The Reading Plan Daily Devotions

Every great leader is a humble servant. But this humility comes from a source that is deeper than most realize.   HUMBLE SERVANTHOOD   One of the great leadership passages in the Bible is the true account of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet right before the Cross. Notice how Jesus was training his disciples to be servant-leaders.   “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. ( John 13:13-15 )   In the landmark business book, "Good to Great," Jim Collins and his team did a 20-year study on how good companies became great companies. They identified five primary, undeniable characteristics that were true of each business they studied. And the first was a humble servant-leader who possessed an unswerving devotion to the mission.   SECURITY THAT LEADS TO SERVANTHOOD   But it is vi...

It is the big question. If Jesus was (is) who He said He was, we should believe and follow Him. But, if He is not, Christianity is a mere hoax.   RAISING THE DEAD   God sent Christ to earth so we could see, and seeing, believe in Him. At every turn in the unfolding 33 years of Jesus’ life on earth, we see the glory of God.   One moment, in particular, highlighted the power of God. Jesus’ friend, Lazarus had died. The grieving sisters—Mary and Martha—sent for Jesus before Lazarus died, knowing that He could heal their brother. So much is revealed about Christ in the next four days.   THE COMPASSION OF JESUS “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” ( John 11:5 )   The love of God for us is intense and real. There is no question regarding how He feels about His own. He is always “moved with compassion” for those He loves.   THE TIMING OF JESUS “So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.” (vs. 6) ...

"With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." ( Mark 10:27 )   The great issues of our lives often center around things we cannot seem to accomplish. We long for healing, but we cannot orchestrate that on our own. We need provision, but there is only so much we can do.   We pray for change in ourselves and others in multiple areas, but we discover continual defeat and the limits of our ability to affect others. We even look at our nation and cry out for a national revival and spiritual awakening that would bring a significant course correction.   All around us are impossibilities.   ENTER … GOD   But there are simply no limits with God. There is literally nothing we could ask, think, or even imagine that is beyond His capabilities. This is why God-initiated prayer is so important. Prayer takes us beyond our borders, for through prayer, God is brought into the equation and suddenly nothing is impossible. Healing? Provisio...

Jesus wasted no words when He was on earth. He taught us about the things we need to know to live and live fruitfully for God's glory. In  Luke 18 , he tells us a story to "show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart."   THE STORY   The story is of a widow who kept coming to an unrighteous judge to seek justice. She wouldn't let up “day and night.” The impatient judge finally chose to help her, simply because she was wearing him out! The implication is clear about our praying. Don't give up. Whatever you're praying for, your intercession should be unending.   THE PROMISE   Then Jesus makes an amazing promise:    "Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly" ( Luke 18:7-8 )   If we persevere in prayer, He promises ...   He will hear He will bring about justice He will do it quickly   His activ...

“But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (Luke 15:17-20)   Following Christ always involves repentance. That foundational word means a change of mind that is so profound it produces a change of direction. Anything less is not repentance. This is not only a necessary element in our initial salvation but the continual posture for the maturing Christian. We are to be lifelong repenters.   COMING TO YOUR SENSES   The prodigal had turned from his Father. It was never the Father who moved, but the son. In the same manner, we h...

The story of the rich, young ruler in Matthew 19 is not a simple story for our entertainment but a window into our soul. Jesus dealt with him with compassionate, but almost surgical precision, revealing to this young seeker the real issue at his core.   THERE ARE SOME THINGS ABOUT YOU THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS.   Everyone could easily see about this man that he was a rich man, a young man, and a ruler. He had money, his future, and he was a man of great importance. He seemed to have everyone you would need to have the best life.   What are the things that are obvious about you?   THERE ARE SOME THINGS ABOUT YOU THAT ONLY YOU AND JESUS KNEW.   Who knew about this man who seemed to have everything that he was missing the one thing that mattered? LIFE! He came to Jesus because he knew (and Jesus knew) that he didn't have real life. So he asked  "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" (VS. 16)   What are the things about you and me...

Some questions are more important than others. "What are we having for supper?" is less critical than "What am I going to do with my life?"   The disciples posed a foundational question to Jesus that grants us an answer to one of life’s greatest concerns.   Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" John 6:28)   This is what any serious follower of Christ wants to know. "I don't want to go through my life and not cooperate with God in His work. How do I get in on that? How can I so live that I am accomplishing God's work, not my own?"    They had walked with Jesus long enough to get a taste of a man "working the works of God." "How do we do what you're doing in the way you're doing it?" was their cry.   A SIMPLE ANSWER   As usual, Jesus boiled it down to a sentence. In fact, a word. "This is the work of God: believe in Him whom He has sent." "Believe...

