Daily Devotion for June 20, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Mark 1:16-17.

Jesus still calls anyone who will listen to follow him and learn to “fish for people.” Fishing was a major industry around the Sea of Galilee. Fishing with nets was the most common method. Jesus called the disciples to fish for people with the same energy they had used to fish for food. The gospel would be like a net, lifting people from dark waters into the light of day and transforming their lives.  

How can God use you to fish for people? The gospel makes missionaries of all God’s people. Where are you casting your net?

Personal Worship Option:

Take some time to listen for God’s direction. How can you make a difference today?

Daily Devotion for June 19, 2025

Devotion:

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Read John 2:1-11.

Jesus' first miracle has often baffled me because it seemed unnecessary from a purely human point of view. Yes, I can understand that Jesus saved the wedding host from embarrassment, but that seems so frivolous and unimportant compared to other things that could have used a miracle. But this miracle reveals that Jesus came not only to help us with our greatest problems, but also to spread the joy of full, abundant living with God.

Through his life and death, Jesus redeemed believers from the weight of sin in their lives and in the world. When this burden is removed from us, we can see the true character of God and all the blessings he wants for us in life. The gospel of John reports that as a result of this first miracle, Jesus revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. This miracle reminds us that Jesus meets us in our moments of need. He takes what is ordinary and makes it extraordinary.  He can transform our lives into something beautiful and full of purpose. 

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, every life is a miracle from you. It shows your glory in all the creation and the work that you do through people. Thank you for the love that you sent us, using Jesus to show us the miracles you have for us. Amen.

Daily Devotion for June 18, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Acts 1:6-8.

Even after the resurrection, the disciples were still asking the wrong question: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” They wanted clarity, closure, and control. But Jesus redirects them—not with a timeline, but with a mission.

He tells them they will receive power, not political power or certainty, but the power of the Holy Spirit—a power not for comfort, but for courage. And then He gives them their task: be my witnesses. Not just in the familiar streets of Jerusalem, but out into Judea, then Samaria (home of their cultural rivals), and finally “to the ends of the earth.”

This is still the mission: to bear witness—not just to doctrines, but to the living Christ who transforms lives, communities, and even enemies. The call to witness stretches us beyond our comfort zones. It starts at home, but it never ends there.

Personal Worship Option:

Ask yourself, Where is your “Jerusalem”—the place God has already planted you to be a witness? And where might God be nudging you next—across a boundary, a fear, or an assumption?

Then pray this prayer or one of your choosing: God of mission and movement, breathe Your Spirit into us again. Give us courage to speak truth, humility to listen well, and boldness to go wherever You send us. Let us be faithful witnesses—near and far. Amen.

Daily Devotion for June 17, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 8:5-13.

Even though he was an outsider, this Roman centurion knew that Jesus could help his servant. In a world defined by boundaries—political, religious, ethnic—this moment is a powerful reminder that faith transcends all barriers. The centurion wasn’t a Jew. He wasn’t part of God’s covenant people. He was a Roman officer, a symbol of the very empire that oppressed Israel. And yet, he approached Jesus with humility, compassion, and stunning faith.

This passage is remarkable for many reasons. First, the centurion’s concern wasn’t for himself, but for his servant—someone considered low in status. His heart revealed a love that was both sincere and sacrificial. Second, his faith wasn’t based on religious knowledge or tradition but on a simple, profound belief in Jesus’ authority. “Only say the word,” he said. He understood something many of Jesus’ own people didn’t grasp: that Christ’s power was not limited by proximity or ritual.

Jesus was astonished. He said, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” Think about that. This Roman soldier—an outsider—had greater faith than the people who had grown up with the Scriptures. Jesus goes on to say that many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, revealing that God’s kingdom welcomes all who believe, regardless of background.  

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Jesus, give us faith like the centurion. Help us to trust in Your authority completely, even when we don’t see how things will work out. Teach us to love others deeply, especially those who are hurting. And remind us that Your grace is for all people—no matter who they are or where they come from. Amen.

Daily Devotion for June 16, 2025

Devotion:

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Read John 12:20-32.

