Daily Devotional (Page 45)
Daily Devotional – “Do You Now Believe?”
“Do You Now Believe?” from Utmost.org February 28, 2016 “By this we believe….” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?” —John 16:30-31 “Now we believe….” But Jesus asks, “Do you…? Indeed the hour is coming…that you…will leave Me alone” (John 16:31-32). Many Christian workers have left Jesus Christ alone and yet tried to serve Him out of a sense of duty, or because they sense a need as a result of their own discernment. The reason for this is actually…
Daily Devotional – The Impoverished Ministry of Jesus
The Impoverished Ministry of Jesus from Utmost.org February 27, 2016 Where then do You get that living water? —John 4:11 “The well is deep” — and even a great deal deeper than the Samaritan woman knew! (John 4:11). Think of the depths of human nature and human life; think of the depth of the “wells” in you. Have you been limiting, or impoverishing, the ministry of Jesus to the point that He is unable to work in your life? Suppose…
Daily Devotional – Our Misgivings About Jesus
Our Misgivings About Jesus from Utmost.org February 26, 2016 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw [water] with, and the well is deep.” —John 4:11 Have you ever said to yourself, “I am impressed with the wonderful truths of God’s Word, but He can’t really expect me to live up to that and work all those details into my life!” When it comes to confronting Jesus Christ on the basis of His qualities and abilities, our…
Daily Devotional – The Destitution of Service
The Destitution of Service from Utmost.org February 25, 2016 …though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. —2 Corinthians 12:15 Natural human love expects something in return. But Paul is saying, “It doesn’t really matter to me whether you love me or not. I am willing to be completely destitute anyway; willing to be poverty-stricken, not just for your sakes, but also that I may be able to get you to God.” “For you know the…
Daily Devotional – The Delight of Sacrifice
The Delight of Sacrifice February 24, 2016 I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls… —2 Corinthians 12:15 Once “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,” we deliberately begin to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ’s interests and purposes in others’ lives (Romans 5:5). And Jesus has an interest in every individual person. We have no right in Christian service to be guided by our own interests and desires. In…
Daily Devotional – The Determination to Serve
The Determination to Serve – From Utmost.org February 23, 2016 The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve… —Matthew 20:28 Jesus also said, “Yet I am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22:27). Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s— “…ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people.…
Daily Devotional – The Discipline of Spiritual Perseverance
The Discipline of Spiritual Perseverance from Utmost.org February 22, 2016 Be still, and know that I am God… —Psalm 46:10 Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Perseverance means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered.…
Daily Devotional – Do You Really Love Him?
Do You Really Love Him? February 21, 2016 from Utmost.org She has done a good work for Me. —Mark 14:6 If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description…
Daily Devotional – Taking the Initiative Against Daydreaming
Taking the Initiative Against Daydreaming from Utmost.org February 20, 2016 Arise, let us go from here. —John 14:31 Daydreaming about something in order to do it properly is right, but daydreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. In this passage, after having said these wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected our Lord to tell them to go away and meditate over them all. But Jesus never allowed idle daydreaming. When our purpose is…
Daily Devotional from Utmost.org
Taking the Initiative Against Drudgery February 19, 2016 Arise, shine… —Isaiah 60:1 When it comes to taking the initiative against drudgery, we have to take the first step as though there were no God. There is no point in waiting for God to help us— He will not. But once we arise, immediately we find He is there. Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue— a matter of obedience. Then we must act…
Daily Devotional from Utmost .org
Taking the Initiative Against Despair February 18, 2016 Rise, let us be going. —Matthew 26:46 In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, “Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore.” If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we…
Daily Devotional from Utmost.org
Is Your Mind Stayed on God? February 11, 2016 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. —Isaiah 26:3 Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant’s life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no…