Category: First Things First Devotional

When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple complex and began to teach. Then the Jews were amazed and said, “How does He know the Scriptures, since He hasn’t been trained?” John 7:14-15 HCSB

While in seminary I contemplated continuing my education and pursuing a doctor’s degree, but God called me to a church in Florida directly after graduation. I have done some additional training from time to time through the years and have received information about continuing my education, but it never seemed the right time. Having higher education is not necessary to do ministry, but it certainly may open doors that make it possible for one to be more effective in ministry.

Jesus had probably received the same training as most Jewish boys. He would have learned to read, write, and quote much of the Old Testament, but He did not have the formal higher education that would have qualified Him as a rabbi. Yet, the people were amazed that He understood and taught the Scriptures as one with great knowledge and training.

Challenge: Jesus knew the Scripture and has taught us through His Word, the Bible, how we should live our lives. Follow His teachings and do what will bring honor and glory to His kingdom.

“I assure you: Anyone who believes has eternal life. I am the Bread of life.” John 6:47-48 HCSB

I heard a story of a little five year old girl upon seeing the picture of a child in a third world country suffering from malnutrition asked her father, “What is wrong with the little boy?” The father explained that the little boy looked that way because he had not had very much to eat to which the little girl said, “That is just pretend, isn’t it Dad?” It is hard for a five year old girl who has grown up eating three healthy meals each day to understand how a little boy would not have much to eat. Food and water are essential for life.

Jesus used the metaphor of bread to explain that He was the Bread of life. Those who believe in Him and accept Him as personal Savior will receive bread that will give them eternal life. Jesus provides what people need for their spiritual hunger. Just like we need physical bread to sustain life here on earth, we need the spiritual Bread of life found only in Jesus to enjoy life to its fullest, spent in a joyful, never-ending relationship with God.

Challenge: Are you hungry for the Bread of life? Taste and eat of spiritual bread and you will receive everlasting life. You can have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

“What sign then are You going to do so we may see and believe You?” they asked, “What are You going to perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat. John 6:30-31 HCSB

The people were following Jesus because of what they could get from Him. They wanted to be healed. They wanted to be fed. They liked watching Him heal others. In the minds of many people, it was a show worth watching. They may or may not have been believers, but they enjoyed a good show.

The people wanted more miracles and signs. They even mocked Jesus when they talked about their ancestors eating manna in the dessert. This was an insult directed at Jesus. They were basically saying, “We have already heard about our ancestors eating manna in the desert and we have seen you feed thousands of people, but we want to see more. Do something no one else can do.”

Challenge: What is it going to take for you to believe? Jesus said how much more blessed it would be for the person who does not see yet believes. Accept Jesus based on your understanding and have faith that He will forgive your sins and give you eternal life.

Jesus answered, “I assure you: You are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal of approval on Him.” John 6:26-27 HCSB

All my life I have heard of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, but I did not know what it actually meant. GoodHouseKeeping.com reports, “Good Housekeeping maintains good taste and exercises strict editorial judgment as to products it will accept for advertising in the printed magazine and in reviewing all of the advertising copy it publishes. These judgments are the basis of the Good Housekeeping Consumers’ Refund or Replacement Policy.

WE PROMISE This is Good Housekeeping’s LIMITED WARRANTY: If any product that bears our Seal or is advertised in this issue proves to be defective within two years from the date it was first sold to a consumer by an authorized retailer, we, Good Housekeeping, will replace or repair the product or refund the purchase price. This policy covers you, the consumer, whether you bought the product or it was given to you (by the buyer).” It is comforting to know that Good Housekeeping will stand behind the products advertised in its magazine.

God the Father has set His seal of approval on Jesus. God’s seal is far superior to the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. God approves of Jesus and guarantees that those who believe in Him will never perish or die. Their sins will be forgiven and they will receive eternal life in heaven where there is no pain, suffering, or death.

