Daily Devotional

A daily devotional to strengthen your relationship with God.

Today's Devotional

Leave everything at the foot of the cross

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

For any Jew, it was madness to imagine that the most despicable and shameful kind of death, crucified on a cross, would be how the Messiah would grant salvation. Likewise, it was absurd for the Greeks, lovers of wisdom - "philosophers", to consider that something was more powerful than their knowledge.

For the Romans and many other Gentiles, nothing was more desirable than the power of wealth and possessions. So too today, many people cling to religiosity, intellectuality, or ambitions for more material goods, as their goal in life.

Many people continue to regard the message of the cross as foolishness, and so they choose to carry on clinging to human resources. But the cross is the power of God for believers! Make no mistake, no amount of human goodness, wisdom, or wealth can give you guarantees in this life or the next. There is only one way to have a meaningful life, which is through faith in Jesus Christ, in His redemptive work on the cross. Don't dismiss the power of the message of the cross!

Lay your riches at the feet of Jesus

  • What is most valuable to you in this life?
  • Reflect for a moment: to what causes have dedicated your strength, your time, and your life?
  • Pray and give yourself completely to the Lord, without reservation.
  • Don't waste time on the trivialities of life. Concentrate on what is most important.
  • Leave your "crowns", personal merits, possessions and titles at the foot of the cross. Recognize that Jesus is your greatest wealth!
  • Read the Bible every day. Through it you will get to know Jesus better and find your reason for being!

Pray:

Lord God, thank you for sending Jesus to give us life, through that terrible cross. Help me to have Christ as my priority and my greatest value in this life. I leave at your feet everything that wants to take your place in my heart. Forgive my attachment to the insignificant things of this life. Be my joy, sustenance and greatest wealth always. And teach me to love the message of the cross and share it wherever I am. In Jesus' name, amen!

Yesterday's Devotional

Giving is better than receiving

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Acts 20:35

The Christian life is nourished by generosity, grace and love. This is a different logic to what we are used to seeing in the world, where greedy ambition dictates the rules in relationships, leaving many blinded by power, wealth and the desire to gain advantages. But in the Bible, we understand that:

  • it is by LOSING (the fleeting things of life) that we GAIN Christ (eternity with God) - Luke 17:33.
  • we must LOVE our enemies and PRAY for those who mistreat us - Matthew 5:44.
  • we need to FORGIVE those who repeatedly wrong us - Matthew 18:22.
  • it is better to GIVE than to RECEIVE - Acts 20:35


It is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive!

Christians are invited to exercise this lifestyle: to be more like Christ. He graciously gave everything for us! Go against the grain of the world, do as He did, and give yourself by showing love, forgiveness, humility and generosity. Following in his footsteps, give and invest in others.
Remember: in the Kingdom of God, we have already received the most precious GOOD in Christ. And the more we give of what He gives us, the more we receive back. The Lord rewards the generous (Proverbs 19:17).

Pray:

Lord, help me to be unreservedly generous, always investing in your Kingdom. Just as you have given us everything, teach me to give with love and liberality to those in need. May you increase and I decrease, Father. Transform my character and awaken in me a greater desire to give than to receive. In Jesus' name, amen!

Day Before Yesterday's Devotional

Do not despise or judge your brother

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written:

“'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.'”

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Romans 14:10-13

This is an immensely important theme, yet unfortunately, it's equally forgotten and neglected by many Christians. It seems that at every turn, we're ready to defend ourselves against anyone who disagrees with us. We feel proud when we judge others as wrong or weak in faith.

But Jesus teaches us not to judge anyone (Matthew 7:1) so that we won't be judged ourselves. There is only one judge, and definitely, it's not us...

In the passage today, we're reminded that each of us will be held accountable before God. Hence, let's not become stumbling blocks for others. Our freedom, beliefs, and understanding must never exceed our duty to care for and love our brothers.

Love faithfully as Christ loved you!

  • Pray for your brothers in faith and be one with them.
  • Forgive others and don't be offended by their immaturity. God knows everyone's intentions.
  • Do not condemn or judge if other Christians have different convictions, practices, or customs from yours. They are serving the Lord, not you.
  • Remember: our war is not against our brothers and sisters in Christ, nor against unbelievers (Ephesians 6:12). Live in peace with everyone!

Let's Pray:

Lord our God, help me to love my brothers and sisters despite differences in opinion, conviction, and culture. Help me not to judge or belittle my brother, who is equally loved by You. May Your infinite love transform our lives and make us one in the Lord! May Christ be the center of our lives and the bond that unites us, today and always! Amen.

You may also be interested in:

28 Beautiful Bible Verses About Love

See also:

What is the Daily Devotional

The Daily Devotional is a special moment of your day that you dedicate to having a precious time of intimacy with God. It is very simple to establish an exciting routine of discovery and spiritual growth. You will achieve this by setting aside a moment each day to draw near to the Lord. During the Devotional, you will read a Bible verse with a meditation on the text. Then, you will meditate on the teachings and how to apply them in your life. In the end, you can pray.

How to do your Daily Devotional

Here are some tips for making the most of reading the Bible message during the Daily Devotional:

  1. Set aside a moment and choose a specific place: your devotional time will be more beneficial if you set aside the hustle and bustle and invest in a pleasant time alone with God.
  2. Read the verse or Bible passage attentively: develop a lifestyle committed to the Word of God every day and avoid distractions.
  3. Read the daily meditation: reflect and try to understand God's purpose for your life through the comments.
  4. Practical application: jot down your findings and don't forget to put into practice everything you have learned through the Bible.
  5. Share what you learned: try to share with people around what God has been teaching you in your moments of daily devotion as you go about your daily conversations and interactions.

Don't forget the importance of living a life fully committed to the Word of God!

See also: