Daily Gospel Devotional: January 31

John 2:13-22

Show me the money…

Jesus is not against commerce, He is against manipulation. His face is always set against those who would use the people, in the name of ministry, but for the sake of money. If you are to follow Jesus, be sure that He will be driven to drive out those who defile the house of God.

It is with the same furor He will fight against the love of money within your own soul. He will not hold back, but will fashion whatever means necessary and available to overturn the tables of trade you wish to do business with. You don’t bargain with God, you bow to Him. Would you attempt to manipulate God or His people, or yourself, by placing filthy lucre above the faithful Lord? You must see with spiritual eyes and let Jesus drive the evil from you, His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19).

If you think with your old ways you will not understand why Jesus is so adamant and fierce against the tyranny and treason in your heart. If this be the case, Jesus will seem like a wild warrior, upsetting the whole balance of your mindset. You will question whether this is truly God’s will, and miss the spiritual message in His movements.

If you are truly saved, if you are truly His temple, you may destroy the work in your life for a moment, but He will resurrect once again to dominate. The false idols and ideas in your heart, no matter how long they have lingered, no matter how calcified the conscience, they can be shattered in a near instant by the mighty power of Christ. Let Him have full reign.

Jesus is coming for your treasure, so that He may be your treasure (Matthew 6:21). Do you trust Him in your house; is it now become His house? If He is to be master, you must answer this question. Is your soul a place of prayer, or is it a den of thieves?

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 30

John 2:12

Moments without motion…

Just because we are supposed to run hard after Jesus doesn’t mean we don’t need to rest in Jesus. We want to “get after it”, whatever the “it” is, instead of resting right there with Jesus and His people. Sometimes your responsibilities for God can keep you from God.

Our moments of the miraculous movement seem to be so fulfilling, and we may have trouble resting and refueling when we are in our stops and silences along the way. Not much seems to be going on, but where Jesus is, that is where you need to be. Jesus takes time alone, but He is never alone, others are always near Him. Still, Christ looked for times of relative quiet.

Now, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is in us, and sometimes we are following along with others as Jesus is headed somewhere, and sometimes we are following along with others as Jesus stays awhile somewhere. The move of God isn’t always moving like you think. The dream in you may linger at times and places. Sometimes going, moving, doing, sometimes finding, resting, and waiting. The most important part of any of this is that we pay attention to what Jesus is about, and follow along.

Capernaum served the Savior as a sort of headquarters. Do you have a resting place of solace? Being called to be a pilgrim and a pioneer doesn’t mean called to be a vagabond or nomad. We are all called to “full time” ministry, but we are also called to enjoy the times with Jesus and His people where we are moved into the moments without motion.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 29

John 2:1-11

The best for last…

Situations come into our lives, or we enter into them, and these situations provide an opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate who He is. Usually the situation is some event or emergency that, without the grace of God, the cause is lost. Those that know Jesus will ask Him to intervene, but do not be surprised when He examines your motives for asking. Your sense of spiritual timing must be attuned to His if He is to act. He may indeed act, but He wants you to know that His overall purposes must be kept in focus by the faithful.

Obedience is a key at this point. We may not understand all of the orchestration of the music, but we must direct all the singers in the song to the sound of the Maestro’s voice. Jesus will transform our old, watered down ways into the new wine of the messianic age (John 15:5). God’s purpose is to take man in his brokenness, his emptiness and his lifelessness, and give to him life; this is what He does with us (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Be sure to travel beyond the joy of having Jesus enter into the situation, and beyond the celebration at just how wonderful He does things. We must look to the One who does these things more fully because of these things. Are you enjoying the good graces of God without giving proper glory to God? He only does what He does because He is who He is. The celebration of victory will fade, but the celebration of the Victor must live on.

Our Lord takes His time and saves the best for last. Be aware that Jesus is like this. You may marvel at His presence and power in your life and situation, but He will enlighten you further and embolden you faster as you faithfully travel with Him through the unfolding drama of the dream in your life. Run hard after Jesus; the best is yet to come.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 28

John 1:35-51

Are you going somewhere…

As we truly seek God, those who are leaders in our midst will acknowledge the move of God, and we will find ourselves in the place where we now are called to move forward. We must make sure that we are following Christ not men, and Jesus will ask us to examine ourselves to see if this is so. We took a step of faith to get to where we are now, but now we must follow further, we must continue to come along the path.

God will gather others along those journeys that are also being called to follow Christ in an ever deepening way. We may be the first to branch out on the Vine, and when we proclaim what we have found, and as we are faithful to bring others in, Jesus will confirm His presence. God is orchestrating the move in others as well, and unbeknownst to you, Jesus will call pilgrims on the Way who will meet you for a shared destiny.