This passage is packed with things for us to see, to understand, and to incorporate into our lives. Some Greeks were drawn to Jesus upon his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and asked to see him. Philip took them to Andrew, who went with him to tell Jesus; and we are reminded how we are not meant to turn people away but rather to bring them to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke about how a single kernel of wheat is just that, a single seed. But when it dies into the soil, it produces a harvest of many seeds. When we keep our lives to ourselves, serving our own interests, we are just one. But when we give our lives unselfishly to serving Christ, others will be drawn to him. 

Jesus refers in verse 32 to the time when he will be “lifted up,” referring to his coming death on the cross, but the Greek word for this also means “exalted.” Through his death and resurrection, Jesus would be exalted above every name on earth, and many people would be drawn to him. We are not so much called to die for Christ as we are called to live for him, lifting up his name by our everyday witness in word and deed.      

Personal Worship Option:

Give thanks today that someone or perhaps several people lived before you a life focused on Christ and spoke to you about his influence on their lives. Through their witness, you came to know Christ. Now it is our turn to lift up Christ to those around us. 

Daily Devotion for June 15, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

“This is my body (and blood), given for you.” Jesus Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice to show you and me and everybody else the depth of God’s love for all of us. His whole life was “a living sacrifice” that showed us what it means to live as his people. And in the end, he told us that he wanted to be remembered by this meal.  In Communion, we meet Jesus again and are reminded that his way is the way of sacrificial love. Every time we receive the bread and cup, we get to experience his presence again. We experience the Spirit of Christ with us and are reminded that this same Spirit goes with us back out into the world. We also get the tangible experience of taking the bread and juice into our body, a physical reminder that this is what sacrificial love looks like.  

So, anytime you receive this meal, let it be more than just remembering what Jesus did a long time ago on behalf of you and the whole world. Let it be a time to be with Jesus right then. Seek his presence in that moment and renew your commitment to seek his presence out there in the real world, where sacrificial love is still so desperately needed.  

Personal Worship Option:

Two verses from Isaac Watts hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” are most fitting for this focus today:

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God; all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

Daily Devotion for June 14, 2025

Devotion:

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Read John 3:16.

 “God so loved the world that he gave…” Think about all the people in your life who have given you something significant simply because they loved you. I think especially of my parents. They raised me in a loving home and provided for my needs throughout my childhood and teenage years. When my sister started school, Mom took on a job outside our home to help provide for us. I am sure there were many times that she and Dad both sacrificed having things or experiences they would have liked to have in order to see their children prosper. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be where I am today if I did not have the foundation my parents provided for me in many ways in those early years.

Sacrifice is “part of the package” of love. When we truly love someone or some cause, we are willing to make sacrifices for them. We want the best for them and willingly give what we have to help them. This is not done out of a sense of duty, but desire.

God gave us Jesus because “God so loved the world.” God gave you Jesus because God so loved you.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray this prayer or one in your own words: God of life and love, I am amazed at the depth of your love for me and all the world. Help me live my life to show you the depth of my gratitude. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotion for June 13, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Hebrews 13:15-16.

When we sacrificially “do good and share with others,” we are living the way our Creator intended. Sacrifice of praise is our first step. Praise God early in the day before the rush, then again in the hurried middle of the day and also as the day wraps up. This is a continual sacrifice of praise.

Praise and acts of service go hand in hand. As we acknowledge who God is in our life we are drawn to offer good and share with others. This may take many forms, such as, material gifts, gifts of encouragement, service to others through different avenues. These acts of service are particularly pleasing to God, even when they go unnoticed by others.

Personal Worship Option:

What can you praise God for today? Who can you share with today? In what ways is God leading you into a life of sacrifice?

Daily Devotion for June 12, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Galatians 2:20.

This is a verse where Paul explains that righteousness does not come by following the law of Moses, but through grace and faith in Jesus. Jesus calls us to lay down our lives and follow him, emphasizing that to truly live, we lose ourselves for his sake. It is about letting go of the past and giving ourselves to Christ. If Christ lives in us, it changes everything about how we live. Our following Christ becomes an expression of our faith as we strive to self-sacrifice.

