January 2, 2020


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Today's Bible Verse
"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."
Matthew 5:7 KJV
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Today's Bible Study
In this verse in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is delivering the Sermon on the Mount. This is a beatitude, one of the famous sayings from the beginning of the sermon.

Think about a time in your life when you experienced mercy. What did it feel like? For me, it was a great relief and made me feel as if I could breathe again. We are all beneficiaries of God's great mercy. Even though we were sinners who had rejected Him, Jesus died a horrible death on the cross so we could be wiped clean of sin. He paid the debt that we ourselves could never pay in an act of mercy.

Jesus's words remind us that we should be merciful to other people. We have already obtained mercy because of what He has done for us, and we are commissioned to share that mercy with others. We should take this seriously, seeking to display to other people the mercy that we ourselves have already received.



It can be difficult to show mercy to people, especially those who have deeply wounded us. Remember that mercy is not about brushing aside wrongs. Rather, it's about acknowledging a wrong and then allowing for restoration. Showing mercy does not make you weak. It shows that you believe God is the ultimate arbiter of all justice.

When we show mercy to other people, we allow ourselves to get a new perspective on what Jesus has done for each of us. We get to see how desperate we were for God to intervene in our lives. Being the one to show mercy in someone's life, especially when no one else does, is an opportunity to show the love of the Lord to that person. Embodying His love is far more powerful and effective than withholding ourselves. Think about who the Lord might want you to show mercy to today, and be willing to act as He is calling you to.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you so much for the mercy you have shown me. I didn't deserve it, and yet you rained it down on me. Help me to show the same mercy to others that you have shown me. I want more people to know your love, and I want to play the role that you have given me in making that happen. In Jesus's name, amen.
Yesterday's Devotional
January 1, 2020
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Yesterday's Bible Verse
"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
Psalm 91:4 KJV



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Yesterday's Bible Study
Psalm 91 talks about the confidence we can have in all circumstances of our lives. Because Jesus is our protector, we can know that regardless of what happens in the world, we are secure in His love forever. Whatever happens this coming year, we know that we will be held closely by the Lord.

This verse reminds us that we are under His wings. In other words, the Lord is covering us -- His arms are around us, protecting us like a father. Because we know that He is with us always, we do not have to be afraid. People who do not have a relationship with Jesus do not have this protection, and we shouldn't take it for granted.

Because we are under His wings, we can trust in Him. We are like baby birds that cannot fend for themselves, but know that they are safe in their mothers' wings. They might not understand what the mother protects them from, but they trust her. In the same way, we can trust God. While we will not understand all His ways or everything that may happen this year, we can trust that He is good and that He loves us more than we will ever know.


The verse ends by saying that the Lord's truth is our shield and buckler. Think about some of the truths that we know from the Lord. We know that He is faithful, good, and loving, that He is just, righteous, and all-powerful, and that He honors those who serve Him. These truths form a shield against the things of the world that suggest otherwise. When we have questions in the coming year about whether God sees us and loves us, these truths about Him form an impenetrable defense.

Decide to spend 2020 resting under the Lord's wings. You are already there -- and have been there since you gave your life to Him. But when you commit yourself to putting on His truth, you can have the freedom and peace that comes from being a child of God.
Yesterday's Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you that I am your child. I am so grateful that I have a safe place to go under your wings and that you care so much for me. Help me to reject the lies of the world and instead put on truth. I love you, and I want to get to know you in 2020 on a deeper level than I ever have before. In Jesus's name, amen.
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