One Verse Devotional

Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.

Jesus knows you, He loves you, and He wants to lead you.

God is the Rock of our salvation, a firm foundation in the middle of life’s shifting sands. When life is unsure and we feel like we are walking on shifting sands, God is the foundation and the Rock that stands firm. When the wind is blowing and the storm is raging around us, we can take comfort and safety near the Rock. I encourage you to find the Rock. Find your safety in God. Then, grow closer to Him and build your life on HIs solid foundation.

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace…” -Romans 15:13

We usually think of a minister as a pastor. But the original meaning of the word minister was “servant of the king”. As followers of Jesus, we are ALL called to be ministers of the Gospel… servants of the Most High King.

What is God calling you to do? Where is God calling you to go?

Go outside and enjoy the creation of God!

Christians who believe in a Creator should want to take care of His Creation.

Have you ever played the game where you shut the door and try to keep out your friends? As long as the door stays shut, it is almost impossible for them to open it. But if they get just one foot in the door, they can eventually pry the entire thing open. In Ephesians 4, the Bible tells us that is exactly how sin works in our life. Do not give the Devil a foothold.

Should we step out in faith or wait on the Lord?

In every situation, find something you can rejoice in. At the end of the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul tells us to “rejoice always,” but what does that really mean? Do we still praise God during the messy times of life? Even then, you have a LOT in which you can rejoice. You are still a son or daughter of the Most High Kind. You still have a future in Christ. No matter what situation you find yourself in, there is something you can rejoice in.

Your faith can actually bring great encouragement to others who are struggling in their own faith journey. Just like yesterday, today’s One Verse is a personal message from me to you. Paul told the church of the Thessalonians that he had actually been encouraged by their faith in his times of distress (and Paul had some distress!) I feel the same about you. There have been times when I’ve wanted to quit the podcast. But right when I feel that way, I get an email or a private message or even a Facebook comment from someone telling me how much what I am doing means to them and their spiritual life. What an encouragement! You have the power to encourage other Christians who are struggling in their faith. By seeing your faith, it can give them hope. What about your pastor? That’s a tough job with little thanks. I know! So many pastors are tempted to quit. Your faith could be just the thing that is bringing them encouragement and allowing them to feel like their efforts and their ministry are actually making a di

By holding on tight to the teachings of Jesus, we can stand firm in an unpredictable world. I love today’s One Verse because I want to adopt Paul’s message. He encourages his brothers and sisters in the faith to stand firm and hold fast to the teachings he passed on to them by mouth or by letter. Through word of mouth (podcast!), I am also passing on these teachings of Jesus to you, my brothers and sisters. My hope, like Paul, is that you stand firm in these teachings. God’s Word remains firm in a constantly shifting world.

The beauty of the Church happens when different people from different backgrounds and different cultures come together under the name of Jesus. God has invited us into His will to bring unity to heaven and earth through Jesus. God’s will is that heaven and earth would be reunited. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, a gap was created between us and God. His will is for that gap to be removed, and that is exactly what Jesus did through His sacrifice on the cross. Now, we are invited into the story. As we grow closer to God and chase after His will in our lives, we get to participate in bringing unity to all things.

God’s will is the journey, not a destination. He wants you to know His will! One of the biggest questions many have about the Christian life is “What is God’s will for my life?” We have this idea that once we find God’s will, life will be great. It will all fall into place. But that isn’t the case. God doesn’t want us to get comfortable and content with where we are. He wants us to keep moving and growing. His will isn’t one perfect destination in our life. If we just get “there” everything will be perfect. No. It is the journey of growing closer to God. And even more than that, God wants to reveal His will to you. The closer you get to God, the more He will uncover His will in your life.

May God increase your love for everyone. Always.

When Jesus said He was standing at the door and knocking, sadly, He was speaking to His church. In today’s One Verse [Revelation 3:20], Jesus says that He is standing at the door and knocking. Maybe you’ve seen the famous painting that was based on this verse. But here is the part we usually forget: He is speaking to Christians. When we hear this verse, it’s easy to think, “Yes, I hope people who don’t believe in Jesus would open their lives to Him.” And that’s great. But this verse is for us. As Christians, we have a hard question to ask… Are we shutting Jesus out? Is He standing outside the door of your heart, asking for you to let Him back in? Please open the door and spend some quality time with Jesus today.

God isn't angry with you. David, the writer of this Psalm, did a lot in his life that God wasn’t happy with. Adultery, murder, bloodshed. Yet, David tells us that God’s anger last only a moment. God isn’t angry with you. If you’ve messed up, sinned, made a mistake, then seek His forgiveness. He freely gives His grace. God loves you and wants to pour out His blessings on you like a loving Father does for His child.

"You are all children of God through faith." -Galatians 3:26 Such a simple One Verse today. However, this short verse has three deep layers we must understand. 1. This is your identity You are a son or daughter of the Most High King. This is who you are. Do you understand that? Does your life reflect this fact? Or do you wonder where you stand? When we don't understand who we are, we will always struggle with anxiety, worry, and even depression. We will develop a "scarcity mentality" where we never think there is enough, even though God promises to provide all of our needs. You are a child of the God, and He is a good, good, Father. 2. You are ALL children Listen, it doesn't matter what you look like, the color of your skin, your past mistakes, or how you vote. If you have faith in Jesus, you are a child of God. There is NO racism, sexism, or bigotry allowed in the Christian faith.  If faith is used for these purposes, I promise you it is NOT faith. 3. Faith, not rules In the previous verses, we find Paul is

As much as you love your children, God loves you even more! I love being a dad. I love providing for my children and giving them gifts. I would do anything for them. If you are a parent, you know what I mean. We sacrifice so much to provide for our kids. Yet, I’m human. I’m not perfect. So, if I love to take care of my children, how much more will God take care of us? God loves you. He loves you like you love your children. And He will take care of you.