Today Daily Devotional

“In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
— Isaiah 40:3

The prophet Isaiah looks ahead, pointing to a prophet who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. John the Baptist was that prophet, and the Messiah was Jesus Christ.John presented the Messiah, Jesus, as the true light that comes into the world and enlightens every person. John also said of Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). John came baptizing with water, and he presented Jesus as someone greater than himself, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. John did not feel worthy even to untie the straps of Jesus’ sandals. John lived by this principle: “[Jesus] must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).The church cannot produce revival; however, it is up to the church to prepare the way for the Lord so that he may transform lives. Revival is the work of God, and preparing for it is our responsibility. Revival is a supernatural work of God, and we need to make a way straight in the wilderness for our God. Our lives must be the unobstructed road by which the Lord reveals himself to the world.In what ways have you been a path through which the Lord has revealed himself? Prepare the way of the Lord!

Lord Jesus, make us a people who prepare your way with humility and faith. Help us to become less so that you may become greater among us. Clear our hearts of every obstacle so that your light may shine through our lives. Amen.

Proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for. . . .
— Isaiah 40:2

God’s people had ignored his law and had closed their ears to the words of his prophets. As a consequence, the people were taken into captivity and exile. Because they would not listen to the voice of grace, they heard the crack of the whip of discipline.But the same God who disciplines his people restores them by his mercy. God called Isaiah to speak tenderly and with assurance to his exiled people, proclaiming that their time of captivity was over and that their sins were forgiven. What a comforting message!Because God loves his people, he disciplines them. And along with disciplining his people, God also forgives them. God forgives his people, and he also restores them.There is no remedy for guilt except in God's forgiveness. No medicine can calm a heart tormented by guilt. No therapy can stifle the desperate cries of a conscience plagued with remorse for wrongdoing. Only God’s forgiveness can lift the heavy burden that crushes us.Have you been forgiven by God? Do you enjoy the peace that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7)?Now is the time of grace. If your heart weighs heavy with sin, now is the opportune time to turn to God in repentance and seek his forgiveness.

Lord God, speak to our hearts with your restoring mercy. Lift the weight of our guilt, forgive us, and lead us from discipline to renewal, bringing the peace that only you can give. In Jesus, Amen.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
— Isaiah 40:1

The book of Isaiah is sometimes called “the gospel of the Old Testament” because it announces the good news (gospel) of the coming of God’s servant, the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ. In chapters 1-39, Isaiah writes about history. And in the rest of the book he delivers a message of comfort, restoration, and hope.Comfort has its source in God. Only the Lord can bring peace to the human soul. Only God can forgive sins, and only in God do we find redemption.True comfort does not come from earthly things. It does not come from people. Comfort comes from God.We cannot find full comfort in various therapies or in self-help psychology. True comfort cannot be found on a couch or in a gym. We do not find our greatest comfort by enjoying the most splendid vacations or the most appetizing pleasures. Comfort cannot be acquired with money or inherited from parents. Real comfort is the work of God. God is both the source and the giver of this gift.Isaiah the prophet is ordered to comfort the people of God. But how? Not with flattering words or deceptive praise. True comfort can only be experienced when we turn to God, the inexhaustible source of grace. God alone can cancel our debt and forgive our sins. True comfort can only be found in God.

God of all comfort, only you can fill our deepest needs. Throughout this month, help us to find our only comfort in you by hearing from and living into your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“You have heard that it was said. . . . But I tell you. . . .”
— Matthew 5:21-22

In this passage from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, our Lord cites several references from the Old Testament Law, such as “Do not murder,” “Do not commit adultery,” and so on. Then he adds his own divine wisdom on the deeper meanings of those laws, insisting that even our thoughts and motives are subject to the Law’s commands. So if we think about killing someone, or committing adultery, or any other sin, we have actually committed that sin. Ouch!Jesus’ main message here is about life in the kingdom of God. He shows us that kingdom living goes beyond simply following God’s law. In the kingdom of God, even our thoughts must be pure, good, and truthful.Now, if we are saved in Christ, our sinful thoughts certainly won’t change that. Similarly in some ways, we can say that people do not go to prison for thinking of murder. So does it really matter if we revel in sinful thinking?It does matter. We are saved so that we will become more fitting, effective agents in God’s kingdom. When our thoughts align with Christ’s, we gain power and understanding into the ways of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, more and more of our mind can become like the mind of Christ. And if our mind is like Christ’s, we will share in his compassion, confidence, hope, and power.Let the mind of Christ grow effectively in you.

Lord Jesus, make us effective servants in your kingdom. May even our thoughts and desires be worthy of you. Amen.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ. . . .
— 2 Corinthians 4:4

In this passage Paul speaks of people’s minds being blinded by “the god of this age.” This is a reference to Satan, the devil, who is still very active in our world today.Has the god of this age, the devil, blinded you? I think an honest answer would be that although we can see the gift of the gospel, we can certainly be blinded by the devil’s distractions and attractions today.For example, how about constant and malicious online stories about political opponents?How about porn? Looking at it may make you feel virile and powerful—for a short time. But it is not reality, and it is not God’s will for our sexuality.How about scrolling through your favorite social media hour after hour? Too often we see only one side of the story in increasingly demeaning ways.How about false religion like the prosperity gospel, claiming God will make you wealthy if you just follow its teaching?How about “action movies,” in which people are killed or tortured in gruesome ways for entertainment?The god of this age is present in so many ways today, making all of these things seem normal and desirable. Most of these influences, and more, are also just updated versions of what people faced in Paul’s day.Give your mind a break. Let the true gospel enlighten you.

Dear God, so many influences today are used by the devil to lead us astray. Help us to reject the evil they present as if it were normal. In Jesus’ name, Amen.