Claiming our identity as part of God’s family empowers us to embrace our new life in Christ, living out His purpose. This verse emphasizes the transformative power of feeling crucified with Christ. It reminds us that we no longer live for ourselves. Christ lives in us, calling us to reflect His glory in our daily lives. Paul encourages believers to live by faith in the Son of God, who loves us and gave Himself for us, emphasizing the importance of faith in our Christian walk.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, thank you for sacrificing your Son for us. Help us to follow Jesus and live a life that is dedicated to you. This will help us love and care for others.

Daily Devotion for June 11, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 2 Samuel 24:18-24.

After David sins by conducting a prideful census, he is confronted with the consequences: a devastating plague upon the people. But at the threshing floor of Araunah, the judgment halts. David is told to build an altar there. Araunah offers his land and animals freely, but David refuses: “I will not offer... that which costs me nothing.”

In that moment, David grasps a deep spiritual truth: authentic worship requires real sacrifice. It cannot be hollow, convenient, or self-serving. It must cost us something meaningful—because love that doesn’t give isn’t love at all.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer called this out in his book The Cost of Discipleship. He warned against cheap grace—grace that asks nothing of us, grace without discipleship or the cross. In contrast, costly grace is the way of Christ: “It is costly because it cost God the life of his Son... and it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life.”

And that is exactly what we remember and receive in Holy Communion. At the Table, we come face to face with the most costly offering of all—the body and blood of Jesus, given freely for us, but at the greatest cost to him. Each time we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are reminded that God’s grace is not a handout. It’s a love so deep it went all the way to the cross. A love that still asks us to follow in the same spirit of self-giving.

Communion is not just a remembrance; it’s a summons. We are invited to live sacrificially because we have been loved sacrificially. Like David, we are called to bring offerings that cost us—our pride, our comfort, our time—because we have been bought with a price.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray: Loving God, you did not hold back your own Son, but gave him up for us all. As I receive your grace at the Table, teach me to respond with a life that costs something—a life that reflects your sacrificial love. Amen.

Daily Devotion for June 10, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Genesis 13:1-11.

Instead of grasping for advantage or asserting his seniority as the elder and the one called by God, Abram chooses sacrifice. He surrenders the right to choose first and gives Lot the option to take the best of the land. Lot, looking out for his own interests, selects the lush, well-watered Jordan Valley—what looked good to the eyes. He moves east toward the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, whose wickedness would soon become their ruin. Abram’s decision is striking. He gives up what he could claim for himself. Why? Because he trusted that God’s promise was not dependent on securing land by human strategy but by walking in obedience and humility. This moment reveals a deeper spiritual principle: The way of sacrifice has always been God’s way. Abram laid down his right so that peace could prevail and God could be glorified. He didn’t insist on his portion because he believed God would be his portion. This points us forward to Jesus, the greater sacrifice—who, though He was rich, became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9), and who surrendered everything so we might gain everything in Him. God honored Abram’s sacrificial heart. After Lot departed, God reaffirmed His promise, telling Abram to lift his eyes and look—not with human calculation, but with faith. “All the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever” (Genesis 13:15).

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, teach me to live the way of sacrifice. When I’m tempted to grasp, to fight for my own way, or to insist on my rights, remind me that Your way is better. Help me trust You like Abram did, believing that what I give up for the sake of peace and obedience is never lost in Your kingdom. Shape me into someone who surrenders the visible for the sake of the eternal. Amen.

Daily Devotion for June 9, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-2.

Martin Luther was a well-educated parish priest in the Roman Catholic Church in Germany who was sent to Wittenberg College to teach courses in the Bible. It was there that he began the movement that we know as the Protestant Reformation. Throughout his life and later ministry, Luther emphasized and focused on “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” This was his way of helping others understand the loving sacrifice of Christ that gives to all people the opportunity to believe and accept the gift of eternal life.

