Daily Devotional

Life Lessons

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/30/21

We can learn a lot from the conclusions King Solomon came to in Ecclesiastes. Today we will consider two more of his conclusions from Ecclesiastes 12.

Life is a school; grow in it. (See Ecclesiastes 12:9-12.) How does God teach us in His school of life? Primarily, it is through His Word. Our textbook is the Bible, and our teacher is the Holy Spirit. There are always new lessons in God’s school. There are always new examinations coming up, and every time we think we’ve passed one exam, there is another one on the way. We always have opportunities to grow, progress, and advance.

Life is a responsibility; succeed in it. (See Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.) Life is a gift from the hand of God. And like any gift, there is an obligation associated with it—an obligation to value it, to cherish it, and to gratefully use it. We need to fear God with a godly fear—an attitude of gratitude, reverence, and awe. It is an attitude of love and respect for the power and the greatness of the giver of the gift.

You may feel that you have been heading in the wrong direction. This is the time; this is the moment for you to get back into the game of life. Begin to see it as a school in which you grow. Begin to see it as a responsibility in which to succeed. Just as the old hymn reminds us, life is worth the living simply because Christ lives.

Prayer: Father, I recognize that I need to make some changes in my life. Help me to see what it is You are wanting to teach me. Thank You for this life You’ve given me. Help me to use it well. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs” (Ecclesiastes 12:9).

A Biblical Perspective

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/29/21

How you view your life will make a world of difference in how you live your life. If you live your life viewing it from a Biblical perspective, it will have deeper meaning than if you see it through a pessimistic looking glass. In Ecclesiastes 11-12, we find Solomon’s ultimate conclusion to his view on life and the lessons he learned. Today we will look at two key points from those chapters:

Life is a stewardship; invest it wisely. (See Ecclesiastes 11:1-6.) Everything in life—not only possessions but also family, friends, relationships, everything you have—is a gift from God. He entrusted to you the management of all His bounties on His behalf. You don’t own it, but He’s given it to you to manage for Him. You see, all of life, Solomon said, is a stewardship, and so we must invest it wisely.

Life is a celebration; delight in it. (See Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8.) For us to enjoy life and to see it as a celebration, there are three things that we must do—rejoice (11:7-9), remove (11:10-11), and remember (12:1-8).

Rejoice in each day. Anticipate every new day as a wrapped gift from the hand of God and look forward to waking up and unwrapping that wonderful gift. Start your day with gratitude.

Remove bitterness, false beliefs, bad habits, and unwholesome relationships from your life now before they endanger your future.

Remember the constant presence of God. Wherever you go, He is with you and watching over you. Remember to obey His Word and to seek His righteousness and His Kingdom first, for that is the secret to your success. Remember to place Him first in every decision you make.

Prayer: Father, help me to see life as a stewardship to be invested wisely and a celebration to be delighted in. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 11:9).

The End-Times Paradox

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/28/21

The Bible encourages us to study its prophetic passages—but the Bible also warns us not to become obsessed with predicting the dates and times. It’s not our job to know exactly when any given event will take place. Our job is to preach the Good News and to be spiritually and morally ready at all times for the Lord’s return.

There’s a strange paradox taking place in the church today, and it is focused on Bible prophecy. I call it the end-times paradox. The paradox is simply this: There has never been more interest in the end times than there is today—yet that interest is not being manifested in the lives of Christians.

Prophecy conferences with speakers and authors promoting their end-times merchandise easily draw tens of thousands of people—yet prayer meetings draw very few. Social media is abuzz with various theories about the rapture (the return of Christ for His church), the signs of the great tribulation, and the identity of the antichrist—yet fewer and fewer Christians are willing to witness for their faith.

Do you see the paradox? How can anyone sincerely await the return of the Lord, yet live as if the world will go on forever? How can we be watching for the second coming—yet we do so little to reach out to those who would be left behind? There’s nothing wrong with reading about the end times and learning about Bible prophecy, but shouldn’t we also spend time inviting the lost into the Lord’s Kingdom?

One day, the Lord will return to take us to heaven. This Truth ought to motivate every dimension of our lives. It ought to inspire us to serve more, to witness more, to give more, to pray more, and to live in the daily expectation that Christ could return at any moment.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for those times when I have been swept away by the mystery and intrigue of Bible prophecy at the expense of the right response of compassionate, joyful evangelism. As I study Your Word, may I be motivated to submit to Your authority in all aspects of my life to Your glory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Until He Returns

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/27/21

Christ will return, and His return should motivate us to work hard and give sacrificially for the work of God. In the parable of the ten minas in Luke 19:11-27, Jesus essentially said we are to occupy ourselves with work for His Kingdom until He returns.

