Today’s Verse: And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. ~John 18:18 Wintertime is when the cold season hits us hard. As I write this devotion, 25% of our church is down with illness, hospitalizations, or crisis. The majority of them have been hit with the flu and colds. Colds make us very miserable. We experience fever, chills, coughing, runny noses, int

Today’s Verse: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; ~John 2:15 Does the sight of an unkempt house bother you? I think most people desire and strive for a clean house. However, we can become occupied with many other things and neglect our household needs. Jesus entered into the temple at Jerusalem and was appalled by what He saw in the court

Today’s Verse: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ~John 3:1-2 One of the most significant men of the New Testament is Nicodemus. He was a man who did not allow his education, monetary wealth, prestige, and influence to inhibit him from coming to Jesus for the tru

Today’s Verse: And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. ~John 12:23 The Bible makes it very clear that we were made to glorify the Lord. We are not to glory in our wisdom, our wealth, or our power. If we have anything to glory in, it is the fact that the Lord is God. Giving glory to God is giving Him the honor, the acknowledgement, and complete magnification for everything. Someone said, “Giving glory to Jesus is when we make

Today’s Verse: There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? ~John 6:9 If you like to eat seafood, you’ve probably had fish and chips at least one time. This term originated in England and refers to battered fish that has been deep fried and is served with potato strips or French-fried potatoes. It is a delicious entrée that even someone who does not like to eat fish will enjoy. Our devotion this morning is not exac

Today’s Verse: When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. ~John 11:6 How well do you respond to an unexpected delay in your schedule? Life is filled with many unexpected delays. I am thinking about the delays that we experience standing at the checkout counter of a store due to customers ahead of us who seem to take a long time to process their items. I think of delays on our already-congested freeways due to accident

Today’s Verse: When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. ~John 6:12 I read the story of a woman who went shopping at a thrift store on a snowy, wintry day. As she entered the store, she took off her $100 rain boots, which were muddy, and left them at the front door. When she had finished shopping and was exiting the store, she noticed that her boots were missing. The clerk did not realize that they were this

Today’s Verse: And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. ~Mark 1:20 Those who oversee successful, growing businesses know that making good business decisions is key to ongoing success. A good business decision results in good employees, profitability, greater market share, greater loyalty, and increased brand acceptance. This morning, we see two businessmen who were given a business choice that

Today’s Verse: Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. ~John 21:11 Commercial fishermen use nets in order to maximize their opportunities for a good day of fishing. On a very good day, they could have a substantial catch that would test the strength of the net. If the net was not sturdy and broke, a great deal of profitability would be lost. Our passage toda

Today’s Verse: But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. ~John 21:4 For a fisherman who has been on the seas and is heading back home, it is a wonderful sight to see the shore and land. Seven backslidden disciples, led by Peter, had spent a failed night of fishing. As the light of morning was upon them, Jesus stood on the shore, waiting to receive them. They did not know at first that it was Jesus. When they fin

Today’s Verse: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ~John 20:21 Jesus began the local church when He called the twelve apostles. In Matthew 16:18, He uses the word church, or ecclesia in Greek, for the first time to emphasize a called-out assembly of saved, baptized individuals. Jesus made very clear the priority of preaching the gospel at the outset. However, these men, like us, became distracted and lost focus on t

Today’s Verse: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. ~John 19:34 John 19 is the record of our Lord’s crucifixion on the cross. Four of His last statements on the cross are recorded in this chapter. In John 19:30, Jesus' words, “It is finished,” are recorded, indicating that He finished the work of redemption for every sinner. The final blow to our Lord occurred after He breathed His last breath. A soldier with a s

Today’s Verse: I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. ~John 17:9 John 17 is correctly called “the Lord’s Prayer.” This prayer was most likely prayed in the upper room after Jesus had finished speaking with the disciples. Though not recorded, it is very likely that our Lord may have stopped at different intervals to pray with and for the disciples. Our Lord embodied and modeled what true intercessory prayer should

Today’s Verse: Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ~John 16:7 Our Lord Jesus Christ gave a wonderful name to describe the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. The name parakletos means the one who comes to my side. Someone who comes to the side of another is a companion who brings comfort, encouragement, counsel, and closeness. The H

Today’s Verse: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ~John 15:2 Pruning is a vital aspect of successful gardening and fruit production. Careful inspection must be made to determine if there are dead branches or “sucker growth” that hinder the branches of a plant or tree from bringing forth the best and most abundant supply of fruit. Once this counterproductive growth ha

Today’s Verse: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. ~John 16:33 One of our greatest needs is encouragement. We must be people who are capable of giving encouragement, but also able to recognize when we need encouragement. On the eve when He would be betrayed and crucified, our Lord gave to His followers a strong word of encouragement. He told them, “Be of g

Today’s Verse: Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. ~John 12:3 Husbands and wives who love each other will seek to lavish each other with gifts that demonstrate their affection and love. The desire is to lovingly show that the one they love is worth everything spent to purchase the gift. This morning’s devotion challenges us on ho

Today’s Verse: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ~John 10:11 One of the most-loved chapters in the Bible is Psalm 23. It begins with, “The LORD is my shepherd.” Our Lord is described as a Good Shepherd, a Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd. In John 10, we see Jesus, the Good Shepherd. In this chapter, our Lord gives us insight on four groups of people that are found in every church. Let us see what I refer to as “the good,” “the bad,

Today’s Verse: Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. ~John 9:3 One of the key questions in life that we have is: why do bad things happen to good people? Job said that "man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." We have pity for those who suffer, but when it is our lot to suffer, we feel sad, disappointed, and at a loss. There are extreme of thoughts that cross our mind. In our devoti

Today’s Verse: Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? ~John 4:29 When something exciting happens, we encourage others to join us to see it. A woman who lived a private and shameful life had the pleasure of meeting the Lord Jesus Christ one day as she made her daily, noontime trip to draw water from a well. Her life was so changed that she ran back to town and excitedly told the men of the city, “Come, see a man.” We see the motive.