Today’s Reading: John 1:35-42, 6:60-71; Matthew 16:13-19

John the Baptist did not understand at first that Jesus of Nazareth was the one he had been preparing God’s people to receive. God generously gave John a sign through the Holy Spirit, making the moment after he baptized Jesus even more monumental for the one who had been called to prepare the way for the Messiah. Then God used John’s voice once more to confidently proclaim that Jesus was the Chosen One of God!

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. – John 1:35-37

Here we see yet another way in which John the Baptist was able to prepare the way for the Lord. John’s investment in Andrew prepared him for the moment in which he had the opportunity to follow Jesus. He had a choice to make, but his heart was already in a place to leave everything behind and follow the Messiah. The seeds had been planted and his heart was eager to respond.

DISCIPLESHIP CAN PREPARE ANOTHER PERSON FOR THEIR MOMENT OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S CALL.

Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.
They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. – John 1:38-39

John’s disciples could have been satisfied with just listening to the teachings of Jesus and watching him perform miracles, but they chose more. They could have stayed comfortably with the teacher they knew and trusted, yet they took a step of faith and their world opened up to a whole new experience.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. – John 1:40

Andrew’s faith was strengthened by John’s faith and, because of Andrew’s faith, his brother Simon Peter was given the opportunity to face the One who would see him for what he would become rather than for who he was.

Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John – but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). – John 1:41-42

RENAMED & REDEFINED

Jesus did not just rename Simon, he redefined him. Jesus knew that Peter was not perfect and he knew that he would one day betray him, yet he also knew that Peter’s faith would grow strong enough to stay true when many others would choose to walk away from Jesus. He knew that Peter would one day be the rock on which the church would be built.

Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”…
At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:60,66-69

In a few words, Simon Peter powerfully defined who Jesus was. When he found clarity in the fact that Jesus was more than just a teacher from Nazareth, Peter found the faith to boldly proclaim the identity of Christ: the Son of the Living God (KJV), the Holy One of God (NIV), God’s Holy One (CEB). In return, Jesus renamed this disciple based on the impact his faithfulness would have on generations to come.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” – Matthew 16:13-19

Father God, THANK YOU FOR RENAMING ME as your child — for seeing me for who I could become rather than for who I have been. Help me to see myself through your eyes, never losing sight of who you created me to be. Heavenly Father, just as I came to faith through the faithfulness of others in my life, I pray that my walk with you will help others find you. I pray that every seed planted, every conversation had, every word written, will prepare someone for that moment when they have the chance to follow you.

Lord, THANK YOU FOR REDEFINING ME, not according to all the mistakes I have made and will make, or where I come from or how I look, but by who you created me to be. You uniquely created me and now purposefully place me in the lives of others, and I desire to be used by you today in their lives. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. – Matthew 4:1

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. God was not tempting Jesus but He was allowing Jesus to go through a time of temptation, just as He allows us to experience temptation.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. – James 1:13-14

By fasting through this time of temptation, Jesus was showing his intention to depend on God and God only for his strength. He was giving God his full attention, away from the distractions of his daily life and away from the satisfactions of the earth’s nourishments.

Jesus was able to say no to temptation because his focus was on God. Knowing Jesus would be hungry, Satan tried to play on this weakness in order to take advantage of his vulnerability, just as Satan tempts us where we are the most vulnerable or weak.

During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:3-4

When I am hungry, I must admit that it affects my mood. When my blood sugar is off and I am starting to feel shaky, it impacts my emotions and my logical train of thought. I am not my best self when I have ignored my need for food. But the same can also be said about my need for time in God’s word. When I have rushed through my devotional time or started my day without allowing God’s Spirit to satisfy my deepest hunger through the scriptures, it throws my whole day off. I can make it through a day without food but I cannot make it a minute without the sustaining grace of my Lord Jesus Christ.

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God. – Matthew 4:5-7

Satan starts this second attempt to bring down Jesus by challenging his identity. If you are the Son of God; if you are who you say you are. How often do Satan’s attacks on our faith start by casting doubt on who Jesus is and who we are in Him? If he can get us to lose confidence that Jesus is exactly who he said he was, if he can get us to question the authenticity of scripture, he knows he can begin to chip away at our own identity. And once we begin to lose focus on who God created us to be, we begin to let the world define us outside of the truth found in scripture.