Some may question the new movement, but this is because they are of a discerning maturity, and this will provide the opportunity for Jesus to prove Himself once again. Then those who look with true eyes will revel in it, not rebel against it. Jesus will cause them to see even greater things as the movement manifests.

The old way paves the way of the pioneer path. Are you settled on the side of the road, or are you following along with Jesus?

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 27

Matthew 4:1-11 / Mark 1:12-13 / Luke 4:1-13

Are you tempted…

Just when you get started on a journey of faith, this is when the enemy of your soul will attempt to stop you in your tracks. Wherever God is moving, Satan is sure to be there to try and limit the effects (Mark 4:15). He may go for a while, but he will always come back. And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Christians shouldn’t be ignorant of this (2 Corinthians 2:11). The world wants to feed us, the devil wants to enflame us, and the flesh wants to indulge us (Romans 13:14 / Ephesians 4:27 / 1 Peter 2:11 / 1 John 2:16). We must take up the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17-18) like Jesus did (Deuteronomy 6:13, 16, 8:3), and resist the devil (James 4:7).

Make no mistake; Satan is out to get you, too (1 Peter 5:8). However, we rest in the knowledge that our Champion has defeated the devil (Hebrews 2:14-18). We can win the battles because Jesus has won the war. Even when we fail to live up to the faith, our Heavenly Father gathers us back into His arms (1 John 1:9 / James 4:8 / Romans 8:1, 39).

The dream lives on, it has been proven, the second Adam (Romans 5:12-19 / 1 Corinthians 15:45) did what the first failed to do. Satan used all his best weapons, when it seemed Jesus was at His most vulnerable, yet nothing could stop our Champion, our victory is secure. Jesus in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, the Jews were tempted with in the wilderness, and the question is, will we make it out of the wilderness? Will we cave in to the pressure, or enter in to the throne room (Hebrews 4:16)?

When you are tempted, don’t give up on Jesus.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 26

John 1:29-34

Here comes God…

When the movement of God is moving toward us, we do right to proclaim it and to perform in it.

We have the witness of promise. John had been given a word by God, and he proclaimed it faithfully, and Jesus was the fulfillment of that word. We know what the Word of God says, and we are looking for it to be fulfilled in our life. Jesus is the fulfillment of the redemption (Isaiah 53:6 / 1 Peter 1:19 / 1 John 3:5), and He will fulfill the Word of God to you (Romans 8:28 / Galatians 1:4 / Philippians 1:6 / 2 Timothy 1:12).

We have the witness of practice. John had been given a way by God, he came baptizing, and Jesus showed up right there in his daily diligence. Do what you know you should do, and Jesus will be revealed to you, in your daily life (Matthew 6:33 / Colossians 1:27), and through you, to others who come in contact with your life (Matthew 5:16 / Acts 4:13 / Philippians 2:15).

We are left here on earth so that our lives will tell others about Jesus. You witness to others about Christ with your voice, your vocation, and your values. If we will be about the business of the kingdom of God, we will see the revelation of Christ clearly because we are looking for Him by living for Him.

God will show up. We will see unmistakable evidence. The acquaintance becomes a near reality and the power of the Holy Spirit is manifest, and suddenly we know this is it!

Behold the Lamb indeed…

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 25

Matthew 3:13-17 / Mark 1:9-11 / Luke 3:21-22

Baptizing Jesus…

Jesus was saying something that John didn’t seem to understand. John had been telling people to be baptized and he emphasized how unworthy the religious leaders were. He said come on you snakes, you get baptized too, you are definitely deserving of condemnation, you are definitely not worthy of the kingdom of God. John said they should be looking for the Christ and yet Jesus steps up and says here I am to be baptized.

John started to resist. Jesus is not a sinner, He has not broken God’s law, but Jesus said it must be done. He says that because He is identifying Himself with you. He is proclaiming and dramatizing what will happen to Him when He turns Himself over to be arrested, indicted, crucified, and buried. God is enacting in advance what will happen when He raises Jesus from the dead and declares Him to be the Son of God with power (Romans 1:4). God voices His acceptance of Jesus, visibly sending the Holy Spirit as a sign.

Jesus not only died the death we justly deserve but lived the life we should have lived (Romans 5:10, 19). On the cross, God treated Jesus as if He lived your life so He could treat you as if you lived His life. That’s the Gospel (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The physical represents the spiritual. You are identified with Jesus through water (Galatians 3:27). You are baptized into His body (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Jesus is identified with you through submission (Romans 12:1-2 / 1 Peter 4:12-19). He is baptized into your body (Galatians 2:20).