Challenge: Know that God’s Word is true and you can always accept it as truth. God’s Word guarantees that through faith in Jesus Christ you can have forgiveness of sins and gain eternal life.

Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were seated – so also with the fish, as much as they wanted. John 6:11 HCSB

From the time my children were very young to today as adults, they know that as a family we always give thanks for our food before we eat. Even when we gather for a meal in a restaurant, we pause to give thanks. It is appropriate to thank God for our food and for the many blessings of life.

Jesus set the example as He took the five barley loaves and two fish and gave thanks for them before distributing them to the people. He knew the importance of giving thanks to the Heavenly Father for everything. The number of men who were fed that day was recorded in the Scripture to be 5,000 but when you include women and children the number may have been as high as 15,000. Jesus demonstrated His power and authority by feeding thousands with only five loaves of bread and two fish. As we faithfully follow God and His plan for our lives, He will always provide what we need and often what we desire. Just like the boy with the five loaves and two fish; when we are willing to give what we have (talents and money) to Jesus, He can accomplish miracles.

Challenge: Set the example for your children by praying before every meal. Teach them to pray diligently. Set the example for others by offering to pray and consistently give thanks for your meal, even when you are eating out with business associates. What are you willing to give to Jesus so He can touch the lives of thousands of people? Thank God for your food and for the many blessings He has provided for you.

Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?” He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do. Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.” John 6:5-7 HCSB

My son, Jonathan, has been on two mission trips to West Africa. The first time was to Niger and the second was to Sierra Leone. In both locations he observed people who were sick as a result of poor nutrition. Jonathan had the painful experience of watching a five year old little boy die as a result of poor nutrition. It is estimated that there are 975 million people in our world who are hungry. Even in America there are 19 million people who are hungry. Most of us are fortunate to have three healthy meals every day. We have multiple restaurants and grocery stores filled with a variety of food. In America, we are richly blessed.

Jesus had been teaching and healing people all day. He noticed that a large crowd had gathered and more were coming. It was late in the day and obviously the people needed to eat. Since Philip lived in the area, Jesus asked him where they could purchase some bread to feed the people. Philip’s response indicated he was more concerned with how much money it would take. Two hundred denarii would be equivalent to approximately $40.00 in U.S. Currency, which in Jesus’ time would have been a year’s wage. Therefore, Philip was basically saying, “We haven’t got enough money to buy food to feed these people.” Jesus knew that He was going to provide the food for the crowd but wanted to test Philip and his faith.

Challenge: There are hungry people around you today. What can you do to make a difference in the lives of those who are physically hungry and spiritually hungry? Skip a meal this week and give the money you would have spent to world hunger. Volunteer at Dare to Care. The next time you are at the grocery story, thank God for the variety and abundance of food you are able to enjoy. Always be ready to give an explanation of the Hope that is within you to those who are spiritually hungry. Share the love of Christ each day with those you encounter.

Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” John 5:16-17 HCSB

The Jewish leaders tossed aside the miracle Jesus had just performed and began to focus on the rules that had been broken. They should have been rejoicing and praising God for healing the man. Sadly, they were more concerned with catching Jesus breaking one of the rules than they were at exploring the great miracle of healing they had observed.

The Jewish leaders began to ridicule and harass Jesus. They were out to get Him. Jesus was more concerned with doing what was good and right instead of obeying the Law. This was a great indicator of how far away from the original intent of God’s laws the Jewish leaders had strayed. The Bible says that God rested on the Sabbath. It does not say He ignored those in need. If God had taken this approach, the world would have fallen into chaos and would have been destroyed by sin.

Challenge: Take advantage of every opportunity to do good and help others, even if it is on a Sunday. God is more concerned with meeting the needs of His children than He is in following stringent rules. The rules were designed to help us know how to act, not to limit doing what is good and right in God’s sight.