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’” – Matthew 4:8-10

Here we see evidence of Satan’s attempts to negotiate with us in order to get us to compromise our faith. “I will…if you will…” He uses empty promises and false expectations to cloud our perspective and weaken our resolve. He wants us to think about the possibilities of earthly gain if we switch our loyalties from the God who promises eternal reward to the world that offers temporary pleasure. If Satan can influence the desires of our heart, he can distract us from our focus on the desire of God’s heart.

So what is a helpful takeaway from these last two days of studying the temptation of Jesus? If we want to be prepared for Satan’s next attempt to distract or dissuade us, then let’s focus on how Jesus handled temptation. His response to each of the temptations was to quote Scripture, a great model for how we can handle temptation.

So if God’s word sustains us through the difficult times, shouldn’t we spend time in His presence soaking in God’s truth? Shouldn’t we study the word and be prepared by knowing the scripture in order to be equipped to use them when the moment of temptation arrives? Doesn’t it make sense to take the extra step of memorizing verses so that we can easily recall them in our moment of need?

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” – Matthew 26:41

This is great advice straight from the mouth of Jesus. Watch and pray. Stay on guard, pay attention. Know when you are being tempted to respond to life’s circumstances in ways outside of the Spirit’s guidance. Pray for the presence of God to strengthen you and for His Spirit to daily prepare you for Satan’s attempts to distract or destroy you.

Father God, we ask that your Spirit would lead us through the times in our lives when we are tempted to find satisfaction in the things of this world. Remind us that the things of this world can only sustain us for a short time. Help us to rest in the knowledge that your living water can quench our thirst so that we never go thirsty again. Give us eyes to see the areas of our life in which we are focused too much on the taste of earth’s pleasures. Fill us with the sweet aroma of your presence and satisfy us with the taste of your scriptures. Lord, affirm our identity in you this morning. Give us confidence in who you are and who you created us to be. Prepare us for the temptation to negotiate and compromise. May our heart reflect the desires of your heart today as we place our confidence in you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Mark 1:9-15; Luke 4:1-13

One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him. – Mark 1:9-13

HIGHS AND LOWS

Why is it that the enemy so often attacks us directly following a high spiritual moment in our life? We go from having our faith affirmed to our faith tested. Things go from being easy one day to difficult the next. God is glorified through our surrender as we die to the old in order to be raised to the life He has for us, and then the enemy tries to take our eyes off our God in order to tempt us to give him our loyalty.

Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”

Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”

Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” – Luke 4:3-8

So often the devil tempts us with all this world has to offer. He makes the trade for earthly wealth and fame seem like a simple one, but it is always complicated to negotiate with the enemy. It seems harmless to get caught up in these temporary pleasures, but if we compromise and live a life for earthly gain, we need to recognize that we are submitting to the enemy’s temptations, and there are consequences that come with that submission.

Next Satan baited Jesus to test God by jumping off the highest point of the Temple and then asking God to rescue Him. Do something really reckless and then ask God for help. That is so unlike anything he would tempt us to do, or is it?

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” – Luke 4:12

YOU MUST NOT TEST THE LORD YOUR GOD.

Satan tempts us to do something we know we should not do by convincing us that it will be simple to ask God to forgive us after we have sinned — to rescue us from our consequences. If God is full of grace and all we have to do is ask for forgiveness, then why not enjoy a time of sin or moment of weakness with the intent to simply ask God to forgive us afterwards? I believe we should take Jesus’ response seriously.

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. – Matthew 4:10-11

Our response to Satan’s temptations can be just as powerful as Jesus’ response was. With strength and determination, we can face temptations by declaring that we will worship God and serve only Him! We can put that stubbornness to good work, resisting Satan’s offers of temporary happiness. You are wasting your time, Satan. Go away!

GET OUT OF HERE!

When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came. – Luke 4:13

Satan will be back. He is a roaring lion, seeking whom he may destroy (1 Peter 5:8). But we can be prepared for this temptation by giving God our full attention, studying the word of God, and building our faith. We can be ready to respond with both confidence and determination.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

Lord, my heart is full of gratitude for your constant presence and strength. No temptation is bigger than my God; no enemy is more powerful than my Savior. What a blessing it is to rest in the arms of my Father. What a privilege it is to trust you in every situation. Father God, please continue to strengthen my resolve and prepare me for the temptations that lie ahead of me. May this be a year of holding firmly to my faith, daily approaching the throne of grace with confidence. Amen.

