Categories
Compassion Forgiveness God's Nature

God’s Compassion

“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” Jonah 3:10 (ESV) God blesses your obedience. God gave Jonah a second chance. In response, Jonah obeyed God and went to the […]

Categories
God's Nature Nahum Refuge

Take Refuge in Him

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” Nahum 1:7 (ESV) Where do you turn when you need refuge? The world offers many choices. You can lose yourself in the stream of entertainment. You can anesthetize your pain with busyness. You can dive into […]

Categories
God's Nature Job Patience

God’s Patience

“‘Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.’” Job 33:29-30 (ESV) Elihu had patiently sat and listened to Job and Job’s three friends. Elihu was young and somewhat intimidated by these men. In his […]

Categories
Eternal life God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Possession

(Personal Note: Starting January 1, 2015, I will be transitioning from posting devotionals every day to posting devotional thoughts with you on a weekly basis that will continue to come to your inbox. My desire is to encourage you in your journey with God.) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, […]

Categories
Excluded God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Exclusion

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV) As you celebrate the birth of Christ on this Christmas Day, consider the reason He chose to leave the glory of heaven to come to the earth. God […]

Categories
God's Nature Invitation John 3:16

The Greatest Invitation

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV) Of all the invitations you will receive in a lifetime, there is no invitation that comes close to the significance and magnitude of the greatest invitation extended to […]

Categories
Eternity God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Number

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV) God so loved the world. John used world (Greek: kosmos) 78 times in his Gospel and 24 times in his letters. The world refers to the realm of […]

Categories
God's Love God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Lover

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV) Have you ever questioned your own value and worth? That’s a normal part of life. Everyone wants to feel valued and valuable. God established your value by taking […]

Categories
Fatherhood of God God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Father

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV) How would you describe your dad? Think about his qualities. What made him special to you? How did he best communicate love to you? Recall some of your […]

Categories
Faith God's Nature Trust

Worthy of Trust

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7 (ESV) This verse became dear to my heart when I was pastoring my seminary church in 1992. My wife, Tonya, and I went through the Experiencing God study along with our deacons and their wives. […]

Categories
Comfort Compassion God's Nature

Knowing God’s Heart

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 (ESV) God’s presence brings comfort. You will never go through anything that Jesus hasn’t already endured on your […]

Categories
Compassion Forgiveness God's Nature

God’s Compassion

“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” Jonah 3:10 (ESV) God blesses your obedience. God gave Jonah a second chance. In response, Jonah obeyed God and went to the […]

Categories
Favoritism God's Nature Impartiality

Reflecting God’s Heart

“My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” James 2:1 (ESV) James gives perspective to the believers who have been dispersed by the persecution in Jerusalem. He is writing to the Jews of the Diaspora. They are living outside of their homeland. They are being […]

Categories
God's Nature God's Provision Shepherd

Finding Your Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 (ESV) God never intended for you to walk through adversity alone. Maybe you have heard someone say that God will never put more on you than you can handle. That’s not true. God will not put more on you than you can handle with His help. When you come to know Christ as […]

Categories
God's Nature Patience Salvation

God Is Patient

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) Have you ever lost your patience? Waiting in a fast food line for an extended period of time has a way of […]

Categories
Compassion God's Nature Prodigal

God’s Compassion

“The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” Psalm 116:5 (NIV) The prodigal son’s father exhibited God’s nature and character as he embraced his repentant son. The father’s compassion demonstrated that he valued his son’s return more than he judged his son’s rebellion. What does righteousness in action look like? Well, it […]

Categories
God's Nature Nahum Refuge

Take Refuge in Him

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” Nahum 1:7 (ESV) Where do you turn when you need refuge? The world offers many choices. You can lose yourself in the stream of entertainment. You can anesthetize your pain with busyness. You can dive into […]

Categories
God's Nature Job Patience

God’s Patience

“‘Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, 30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.’” Job 33:29-30 (ESV) Elihu had patiently sat and listened to Job and Job’s three friends. Elihu was young and somewhat intimidated by these men. […]

Categories
God's Nature Patience Salvation

God Is Patient

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) Have you ever lost your patience? Waiting in a fast food line for an extended period of time has a way of […]

Categories
Compassion God's Nature Prodigal

God’s Compassion

“The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” Psalm 116:5 (NIV) The prodigal son’s father exhibited God’s nature and character as he embraced his repentant son. The father’s compassion demonstrated that he valued his son’s return more than he judged his son’s rebellion. What does righteousness in action look like? Well, it […]

Categories
Eternal life God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Possession

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) God created you for eternity. You have a birth date that you celebrate and calculate annually. You know exactly how long you have been breathing oxygen […]

Categories
Excluded God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Exclusion

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) As you celebrate the birth of Christ on this Christmas Day, consider the reason He chose to leave the glory of heaven to come to the […]

Categories
God's Nature Invitation John 3:16

The Greatest Invitation

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) Of all the invitations you will receive in a lifetime, there is no invitation that comes close to the significance and magnitude of the greatest invitation […]

Categories
Eternity God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Number

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) God so loved the world. John used world (Greek: kosmos) 78 times in his Gospel and 24 times in his letters. The world refers to the […]

Categories
God's Love God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Lover

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) Have you ever questioned your own value and worth? That’s a normal part of life. Everyone wants to feel valued and valuable. God established your value […]

Categories
Fatherhood of God God's Nature John 3:16

The Greatest Father

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) How would you describe your dad? Think about his qualities. What made him special to you? How did he best communicate love to you? Recall some […]

Categories
Faith God's Nature Trust

Worthy of Trust

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7 (NIV) This verse became dear to my heart when I was pastoring my seminary church in 1992. My wife, Tonya, and I went through the Experiencing God study along with our deacons and their wives. […]

Categories
Comfort Compassion God's Nature

Knowing God’s Heart

“No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Josh 1:5 (NIV) God’s presence brings comfort. You will never go through anything that Jesus hasn’t already endured on your […]

Categories
Compassion Forgiveness God's Nature

God’s Compassion

“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.” Jonah 3:10 (NIV) God blesses your obedience. God gave Jonah a second chance. In response, Jonah obeyed God and went to the great city of Nineveh and […]

Categories
Favoritism God's Nature Impartiality

Reflecting God’s Heart

“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” James 2:1 (NIV) James gives perspective to the believers who have been dispersed by the persecution in Jerusalem. He is writing to the Jews of the Diaspora. They are living outside of their homeland. They are being exposed to different cultures and […]