Category: First Things First Devotional

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. John 14:27 HCSB

Conditions in our world bring stress, strain, conflict, doubt, fear, and challenges. I often long for a peaceful day without the difficulties that life brings. My mind wanders and I picture myself on the bank of a serene, mirrored lake with mountains and colorful trees reflected in its still water or on a beautifully manicured golf course surrounded by God’s beautiful creation. These seem like such peaceful settings, but they are but momentary; suddenly the real world returns. We all long for peace.

Jesus Christ is the only source of true peace. The New Living Bible translates this verse, “I am leaving with you a gift – peace of mind and heart.” Through Christ we can experience peace of mind and heart. Worldly peace is temporary, but Christ’s peace is never-ending and is ever-present. The Holy Spirit gives us the peace of Christ. Isaiah 9:6 proclaims that Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” and Zechariah 9:10 states that Christ will proclaim peace to the nations.

Challenge: Read Philippians 4:6-7 for a better understanding of the perfect peace that comes from Jesus Christ. Thank God for the peace you can experience through Jesus. Take some time to relax and experience the real peace of Jesus Christ today.

“Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:9 HCSB

When my children were younger, I did not look forward to going to the store with them. Without fail they would see something on a shelf they wanted; a toy, some candy, even a sugary cereal. Knowing that I was going to be bombarded with “Can I have this?” or “Can we get some of these?” I would practice in my mind my answer, “No, not today.” or “No, we really do not need that.” I am sure every parent has had a similar experience.

Our Heavenly Father has experienced such decisions when we, as His children, make requests of Him. Just as an earthly parent must discern what is best for his children and often says “No,” our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us and often says “No.” If He gave us all we ask for, it would not be good for us.

“In My name” means to submit to and carry out God’s plan. As we get to know Christ more intimately, we know what He would want in a given situation. Our prayer requests should be in line with what God would want rather than what we want. God is not a vending machine that just gives us what we want. He will always give us what is best, even when we do not understand it.

Challenge: For what are you asking? Do your requests line up with what God wants? Always pray that God’s will be done rather than your will. If it is God’s will, you can be assured it is what will be best for you or the person for whom you are praying.

Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:9 HCSB

Someone might ask if I know Tiger Woods, the professional golfer. I know who Tiger Woods is, and I have watched him play golf many times on television and in person at the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship. I have even read about Tiger in the magazine, Golf Digest. Even though I know who Tiger is, have watched him play golf and have read about him, I do not really know him.

How many people have read about Jesus in the Bible, attended church and studied about Him in a Bible study class, or heard preachers proclaim the Good News of Jesus but do not really know Him? They may have even walked the aisle of a church and prayed a prayer to accept Christ as Savior but don’t really know Him. Philip had actually spent time with Jesus and still did not really know Him. The only way to really know Jesus is through a personal relationship with Him. One must respond to Jesus’s gift of eternal life by repenting of his sin, acknowledging his need for forgiveness, confessing belief that Jesus died on the cross for his sins, and trusting Jesus to give him eternal life.

Challenge: To get to know Jesus even better, you must spend time reading God’s Word each day, learning the principles Jesus taught, and applying them to your life. If you want to know what God is like, just spend time getting to know everything you can about Jesus. If you know Jesus, you know God the Father.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 HCSB

If one puts my home address into a GPS, he will discover multiple ways to travel to my house if coming from Louisville. One can take the Gene Snyder Freeway and various back roads or one can travel on Interstate 65 and exit at John Harper Boulevard to have a more direct route.

In today’s world the common thought is that there are multiple ways to get to God. There are many religions with a myriad of opinions concerning what is required to enter heaven. Some religions emphasize that one must perform certain tasks or works to get to heaven while others say that heaven is just a state of mind. Jesus is very clear that He alone is the exclusive way to get to heaven. He is the “Way” for us to be reconciled to God. He shows us the way by illuminating the “Truth”. He is the only way that we will receive forgiveness of our sins and be given eternal “Life”.

Challenge: Do not be deceived by the many messages you receive from world religions. Listen to the words of Jesus and believe that He is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can get to heaven except through Jesus. There is no other way!

“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places, if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4 HCSB

My father passed away in 2005 at the age of 82 from a brain tumor that took his life. I requested that these Scriptures be read at my father’s graveside service. In this wonderful assurance, Jesus promises to prepare a place in heaven for those who believe in Him and to return and take us to heaven where there is no more pain and suffering. I know that my father is in heaven, and I look forward to the day when I will see him again.

In Biblical times when a couple became “engaged” for marriage, the groom would go to prepare a home for his bride. Often the groom would add on a room or several rooms to his father’s house. When everything was ready in the new home, the groom would make his way to his bride to take her to their new home. The marriage ceremony and celebration would often last a week or more. Just like the groom, Jesus has promised to go and prepare a place for us, His church, His bride, and has promised to return and take us to our new home in heaven.

