Daily Bible Devotionals

“‘An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.’ Then He left them and went away. The disciples reached the other shore, and they had forgotten to take bread. Then, Jesus told them, ‘Watch out and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Matthew 16:4-6 (HCSB)

What is an adulterous generation? Spiritual adultery forsakes belief & faith for the latest sign or wonder. It is, at its core, idolatry and paganism.

Spiritual adultery may display itself as overtly as leaving the Church for another religion. It may also show itself in subtle signs such as “church hopping.” Unlike people seeking God to find the right church, chronic church hoppers think the worship experience is all about them. They crave excitement but don’t commit to serving beyond their comfort zone. When the church services become uncomfortable or unentertaining, they move on in search of a better experience.

People who are not mature in their faith (i.e., aren’t grounded in God’s Word) are less likely to be reliable members of a congregation. They are also more likely to be enticed by subtle heretical teaching.

Ask yourself: If your church were your spouse, would it say you were faithful?

This was the case with the Pharisees, who were secretly communicating with Jesus’s disciples. They were engaged in hushed conversations with the disciples, planting subversive thoughts. Jesus said, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees.” What was He talking about?

“Yeast” describes heretical teaching that entices the flesh. Because it is subtle, yeast spreads undetected until it grows too big to control. In the Bible, yeast is synonymous with sin because it spreads quietly until it’s almost too late. Yeast is more dangerous than blatant heresy. At least blatant heresy is easily spotted.

Yeast theology works hand-in-glove with an adulterous generation. When people reject sound doctrine, they end up attending a church that doesn’t challenge them with the truth of Scripture. When a pulpit is compromised, Bible teaching is replaced with “Bible-themed” messages. Rote volunteerism replaces discipleship & kingdom-building.

Sadly, years can go by before a person recognizes the emptiness of this type of theology. Many people spiritually starve to death. Others just bounce from benign congregation to benign congregation. They grow increasingly bitter about anything that convicts of sin, and they get bored unless the congregation’s “production” is entertaining.

Here’s a good rule: look for a congregation that considers the Bible to be the source of sound doctrine instead of just another resource for positive living.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Matthew 15. Click the links below to watch or listen.

“‘Come!’ He said. And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, ‘Truly You are the Son of God!’” Matthew 14:29-33 (HCSB)

It’s May 8, 1990. I’m sitting in my ’75 Corvette, listening to a sermon on a cassette titled: “The Crisis of Decision.” If I turned right, I would go home to a lucrative summer job under the blessing of a full-ride track scholarship; turn left, and I would follow the Lord’s call on my life into the uncertain world of the music business.

I turned left. I stepped out of the boat, so to speak. Just like that, I made a step of faith. It didn’t hurt at all; as a matter of fact, it felt kind of warm and fuzzy.

Three months later, things weren’t looking so good. I didn’t have any money or apparently enough REM sleep to make my Rock & Roll dreams come true. I panicked and started doubting if I had indeed heard from God. I began making decisions without seeking the Lord, trying to get back to the smooth college life I had so cavalierly abandoned. I was sinking fast, and everyone around me was watching.

Whenever you choose to follow the Lord, there’s always a boatload of onlookers. You’ve got to hand it to Peter; he had enough faith to step out while the others were hugging life jackets! He took a few steps, but like the rest of us can do, Peter took his focus off Jesus and began sinking. I like Jesus’ response, reaching out His hand and adding, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

In chapter 8, Jesus rebuked His disciples for waking Him during a storm while on a boat. It seems Peter attained some faith from that lesson because this time, Peter braved his fears and stepped out of the boat amid the storm. The moment Peter called out to Jesus, He gave support. Interestingly, the wind and waves didn’t cease until they got back in the boat.

Have you stepped out in faith, only to find yourself weaker than you hoped? Call out to Jesus, and He will support you. The storm may not stop automatically, but He will deliver you safely back to the boat. When you arrive back safely, just know everyone in the boat will worship the Lord with you, encouraged by 1) how the Lord called & supported you and 2) how your faithful response to His call led to a blessed ending. Then, the next time He beckons you out onto the water, perhaps, you’ll have a few others stepping out with you!