There are two types of Christians: those who occupy themselves with God’s work and those who do not. Which one are you?

Are you taking advantage of every opportunity to witness for Christ? Are you being faithful with God’s blessings and resources? Are you serving God with all your heart and soul?

During this life, we will be refined with fire that will test us. Are we laying a foundation of material wealth or of eternal blessings? Are we working for our own glory and comfort or for the furthering of God’s Kingdom?

What does God want us to do until He returns? As Christians we are called to serve Him willingly and to obediently do whatever He calls us to. We are to witness to those who do not follow Christ, lovingly warn them of the coming judgment, and joyfully share God’s love and plan of salvation. We must equip and encourage our fellow believers so that they also may go forth to further God’s Kingdom.

Prayer: Father, I pray that I will spend my days working for the furthering of Your Kingdom and not my own personal gain. May I build on the foundation of Christ with worthy materials that will withstand the test of fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-14). I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

No Other Way

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/26/21

People suggest, even demand, that Jesus is only one of many possible ways to God. The uniqueness of Jesus’ birth disallows such conclusions. In the Christ-child, God was declaring to us that there is no other way. There is no amount of good work and no degree of managing our evil desires that will provide the forgiveness of sins we so desperately need.

Our hearts long and cry out for the forgiveness we need. Still, we want to believe that we can provide our own forgiveness. We want to forge our own path based on our personal belief systems that are dictated by our own rules.

Sin prevents us from wanting to embrace the Truth that Jesus is the only plan for humanity’s salvation. Christmas points to the unique Truth that our redemption can only come through Christ’s sinless birth, life, death, and resurrection. If there were another way, there would be no Christmas. Jesus would not have had to leave His Father’s side in glory for the womb of a virgin if there had been any other way.

As you reflect on the Christmas story, ask God to give you a fresh perspective on this miraculous expression of God’s love and provision to the world. God’s redemptive purposes are revealed in every detail, down to the young girl that carried our Savior in her womb.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the salvation we have that is offered only through Your Son. Thank You for making a way for our redemption. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'” (John 14:6).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

Jesus: God of the Universe

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/25/21

The one who created the universe did an impossible thing: He entered a virgin’s womb in order to become a man and then overcame the same difficulties and temptations we face. He “became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).

The true message of Christmas is this: God became human in order to come to the earth to rescue us from sin, death, and our own failed lives. Do you believe that the sinless came to carry your sins, the perfect died for the imperfect, and the only man who ever lived a holy life died a criminal’s death to satisfy the justice of God for you?

This Christmas, ask yourself, “How have I responded to Jesus?” Acknowledge in prayer today that He was willing to become an infant and be born in a stable in order to reach you. In His presence, marvel that, as a King, He left heaven for a lifetime of humiliation and death on the cross. Rejoice that He triumphed over death in His resurrection. Thank Him that you will one day live with Him in heaven for eternity.

Linger with God awhile today. Do not rush this loving conversation as you tell God how much the presence of Jesus in your life means to you. Allow God a few minutes to communicate to you how extravagant, sacrificial, and unfaltering His love is, no matter how much you may have sinned. If you long to know more about God, His love, and His nature, you need look no further than Jesus.

Prayer: Thank You, precious Lord, that I can spend eternity with You because of Your sacrifice. You are the fulfillment of everything I could ever desire, and so I long to draw near to You. Deepen my faith as I seek Your face this Christmas. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[H]e made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7-8).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

Submitting to the Prince of Peace

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/24/21

Without the Prince of Peace ruling our hearts and minds, we will have no peace. There can be no peace in our homes unless we place our families under the authority of the Prince of Peace. There can be no peace in any friendship unless the Prince of Peace presides over that relationship. There can be no peace anywhere in the world where the Prince of Peace is not ruling supreme.

We may say that Jesus reigns over our hearts, but there always seems to be an area that we keep locked away from Him, whether it is our finances, our activities, a relationship, or a hidden sin. Until we allow Jesus to rule every aspect of our lives, our peace will be incomplete. We cannot experience the benefits of knowing the Prince of Peace if we do not submit to His authority and power. We cannot have true peace without giving up control of our lives to the Prince.

Are you experiencing a lack of peace in your life? Is it because your heart is filled with fears and anxieties? Today, surrender leadership of your entire life to the Prince of Peace.

Prayer: God, show me if I have allowed things in my life to keep me from having the peace You want to give me. Help me surrender those things to You and allow You to fill me with peace as You reign over every part of my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

The Shalom of the Prince of Peace

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/23/21

Before Jesus came, we lived under a burden of sin from which we could not escape, with a gulf between us and God that we could not bridge. The broken world had long been pining for peace. Sin is a heavy burden, and separation from God is the deepest ache of the soul. But God knew exactly what we needed, and He wanted us to know who was coming. Seven hundred years before Jesus’ arrival on earth, He shared the good news of who Jesus the Savior would be: The Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6).

In Hebrew, the word king and the word prince are used interchangeably. That means that the prince embodies the power of the king. He has all the authority, the ruling delegation, and the royal standing of the king. So Jesus is not just the Prince of Peace; He is the King of Peace. As the King of Peace, He alone is the author and giver of peace.

In Hebrew, the word for “peace” is shalom—a far more meaningful word than our English equivalent relates. Shalom means complete well-being—not just a feeling of mental or emotional clarity. It means being complete, being whole, and lacking nothing. It settles unrest; it fills the empty. Wherever Jesus went on earth, He brought wholeness. The blind saw. The sick were healed. The storms were calmed. The sinful repented.

Shalom cannot exist in a heart that is devoid of Jesus Christ. It cannot exist in a heart that is divided between a love of God and a love of the world. So how can we get this peace? To experience the peace of the Prince of Peace means surrendering every part of our lives to Him. We can know lasting, eternal peace because Jesus Himself became our peace through His sacrifice (see Ephesians 2:14-18).

Our peace cost Jesus a great deal as He died on the cross for our sins. He suffered so that we could find joy, contentment, and peace in a reconciled relationship with the Father. Through Christ, the barrier of sin separating us from God is destroyed. Through Christ, we can know peace in the midst of the storms of life. Through Christ, we can experience wholeness and contentment.

Prayer: Prince of Peace, show me areas of my life that I have not surrendered to You. Help me to lay them at Your feet. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[T]he LORD blesses his people with peace” (Psalm 29:11).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

A New Covenant and a New People

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/22/21

Jesus is the founding father of the New Covenant. Again and again the Old Testament points to the Savior revealed in the New Testament. The Old Testament announced the coming Messiah, and in the New Testament we see that prophecy fulfilled and realized in the Everlasting Father.

In the New Covenant, we acknowledge that we deserve eternal damnation because of our sin but that Jesus Christ paid for our death sentence on the cross. We are assured eternal salvation if we receive His gift of forgiveness and walk with Him by faith. “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant” (Hebrews 9:15).

Jesus is also the founding father of a new people—a group comprised of every person living under the New Covenant. This new clan of people is the church, and it gathers people from every nation, every tribe, and every corner of the globe. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being my Everlasting Father and for preparing a place for me in heaven. Thank You for bridging the gap between humanity and God and establishing the New Covenant. Thank You for Your Church and Your love for us. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children” (Psalm 103:17).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

Father of a New Creation

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/21/21

Jesus is the founding father of a new creation. In the Old Testament, few individuals had a close relationship with God; most people relied on priests to intervene on their behalf. Yet, when Jesus came to earth, humanity began a new form of fellowship with our Creator. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

The Gospel of John tells us, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (1:18). Because Jesus was the only human on earth who had dwelt with God the Father in heaven, He was in a unique position to change how we relate to God. Jesus is the one who revealed the heart of the Father to humanity. Jesus is the one who revealed the holiness, righteousness, and justice of God. Jesus is the one who revealed eternal life and how to receive it. He expressed the love of God to humanity when He paid the wages of our sins on the cross of Calvary.

Because of Him we have eternal life; He is therefore our Everlasting Father.

Prayer: God, thank You for being the founding father of a new creation. Thank You, Jesus, for making a way for us to have a personal relationship with God. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

Everlasting Father

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/20/21

Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, God told Isaiah about the Messiah, describing Him with titles. The third title given for Jesus is Everlasting Father (see Isaiah 9:6).

Isaiah was not confusing God the Father with God the Son. Often when someone is attributed with leading a certain field or founding an organization, they are labeled the “father” of that area. That is why the men who shaped our emerging nation are called the Founding Fathers. The early church leaders are called the Church Fathers. Hippocrates is the Father of Medicine.

The Bible uses the term “father” in the same way—to imply an originator or a pioneer. God wanted us to know that Jesus would be the pioneer of God’s revelation for eternal life and that He would be the founder of a new creation. God loves us so much that He has made a way, through the Everlasting Father, for us to be with Him forever.

Only Jesus could be Everlasting Father because only He knew the depth of our sin and the depth of God’s love. Because Jesus is fully God and fully man, living without sin and with perfect righteousness, He is the only one who can reveal every aspect of our sinfulness and wickedness. For we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but He walked with us and lived perfectly.

Jesus also knows God’s heart. He knows the Father because He has experienced God’s love. And He knows that God did not want to leave us forever separated from Him because of our sin; His love is too deep.

God’s justice demands that our sin be paid for, but His love demands that we be close to Him. So Jesus, wholly righteous Jesus, satisfied God’s justice by giving His sinless life and paying the price for our sins. Then to satisfy God’s great grace, He offered us—hell-deserving sinners—eternal life. His sacrifice for us reveals God’s great love and is the foundation of the new creation.

Prayer: Everlasting Father, thank You for being perfectly just in paying for all sin and perfectly loving by offering me eternal life. Your grace is astounding. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[H]e is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Colossians 1:18-19).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

No Ordinary Man

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/19/21

Jesus’ might and divine power set Him apart from any other human who has ever lived. Jesus Christ is the only perfect man, who died to give eternal life to those who believe in Him. Jesus Christ is the only man who owned a whole universe but lived in poverty for the benefit of others. Jesus Christ is the only man who owned all the iron ore of the world but allowed His hands and His feet to be pierced with iron nails in order that He might save others. Jesus Christ is the only man who made all the trees of the forest and yet allowed Himself to hang on one of those trees for the redemption of all who call on His name.

How amazing is our all-powerful God! But what’s more amazing is that the supernatural power that resurrected Jesus from the dead is the same power that can transform our lives on a daily basis. When we try to solve our problems using our own strength, we will fail. But Christ’s power can perform miracles in our hearts and our circumstances.

Prayer: Jesus, I am so grateful that You are unlike any other! Thank You for Your resurrection power. Help me to look to You and Your power every day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!'” (Matthew 27:54).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

Mighty God

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/18/21

We tend to look upon the Christ-child as a helpless babe. But even as a baby, Jesus was Mighty God. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus demonstrated the power of God just as He did from heaven.

El, the Hebrew word for “God” in “Mighty God,” is a name for God used throughout the Old Testament. It is used to describe God’s supernatural power and might. El is the Creator of heaven and earth—the inventor of the universe and all it contains. Of God’s many names, none express His supernatural power like the name El.

God was making a significant point when He entitled His Son “Mighty God”—Jesus, the Savior to come, would be God Himself, the supernatural, powerful one (see Isaiah 9:6).

The same El who created the stars and who leads them out by name would take on human form and walk beneath them. The same El who knit together each person in his mother’s womb would allow Himself to be knit together and walk among the very people He created.

The same El who said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), stood on the Mount of Olives and proclaimed, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

The same El who blew His breath on a handful of dust, creating the first man, commanded the dead body of Lazarus, “Come out!” And he did, alive and well (see Genesis 2:7 and John 11:43-44).

The same El who delivered manna every morning to the Israelites in the wilderness delivered food to the 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish (see Exodus 16 and Matthew 14:16-21).

The same El who parted the Red Sea, supernaturally rescuing His people from slavery, hung on the cross to rescue us from the slavery of sin (see Exodus 14; John 3:16-17; Romans 6:17-18).

As you worship Jesus this Christmas, challenge yourself to see Him as He is. There is majesty in the manger. The baby in swaddling clothes is Mighty God. The Creator of the universe stepped into human skin because He loves you, and it is His delight to bring you to Himself.

Prayer: Jesus, help me make the connection that You are the infinite, all-knowing, everlasting Mighty God. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

The Comfort of the Counselor

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/17/21

No matter who or what we are—men or women, young or old, rich or poor—we cannot help but be impressed with the Wonderful Counselor. He alone is perfect and the only one who can meet all our needs.

We have no fear of disdain or judgment when we share our heart with the Wonderful Counselor. He never tells us that our problems are frivolous or insignificant. He never grows tired of listening to us or bored with what we have to say. When we approach Him with our concerns, He says, “I know all of your problems in far greater detail than you do, and I already have an answer for your troubles. I have comfort and joy for your troubled and sorrowful heart. I have blessing waiting for you. I have just been waiting for you to come to Me.”

Christ’s supernatural wisdom far exceeds any human wisdom. When Jesus is our counselor, miracles happen, and transformation takes place through the power of God. Only Christ has the ability to see into our hearts, even into the corners that we try to hide from ourselves. Only Christ has the authority to forgive our sins and give us fresh starts. Only Christ has the power to give us eternal life with Him. Only Christ can heal our hearts and souls.

Whatever you are going through, Jesus the Wonderful Counselor is longing for you to come to Him with your burdens. Only He can make you whole, only He will always listen no matter how long you cry to Him or what you have to say. What is burdening your heart today?

Prayer: Wonderful Counselor, I need to give You my burdens today. Thank You for always being available and for always wanting to hear from me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant” (Psalm 119:76).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

The Best Advice

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/16/21

Have you ever sought the wisdom of a counselor? Maybe you needed perspective on a relationship or help to walk through grief or depression. Counselors provide guidance, support, and encouragement. Yet no matter how helpful, well-trained, or well-intentioned human counselors are, none can compare to our Wonderful Counselor, Jesus Christ.

Several hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah described Him as Wonderful Counselor in Isaiah 9:6. Jesus is the wisest counselor we will ever know, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). He does not simply possess some wisdom, but all the treasures of wisdom. His expertise is unrivaled in providing guidance for our lives.

Christ’s wisdom is not marred by human logic or reasoning; He does not see things from faulty perspectives. He is Truth. He knows all things. “[T]he wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). Jesus’ counsel is not tainted with worldly thoughts or self-serving motives. His counsel is not contaminated by bias or manipulation. The counsel of Christ is pure.

No matter whose godly advice we seek on earth, we should always seek the counsel of Christ first. He possesses wisdom and knowledge that no human counselor or teacher has. He wants to be the one we immediately seek out when we stumble. He wants to hear about our heartaches and pains. He is the best listener we will ever know. When we place our burdens before Christ, He will fill our troubled hearts with peace.

Prayer: Wonderful Counselor, thank You that I can come to You and know that You give wisdom and guidance that no one else can offer. Help me remember to come to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory” (Psalm 73:24).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

Wonderful Counselor

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/15/21

God, the sovereign Creator, had the ability to choose any titles He wanted to tell the world about His Son Jesus. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the very first title God chose to describe His Son to the prophet Isaiah was Wonderful Counselor (see Isaiah 9:6).

Because Jesus is God, the wisdom that He offers flows out of His omnipotence. Jesus is the only one who can see clearly into the depths of our hearts—and He is the only one who can heal where we are broken. Jesus is the only one who knows everything about us, even our deepest longings—and then only He can satisfy those longings. Jesus is the only one who knows every dark chamber in our hearts—and then only He can shine His light in those dark corners and lead the way out. The counsel that Jesus offers is given in light of His absolute understanding of all things. No one else can give counsel and wisdom so thorough and complete.

Not only that, the Wonderful Counselor offers His perfectly wise counsel to us anytime. Jesus said, “[T]he Advocate, the Holy Spirit, . . . will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). God’s very Spirit lives inside every believer in Christ, so no appointments are necessary; Jesus is always in session with you. Through His Spirit living inside you, the Wonderful Counselor has the ultimate open-door policy.

This counsel is a great gift, and our Wonderful Counselor offers this all-knowing wisdom to whoever asks Him for it. So before you talk to anyone else about what is going on in your life, seek the Wonderful Counselor. Linger in His presence and receive His counsel, His Truth, and even His loving rebuke. Receiving the Counselor’s wisdom from the halls of heaven itself is simply a matter of tuning your heart to Him. Can you hear Him?

Prayer: Wonderful Counselor, help me heed Your voice and seek Your counsel first and always. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Jesus: God with Us

12/14/21-12/25/21

His Name Is Jesus

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/14/21

In the Bible, we see great value placed on names and several instances of God giving a new name to His people along with a new life or mission. Sarai became Sarah; Abram became Abraham; Jacob became Israel; Simon became Peter; and Saul became Paul.

God chose the name Jesus for His Son and sent the angel Gabriel to explain the significance of this all-important name. In Matthew 1:21, God tells Joseph, “[Y]ou are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” God knew that, 2,000 years later, people would call Jesus a savior and not the Savior. For this very reason, God defined His name and mission clearly, setting Him apart from the prophets before Him and the founders of all other religions.

Today, many people do not feel like they need salvation because they think their sins are nominal. But every one of the more than 7.9 billion people living today was born with sin. We can only be freed from the bondage of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.

At Christmas, we celebrate the Savior’s birth. The perfect, sinless Son of God came from heaven, lived a perfect life in the face of the same temptations we face, and died on the cross. He shed His blood and rose again on the third day to prove His power over death and sin, and through faith in His finished work, we can experience everlasting life that starts today and continues through eternity.

When you say, “Merry Christmas,” what do you mean? Have you completely surrendered every part of your life to God? Have you acknowledged your sin and called on the reliable name of Jesus, who came to save you from all your sins? Ask for His empowerment in His name as you surrender everything.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the sacrifice of Christ that has brought me life. Give me the strength to surrender all to You today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Christmas Traditions

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/13/21

Tradition dictates the way many of us celebrate Christmas. We have traditions for how and where we spend time with family, how we decorate, when we shop, and whether or not we go caroling. We carefully organize the details for each part of our traditional celebration—wreaths, trees, nativity scenes, charitable contributions, church productions, meals, gifts, and more.

