Category: First Things First Devotional

Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation. John 17:24 HCSB

We really enjoy having our children and grandchildren all together. There is nothing more heart-warming than having all of our children together for vacation at Gulf Shores, spending time on the beach, going out to eat, and playing games at night. Other enjoyable times are when we gather to celebrate family birthdays. Of course, Thanksgiving and Christmas would not be the same without our children and grandchildren.

Jesus continues His prayer, requesting to have all of His believers (His children) with Him in heaven. God’s design from the beginning of time was to provide a way for all men to have eternal life. From the foundation of the world Jesus was to come into the world to die on the cross and pay the penalty for the sins of men. Through Jesus everyone can have forgiveness of sin and have eternal life in heaven.

Challenge: Know that God loved you from the beginning of time. He loved you so much that He was willing to sacrifice His own Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for your sins. As a believer, praise God for forgiving your sins and giving you eternal life in heaven.

I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. John 17:22-23 HCSB

After 40 years in ministry I have observed a variety of churches. Some seem to have divisions and conflict. As a result, they are not reaching as many people for Christ and are often declining in members and having difficulty meeting their budgets. In other churches there seems to be a sense of unity where people are working together even in the midst of differing opinions. All of the members seem to be working together to reach people and bring glory to God.

Jesus points out the importance of unity among believers. He is praying that all believers would be unified just as Jesus and the Father are one. When believers are unified they are examples to the world of Christ’s love and mercy. It is through unity that the world can know that God loves them and that He sent Jesus to provide a way for everyone to be forgiven and to be restored to a right relationship with Him.

Challenge: Are you unified with other believers or are you creating division and conflict? God wants all believers to be unified as He and the Father are unified. A difference of opinion is possible even with unity in God’s work. Try to overlook differences and focus on working together to bring honor and glory to God.

I have revealed Your name to the men You gave Me from the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. John 17:6 HCSB

My wife and I wanted our children to have Biblical names. We considered using the name Elizabeth for our first child but then we discovered that the name Bethany is a derivative of Elizabeth and we really liked it. We then used Lynn as her middle name because both my wife and I have the middle name of Lynn. We named our first son Nathanael Thomas using my father’s name as his middle name. We named our second son Jonathan Philip after my wife’s father, Philip. Our youngest is named Sarah Elisabeth. The spelling of her middle name is the same as one of my wife’s relatives. Each of our children’s names has a very special meaning.

Jesus revealed the name of God. In Hebrew culture a person’s name had a specific meaning and reflected the nature of the person. Jesus revealed to us the nature and character of God. The only way for us to know God is to know Jesus.

Challenge: Are you revealing God to others? You must spend time in God’s Word and in prayer to really know Jesus. Make the commitment to have a regular quiet time each day and spend time getting to know Jesus and His teachings. As you know and obey Jesus, you will bring glory to God.

This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent – Jesus Christ. I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. John 17:3-4 HCSB

In warm seasons working in the yard to trim the bushes and edge the walk always seems to take longer than expected. I have been known to work into the dark and even use the porch lights to see well enough to pick up piles of clippings around the house. My personality is such that I like to complete a project once I have started.

Jesus had to complete the work that the Father had given Him. With His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, Jesus would complete the work that God had given Him to do. Jesus’ task was to live a sinless life, teach God’s way, set an example for others to follow, die on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind, be buried, and raised to new life. By completing the work God had assigned to Him, Jesus would bring glory to His Father.

Challenge: What work has God given you? Are you committed to using your talents and resources to bring honor to God? Pray that God will show you what He has for you to do and will help you to complete the task.

Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 HCSB

As a parent I have had to give instruction and correction to all four of my children over the years. At the same time all of my children also needed to hear encouraging words and praise. We all want to hear our parents say, “Good Job”. The same is true in the work force. As I have conducted annual reviews for employees, I have always tried to provide some positive words while also giving words of guidance if needed.

Paul encouraged Timothy to fulfill his ministry, to be persistent in proclaiming the message even when it was not easy. Timothy was to rebuke, correct, and teach the people with a spirit of patience and encouragement. There must be a balance between rebuking and and encouraging people who need direction. It is sometimes difficult to be patient when we understand what people should be doing and it appears they aren’t making the necessary effort to succeed. Paul admonishes that we are to have great patience.

Challenge – As a believer you should proclaim the Good News to those with whom you have contact every day. It should be done with gentleness and patience. If you must rebuke and correct, be sure to include a word of encouragement.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is Mine. This is why I told you that He takes from what is Mine and will declare it to you.” John 16:12-15 HCSB

There was once a fictional movie made in which the main character was given the power to only tell the truth without reserve. It was virtually impossible for him to tell a lie. This seemed like an entertaining plot, but the character would often say inappropriate things at the wrong times that caused conflict, confusion, and even hurt people. In the movie this was intended to be funny. The Holy Spirit dwells within every believer to help guide him in all Truth in order to live a life of integrity.