Are you baptizing Jesus, or do you resist?

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 24

John 1:19-28

Who are you…

The religious leaders sent delegates to question John the Baptist. He made it clear that he was not the Christ. He was not the physical Elijah, although John was Elijah in the spiritual sense. He was not the prophet that Moses said would come (Deuteronomy 18:15). The Jewish leaders had it wrong (John 7:40-43), Jesus was who Moses and John spoke about (Acts 3:22, 7:37). People who are against God’s will use God’s Word and twist it to their own understanding (1 Timothy 6:3-5 / 2 Peter 3:15-16).

Just as the religious leaders didn’t believe the Messiah when He came, they did not see His herald for who he was. It will be the same for you. People are going to attack the message, and they will attack the messenger. Jesus told us that this would be the case (Luke 6:22-23, 10:16). It has always been that way, from the book of Acts until even this very day. People will question the move of God by questioning the credentials of the messenger, especially when it involves a call to move them into repentance.

Who are you to tell me? No matter who you are there will come times when you witness to someone who is smarter than you, better educated, and so on and so forth. But that isn’t the point. You are the one with the spiritual truth, the eternal truth, the most important truth. You are the most important person they will ever meet, unless and until they meet Jesus in truth. Point the way to Jesus; you don’t think you’re perfect, it means you follow the one who is.

We ought not to be offensive in ourselves, but the message of the cross of Christ is offensive to the natural mind already (1 Corinthians 1:18, 2:14). No matter how passionate our approach, persuasive our arguments, biblical our admonishments, and loving our appeals are, if God does not open the eyes of the spiritually blind, they will not see.

Who are you? You’re God’s messenger, that’s who (2 Corinthians 5:20 / 1 Peter 3:15-16).

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 23

Matthew 3:11-12 / Mark 1:7-8 / Luke 3:15-18

Christ the greater…gatherer…

John the Baptist raised expectations about the coming Christ. In fact, he did it so well that people started to wonder if he was the Christ. Like John, we have to be careful to keep the focus on Jesus, and not what He is doing through us.

John said that if they thought he was making clear distinctions between believers, non-believers, and make-believers, they hadn’t seen anything yet. From the context we see that the Christ will truly separate the wheat from the chaff. He will deliver some to glory and some to doom.

You will see the wrath of man any time you even speak of the wrath of God, let alone making it an object of worship and adoration. However, John said this made the Christ a greater one than himself. John could speak of it; Jesus will do it.

John said Christ will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The power of the Holy Spirit is what unites all believers (John 3:5-8 / 1 Corinthians 12:13). But what is a baptism of fire?

Perhaps John is referring to one and the same event, with the fire representing the Messiah bringing the purifying fire of God to His people (Malachi 3:2). It may include the persecution that disciples go through (Mark 10:35-40 / 2 Timothy 3:12 / 1 Peter 4:12). If it is some separate event, it would refer to the fact that Jesus was going to baptize some into judgment; they would receive the unquenchable fire of hell. In any event, this isn’t something to achieve, it is something to be recognized. These events will happen.

The point is this: Jesus the Christ is going to make ultimate distinctions. Jesus will gather you one way or another, into the kingdom of light or into the kingdom of darkness. This is actually good news for those who will hear it.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 22

Luke 3:10-14

So what’s next…

A person who is different will want to act different. The people knew John the Baptist had been telling the truth, and they repeatedly asked John to tell them how these “fruits of repentance” would be manifest.

John gave specific examples of what a changed, repentant life looks like. He said we become givers and not takers. We become honest and content. If we have received mercy and grace, and if we know the great depths of this, we will in turn become people who pour out mercy and grace to others. Freely we have received, freely we give (Acts 20:35).

Repentant hearts look for repentant starts. Those whose eyes have been opened to the truth, these people will now look for ways to follow the Truth. For them, it isn’t just saying a few words; it is true repentance, a change of life, lifestyle, and a different course of living. The way of eternal life makes a change in the way of our temporal life.

Have you ever asked this question, do you look to the Word of God to show you where you should be different (Ephesians 4:17-32)? Are you looking for a path to follow, or do you just think that saying some prayer to God means He will just make your way His way? It isn’t “answer my prayer and then I will get on the right path”, it must be that we get on the right path, and we will find our prayers answered.

Believing in Jesus means we are following Him; we believe He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and so we go the way He goes. It isn’t just talk, it is a walk. Turning toward God means we are walking a different path. There are lampposts along the way. The Word of God is a lamp to our feet, it shows us what we are walking on, and it is a light to our path, it shows us where we are headed to (Psalm 119:105). So, what’s next for you?