But as these traditions take on a life of their own, we can wear ourselves out trying to attend to all the details. It might make you wonder why in the world you’re doing all this. Are homespun traditions all there is to Christmas? Of course not. Christmas is about celebrating God’s goodness to the world through the birth of Jesus Christ.

Our Christmas traditions should, in some way, point to God’s fulfilled promise of redemption for His people. God gave fully and loved perfectly in Jesus Christ. He didn’t give His gift to beautiful and gracious people who deserved redemption, but to people who were filled with enmity and hatred. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Love brought Jesus down so that God’s people would have a right relationship with Him. He gave His Son to be born as a helpless baby in a manger and later to toil as a young man in a carpenter’s shop. He gave Him to the Pharisees and the scribes, who slandered His immaculate character. He died a criminal’s death and took on the sin of the world, forsaken—for a time—by His beloved Father. He took on our judgment and death so that we might be reconciled to God.

As we prepare for Christmas this season, let us infuse our traditions with new ways to remember, appreciate, and share God’s fulfilled promise of redemption.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for getting wrapped up in traditions that don’t matter. I pray that You would help me this Christmas season to keep my traditions focused on the fulfilled promise of redemption. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

Rejoicing in the Promise of Christ’s Return

12/08/21-12/12/21

Your Redemption Draws Near

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/12/21

In the heart of the book of Revelation, John watches as the Lamb opens the first of seven seals. This is a very dark period of human history—the darkest ever. The breaking of the first seal sets in motion a period of time known as the Great Tribulation. This timeframe, also mentioned in the book of Daniel, is the moment when the Antichrist will arrive and great destruction will be ushered in on a global scale—famine, war, economic calamity, persecution.

Why would God share these details with us? Far from being afraid, Jesus said in Luke 21:28, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” As these events draw closer and closer, we may even become more thrilled in making every minute of our lives count to prepare for that great day.

The very Lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins is also the Lion of Judah who will execute judgment upon the earth. If you do not receive Him as the Lamb of God who forgives your sins, you are going to have to face Him as your judge, the Lion of Judah. Are your sins covered by the blood of the Lamb? If the answer is “Yes,” then you should not fear the Lion.

Though the end times are terrifying and the Lion of Judah causes us to tremble, we have nothing to fear, and certainly nothing to fear of Satan or of the Antichrist. Whether we live to see the Great Tribulation—which will make death seem a blessed rest by comparison—or not, we do not fear, for those who trust in Jesus have their names written in the book of life, not in pencil but with the blood of the Lamb of God. That is what salvation is all about. That is our message of hope. Let us rest in it and share it while we still have time, spreading the light of the world, Jesus Christ, to all in the grips of darkness.

Prayer: I praise You, God, for Your grace and mercy, Your patience and love. Thank You that Your perfect love drives out fear, for I trust in You and Your promises. Help me share this precious gift with those You put in my path. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:17-18).

*Devotional adapted from End Times and the Secret of the Mahdi by Michael Youssef © 2016. Published by Worthy Books, Franklin, TN. Used by permission.

Rejoicing in the Promise of Christ’s Return
12/08/21-12/12/21

The Spirit of the Antichrist
By Michael Youssef, Ph D. 12/11/21
In our fascination with end times prophecy, we tend to forget that the spirit of the Antichrist is already among us. The Antichrist with a capital A is yet to be revealed, but antichrists with a small a are all around us, spreading false teaching in our culture and in the church. As the apostle John wrote, “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18).
Western civilization is not safe from the deception planned by Satan for the end times. Here in America and across the Western world, our civilization is also being prepared by Satan to receive the false messiah, the Antichrist. If we don’t want to be deceived when the Antichrist comes on the scene, then we must be ready—and we must be aware of the deceptive spiritual forces in our culture that would enslave us.
Who are these antichrists? John writes, “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). What does it mean to deny that Jesus is the Christ? Anyone who teaches that Jesus is one of many ways to God is an antichrist with a small a. Anyone who denies Jesus’ claim to be the only way to God the Father is an antichrist with a small a. Anyone who says that Buddha or the Mahdi or Krishna is just another name for Jesus is an antichrist with a small a.
I believe Satan is infecting many churches today with false teachings in order to prepare the way for the Antichrist. When the Antichrist comes, he will be hard to recognize as the Antichrist. He will be attractive and charming. Jesus said that “false messiahs” will come, performing “great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). So we must be alert and put on the whole armor of God, being grounded in the Truth—God’s Word.
But rest assured, no matter how many people the Antichrist deceives, he is ultimately destined to fall.
Prayer: Lord, help me to discern Truth from deception. Help me to be grounded in Your Word so that I am ready to stand against the deceit of the enemy. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen
“Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).
*Devotional adapted from End Times and the Secret of the Mahdi by Michael Youssef © 2016. Published by Worthy Books, Franklin, TN. Used by permission.