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. – Philippians 1:28-29

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16

Today’s Reading: Matthew 3:13-17, John 1:29-34, Isaiah 53

God had a magnificent plan for John the Baptist, yet John remained humble. He was given the role of preparing Israel for the coming of their Messiah, he was given the honor of seeing Jesus revealed as the Son of God, and he was given the privilege of introducing the Lamb of God to the very people whose sins Jesus would die for.

John could have thought too much of himself but he knew that he, too, needed a Savior, and that knowledge kept him humble. He could have said, “God has chosen this relative of mine to bring salvation!” But instead he left himself out of the introduction and simply said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Consider the weight of that declaration. For the one who is defined by the mistakes of their past, your Savior is here. For those who struggle with regret, freedom from your guilt has arrived. To all who have been longing for the Messiah to come and rescue you for your current circumstances, here he is! What a moment this must have been for those in attendance that day; what a beautiful truth it remains for us today. Why? Because this describes all of us — Jesus came for the salvation of every one of us.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. – Isaiah 53:6

THE LAMB OF GOD CAME TO THIS EARTH FOR MY SALVATION.

It seems to me that the apostle John told half the story of Jesus’ baptism and Matthew told the other half. Therefore, I am going to combine both passages so that we can get an idea of how this took place:

John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” – John 1:26-27

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.’” – John 1:29-31

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” – Matthew 3:13-17

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’” – John 1:32-34

The language John the Baptist used when he referred to Jesus as “the Chosen One of God” is the same as the language God used when He said, “This is my dearly loved Son.” In fact, the same words were used by the prophet, Isaiah: “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1).

THE CHOSEN ONE OF GOD CAME TO BRING JUSTICE TO THE NATIONS.

Just as John the Baptist remained humble while carrying out God’s will for his life, we also should remain humble. What God calls us to do, the position He places us in and the things He asks of us, NONE OF IT IS ABOUT US. It’s about Him – the Chosen One of God, the Dearly Loved Son. It was for our sins that Jesus died, and so we come to Him as a humble servant, ready to be used however He desires — for His glory and not ours.

Thank you for dying for my sins.
Thank you for carrying my weaknesses and my sorrows,
for being pierced for my rebellion, crushed for my sins.
I am whole because you were beaten;
I am healed because you were whipped.
There have been so many times I have gone astray and left your path to follow my own, yet you willingly bore my sins and interceded for my rebellious heart. This morning I submit to your path and give you all the praise and glory for where this path takes me. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 3:1-12

And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. – Matthew 3:6

John the Baptist was called by God to prepare the way for the Lord by preaching a strong message of repentance. He baptized men and women who confessed their sins and repented of their ways. The purpose of baptism wasn’t just to experience a spiritual moment of cleansing, it was to proclaim that the individual was dying to their old way of life and ready to turn to God in submission.

I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. – Matthew 3:11

John the Baptist preached a message of repentance, calling people to make changes in their lives. He was preparing the way for Jesus, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. With the Spirit’s involvement, life changes do not have to be manufactured by our own human effort. The Spirit comes in and begins to change the desires of our heart. This change in our heart creates a change in our behavior and others begin to notice.

THE HOLY SPIRIT TRANSFORMS THE DESIRES OF OUR HEART SO THAT OUR DESIRES BEGIN TO ALIGN WITH THE HEART OF GOD.

Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. – Luke 3:3

The physical act of baptism is a symbol of the spiritual transformation that takes place when we repent and seek forgiveness. There is nothing about the water that changes us, but baptism is a symbolic way of testifying to the change that has taken place. It is meant to be a genuine reflection of our transforming behavior and Christlike attitudes.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. – Matthew 3:7-9

PROVE BY THE WAY YOU LIVE THAT YOU HAVE REPENTED OF YOUR SINS AND TURNED TO GOD.

Authentic life transformation should be naturally evidenced by the fruit produced in our lives. Not only are we a different person than we used to be, others around us begin to be impacted by the new way we are living. Because of the work of the Holy Spirit, we become useful for building the Kingdom of God. We daily respond to what the Lord is calling us to do, just as John the Baptist obediently lived out the calling placed on his life before he was even born.

Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. – Matthew 3:10

The people responded to the message of John the Baptist with hearts willing to change. First came repentance, then transformation. John’s message was preparing the way for the coming Messiah. Those who accepted John’s message would have hearts receptive to the teachings of Jesus.

