Daily Devotional

MORE Than a Babe in a Manager

12/02/21 – 12/05/21

Jesus Is the Soon-Returning King

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/05/21

Read John 14:1-4.

In His first advent, Jesus bore the gravity of our sin upon the cross—betrayal, denial, and the just wrath of God in our place. But at His second advent, He will return robed with the splendor of His Father. In His first coming, He was lonely and rejected, but He will return with millions of faithful believers who have gone to be with Him. In His first advent, Jesus was a man of sorrows, but in His second coming, He will wipe away all our tears. In His first advent, His persecutors slapped Him across the face, but in His second advent, His enemies will be made His footstool. On that day, those who love Him and celebrate His appearing, who have diligently worked and waited for Him—they are going to be filled with unspeakable joy!

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Jesus is returning for His followers—and He wants us to be ready, as He said: “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13, KJV). He wants us to work diligently for His Kingdom until He returns. That means that every relationship we build, every service we offer, every decision we make, and every dollar we give is motivated by the desire to honor and glorify Christ. We do this best by focusing on our destination rather than our journey. By keeping heaven in view and Jesus’ return continually on our minds, we will avoid getting bogged down by the troubles of this world and remain diligent in the tasks He’s given us.

Consider Scripture’s exhortations to us as we wait for Christ’s return: “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming” (James 5:7); “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming” (1 Peter 1:13). For, “. . . Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).

Are you joyfully anticipating Jesus’ second advent, or does the thought of His return fill you with fear? You can place your hope in Him today—place your life in His hands—and begin focusing on the glorious destination He’s preparing for you even now.

Prayer: Father, may I dwell on my eternal destination so that I might serve You faithfully each day. May I be patient and alert, knowing that the delay of Your return springs from Your love and desire that all might come to know Your salvation offered through Jesus Christ. So help me to share that Truth boldly as I await Your return. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).

MORE Than a Babe in a Manager

12/02/21 – 12/05/21

Jesus Destroys the Devil’s Work

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/04/21

Read 1 John 3:7-10.

There is a weighty, pivotal victory that we must not neglect as we celebrate the Advent of Christ this season. Sadly, our society tells us there is little difference between the stories about Santa and the story of our Savior. The world says both are impossible—both are the stuff of make-believe. Such approaches to Biblical Truth have become all too common as our culture casts off its Biblical moorings. Our progressive, permissive culture encourages people to believe that what was once considered heresy is now a fad to be followed, that what the Bible calls sinful is simply a harmless lifestyle. Sadly, this deception is taking place even in many churches across the world. It is nothing less than the work of the devil. Thankfully, the Bible tells us, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8).

But Jesus came to make a wreck out of Satan’s power. The word destroy means “to dissolve or loosen completely.” In other words, when Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross in our place, and resurrected eternally to usher in the Kingdom of God, He smashed Satan’s grip to smithereens. He destroyed hatred with His love. He destroyed lawlessness with His righteousness. He destroyed the power of death with His resurrection.

You may wonder, If Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, then why does Satan continue to operate freely? As long as people are willing to entertain and obey the lies of Satan, he will have a hold over them. But Satan has no claim on a believer unless that believer hands him the keys to their life. But as we follow Jesus by the power of His Spirit, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under [our] feet” (Romans 16:20).

This Christmas, remember the victory of Christ’s coming. He has disarmed the devil, removed the fangs from the old serpent, and knocked out the teeth from the roaring lion. He has destroyed all the devil’s works: envy, lust, fear, anxiety, hatred, pride, and more. When Christ came, He secured for you a victorious life today and called you to anticipate His second coming, that wondrous day when He will return to cast Satan into the bottomless pit for eternity (see Revelation 20:1-10) and usher in the new heaven and new earth. What a reason to celebrate!

Prayer: Jesus, help me to remember and take hold of Your victory on my behalf as I walk through the trials and temptations of this life. I will look to Your return with joy and hope today because Your promises are sure and You love is beyond comprehension. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8).

MORE Than a Babe in a Manager

12/02/21 – 12/05/21

Jesus Seeks and Saves the Lost

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/03/21

Read Luke 19:1-10.

There is a word that’s central to the Christmas story that many don’t want to hear. That word is sin. But Scripture is clear: Jesus came to save us from sin (see Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; 1 John 3:5; et al.).

Today our culture doesn’t want to talk about sin. But to give in to culture’s demands to ignore the word sin would be scandalous in light of what Scripture says. Sin is not a toy; it is a tyrant. It has the strength of death, and its power has not lessened in all of human history. That is why the ultimate deception is to deny the existence and power of sin.

Sin is real, and we are powerless to free ourselves from its grasp. But praise God He sent His Son on that first Christmas to bring us the only cure for sin: the righteousness of God transferred to us by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross.

Every human being who has ever lived has been born with sin nature, with the inclination to be independent of their Creator. But only those who admit they are sinners and confess their need for a Savior will be rescued by Jesus. That is why the apostle John wrote, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). You see, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible declares there are two paths before us. We either choose God’s way or man’s way, the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of Satan. Every person on earth is either saved or lost; there is no in-between. Only those who confess their sin and accept the blood of Jesus Christ as their only plea will be eternally forgiven and enjoy a restored relationship with God forever.

Jesus came to earth to deliver us from sin, its power, and its punishment. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus is our righteousness—the way home to the Father, the gate to eternal and abundant life (see 1 Corinthians 1:30; John 10:9, 14:6). He’s the greatest gift we could ever receive, and likewise, the most wonderful news we could ever share with a world in need of a Savior. So this Advent season, let’s rejoice in and proclaim the Good News that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Prayer: Father, thank You for delivering me from the power of sin. May my life bring You glory as You transform me day by day into Christ’s likeness. You are indeed mighty to save. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

MORE Than a Babe in a Manager

12/02/21 – 12/05/21

More Than a Babe in a Manger

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/02/21

Read Psalm 2:1-12 and 110:1-7

Despite appearances, Jesus’ coming was hardly unscheduled—His was an arrival promised and planned since the beginning (see Genesis 3:15). Throughout the Old Testament, God continuously reminded His people that His Anointed One would come and save them from the curse of sin and death. His Son would reign and rule over all the nations of the earth forever. In particular, the Psalms contain many passages that prophesy about the coming Messiah—passages that the New Testament reveals are fulfilled in Jesus.

In Psalm 2, we read, “The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed” (v. 2). As Acts 4:25-28 declares, God’s anointed is Jesus, and the Truth of Psalm 2 is on full display today as people choose to set themselves up as their own kings, rejecting the idea that they are beholden to their Creator, King Jesus. They hate His teachings, and they strive to silence His followers because they believe that God’s moral absolutes are a chain around their necks. They want to be free to pursue the pleasure that their flesh demands, so they suppress the Truth and ignore Jesus’ offer of eternal, abundant life to all who will take refuge in Him (see Psalm 2:12).

Likewise, the New Testament is very clear that Jesus is the resurrected, ascended, glorified, soon-coming judge depicted in Psalm 110 (see Hebrews 7:11-28, Acts 2:29-36, Mark 12:35-37, et al.). He is reigning and ruling at the right hand of God the Father today. Jesus even applied this psalm to Himself in Matthew 22:41-46, indicating that, after He had paid for the wages of our sins on the cross, He would be enthroned in heaven. And this is where Jesus is right now. He is King over all, and every human being on the face of the earth will either know Jesus as Lord, Savior, and friend or become His footstool.

At Christmas we celebrate more than the babe in the manger. We worship the glorious, eternal King who reigns. Out of His infinite love, God sent His Son to earth two thousand years ago, and still He invites His enemies to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved. Let us pray that many who now shake their fists at heaven would have ears to hear the Gospel message, receive the Lord Jesus as King, and be transformed by the gift of His divine presence forever this Christmas.

Prayer: Lord, I praise You for Your wondrous love displayed in the gift of Your one and only Son. Thank You for the wonder of Christmas. Give me eyes to see ways I can share Your gift of salvation with those around me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:12).

Celebrating Advent

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/01/21

The weeks leading up to Christmas Day are full of exciting preparation with gifts to buy, parties to plan, and decorations to display. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, we look forward to celebrating the Advent of Christ—God entering our world as a man “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

However, the joy of the Christmas season can often be overshadowed by the brokenness of our families, the loss of loved ones, or even our own loneliness. In these instances, we are faced with the reality that many Biblical prophecies are yet to be fulfilled. Although Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross, Satan still “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We know this because sin and death are still ever present in our lives.

Our world’s abiding brokenness is precisely why Christmas should be a time for us to hope and prepare for Christ’s second coming, even as we celebrate His first. The fulfilled prophecies of Christ’s birth prove that the Biblical prophecies about His return will also one day be fulfilled.