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 21

Matthew 3:7-10 / Luke 3:7-9

Isn’t that nice…

A lot of people think they have this “eternal life” thing all worked out, it’s a done deal. They said a prayer, lived a moral life, and attended all the right rituals, and now they can’t be bothered with matters of the heart. They are spiritually smug, and will turn quite sour if you dare bring up the ongoing fruit of repentance to them.

Most have never felt the condemnation of sin. They may have had a pang of conscience here or there, but they never actually turned their heart toward God after they felt better. Oh, they want Jesus to save them all right, but they sure aren’t going to follow Him while they still have their own life to lead.

John the Baptist didn’t play games with the souls of men. Many were coming to see, confess, and get baptized, but John, seeing the religious leaders, didn’t try to avoid confrontation. No, he went right at the hypocrites. Not those who did bad things and admitted it, but those who didn’t think they needed any mercy and grace.

They assumed that John was speaking only to the rank and file; but John said that the hypocritical religious leaders needed a baptism of repentance as much as anybody. Don’t fool yourselves, he says to them…and to you (Matthew 7:21-23 / Luke 6:45-46).

Many come to see the religious ceremony but lose the significance of it. They act so happy for the person who “turns their life around” not realizing all the while the evidence is mounting against them. Another brand plucked from the fire, manifest before their eyes, yet they burn in their hearts as ever they did. Some might even “get wet” but they never submit to the repentance and faith it embodies (Psalm 51:17).

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 20

Matthew 3:1-6 / Mark 1:1-6 / Luke 3:1-6

Hear the voice…

John the Baptist was a preacher. His message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” and his method was “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”. The people came to the wilderness to see him, and he looked the part of a wild man. Food and clothing were not of primary importance to him. But he was successful, his awkward look and bold approach did not stop the Voice in his message.

A lot of people are persuasive, charming, and otherwise well spoken, well learned, and perhaps even well dressed. However, you could have just gone through a car wreck, just got back from heart surgery, or just haven’t slept much in days, and God can still use you right there in your wilderness, ragged but ready. When you speak for Christ, what counts is not what you wear or where you eat, but the truth of what you say. The power of the Voice is present in your witness, you can speak the truth and be ready when God calls (1 Peter 3:15).

If you go all out for God, you will have what you need, and you will be successful. Now, you may not look like it to the spiritually blind in your world, but your world will watch, and some will learn, and live. Your voice gives voice to THE Voice.

One day we will all hear that Voice that the Scriptures say is like the roar of many waters (Revelation 1:15), and you will either hear “well done, good and faithful servant”, or “depart from me, worker of iniquity”. One thing is for certain, on that day you won’t be able to say, this is just a voice.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 19

John 1:6-9

Behold the witness…

John the Baptist was the confirmation of Jesus; this was the man the Old Testament passages said would prepare us for the Messiah (Isaiah 40:3 / Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6). His parents knew that he was the herald of God (Luke 1:17, 76). His eyes were opened, and his mission was clear.

John was the transition, the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. He had one main reason for being born; to be the initial, burning, public flame that would lead people to Jesus, the True Light. Indeed, he had the greatest calling, yet his whole public ministry lasted little more than six months. Still, John the Baptist did his job well.

Now we have the greatest job, proclaiming that the King is coming again. We have a reason for being born again and yet bound to earth. Fellowship with God, fellowship with each other, and triumph over sin will all be complete in heaven, but the one thing we do here that we cannot do in heaven is to tell people about Jesus.

How do you “tell” people? You live for Christ, win others to Christ, and edify your brothers and sisters in Christ. Those you see the most are the ones you have the most chance to “tell”, and you tell with all your life. To be a means in saving even one soul, that is worth living for.

Behold your witness…

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 18

Luke 2:41-52

The increase of God…

Joseph and Mary were faithful to what they knew was right (Exodus 23:14-17 / Deuteronomy 16:16). Remember that the dream lives in your daily life. It might all seem like religious routine, but Jesus has a way of shaking things up. A growing Jesus means you have to stay faithful but also expect the unexpected.

Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. How can the perfect increase in anything? Jesus wasn’t lacking in any godly quality, but in the full experience of living a perfect human life. His lifelong obedience (John 8:29 / Hebrews 5:8, 7:26-28) provides the basis for our eternal salvation (Hebrews 2:10-18, 10:14).

Jesus knew more than the teachers, and more than His parents. Yet He was submissive to them. He knows more than you, yet in a practical sense He is submissive to your will also. The increase of God in your life means you increasingly act as Jesus would have you act (Galatians 5:22-23). Obedience and submission are the fruit of a faithful walk with God.

