Today Daily Devotional

ABIDING IN THE VINE

2013-05-18T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: John 15:1-8
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
—John 15:5

If you want to make your life count, Jesus wisely explains how. He says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

The challenge is to be devoted to living in and for Jesus, in a way like a branch is attached to a vine and depends on it for life. This takes our whole heart.

How can we accomplish this? Only by the power of Christ himself. He makes that clear when he says, “Apart from me you can do nothing” in the way of bearing fruit. And he adds, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16).

In the verses of our Scripture today, the words “fruit” or “fruitful” occur seven times. God’s primary concern is not our comfort or happiness, but that we bear fruit. We need to let the gardener prune the self-centeredness and selfishness out of our lives so that we can truly remain in Jesus and bear fruit for his kingdom—“fruit that will last.” Then others will enjoy God’s goodness and be drawn to him also.

Christ is our lifeline, and he calls us to abide in him. Rather than living our own way, we grow to live his way, and he supplies all we need in order to do that. It’s the only way to truly live—forever.

Prayer:

Lord, you have called us to live in and for you. Fill us with your life, that we may bear fruit and share your goodness. Amen.

John Kuperus

FRIENDS OF GOD

2013-05-17T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: John 15:9-17
“I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
—John 15:15

We generally live up to expectations and titles. If we expect our teenagers to live irresponsibly, there is a good chance they will live up to that expectation. On the other hand, if we expect them to be responsible young adults, then they will seek to fulfill that expectation.

Jesus models expectations for us with his disciples. He tells them, “I no longer call you servants.” That was a major change of understanding for his disciples. The role of a servant was to be obedient to commands from the master and to give attention to the task at hand. But Jesus changed the expectation by saying, “Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Friends experience an intimate, personal relationship with one another. To be a friend of God means to have access to the very heart of God. To know what the Master is doing and to have access to his heart is a tremendous privilege.

As we live and work within this relationship, our perspective changes because we are able to see through our Master’s eyes, and our heart beats in tune with his. We work with the Lord and have this incredible anchor that gives us stability through any and every situation that comes our way in life. What a tremendous blessing!

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for framing our relationship with you as friends. Thank you for showing your friendship by becoming one of us and for setting us free by dying for us and giving us new life. Amen.

John Kuperus

SELF-DENIAL

2013-05-16T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:24–28
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny them-selves…”
—Matthew 16:24

Believers in Christ face the challenge of being desensitized to the filth in the world around them. The line between what is holy and unholy often becomes unclear. In the midst of the corruption and sin in our world, how can we be re-sensitized to live holy lives for the Lord?

Jesus explains, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves…”

And what does it mean to deny ourselves? It means putting to death our sinful nature and putting on the spiritual nature of new life in Christ (Ephesians 4:14-5:20). We cannot do this on our own, but all of this is made possible because Jesus came to live among us, fully human, and to die in our place so that we can be freed from the slavery of sin and the curse of death.

In Christ we are called to put sinful ways behind us—all immorality and impurity such as hatred, discord, jealousy, envy, rage, selfish ambition, greed, drunkenness, brawling, gossip, slander, and any kind of malice. Instead, we are to walk “in step with the Spirit” of God, bearing good spiritual fruit: “love, joy, peace, forbearance [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-25).

Jesus is our example. He gave up his whole life for our sake, so that we might live. Will we give up our old, corrupt nature to live the full life God wants us to enjoy? In Christ we can!

Prayer:

O Lord, our souls thirst for you, the living God. Guide us to live for you. Our hope is in you, our God and Savior. Amen.

John Kuperus

INTIMACY IS POSSIBLE

2013-05-15T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has commit-ted to us the message of reconciliation.
—2 Corinthians 5:19

What is God’s response to human sin, and to the brokenness, corruption, and violence that spread because of it? Does God give up on his good creation? Does God explode in anger because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, or because of the wickedness of their descendants, including us?

No, in effect God says, “I did not create you to perish. I created you for life and to be in fellowship with me. I will not abandon you, and I will not forsake you.”

How can reconciliation between God and a fallen humanity be possible? On the one side is the triune God with holy intimacy, complete wholeness, and perfect love. On the other side is the corrupt, broken, fearful human race.

An invasion takes place when the Father sends his Son to form a union between God and fallen humanity. Jesus, the Son of God, becomes human in every way—except that he is without sin. He becomes a second Adam, and he does not fail to obey God. To complete the reconciliation, the Son has to pay the price of Adam’s disobedience and die. By his death he breaks “the power of him who holds the power of death” (Hebrews 2:14) and reconciles all who will believe in him as Savior. The Lord our God has done this so that we can live!

