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DAVID'S DAILY
DEVOTIONAL
Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash
WELCOME!
This devotional blog is a weekday "non-fluffy" devotional in the Word based on the two greatest commandments: "Love the Lord, love your neighbor." Each devotion will answer these three questions: What does the message speak to me (the author) today? What is it saying to you (the reader)? And what are we going to do about it? The Bible will speak to us every day if we will let it. So what is it saying today?
You can just come to this page every morning to see the latest blog post, but if you prefer email, subscribe below to have the link to the daily devotion dropped in your email inbox every morning.
Prayers for the Worst
Read Matthew 5:43-48 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even
David Ayres
Jun 12 min read
Mind Your "Because"
Read 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 (NIV) I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. Matthew 7:1–2 (NIV) "Do not judge,
David Ayres
May 153 min read
All You Need Is Love...
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NASB) Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. What It Is Speaking to Me If I were to ask you when you first heard this set of verses, playin
David Ayres
May 83 min read
Radical Hospitality
Read Hebrews 13:1-2,16 (NKJV) Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. What it is speaking to me: Hospitality in ancient times was very different from how we think of it today. Because of the difficulties and dangers involved in travel, texts from the Ancient Near East and the Old Testament present hospita
David Ayres
May 12 min read
Pneumatic Self-Inflation
Read 1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (NKJV) Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. What it is speaking to me: Read this: The apostolic pronouncement under consideration constitutes a penetratingly incisive epistemological corrective: that the mere accumulation of theologically p
David Ayres
Apr 293 min read
Bitter-proof Clothing
Read Colossians 3:12–14 (CSB) "Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." What It Is Speaking to Me Sometimes clarifying definitions helps. Not all offenses are sins. People think that
David Ayres
Apr 243 min read
Love Skills
Read 1 Thessalonians 3:12–13 "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones." What It Is Speaking to Me Have you ever had to go to school or training for a job? Trade schools train students for the work they are going to do. Some jobs include onsite train
David Ayres
Apr 172 min read
Looking Out
Read Philippians 2:4 (NKJV) "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." What It Is Speaking to Me Have you ever helped a parent with a project involving tools? I would help my dad with house projects: plumbing, electrical, roofing, and more. Before you think I helped out of the goodness of my heart...I didn't. I was drafted. But I am grateful for the draft now, because I learned a lot in the process. One of the things I lea
David Ayres
Apr 32 min read
Forgive & Restore
Read 2 Corinthians 2:6–8 (KJV) This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. What it is speaking to me: Paul is addressing the church at Corinth regarding a man who had sinned and been disciplined by the congregation. The man was broken, repentant, and apparen
David Ayres
Mar 272 min read
Grace Upon Grace
Read John 1:16–17 CSB Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. What it is saying to me: My wife loves the ocean. I am more of a mountain man myself, but even I have to admit that the ocean is awe-inspiring — the vastness of it, the power of it, the endless horizon, the waves that never stop crashing upon the shore. It is hard not to see God in its majesty. There is some deb
David Ayres
Mar 202 min read
Small Justices
Read Micah 6:7–9 (NKJV) "Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" What it is speaking to me: If you grew up with siblings, you know exactly what I'm about to describe: Mom pulls a fresh tray of cookies out
David Ayres
Mar 132 min read
Gutter Extensions
Read Hebrews 12:14-15 NIV: "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Ephesians 4:31-32: "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." What
David Ayres
Mar 62 min read
Unrequited
Read Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. What It Is Speaking to Me Have you ever been a drive-thru angel? I don't know if that is the real term, I might have just made it up. Have you ever paid for the food of the person behind you in a drive-thru line? Have you ever had your food paid for by the person in front of you?
David Ayres
Feb 272 min read
Live Peaceably
Read Romans 12:17-18 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. What it is speaking to me: When I was a child there was a really mean old lady that lived a few houses down. She was rude, mean, and scary- like a villain out of a children's book. Her front yard had a sweetgum tree in it, the kind that drops those little brown spiky balls. One day, I gathered as many
David Ayres
Feb 202 min read
Bear a Burden
Read Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. What it is speaking to me: This verse got me thinking today, Which law is Paul referencing? Usually when he mentions the law, he is referring to the Mosaic law, but he qualifies it this time with "the law of Christ." In the chapter preceding this one Paul writes, "For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF’” (Gal 5:14) . So in this
David Ayres
Feb 132 min read
Swift to Hear
Read James 1:19–20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. What it is speaking to me: It is interesting to me, in reading this today, that there seems to be a connection to hasty speech and anger. Which, if you have had any argument during your lifetime, is an obvious connection... but it seems that James also offers a balm to quell this anger problem: being swi
David Ayres
Feb 62 min read
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