Category: First Things First Devotional

He left Judea and went again to Galilee. He had to travel through Samaria, so He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. John 4:3-5 HCSB

Our country recently celebrated and remembered the Civil Rights March on Washington where Martin Luther King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. I can remember as a child that black Americans were forced to ride in the back of a bus and were not allowed to eat in some public restaurants. During this era white Americans and black Americans had separate drinking fountains. That was a terrible time in the history of the United States. Black Americans were unfairly discriminated against because of the color of their skin.

In Jesus’ time the same type of prejudice existed toward the Samaritans. The Northern Kingdom had been defeated by the Assyrians. They deported many of the Jews into slavery and brought foreigners into Samaria to settle the land. The foreigners intermarried with the remaining Jews, thus creating the mixed-race, mixed-religion country of Samaritans. Jews did not want to defile themselves by coming into contact with Samaritans, so they took extreme measures to avoid the Samaritan country and its people, who they considered to be unclean. To this end, most Jews would cross over the Jordan River, travel several miles up its east bank until they reached Damascus, which was far out of their way. Jesus however, did not avoid the Samaritans but traveled straight through their country, indicating He did not consider them to be unclean.

Challenge: Are you prejudiced toward a certain group of people? Ask God to reveal your prejudice and to help you make changes so you can see all people through the eyes of Jesus.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 HCSB

It is always fun to gather with family to celebrate my birthday or one of the birthdays of my children. We celebrate another year of life. The fact is that we are all going to die someday, we just do not know when. Some live longer than others. My grandmother lived to be 100 years old. But just this week I learned that the son of a friend had died at a young age. No one is guaranteed another year or even another day on earth.

I have another birthday – my spiritual birthday. When I was 10 years old I knelt in the living room with my father and mother and prayed for Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to be the Lord of my life. I have tried to live my life in such a way that would bring honor and glory to His kingdom.

John 3:16 is a familiar verse that many people can quote. We occasionally see it on signs at sporting events. I often write “God Loves You, John 3:16” on a restaurant receipt that I have signed and left for the waiter. This one verse tells the Good News of Jesus Christ. God loves us. He gave His One and Only Son to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Those who believe in Him and confess Jesus as Lord will not perish but have everlasting life. It is that simple.

Challenge: There are those around you who need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. With whom are you going to share the Good News today? Praise God that there is forgiveness of sins and eternal life for those who believe in Jesus. Write “God Loves You, John 3:16” on your next restaurant receipt. Spread the Good News!

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. John 3:14-15 HCSB

In Numbers 21:4-9 we read about the plague of snakes that came on the Israelites because of their disobedience to God. Those who were bitten by the snakes were doomed to die. There was only one salvation. If they obeyed God’s command to look upon the elevated bronze snake that Moses had made and believed that God would heal them, then they would be healed and saved from certain death.

The same is true of everyone who is a sinner. We are all condemned to die because of the bite of sin in our lives. We have yielded to the temptations of the devil and deserve to die and to be cast into hell for eternity. Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross and died for our sins. When we look to Jesus, believing that He can save us, God has promised that we will be healed of our sins and live eternally in heaven.

Challenge: Praise God for the gift of His Son who has provided a way for your sins to be forgiven and for you to have eternal life.

“Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. “I assure you We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony. If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven?” John 3:10-12 HCSB

Because I have been playing golf since I was eight years old, I have taken numerous golf lessons and read many articles in golf magazines I have a good head knowledge of how to play the game of golf. However, making my body do what I know I need to do to hit a good golf shot is a different story. Head knowledge alone does not transform me into a talented golfer.

Nicodemus was a teacher of the law who had studied the teachings of Moses. He knew everything that was taught about the coming Messiah, but he did not realize he was standing in the presence of the Messiah. Jesus had explained about things on earth and he did not understand, so how was Nicodemus to understand the things of heaven?

Challenge: Head knowledge alone does not make you a Christian. Too many people have a head knowledge of Jesus Christ but they have never accepted Him as Lord and Savior. They know who Jesus is and may even believe He is the Son of God, but they have never prayed and asked for forgiveness of sins and confessed Jesus as Lord. Pray and ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life.

Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. John 3:5-7 HCSB

As a child I had a pet duck whose name was “Tex” that I brought back to Kentucky from Texas. He followed me around like a baby duck follows his mother. One day I had taken him out in the backyard so he could get some exercise. I did not realize that he had gotten right behind me and as I stepped back, I accidentally stepped on him. He was so small that I crushed his little body. I was devastated and wished that I could bring him back to life. My friends and I placed him in a small box and held a funeral service for him.

Nicodemus came to Jesus wanting to know how a person could have eternal life and never die. Jesus said there is only one way for someone to enter the kingdom of God: He must be born again. This seemed odd to Nicodemus because no one could be born again physically. Jesus explained that one must be born of the water, referring to physical birth, but also be born of the Spirit in order to receive eternal life. We do not enter God’s kingdom by living a “good” life; it is only by the Spirit of God that we can be convicted of our sins and accept the free gift of grace from God.

Challenge: Have you been spiritually reborn? God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness are offered to everyone; to all sinners. You must accept this free gift to receive eternal life. If you have been spiritually reborn you will never die. Everyone will physically die, but those who have been spiritually reborn will live forever with Jesus in heaven.