In 2 Corinthians 5:16, Paul writes, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.” At Christmas, it’s right for us to rejoice as we remember the baby in the manger. But Paul’s words remind us that we must no longer regard Christ as merely a helpless babe, for He is now and forever the risen and glorified Lord. And He will soon return to judge the world and complete His work of salvation and restoration.

As you celebrate in this Advent season, are you ready for the ultimate advent? The baby in the manger may not have come making demands, but the risen Lord of lords demands our all. The glorified Christ of Revelation is the one we will all meet on that great day when He returns to fulfill all of God’s promises and defeat Satan once and for all.

Prayer: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! May this Christmas be full of hope as I look forward to the fulfillment of Your precious promises. Any lack, any suffering, pales in the light of Your glorious hope, faithfulness, and future. Help me to serve You as I wait for Your ultimate advent. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[S]o Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).

Having Faith for the Next Generation

11/26/21 – 11/30/21

Teach Your Children Well

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/30/21

Training children to love and serve the Lord, to be compassionate toward others, and to have consistent walks of faith is the most noble and important work any parent can do. Therefore, we should find great joy in the fact that the Lord has called us and entrusted us to be parents.

Never lose sight of the fact that you are training your child not only to take a role in God’s Kingdom on this earth but also to assume a place and an inheritance in heaven.

Many parents wonder what the most important lesson is that they can teach their children. The answer is simple. Nothing can take the place of teaching your child about the forgiveness and love of God. Telling him or her about the saving grace of Jesus Christ is the most important thing you will ever do.

Too often, mothers and fathers become weary in the process and say, “I am raising children,” or, “I am supporting a family.” However, we need to view our parental roles as a privilege. We are training heirs to the Kingdom of God—children who will make a difference in this world for God, children who will love others in Christ and lead them to salvation, children who will live together with you in eternity, children who will know the fullness of God’s blessings, guidance, and favor.

As you pursue the challenge of being a godly parent, you can be assured that God is on your team. He will provide the wisdom you need for every situation. He also will protect you and bless you as you walk in His ways and bring glory to His name.

Prayer: Lord, I realize that as a parent I have a tremendous task. I know I cannot do it on my own. I need Your wisdom to guide me each day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

Having Faith for the Next Generation

11/26/21 – 11/30/21

Unconditional Love

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/29/21

Another role of the godly parent is to cultivate compassion for others. Job trained his children to be generous, hospitable, responsible, kind, and considerate and to be leaders in building up others and the community in unity and harmony.

This does not mean Job taught his children to compromise for the sake of agreement, but rather to hold strong principles and demonstrate genuine love.

How do we develop compassion for others? We first must experience God’s love and then be challenged to pass on that love. Children first experience God’s love by experiencing the love of their own parents. The more their parents express love to them, the quicker they are to show compassion.

Assure your children repeatedly of God’s love, even when they disobey. Be affectionate with them, hugging and kissing them and putting your hand on their shoulders as a sign of encouragement.

Also, don’t link your love to any behavioral trait in your child. Let your children know you love them just as God loves them—unconditionally. God loves us solely because we are His beloved, uniquely created children. Learn to love your children in the same way.

When you demonstrate love to your children, they gain a proper perspective of God. They learn to view the Lord as a God of love and not wrath.

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to communicate Your love better to my family. I know when I learn to love You better, I can then pass this love on to others. Thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

Having Faith for the Next Generation

11/26/21 – 11/30/21

Walk the Walk

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/28/21

As a godly parent, you will want to cultivate consistency in your family’s walk of faith. Job valued spending time with his family and communicating with them, not only speaking to them but listening closely as they voiced their concerns, needs, and opinions.

Being consistent in our faith is not the same thing as perfection, nor does it mean we are always right. Rather, consistency means we make our families a priority when it comes to our time and our schedules.

Consistency also means walking the walk and not just talking the talk of your faith. It means going with your children to church every Sunday, including attendance at Sunday school. It means praying with your family daily, memorizing Scripture together, and talking about the things of the Lord and the principles of the Bible in a natural, ongoing way.

Use every moment of your relationship with your children to establish the reality of both God’s love and your love in their lives. Keep His love and the Bible’s teachings at the heart of your discussions with your children about what they see on television, learn in school, or hear from other children. Make God your number one resource to consult any time they face problems, are sick, or have specific needs.