Mary saw the destiny of the dream, and for her, the triumph would also be the test. Some fail to fully realize what an increase of God in their life means. Yes, you will increase in favor with God and men, but you will also become identified with the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3 / Philippians 3:10). Jesus will do marvelous things in your life, but make no mistake, it will cost you, and it will be painful. Still, if you are looking for Jesus, He isn’t hard to find, He’s in the place where you are doing the Father’s will. When you open the door of your will, then God will open the door of your opportunity.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 17

Luke 2:39-40

The favor of faith…

The seed of the Savior must be nurtured according to obedience. As we travel to and fro, if we do what we know we should do, what we need to know about what is next will begin to take care of itself. We will walk right into it, with wisdom.

The walk of faith means that we have the faith to walk. It isn’t waiting for some spiritual high. These things may happen from time to time, but even in the extraordinary events of the coming and living of our Lord, the people involved were still normal people living normal lives. The three year mission was thirty years later.

Yes, the providence of God has changed the scope of our course, and our answered prayer brings new promise and new dreams. But remember, this new hope brings new understanding to our way of doing things, and we are not rescued from the mundane, we are transformed in it. Even the King of the Universe, who now resides in you, even Jesus took on the role of the regular. That is part of what the Incarnation is all about, to transform human clay. God is a potter, after all (Isaiah 64:8).

The seed will sprout and start to take on more and more room in your existence, as long as you stay obedient to the vision. You will be full of wisdom, and you will be found in favor. The mission of the Father is to see to it that the Son is blossoming out from your soul into all of your life. Just do what you know to do, and the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of faith, will be produced. Christ is called the Branch, after all (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 16

Matthew 2:19-23

The planting period…

If the dream of God, Christ in you, is going to grow in your life, it has to be planted in good soil. The pot that holds the plant may be moved, but eventually, the plant has to be taken outside. It isn’t meant to stay in the greenhouse; it is made to spread out in the garden. The fragrance of Christ must be in the world, but not of it.

When the fullness of Christ is the dream for your life, the things that would hold sway over you and distract you will evaporate as the Evangel takes center stage in your existence. If you will die to self, the enemies of your soul will have no authority over you (John 12:24-26). You have to stay the course, and let God set that course. Even when you know the way back into battle, often there will be new dangers lurking, and you need to keep listening. Just as you were led to safety on your way out, as you walk on the way of obedience, you will be led to safety on your way in.

The formation of Christ in your life is where the safe passage lies. It is a fulfillment of God’s plan for you (Romans 8:28-29 / Ephesians 1:4).

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 15

Matthew 2:13-18

The dream in motion…

The birth of Jesus in your life is only the beginning. When God is on the move, the enemy turns from the veiled threats, and the opposition comes out in the open. The secret war of the soul isn’t so secret anymore. Christians know that the world (1 John 2:16), the flesh (1 Peter 2:11), and the devil (1 Peter 5:8), are at war with our souls, and they try and destroy our dreams for God. Still, when the battle becomes manifest, and the enemy rages about trying to destroy the dream by destroying other, lesser things around it, this is when the soldier must be ready for action.

The movement of God requires you at times to lose your life so that you may travel to the place where you begin to find it. It may involve new areas of preparation and protection. In any event, the season of downtime is for the good. The unfolding drama of the dream, Christ in you, takes many twists and turns. Jesus has to grow in your life.

Bad men with bad intentions are always part of the process. This is the fulfillment of God’s purpose. Opposition is to be expected (2 Timothy 3:12). Your hope and happiness must be in God, and yes, learning that can be a painful process. Your dream must not be dependent on what is happening to others. Yes, we must be compassionate, but letting the light of Christ fade from our focus does no one any good, for it is Christ who is the answer to the death of dreams, and Christ who is the light of eternal life. Having Christ with you is what matters, wherever He leads.

Moses was called out, Jesus was called out, and you are called out.Do you hear the call? Will you answer it with obedient action, even if it takes you out of the picture for a while?

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 14

Luke 2:21-38

New move, old groove…

When a new dream, or a new vision, and a new paradigm have entered into your life, what are you supposed to do first? How are you supposed to walk rightly, obediently? How do we begin to bring Christ into our new life?

The answer is that you do what you already know you should do. The new “to do” list will appear as you walk down the old road of obedience. Some things will change, radically, but the mundane is part of the movement of God along the path.

The standard for revealed truth is that it conforms in essence to what has already been revealed. New prophetic purpose may be born, but the fulfillment of the old is what gives way to the new. The old wave of righteous saints will confirm the new wave of righteous action. They will revel in it, not rebel against it. They have been waiting for it. The Spirit of God will move the godly to proclaim the name of Christ upon the movement of God. This proclamation will be a confirmation; the line of testimony will be unbroken, the way forward will appear.

