Read the Word Daily

Would you like to read the Word daily, but don’t know how to begin? Reading our Daily Devotionals is a good way to develop the habit of studying the scriptures.

Daily Devotionals - January 2020
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24 Jan.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8, NLT).

When we trust God in all areas of our lives, overwhelming joy is one of the blessings we receive. Living under grace allows us to be fed spiritually.

23 Jan.

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him” (2 Corinthians 5:18, NLT).

Believers are ambassadors for God. Under the covenant of grace, there is no more punishment and condemnation; it’s our job to spread this message to others so that they can be reconciled to Him.

22 Jan.

“For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (Ephesians 5:29).

Not only does this apply to husbands and wives, but also to parents and children. God enables us to nurture and cherish our children the same way that Jesus nurtures and cherishes His church.

21 Jan.

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

Our children are the next generation; as parents, we need to teach them by our example. Jesus accepts us unconditionally; therefore, we can model to them the same love and acceptance He has for us.

20 Jan.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7).

The indicator that we’re children of God is that we love others.

20 Jan.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’” (Genesis 1:26, NIV).

Everyone is equal in God’s eyes. No matter who we are, when we accept Christ, we have the same authority as He has.

19 Jan.

“Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18, NKJV).

God wants to show us grace and mercy. When we wait on Him and His timing, we can see the blessings He wants us to have.

19 Jan.

“But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24).

God always judges justly and righteously. If we’re in Christ, we escape the judgment that the world will face, and will instead be exonerated.

17 Jan.

“Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. Interlude” (Psalm 50:6, NLT).

God is a God of mercy and justice. When we line ourselves up according to His Word, He sees us as just and righteous; we’ll have nothing to fear at judgment time.

16 Jan.

“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” (Luke 18:7, NIV).

God is constantly watching over His children; nothing escapes His vision. When we go to Him in prayer, He’ll always answer us.

15 Jan.

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Galatians 4:19).

The power of Christ in us transforms us in ways we could never do through our own efforts. Because the Holy Spirit works in us, we don’t have to work to be sanctified.

14 Jan.

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

When we get born again, a miracle takes place: we’re instantly made holy and righteous. The Law of Moses could never do that.

13 Jan.

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Peter 3:12).

When we keep God’s plan in mind and willingly submit to it, He opens doors for us that no one else can. Conversely, those who choose to go their own way close themselves off from His intervention and assistance.

12 Jan.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Before we get born again, we’re in bondage to the root of sin in us. Afterward, our old, sinful natures are removed, and we receive new, sinless natures.

11 Jan.

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31).

Although we’re now living by faith in God’s grace, the law still had a valid purpose. It was given to make humans realize we needed a Savior, and to lead us to Christ.

10 Jan.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).

Mosaic Law was too perfect and holy for imperfect man to keep; the result was that the harder the people tried to keep it, the more they sinned. Now, we are not justified by the law.

9 Jan.

“We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Loving the way God intends is impossible under the demands of the law. Under grace, however, the Holy Spirit enables us to love by reminding us of God’s love for us.

8 Jan.

“The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law” (1 Corinthians 15:56).

The enemy’s strategy against us is not to get us to sin, but to get us to follow the law. He knows our attempts to do so will eventually cause us to sin.

7 Jan.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus was also God in human form; during His earthly ministry He endured everything we go through today. Far from being an impersonal, faraway deity, Jesus can fully identify with every experience we go through in life.

6 Jan.

“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

God declares us righteous because of our faith in Him, not because of ceaseless “righteous” works. Righteousness is a gift we don’t have to earn.

5 Jan.

“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:10).

We receive God’s promises when we’re at rest, with no stress or worry to steal our peace. Under grace, no empty works or self-efforts are needed.

4 Jan.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus, who was holy and blameless, became a curse for us when He chose to receive our sins. He took them to the grave but rose without them, so that we could receive forgiveness.

3 Jan.

“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).

Though He never sinned, Jesus willingly went to the cross to replace the requirements of the law with grace. In this great exchange, He took on all our sins so that we could receive all His righteousness.

1 Jan.

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ” (Romans 10:17, NLT).

Our faith is strengthened and built up each time we hear the truth about God’s grace. Strengthening our faith is a necessary preparation for tough times when all we have to keep us going is faith in Him.