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Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Acts chapter 7

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

It is encouraging to know that great men and women of the faith have been willing to give their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  Stephen was such a man. The Bible says that Stephen was full of faith and power, and that he did great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts 6:8). Stephen was unmatched in his testimony for the Lord. Even his countenance reflected the character of God. Acts chapter 7 records Stephen’s speech. I imagine that Stephen’s speech was a lot like what Jesus said to the two disciples on the Emmaus walk. Luke chapter 24 records that Jesus expounded in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. As Jesus opened up the Scriptures these two disciples’ hearts were set on fire for the Lord. Stephen preached like Jesus, looked like Jesus, ministered and lived like Jesus, and when he died, he died like Jesus. From the cross Jesus cried, “Father forgive them.” As Stephen was dying he cried, “Lord, forgive them.” Everything about Stephen reminds us of Jesus. He paid the ultimate price for the Gospel by giving his life. Stephen’s life wasn’t wasted. God used Stephen’s witness to convict and eventually covert the Apostle Paul to the Christian faith. What is it about your life and mine that resembles Jesus? The more like Jesus we become the more God can use our witness.

Prayer: “Dear Father in heaven, thank You for faithful Christian witnesses like Stephen. May we be more like Jesus in everything we do. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Acts chapter 2

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

In the Bible fire represents the presence if God. Israel was no stranger to God’s fire. Moses met God at a burning bush. The fire of God fell at Mt. Carmel whenever Elijah prayed and called upon the Lord. The children of Israel were led through the wilderness with a cloud by day and fire by night. When Solomon dedicated the temple fire fell on the altar. And when the church gathered for a ten day prayer meeting fire from heaven fell upon the church. Pentecost fulfilled the promise Jesus made to His church that He would send the Comforter. The result of God giving us His Spirit is that we have boldness to proclaim Christ. The coming of the Spirit also resulted in the early church flourishing. Thousands trusted Christ, followed the Lord in believers baptism, and began growing as Christ followers. Spirit filled churches will experience unity, fellowship, growth in God’s Word, and a passion to see people saved. I heard about a church that had a disagreement over what color of shingles to put on the roof. Half of the church wanted black shingles and the other half wanted brown. They decided the only way to settle it was to put black shingles on one side of the church and brown shingles on the other. When Sunday came the church members that voted for black shingles sat on the side of the church that had black shingles on the roof. The members that voted for brown shingles sat on the side of the church with brown shingles. Is there anything about the attitude of that church that resembles the New Testament church in Acts 2? What is there about your church that resembles Pentecost? Pentecost is not the abnormal, it is the norm for God’s church. We can experience the presence and power of God’s Spirit in the church today!

Prayer: “Dear Father, pour out Your revival fire on us today. May we live and worship and serve in the power of Your Spirit! May our churches resemble the New Testament church at Pentecost. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 21

(Read the entire New Tesrament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Some people believe that a bad night of fishing is still better than a good day at work. Jesus’ disciples might not agree with that. They fished all night but caught nothing. When morning came Jesus stood on the shore. He told the disciples where to cast their nets, and when they obeyed the catch was more than they could haul. Before His crucifixion Jesus was in the upper room with the disciples and He said to them, “Without Me you can do nothing.” This fishing trip proved that Jesus was right. Overcome with discouragement Peter said, “I am going fishing.” His statement indicates that he was returning to the vocation of fishing. Whenever we backslide we always run the risk of taking others with us. Peter did not go on this fishing trip alone. Thankfully, God extended grace to Peter and used this opportunity to restore a fallen disciple. Jesus said, “Peter do you love Me more than these?” Peter had claimed to love the Lord more than anyone else, but he ended up denying Jesus three times. Jesus graciously restored Peter and accepted his love and affirmed his devotion. Eventually, Peter would give his life in service to our Lord. It is only by God’s grace that any of us are given the privilege of serving the Lord. There will be moments of failure and defeat but don’t be discouraged. After all, it isn’t the mistakes we make but who we turn to in them that matters most of all.