There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with Him.” John 3:1-2 HCSB

Our church just finished an Adventure Weekend with evangelist Jay Lowder. We hosted a student event, a women’s event, a men’s event, and a community-wide expo. Church members were encouraged to invite friends, family, work associates, and neighbors to these events so they could hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. A great number made decisions to live for Christ, many of whom accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He was a part of a very influential and legalistic sect that majored on keeping all of the laws of Moses. They had defined in detail what a person must do to keep the commandments. Jesus challenged the Pharisees because they were hypocrites. They taught people how to follow the commandments but did not personally do what they taught others to do. As a ruler, Nicodemus was a part of the governing body called the Sanhedrin. He probably came to Jesus in the dark of night because he was afraid of what his peers may think of him for seeking Jesus. Nicodemus recognized Jesus as a “Rabbi” or great teacher from God and he wanted to learn from Him. Everyone needs to recognize Jesus as more than a great teacher. He is the Son of God. Everyone needs to come to Jesus and accept Him as Lord.

Challenge: Have you come to Jesus? Have you admitted you are a sinner? Have you prayed to Jesus and asked forgiveness of your sins and confessed Him as your Lord? Do not be afraid of what others may think of you. Come to Jesus with an open heart and mind so He can teach you the truths of God.

In the temple complex He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and He also found the money changers sitting there. After making a whip out of cords, He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a marketplace!” John 2:14-16 HCSB

I am sorry to say that there have been times when I was younger that I exhibited my anger on the golf course. In frustration because of making a poor shot, I tossed a club into the air. One time the club actually got lodged in a tree. In my attempt to get the club down I got another club stuck in the tree. Shortly, I had three clubs up in the tree, while my playing partners had a good laugh. It took a while but I eventually retrieved all of my clubs. I am not proud of my anger on the golf course; it served no purpose and usually caused me to play even worse.

Anger is an emotion that God created, but it must be used in an appropriate way. There should be anger against injustice in the world. Jesus was angry with the money changers because they were were charging an unusually high exchange rate. Foreigners who were in Jerusalem for the Passover had to exchange their foreign currency to be able to purchase animals to sacrifice in the temple. Even if they brought their own animals, the priests would usually find the animal was not “perfect” enough and people would be required to purchase the animals that were for sale. The “perfect” animals were always sold at an exorbitant rate. Jesus was angry at the dishonesty and injustice. The people were using God’s house as a way of making a profit and taking advantage of others. Therefore, Jesus drove the people out of the temple. Certainly others could have overpowered Him, but God gave Him the power to cast the offenders from His Father’s House.

Challenge: Do not ever use God’s house as a place to make a personal profit or gain in some way. God’s house should be a house of prayer and worship. Additionally, make sure your anger is justified and used in an appropriate manner.

Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:11 HCSB

Jesus is still in the miracle business. A church where I served had run behind budget all year long and finances were tight. It appeared that we were going to have to dip into reserves as we finished the year with expenses over receipts. Without any emphasis from the pastor on giving, the church gave over $250,000 in one month. The history of giving of the church indicated that this had never happened and especially in December. I believe this was a miracle of God. The church finished the year in the black instead of the red. Since that time the giving has continued to be strong and the receipts are above expenses. Praise God!

John recorded that turning water into wine was Jesus’ first miracle, but there are some who debate if this was actually His first miracle. The occasion upon which Jesus told Peter to cast his nets on the other side of the boat and a record number of fish were caught may have been His first miracle. These verses say that Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding celebration, so evidently Jesus had already chosen the twelve disciples. John focused on Jesus’ miracles and confirmed that miracles were evidence that Jesus was The Messiah. Turning water to wine may have been His first miracle where there seemed to be no logical explanation. The disciples saw the water and then saw and tasted the wine. Regardless, Jesus characteristically demonstrated God’s power.

Challenge: Jesus is still in the miracle business of touching lives and changing people. Do not believe in Jesus because He performed superhuman miracles, but believe because He is God who came to earth to show us a better way and to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Believe in Him and confess Him as Lord and you will be forgiven and receive eternal life, which is the greatest miracle of all.

Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons. “Fill the jars with water.” Jesu told them. So they filled them to the brim. Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.” and they did. When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from – though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” John 2:6-10 HCSB

As a child I played in a golf tournament. As an incentive to win the match, my father promised to give me a Titleist golf ball. Some would say that a golf ball is a golf ball but I beg to differ. When I am able to play with a better golf ball (I prefer Titleist), there is a difference. The ball comes off of the club better and there is a better feel. Even on the green when putting the ball has a better feel. Cheap golf balls can be purchased for $10 per dozen, but better balls cost approximately $45 per dozen. I always enjoy playing with the best golf balls.

When Jesus turned the water into wine He could have turned it into the cheaper wine, but Jesus never did anything less than the best. He turned the water into the finest wine available. Anything Jesus does is always with a spirit of excellence. He touched the blind and lame and made them whole again. He forgave sinners and provided them with new purpose and meaning for living. He is still touching lives and making the best out of the ordinary.

Challenge: Just as the water Jesus turned to wine was the best, with Jesus’ touch on your life you can be the best. He can take the worst life of a sinner and transform it into the best it can be. With Jesus’ Master touch all things are excellent.

When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.” What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?” Jesus asked,. “My hour has not yet come.” “Do whatever He tells you.” His mother told the servants. John 2:3-5 HCSB

As the father of the bride for two daughters, I can relate to the importance of having everything prepared in advance and certainly of having enough food and refreshments at the wedding reception. It would be very embarrassing and humiliating not to have enough food and drinks for the wedding guests.

Jesus’ mother turned to Him and directed Him to take care of the problem of not having any wine. It is assumed that Joseph, Jesus’ father, had already died and it would have been natural for a mother to turn to the oldest son as the leader. It is not sure if she was asking Him to perform a miracle of producing some wine or if she was just expecting Him to go get some wine so the party could continue and the host would not be embarrassed. Either way it is obvious that she expected and trusted Jesus to take care of the problem.

Challenge: Take your problems to Jesus. He can handle anything you bring to Him. He may not perform a miracle to solve your problem like He did in Cana, but He does understand what you are going through and He will walk with you through any difficulty you may face.