Today's Daily Devotional

[Bugsy]

April 10

John 20:19-23

Jesus among His Disciples

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."

And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."

Can you imagine the intensity that must have filled the room when Jesus appeared to His disciples in John chapter 20:19-23? The disciples spent days in hiding. They were afraid for their lives. They were mourning the loss of their Master. So, the followers of Christ were stunned to see Him standing before them in a locked room.

If the shock of His appearance wasn’t enough, think about the statement He made from John chapter 20:21. “As the Father has sent me, I also send youâ€

[Bugsy]

April 11

Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
1 Samuel 14:8-10

Although Jonathan and his armor-bearer said, “Let’s step out and see what the Lord might want to do,â€

[litlbird]

I don't believe in silver bullets, wish casting or magic. But I do believe your devotional post for today is an affirmation for me. I can move on in confidence literally and figuratively. I can enjoy the knowledge that God is listening to my dialogs and prayers on this very subject, in my very present almost exact situation.

Thanks Ranger Bugsy. Have a blessed day yourself!

litlbird

[Bugsy]

April 12

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

If you want a little snapshot of what the world considers “normal,â€

[JMI]

This devotional is worth the time you put into it, Ranger Bugsy. It is certainly being read by me. You are uplifitng and the devotional has opened my heart wider than I could have done on my own. You have an exceptional gift of wrapping the readings into todays application of the Word. Thank you.

[Bugsy]

April 13

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
1 Samuel 15:34-35

In verse 29, we read that the Lord is not a man that he should repent. The word “repentâ€

[Bugsy]

April 14

And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
1 Samuel 16:1

“Quit your mourning and moaning, Samuel, there’s work to do,â€

[Bugsy]

April 15

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you Acts 13:38

Unless we ground ourselves in God’s Word, we will tend to drift from Him. Sometimes, the results are obvious, as with a person who gradually gives in to greed and eventually finds himself addicted to gambling. In other situations, the effects are more subtle. Either way, living apart from the Lord’s will grieve His heart. It prevents His wandering child from feeling fulfilled.

Only a close relationship with Jesus Christ can truly satisfy the soul’s yearning. God wants His followers to have the peace, purpose, and joy that only He can provide. He often waits patiently for them to return. But if they persist, Proverbs chapter 3:12 shows that He’ll eventually discipline His loved ones to bring them back to Him.

When a believer wants to end his drifting, he should acknowledge his disobedience and the distance it has put between Him and God. A believer must show genuine repentance. This includes asking forgiveness and deciding not to continue in the same pattern. Then he can resume a life of submission to God’s will.

He should also readjust his priorities. The Lord must come first. A person fully submitted to God will make time to study and meditate on Scripture, correctly worship, and have fellowship with other Christians.

Thankfully, God truly is a loving heavenly Father. He longs for us to walk closely with Him. God wants us to live the abundant life that He intended, which is full of real peace, joy, love, and purpose. Ground yourself in His Word and submit to Him. Nothing else will satisfy.

[Bugsy]

April 16

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. Revelation 20:11

We know we’ll encounter trials in our lifetime, such as the death of a loved one, relationship conflict, or financial stress. Where do we go for comfort and help during these times? The Lord provides us with the perfect place to turn.

Hebrews chapter 4:16 tells us to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.â€

[Bugsy]

April 17

So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 1 Samuel 19:12

God protected David through a bride who saved his life. “There are men who will ambush you,â€

[Bugsy]

April 18

Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
1 Samuel 20:18-19

Ezel means “the rock that shows the way.â€

[Bugsy]

April 19

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
1 Samuel 22:1-2

A cave is not an easy place to be. It’s dark and discouraging. But Psalms 57 and 142, written while David was in the cave at Adullam, show a deep work going on in his soul . . .

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. Psalm 57:5-11

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me. Psalm 142:3-7

We want to be comfortable - but God knows that our souls do not grow in times of comfort (Romans 5:3-5). Therefore, He puts us in places where His work can be done, where His Word takes root. If you’re in a cave today, you’re in good company because God does deep work in hard places.

The group of four hundred men who were in debt, distressed, and discontented eventually became David’s mighty men, an elite fighting unit. David was flawed indeed, yet more is written of him than any other man in Scripture because he was a man after God’s heart - a man who pursued God. And as these four hundred men spent time with him, they became like him.

Like David’s men, we too are in debt, distressed, and often discontented. But as we hang around the Son of David, Jesus Christ, an amazing thing happens: we become like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). The key to greatness is to hang around Jesus constantly. Choose to make Jesus your identity and your passion; and slowly, but surely, you’ll be conformed into the image of the One captivating your heart

[Bugsy]

April 20

Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. And David abodein the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day . . .
1 Samuel 23:13-14

Ziph literally means “refining place.â€

[Bugsy]

April 21

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13

Sometimes we set ourselves up for defeat by letting adversity dictate our decisions. Christianity would’ve lost a great leader and teacher if the apostle Paul had stopped serving the Lord because of his difficulties. Paul endured a shipwreck, persecution, beatings, and poverty. Instead, Paul made a bold proclamation from prison. In Philippians chapter 4:13, Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.â€

[Bugsy]

April 22, 2008

Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:13-19

The apostle Paul frequently wrote about the need to rely upon Jesus Christ’s strength. In 2 Corinthians chapter 12:9, he passed on to his readers a promise the Lord had given him. It says “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weaknessâ€