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, help us to abide in You so that we will love You and serve You the way we should, and help us not to focus on our failures but may we focus on who You are. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 17

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Jesus is the great Prayer Warrior. In His High Priestly Prayer, recorded in John 17, Jesus prayed the glory down. There are some people who seem to be on a first name basis with the Father that are able to pray heaven down. They have learned from Jesus how to pray. Their walk with God is such that their heart and life is tuned to the Father, and their prayers reveal the heart of God. Prayer has more to do with our relationship with the Father than the words we choose to say to God. Jesus prayed perfect and powerful prayers that brought the glory down. The word “glory” appears eight times in Jesus prayer. The key to effective prayer is praying for that which brings God glory. God will not share His glory with any man, but when we seek to bring Him glory God will honor it. The Holy Spirit will bless us when we seek God’s glory. He will manifest the Father to us and allow us to bask in God’s glory. We should be encouraged that Jesus still knows how to pray and that He is praying for us today.

Prayer: “Father, thank You for the prayers of Jesus, may we Your children learn to pray like Him. May our lives be so tuned to the heart of God that we pray heaven down. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 15

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Jesus is the one true vine. We who are followers of Jesus are the branches and we must stay connected to the vine in order to be fruitful. Abiding in Jesus is the key to the Christian life. It isn’t just difficult to live the Christian life apart from Jesus, it is impossible! Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.” 2 Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” As believers we grow and serve God effectively by abiding in Jesus. Notice in John 15 a progression of fruit bearing. Jesus mentions “fruit” then “more fruit” and finally “much fruit.” Bearing fruit for the glory of God is the goal of the Christian life. When we know God we love Him. When we love God we obey Him. When we obey God we bear fruit and, when we bear fruit we bring Him glory! To abide in Jesus is to abide in His Word. Jesus said, “You are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” Abiding in Jesus also means abiding in prayer. Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” Sadly there are many churches and many Christians drying up and withering away because they fail to abide in Jesus. The term “abide” indicates a daily abiding. There is nothing more important to you as a child of God than your daily alone time with God. That is the secret to your spiritual success. God’s Word warns the wilting, immature Christian who fails to abide and bear fruit that the wood, hay, and stubble of their life will be burned up! 1 Corinthians 3:13 says, “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

Prayer: “Dear Father, we praise Jesus the one True Vine! Help us to abide in Him and may our lives bear fruit for your glory. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 10

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” In the Old Testament the sheep were sacrificed for the shepherd, but when Jesus came He was the Good Shepherd who was sacrificed for His sheep. The Good Shepherd agonized a grueling death on the cross in order to pay the sin debt. He fully met all the righteous requirements of Holy God to be the one sacrifice for sin forever. You see without the shedding of blood there would be no remission of sin. It required Jesus dying in our place to satisfy the sin debt. No one took His life from Him but He freely gave it up for all. He could have called ten thousand angels but instead He chose to die for you and me. “His hands were nail pierced, His side was riven, He gave His life’s blood for you and me. Oh what a Savior! Oh hallelujah!” The cross was a symbol of shame, but when Jesus was crucified it became a glorious cross! The crucified, buried, and risen Savior stands before us now and proclaims, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me.” To become a follower of Jesus we must identify with His cross, die to self and live in surrender to Him.

Prayer: “We thank You for the cross upon which the precious Savior died. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 7

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” He spoke these words with passion. His heart yearned and longed for the spiritually impoverished people to turn to Him for life and satisfaction. They were searching in all the wrong places for hope and happiness. He not only spoke these words with passion but also He spoke them prophetically. His words were a fulfillment of the scripture. Not only were His words prophetic, but also they were a promise. He was describing the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit lives in us and gives us life! The witness of God’s Spirit flows from our lives like a river when we belong to God. This is true because God promised it to us.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, our souls are thirsty, we come to You that we may experience Your Holy Spirit flowing like a river from our lives. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron