Today Daily Devotional

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
— Genesis 3:15

The story in Genesis 3 is often described as “the fall into sin.” Adam and Eve started with a wonderful, day-by-day relationship with God, but then one day they sinned. And they hid from God in their shame. God had said they should not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). But then the devil, Satan, planted seeds of doubt in their minds, and they disobeyed. They ate the forbidden fruit and fell from their close relationship with God.The curse of disobeying, God had said, would be death. But Adam and Eve did not die that day. God sought them out and did not strike them down. They also failed to take the blame for their actions, and God took the consequences of their sin on himself. It turned out that one day his own Son, who was also their offspring, would give up his own life to pay for the sins of all people (Matthew 1:18-25).Friends are faithful to each other. God is always a friend to us, but we are not equally faithful. We sin. We are often unfaithful, but God is faithful.How could God make us right with him? The plan of salvation is not what we would expect. It was not fully visible to Adam and Eve, but it started, continued, and became complete when God sent his Son, born of a woman, to live without sin and to give his life to pay for all our sin. What an amazing, faithful God!

Dear God, we sin in many ways every day. Thank you for being faithful, and please help us to live faithfully for you. In Jesus, Amen.

His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
— Lamentations 3:22-23

Have you ever lost sleep because your mind and heart were busy or burdened? You can lie down and try to fall asleep, but sleep won’t come.Jeremiah surely knew what that was like. He often poured out his heart and soul to God and to his people, but most of the people ignored what he had to say as God’s prophet. At times he was even put in prison for speaking God’s Word.Jeremiah lamented over the people who denied God and persecuted him. The book of Lamentations is a brief collection of some of those laments. They are a companion piece to the narrative provided in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah had done all he could to bring God’s Word to his people, but it was not enough. Even so, one of the great hymns of faith—“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”—arises from the passage we have read for today.I have often wondered how a great song about faithfulness could be born out of lament. Yet this is a key insight for us to ponder. When times are good, we tend to forget about God and rely on ourselves. But when times are hard and we cry out to God in our struggles, we can often see God and his work more clearly. God’s love, compassion, and faithfulness stand out against the darkness of sin and destruction.God is with us always, and he promises new beginnings and new life each day to all who seek him. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is a song we can sing every day!

God of all days and nights, thank you for your faithfulness to us each day and throughout every season. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. . . .
— Psalm 23:4

Bible teachers have often wondered about the setting of this song of David. When was it written?In Psalm 23 we find descriptions of the work of a young man who herded and guarded his father’s sheep, finding calm pastureland and plenty of water so that the sheep could eatand drink.We also hear echoes of David’s life as a king, in which he often had to be wary of enemies. God provided a banquet table and an anointing or blessing, providing protection, abundance, and favor despite those enemies.In addition, we observe the reflections of an older man, looking back on his journey of life and looking forward to living with the Lord . . . forever!Many key phrases in this psalm have been read at commemorative services and at funerals. One key word is through. When you are in the midst of trouble and hardship, you want to know that it will come to an end. You want to be assured that you will come out on the other side.We can get through the darkest valleys in life knowing that God is with us. This month, as we review key texts about the faithfulness of God in the Bible, we will see again and again that God’s faithfulness is part of the promise of his presence with us.In what areas do you need the assurance of God’s presence in your life?

Lord, may we know your presence so that we can take every step with you, no matter what is before us. Thank you for being our shepherd. Amen.

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together . . . but encouraging one another. . . .
— Hebrews 10:24-25

Before the pandemic, our church had a chance to take part in a soup contest called “Soup’s On” for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Along with other agencies and chefs in the city, we would be serving soup to about 150 people. And not only would the event be a fundraiser; it would provide a way to connect with new people and share about our church. We made sure the soup we served was top-notch, and we earned awards for our efforts. This event created a space for us to serve and to share. It also encouraged others to hear why we existed and how God was working in and through our congregation. The next soup contest was shuttered by the pandemic, but this year the event will be on again. And our church will again join in to share good news and good soup. This will also encourage us again to move out of our usual spaces to see what Jesus might be up to in other spaces. We are eager to use our gift of hospitality to share God’s love with our extended community. How do you “spur one another on” to reach out and connect? Where might there be a place to share the good news of Jesus in your community? Where might you find the peace of Christ shining? 

Dear God, help us to inspire one another “toward love and good deeds.” Help us to meet and pray and talk and act about how we might connect to our world and our community for Jesus’ sake. Help us to bring light into new spaces. Amen.

“If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
— 2 Kings 5:3

I love this Bible story for many reasons. Naaman was a guy who had everything. As an army commander, he could tell people what to do and where to go. He also had a family and was very wealthy. His army carried out raids on other countries, and one day they carried off a young Israelite girl who became a servant for Naaman’s wife. But Naaman learned that having everything wasn’t enough. He discovered that he had leprosy, which in those days often led to banishment, disfigurement, and a lonely death. The young slave girl could have said nothing, but she loved God and others and had good news to share. She told Naaman’s wife that he should go to Elisha the prophet and be healed. Naaman was humbled by that, but he eventually did what he was told and was healed. Naaman’s life turned around, and he became a follower of God in a foreign land. This story could easily have turned out differently. But a young girl chose to share the love of God, and she opened a door for healing and restoration to happen. Naaman was in a tough situation, but Elisha blessed him with peace. We too have choices to make. We can hold back and justify our reasons for not sharing our faith, or we can choose to be gracious and giving even to people who may have offended or harmed us. What can you do to share God’s love and bring peace?

Dear God, help us to share your message of hope and healing, even if we are tempted to hold on to grudges or bitterness. In Jesus, Amen.