Daily Devotion for March 31, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 24:42-44.

These words remind us that the Christian life is one of watchfulness. Jesus compares His return to a thief coming in the night—not to create fear, but to emphasize the unexpected nature of His coming. Just as a homeowner would stay alert if they knew a thief might come, believers are called to live with spiritual awareness and readiness.

Being ready does not mean constantly trying to predict the future. Instead, it means living faithfully today. It means loving others, serving Christ, walking in obedience, and keeping our hearts close to God. Readiness is not about anxiety; it is about faithfulness.

Each day is an opportunity to live in a way that honors Christ. When we forgive quickly, speak truthfully, serve humbly, and trust God fully, we are living prepared lives. A heart devoted to Christ today will not fear His return tomorrow.

Jesus’ call to “keep watch” is really a call to live with purpose. Our hope is not in this world alone but in the promise that Christ will come again. And when He does, those who have trusted Him and lived for Him will rejoice.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, help me live each day with a heart that is ready for You. Keep me faithful in the ordinary moments of life. Teach me to watch, to trust, and to live in a way that honors You until the day You return. Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 30, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Mark 11:12-19.

On Monday morning, Jesus saw a fig tree without any fruit on it as he was leaving Bethany for Jerusalem. He cursed the tree, saying that no one would ever eat of its fruit again. Without further explanation, one might assume that Jesus is teaching a lesson about bearing fruit, but it was not the season for the tree to be bearing figs. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, liked to say that “Scripture teaches Scripture,” and that is certainly true here. In Mark 11:20-26, we learn that the apostles discovered the fig tree completely withered the next morning. When they pointed that out to Jesus, he told them to have faith in God.

Matthew 21:18-22 tells this story also with the same lesson…have faith, and we can do things even greater than causing a fig tree to wither. I have been guilty at times of praying without really believing that God would do what I was asking, and that is the wrong way to pray! Jesus says that we are to pray, believing we have already received that for which we are asking.  

Personal Worship Option:

Almighty God, help me increase my faith. I confess that I pray sometimes without really believing you will answer. Help me to know you always answer and to see that is true even when the answer is different from my request. Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 29, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 21:1-22.

This Palm Parade took place on the Sunday before the Resurrection. It was such an important moment in history. The prophet Zechariah prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 that the Messiah would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. He writes,

“Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!

Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem!  

Behold, your king is coming to you; 

He is righteous and endowed with salvation,

Humble, and mounted on a donkey,

Even a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

                                                                                                                      

Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem on a donkey? There is nothing wrong with a donkey but why not a majestic animal like a horse? A horse symbolizes majesty and royalty, but it also symbolizes war. They were expecting Jesus to overthrow the Roman Government and set up His kingdom then and there. Riding into Jerusalem on a war horse could have made things more difficult. It was not the message Jesus wanted to send. A donkey is a symbol of meekness. 

The hope for all the world went into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey. He would soon be crucified on a borrowed cross and placed in a borrowed tomb. As we celebrate Holy Week, let us read the scriptures, and think about the events of Holy Week: the meal, the sacrifice, and the glory of the Resurrection.

Personal Worship Option:

King Jesus, we lift our voices in praise, thanking You for sending Your Son not with pride and power, but with meekness and love. As we wave our spiritual palm branches today, prepare our hearts for the journey of Holy Week and may you reign in our hearts King Jesus. Amen

Daily Devotion for March 28, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Revelation 7:9-11.

In John’s vision he sees a great multitude of people from every nation on earth wearing white robes and they had palm branches in their hands. We find an interesting connection between Palm Sunday and this moment. On Palm Sunday the people took branches and cried, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Jesus the King of Glory enters not on a warhorse, but on a donkey the symbol of peace. Palm Sunday reminds us that God’s ways are not the world’s ways. His victory begins in humility.

In Revelation, the redeemed hold palm branches again, but this time they are not watching Jesus ride on a donkey as he enters Jerusalem. They are looking at a Lamb who reigns on the throne and are shouting, “Salvation belongs to our God!” They continued to praise Him by saying “Amen, blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen”

Let us glorify God and praise His holy name together as we celebrate Palm Sunday. 

