Category: First Things First Devotional

On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well.
John 2:1-2 HCSB

I have had the opportunity to actually visit the church in Cana that is built over the spot where many speculate that Jesus attended the wedding festival referenced in today’s Scripture. My wife and I also have had the privilege of renewing our wedding vows along with other couples visiting the church. Cana is a small town in Israel. The church is an old church built out of stone.

In Jesus’ time a wedding would often last all week. Evidently they were on the third day of celebration when Jesus and His disciples came to the festivities. Most likely everyone in town would have been invited to the wedding in Cana. Jesus and His disciples had taken time away from healing the sick and ministry to attend the wedding celebration. As the Son of God, Jesus enjoyed being where people were because it provided an opportunity to minister.

Challenge: We are often tempted not to take time away from our work due to our business commitments. If Jesus could take time off to attend a wedding party, perhaps we should also take time to celebrate with others. Our social time may quite possibly be a part of God’s plan for our lives. Times of celebration often can provide opportunities of ministry.

Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, “Here is a true Israelite, no deceit is in him.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Jesus answered. John 1:47-48 HCSB

Everyone has probably wished at times to be able to see into the future and know what is going to happen or to be able to “be a fly on the wall” and see the actions and hear the words of others without them knowing you were present.

Jesus is all knowing. He knew who Nathanael was even though they had never met. He could see Nathanael under the fig tree even though He was not present. God can see and hear everything that takes place in our world. That is hard for our small human minds to even comprehend. Jesus also knew Nathanael’s heart and described him as a true Israelite, indicating that Nathanael was a man of sincerity and integrity, unlike the religious leaders of that day.

Challenge: How would Jesus describe you? Would He say you are a person of sincerity and integrity? God knows all and sees all. The next time you are tempted to do something, remember that God is watching and He knows your heart.

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!” “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered. John 1:45-46 HCSB

World War II resulted in prejudice toward Japanese people in the United States. The Germans displayed prejudice against the Jews. Today many Americans exhibit prejudice against people who appear to have Middle Eastern descent post 911. We all have observed people who are prejudiced. They may dislike someone because of his skin color or the geographic location of residence in town. Their preconceived ideas suggest that those who have a certain skin color or socio-economic class are not worthy of acceptance.

Nathanael had a preconceived idea that nothing good could come from Nazareth. Evidently Nazareth was despised by the Jews because it housed a Roman government post. There may have also been a lax attitude toward religion and moral standards in Nazareth that caused Nathanael to have such a poor attitude toward the town. Regardless of the cause, Nathanael was prejudiced toward the people from Nazareth and as a result, he almost missed Jesus. Fortunately he did not allow his prejudice to get in the way and he went with Philip to meet Jesus. Biblical scholars believe that Nathanael was Bartholomew, who later became one of Jesus’ disciples.

Challenge: What prejudices do you have? Are you allowing them to keep you from ministering to certain people in the name of Jesus Christ? Do not allow your prejudices to keep you from Jesus. Who have you told about Jesus this week?

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.

And John testified, “I watched the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him. I didn’t know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on – He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit,’ I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!” John 1:32-34 HCSB

I can remember as a child attending the Greater Jacksonville Open golf tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. I was impressed and honored to get to see the great professional golfers play that day. One of my highlights was getting the autograph of Arnold Palmer. My father pointed him out to me and said, “There is Arnold Palmer.” At the time he was known as the world’s greatest golfer. “Arnie’s Army” was used to describe those who faithfully followed him around the golf course to watch him play.

As famous as Arnold Palmer is, he can never compare to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Just imagine being present and hearing John say, “Jesus is the Son of God.” Would you have believed him? John knew that Jesus was the Son of God because he saw the Holy Spirit descend on Him just as God had described would happen. Jesus is God’s One and Only Son that was divinely appointed to the task of showing men how to live before he died on the cross for the sins of the world. The Holy Spirit was with Jesus to help guide Him and give Him encouragement as He accomplished the task before Him.

Challenge: As a believer, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you when you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior. He is there to guide you, convict you of sin, and encourage you when you face difficult times. Thank God for Jesus, the Son of God, and for the Holy Spirit that helps you everyday.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 HCSB

In the Old Testament there are numerous references of a lamb being sacrificed on behalf of the people. One of the most notable was the lamb that was sacrificed the night the death angel went throughout Egypt killing all of the first born sons as a way to convince the Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. The Israelites took the blood from the sacrificed lamb and placed it on the doorpost. This was a sign to the death angel to “passover” the house. That is why it is referred to as the “Passover Lamb.” Today the Jews still observe the “Passover Meal” as a way of remembering how God delivered them from Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him he proclaimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God. Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross paid the price for the sins of all men. Through belief and faith in Jesus, one can have his sins forgiven and obtain eternal life. God provided the perfect Lamb as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus’ blood makes it possible for us to defeat death and to live eternally.