It is in this daily walking-and-talking, dawn-to-dusk way that we train our children to have the attitude of Christ and to express His love toward others. It is a daily challenge to teach our children compassion and to lead them into a consistent pattern of godly living.

Prayer: Lord, I know when the focus of my life is set on You, then the focus of my family will be the same. Help me to seek Your face by Your Spirit. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live” (Proverbs 4:4).

Having Faith for the Next Generation

11/26/21 – 11/30/21

Believing God for Your Family

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/27/21

The very first step to becoming a godly parent is to accept Christ as your Savior. If you have never asked Him to come into your heart and forgive your sins, then you will not know how to meet your children’s needs effectively. The Lord is the one who has given us the privilege of raising children, and in order to tap into His mind for wisdom to successfully fulfill this responsibility, you have to have a personal relationship with Him.

The second step to becoming a godly parent is to depend on God to live a holy and Christlike life. Children are great imitators. If we have a sincere walk of faith, they will follow our lead. Let your love for your children be rooted in your love for God. It is only to the degree that you love the Lord that you will be able to show your love to your children and other family members.

The third step is to be humble. Your children need to recognize the fact that you are the head of the household. However, they also need to know you can make mistakes, and when you do, you are not slow in seeking God’s forgiveness. When your child hears you praying, his or her life is changed. Suddenly, he realizes Mom or Dad’s faith is in God and nothing else.

Make sure you find time to praise God for your salvation, His provision for your family, and the wisdom He gives each day. Thank Him for His blessings and protection. Pray for a spirit of gratitude so your children will learn to have grateful hearts instead of being consumed with their personal wants and desires.

Prayer: Lord, I know there are times when I forget to thank You for all You have done. Forgive my ingratitude and teach me to be grateful for the love You have shown to my family and myself. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; . . . Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19).

Having Faith for the Next Generation

11/26/21 – 11/30/21

Parenting Our Children’s Hearts

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/26/21

As parents, we have an unbelievable opportunity to focus on parenting our children’s hearts and inward beliefs.

Some new parents seek to repeat their experiences from childhood, assuming that is the best practice. Others vow not to repeat their adolescent experiences for their kids, faulting their parents for their unhappy childhood. Still others base their parenting style on the expectations of other parents in their social circles.

But are any of these approaches to parenting reflective of your personal faith in God?

To pass on spiritual and moral values to build up the hearts and characters of our children in righteousness, we must take time with our kids to model a godly lifestyle and show them unconditional love with no favoritism. Family Bible reading and discussion can help instill Biblical Truths in the hearts and minds of our children, as can Scripture memorization and prayer. And you may have other Christ-honoring methods for developing a love of God and His Gospel in your children’s lives. That’s wonderful. But the key we must remember is to move from ideas to action. It is easy to allow this priority of leading our kids in spiritual growth and Truth to fall to the wayside.

Long hours committed to work schedules, multiple employment commitments because of lifestyle issues, and a myriad of other interests can adversely affect even the best efforts to allocate enough time to parent our children’s hearts and inward beliefs.

Begin a concerted effort now to explore opportunities that will contribute to your family heritage.

Prayer: Father, help me to model to my children a life committed to You. Show me if there is anything I need to change in my parenting habits. Help me to spend time in the Word and in prayer with my children. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Living a Life of Thanksgiving

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/24/21

Read Luke 17. How can we live a life that is truly thankful?

First, we must consider the depth of our greatest blessing. The leper’s story of miraculous healing in Luke 17 is remarkable—to see such a disease immediately eradicated in someone’s life is nothing short of awesome. Yet when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are healed even more completely! We were eternally separated from God by our sins, but Jesus has made forgiveness possible through His obedient sacrifice on the cross.

Second, we need to make thanksgiving a priority. The leper didn’t wait to return to Jesus when it was convenient or after he had visited the priests. He went immediately to Jesus. The priests had not healed the leper, and he knew it. He returned to the only one worthy of his worship and thanksgiving.

Third, thanksgiving should be offered from the outpouring of our hearts. There was intensity in the leper’s worship because he was aware of his inability to secure for himself the healing he needed. How much more wonderful is the eternal healing for those who follow Christ? Let our thanksgiving be an enthusiastic celebration of Christ, who healed our direst disease when we could not.

Finally, we must be consistent in our thanksgiving. The more intentional we are about offering thanks to God, the easier it becomes to see His blessings in our lives. That is why we are repeatedly commanded in the Bible to be thankful in all things. No one can bless us like our heavenly Father. Let us be diligent in thanking Him for His grace and goodness.

Prayer: God, the greatest blessing I have ever and will ever receive is Your forgiveness. Thank You, Jesus. Help me to always give You the praise You are due. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

The Importance of Praise

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/25/21

In Psalm 100, the psalmist instructs us: “Shout for joy to the LORD, . . . Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. . . . Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (v.1-2, 4-5).

What is it about praise and thanksgiving that brings the Lord and the believer so close together? Praise melts our hearts so that we are no longer hardened by sin or disappointment. The Bible teaches that God is near to those who praise Him (see Psalm 145:18-19). He knows the deepest concerns of our hearts (see Psalm 139). And while He never requires our praise, He certainly desires it because He knows that praise places us in a position to receive His blessings.

Praise reveals the true spiritual condition of our hearts and molds us into people who are thankful.

Prayer: Father, help me to be a person who praises You all the time, for You are truly worthy of all praise! I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

A Zest for Life

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/23/21

Every person has a thirst for life. We want to live our lives to the fullest. Things that clog or impede our lives become objects of our hate, discomfort, and dislike. We abhor sickness, impediments, or whatever diminishes or destroys life.

God created us with a zest for life. Sin in the Garden of Eden brought about the curse of disease and death. No matter how long we may live, we all must face the prospect of death.

Most people live their lives either fearing death or denying that they will have to face it. The Truth is that physical life will fail, but it is Jesus and trust in Him that brings us the assurance of eternal life. In Him, we receive a new spirit and are daily invigorated and renewed.

The more time you spend with Christ, the more energy and vigor you will receive. The more you cling to His Word, the more vitality you will experience. The more you seek Him, the more victory you will have because your focus will be on God and on what is eternal.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for life. Thank You for eternal life in Christ. May I seek You all my days. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws” (Psalm 119:30).

A Cure for Depression

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/22/21

The writer of Psalm 42 is disheartened. Maybe he is dealing with a problem that has continued for some time. Then he hits on a Truth that changes his feelings of depression into thoughts of hope. He writes, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5-6, 11).

Emotional depression can result from anger, disappointment, or discouragement. If we dwell on these feelings, they will consume us. If we fail to look to God in the midst of our difficulty, then we will be overwhelmed and defeated.

When you are tired and discouraged, do you find yourself thirsty for God’s wisdom, guidance, and protection? If so, pray: “Lord, show me Your face. Help me to understand what I need to know about this situation and how to handle it.”

If we seek God, then we will find Him (see Matthew 7:8). Despair, hatred, malice, envy, and feelings of bitterness will fade. Is there something in your life that fills you with misery? Ask for God’s light to come upon you and for His Truth to guide you.

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand my feelings of anxiety and concern. Help me to focus on You and not on my anger, disappointment, or distress. Shine Your light on my life as I thirst for You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell” (Psalm 43:3).

A Meaningful Life

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/21/21

Much of our worldly pursuits in life will bring us nothing but emptiness, misery, and disappointment. A life without God’s leading is a life without purpose and meaning.

But, thanks be to God, there is a better way! A life lived in fellowship with God, a life lived under the authority of the Word of God, a life lived by the principles given to us in His Word—that life will be meaningful.

That sort of life will be purposeful. That life will be joyful and fulfilling. That life will be a blessing to you and to others. Most importantly, that life will be a blessing to God.

The good news is that those who are experiencing a personal relationship with the Son of God will not only find contentment in this life. They will know with all assurance that the day is coming when they will have perfect knowledge, perfect bodies, perfect memories, and perfect stamina. And the reason that they can have this full life is that they know who they are and to whom they belong. They know their purpose for living, and they know their ultimate destination.

Only God, His Truths, His purpose, and His Word can give your life the meaning you have always wanted.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for offering me a life of purpose, joy, and fulfillment through Christ. I pray that my life would be a blessing to You and to others as I seek to serve You alone. 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).

Cleansing Your Soul

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/20/21

When a young boy came running into the house after playing outside, his mother stopped him, asking, “What is on your right hand?”

“Oh, just a little mud,” he replied.

“Are you planning to get it off your hand?” she asked.

“Sure, Mom, I’ll just wipe it off with my other hand.”

There was only one problem with the boy’s plan. One dirty hand and one clean hand equal two dirty hands.

Many people are like this little boy. Deep down they are conscious of their sin and rebellion and of their need of cleansing, but they think they can clean themselves by doing some good deeds or charity work.

Just as the mother had to put her son’s hands under running water to clean them, so you must put your life under the blood of Jesus Christ. Only the resurrected Christ can cleanse you from sin. Only the resurrected Christ can transform your destination from hell to heaven.

There is a need in each of us to do things for ourselves—to be self-reliant. If we have a problem, we want to fix it. If we want something, we try to get it. This need to be independent carries over into our relationship with Christ. But we soon discover that we cannot redeem ourselves from our sinful nature. We cannot work our way into God’s favor. We must come to Him in complete surrender and obedience, seeking His forgiveness for our sins.

Without Christ, our lives are meaningless and empty. Peter reminds us, “In [God’s] great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ that, though my sins were as scarlet, has made me white as snow. Today I rest in Your salvation by grace, that I may be free and able to share this Good News with others. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (Psalm 13:5).

Love Never Fails

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/19/21

In the book First and Last Things, American historian H.G. Wells wrote how Jesus Christ repelled him: “. . . this image of virtue, this terrible and incomprehensible Galilean.” Wells is not the first or the last to be repelled by the Lord.

The government of Christ’s day turned its back on Him. The Jews repudiated Him. Those who gathered for His crucifixion jeered at Him, and many of His friends, who had been with Him for three years of ministry, abandoned Him, going into hiding after His arrest.

It is not surprising that Satan is still at work in our world, seeking to deceive and to draw men and women away from the only one who can provide the hope they so desperately need.

The rejection of God’s Son can be subtle. The “good” person may say, “I am a Christian because I was raised in a Christian family, but I just don’t want to get too serious about church or the Bible.” Another person may mistakenly believe he can live any way he chooses and God will still save his soul. God is not the one who condemns us. Jesus told His followers that His goal was to seek and save those who are lost. We are the ones who condemn ourselves when we reject God’s love and gift of salvation.

However, even when we are faithless, Jesus remains faithful. When we yield to temptation, He continues to love us, and when we seek His forgiveness, He becomes our strong advocate of mercy and grace before the throne of God

He is your dearest friend, the one who will never abandon you. At the cross, He died for you, knowing that He alone could save you and give you eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I don’t understand the depth of love You displayed for me. I am forever indebted to You for Your selfless gift of love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Abraham: A Life of Obedience

11/09/21 – 11/18/21

Not Limiting God

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/18/21

It’s natural to look out for number one. But this focus on self takes us off course in our walk of faith. We may profess devotion and obedience to God, yet we seldom are willing to give up anything for Him. In Genesis 22, we see that Abraham was told to give up not just a little something—he was told to give up his long-awaited and treasured son, Isaac.

“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you'” (Genesis 22:1-2).

Can you imagine the pain of hearing those words? After years of waiting for his promised son, God then calls Abraham to sacrifice him. Most of us would claim that we had misheard God. We would try to bargain with Him or to run and hide our beloved treasure from Him. Yet, the Bible gives no indication that Abraham put up a fight.

How could he go along with such a plan? Abraham’s faith was bigger than his fear of losing his son forever. After a lifetime of lessons in his walk of faith, Abraham had finally learned not to limit God with human thinking. Hebrews 11:17-19 gives us a glimpse of Abraham’s faith in God’s faithfulness:

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

Prayer: God, help me surrender totally to You and Your plan for my life. Help me to not put human limits on You, for You are far greater than I can even imagine. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?” (Job 36:23).

Abraham: A Life of Obedience

11/09/21 – 11/18/21

Consequences of Disobedience

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/17/21

Abraham continued to face consequences for circumventing God’s plan regarding his descendants. Ishmael, the child he fathered through his wife’s servant Hagar, became a resentful and jealous son following the birth of Isaac. “Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, ‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’ The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son” (Genesis 21:9-11).

Abraham learned the hard way that deviating from God’s path leads to misery. He knew that God’s promises were true and sure, but, more than once, he allowed himself to become trapped by Satan’s lies and faltered in his faith. Jesus told us, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Jesus was not talking about mere knowledge of the Truth, but our submission to it. He was talking about the Truth of the Gospel message: We need a Savior, and God has met our deep need through the atoning sacrifice of Christ by grace. It isn’t up to us. And that Truth brings freedom and transforms us into Christ like people as we trust and follow Him.