After this, Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him, “See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” John 5:14 HCSB

One Christmas season we had taken our four children to the toy store in the mall. As we entered, they all seemed to scatter in different directions. Bethany headed toward the dolls. Nathan had an interest in the scientific games. Jonathan headed for the balls. Debbie pushed Sarah along in a stroller. A few minutes later, I asked Debbie, “Where is Jonathan?” She replied, “I thought he was with you.” I replied, “I thought he was with you.” We searched every aisle, but he was nowhere in the store. We then moved into the mall corridors with Debbie going one direction and I the other, looking in every store and calling out for Jonathan. I was in panic mode, worried that someone had taken him. Halfway down the mall a man asked, “Are you looking for a little boy?” In desperation I replied, “Yes!” The man directed me to the store where he last saw Jonathan. I rushed to the store and found Jonathan sitting on the counter talking to the sales clerk. I was so relieved and thanked God
for his safe return.

Just as I went looking for Jonathan, Jesus went looking for the man he had healed in the temple complex. Jesus had slipped away because He did not want to gain publicity by his miraculous healing of the man. He sought him out because He knew he needed a spiritual healing more than a physical healing. When Jesus told him not to sin anymore, he was not inferring that the man’s illness was a result of his sins. He told the man to stop sinning because if he did not, a greater spiritual problem would occur.

Challenge: Jesus always seeks us out and desires to forgive and heal us spiritually. He wants us to be His hands and feet to reach out and touch the lives of others.

Now that day was the Sabbath, so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “this is the Sabbath! It’s illegal for you to pick up your mat.” He replied, “the man who made me well told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” John 5:9b-10 HCSB

The Pharisees had taken the Ten Commandments given to Moses and had added hundreds of rules and definitions regarding how one could keep them. The original commandment is found in Exodus 20:18, “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” According to the Pharisees, any type of work was prohibited on the Sabbath, including healing or picking up a mat. They had identified thirty-nine tasks that were prohibited on the Sabbath, such as tying or untying a knot. While visiting Israel I observed that there were certain elevators in buildings that were shut down on Sabbath (Friday at sundown till Saturday at sundown) because they were considered to be working if they lifted or lowered someone to the next level.

Everyone was required to rest on the Sabbath following the example set by God who rested on the seventh day of creation. In this story, Jesus was the first to break the rules of the Pharisees by healing on the Sabbath, but additionally He commanded the man to break the rules by picking up his mat. These were man-made rules and not the rules of God. Too many times we try to live by man-made rules in order to please others instead of living by God’s rules and pleasing God. The Pharisees were more concerned with keeping the laws so everyone could observe them and see how religious they were. The focus was on their external appearance instead of keeping the intent of the law and pleasing God.

Challenge: Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Do what would be pleasing to God. Are your rules and regulations helping people draw closer to God or are they becoming a hindrance to others?

“Sir,” the sick man answered, “I don’t have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.” “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk!” Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk. John 5:7-9a HCSB

Popular thoughts were that an angel would periodically come and cause the water to move or have ripples. The first person into the pool of water would then be healed. The man in today’s Scripture had been by the pool for years hoping for his chance to get into the water first and to be healed. Evidently, he was crippled. We do not know his exact medical condition but he could not walk and needed someone to help him get into the pool of water. He may have crawled or scooted along the ground trying to get into the water many, many times but had never been able to receive the healing he so desperately desired.

Jesus did not say, “I will help you into the pool of water” or “You just need to move faster”. Instead He said, “Get up”. It was a command. The man could have argued with Him that he could not get up or walk. Instead, he did not hesitate but instantly believed and was healed. He picked up his mat and began to walk. Even though the man had been crippled for 38 years, God had a plan for him and used his disability to bring glory and honor to Jesus.

Challenge: You may have a sickness or a disability and wonder how God could possibly use you. Know that God is still in the miracle business and even when you think things are hopeless and you feel trapped, God can take your situation and bring good out of it. God has a plan for you and can use your weaknesses to accomplish great things. Trust Him and see how He uses you to minister to the lives of those around you.