The old guard will be comforted to see the fulfillment of God’s Word to the faithful. He is still moving among the generations (Matthew 28:18-20 / Hebrews 13:5-6). The old faithful will see the glory of God at the end of life when all others who are not alive to the vision will think them used up. God will grace them with a glimpse of glory before they are taken up into it.

Be looking for those old saints. They are a key to seeing the power of your dream. To see the new move, hit the old groove.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 13

Matthew 2:1-12

Follow the leader…

When the move of God has people moving, the stir is enough to make the present monuments, traditions and tyrants in your life shake. The devil knows when God is on the move, and he sends his minions to excite, entice, and enrage those under his power. When the person in power feels threatened the people under that power are also troubled. The entrance of Christ into any situation draws the battle line.

We can and should get excited by the light of Christ shining into our lives to lead us to His presence. And yet this is where we find ourselves, not yet in the clear about things. At times we come under the influence of important people who may call us friend, but they are not leading you to God. Their aim is to deceive you into thinking they are also interested in your dream, but they only want to wipe it out because they feel threatened.

The Scriptures are your plumb line to the presence of God. You may be involved with or in some part of the wrong camp, and feel you are helpless, and constrained to do wrong, but if you will be obedient to where the Lord is leading, He will keep your path from leading to destruction.

You must be obedient to the vision (Philippians 3:13-17); follow the dream and you will find a way out. Don’t have fear like Herod but have faith like the wise men.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 12

Luke 2:8-20

The wonder of it all…

The background events of the move of God can be long in the making, yet suddenly, the movement of God is moving others. The shepherds were doing their normal thing, working and watching, but then God moved in. An angel was appearing, the glory of God was shining, and the shepherds, now fearing, are wondering what it all means.

The angel brings joy, not fear, at the announcement of the Good News, the arrival of the Christ, and the army of the Lord sounds the praise of the ages, and peace to the people of God.

When the Lord reveals the hand of providence, when we hear His Word, we do well to follow His lead to the place of His purpose if we want to be included in it. Obedience to the prophetic vision is the key to blessing (Proverbs 29:18). In our obedience we see that God has indeed moved, and moved us. We see that God has been faithful to His Word; the message is as He has said. It is then that we can ponder and wonder at the meaning, and get our answers. Our testimony is a confirmation of His move to others already in the stream of events. Testimony is a cause for treasure, and a reciprocal praise among people of like precious faith (2 Peter 1:1).

The Move, the Message, the Meaning: do you ponder these things? Is the revelation of Christ to your life the treasure you seek? The stream of God’s blessing is always on the move. Our obedience to His vision is all it takes to get into the flow. The wonder of it all is that in the grace of Christ we are allowed to dive into the depths of God (2 Corinthians 13:14).

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 11

Luke 2:1-7

Counting on Christ…

The hustle and bustle of our societal obligations can be the context of a providential move of God. When we think of the movement of God, we are often looking for the spectacular, something that will make the heathen stand up and notice, and to be honest, something that will keep us from looking ridiculous. However, this is not the usual manner of the Maestro.

After we are born again, Jesus may burst forth out of us at times and in places where He may not be immediately noticed. Jesus has a way of taking dirt and making it a testament to the divine (Genesis 2:7 / 2 Corinthians 4:7). His purpose is not pleasing to the world (James 4:4), but something manifest to the friends of the faith (1 John 2:16, 4:5-6).

Most of the world has no room for the King of Glory, they seek their own glory. They have no room for the Comforter, they seek their own comfort. Most have no real peace; they throw the Prince of Peace out the back door. Jesus left the glories of Heaven and became poor that we might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9), but it is another sort of riches altogether, and in a different place than that which the world seeks.

Be on the lookout: your greatest blessing may be out back.

Even the dirt poor can be filled with divine power.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 10

Matthew 1:18-25

Last place wins the race…

It seems that in the story of the gospels, Joseph is always last. Mary had been told by an angel that Jesus would be born of her, and then she went away to visit Elizabeth. Elizabeth knew who was in Mary’s womb, and who was in her own womb, and even the child in her womb, John the Baptist, knew who was in Mary’s womb. It would seem that Zechariah probably knew about Jesus, too. A lot of joy was being spread around. All of this travelling news and yet, all before Mary’s own husband, Joseph, knew.

Sometimes when we first notice the hand of God, we don’t know it is He who is moving in our situation. We can apprehend that something is happening, but we reason that it must not be the right thing. We decide that we will not make waves, but then the Master of the Sea (Psalm 135:6) comes to us for our understanding.