Rejoicing in the Promise of Christ’s Return

12/08/21-12/12/21

The Justice and Love of God

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/10/21

In Revelation 8 we see a precious golden bowl at the breaking of the seventh seal during the Great Tribulation. In this bowl are the prayers of the saints—your prayers, your petitions, your confessions, your praise of God, your cries for justice. An angel offers this bowl to God at the golden altar. Then the angel fills it with fire from the altar and hurls it down upon the earth—and judgment is released.

Read Revelation 20:11-15. In this passage of Scripture, John describes how God is going to judge the world. We will all give an account on the day of judgment (see Matthew 12:36), and each of us will fall into one group or the other: those whose names are written in the book of life—and those whose names are not. You may ask, “How can I be sure my name is written in the book of life?” Jesus said, “Only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” The will of the Father is that we commit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. Confess to Him that you are a sinner, repent of your sins, and receive Jesus, once and for all, as your Lord and Savior. Ask Him to write your name in His book. Then live every day for Him.

Through thousands of years of human sin and rebellion, God has been patient. He has withheld His judgment and wrath, in spite of being blasphemed and rejected by the wicked human race. God’s people have been persecuted and killed by the ungodly—and through it all, God has been patient. In fact, He has been so patient that His followers have often asked, “Lord, where are You? How much longer will You wait?”

Let no one assume that He will tolerate sin and rebellion forever. A day is coming when God’s patience will come to an end. A day will come when Satan will see his final defeat. So let us hold fast to the light of Christ as the world plunges into moral and spiritual darkness, remembering His love for us and His promises: “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).

Prayer: God, thank You for Your justice and Your love. I pray for those who do not yet know You. May You give them ears to hear Your Truth and lead me as I share Your Gospel with the lost. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

*Devotional adapted from End Times and the Secret of the Mahdi by Michael Youssef © 2016. Published by Worthy Books, Franklin, TN. Used by permission.

Rejoicing in the Promise of Christ’s Return

12/08/21-12/12/21

Slow to Anger

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/09/21

Through thousands of years of human history, human sin, and human rebellion, God has been patient. He has withheld His judgment and wrath, in spite of being blasphemed and rejected by the wicked human race. For now, God patiently entreats people to repent and to receive His Son, Jesus.

When I consider God’s patience toward the human race, I think of the people I am witnessing to now who are not responding. I think of the people I have pleaded with over the years. Many of them have locked the doors of their hearts. They always have their reasons. “Someday, maybe, I’ll surrender to Christ—but I’m not ready now.” “I live a good life. I don’t need a Savior.” “If I become a Christian, my friends will reject me.” “I want to control my own life. I don’t want God to tell me what to do.” So many excuses—but when these people pass into eternity, what good will their excuses do for them?

When the day of wrath comes, there will be no escape, no second chances. Today, the window of salvation is still open—but for how long? The apostle Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slow in Keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). It is not God’s will that you perish for all eternity, but God’s will is not the only factor in this equation. Your will is also a factor. It is God’s loving and gracious will that you receive the gift of eternal life—that’s why He sent His Son to die for you. But God will not overrule your free will.

God Himself does not gloat over the fate of the wicked (see Ezekiel 33:11). He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (see 2 Peter 3:9). Yet He will not overrule our free will. If we choose judgment, then judgment it shall be. No one has to suffer eternal separation from God. The victory over sin and death has already been won. Jesus has paid the price of our redemption—and He will triumph over Satan.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your precious gift of grace. Thank You for Your long-suffering compassion. Help me to daily submit my will to Yours. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“And [the Lord] passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished'” (Exodus 34:6-7).

*Devotional adapted from End Times and the Secret of the Mahdi by Michael Youssef © 2016. Published by Worthy Books, Franklin, TN. Used by permission.

Rejoicing in the Promise of Christ’s Return

12/08/21-12/12/21

Revelation Completes the Gospel

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/08/21

The word revelation has an important meaning: the manifestation or unveiling of something that has been hidden. In other words, the book of Revelation is the unveiling of God’s plan for the future.

God revealed this plan to John when he was in his 90s, exiled to the island of Patmos. Through John’s exile, God gifted John and His people with the most powerful heavenly vision for all of eternity: the Revelation of Jesus Christ. This vision completes the Gospel, giving hope to, sternly warning, and deeply comforting all those who trust in Jesus. As you read it, remember these three purposes of Revelation:

Revelation completes our understanding of God’s purpose for history and for our future. Revelation assures us that, while the world may look out of control, it’s not out of the control of God; He holds His children in His loving hand. From Genesis to Revelation, God has a plan, and Jesus is at the center of it all.