“‘Have you understood these things?’ ‘Yes,’ they told Him. ‘Therefore,’ He said to them, ‘every student of Scripture instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old.’” Matthew 13:51-52 (HCSB)

Over the past 15 years of performing concerts and touring around, I have met some brilliant people. Some folks are almost too smart. You may want them as your “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” lifeline phone call, but otherwise, they can hardly relate to the average intellect.

I’ve also met people who are almost exclusively socially oriented. They are by no means scholars, but they’re sure fun at a party! These folks are always up on the newest movies, music, and media. Sadly, their interests seldom go beyond the surface level.

The bookworm and the socialite generally only communicate with others of their kind, but Jesus connects with anyone. Fully God and fully man, Jesus is perfection personified. Unlike Jesus, we are hindered by our personalities.

The Bible calls us “members” of the body of Messiah. Individually, we may not be too impressive, but put us all together, and you get a better picture of Jesus. It is sort of like staring at an impressionist painting close-up; you need to take a few steps back to catch the artist’s true visual statement. The same can be said for analyzing the shortcomings of an individual believer instead of seeing what Christians can do collectively. The purpose of community is to make our weaknesses ineffective. A healthy Christian community overrides our weaknesses and enables everyone to work within their God-given strengths, each person’s strength covering another’s weaknesses.

Jesus taught His disciples to be well-balanced. When we search the Bible, God’s Spirit reveals the truth, making it clear. The Holy Spirit literally puts God’s Word into the storehouses of our hearts.

In addition, Jesus calls us to be His witness in our day. With His Word stored away, we carry His message wherever He leads.

The Gospel is timeless. It will never change or lose its power. Every generation may hold a unique perspective on the Gospel, but the Gospel’s truth is constant. Kingdom-minded believers are continually developing new societal, media-driven, and contemporary platforms from which to share the Gospel. Still, the Bible never changes.

As you read the Bible, ask God to bring new light to the ancient text. Then pray He will give you someone to share it with today in a relevant way: Something old and something new. From the storeroom of Scripture, He is filling up in Your heart.

“He was still speaking to the crowds when suddenly His mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to Him.  Someone told Him, ‘Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.’ But He replied to the one who told Him, ‘Who are my mother and brothers?’ And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, ‘Here are My mother and brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother, and sister and mother.’” Matthew 12:46-50 (HCSB)

I love my parents and my brother & sister.  We had plenty of fun times growing up, but in reality, these days, we’re not as close as I wished.  We love each other but seldom talk on the phone or visit each other.  Part of the problem is that we live so far away from each other.  

I suppose it can be somewhat depressing, but then I think about my family in Messiah.  In the absence of my immediate family, the Lord has provided a church family: hundreds of mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters.

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:29 (AMP)

We know from elsewhere in Scripture that Jesus’ family had come to take Him away.  They simply didn’t believe in His Messianic mission.  Perhaps they were concerned for His safety and possibly their own.  They had abandoned the faithful vision and trusted their feelings more than the Lord.  Jesus saw past their scheme.

He turned to those following Him and defined their relationship.  They were no longer only followers.  Now, they were FAMILY!  That relationship is still offered to us today.

The Bible says,

“But to all who did receive Him, He gave to them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His Name, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 (HCSB)

It’s true.  

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe it in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (HCSB)

The Lord desires that everyone will repent and follow Him.  As a result, we become co-heirs with Jesus, sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters of Messiah.

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“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (HCSB)

In the days of Jesus, rabbis were well respected. In many ways, rabbis were the central cohesive figure in day-to-day village life. They were funny, insightful, commanding, and entertaining. Jewish parents wanted their sons to be rabbis.

Each rabbi had their own method of adhering to the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). Some taught that you had to memorize the Torah. Others would add discussing the Torah or praying a certain way. Each rabbi’s “course load” was a burden, hence the term “yoke.”

Occasionally, a rabbi would come through town and choose the best young boys to be his Talmidim. (students) They usually chose 12, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. There was a ceremony, customary to many rabbis, where the instructor would pour honey on a writing slate, then hold it over the boy’s mouth. The honey signified the sweetness of God’s Word. This would have been a treat for any boy and a proud day for the parents.

For those boys who were passed up, the rabbi would tell their parents the boys should find a trade. If they married a nice Jewish girl, maybe their son could be a rabbi, but as for them…no cigar.