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Jesus, just as the crowds welcomed You into Jerusalem with palm branches, we welcome You into our hearts today. Teach us to praise You not only in moments of triumph but also in seasons of trial. May our “Hosanna” today become a proclamation that salvation belongs to God. In Jesus name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 27, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Isaiah 62:11.

Isaiah prophesies that salvation is coming.  They celebrated this. “salvation that has come”, riding on a donkey as Jesus is the ultimate avenue of salvation.  This verse carries a powerful message of hope and divine promise, resonating deeply with those who seek reassurance in times of uncertainty. It speaks to the heart of God's relationship with His people, emphasizing His unwavering commitment and love.

In our daily lives, we can draw strength from knowing that God sees our struggles and is actively working on our behalf. The phrase "behold, your salvation comes" serves as a reminder to remain vigilant and attentive to God's presence around us. It encourages us to look for signs of His work, even when circumstances appear bleak.

This verse also challenges us to be messengers of hope for others. Just as God proclaims His promise to the "daughter of Zion," we are called to share the good news of salvation and encouragement with those who may be struggling. In doing so, we participate in the divine mission of bringing light and hope to a world in need.

Ultimately, Isaiah 62:11 invites us to trust in God's faithfulness, to hold on to His promises, and to live in the assurance that our deliverance is on the horizon. This assurance can transform our anxieties into peace and our despair into hope, guiding us as we navigate the complexities of life.

 

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer: Dear, Jesus. As we ponder the wonder of your salvation, help us to embrace You and to encourage others with hope and light. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Daily Devotion for March 26, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Luke 19:28-44.

The disciples could not withhold their praise of Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, because they had seen his mighty works. They had heard his incredible teaching and had witnessed his miracles, from Jesus’ walking on water and quieting a storm to his many healings. They had even seen the raising of people from the dead. The disciples certainly stopped cheering after they saw the turn of the crowd.

The religious leaders complained about the disciples’ loud praise of Jesus. You would think these teachers of God’s Word would respond to Jesus’ work with enthusiasm. But they had been looking for a political messiah, so they rejected Jesus, and now the truth that would bring peace was hidden from their eyes. Jerusalem had lost its ability to see how God was working in the world. They were jealous of Jesus’ popularity.

Jerusalem was looking for the wrong solution to their problems. They weren’t looking for someone who would save them from their sins. They wanted someone who would save them from the brutality of the Romans who ruled over them. The peace for Jerusalem and true peace for each of us, can come only from Jesus, the King over all things, who laid down his life so that all who would believe in him could live. 

Personal Worship Option:

I’ve heard the good news of Jesus. Help me to see you clearly each day and believe in you as Savior, Lord, and King. Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 25, 2026

 Devotion:

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Read Romans 15:9-12.

In today’s scripture passage Paul is summing up the mission and message of Jesus. Romans is a powerful letter and a serious theological treatise. Paul’s letter not only had an impact on his immediate audience (the Christian communities at Rome and across the Mediterranean world) but also dramatically impacted Christian history 15 centuries later through Protestant reformers like Martin Luther.  Luther believed the Letter to the Romans to be the most important piece of writing in the New Testament. Luther’s “Preface to the Epistles to the Romans” was the work that John Wesley heard read when experienced his powerful moment at Aldersgate. 

One of the reasons I believe that Paul is so effective in this letter (as well as his other writings) is that he shares his amazement and excitement at what God has done through Jesus Christ. One of the reasons that Jesus is to be glorified is “in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.” (v. 15:9) Romans is a celebration for Paul of the new thing that God is doing, and the new places and peoples that God is reaching!  And that includes all of us. The kingdom of God is growing in wonderful ways - grace upon grace.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, thanks for the new ways that you reach out every day. Help us to do the same. Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 24, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Zechariah 9:9.

The crowd expected political revolution. Instead, they received spiritual redemption.

They wanted force. He brought peace.

They looked for dominance. He modeled humility.

“Righteous and victorious” — yet “lowly.”