So how should we respond to this message of repentance? What is God calling us to do? Baptism is a great next step, but our actions must also testify to the transformation taking place in our lives. We can show by our behavior that our hearts are open to whatever God has for us — however He wants to use us. John the Baptist responded by describing the physical actions that would reflect an authentic heart transformation (Luke 3:10-14):

• If you have more than you need, give your excess to the poor.
• If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.
• Stop taking more than you need.
• Be content with what you have instead of craving more.

MAY GENEROSITY BE THE FRUIT OF OUR HEART TRANSFORMATION.

Lord, I thank you for the changes your Spirit has made in my life. I praise you for the impact my salvation decision made on who I am. I will never regret my decision to repent of my sins and turn fully towards you. I am rejoicing this morning because you have transformed my heart, and I give you the glory for the fruit that is a natural result of my growing relationship with you. Lord, I give you this day and invite you to continue to make changes in my heart so that it becomes an authentic reflection of your heart. I love you, Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 1:19-28, Luke 3:1-18

God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. – John 1:6-8

GOD HAD A PLAN FOR JOHN — A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR HIS LIFE.

John’s decision to walk in God’s plan for his life made a difference in the lives of many people. His obedience impacted the ways in which those around him accepted Jesus when he arrived. John knew God’s purpose, knew what God had called him to do. He didn’t know every detail or the timing of God’s plan. He still had questions but he placed his trust in the sovereignty of God’s plan without demanding an explanation from God. He accepted this calling on his life with great humility, even when those around him desired for him to be more than who he was.

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”
“No.”
“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am the voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’” – John 1:19-23

In those days, when a king or man of great importance was going to visit an area of the kingdom, they would send men out ahead of him to prepare the way. There were no nicely paved roads like we have now, so they would take time to travel the path and clear the road of any rocks or fallen trees, perhaps trimming back branches that would hinder a chariot or horse. Their purpose was to make sure there was nothing blocking the way of this man of great importance.

John the Baptist had a similar role — to clear the way for the Lord’s coming or make straight the way of the Lord. His responsibility was to make sure there was nothing blocking the way of this man of great importance. His calling became his identity as he quoted the prophet Isaiah.

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!
Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!” – Isaiah 40:3-5

We do a similar “clearing” here at our house when we know that company is coming. When it is just us, we become comfortable. Then there is that moment when we look around and see our home through the eyes of someone else. When company is coming, we notice the pair of shoes in the living room and the couch cushions that need straightening. We push the chairs back under the table, close the shower curtains and open the blinds. We scramble around the house, clearing the clutter and preparing for our special guests.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. – Hebrews 12:1-2a

God challenges us to take a look at our life through His eyes — to honestly look and see if there is some clearing we need to do. Are there things in my life that are blocking the way of what God wants to accomplish? Are there attitudes I need Jesus to shine His light on and expose? Is there anything in my life that is not clearly a sin but hindering someone else’s walk? Is there a possibility that the conditions of my life will cause someone else to stumble? Perhaps what I need to give up for this next year is more than just chocolate or coffee, but something bigger that is cluttering my walk with Jesus.

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. – Psalm 139:23-24

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR MY LIFE AND HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.

I want to obediently and humbly walk in that plan, just as John did. Lord, shine your light on my life and show me what I need to clear away. I do not want to hold tightly to anything that might block your way or hinder someone else’s walk. As we begin a new year, strengthen my hands to take a new grip on you instead of holding onto something I need to let go of. Strengthen my weak knees and mark out a straight path for my feet. Amen.

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. – Hebrews 12:12-13

Today’s Reading: Matthew 2:13-23

Happy New Year, my friends! I am so excited to study the New Testament with you in 2025! We will begin with the life of Jesus, studying his teachings and his miracles. We will ponder the meaning of his death and celebrate the reality of his resurrection. Then we will take a look at the early church, studying the letters written by Jesus’ apostles and evangelists. Lastly, we will turn our eyes towards the revelation of John as revealed to him by an angel of the Lord.