What does it take to really follow Christ? We know we are saved, not by our good works, but by trusting Christ (instead of ourselves and what we can do) for our salvation. But there also must be a willingness to let Him be in charge. To allow Him to be our Lord and Master.   Large crowds were following Christ one day. Who wouldn't follow someone who was healing the sick and feeding thousands?   But in Luke 14:25-35 we see Jesus turning and drawing a line in the dirt regarding what real discipleship is all about. It means total surrender of our life to Him. Just to be clear, He identifies the three primary areas where we must surrender our rights to Him.   TOTAL SURRENDER...   …OF YOUR RELATIONSHIPS   If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. ( Luke 14:26 )  Jesus was not telling his followers they must hate anyone, but that the rel...

It is our main job and the primary reason a believer is left on this earth. We are called to help those around us into the kingdom of God through a relationship with Jesus Christ.   Jesus modeled this for us constantly. Notice what He did with the woman at the well in John 4 .   1. JESUS WENT WHERE THE FATHER TOLD HIM. "and He had to pass through Samaria" (John 4: 4)   Every "good " Jew would not walk through Samaria because he disregarded the Samaritan people. Jesus broke through these foolish cultural and ethnic barriers. EVERYONE was equally valuable to Him. In fact, Jesus broke three cultural norms: a good Jew never went through Samaria, never talked to a woman, and never cared for an immoral woman. This woman was all three. Jesus went to those with need, with no regard for politically correct steps. He loved everyone.   2.JESUS WENT DIRECTLY TO THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS The Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a dri...

In a simple paragraph, if we will listen, Jesus gives us the tools to solve one of our greatest problems. Worry is debilitating. It paralyzes you, freezing you on a fear for the future. It steals the joy from the current moment, consuming you with thoughts ahead. If indulged in often, it can make you a miserable person and affect everyone around you.   Jesus knew this joy-killer would be one of our toughest battles and so He gives us the truth that can set us free in Luke 12:22-34.   THE PROBLEM   "Do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on." (vs. 22)   THE SOLUTION   1. This is not where real life is. "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing." (vs. 23)   2. God takes care of creation and you are his most valuable creation. "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!" ...

And He said to them, "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer." ( Mark 9:29 )   Jesus brought the kingdom of God to earth ... to a world filled with the enemy’s work. In Mark 9 , a demon-oppressed boy was brought to Christ. He was mute and also having episodes that we would describe as epilepsy. Those seizures were often casting him "both into the fire and into the water to destroy him" the father said, reminding us that the devil comes to "steal, kill, and destroy." He is so diabolical, he will even attack helpless children.   THE LIMITS OF THE DISCIPLES   The disciples were unable to deal with this. Jesus spoke directly to the demon, commanding him to come out and "never enter him again."   When the disciples asked why they had been unable to deal with it, Jesus gave the reply that "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer."   THE EXCLUSIVITY OF PRAYER   I do not pretend to understand all of this. But one thing this i...

But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing. ( Luke 9:11 )   It is hard to imagine the reality of each day in Jesus' life. But one thing was certain: it was hard for Him to escape the crowd.   Like fans around a great celebrity, people crushed in to see Jesus all the time. This is why He would often pull away to a lonely place to spend time with just His Father, and a few disciples. But often, even there, the people would find Him.   You would think that Jesus would weary of this. The amazing thing is that Jesus never turned people away. Look at His response to people (which should be our response).   1. He WELCOMED them 2. He SPOKE to them about the Kingdom. 3. He HEALED them, meeting them at the point of their most pressing physical needs in order to authenticate the gospel.   Evaluate your life ... do you?   Welcome people —all peop...

We often reference the amazing account in Matthew 8 of Jesus being "asleep in the storm" at sea. But if you read the story carefully, you will see the terrifying situation the disciples were in and the magnitude of faith that God was calling them (and us) to explore.   And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” ( Matthew 8:24-25 )   Remember, these were men who made their living on the sea. But this storm was such that they literally believed they were going to die. The boat was being "covered by the waves."   Most of us have never been in this magnitude of a storm physically. But many of us have faced such storms practically. We have been in places, emotionally and spiritually, where we felt we could die.   A PLACE OF FAITH   So, what is this a time to do? Jesus showed them. It is time to have suc...

There are thousands, perhaps millions of people who believe they are Christians who will never enter heaven. This is not my evaluation, but the clear teaching of Christ Himself.   Christ spoke of false prophets who "come to you in sheep clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" ( Matt 7:15 ). It is not the outward clothing, but the inward heart that indicates a true believer.   What is the only way to know the difference between a professing believer and a real believer?   A surrendered will that yields spiritual fruit.   A SURRENDERED WILL   Before a person comes to Christ, they are living according to their own will. They are in control of their lives. They are their lord and master.   At some point, God begins to convince them of "sin, righteousness, and coming judgment" which Jesus said is the Spirit's work ( John 16:8-11 ). They realize they are separated from God because of their sin and that they need Christ. That the result of following their own w...