Prayer:

Father, we stand in awe of you and your commitment to your creation. You have provided salvation for us through your Son, our Lord Jesus. We are eternally grateful! Amen.

John Kuperus

HARD HEARTS

2013-05-14T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Luke 8:4-15
“A farmer went out to sow his seed… Some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.”
—Luke 8:5

Jesus tells this parable about everyday farming to teach a spiritual truth. “The seed is the word of God,” he says. And for people who represent the hard-packed soil of the path, the Word does not sink in and take root. It is not understood, it is ignored, and the devil comes and takes it away “so that they may not believe and be saved.”

If we are hardened against God’s Word, we are unable to understand it. So a heart check is good for all of us.

Farmers remedy the hard ground by plowing it up. Spiritually we are called to the same remedy. In ancient Israel the prophet Hosea had to remind the people, “Break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:12).

The city of Nineveh during the time of Jonah stands as a model moving from a place of hard-heartedness to breaking up the unplowed ground and seeking the Lord. When Jonah preached in Nineveh, the people believed God and declared a fast (Jonah 3:5). They humbled themselves, prayed, sought God’s face, and turned from their wicked ways. And God forgave their sins and did not bring the destruction he had threatened.

How are our hearts? God’s remedy still works today.

Prayer:

Father, may your kingdom come and your will be done as our hearts grow fully devoted to you. Grant us courage to humble ourselves when our hearts are hard. Amen.

John Kuperus

HEARING GOD’S WORD

2013-05-13T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:24-27
“Everyone who [puts] these words of mine … into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
—Matthew 7:24

In the story of the wise and foolish builders, Jesus explains that it’s not enough to hear God’s Word. We also have to put it into practice. We need to obey the Lord and seek to follow him with all our heart.

Picture the two kinds of people in the illustrations Jesus gives here. Both hear his words, but one puts them into practice and the other does not. One hears and obeys; the other hears and ignores. Both have had the same basic instruction. But while one follows the proven practice of building on a firm foundation, the other ignores that wisdom and builds a house that has no foundation at all.

Jesus is using a simple illustration that even children can understand. Among his listeners, everyone knew that only a fool would try to build a house without a foundation. A house like that would fall apart in the path of a heavy storm. But a house with a firm foundation would withstand many storms.

Similarly, Jesus was saying, we must put God’s words into practice. The only way to build a life that will last is to base it on the firm foundation of God and his Word. As the psalmist had said many years earlier, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 18:2). Can we say that?

Let’s not only hear the Word, but also obey it. In God’s strength we can!

Prayer:

Father, we are listening to your Word. Help us put it into practice. Shape and mold us, we pray, so that our lives may honor you and last forever. Amen.

John Kuperus

WALLS

2013-05-12T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1
“The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
—Nehemiah 1:3

An ancient city without a wall was wide open to be plundered by thieves or enemies. A city’s walls helped to protect people and their households, as well as the blessings they had been given. Walls provided security.

Nehemiah was grieved when he heard that the exiles who had returned to their homeland were “in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem [was] broken down.” He begged God to change the situation, and God called him to rebuild the walls (Nehemiah 2).

Often today we talk about walls that need to come down: walls of deceit and corruption, walls of racism and favoritism, barriers that prevent people from opportunities that all should be free to enjoy.

But there are also good walls that can protect us from harm and evil influences. In our lives, we need walls to help us guard our hearts so that we can be loyal to our spouse and faithful to our family, friends, and community. Our spiritual lives also need walls to protect our relationship with God. Our walls crumble if sins like unforgiveness, selfishness, compromise, and rebellion take over in our lives.

Do any walls need to be rebuilt in your life? In your family? Your community? Do some walls need to come down, and others go up—so that sin can be cast out and kept out? Ask God for the wisdom to build a life that honors him faithfully.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for your grace. Cleanse us from our sin, and build us up to stand firm in you. For your sake, Amen.

John Kuperus

STANDING

2013-05-11T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 10:6-9
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi … to stand before the LORD to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name.
—Deuteronomy 10:8

In today’s culture, what kinds of events make us rise to our feet? We stand in excitement when a goal is scored in a close game on the soccer or football field. We join in a standing ovation when we see an amazing performance. We rise when an honored guest enters the room.

