Daily Devotional

Dec 20

Proof of Relationship

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 20 How do you know that you are a child of God? Some people base their assurance on a decision that they have made, a prayer that they have prayed, or an experience that they have had (baptism, confirmation, church membership). The Bible offers one clear evidence to prove that we are God's children: discipline. The writer of Hebrews addresses discipline in Hebrews 12:1-13. Discipline characterized all the great... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 20

Dec 19

Copy of the Original

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 19 Moses constructed the Tent of Meeting based on the design that God had revealed to him from heaven. Priestly duties were carried out daily in the Holy Place (replacing the bread on the Table of Showbread and keeping the lampstand of seven oil lamps filled with oil). A thick veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant rested. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the High Priest... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 19

Dec 18

From Outside of the System

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 18 The Book of Hebrews addressed a largely Jewish-background audience. The writer seeks to demonstrate the superiority of Christ over the Levitical system established by Moses. The system, though weak in operation, presented God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness, and the way of redemption—the shedding of the blood of the innocent on behalf of the guilty. Abraham meets Melchizedek, the “priest of God... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 18

Dec 17

Earthly Representation, Heavenly Reality

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 17 The writer of Hebrews demonstrates man’s need of human representation on earth and in heaven. Christ perfectly represented man on earth and in heaven. Earthly Representation - Hebrews 2:14-15, 17-18 “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 17

Dec 16

Breaking Up With The "Selfie" Life

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 16 New ideas and new activities demand the invention of a new vocabulary. The word “selfie” describes the 21st century cultural phenomenon of taking a digital self-portrait and editing it immediately with different filters, to publish it online and market oneself instantly through social media. The ability to take selfies and edit them reveals a fatal flaw in human nature: self-centeredness. We, rather than... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 16

Dec 15

The Knowledge That Says "NO" To Sin

The ONE YEAR® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 15 "Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with godliness" (Titus 1:1, emphasis added). Today's media glorifies sin. TV shows promote all flavors of sin while intentionally leaving out its dark underbelly (drinking without alcoholism, drugs without addictions, gambling without... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 15

Dec 14

Church Conduct

The One Year Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 14 Paul’s letter to Timothy, the pastor of the church at Ephesus, provides a number of guidelines that, when not followed, result in personal defeat and communal disgrace upon the church. Among these issues, Paul addresses church conduct: Church Conduct : “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 14

Dec 13

Suffering And Submission

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 13 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (Jas. 4:7). Submission, the despised "S" word, is a training issue. Once our intellect understands the value of submission, faith informs the will to soften its neck and bow its knee in surrender to God. It all comes back to one's view of God. James mentions submission in light of interpersonal relationships and... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 13

Dec 12

Faith Goes The Distance

The One Year Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 12 Actions are belief-driven. They do not produce beliefs; they reveal beliefs. Perseverance, on the other hand, reveals and matures faith. "Bailing out" reveals immature faith or downright unbelief. James the Apostle connects faith with perseverance: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 12

Dec 11

A New Epicenter

The One Year Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 11 Three epicenters exist from which all people operate or navigate life: Moralists operate from an epicenter of legalistic righteousness. The Apostle Paul formerly pursued righteousness by keeping the law. He describes his own law-keeping as faultless: "If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 11

Dec 10

Characteristics of Pride

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 10 Like slices of bread, two commands sandwich Paul's description of Christ's humility: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself" (Phil. 2:3) "Do all things without complaining or disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 10

Dec 9

Before And After Conversion

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 9 Before and after pictures. We've all seen them. They demonstrate the effectiveness of aesthetic medical procedures, home makeovers, weight loss, etc. Paul often uses such "before and after" pictures in his epistles to narrate the Christian life. In Colossians he offers this example: ”Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 9

Dec 8

Warfare Mentality

The One Year Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 8 A terrorist entered the garden of Eden to capture the heart and soul of man. Adam and Eve succumbed to the enemy when they failed to appropriate God's Word, lift up the shield of faith, and stand against him. Sadly, they didn't realize the importance of that moment, and they doomed all of humanity to slavery under the dominion of sin and the enemy. A promise regarding the Redeemer (Gen. 3:15) formed their only hope,... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 8

Dec 7

Shacking Up With The Devil

The ONE YEAR® Year Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 7 Paul transitions from doctrinal teaching to practical application in Ephesians 4:1-3: "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." A few sentences later Paul gives another command:... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 7

Dec 6

Their Story, Our Story

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 6 Early in the Bible's metanarrative, in Genesis 3:15, God promised Adam and Eve (the originators of all humanity) a coming Redeemer. Many generations later, He isolated Abraham from all the men upon the earth and promised him, "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen. 12:3). Abraham's descendants possessed the covenants of promise in the Law of... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 6

Dec 5

God Speaks

The ONE YEAR® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 5 Paul doesn't have a hope-so faith but a know-so faith. He has a word from God: "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you" (Acts 27:24). God will have to keep him alive during the storm for this to happen. Dead men don't testify before kings. The same thing happened with Noah when God spoke to him regarding the coming flood.... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 5

Dec 4

Evangelism That Makes Men Tremble

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 4 The apostle Paul's preaching and witness to the Jews eventually bring him to be arrested by the Jews and imprisoned by the Romans. His opponents seek to kill him, so the Roman soldiers charged with his welfare send him from Jerusalem to Caesarea, to the Roman governor Felix, a particularly inept bureaucrat who has kept himself in power by sheer brute force (like many bureaucrats). His cruelty is exceeded only by his... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 4

Dec 3

The Unruly Gospel

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 3 Religious disputes are as old as the human race. Often those seeking to defuse a dispute only increase its intensity. That's what happens when Paul arrives in Jerusalem. Jewish-background believers are disputing with Gentile-background believers over the role of circumcision and the Law. The Jews believe that, because Christianity flowed out of Judaism, Gentile believers should embrace Judaism as a completion of... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 3

Dec 2

Warning to Pastors

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 2 Paul is a pastor to pastors. He bypasses Ephesus as he hurries to arrive in Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, but he requests that the elders of the Ephesian church meet him at Miletus. He who has “kept back nothing that was helpful” (Acts 20:20) addresses the elders for the last time: “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 2

Dec 1

A Gospel-happy Life

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 1 Paul's encounter with the resurrected Christ has changed him forever. The former self-righteous and religious Jew has become a passionate servant of Jesus Christ. No distance is too far to travel or cost too great to pay to take the good news of Jesus Christ to those who have never heard. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, Paul describes his depth of service to Christ, "I have:" Worked much harder ... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 1