Luther was emulating this very teaching from the Apostle Paul. In a subtle way, Paul was telling the people in the churches he started in Corinth that he could have come to them with all kinds of clever teachings to demonstrate his human wisdom. (He was very well educated, having studied under the noted rabbi Gamaleil, and God had revealed many truths to him.) Yet, instead of that, Paul had come to them teaching the very basic truths of Christ and emphasizing his death on the cross for their (and our) salvation.

Personal Worship Option:

Sometimes we like to delve deeply into theology. But it is very important that we remember the simple fact that Jesus came to be one of us, to die for us, and in so doing, to offer us salvation. When you next receive Communion, think about that great love and rejoice. 

Daily Devotion for June 8, 2025

 

Devotion:

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Read Acts 2:1-11.

Their experience on Pentecost confirmed for the disciples that the same Spirit that was in Jesus would also continue to empower and guide them. Jesus had told them to wait for the Spirit to come to them (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5) before proceeding with their mission. On the day of the Pentecost festival, that promised Spirit showed up in such a powerful way that had to give them an assurance of their Lord’s continuing presence and power. Just as they had witnessed many miracles in Jesus’ ministry, that day they became part of another miracle. (I’m guessing it was hard to go to sleep that night!)

That same Holy Spirit is still our guide today, constantly revealing the way of Jesus Christ to us and empowering us to serve his mission. As we connect with the people we are trying to reach, this Spirit gives us words to speak and actions to take that are in their language and ways of understanding. We are able to share the good news of the gospel in ways or language that we didn’t even know we had. So, stay connected to the Spirit and be intentional to connect with the people, then be assured that the Spirit will show up to further God’s continuing mission!

Personal Worship Option:

Henry Tweedy wrote one of my favorite prayer hymns for Pentecost. Here are two verses of it for your prayer time today.

O Spirit of the living God, thou light and fire divine, descend upon thy church once more, and make it truly thine. Fill it with love and joy and power, with righteousness and peace; till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, and sin and sorrow cease.

Teach us to utter living words of truth which all may hear, the language all may understand when love speaks loud and clear; till every age and race and clime shall blend their creeds in one, and earth shall form one family by whom thy will is done. Amen and Amen!

Daily Devotion for June 7, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Galatians 5:16-25.

This is another of my “go-to” passages of Scripture, a key piece that describes what it looks like to be the people of Jesus Christ. Four different (yet very similar) phrases emphasize our life in the Spirit (“walk by the Spirit…led by the Spirit…live by the Spirit…keep in step with the Spirit”).

Then there are the contrasting lists of what life by the ways of this world versus life in the Spirit looks like. The Holy Spirit produces a life that goes against the ways of the world. Life “in the flesh” is mostly focused on pleasure, power and chaos, whereas life in the Spirit is all about what is good for everybody (not just the individual) and creating unity and harmony in the world.

It is another place in the Bible where a clear choice is offered. We are encouraged to stay in touch with the Holy Spirit that will guide us into life at its best or we will be carried about by the seductive, yet empty ways of the world. Which choice are you making each day?

Personal Worship Option:

In 1979, Fred Pratt Green wrote these words that became a hymn:

Of all the Spirit’s gifts to me, I pray that I may never cease to take and treasure most these three: love, joy and peace.

We go in peace, but made aware that, in a needy world like this, our clearest purpose is to share love, joy and peace. Amen.

Daily Devotion for June 6, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 139:7-12.

No matter where we are, we can know that God’s Spirit is with us. There may be times where we feel that God is absent. But feelings aside, the fact is that God is omnipresent - meaning He is present everywhere. Because of this we can never escape from His Spirit. This is good news to those who know and love God, because no matter what we do or where we go, we can never be far from God’s comforting presence.

This passage also reminds me of the declaration of care and provision found in Romans 8:35-39. Who shall separate us from God? NO ONE AND NOTHING. Nothing can come between us and the love of God.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on God’s presence in your life. Ask Him to give you a fresh perspective on those times that God felt far away.

Daily Devotion for June 5, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Genesis 1:1-2.