In these verses Jesus uses the term “Spirit of Truth” for the Holy Spirit. Jesus declared He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is to declare the truth of Jesus Christ. The Bible also states, “The Truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). Jesus desires for every believer to abide in the truth, to know His plan for his life, and to bring honor and glory to God the Father. The Holy Spirit helps us discover the truth about Jesus and the truth about our own lives so we can become more like Jesus and bring glory to Him.

Challenge: Listen to the truth as the Holy Spirit reveals it in your life. Seek and follow the Truth (Jesus Christ). Pray that others will see the truth of Jesus Christ in your life as you live a life of truth.

“When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.” John 16:8 HCSB

There have been times in my life when I have felt the urging of the Holy Spirit. I have been convicted to do or not to do something. This is the Holy Spirit working within my life to guide me in the right direction. Sometimes He has prompted me to help someone in need and at other times He has directed me to avoid a certain person or activity so as to not sin.

The Holy Spirit works in our world to convict a lost person of his or her sin and the need to accept Jesus as his or her personal Savior. The Holy Spirit also convicts believers of sin and points them in right direction – toward righteousness. Jesus is the supreme example of righteousness; we should strive to be more and more like Him each day. The Holy Spirit will help us become righteous. The Holy Spirit also convicts people of the judgment that is coming when everyone will face a Holy God and be required to give an account of his or her life.

Challenge: Ask the Holy Spirit to work in the world and in your life. Follow His prompting and direction. He will guide you in the ways of righteousness and will help you to be a witness for Jesus Christ.

“Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth, it is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7 HCSB

It is always a delight to have our four children come home for Christmas. This year our collective schedules did not coincide and they visited at different times. As always the day they departed for home was a sad day, but we understand they must return to their own homes and jobs. The house that was so full of conversation and laughter now seems so quiet and empty.

Jesus told His disciples that He was going away and going back to the One who had sent Him. Certainly the disciples did not want Jesus to go. They wanted Him to stay with them, but that was not what was best. God’s plan was to send the Counselor (Holy Spirit) to dwell within each believer. If Jesus had stayed on earth only a few people could have enjoyed His presence, but the Holy Spirit would come to dwell within every believer and provide guidance and direction.

Challenge: Are you relying on the Holy Spirit to guide you? Are you listening to the voice in your spirit that convicts you when you do something that is wrong? Ask God to speak to you through the Holy Spirit and give you direction for your life. Be willing to listen and respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. What is the Counselor prompting you to do today?

“I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or Me.” John 16:1-3 HCSB

The clouds began to roll in as the sky darkened. The winds blew. A storm was coming. My wife and I were sitting in a restaurant eating when the storm intensified and the traffic signals outside were almost standing horizontal due to the strength of the winds. Then we heard the sirens. A tornado had been spotted and was quickly moving through the area. The sirens served to warn people to take cover.

Just like sirens that warn of impending danger, Jesus warned His disciples of the problems that would soon come their way. They would be forced out of the synagogues and eventually people would try to kill them because they would teach that Jesus was the Messiah. Saul (Paul) went throughout the country killing and persecuting the Christians because he felt he was doing what was right until he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Challenge: As believers we will face ridicule and opposition when we take a stand for what is right. We have observed in recent days Christians who have faced discrimination because they have made statements concerning their personal beliefs based upon the Word of God. Yes, trouble is coming. You will face persecution if you do what is right. You will be challenged from those who are in the world and do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Pray for strength and courage as you stand for what is right and witness for Jesus Christ.

When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father – He will testify about Me. John 15:26 HCSB

It was a hot day in the middle of summer when I turned on the air conditioner in my car only to feel hot air coming from the vents. I visited my usual repairman and discovered the compressor needed replacement. With a new compressor everything worked well for just over a year, until I again experienced hot air coming from the vents and was told that the compressor needed to be replaced. Wondering why the compressor went out again in a year’s time, I decided to take my car to the Ford dealer to get another opinion. The technician confirmed that indeed the compressor needed to be replaced, but the clutch on the air conditioner was the reason the compressor had stopped working. After replacing both the compressor and clutch, my air conditioner has functioned properly.

Just as we sometimes need to go to the source who best knows the car (the dealer) to get expert advice and direction, we also need to seek good counsel in our lives. As believers in Jesus Christ, each of us has the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, given to us by God the Father. He is our Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, and Strengthener to guide us in making wise choices and give us the courage to do what is right. God is our Creator and knows what is best for each of us. He is the one we should seek for counsel when troubles and decisions come our way.

Challenge: Who are you seeking for advice and counsel? Turn to God and the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction. The Holy Spirit (Counselor) will give you good counsel and help you to resist the temptations of Satan.