Category: Daily Devotion

You Only Die Once

By Pastor Andrew Farland

You Only Die Once

In the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, God wrote letters to seven different churches. What we’re learning while we journey through a portion of these letters is that God specializes in meeting people where they are. And when He meets them, he does so by speaking timely, relevant truth into their lives.

God’s letter to the church at Smyrna is the most powerful of the seven. And if I’m honest, it’s the most convicting. You see, powerful men in the first century felt threatened by Christianity, a religion based on peace, love, and the sharing of wealth. Because of that, government officials and religious leaders regularly taunted, imprisoned, and even killed the Christians in Smyrna because they were different. People can be funny, can’t they?

Following Jesus makes you different. People will notice. And, sometimes, people will persecute you because you’re different.

For whatever reason, peace and forgiveness gives rise to defensives and hatred. Have you seen that in your own life? Has anyone ever made fun of you because of your faith? Have you noticed people treating you differently because you follow Jesus? If so, you’ve caught a glimpse of what the church in Smyrna was experiencing.

God wants you to hear today what He told the early Christians:

If you’re born twice, you’ll only die once.

In other words, if your faith is in Jesus, you have nothing to fear because you have hope that you will live forever in paradise with Him. In the face of persecution, remember God’s words:

Revelation 2:10
“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

Don’t Forget Your First Love

By Pastor Andrew Farland

Don’t Forget Your First Love

God always knows exactly what you need to hear. Why? Remember, He knows what you’re going through and wants to be with you.
Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God entering people’s lives in unique and powerful ways. He appeared to Moses in a burning bush, to Daniel in His dreams, and to the Apostle Paul in a blinding light.

In Revelation chapter 2, the closing pages of the Bible, God did it again. He wrote seven letters to seven different churches who needed to hear a message specific to where they found themselves. Some early Christians were being persecuted, some had veered off course, and other were discouraged. Into each of these situations, God spoke.

The first letter was written to the church in Ephesus, a group of Christians who had lost direction. God says that they had “forgotten their first love” and had been persuaded to listen to voices that were not His. I don’t know about you, but I would be pretty embarrassed if the God of the universe said that about me.

It’s what they needed to hear.

Have you ever been there? Are you in that exact same spot right now? For years, your faith was strong. You were plugged into a church, had Christian friends who helped you grow. But, now you’re lost and can’t remember the last time you cracked open your Bible. There probably wasn’t one cataclysmic event that made you lose your faith. It just happened slowly over time.

If that’s you, or if you find yourself slipping away from your “first love,” God wants you to know that He loves you, forgives you, and wants you to come back. He said the same thing to the Christians at Ephesus when He wrote these words:

Revelation 2:4-5
“You have forgotten the love you had at first… do the things you did at first.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

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Jesus Will Get To You

By Pastor Andrew Farland

Jesus Will Get To You

Did you wake up this morning, think about your day, and wonder how in the world you’re going to get through it?
Did you wake up and wonder if there’s anybody else who understands what your life is like?

Maybe it’s not your day that worries you, but your personal struggles with addiction, loneliness, insecurity, doubt, or stress. They weigh so heavy on your shoulders that you wish somebody would relieve some of the pressure.

Whatever it is you’re going through, there is one person who knows exactly what it’s like to be you.

Jesus.

He knows the number of hairs on your head, the things that frustrate and motivate you. And He’s literally gone to the grave and come back to life. Needless to say, there is nothing about your experience that surprises Him.

What’s even more incredible than His ability to understand us is that Jesus, the Son of God, who helped create the entire universe, finds you, loves you, and sticks with you through the good and the bad. To me, the fact that someone not only understands you and I but wants to spend time with us in spite of our imperfections is a miracle in itself.

There is one overarching truth that you need to hear: No matter where you find yourself, Jesus can and will get to you.

Over the next few days, we’re going to explore together a short part of Revelation chapter 2 and see some ways that He reveals Himself to different groups of people based on their specific needs. As you read, keep in mind what we talked about today: Jesus knows you. Jesus wants to be with you. And He wants you to stick together.

Today, just to prepare your mind and heart for this short journey, ask God to meet you where you are. Ask Him to reveal truth to you that will make an impact in your life.

I believe He will.

John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

There’s a difference between religion and a relationship with God.

Religion is all about rules and checking obligatory rituals off of a list. A relationship is all about an internal transformation that changes everything.

To some people, because they think He wants religion, God is a distant guy in the sky waiting to punish humans for messing up. To others, because they know God wants a relationship with them, God is intimately connected to them and loves them in the midst of whatever happens.

Another difference between the two that you need to hear is this: Comparison fuels religion. Grace powers relationships. When we are stuck playing the religion game, checking boxes, and earning points, we compete and compare ourselves with how other people are doing with their status with God.

When we have a relationship with God, we understand that we are loved and accepted no matter what. We don’t need to compare our status with someone else’s. Why? Because a personal relationship means just that. We don’t need to worry about anyone else because God sculpting a unique and fascinating journey just for us

Listen to this. You do not have a generic, cookie-cutter relationship with God. Instead, because His fingerprint is in the fabric of every person on earth, He relates and engages with you in a way that only you can understand. He has exciting twists and turns planned just for YOU.

The reason I tell all of this to you today is that I want you to know you can have a personal relationship with the creator of the universe. He created you and wants to know you. So, quit trying to earn your way to God, competing with other people to get closer to Him. Enjoy the freedom that comes with a relationship full of unconditional love.

James 4:8
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.