Today Daily Devotional

“The bride belongs to the bridegroom.”
— John 3:29

An old Algonquin folktale (a sort of Cinderella story) goes something like this:Once there were three sisters. The two oldest were beautiful, proud, and mean. Their youngest sister was weak and often ill. Her sisters were cruel and scarred her face with hot coals. She became known as the “rough-faced girl.”A powerful and unseen being, known as the Invisible One, said he would marry the girl who could truly see him. So the older sisters put on fine feathers and beads and went to his camp by the Big Water. But he didn’t reveal himself.The rough-faced girl wanted to visit the Invisible One too. She had no beads to wear—only a birch-bark dress and old moccasins. Her sisters and the villagers laughed at her. But she went to meet the Invisible One, and she could see him— or, rather, he saw her. He loved her, and she was changed. She washed in the Big Water, her rough scars disappeared, and she became as beautiful on the outside as the love she had received.In some ways this story reminds me of Jesus’ love for his bride, the church. Ephesians 5 shows that Jesus’ love changes us, cleansing and healing us. His love is all that is needed to transform the “rough-faced” church. His love is what makes her beautiful.Let’s not give up on the “rough-faced” church. Jesus, our perfect Bridegroom, won’t.

Lord Jesus, we are in awe of you. Thank you for your washing, beautifying, faithful love for your church. Amen.

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
— John 1:38

We learn from a variety of people in our lives—parents, friends, relatives, teachers, mentors, and more. Writers, entertainers, and leaders of all kinds can influence us too. My favorite teachers or mentors have often been my hardest ones.Without question, Jesus is the greatest teacher of all. As Colossians 2:3 puts it, “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in him. Jesus’ teaching amazed crowds, and his teachings in the Bible continue to amaze and challenge us today. In addition, Jesus’ teaching isn’t easy—it demands our all.Jesus’ disciples called him “Rabbi,” the traditional title in their culture for a person who was so respected as a teacher of God’s law that people would follow him and try to learn how to be like him. Following a rabbi involved imitation, learning how to think and act like that person. Jesus said, “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40). And in 1 John 2:6 we read, “Whoever claims to live in [Jesus] must live as Jesus did.”How do we live as Jesus did? How can we follow him without being crushed by the weight of the expectations involved?The answer, in part, is in the many names of Jesus we have been reflecting on. He is the true vine, our head, our mediator, our good shepherd, the one who serves, and so much more—and through his Spirit he give us the strength and ability to live as he calls us to.

Rabbi Jesus, teach us, by your Spirit, how to be like you, living as you did. In your name, Amen.

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed . . . meaning . . . Christ.
— Galatians 3:16

Disappointment can shrivel hope. A grandmother can pray for years, and yet her grand children may leave the faith. A man can work decades in a job and be let go. People can struggle for years in pain or mental distress, with no relief in sight. We may ask, “Where is the joy? Have God’s promises failed?”Sarah knew that kind of heartache. God had promised her husband, Abraham, a child, but over 24 years had gone by, and there was no baby in her womb. Her laugh grew hollow, hardened into cynicism (see Genesis 12:4; 17:17-18:15).But God did give them a son, Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7). And God didn’t just fulfill a promise or set redemption in motion (which he did!); he also healed Sarah’s laugh.In addition, Isaac, whose name means “laughter,” became a pointer to Jesus. Isaac brought joy to one family, and Jesus brings joy for all the nations.When Jesus was born, angels rejoiced, shepherds rejoiced, old Simeon and Anna rejoiced, and wise men from the East came to worship him (Matthew 2; Luke 2). Earlier, another baby, John, leapt in his mother’s womb, and Jesus’ mother, Mary, sang: “My spirit rejoices in God. . . . He has . . . remember[ ed] to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever” (Luke 1:41, 47, 54-55).Jesus, the ultimate promised Son, took all of our disappointments and hollow laughs onto himself. He died and rose to heal our dried-up hopes. And we can laugh again.

Lord, may we always see you keeping your promises in Jesus. Heal our hearts, we pray, and bring us joy in him. Amen.

Christ Jesus . . . is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
— Romans 8:34

What is Jesus doing now, since he has ascended to heaven? Hebrews 7:25 (like Romans 8:34) says that he is always interceding for us. Jesus prays for us constantly!What a gift this is. We cannot enter God’s presence on the basis of our own goodness. We need the one, perfect Mediator/ High Priest to speak for us. As an old hymn puts it:Before the throne of God aboveI have a strong and perfect plea,a great High Priest whose name is Love,who ever lives and pleads for me.Jesus’ intercession is spoken and visible. Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf, and his scars bear the testimony of his sacrifice for us. As the prophet Isaiah said, “By his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).So, through Jesus’ work for us, we are reconciled with God. And he mediates a new covenant for us with God so that God’s law is in our minds and in our hearts always. By living within us through his Spirit, Jesus impresses on our minds and hearts how to live for God each day. This is the new life Jesus makes possible for us, guiding us, through his Spirit, to live faithfully, as he did. And because of Jesus, we can have the confidence to draw near to God our Father always, anytime (Hebrews 10:19-23).Without Jesus, God would be a distant power. In Jesus, we have a Father. And nothing can separate us from his love!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, our faithful mediator and intercessor, for giving us new life in the Father’s love forever. Amen.

Since we have a great high priest who ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
— Hebrews 4:14

Sometimes clothes tell a story. A letterman jacket. An apron. Baby shoes, never worn. Medals on a veteran’s uniform.The clothing of the Old Testament high priest told a story. The ephod was a vest made of gold, woven with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn—the same colors used inside the tabernacle (the special tent of God’s presence). On each shoulder of the ephod was an onyx stone, engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. The ephod told the people that the priest was their mediator when he went into the presence of God.The high priest also wore a breastpiece over the ephod. It bore 12 gemstones, each engraved with a tribe’s name. In addition, a gold plate that read “HOLY TO THE LORD” was attached to the front of the high priest’s turban (see Exodus 28:6-30).The story these clothes told was that through the service of the high priest, God showed his love by promising forgiveness and a new start for his people. Today we know that Jesus Christ is the true and ultimate High Priest, mediating for us always. He is God’s presence in our midst (John 1:14). As High Priest, Jesus carries us before God, bearing our names and our guilt so that we can be forgiven and receive new life in him. What’s more, our great High Priest gave his own life as the final, perfect sacrifice. What amazing love!

Lord Jesus, how glorious you are! Thank you for being our perfect High Priest and for giving yourself as the perfect sacrifice for us, once for all. Hallelujah! Amen.