Rejoice that no matter how you falter along your journey of faith, God will be there to pick you up and redirect your steps toward His Truth—the Gospel of grace.

Prayer: God, I know that I must face the consequences of my disobedience, but I know You will never forsake me. Help me grow in faith. Thank You for picking me up when I fall. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[T]hough he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand” (Psalm 37:24).

Abraham: A Life of Obedience

11/09/21 – 11/18/21

The Blessing of Waiting on God

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/16/21

In fervently seeking God’s will for our lives, there are moments when we clearly hear God’s voice. And there are moments when we do not wait around to let Him finish His sentence. We may hear what God is saying, but we do not listen to every part of His direction for us. Following God completely means there must be a total commitment to obedience—no matter how long it takes.

Hailed as a hero in the realm of faith, Abraham had his moments of weakness, which proved to be costly. Even though he heard God’s promise that his offspring would be innumerable, Abraham struggled to wait, mistakenly supposing that maybe God meant his offspring would come through his maidservant Hagar and thus bringing strife to his household.

Still, God fulfilled His promise to Abraham: Sarah had a child. Even when we make mistakes, God sticks by His Word—He never fails us. However, we must be ever diligent to prove faithful to what God calls us to do in our lives. Our impatience in God usually delays the timing of His best for our lives. God does not choose to make us wait because He enjoys making us suffer; we wait because His timing brings blessing to us and glory to His name and transforms us into His likeness if we set our hearts on Him.

Waiting on God’s best for our lives proves we believe Him. It demonstrates our faith in who He is and what He says about our lives. Learning to wait on His perfect timing results in greater joy when His promises are fully realized in our lives.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to have patience as I wait for Your purposes to be fulfilled in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9:10).

Abraham: A Life of Obedience

11/09/21 – 11/18/21

God Will Act

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/15/21

Disobedience disrupts our walk of faith. Even though God had promised Abraham many descendants, he and his wife Sarah had yet to bear any children. After years of frustration, Sarah began to blame God for her barrenness. She even said to Abraham, “The LORD has kept me from having children” (Genesis 16:2).

This is an easy trap to fall into. When things go wrong or don’t make sense, we blame God. Like Sarah, we are tempted to short-circuit God’s plan. Even if we disobey God out of good intentions, the result is still heartache. But God always keeps His promises, even if they do not follow our preferred timeline. God will act; He is faithful, and this shouldn’t surprise us.

When Sarah heard the news that she would finally bear a son, she laughed and thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Sarah had become bitter and wounded—she was faithless. “Then the LORD said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Will I really have a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son'” (Genesis 18:12-14).

There is nothing too difficult for the Lord! But when we allow our doubts and disbeliefs to taint our faith, we miss out on the joy of watching God’s plan unfold in our lives. When we begin to doubt God’s wisdom and providence, we backtrack in our journey of faith. As we have learned from Abraham, only when we remain in God’s will can we receive His promised blessings. When we try to force our own plans, we cause ourselves misery.

Prayer: Father, help me trust You, even when it may seem like things are not going the way they should. Help me remember that nothing is too difficult for You and that Your plans are always better than mine! I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18).

Abraham: A Life of Obedience

11/09/21 – 11/18/21

Disobedience: The Trail to Spiritual Stagnation

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/14/21

There are times when we confuse our happiness with God’s will. When everything is running smoothly and we are as happy as can be, we presume that we are in the center of God’s will. However, when things take a turn for the worse, we presume just the opposite: We are not in God’s will.

Our initial reaction to friction in our lives is to change something. If everything looks unsettled, then we must be doing something wrong. Yet, if the unsettling is taking place around us and not in our spirit, God wants us to turn to Him and hold on.

As Abraham dealt with what he viewed as a delay in receiving God’s promise for his life, he tried to change his circumstances on his own. If God was not going to open Sarah’s womb, Abraham sought an alternative way to fulfill God’s promise for his life.

God desires to fulfill His promises for us. He never intends for us to hear His promises and then go and try to make them happen ourselves. Even when our lives seem stuck, we must be obedient at all costs. Disobedience delays God’s promises for our lives.

Anyone can obey God when life is easy. When obeying God means helping someone with minimal effort on our part, we joyfully oblige. But when obeying God means there is sacrifice or waiting involved, we must submit and persevere by remembering who is the Lord.

God may ask you to go through some difficult things during your life. But, when you follow His lead, all that you endure will be for your best and for His glory.