This is the paradox of our King. His victory would not come through swords but through sacrifice. His throne would first be a cross. His crown would first be thorns.

Sometimes we expect God to move in dramatic displays of power in our lives — to crush opposition instantly, to remove hardship immediately. But often, He comes gently. Quietly. Humbly. He rides into our circumstances not with intimidation, but with invitation.

Zechariah calls us to rejoice greatly. Why? Because the King comes “to you.” Not distant. Not detached. He draws near.

Today, consider how Jesus may be entering your situation. Perhaps not with the force you expected, but with the peace you need. He is still righteous. He is still victorious. And He is still humble enough to meet you where you are.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, help me recognize You when You come in humility. Teach me to rejoice not just in Your power, but in Your gentleness. Be King over my expectations, my fears, and my life. Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 23, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Mark 11:1-11.

 As we read this passage, we see how Jesus had planned his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. We will see in tomorrow’s passage how this entry had been prophesied in the Old Testament. When kings rode into cities, they might enter on a war horse, or they might enter in peace. The donkey, while representing humility, also signaled that the king was entering the city in peace. I have used the reference to kings here, because in his entry into Jerusalem, Jesus was publicly and openly declaring himself to be the Messiah, the King of Kings.

The people laying garments ahead of the donkey and waving palm branches were following the customs around the arrival of a king at his coronation. Their shouts of “Hosanna” literally meant “Save us, Save us now!” This was a time of great celebration for the people, filled with the promise and hope of freedom from the tyranny of Roman rule. Although the people did not understand the nature of Jesus’ kingship, they responded to his entry exactly as they should have. Come be with us in one of our services this Sunday and celebrate as the children wave palm branches in remembrance of Jesus’ entry and the beginning of a most Holy Week. 

Personal Worship Option:

Gracious God, help me to receive Jesus again into my heart as my King, the Lord of my life. Let the passages of this week and the services on this Palm Sunday reinforce my awareness that Jesus kept quiet his being the Christ until this day, when he announced it boldly. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 22, 2026

Devotion:

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Read John 1:1-5 & 14.

The term Word in this text is the Greek word Logos which means something said, reasoning, motive, and the divine expression. For many years I struggled to understand how Jesus could be the Word. I discovered that the word Logos was invented by philosophers years before Jesus was born.  It was logical to them that there would be some kind of connection or mediator between God and humanity.  They could not define that connection or have the vocabulary to explain it, so they decided to call that connection between God and humanity, Logos.  Logos from a first century philosopher meant the intermediary between the world and God. John tells them, that mediator/Logos took on himself flesh and dwelt among us.

 

Jesus is the Logos/Word/intermediator between God and humanity.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Jesus, the Word made flesh, the divine Logos through whom all things were created and in whom all things hold together. Lord Jesus, You are the perfect expression of the Father’s heart, the living Word who reveals truth, grace, and light to the world. Thank you for being that connection with God, The Father, we need. You will be the glory, honor, and praise forever. Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 21, 2026

Devotion:

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Read John 1:1, 14, 17.

The Gospel of John is not very concerned about the historical sequence of events.   It is concerned about proving, especially to the Greek mind, that Jesus is the Christ. The Gospel of John is brilliantly laid out and catches the heart and mind of the gentiles, many of whom bought into the Greek philosophies of the day. The Greek philosophers invented the word Logos to describe an intermediary between God and humanity.  I am sure they were shocked when they read what John wrote when he states that the Logos became flesh and dwelt among us. As they are reading, they still do not know who this Logos is until verse seventeen, grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. What an amazing revelation!  He spends the rest of the Gospel of John showing how Jesus the Logos is the Son of God and the savior of the world.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Jesus, help us to never lose our awe at the mystery of Your incarnation. Teach us to welcome Your presence in our lives each day, to walk in Your truth, and to extend Your grace to others. We honor You, Word made flesh, and we long for the day when we will see Your glory fully revealed. Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 20, 2026

 

Devotion:

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Read Isaiah 53:3-5.

