Category: Devotional

It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. – John 13:2-5, NLT

I don’t know about you but I find this passage a bit of a gut check. Jesus knows Judas Iscariot is going to betray Him and yet Jesus still washes his feet. That is a tough passage to say the least.

Yesterday we looked at temptations as opportunities for victory and freedom. What happens when that opportunity doesn’t result in victory and freedom? What happens when you mess up again? This is where we see God’s mercy and grace.

Jesus didn’t have to serve Judas by washing his feet but Jesus chose to anyway. If it were me, I would have probably told Judas everything he had ever done wrong and what he was about to do. Thankfully Jesus handles things differently. Jesus gave Judas another chance just like He gives to us every time we mess up.

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. – John 12:4-6, NLT

Have you ever wondered why Judas was in charge of the money? After all Mathew used to be a tax collector and had plenty of experience handling money. Why Judas Iscariot?

I believe part of God’s refining process allows us opportunities to experience victory. Another way of saying it is the areas you feel the most temptation are the exact areas God wants to work on so you can experience victory and freedom. Please don’t misinterpret that to mean that God is tempting you though.

For example, let’s say you have a bit of an anger problem. Several times a week or month you find yourself in situations where you almost get into a fist fight. In this example I believe God is trying to work through your anger issues so you can experience victory and freedom in this area. Eventually God will start highlighting another area He wants to work on like pride, food issues, fear, greed, trust issues, or sexual sin.

So next time you’re facing that temptation again, take hope. It’s not another situation where you’ll probably fail, it’s actually just a new opportunity to experience victory and freedom!

And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. – Luke 22:50-51, NKJV

Can you imagine being an attorney trying to convict Peter for cutting off someone’s ear? I would much rather be a defense attorney in this situation even though Peter was actually guilty. My first and only witness would be Malchus. After showing that his left and right ears are still intact, I might be so bold as to drop the proverbial mic and sit down resting my case. When Jesus healed his ear, all evidence and witnesses against Peter were nullified.

I have a better than average memory but I can still forget things. Sometimes I remember them later and sometimes I don’t but there’s always that chance I’ll remember. That’s why it’s so incredible that God doesn’t forget our sins when we repent, He completely removes them. As Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT

Traveling is not my favorite thing to do and yet I have traveled domestically and abroad. It’s crazy how times have changed though. I remember a time when I would print out maps and routes to make sure I didn’t get lost. Now as long as I have my cell phone with cellular service, I don’t give it another thought. It doesn’t matter if it’s my first time there or I’ve been a hundred times before, my phone will tell me exactly where I need to go. Why do I have such confidence in my phone? It’s because my phone has always pointed me where I needed to go.

As great as my phone’s track record is for getting me where I need to go, God’s track record is even better. As today’s verses say, “Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” – Genesis 16:13, NKJV

You probably know the story already. Abraham and Sarah are promised a son by God but it doesn’t happen soon enough. So Sarah tells Abraham to have a child through Hagar the maidservant. Hagar gets pregnant which causes Sarah to be jealous and start mistreating her. Hagar decides to run away.

Hagar felt abandoned through all the pain and misery. No one saw or cared what she was going through. Then she ran into the Angel of the Lord by a spring in verse 7 and found out someone was watching.

Someone had His eyes on her the entire time. Hagar’s encounter with God was so profound she declared, “You are the God who sees me.” Whatever you’re going through today, know you are not alone. There is the God who not only sees all the heartache and pain but He also cares greatly for you.

3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.

5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,

6 and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. – Matthew 1:3, 5, 6, NKJV

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your relatives.” If you look at the family tree of Jesus, you’ll notice four women mentioned each involving something most people would want to cover up. The fact they are included makes me believe there’s something we can learn from them.

Tamar was a childless widow who was living with Judah waiting for his youngest son to grow up so she could marry him. Tamar realized Judah was not going to let her marry his youngest son so she comes up with a plan. She will get Judah to think she’s a prostitute and sleep with her. Her plan ends up working and she gives birth two twins.

Rahab was a gentile and a prostitute. David saw Bathsheba bathing on the rooftop. He invited her over while her husband was at war. She gets pregnant and David covers it up by having her husband killed and taking Bathsheba as his own wife.

Ruth was from Moab which meant she was a gentile and a pagan. What’s more if you look at the origins of the Moabites in Genesis 19, you’ll see it’s through incest (Genesis 19:36-37).

So what can we learn from this? It shows your family and your past don’t define who you are and what you can do!

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” – 1 Samuel 16:11, NKJV

Samuel was going to anoint the next king over Israel. God told Samuel to go to Jesse because one of his sons would be the next king. As Jesse paraded seven of his sons before Samuel, the answer for each was not him. Then Samuel asks the simple question paraphrased from today’s verse, “Is that is? Do you have any more sons you haven’t shown me yet?”

Unfortunately it’s easy to get overlooked whether it’s done on purpose or not. Jesse was pretty sure he knew which of his sons should be king. Jesse started with his oldest, the one most likely and continued to work his way to least likely. David was so unlikely, he wasn’t even invited to the party but God had other plans. David was the man God had chosen even if he was overlooked by everyone else.

You might feel overlooked and forgotten too. You might feel like you’re sitting on the sideline with no chance of ever getting in the game. Just remember, God has other plans for you!

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. – Ephesians 3:20, NLT

Do you remember when you were growing up how the simplest of things could turn into the best toys? I can remember the hours of fun I could have with just a simple stick. I’m glad I still have an imagination although it’s not quite as active as it once was. But I’m even more glad that God’s power is not dependent on my limited imagination or creativity.

Imagine what the world would look like if God limited creation based on your creativity. Would there be a Grand Canyon? What about majestic mountain ranges? How about forests, lakes, rivers, or oceans? What the night sky look like? Would it be full of stars, planets, and galaxies? Would there be beautify sunrises, sunsets, and the northern lights? How about rainbows?

Honestly I think the world would be a pretty boring place if it were up to what I could come up with. Thankfully it’s not. God masterfully crafted everything we can see but also the things we can’t see. You may go through enjoyable circumstances but you may also go through things you would never choose to. Regardless of which, God will take everything and turn your life into a beautiful work of art.