10 Quick Christian Devotions

An Explosive Spirit

"When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1–4 ESV).

The story of the Church is astonishing and intense. In this scene from Acts 2, the Spirit explodes onto the disciples. The effect is so electric that observers thought the disciples were drunk. But they were drunk on God, not wine.

God is also at work here and now. By studying His Word we can see what He has done and what He will do. Pray that you will be given the eyes to see and the ears to hear how He is changing the human condition.

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.

The Winding Road

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” —Matthew 7:13–14

First to the right, then to the left, the road was ever ascending but always twisting, and thus, by easy marches, we were able to reach the summit of the pass; a straight line would have been shorter for the eagle’s wing, but no human foot could have followed it. Nobody called us inconsistent for thus facing about; we kept the road, and no one could complain.

If we honestly desire to gain the heights of divine truth, we shall find many zigzags in the road: here our face will front divine sovereignty with all its lofty grandeur, and anon we shall turn in the opposite direction, towards the frowning peaks of human responsibility. What matters it if we appear to be inconsistent, so long as we keep to the highway of Scripture, which is our only safe road to knowledge!

Angels may, perhaps, be systematic divines; for men it should be enough to follow the word of God, let its teachings wind as they may.

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.

Making Something Out of Nothing

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever” (Eph 3:20–21 ESV).

As a young mother, I often found it difficult to find time for a devotional with God. When it came to my relationship with God, I found myself believing that I would have to sustain it on my own. I hadn’t realized that while I thought I’d been upholding our relationship in the past, it was God doing the work in me all along—in His strength, my weakness was made perfect.

I believe in a God who specializes in making something out of nothing. When I carve out a moment to come to Him now, I know it will never be enough. But I come in faith, trusting that He will multiply the little time I have and provide me with enough nourishment for that moment, with some to spare.

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.

Dropping the Stone

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” —James 4:7

There is a huge rock upon the Swiss side of the St. Gothard road, about which an old legend is told by the natives of the neighboring village. The devil was whisking this enormous stone along very merrily at early dawn of day, when he was met by a devout old woman, who, being somewhat alarmed, uttered a prayer at the sight of the unexpected traveller. Such was the power of her prayer that the demon dropped his burden at once, and there it lays--an indisputable proof that the devil is no match for old ladies who know how to invoke the aid of heaven.

Mother church has sanctioned many a worse legend than this, for a truthful moral lies upon the surface. Let interceding believers make the fiend to tremble always by praying without ceasing.

The weakest saint upon his knees is victorious over all the powers of hell.

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.

Raising the Bar

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5–8 ESV).

Christianity is not a competitive sport but it certainly takes endurance, and God’s bar is always raised above what everyone else expects. God wants us to live up to His bar, no matter how high it may seem, because He will aid us in the process.

Living for God is not about sprinting to a destination, but speed walking with Him. May you recognize the areas of your life that God wishes to raise up to His standard.

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.

Pillars of the Church

"Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong." —1 Corinthians 16:13

In the Cathedral of St. Mark, in Venice—a marvelous building, lustrous with an Oriental splendor far beyond description—there are pillars said to have been brought from Solomon’s Temple; these are of alabaster, a substance firm and durable as granite, and yet transparent, so that the light glows through them.

Behold an emblem of what all true pillars of the Church should be—firm in their faith, and transparent in their character; men of simple mold, ignorant of tortuous and deceptive ways, and yet men of strong will, not readily to be led aside, or bent from their uprightness! A few such alabaster men we know; may the great Master Builder place more of them in His temple!

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.

What Shall Be Done for Jesus?

“What shall be done unto the man whom the king delights to honor?”—Esther 6:6

What do we intend to do as a Church for Christ Jesus, “whom the king delights to honor?”

First, believe Him. Christ is always pleased with His people’s faith. Beloved, confide in Him. Tell Him your troubles. Pour your heart before Him. Trust the merit of His blood, the power of His arm, and the love of His heart.

He is a God of love: if you would give Him something, show Him your love. Let your heart seek Him, and with the arms of your love, embrace Him. In your soul’s silent language, say “Kiss me with the kisses of Your mouth, for Your love is better than wine;” and let this be your joyful song: “I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine.” Give Him, then, the jewels of your heart.

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.

On the First Beatitude

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 5:2

An ungodly world may reckon the poor in spirit to be contemptible, but God writes them down among His peers and princes, and His judgment is true and far more to be esteemed than the opinions of men or angels.

Only as we are poor in spirit have we any evidence that heaven is ours, but having that mark of blessedness all things are ours, whether things present or things to come. To the poor in spirit belong all the security, honor and happiness which the gospel kingdom is calculated to give upon earth; even here below they may eat of its dainties without question, and revel in its delights without fear.

Theirs also are the things not seen as yet, reserved for future revelation, theirs the second advent, theirs the glory, theirs the fifth great monarchy, theirs the resurrection, theirs the beatific vision, theirs the eternal ecstasy.

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.

Writing About God

“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you” (Jer 30:2 ESV).

The Old Testament is a written record of God’s work in the lives of the Israelites. We are deeply indebted to the writers of the Bible—their records show us the great work that God has done for humanity. We can follow in the footsteps of the Biblical authors by journaling what God has done in our lives.

Journaling can be an amazing part of how you connect to God. Keep a record of how God moves in your life, and over time, you will see how intimately God is involved. Then, one day, you will read with awe the testimony God has written on the pages of your life.

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.

Our Unpredictable God

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia … the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up’ ” (2 Chr 36:22–23 ESV).

Our God is good and faithful. He loves us and cares for us. And He often provides deliverance for us in ways we do not expect. God promised to bring His people out of exile—then He provided Cyrus, the foreign king of Persia, as their deliverer. And not only did Cyrus restore Israel as a nation, he also commissioned the rebuilding of the temple.

This was not the deliverance the Israelites expected, but they trusted in God anyway. Will you trust in God’s salvation, or will you harden your heart?

—Adapted from Bible Study Magazine and Logos Bible Software. Find Bible Study Magazine on Facebook. Find Logos on Facebook.