:25-27). Amid stress and turmoil, Christ offered comfort. He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (16:33).

Message : A Facebook memory popped up, showing me a picture of my triumphant five-year-old when she’d won a fun and competitive game of Chutes and Ladders. I’d tagged my brother and sister in the post because we’d often played this board game when we were kids. Chutes and Ladders is based on a game that’s been played for centuries, helping people learn to count and providing the thrill of being able to climb a ladder and win the game by getting to 100 the fastest. But watch out! If you land on spot 98, you slide far down the chute, delaying—or even prohibiting—victory.

Isn’t that just like life? Jesus lovingly prepared us for the ups and downs of our days. He said we’d experience “trouble” (John 16:33), but He also shared a message of peace. We don’t have to be shaken by the trials we face. Why? Christ has overcome the world! Nothing is greater than His power, so we too can face whatever comes our way with “the mighty strength” He’s made available to us (Ephesians 1:19).

Just like in Chutes and Ladders, sometimes life presents a ladder allowing us to happily ascend, and other times we tumble down a slippery slide. But we don’t have to play the game of life without hope. We have the power of Jesus to help us overcome it all.

By:  Katara Patton

Reflect & Pray

What challenges do you need help to overcome today? How can focusing on Jesus’ power in overcoming life’s trials and troubles encourage you?

Dear Jesus, thank You for the reminder that You’ve overcome the world! Please help me to rely on Your power to handle the ups and downs of life.

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 20, 2024 : Topic - God’s Justice and Grace

September 19, 2024 0

 Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 20, 2024 : Topic - God’s Justice and Grace

Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.

Today's Scripture : Nahum 1:1-8,15

Insight

Despite the gloomy and apocalyptic nature of Nahum’s message, God had offered immense grace to evil Nineveh. About a century earlier, He’d sent His reluctant prophet Jonah to warn Nineveh that they’d be “overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). The city repented, and God relented from destroying it (vv. 5-10). However, history shows how they relapsed into their old ways, their appalling cruelty earning them multiple enemies. This time their judgment would be final. In 612 bc, the city was overrun by the Medes and Babylonians. Today Nineveh is mostly a ruin located near the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 19, 2024 : Topic - Finding Wise Joy

September 18, 2024 0

 Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 19, 2024 : Topic - Finding Wise Joy

                                                   


Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :

You will fill me with joy in your presence.

Today's Scripture: Psalm 16

Insight

David’s joy in God, expressed so eloquently in Psalm 16:11, is a joy available to us as well. In fact, for the child of God, all we need for joy in our lives has already been provided—the indwelling Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul included joy in the list of the fruit of the Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Joy isn’t something we can generate ourselves; it’s the result of the Spirit’s work in us.

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 18, 2024 : Topic - God’s Patient Love

September 18, 2024 0

Our Daily Bread Devotional For September 18, 2024 : Topic - God’s Patient Love

Bible in a Year :

Proverbs 30-312  ,  Corinthians 11:1-15


A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.


Today's Scripture : Isaiah 42:1-7

Insight

Isaiah 42:1-7 is an encouraging passage in the prophetic writings. It contains images and metaphors that reveal the patient and loving nature of the “servant” of God (v. 1). The servant of God is the one who carries out His mission of redemption and restoration. But we also see the split identity of the servant. Verses 1-4 are commonly understood to refer to a single individual, the predicted Messiah, fulfilled in the person of Jesus. Some commentators believe that verses 5-7 turn from an individual servant to a corporate servant, the nation of Israel, who will be “a light for the Gentiles” (v. 6). Both passages describe the same gracious God whose servant(s) doesn’t “crush the weakest reed” (v. 3 nlt) and who can “open the eyes of the blind” (v. 7 nlt).