Like Zechariah and Mary, an angel told Joseph of the Good News. The Holy Spirit fills us with the knowledge that He who walks upon the waters is in our midst. Jesus, the One who saves us, the God who is with us, He is the fulfillment of our greatest dreams. Whenever we awaken to the Light of Christ, our obedience will hasten the birth of the dream through our lives.

In the fullness of time Jesus came (Galatians 4:4-7). In the fullness of time your dream will come. Better to know and be last than not know and be lost.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 9

Luke 1:57-80

The dream comes…

John the Baptist is born. When the promise has come, there is still the matter of living it out in obedience. Direction is one thing, but development along that line quite another. Many a promised dream has died in the land of laziness, buried in the coffin of carelessness.

Zechariah learned that the blessing comes as we go with God and call those things as God sees them, and not as we might think they should be. Then we can truly praise as we ought. The lips of a man freed from bondage will speak blessing, and it may put a healthy fear of God before those who do not yet understand.

The promises of God are as good as His Word, and they give birth to our deepest hopes and dreams, but the fullness of the promise must wait for full growth if we are to receive the full blessing. It is not our decision to start, but our determination to stay in the will of God that will count in the end. The dream is born, but the destiny has only begun.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 8

Luke 1:39-56

Joy loves company…

Mary finds out that Elizabeth is also carrying a child of promise. They say that misery loves company, but so does joy, and hope, and deliverance, and redemption. We like to share Good News with others who are also receiving it. Even in the beginnings of the parade of providence, we have joy from seeing the miracle in other people’s lives. The joy we have is made fuller when we share it, and when it is received.

Joy is joyful at the joy of others. Those who truly know they are truly blessed don’t mind when others are blessed even more than them. The blessed are blessed by the blessing of others, in their obedience and desire to do the Lord’s will.

The fullness of the heart filled with the joy of God will result in exclamations of praise, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Yes our lips should always pour forth praise, but it will not need to be a manufactured thing when we are filled, it will simply be the result.

The King of the Universe is waiting to fulfill His destiny in your destiny, and that is all the reason you need to be full of joy, and to spread that joy, and it will bring joy to others who will find it and others who have received it for themselves. If you believe in the fulfillment of what the Spirit has promised, you will receive the fullness of the Spirit in practice. If you act according to God’s will, His promise for your life, you will have joy.

Then the words of Mary will be on our lips and the sublime statement of Ultimate power will be ours in reality, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”.

Join the company…Jesus IS joy.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 7

Luke 1:26-38

The instrument of God…

“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” We say that we know that (Hebrews 13:6), but sometimes, God seems to place us in a position where we are startled and suspicious. He tells us not to fear, but then He blows us away.

The revelation of Jesus to Mary, and the announcement that a poor little girl would bring forth the Incarnation of Glory into the world; this was and is a time for awe and wonder. Mary wondered, how can these things happen, through me?

She is given the same answer we are given: the power of the Holy Spirit. God can do anything, and He can do anything through you.

Mary is also told that she is not the only one giving birth to a miracle. We are not alone; we are not the only instrument in the Grand Orchestra of the Great Maestro.

She then gives us one of the most sublime statements in the Bible, the key to Christ in your life; “let it be to me according to your word”.

And so it is with us… it is our destiny to be fashioned into the figure of Christ (Romans 8:29), yet we need to be strengthened (Ephesians 3:14-20) for the song of the Savior to be turned up to full volume (Galatians 4:19). Let the music play.

We can live Incarnational lives (Galatians 2:20) as the instrument of God, because we have the same power, the same glory, resident in us (Colossians 1:27). It must come out.

Bring forth the miracle: let God play His glorious tune, through you.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 6

Luke 1:5-25

A promised child…

We have so many hopes in this life, and many of the biggest and best hopes are about old dreams. Sometimes we never realize what we had hoped for, and we are reoriented to make the most of our journey along the way, aiming to give God the glory in the “regular” life we live.

Yet, as we serve God, and we try to fulfill His will for our lives in our day to day routine, sometimes, something providential changes the scope of our course. An answered prayer brings new promise and new dreams. A new hope brings new understanding to our way of doing things, and suddenly the mundane takes on new meaning.

It can also bring fear and doubt. A dead dream is hard to awaken, especially if we don’t see that the new vision is a new version of the old dream, but with God’s hand pulling forward now instead of holding back. If we push against the hand of God, the promise is still to come, but with the added burden of a season of silence until the season of fullness is come.

