Today Daily Devotional

He will be called . . . Prince of Peace.
— Isaiah 9:6

Here Jesus is named “Prince of Peace.” What is peace?Two artists, the story goes, are asked to paint pictures depicting peace.One artist paints a tranquil scene—a calm lake surrounded by rolling green hills and with towering trees mirrored in the water. The blue sky is still— and, well, peaceful.The other painter brushes onto the canvas a rocky ravine, with dark, ominous, jutting-out rocks. Over the top of the rockface rushes a powerful waterfall, splashing and roaring. Spray and mist everywhere!Yet on one of the crags, near the bottom of the gorge, stands a slender young tree. And there, on a tenuous branch overhanging the water, glistening with the spray from the waterfall, rests a bird’s nest. And in that nest a small bird is sleeping.This second illustration is a picture of Christ’s peace!Jesus makes clear that peace in this world is not the absence of trouble. It is not mainly about tranquil, relaxing scenes. Jesus’ peace means that even while the waters foam and surge about us, even amid storms of anxiety and struggle, we have a rock! A firm place to nest.In this world we will have trouble, Jesus said. But take courage, and be at rest. Jesus has overcome the world!

Thank you, Jesus, for giving us your peace, which is not like the world’s. In you we can find rest and refuge even amid the dangers, storms, and troubles of life. Amen.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
— John 8:12

With a tour group I went into a deep cave in New Mexico, and our guide turned off all the lights. The darkness was paralyzing; I immediately felt vulnerable.Darkness in a cave is one thing. Darkness in life is worse. We may face shadows of a dark past: abuse, ugly words, abandonment. A deep cavern of guilt from our sins and mistakes may fill us with doubt, disappointment, and long nights of anxiety.Darkness is real—and scary. But there’s at least one thing darkness is not. It is not a winner. If we go into a deep cave and turn off the lights, it will be so dark that you can’t see your hand in front of your face. But if we strike a match or switch on a light, all that darkness— football fields of it!—cannot overpower that one light. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).Jesus calls himself “the light of the world.” In his death on the cross, he took on darkness and descended into caverns of guilt, forsakenness, abuse, and the worst that sin could offer— for us. He took on sin’s pain and its cost for us so that we won’t have to. And with his rising, we receive what Isaiah foretold: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).Why stay in the dark? The light is here. Let’s walk in him today!

Lord, thank you for being our light. Only you can overpower the darkness in this world and in our lives. Shine, Jesus, shine! Amen.

God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. . . .
— Philippians 2:9-10

There are a lot of big names out there: Zuckerberg, Apple, Xi, Trump, Oprah, AI. Does our world rise or fall with these names?Or how about some names closer to home: Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, ALS, Down Syndrome? Or what about labels that society might apply to us: divorced, disabled, addicted, infertile, fired, foreclosed, forgotten, paroled? Do any of these have the power to make or break us?No. Our reading today proclaims that no name, whether it carries princely power or brings us problems or roadblocks, is greater than Jesus— not even light years close.None of those names went down low, “taking the very nature of a servant” and “becoming obedient to death” to raise us up. None of those died on a cross to give us new life.Jesus is the only One whom God gave the name greater than any other name. He is the only One we should bow to. We can take him more seriously than any other name or label, for he himself is God, and he rules over all things.This month, let’s reflect on the various names of Jesus and what they show us about him. Each one reveals something marvelous and matchless about Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom every knee and power and threat will bow, “to the glory of God the Father.” We are in his hands, and he puts all things in their place.

Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done to give us new life and faith in the power of your name. May we honor your name above every name. Amen.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
— Psalm 96:11

Psalm 96 invites us to hear the greatness of God resounding everywhere and in everyone. We began our devotions this month with this psalm, and it seems fitting to close our reflections on “Resonance” by focusing on this psalm again.Throughout this month we have been personally invited to respond to God’s voice ringing out to us. Our prayer has been that the good news of Jesus will resonate deeply in our hearts and that we will respond in faith and trust.We have also seen how the good news resounds within the church, the community of Jesus’ followers. None of us walks this journey alone. It is often in fellowship with others that we most clearly encounter the voice of God and the living presence of Christ.In addition, we have been invited to notice God’s greatness reverberating through all creation. Our God reigns! All around us in God’s world we can witness creation itself declaring the glory and majesty of its Maker—the heavens rejoicing, the seas roaring, the fields exulting in praise.My prayer is that the words of Psalm 96 ring true for you today. May your life ring out joyfully because you have genuinely encountered the love and forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ. And may your voice join with the resounding song of creation, proclaiming that the Lord is great and “most worthy of praise.”

Great and glorious God, we join with all creation to praise you today. May your love, faithfulness, and goodness resonate throughout the whole world. Amen.

All the believers . . . broke bread . . . together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God. . . .
— Acts 2:44-47

My wife and I have been part of many small groups in our church over the years, but one experience of community stands out as especially rich. We were in a group with three other couples who were younger than us and in a different stage of life. When we first began meeting, none of them were married; they were dating or engaged. That soon changed, and in a short span of time we joyfully celebrated three weddings. At each reception our small group sat together, enjoying the gift of walking through these milestones side by side.We also shared one another’s sorrows. Shortly before one of those weddings, the bridal couple experienced the sudden and tragic loss of a beloved family member. On the day of their celebration, tears and laughter mingled freely as we felt both grief and gratitude, mourning what was lost while giving thanks for a new beginning.When I read the description of community in Acts 2, it can sound almost too ideal. Yet the rest of the New Testament shows that the early church also knew conflict and pain.Still today, the Spirit continues to draw believers into deep, resonant fellowship. We are not meant to follow Jesus alone. Though we are imperfect people in a broken world, God chooses to live among his people. How might we open our lives and homes more fully to one another?

Dear Jesus, though Christian community can be challenging at times, help us to step more deeply into our relationships. Fill us with your love and care for each other. Amen.