When we recite the Apostles’ Creed, we say that we believe in God the Father and in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, and we follow up with “conceived by the Holy Spirit.” We then say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.”

The Apostles’ Creed doesn’t elaborate on the work of the Holy Spirit, but both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach that the Holy Spirit is God. In today’s scripture, the Bible’s opening verses, picture the Holy Spirit hovering over the chaos of unformed matter before creation. So, the Spirit, together with the Father and the Son, was there in the beginning, giving shape to the world.

The Holy Spirit leads us and guides us. The Holy Spirit breathes life into our hearts and grows us spiritually, giving us eyes of faith. The Spirit is the one who helps us see and understand that Jesus is the Savior who has shown us the grace and love of the Father. Throughout our lives the Spirit continues to work in our hearts, gradually making us more like Jesus and moving us to serve him in the world.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to show us the way of following Jesus. Your love lives in us by us accepting the Holy Spirit into our hearts.

Daily Devotion for June 4, 2025

Devotion:

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Read John 20:19-23.

In this quiet but momentous scene, the resurrected Jesus appears to the disciples behind locked doors. Their fear is understandable—of Roman reprisals, of the unknown, even of their own guilt and shame. But Jesus does not rebuke them. He speaks peace. And then, he breathes.

This breath is no ordinary gesture. It is the very breath of new creation. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” Jesus says, echoing the breath of God that gave life to Adam (Genesis 2:7). Here, Jesus re-creates his followers not merely as believers but as bearers of divine mission. The Holy Spirit is not a passive presence. It is the empowering force of God, equipping these once-fearful disciples to become agents of forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope.

Then comes the astonishing commission: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” It’s a heavy responsibility—one that has been misused in history—but in its core lies a truth: forgiveness is central to God’s mission in the world, and now it is entrusted to us.

This doesn’t mean we forgive from our own strength. It means we participate in God’s work of healing. It means we listen for where grace is needed, and we extend it not because people always deserve it, but because we didn’t either. The Spirit empowers us to speak peace into fear, mercy into guilt, and justice into broken systems.

So, as Jesus was sent, so are we. Breathed upon. Spirit-filled. Forgiveness-bearers. It’s not a safe calling, but it’s holy. And it’s ours.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray this prayer or one of your own choosing: Risen Christ, breathe your Spirit into us again. Make us bold to forgive, humble to be forgiven, and faithful to your mission of peace. Amen.

Daily Devotion for June 3, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 5:5.

Romans 5:5 is a beautiful, hope-filled verse that bridges the reality of human suffering with the unshakable promise of God’s love. It tells us that our hope in God will never lead to disappointment or shame—why? Because His love is not something abstract or distant. It has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

That word—poured—is rich in meaning. It doesn’t imply a trickle or a careful measurement. It suggests abundance, generosity, even overflow. God’s love isn’t given to us sparingly. It is lavish. And the Holy Spirit is the One who makes this love real and experiential in our lives.

The Holy Spirit is not only the evidence of God’s love but also the teacher who helps us receive it. Many of us struggle to feel lovable, especially in seasons of suffering, failure, or shame. But the Spirit whispers truth into the deepest parts of us: You are deeply loved, not because of what you do, but because of who He is.

Learning to receive God’s love means allowing the Holy Spirit to challenge our inner barriers—pride, fear, guilt, or unworthiness. The Spirit gently trains our hearts to rest in the truth that God’s love is steadfast and personal. We don’t have to earn it; we only need to receive it.

But this divine love is not meant to be hoarded. The same Spirit who teaches us to receive also compels us to share. God’s love, once planted in us, naturally bears fruit in how we treat others—with compassion, patience, forgiveness, and selflessness. When we love others with the love we’ve received, we become living testimonies of God’s presence in a broken world.

Personal Worship Option:

Holy Spirit, thank You for pouring the love of God into my heart. Help me to receive it more fully each day, even in moments when I feel unworthy. Teach me to trust this love, to rest in it, and to let it shape how I see myself and others. Make me a vessel of Your love, Lord—not only to feel it but to share it. May I love with Your love, not my own strength. Amen.