Challenge: Thank God for the gift of His perfect Lamb that takes away your sins. Praise God for making it possible for you to have eternal life.

Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son – the One who is at the Father’s side – He has revealed Him. John 1:16-18 HCSB

My son owns a 1966 red Mustang car. It is beautiful and whenever we drive it we always receive comments like, “Nice car!” His car may be rare, but it is not unique. There are thousands of older Mustang cars available even though they are no longer produced. There are some things that are unique and one of a kind. Every person’s DNA is unique. Every snowflake is unique. Every person’s fingerprint is unique. The rings on a tree are unique.

These verses tell us that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God. The emphasis is on the uniqueness of Jesus. There is only One Son. Jesus is a one-of-a-kind. There is no one like Him. He enjoys a special and unique relationship with God, the Father. Even though as believers we are children of God, we are not like Jesus. He is the perfect Lamb of God that never sinned. He alone died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven and God could accept us as one of His children.

Challenge: Thank God that you are unique and that He loves you for who you are. God made you unique with special skills and abilities. Use your unique talents to serve the Lord. Thank God for the grace and blessing you have received from Him.

The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 HCSB

I once heard a story of a man who saw a large ant hill with thousands of ants crawling all over it. Some ants were carrying food into the ant hill. They seemed to be busy preparing for winter. The man also observed an anteater nearby. His first thought was, “How can I warn the ants of the impending danger?” but there was no way to communicate with them. His second thought was, “If only I could become an ant and go down into their hill and communicate with them and tell them that danger is lurking nearby. Maybe then I could save the ants from destruction and death.”

God loved us and wanted to communicate with us and help us to know the depth of His love. He also wanted to help us know how to live on earth and how we could have our sins forgiven and live eternally. Therefore God became a human in the form of Jesus Christ. It was through Christ that man could more fully know God because He was visible and tangible. Jesus, the Son, was the perfect expression of God, the Father. Jesus was not half man and half God. He was fully God and fully man.

Challenge: Too often people minimize Jesus’ humanity, but it is important to understand that Christ was our perfect sacrifice because He was just like us but without sin. Jesus was our perfect teacher who taught us through His earthly example how to live life to its fullest. He was also our perfect example. He lived a life that set an example for all people to follow. Thank God that He sent Jesus to the world to teach you, set an example for you, and die in your place so your sins could be forgiven.

He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. John 1:11-13 HCSB

God has blessed me with four wonderful children, all of whom I am very proud. They have grown into responsible adults who are making a positive contribution to society and in God’s Kingdom. Even if one of them had chosen a path that would have brought dismay to our family, he or she would still be my child. Once my child, always my child. There is nothing one of them could ever do that would remove my love and mercy for him/her as my child.

Those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior become children of God. Once God’s child, always God’s child. We cannot do anything that would change that fact. It is not by birth or by our own will that we become children of God but only by God’s mercy and love. We do not deserve to be His children, but by God’s grace we are chosen.

Challenge: Praise God that you are His child. You have been adopted into His family and you cannot do anything that will cause a change in your status as a member of God’s family.

Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:4-5 HCSB

A few years ago my family vacationed at Hilton Head, South Carolina. One of our activities was to climb the winding staircase to the top of the lighthouse. The view from the top was breathtaking. The sun was setting in colors of pink and blue as its rays pierced through the clouds on the horizon. The boats sitting in the harbor with the light reflecting off of the water made it a very picturesque scene.

A lighthouse serves the vital function of shining light in the darkness to warn ships that land is near. Its bright light also enables ships to properly navigate dark waters. In these verses John tells his readers that Jesus is the light or lighthouse that is shining in the darkness of sin to show people the way and to help them to navigate the dark waters of temptation and sin.

Challenge: Jesus is the Light of the World. He has overcome sin and death. The darkness of our world cannot overcome or defeat the Light of Jesus Christ. Thank God that as a believer you have overcome darkness and you have the promise of eternal life. Look to Jesus and follow His light in our dark world of sin.