In ancient Israel the tribe of Levi was set apart for another kind of standing. The Levites were chosen “to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name.” This was a call to serve the Lord in the many duties required to help people worship God, and to share the good news of God’s blessings for all. While this involved everyday work and routine, it also involved heart-stirring responsibilities to stand up for and honor the amazing Lord of heaven and earth who had delivered his people. So the Levites were in this way like the angels of heaven. The angel who came to announce the birth of John the Baptist later said, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to … tell you this good news” (Luke 1:19).

God calls us to stand by putting on his armor so that we can “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Our enemy, the devil, wants to knock us down, but in God’s strength we can “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11), using God’s gifts to honor our Lord in all we do.

Prayer:

Lord, we stand in awe of you. Help us to serve and speak faithfully for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

John Kuperus

HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

2013-05-10T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
—1 Samuel 3:7

I am presently serving with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Kona, Hawaii. We have 22,000 staff around the world serving voluntarily. How can one mission recruit so many volunteers? The co-founder of YWAM, Darlene Cunningham, says the key is hearing the voice of God. When someone hears God calling them to work for him, they are willing to make great sacrifices. This is a foundational teaching for the mission, and it is reflected in a book titled Is That Really You, God? written by the other founder, Loren Cunningham.

We see in Samuel’s life that hearing God’s voice is something to be learned. Samuel was being mentored by Eli to be a priest in the temple. He learned about ceremonial washings, food laws, prayers, and reading the Law. His training would also have included offering sacrifices of sheep, goats, bulls, and other animals. But in all this training Samuel had not learned to hear God’s voice.

Three times God called Samuel, but Samuel thought it was Eli who was calling him. So Samuel went to Eli, and eventually Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel. So he instructed Samuel to say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” In this way Samuel was mentored to know the Lord and the power of his Word. And God used Samuel in powerful ways to lead his people as a prophet of the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, speak to my heart. Prompt me to listen and obey. By your Spirit, guide us to hear your call today and to serve you faithfully. Amen.

John Kuperus

OUR DWELLING PLACE

2013-05-09T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
—Psalm 91:1

I met a refugee and asked her a number of questions through an interpreter. One question was “What is your favorite text in the Bible?” Without any hesitation she said, “Psalm 91.” When I asked why, she shared that she had been moving every six to nine months for her physical safety, but in her spirit she was safe in the Lord.

The tension we face in life is that even though we may “dwell in the shelter of the Most High” and “rest in the shadow of the Almighty,” we have to deal with troubles and daily struggles—and even deadly diseases and terrorizing attacks at times. The psalmist understood that this world is filled with uncertainties—and yet there is a place of safety. We can go up against giants and have to flee for our lives from dangerous enemies, and still we can be in a safe place with the Almighty.

The question each of us has to address is “What is our dwelling place? What is our shelter or safety net?” If it is our money, family, home, or work, that will crumble. The enemy has come to kill, steal, and destroy. But the one place of safety in the universe from which no one can snatch us is “in the shelter of the Most High.” Our risen and ascended King has promised, “My sheep listen to my voice … and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and … no one will ever snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).

Prayer:

Ascended Lord, we praise you for the security and peace we have in you, regardless of what we experience in life. Amen.

John Kuperus

GLORY OF GOD

2013-05-08T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:12-23
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

—Exodus 33:18

When was the last time you asked God, “Show me your glory?” What motivated Moses to make that request?

After forty days on Mount Sinai receiving God’s law for his people, Moses had come down to find the Israelites worshiping a golden calf. They were in a place of darkness and distrust in the God who had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. As a leader, Moses needed to set a standard without sliding down the slope of going with the flow.

When Moses prayed, “Show me your glory,” he wanted to see the greatness, majesty, and splendor of the Lord. Moses needed a fresh revelation of God to empower him to continue to walk in the dark times he was in. He yearned for the assurance of God’s radiant, powerful presence.

We too ought to be desperately seeking God’s glory. Notice God’s response to Moses: “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence.” God is delighted to answer Moses’ prayer to reveal his glory, and God adds to the experience by proclaiming his name. Moses’ heart was so captured by the glory of God that nothing in this world could compare to the surpassing greatness of the Lord.

Prayer:

Our Father, show us your glory to empower us to walk in our times with truth, wisdom, and integrity. Thank you for delighting in showing yourself to us and building our faith. Amen.