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with His holy people.” – Revelation 22:21

I pray the Lord gives us fresh perspective this year, awakening our hearts to the truth found in scripture. Since today is the day we traditionally set goals for the coming year, let’s choose to set some goals for our spiritual growth. Let’s commit to daily soaking in the presence of the Spirit as we saturate ourselves in the written word of God. May this be a year marked with understanding and insight as we take our next steps of growth on this journey of grace.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” – Matthew 2:13

There are times when we receive a message from the Lord or a warning from the Holy Spirit to flee. We get a sense of danger or warning that we need to change action or remove ourselves from a situation. Aren’t you thankful for the protective nature of our God? Aren’t you thankful that He sends angels in our path? Aren’t you grateful for God’s hedge of protection around us? Staying in Bethlehem placed them all in danger, so Joseph was given clear directions on what to do and where to go.

STAY THERE UNTIL I TELL YOU

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” – Matthew 2:14-15

At times, we find ourselves wondering what we are supposed to do next. Some of the best advice I have ever received was to wait on the Lord for my next move. Go back to the last thing the Lord told you to do and rest in those instructions until He tells you to do something different. I am thankful this morning that we serve the God who directs our paths and gives us wisdom when we have difficult decisions to make.

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.” – Matthew 2:16-18

A VOICE CAN BE HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING…

These verses are hard to read. King Herod was so wicked that he was willing to order the death of thousands of infants and toddlers in an attempt to secure his place of authority. To put ourselves in the place of these parents is to grieve a loss that is unimaginable.

My friends, this is a pattern throughout scripture and it continues to be a pattern today. Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill every baby boy that was born. When they refused to do so, he ordered that every newborn Hebrew boy be thrown into the Nile river (Exodus 1). The worship of false gods throughout the history of mankind has involved the sacrifice of babies and children on altars of worship (2 Kings 16:3, 21:6 and 23:10, Jeremiah 7:31 and 32:35, Deuteronomy 18:10), a practice that only Satan himself would be evil enough to contrive.

“Then you took your sons and daughters—the children you had borne to me—and sacrificed them to your gods. Was your prostitution not enough? Must you also slaughter my children by sacrificing them to idols?” – Ezekiel 16:20-21

Satan continues to lead nations in the practice of child sacrifice. His methods are different but the end result is the same — babies are being sacrificed for the sake of convenience, children are being mangled in the name of self exploration. Politicians are compromising their values for votes, and those who stand up for the protection of both the unborn and children are deemed as radical and small-minded.

A VOICE CAN BE HEARD IN AMERICA, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING…

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. – Matthew 2:19-23

Once more, Joseph had an encounter with God through a dream. He was warned about the danger of those who were trying to kill Jesus, and so he gathered together his little family and moved to Nazareth. This would be the home where Jesus grew up; this is the town that Jesus of Nazareth called home.

Sometimes negative circumstances place us somewhere we never would have ended up on our own, but God uses our situation to write a beautiful story of grace in the midst of our sorrows. Perhaps you have experienced persecution or ridicule for your faith; perhaps you have had to remove yourself from a relationship or situation that had become unhealthy or unsafe. Maybe you have heard a warning from the Holy Spirit to flee from sin or from the schemes of the evil one. Perhaps you are mourning the loss of a little one who fell victim to the culture of death in our society.

No matter what your situation, I pray you can see God’s hand as present in your story as it was in Joseph and Mary’s. May our Father God wrap you in His loving arms and may his angel army protect you from the attempts of the enemy to disarm or discourage you. May God bless you and your family as you respond to His leading and follow His direction. May He use all of us to promote a culture of life, hope and love to those around us.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 86

This morning, I chose to read through my devotional thoughts from last New Year’s Eve, reminding myself of the place of total surrender I found myself in as I was closing out one year and looking ahead to the next. This intentional pause on the last day of the year gave me the opportunity to learn from my 2024 experiences, finding closure while building on all that the Lord has taught me in this last season.

One year ago today, without knowing all that the coming year held for me, I made the following five commitments:
• To finish what I started.
• To give everything to the Lord before the year began.
• To ask the Lord to equip me with everything I would need for the year ahead.
• To build the house the Lord was calling me to build, doing so with the Lord’s help.
• To be available to do whatever the Lord wants to do through me.

2023 was a year to embrace the Lord’s call on my life to live light on my feet. We sold, gave away or tossed most of our belongings, placing the most sentimental items in a one stall garage for another day. We went from an apartment in Kansas to an apartment in Indiana, sharing space with our youngest daughter as she prepared for all the major life changes the year held for her.