Prayer: Lord, help me obey You today, no matter how simple or difficult the task seems. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

Abraham: A Life of Obedience

11/09/21 – 11/18/21

Fearlessness: Walking with the Shield of Faith

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/13/21

Sometimes life can give us more than we can handle. There are moments when our burdens topple the smooth plans we have made for our lives. Our natural tendency is to hold on to what we have, clutching tighter than before. But God says we should do something different.

To walk truly fearlessly in the face of life’s threatening storms, we must fully place our trust in God. He wants us to see if we really believe what He says in His Word. And it begins with surrendering our lives into His hands.

When your life’s boat begins to rock upon the waves, God wants you to focus on Him more than ever. To walk fearlessly, upholding faith as your banner and shield, you must know who you are following. God does not lead us down dark alleys to abandon us. But He does take us through the tumultuous storms of life, holding our hand every step of the way.

After hearing about the kidnapping of Lot and his family, Abraham rounded up 318 men and went on a rescue mission. Abraham was fearless—not because he had 318 men to back him up, but because he was walking under the shield of faith. He trusted God and desired to obey Him no matter what.

Walking fearlessly with our heavenly Father means that we have come to a place of complete dependency upon Him, a place where we know He has His best in mind for us no matter what. The challenges that come our way can be conquered when we place our faith in Him. As our trust in God grows, we realize that, while He will not shield us from life’s challenges, He will shield us from defeat.

Prayer: Lord, I place my trust fully in You. Because of Your power and love displayed on the cross, I can rest in You and remember that You are my fortress. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3).

Abraham: A Life of Obedience

11/09/21 – 11/18/21

Greed Breeds Sorrow

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/12/21

There is a children’s story about a dog with a big, juicy bone crossing over a small footbridge. He stops long enough to gaze down into the pool of water beneath the bridge and sees what he believes is another dog with an even bigger bone!

Instead of being happy with what he has been given, he drops his bone and lunges forward to take the other dog’s bone. But there was no other dog and no other bone. What he saw was his own reflection in the water below. His entanglement with greed and deception caused him to lose what was precious to him.

Many people live their lives in this way. They look at what others have and want more than what they have been given. They allow themselves to be consumed with discontentment and jealousy, disastrous attitudes.

Similarly, Lot was jealous of Abraham. When the men decided to part ways, Lot insisted on settling in the cities of the plain near Jordan. The men could see from where they stood how rich and fertile the land was (see Genesis 13:10-11). Abraham humbly accepted the physically challenging land of Canaan. Lot’s choice was one motivated by his greedy, self-centered desires, while Abraham was motivated by a sincere desire to follow God and live in peace. He believed God’s promises to bless him and make him into a great nation, and so he continued to worship the Lord in his new land (see Genesis 13:14-18).

Jealous for the best land, Lot settled near Sodom and suffered (see Genesis 14, 19:1-29). Selfishness, envy, and greed only lead to sorrow and defeat. If you have allowed envy to set up shop in your life, ask God to tear down this stronghold and forgive you for your faithlessness. He has a marvelous plan for your life; you do not need to envy the life of another.

Prayer: Lord, cleanse me from all thoughts of envy and greed. Teach me to be satisfied with Your blessings in my life and to pursue Your will and wisdom. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper” (Proverbs 28:25).

Abraham: A Life of Obedience

11/09/21 – 11/18/21

Faith Tested

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/11/21

As we read yesterday, Abraham did finally obey God and make it to Canaan. But Abraham’s obedience did not mean that his life would suddenly become easy. When he arrived in the land God showed him, he found the Canaanites there. After such a long journey, Abraham’s faith was about to be tested.

We can become easily discouraged when our obedient choices lead to difficulties and adversities. God never promised an easy life. When we obey Him, we will experience His blessings and peace, but that does not mean an easy road.

Abraham may not have understood the fullness of God’s plan; still, he worshiped God by building an altar. In our walk of faith, we may face trials that baffle us. We may question unexpected events. But in the middle of it all, God wants our obedience and praise. The last thing God wants us to do is to give up when things don’t make sense to our human understanding.

Have you given up on God’s plan because you’re facing difficulties in the midst of it? Remember His faithfulness and love and trust Him again today.

Prayer: God, I sometimes become discouraged when my faith is tested and things don’t go the way I expect. Thank You for the example of Abraham, who worshiped You in the midst of difficulties. Help me persevere through trials. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).