On the Couch With God - Daily Devotional

" After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb " (Revelation 7:9a) Read: Revelation 7 We see the thread of God’s love for His people in Scripture from cover to cover. God calls Abraham, promises to make him a great nation and to bless all people on earth through him (Genesis 12:3). Jesus prepares to return to heaven and commands his disciples to take his teachings and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). The Bible concludes with the prophecy that every nation, tribe, people and language will stand before Jesus’ throne in worship (Revelation 7:9a). God’s desire has always been to reach all people. Although God’s heart has always been for everybody, it took extraordinary circumstances to move the early church out of their comfort zone to reach people who were different from them. They left Jerusalem and spread the message ...

" Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers " (Galatians 6:10) Read: Galatians 6 The Apostle Paul tells the Galatian church to serve those in their community. It should come as no surprise Paul encourages them to pour themselves out for others. After all, Jesus himself came down to this earth and poured himself out for each of them. He gave his very life to serve and love them. This sacrifice of Christ has motivated Christians throughout history to serve heroically. Over the centuries, sacrificial service has been one of the most powerful forces drawing people to Christ. People are attracted to this type of service because sacrificial service is so close to the heart of God. Service draws people to Christ, but it also draws us towards one another. Serving is not a solo sport. We were created to be in relationships. When we serve, we build community. When we work with one another, we are...

" Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another " (John 13:34b) Read: John 13:31-35 Jesus doesn’t have much time left. He knows he will be hanging on a Roman cross the next day. He gives those closest to him some important instructions. It couldn’t have been easy. He had been teaching them for three years. What should he say now? It has to be important whatever it is. He tells them, “ Love one another .” Jesus takes the advice of Ecclesiastes (travel together) and unleashes it upon his followers. Jesus’ strategy for growing, serving, comforting and encouraging his followers—is his followers. His strategy for changing the world was a community of people travelling together. Paul writes, “ From him, the whole body (the church), joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work .” The church grows and is built by love when we each do our part. We grow when others play their part, ...

" You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? " (1 Corinthians 3:3) Read: 1 Corinthians 3 The Corinthians had no knowledge of Christ when Paul arrived. He spends 18 months in this busy city teaching the gospel, then receives word after leaving Corinth that the church fractured. Rivalries, division and arguments wrack their community. Believers took sides and judged each other based on if they followed Paul, Apollos (an eloquent church leader mentioned in Acts 18:24-27) or the Apostle Peter. Paul issues a stern warning that they’re behaving like children of the world, not Spirit-led Jesus followers. In Corinthian culture, it was common to attach your name to a popular philosopher or eloquent orator. Culture dictated you pick a group and judge others as less-than. Paul reminds believers that now, their name was attached to Jesus. They were unified through Christ’s life, death on t...

Text: Acts 11.19-21 We will, at various points in our life, find ourselves in places we never expected nor wanted: a divorce, a life-changing medical condition, a severe financial reversal, or something else. Whatever it is, we know one thing—we don’t want to be here. It was the same for these early followers of Jesus. Because of severe persecution, they lost everything as they fled for their lives. Uprooted from their home, friends, and occupations, they were now in a place they neither expected nor wanted. But it’s in these inconveniences, these opportunities, where God often moves in new and amazing ways. While we might never have expected to be here, it doesn’t catch God by surprise: he knows exactly what we need. While we may be fearful to take the next step, God is ready to use these unwanted situations as opportunities for growth. But if we get mired in complaints, we can miss these opportunities. ON THE COUCH WITH GOD Today, identify a time (now or recently) when you ...