2024 was a year to live out the level of obedience to which God had called us in 2023. We fell in love with the community of Carmel, making the most of our short season of living in this adorable town. We walked the Monon trail, tasted the local cuisine, found our favorite coffee shops, and even made it to a couple of Indiana Fever games. Scott traveled a lot for Nazarene Bible College while Brooke and I planned for her June wedding.

By the time the honeymooners returned to the apartment in July, the last of our stuff was either loaded in our car or in the garage. For five months, we traveled from speaking engagement to speaking engagement (revivals, retreats, college presentations, and more). We were blessed to spend time in Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, California, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, New Brunswick, Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, Texas, Georgia and Missouri. For five months, we enjoyed making new friends while intentionally taking time to rekindle lifelong friendships.

As one of the most interesting years of our married life drew towards an end, we sensed the Lord calling us to something new. Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene invited Scott to be their new pastor and the Lord made it clear to us both that it was time to get off the road and set down roots. God’s timing is perfect and we were able to spend Christmas in our new home, surrounded by our three daughters and their husbands.

And now here I am sitting in the glow of our Christmas tree. My cup is full and my heart is eager for all the Lord has ahead for us in 2025. From being light on our feet to grounding ourselves in a community of believers, I am grateful for the many ways in which God has shown up for us this year. And I believe the Lord will continue to be faithful — to be good, merciful and loving. In light of this confidence, I place my life in His hands and trust Him with all that lies ahead.

I COMMIT ONCE AGAIN TO GIVE EVERYTHING TO THE LORD AS I START A NEW CHAPTER OF MY LIFE.

I want to be as sold out to Jesus in 2025 as I have ever been. I want to experience more of what the Lord has for me as I hold onto less of what I want and more of what He wants. I ask the Lord to equip me once again for everything I will need — to give me wisdom, endurance, discernment, patience and more. I want to be available to do whatever the Lord wants to do through me.

Lord, thank you for bringing me to a place of total surrender once again. Thank you for the opportunity to pause and consider my readiness to be used by you in the lives of other people this year. I pray for a fresh passion for the lost, a restored energy for the work ahead, and a heart that genuinely reflects the heart of God.

Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. – Psalm 25:4-5

What is your prayer as you turn the page to the new year? Are you prepared for all that the Lord has for you in this next season? This morning would be a great opportunity to give the Lord your biggest fears and greatest concerns regarding what lies ahead. Today is the day to pray for the Lord to increase your faith and help you to trust in Him through all of the unknowns. Let’s pray Psalm 86 together as we give this next chapter to the Lord.

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
answer me, for I need your help.
Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
You are my God.
Be merciful to me, O Lord,
for I am calling on you constantly.
Give me happiness, O Lord,
for I give myself to you.
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
hear my urgent cry.
I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
and you will answer me…
For you are great and perform wonderful deeds.
You alone are God.
Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
for your love for me is very great.
You have rescued me from the depths of death. – Psalm 86:1-13

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 29; Psalm 37

WHAT IF THIS IS THE YEAR THAT I TRUST THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART?

This is the question I asked myself exactly one year ago. I had no idea what the Lord would have for us in 2024, but I challenged myself to place my trust in God in a whole new way. I sensed I needed a stronger faith in order to give God my YES for what was ahead, and I was right. So I settled into one of my favorite passages in order to soak in the promise that I would find God in the unknown if I looked for Him with all my heart.

This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” – Jeremiah 29:10-14

The Israelites were entering into a season marked with unfamiliarity. They were being escorted by their enemies into a foreign land because they had sinned against the Lord. They were being punished for their rebellion, yet the Lord spoke words of hope over them, giving them reason to believe that there were better days ahead. God revealed His heart of love for His people in this message.

GOD WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES. WHEN THEY PRAYED, HE WOULD LISTEN. WHEN THEY SOUGHT HIM, HE WOULD BE FOUND.

The availability of God — what a wonderful concept to consider as we move from one season to the next. Take a moment to look back at 2024. Consider all of the wonderful opportunities the Lord has given you, some of which were unexpected yet life-giving. Consider the places you have been and the people you have met along the way. Take time to express your gratitude for the faithfulness of God.

Now consider the hard times you experienced over this last year. I imagine all of us experienced some disappointments, some loss, and some heartache along the way. Perhaps you are not where you thought you would be when you set your goals for 2024. So let me ask you this question: If life looks different today than you thought it would look as you dreamed about the year ahead, how is that affecting your perspective on setting goals for this next year?

