Daily Devotional

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3

It's interesting how God is interested in having communion with his creation. The Bible says that he has not abandoned the universe he has made, but sustains it and cares for it constantly.
In addition, the Lord was willing to have communion with mankind in a very special way. From the beginning, he went to the garden to live with Adam and Eve. Then he came in the person of Jesus Christ, lived with his disciples, dwelt among us... And he gave his children the Holy Spirit, a comforter who dwells with those who believe in Jesus (John 14:26).

In today's verse, John testifies that the apostles shared the gospel with us, everything they had seen and heard about Jesus. Their communion with God is passed on to us today through the Word. May this communion with God, with the Gospel and among Christians all over the world be maintained with you too.

Have communion with God this day!

• Connect: God is present, even when you're not aware of it!
• Talk to Him: prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and intercession are good ways to communicate with God.
• Be connected to the Word: Read, meditate, understand, and practice! Seek to know God through the Holy Bible.
• Walk in the footsteps of the first disciples. Study and understand the New Testament.
• Gather in a Christian community: fellowship with other believers. Encourage brothers and sisters, share the faith, and live together in love!

Pray:

Lord, I thank you for your Word! It is living, and effective, and it transforms our lives. Help me to read, understand, and practice it with dedication and commitment. May I grow and remain in communion with you every day, through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. May the Word be a light to my life and always direct me to be closer to the Lord. In Jesus' name! Amen.

My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Job 42:5

If it were today, Job's story would probably be reported in every newspaper, newscast and social network you know. "A man loses all 10 of his children, his property, his assets and falls ill all at once...". We really can't imagine the pain in that heart.

If we look at the whole book, we find a long dialog between Job and his friends and, at the end, between Job and God. Job's words don't always sound reassuring. Much more so after being accused (by his own friends) of having done wrong, to receive such a tragedy. Job didn't understand the reason for his pain. But God did not condemn his anger or his questions. Unlike us, God speaks and lets us speak...

He doesn't resent our words, but helps us to know him better. In this verse we see that Job was able to get to know God more intimately after what he had been through. God reminded him that his ways are not always understandable to men. He doesn't always give us a full explanation as to why bad things happen to good people. All you need to remember is that He is the all-powerful Creator, sustainer of everything and everyone. Trust in the Lord!

• Pray and ask the Lord for help so that you can get to know Him better through adversity.
• Allow God to speak to you through His Word - read more, study, reflect and practice!
• Want to trust God, even if you don't understand everything He does.
• Be honest with God, pray, cry out and deepen your relationship with Him.

Pray:

Lord God, I entrust all my pain and difficulties to you. May I not try to understand everything that happens to me, but may I quieten my heart and trust in you. I pray life's experiences, whether good or bad, all lead me closer to you. Help me to know you more, not just by hearing about you, but by walking with you. In Jesus' name, amen!