Don’t doubt that God can use you as His instrument, despite your supposed limitations. You are also a promised child (Ephesians 1:4-5), even though you started out as a problem child (Ephesians 5:8). Have faith: if you live beyond reproach, God will take away your reproach.

Zechariah and Elizabeth knew these things exactly.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 5

Luke 1:1-4

Second hand security…

How can we trust the Bible?

How can you trust the “big bang” theory?

Second hand is not always out of hand. In Luke 7:18-28 we see the imprisoned John the Baptist wondering if he had understood Jesus rightly about His being the Messiah. Jesus doesn’t speak to his emotions (and John was family), Jesus sends John back to the Scriptures (Isaiah 35:5-6). Jesus provided reassurance, but notice that this would be faith in the report of others.

You can’t just say, “Well, men wrote the Bible, therefore it must be flawed”, because if the claim of the Bible itself is true, God can get men to write what He wants them to. It is not self-refuting to claim that men wrote the very words of God and that it is inerrant. If that is your problem with the Bible, get rid of every book that you have because every single one was written by men. You can never trust anything else that you ever read in life. Face the fact; you trust much of your life to second hand knowledge.

Be grateful for Luke, and the “second hand” of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20 / 1 John 4:13).

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 4

Matthew 1:1-17

Our family tree…

This is Jesus’ genealogy through the line of Joseph.

Jesus is truly the “son of David” (Luke 20:41) and the true heir of the promise made to Abraham (Genesis 22:18 / Galatians 3:16).

We are sons of Abraham, heirs of Abraham’s blessing, and we are sons of God, and heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14-18 / Galatians 4:7).

We have just celebrated the Incarnation during the Christmas season. Our Christmas tree, and yes indeed, our family tree… is a cross (Galatians 3:9-14 / 1 Peter 2:24)…

We all need Jesus. No family line will save you from sin, and there is no heritage, family, status, job, or cultural background that will relieve you from the need for redemption or place you at the front of some line. Instead of trying to be someone great based on someone else’s past greatness, we should just be grateful that all Christians are from God stock.

Look at the Cross of Christ, and there you will see the one family tree that truly matters.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 3

Luke 3:23-38

Jesus had to wait…

This is Jesus’ genealogy through the line of Mary.

Jesus is a real man, an eternal being who was also an historical person.

Jesus is the promised “seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15).

Jesus is in the line of David, and is in line to be King, and will sit on “the throne of David” and is called by those who know this and believe “son of David”.

Jesus is the rightful heir, in both the divine and human senses.

Through Jesus we become rightful heirs in the kingdom of God.

The Jews, and the world, had to wait thousands of years before the Savior appeared, but God sent His Son when the time was right (Galatians 4:4), as He had promised (Romans 1:2-3).

The Savior will return again, and we are supposed to be watching, waiting, and working until that time (Luke 19:13 / 1 Peter 4:7). It can be a hard wait at times, but it will happen (Romans 8:23).

Even Jesus had to wait till His time was right; if we believe in Him, we can wait, too (Isaiah 40:31 / 2 Timothy 4:8 / Titus 2:11-14).

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 2

John 1:10-18

The world doesn’t recognize its creator
• Romans 1:18-21

The Jews did not recognize their Messiah
• Mark 6:4 / Luke 4:28

God calls His children to be born again, and they believe in Jesus
• Romans 9:16 / Galatians 3:26 / Ephesians 2:8-9 / James 1:18 / 1 John 5:1

The Son of God became the Son of Man
• Isaiah 7:14 / Micah 5:2 / Romans 1:3 / Galatians 4:4 / Philippians 2:5-7 / 1 Timothy 3:16 / Hebrews 2:14

The glory of God shown on earth
• Titus 2:11-14 / 2 Peter 1:16-18 / 1 John 1:1-3

John the Baptist prepared the way
• Matthew 3:11 / John 3:25-30

Jesus is fullness and gives us the grace we need
• Ephesians 1:23, 3:19, 4:13 / Colossians 1:19, 2:9-10

Jesus gives us a look at the invisible and we can know God
• John 14:7 / Colossians 1:15 / 1 Timothy 1:17 / Hebrews 1:3

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Daily Gospel Devotional: January 1

John 1:1-5

Matter isn’t eternal, God is eternal

Jesus is God, and He is eternal

Jesus created matter

Jesus created everything, and He is the sustainer of everything
• Colossians 1:16-17
• Hebrews 1:3

Jesus is life and light
• John 3:16, 5:24, 14:6
• John 8:12
• Ephesians 5:8-14
• 1 Peter 2:9

Jesus is the way to overcome darkness
• 1 John 1:5-7
• 1 John 2:8-11
• Colossians 1:13

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©