DO WE BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL BE PRESENT IN THE NEW YEAR? AS WE LOOK BACK ON WHAT IS BEHIND US, DO WE TRUST HIM WITH WHAT IS AHEAD?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6

What great advice the writer of Proverbs has for us. Perhaps the key to trusting God is to seek Him in all that we do. Perhaps any regrets we have about trusting the Lord have more to do with letting ourselves down because we were pursuing what we want instead of what God wants. What if this year we ask the Lord to shape the desires of our heart so that He can lead us down the path He has chosen for us? What if we stop making decisions based on our best guess or our limited understanding, and instead depend on the wisdom of God to provide direction and focus?

WHAT IF THIS IS THE YEAR THAT I TRUST THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART?

Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him and he will help you. – Psalm 37:3-5

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed…
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. – Proverbs 16:3,9

I KNOW THAT I CAN TRUST THE HEART OF GOD AND ALLOW HIM TO WORK OUT HIS PLANS FOR MY LIFE.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. – Psalm 33:11

Lord, we are leaning in and listening for your still small voice. We ask that you guide our thoughts and shape our desires for the year ahead. We trust you to write your plan in our hearts and then lead us through every decision ahead. May we desire only what you desire, and may our plans be guided by your Spirit. We promise to give you the glory for every success and every blessing in 2024! And may our response to 2025’s challenges and disappointments bring you glory. Amen.

And my prayer for you, friends, is that you will find God as you seek Him in the coming days. May you sense His fierce love for you, and may you find confidence in the truth that He is listening to you. I pray that the Lord will guide the desires of your heart so that they align with His. May He give you closure on some of your biggest disappointments, and may He heal your wounds and give you hope for all that He has ahead for you.

May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. – Psalm 20:4

“May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 55, Psalm 25

We are quickly approaching one of my favorite days of the year — New Years Day! My love for this holiday has nothing to do with staying up late, watching the ball drop in New York City, or attending a party with my friends and family. No, I love this holiday because it represents a new beginning.

A new year gives me the opportunity to reflect back on the last year, pondering the highs and lows of the last twelve months. I take note of what the Lord has taught me and how I have grown in my faith. I grieve the losses and mourn the mistakes, then I place them in the Lord’s hands and ask Him to continue to mold me and make me into the person He wants me to be.

Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good. – Psalm 25:4-7

I am so grateful that we serve a God who is full of grace — a God who is good and who loves us enough to forgive us when we come to Him with a truly repentant heart. He knows everything about us, even those thoughts that are too dark to share with our closest friend. He knows where we struggle and He knows how hard we are trying. And God, in mercy and love, gives us another new beginning.

WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THIS NEW BEGINNING THE LORD IS GIVING US?

Will it simply be a day to sleep in and then start taking down the Christmas decorations, or will it be an intentional day of prayer and following the Lord’s directions? Are we willing to put ourselves in a place or submission to the Lord’s ways and plans? Are we available to be used by Him in new ways over the next 52 weeks? Do we trust God enough to give Him our 2025, wherever that leads us?

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” – Isaiah 55:6-7

NEW BEGINNINGS COME AFTER WE HAVE TURNED TO THE LORD IN REPENTANCE.

Looking back on this last season of life, I have some regrets. There have been some attitudes that did not reflect the attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:5), and there have been some actions that came from a place of panic instead of prayer. Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me of my sins. Give me a new chance to recognize your lordship and submit to your ways, letting go of my unhealthy thoughts and habits.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9

NEW BEGINNINGS ALLOW GOD TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE IN OUR LIVES.

“As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:10-11

It is the desire of my heart to receive all that the Lord wants to do in my life this year. I want to soak up the rain and the snow; I want the words of the Lord to wash over me so that I am saturated with the nourishment that comes from the study of His holy scriptures. Strengthen me through every word and achieve your perfect purpose in me, Lord!

NEW BEGINNINGS REPRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRAISE THE LORD, RECEIVE JOY, AND FIND HOPE.

“You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.” – Isaiah 55:12-13

Lord, I give you this new beginning. Write your plan upon the canvas of my life. Direct my thoughts and chart my course, as I surrender both my past and my future into your loving hands. May your words continue to shape my heart and mind each morning as I receive the gift of a new beginning from you, Abba Father. Amen.