We found 10 articles with the tag “daily devotional”.
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Matthew Chapter 28
Article | May 6th, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spiritualityThere are two things that stick out to me in this chapter. First of all, worship, the women who first saw Jesus alive fell down in worship and the disciples when they saw him on the mountain worshipped him. Second was that out of worship came a charge to go. I find it fascinating that worship came in response to the miracle of the resurrection, but Jesus didn’t want them to stay in worship, rather he charges them to go and tell. I find the connection between worship and being sent out fascinating. This is another of those right side up ways of living, we worship God for who He is and what He has done for the purpose of going out to spread the message of the kingdom and teaching people how to live right side up.
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Matthew Chapter 27
Article | May 5th, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, jesus christ, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spiritualityWe are continuing in the story of Jesus’s agony on the cross. What I am struck by is how this story drives home the point that Jesus is showing us how to live right side up through his humiliation on the cross and his exaltation in rising from the dead. In our upside down way of seeing things, we want the exaltation without the humiliation. We want the glory without the suffering, but the right side up way is to humble yourself before God and he will exalt you. That is what Jesus says and does.
I chose to follow Jesus about 40 years ago, and I didn’t take the time to get to know him by hanging out in the Gospels for the first 25 years or so. However, the more that I get to know him and the more that we dive into his life and teaching, the more I am convinced that Jesus’ way is the best way. I am glad that you are on this journey with me, so that you can discover who Jesus is and decide for yourself if you agree with me. If not, no pressure, just keep searching and hanging out with Him. -
Matthew Chapter 26
Article | May 4th, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, personal development, self care, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spiritualityWe are now turning the corner to face the climax of Jesus story, his death. This chapter leads us squarely into Jesus’ last day and we can see his focus narrow and in his teaching, we see him trying to get his disciples to understand what was about to happen, but they really didn’t get it. Jesus did everything he could to prepare them but when he needed them the most, they all cut and ran. However, Jesus faced it with great poise in spite of being all alone. He knew that the cross was coming, and yet he did not waver and he fulfilled God’s plan. He hoped in the resurrection that would take place on the third day.
As we read today, try to put yourself in the shoes of the Jesus and feel the anxiety and fear balanced by the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are doing exactly what God had planned. Savor the bread and wine and remember that his suffering brought us peace and that his stripes healed us. Experience this story through the eyes of the Jesus. -
Matthew Chapter 25
Article | May 3rd, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, jesus christ, personal development, self care, spiritual formation, spiritualityDon’t you love guilt trips. I can’t tell you how many things that I have done because I was guilted into it. Most of the time it worked out ok, but a few of those things were a little adventurous to say the least. Whenever I would read Matthew 25, I would read it through the guilt lens, don’t be one of those foolish girls, be a better planner and be organized. Be a good money manager unlike that last guy, you don’t want to be that guy, so use your money wisely with a “budget” approved by Dave. The last one was an ice cream Sunday with 3 giant scoops of guilt, don’t be a slacker, do more and achieve more for God or your a goat and you are BAD! So, I would try harder to be a “good” Christian, fail, try even harder and on and on the cycle would go.
But I think that it misses the point, it’s not about beating yourself up for not measuring up, but being ready by living for Jesus each day. It’s about looking for opportunities to grow in your skills for God’s glory and to not be afraid of being stretched. It’s about taking those skills and serving others not out of guilt or fear of not measuring up, but living each day for Jesus as his witness to God’s new government.
That new perspective is so freeing! I am so motivated to serve and love because I want to be more like Jesus each day. This subtle shift fits in with what we have learned about Jesus in the Gospels and I wish that I would have figured this truth out earlier in life, but that’s what this journey is for, discovering who Jesus is and how we can follow him. We can take these daily discoveries and change our trajectory and that’s success. -
Matthew Chapter 24
Article | May 2nd, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, jesus, personal development, self-care, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spiritualityThat is the theme of this chapter. However, the conspiracy theorist in me wants to figure out the details of the end of time, who, what where, and especially WHEN? But Jesus just gives us a you’ll know it when you see it answer and tells us to keep going and keep spreading the kingdom message. Keep going even when you just don’t feel like it. It’s that locker room pep talk when you’re down by 50 at half time, keep chipping away and we will win in the end, it’s going to be ugly, but stick with it. It’s the kind of speech that we all need even though we want to figure out if there is a rapture, who’s in and who’s out, and who is the big baddy antichrist, but Jesus tells us to keep going and keep looking and I’ll take care of the rest.
So, we keep going and keep spreading the message of God’s kingdom until the end. -
Matthew Chapter 22
Article | April 28th, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, love, personal development, self care, spiritual growth, spiritual journey, spiritualityThis chapter reminded me of a tennis match between an all-time great and a lesser opponent who is trying to stick with them. The religious leaders are giving Jesus their best shots but continue to have Jesus send it screaming past them. He is a master at debate and is excellent at staying out of a verbal trap. What I am learning here is that following Jesus takes everything that you’ve got, your heart, soul, mind and strength. Jesus used it all to live his life to the glory of God and we can too. Let’s pray… What are you learning from Jesus? Make sure you share in the comments.
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Matthew Chapter 20
Article | April 26th, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, personal development, self care, spiritual growth, spiritual journey, spiritualityI want my eyes open and I want to see. As my eyes open, I see this great reversal, the first are last, and real power comes from being a servant. Jesus cup is a cup of suffering service on the cross and I can see it all more clearly. Jesus touched my eyes and now I can see clearly that in order to live the resurrection life, I have to die to myself. I’m hard to kill, but I know that I’m better off dead to myself so that I can live fully to him. This is a hard truth to come to, but now that my eyes are open, I can see it clearly. What are you seeing from Jesus? Join the conversation in the comment section of the website.
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Matthew Chapter 18
Article | April 23rd, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, forgiveness, self care, self development, spiritual journey, spiritualityI saw this tweet from Bob Goff today and I thought it fit with today’s reading. “Next to grace, I bet God thinks making us need each other was one of His best ideas.” That is exactly what this chapter is about, relational health. God made us for community and Jesus gives us the road map to having healthy and thriving relationships. Everyone can benefit from the lessons that Jesus teaches here. This is where I want you to join the conversation and tell me what you learned from Jesus in this chapter. Either go to the show notes page and scroll to the bottom and type your response or if you are using a podcast platform, click on the podcast episode website link and you will see it at the bottom of the page. Please join me in conversation.
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Matthew Chapter 17
Article | April 22nd, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, spiritual journey, spiritualityI try to put myself in the shoes of Peter in this story. I would be in shock to see Jesus in all of his glory, my chin would be on the ground like in a cartoon and I would have fallen over. I’m not sure that I could have spoken to get the words that Peter babbles out, but I know that I would have been stumbling and bumbling through that moment. I would have missed the point too until the resurrection, which would make everything click.
I am just pondering the sight of Jesus in all of his glory standing before me and as I close my eyes I can see him shining. I just want to soak it in and be reminded that Jesus is God with me and that he promised to be with me through thick and thin. I can trust him with my life and daily decisions. -
Matthew Chapter 12
Article | April 15th, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, leadership development, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spiritualitySomething that I noticed in this chapter is that Jesus is getting criticized for every little thing and he handled it similarly to how he handled the temptation in the wilderness, by referring to scripture. I think that is such a great strategy for handling critics. I need to learn this lesson because if I got all of the criticism that Jesus got, I would scream and want to slap someone. But Jesus I think was frustrated, but he handled it with the scripture and with a calm manner. The way that he handled himself is truly inspiring and something that I am striving to do with the help of the Holy Spirit. What inspired you from this chapter?