This was the setting when Jesus traveled to Capernaum and called four young fishermen to be His disciples. See also Luke 5:1-11. Four rejects just got the call of their lives! Is it any wonder they left everything to follow Him? He was Messiah, yet His “yoke” (course load) could be summed up as “Love God, and love people.”

Are you tired? Do you need rest? Have so-called “church leaders” loaded you down with impossible burdens and senseless traditions? Come to Jesus. Learn from Him who is gentle and humble in heart, and find rest for yourself.

“Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves. Because people will hand you over to the Sanhedrin and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them. You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations. But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.” Matthew 10:16-20 (HCSB)

Children bear a resemblance to their parents. That can be good or bad. Often negative attitudes or self-destructive behavior are learned from living in a worldly family environment. You never know how much your upbringing affects your values until you’re under pressure. People are like teabags: you never know what’s inside until you put them in hot water!

Soon after calling His disciples, Jesus sent them out. He tossed them the keys to the Kingdom, as it were, and said, “Take her for a spin!” He gave simple instructions and faith-building challenges. When they returned, they were bragging about how even the demons submitted. Overconfidence is the crown of adolescence.

However, Jesus told them how serious things would get. Little did they realize that persecution was just around the corner. They weren’t quite so “slap-happy” when they learned that following Jesus often means entering the Kingdom to come through the door of martyrdom.

There is a reason why we study the Bible in community, discussing it and sharing what the Lord is revealing to us. We are sowing the seeds of readiness. We are allowing the Lord to “tattoo,” so to speak, His Word on our hearts and minds.

“‘Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days’ - the LORD’s declaration. ‘I will put My teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.’” Jeremiah 31:33 (HCSB)

Eventually, each of us will be called to “give reason for the hope within us.” For many, it will be a series of simple conversations. Others will face life-or-death faith challenges. Whenever that time comes, the faithful will open their mouths, and the Spirit will speak from the inventory of scripture in their hearts. He will literally draw from the scripture you are storing in your heart daily. God often gives “pop quizzes” at extremely inopportune times for His students…so stay alert and be prepared.

Miles Davis once said, “If you don’t live it, it won’t come out your horn.” Be diligent in scripture and prayer. You never know when the Lord will throw you a solo!

“While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when He heard this, He said, ‘Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” Matthew 9:10-13 (HCSB)

A few days before I moved to California, I saw my (soon-to-be) new boss on Larry King Live. Just before a commercial break, Larry figured he’d catch Pastor Greg Laurie on a trick question. Larry asked, “Greg, isn’t religion just a crutch?”

Pastor Greg quickly retorted, “Larry, for me, it’s not just a crutch. It’s a whole hospital!”

What’s up with “the church” that so many have lost their perception of being a hospital? Is it wrong to enter a hospital and admit you need care? Why are people afraid to approach their congregation similarly? We praise the hospital triage staff for quickly diagnosing our condition and immediately rushing us into treatment. Why do people in the church have a stigma about “diagnosing” a sin issue and promptly suggesting a proper course of treatment, in this case, discipleship?

The Pharisees were in denial. They ministered in the synagogue more than anyone, yet they denied their own need for inner healing. “How could the ‘doctors’ need medical attention?” was their attitude. Doctors? They couldn’t heal themselves, much less anyone else. Yet, they criticized Jesus for healing and associating with patients they dismissed as untreatable or “uninsured,” as it were.

Before the Great Physician heals us, we must humbly present ourselves for His diagnosis. Then, we must trust His prognosis and submit to His treatment plan, which will lead to our wellness. I once had a doctor prescribe me medicine and say, “Take every pill.” The moment I felt better, I quit the prescription, only to get sick again.

In today’s passage, Jesus made a house call. Matthew risked his reputation to 1) Show his friends that he was (spiritually) healed and 2) Introduce his (spiritually) ill friends to Messiah. Jesus honored that risk.

The Church is supposed to be a spiritual hospital, with its members acting as paramedics. God calls us to seek and serve the lost and needy. We exist to search out the sick and dying, share our stories of crisis and healing, and bring the people back to the “hospital” for ongoing care and community.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Matthew 8. Click the links below to watch or listen.