Daily Devotion for April 18, 2026

Devotion:

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Read John 17:13-18.

As we read this passage, we could see it as simply Jesus’ prayer for his apostles and those who were closest to him in his earthly ministry. However, through the church, Jesus’ teachings, expectations, and promises transcend time and apply equally to us as his current followers.

When Jesus says they and we are not of the world, he is saying that we no longer base our values on the world, and the world is not our center.  Christ is our center. But unlike the Children of Israel, who were initially kept apart from the world in order to purify them, we are sent into the world. Some of our greatest theological writings were penned by hermits who withdrew from the world to live in seclusion. For most of us, however, that is not how we are to live. Jesus sends us into the world, to be with people, and in particular, to be with people who do not yet know Christ. When we live faithfully as Christians, enmeshed in the world and surrounded by people, they will see that we are different and yes, perhaps even weird. They will be curious and open to our witness to them in love. 

Personal Worship Option:

Gracious God, send me where you would have me go. Give me friends and acquaintances who do not yet know you. Let me be as weird as I need to be as I reject the ways of the world and live for you. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 17, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 5:21-22.

This is just one example of the many times Jesus calls us to go beyond the Old Testament moral laws as we live our lives of faith. Jesus wasn’t discounting the law or giving his opinion. Rather He was giving a fuller understanding of why God made the law in the first place. We miss the intent of God’s Word when we read his rules for living without trying to understand why he made them. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with everything and the next greatest is to love others. All the Law hinges on these two commandments. Love is the foundation of God’s relationship with us and so it should be our guide in relationships with others.  

Personal Worship Option:

When do you keep God’s rules, but close your eyes to his intent? Does love provide direction in all of your relationships? Open your heart to hear what God has to say to you.

Daily Devotion for April 16, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Acts 13:46-48.

Paul is frustrated that the Jews will not hear and believe what he was proclaiming about who Jesus is. Paul tells Barnabus and the other believers that they should turn away from the Jews and teach and preach to the Gentiles. Gentiles were not of the Jewish descent. This was a dramatic shift of the gospel from the stubborn rejection by the Jews to the eager reception by the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas, rejected in their mission, found joy in a new opportunity, proving that God's plan is unstoppable. This scripture emphasizes that those having faith in God will be given eternal life. It shows that salvation is fundamentally a gift from God for all people. The Gentiles were elated because they received the good news, showing that true joy is found in God's word. If we share the good news of Jesus to others, we should not get discouraged if our efforts to help them believe rejected. We could be planting seeds that will grow later.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, thank You for the message of salvation that has reached us. We honor Your Word and rejoice that You are the one who leads us to eternal life. Help us to be bold in sharing the Gospel with others. Let our hearts be filled with the joy of the Gift that God gives us. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 15, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Isaiah 49: 5-6.

Happy April 15! Have you sent in your tax return yet?  Whether we like it or not (often not), our lives are full of duties and burdens that need to be done.  Like many other folks, I tend to take some joy in complaining about my particular duties and burdens. But when I read this morning’s passage, I am reminded that I don’t have much to complain about.  Isaiah has been called by God to “gather Israel to him,” which in itself is a pretty big task. But then in verse 6, the Lord says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah has been given the task of sharing the good news not only to Israel but beyond.  But as the Lord explains, this is not a duty or a burden or an “opportunity,” but a joy. 

To be “called” can be challenging and even frustrating at times, but it is also exhilarating, because we are never called alone. God always goes with us and gives us strength for the journey. Where are you being called to in your faith journey? 

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, thank you for the variety of ways that you call us. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 14, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Deuteronomy 7:1-6.

In Deuteronomy 7, Moses reminds the people of Israel that they were about to enter a land filled with nations stronger and more numerous than themselves. Yet God promised to go before them and give them victory. The command that follows may seem severe at first glance: Israel was instructed not to make covenants or intermarry with these nations. The reason was spiritual, not ethnic—God knew that their influence could turn His people away from Him.

Verse 6 reveals the heart of the passage: “For you are a holy people unto the Lord your God: the Lord your God has chosen you to be a special people unto himself.” God had set Israel apart. Their identity was not based on their strength, numbers, or achievements, but on God’s choice and covenant love.

The concern was that if Israel blended its worship with the surrounding cultures, their devotion to God would slowly fade. History shows that this warning proved true whenever Israel ignored it. Compromise in faith often begins subtly but can lead to a gradual drifting away from God.

For believers today, the principle still applies. While we are called to love and engage the world, we are also called to live differently. Our values, priorities, and devotion to God should reflect that we belong to Him. Holiness means being “set apart”—living in a way that honors the One who has called us His own.

When we remember that we are chosen and loved by God, it shapes how we live, what we pursue, and whom we follow. We don’t separate ourselves out of pride, but out of devotion to the God who first set His love upon us.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, thank You for calling us to be Your people. Help us live lives that reflect our identity in You. Guard our hearts from influences that pull us away from Your truth, and give us the courage to remain faithful. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 13, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Leviticus 20:20-26.

God told Israel before they entered the Promise Land that they were called to be different from the people in the land of Canaan.  The people of Canaan practiced idolatry, immorality, and many forms of wickedness. The Israelites were called to be holy and to worship Almighty God only. Holiness means to be set apart for God’s purposes.

The call to holiness did not end with Israel. In the New Testament, the apostle Peter quotes this same principle, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Followers of Christ are called to live differently from the world. That doesn’t mean we live our lives in isolation, but it does mean our values, character, and conduct should be Christ centered. Instead of conforming to this world our lives should show God’s love, purity, and truth.

Personal Worship Option:

Almighty God, You are holy, and You have called us to be holy. Help us to live in a way that reflects Your character. Give us the strength to resist the ways of the world. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 12, 2026

Devotion:

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Read 2 Samuel 22:29-37.

2 Samuel 22 is David’s Psalm of Deliverance. It comes near the end of his life and after a series of revolts where David gets the victory. He believed that with God’s help he can accomplish anything. He said, I can run at a troop of warriors; by my God I can leap over a wall. He compares the stability he feels to that of a deer. Out of all God’s creatures, the deer must be one of the most sure footed of all the animals. Deer can run through thick forests and negotiate steep hills and mountains. They can run swiftly through the flat lands and navigate the deep valleys.

Where do you feel the ground shifting? Is it because of a difficult decision? A health concern? A financial need? Bring it to God and ask Him to give you deer’s feet and make you steady, balanced, and sure footed. Not because the path is easy but because God is our strength.

Personal Worship Option:

Mighty God, uphold me when the ground beneath me feels unstable. Guide me when the climb feels steep and remind me that with your help, I can advance, endure, and overcome. Thank you for being my refuge, my strength, and the one who equips me for every challenge. In Jesus’ name, Amen.