Challenge: Praise God that you have the promise of eternal life in heaven. Just imagine what a wonderful place God is preparing for you. You can be assured that Jesus will return. If you are a believer, you have the promise of a new home. Know that heaven is coming!

“Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!” Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.” John 13:37-38 HCSB

Most of us have watched an informational commercial in which someone is selling a product that seems to do all that is promised and more. The person selling the product claims it will do amazing tasks. Often after purchasing the product, we discover that it does not measure up to the claims made by the person selling it.

Peter quickly and boldly proclaimed that he would be willing to die for Jesus, but Jesus knew the truth that Peter would deny even knowing Him three times before the rooster crowed. Often we are bold in our claims to follow Christ, to have a regular quiet time, to take up our cross daily and follow Him, but when it comes to fulfilling our promises, we often tend to shrink back in fear.

Challenge: How often do you deny the Lord by your actions and words? The Lord knows your heart and knows your commitment level just like He knew of Peter’s. Seek to do what will bring honor and glory to God. Be willing to take a stand for your faith, even if it means being ridiculed or rejected by others.

“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 HCSB

I enjoy wearing my red and black Louisville Cardinal shirt and am proud to be a Louisville Cardinal fan. In Kentucky you will also find true blue Kentucky fans. Some people have bumper stickers that say, “A House Divided” with one half of the sticker being red and black and the other half being blue and white. Even though my sister-in-law is a graduate of the University of Louisville, she is a University of Kentucky fan. Generally speaking, we are known by the colors we wear. Red and black indicates a Louisville fan while blue and white denotes a University of Kentucky fan.

Jesus is saying in this verse that the people of the world will know that we are His disciples by what others see in our lives. If they see us exhibiting the love of Jesus and loving one another, they will know we are His disciples. Our actions, behaviors, and attitudes are reflections of who we are. How can we express the love of Jesus to others? When we humble ourselves and serve others more than ourselves, people will know and understand the love of Christ.

Challenge: Love compels us to humble ourselves and serve others just as Jesus humbled Himself and willfully died on the cross for the sins of the world. For what are you known? Love and compassion? Understanding? A caring demeanor? Do others see Jesus in your life? Is your love showing and evident to others?

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” John 13:34 HCSB

The type of love that is being talked about in this verse is agape love which is unconditional, sacrificial love. I love my wife and children with a love that is unconditional and sacrificial. I would be willing to do anything for them, even die for them. On the other hand, there are many people for whom I care and may even admire, but I do not love them with the same type of love that Jesus has for them.

Just a few hours after Jesus spoke these words, He would pay the ultimate sacrifice and express His unconditional love for us by dying on the cross for our sins. We are sinners and do not deserve His love. Yet, He tells His disciples and ultimately us, that we are to love like He loves. We are to love one another with unconditional, sacrificial love. Although easier said that done, it is what Jesus calls us to do.

Challenge: Is there someone you encounter on a regular basis that you find hard to love in any manner, much less with unconditional, sacrificial love? Look for a way to love that person in the same way that Jesus loves him.

“I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” John 13:16-17 HCSB

Just recently a minister was arrested for the murder of three people. Many of the people in the community could not believe it was possible. The man seemed to be so loving and caring, preaching the Gospel each Sunday, but he was actually accused of being a murderer. There is nothing much worse than someone who puts on a front and acts a certain way to gain the applause or acceptance of others when he is really living a secret life that does not measure up to what he professes.

Jesus admonished His disciples to live out what He had just taught them by washing their feet. A master should be willing to serve, but the servant should be willing to do what the master has told him to do and a messenger should be willing to go where his master sends him. We are servants and messengers for Jesus and should be willing to go and do whatever He commands us to do. Our service to others is evidence of our commitment to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Challenge: The Message Bible translates these verses as, “If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it – and live a blessed life.” Do you understand what Jesus wants you to do? Are you practicing what you preach? Do others see Jesus in your life and actions?

When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. So if I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.” John 13:12-15 HCSB

The materials “Lead Like Jesus” helped me examine how Jesus led and taught His disciples. At the last class one of the exercises was to “wash the feet of the others in the group.” This was done in a symbolic way with each one kneeling and taking a cloth to wipe the dust from the shoes of the others in the group. This was a humbling experience for me and reminded me of how I needed to humble myself and serve others.

In Jesus’ time the roads were dusty and most people wore open sandals, so it was common for the host to provide a slave to wash the feet of guests when they arrived. Evidently when the disciples gathered for the Passover meal, this task had been overlooked. The washing of feet was reserved for the lowest slave, usually a non-Hebrew slave. Consequently Jesus put Himself in the lowest of all positions when He washed the feet of His disciples. He was the most unlikely person to do such a task, but He wanted to teach that they must become servants to each other and to those they encountered if they were be servants of Jesus Christ.

Challenge: Christ set the example for us. We must model the unselfish ministry of Jesus Christ. We must be willing to lay down our lives for others and take up the towel of humble service to others. Are you following Christ’s example of humble service? Are you willing to give yourself to selfless acts of service for Jesus and others? Pray for opportunities to serve others.