Revelation shows us the danger of compromise and the ultimate destruction of Satan and those who reject Christ. In Revelation we see that God has secured the victory, and judgment will come at the end times. Therefore we must not compromise, but stand firm against the spirit of this age, who says we can have salvation without the Savior, power without prayer, spirituality without the Holy Spirit, and morality without the Bible.

Revelation gives us an awe-inspiring portrait of the glorified, soon-coming King Jesus. John’s vision completes the Gospel of salvation—past, present, and future. For in Revelation we see Jesus no longer hanging on a cross, but glorified in white and gold, with hair white as wool, with eyes that blaze with fire, with a voice like rushing waters (see Revelation 1:13-15). We see Jesus as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (see 22:13).

The same Jesus born as a helpless babe in Bethlehem is coming back to sit on the judge’s bench. If He were to return today, would you be thrilled or afraid? Would you be unprepared or ready to face the King? Examine your life. Look through the lens of eternity. Ask the Lord how He wants you to prepare for that glorious day when you see Him face to face.

Prayer: God, thank You for the hope I have in You. May it fill me with joy and overflow in love for others as I share the Truth of Your Gospel. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I have become [the gospel’s] servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness . . . this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:25, 27).

*Devotional adapted from End Times and the Secret of the Mahdi by Michael Youssef © 2016. Published by Worthy Books, Franklin, TN. Used by permission.

The Reason We Say “Merry Christmas” 

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/07/21

Today, there are professing Christians who believe that being a good person is the path to salvation. They do not feel like they need someone to save them because their sins are nominal. It is enough that they attend church and have never committed “major” sins. They are perishing as they believe a lie.

The Bible says that every one of the 7.9 billion people living today was born with sin. This sin was passed along to us genetically from Adam and Eve—the root of a sin system that exists in every person. Like Adam and Eve, we want to do things our way. We want to stay in charge of our lives while paying God lip service. We justify our sin and minimize its consequences. We hide from God and others in our shame. Instead of confessing our sin and turning to a loving God for deliverance, we cling to the bitter roots of the poisonous fruit of sin, and we perish in that sin.

God sent His Son Jesus to deliver us from all our sins. God knows we cannot do this through our own works or devices. We can only be made perfect and whole through faith in the finished work of our sinless Savior, Jesus Christ.

At Christmas, we celebrate the Savior’s birth. The perfect, sinless Son of God came from heaven, lived the most difficult of lives, and died on the cross. He shed His blood and rose again on the third day to prove His power over death and sin.

We say, “Merry Christmas,” because we know that our sins—past, present, and future—are all forgiven when we come to Jesus Christ. His birth, death, and resurrection have brought us peace with God. His plan of redemption has shown goodwill toward men. It is a gift we celebrate, not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives.

Prayer: Father, thank You that every time I say the words, “Merry Christmas,” I am reminded of what You did for me and of Your gift to the world. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14, NKJV).

Make Room for Him

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/06/21

For some, Christmas is about cultural traditions and social obligations. The centrality of Christ in the Christmas season comes under attack from pluralistic, hedonistic, and materialistic societies. Christmas has quickly become a series of twinkling lights and sparkling presents with no inkling of the eternal Truth of Christ. In the midst of our cultural traditions and social obligations, do we make room?

For others, isolation is the focus of the season, and we find ourselves alone, struggling to find a sense of belonging. It seems that the most we can hope for is an uneventful evening. Maybe we will fill our time by gratifying our own desires or focusing on our work. Perhaps the time will be spent entertaining a looming feeling of regret. In these moments of isolation, do we make room?

In the midst of that crowded city, the Messiah quietly came into the world. The streets were busy, the inns were full, the travelers were abuzz in the town, and God took on flesh. Can you imagine being in Bethlehem that night and missing this miracle?

The wonder of the Christmas story is this: God’s power makes regular intrusions even when we make no room. No room in the inn? God still took on flesh. No room in your holiday traditions? God still calls to your heart. No room in society’s agenda? The gift of God is still offered. No room in your isolation? The Savior still invites you to intimacy with Him.

God’s plan continues even if we make no room for it. The awesome and the miraculous occur every day as He calls men and women from death to eternal life in Christ, and He wants us to experience these miracles. Do not crowd God out at Christmas. Open your heart, mind, soul, home, family, and traditions to God. Make room for Him—don’t miss His miracles this Christmas and in the days to come.

Prayer: God, today I want to make room for You. I want You to be at the center of my heart and of all that I do this Christmas season. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).