Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16) Read: Genesis 30:1-31:16 Matthew 10:1-23 Psalm 12:1-8 Proverbs 3:13-15 Relate: Columbidae. Dove. Pigeon. Technically, there’s 310 species of the bird and in English the two words are used interchangeably. Too bad. I love doves. I…
I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will…
The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.…
Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” Once again they tried to…
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. (John 10:11) Read: Isaiah 30:1 – 33:24 Relate: I don’t know much about shepherding. Most of what I’ve been taught about sheep and their care has come in the form of sermon illustrations. Until these past few devotionals, it isn’t something I’ve really done…
Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?” (John 7:30-31) Read: Proverbs 22:17…
You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” (John 4:37-38) Read: Judges 3:31 – 6:40 Relate: Isaac spent a lot of time digging wells and it was all for…
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! (John 4:35-36) Read: Judges 1:1 –…
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. (John 1:43-44) Read: Job 35:1 – 37:24 Relate: Peter, James, and John. Those are the three disciples who are always in the limelight. Andrew might sometimes make that list because he’s…
Read: Ezekiel 42:1-43:27, James 5:1-20, Psalm 119:1-16, Proverbs 28:6-7 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11) Relate: The word “hidden” in Hebrew is tsaphan. It can mean to conceal, as in something too valuable for common use (Job 10:13), to treasure something of great worth (Proverbs 10:14), or…
THE RIVER WALK 