John Kuperus

THE FACE OF GOD

2013-05-07T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Genesis 32:22-32
Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
—Genesis 32:30

In our culture we have many devices to stay connect-ed—phone, email, texting, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and more. And yet we travel great distances to have face to face contact. We long for the times when we can express ourselves in person with one another.

In the human realm face to face contact is important. But can you imagine what it would be like to have a face to face meeting with God?

In the Bible, the first person who speaks of encountering the face of the Lord is Jacob, after his wrestling match with an angel of the Lord, who spoke to him on God’s behalf and with God’s authority.

Jacob was completely changed from that encounter. He received a new name, Israel, and that meant he had a new identity, given to him by God. As a result, new opportunities opened up for him.

That morning, Israel (Jacob) limped away with God’s blessing, and he set off to reconcile with his brother, Esau. Because Jacob was changed, he said later to Esau, “To see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably” (Genesis 33:10). That was remarkable, as jealousy and bitterness melted away after Jacob’s encounter with God.

Do you or I need to have an encounter with God to see our brother or sister in a new way?

Prayer:

O Lord, we seek your face; we want to know you. Your promises are a treasury of life and new possibilities that we can find in you alone. Amen.

John Kuperus

THE POWER OF COVENANT

2013-05-06T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Exodus 6:1-12
“I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.”
—Exodus 6:7

In our congregation an elderly man said, “We used to hear a lot about covenant, but now we do not hear anything about covenant anymore.” That comment created a hunger in me to rediscover the way our intimate God works through his covenant promises.

The Bible is framed with the old and new covenants that God made with his people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So the entire Scriptures are permeated with covenant living. The heart of God’s covenant is captured in these words: “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.” God is united with his people in the context of his unfailing love.

Marriage is probably the closest human parallel to God’s covenant with us. Two people come together to become one, and they vow to remain faithfully together until death separates them.

God’s covenant partnership with us is truly remarkable, for how can an unholy people and a holy God come together? This is possible only through the cross of Jesus, by which we are reconciled to God. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The covenant between God and humans is a reality through Jesus Christ, our Lord. In Christ, we belong to God!

Prayer:

Father, we thank you that you are our God and we are your people. Thank you for providing a way back to your-self by giving of your Son on the cross for us. Amen.

John Kuperus

HOUSE OF GOD

2013-05-05T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Genesis 28:10-22
“This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
—Genesis 28:17

Jacob had a very powerful dream that was a vision from God. When he awoke, he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” This gives us insight into something that continues to happen today; we can be in the presence of God and not be aware of him. For example, in a church service one person can experience a deep connection with God, while another person in the same service might not sense a connection at all.

Jacob commented further on his encounter with God by saying, “This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” What did he mean by that? Was there a building present? No. Were there people present? No. Jacob’s revelation was that the house of God was where God was present.

Years later, the apostle John spoke of Jesus as bringing the presence of God: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Jesus became God’s dwelling place on earth, and that opened the way for God to live in us later through his Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:4, 33, 38). The apostle Paul explained: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

The house of God is where God comes to live and bring new life in and among us. He wants to make our hearts his home. Does he live in you?

Prayer:

Father, may your kingdom come, and may your will be done in and through us as you live in us, your people. Amen.

John Kuperus

THE ALTAR

2013-05-04T06:00:00Z

Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-9
There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
—Genesis 12:8

When I was in southeast Asia on pastoral visits with our Youth with a Mission (YWAM) teams, I stayed in hotels and homes that had altars set up for Buddha. People burned incense and food sacrifices on them as a way to honor their gods and their ancestors.

Using altars and sacrifices (offerings) goes back to the earliest times in human history (Genesis 4:3-5). What’s important, however, is that we worship the one true God—and with the right attitude.

When God called Abram to leave his homeland, he obeyed in faith. Arriving at Shechem in the land of Canaan, Abram built an altar. Then he traveled toward Bethel, and he built another altar. The altar was his meeting place with God. There he took responsibility for his sin, and the door to heaven was open for communication with God. As Abram worshiped, he received promises and abundant blessings from the Lord.

For New Testament believers, the altar is the cross of Christ. Christ’s blood continues to wash the dirtiest of sinners clean and opens the gate of heaven. The danger is to neglect the altar and let sin go un-confessed, driving a wedge between us and God. When that happens, we find it difficult to hear God’s voice, and our love for him wanes. An active altar points toward the one true God, delights the heart of our Lord, and brings revelation and light into our lives.

Prayer:

Father, in Jesus’ name, help us to draw near to you with hearts full of faith, celebrating our relationship with you. Amen.

John Kuperus