Isaiah prophesies about the coming Messiah and the suffering He would endure.  He suffered for us.  Isaiah 53:3-5 describes the Suffering Servant who took upon Himself the sins of humanity. He was despised and rejected, bearing our pain and suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God. This passage emphasizes that by His wounds, we are healed, highlighting the profound impact of Christ's sacrifice on our spiritual well-being.

When Adam sinned, the consequences of that sin affected all of humanity.  Each of us has inherited a sin nature.  Which is why Christ came.  This is the reason Christ endured death and burial.  To provide a sacrifice, not just for our forgiveness, but to renew the spiritual covenant between God and man, restoring us in relationship and purpose.  

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on Christ’s sacrifice for you. How does His sacrifice impact your relationship with Christ and with others?

Daily Devotion for March 19, 2026

Devotion:

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Read John 20:31.

The gospel writer John was present at every major event in Jesus' ministry. He heard Jesus' teaching and saw his miracles. John was present at the Last Supper. He was also at the cross, where Jesus told him to take care of his mother, Mary. John saw the empty tomb on resurrection morning, and he was on the Mount of Olives when Jesus said, "You will be my witnesses" and then he ascended into heaven.

Telling people about Jesus became the passion of John's life. His purpose in writing was that people would read, hear, and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they could have eternal life.  Jesus appeared to John when he was old and exiled on a lonely island.  Jesus gave him important messages for the churches and what was to come.

John's witness still gives hope, comfort, and instruction to people around the world today. May his passion for Jesus burn in us and never grow cold.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, make us faithful, like your servant John, lifting up Jesus' name until he returns again. Guide us each day by the Holy Spirit you sent to live in us, we pray. Amen.

Daily Devotion for March 18, 2026

Devotion:

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Read John 1:19-23.

We live in a world in which we are always checking our identity. You need identification to travel on a plane, a passport to cross a border, and a driver’s license not only to drive but to prove your identity in a variety of situations. Even to check my email on a computer I need to not only provide a password, but often go through an additional identity check (which usually prompts an additional email that asks “Is this you?”). Our scripture for today makes clear that checking identification is not just a modern invention; we have been asking those questions of each other since the beginning of time.   Who are you? Where are you from? And perhaps most poignantly, Whose are you? Who do you belong to? 

John the Baptist was not exempt from these questions - his ministry was so sensational that he attracted not only followers but also lots of attention and curiosity. And lots and lots of questions, such as “Who are you? Elijah or one of the prophets?” John only deepens their curiosity by answering, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.” (John 19:23b) Those questions are still being asked today. How would you answer?

Personal Worship Option:

How do you respond to the questions that John was asked? Who are you and who do you claim Jesus to be in your life?

Daily Devotion for March 17, 2026

 

Devotion:

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Read 1 Timothy 2:5.

In a world filled with noise, opinions, and countless paths claiming to lead to truth, this verse brings us back to beautiful simplicity: there is one God, and there is one mediator — Jesus Christ.

The word mediator means someone who stands in the middle to bring two parties together. Scripture tells us that Jesus stands between a holy God and a broken humanity — not as a barrier, but as a bridge. He does not merely negotiate peace; He is our peace.

We often try to mediate our own way back to God. We promise to do better. We attempt to clean ourselves up. We rely on good works, church attendance, or moral effort. But none of those things can span the gap sin created. Only Jesus can.

The verse emphasizes “the man Christ Jesus.” This reminds us that our mediator understands us. He knows weakness, temptation, sorrow, and suffering. He is not distant from our humanity; He entered it. Because He is fully God, He can represent God to us. Because He is fully man, He can represent us before God. No one else could stand in that place.

This truth is both humbling and comforting.

It humbles us because it reminds us that salvation is not earned — it is given.

It comforts us because our access to God does not depend on our performance, but on Christ’s finished work.

Today, rest in this assurance: you do not stand alone before God. Jesus stands for you. When you pray, you come through Him. When you fail, He intercedes. When you doubt, He remains faithful.

There is one God. One mediator. And that is more than enough.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Jesus, thank You for standing in the gap for me