John 12:23-24

March 24, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.’” (John‬ ‭12‬:‭23‬-‭24‬)

Two things stand out to me in these two verses. First, Jesus revealed that he is fully aware of his impending death. This should be a helpful observation for those who think Jesus was caught by surprise or tricked. Jesus was fully aware, though the disciples were not.

Second, Jesus used an agricultural illustration to explain his own sacrifice, but also the sacrifices that his disciples would make.

The grain of wheat is not worthless when used in food. Of course, one grain alone will not make much difference, but its value isn’t zero. The real exponential value of a grain of wheat is realized when it is planted. That one grain can reproduce itself directly into 90-450+ grains. In the next generation, those grains can multiply themselves similarly. The numbers become staggering pretty quickly. The point, though, isn’t to guess exactly how many grains that one grain can become, but rather to understand that the death of that grain is where its greatest potential lies.

In an illustrative way, Jesus isn’t saying his life – the time spent walking with the disciples – has zero value. He is trying to help the disciples see that his death is where the infinite value is found. Of course, John already told us in verse 16 that the guys didn’t get it until after Jesus was glorified. Time, explanation, and creative illustrations didn’t fully prepare the disciples for what was about to happen.

Father, help me to read your word well, then to receive it well. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Jesus Said, Life in Christ, New Testament, Word Pictures

Amos 7:8-9

January 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said, ‘Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.’”

The image used by the Lord is very helpful in understanding this passage. The plumb line is used to evaluate the straightness of a wall. In this vision, Amos saw that the “wall” of Israel was not straight. It had become crooked through idolatry at the high places and sanctuaries. 

I wonder if the Lord used a plumb line on me, how plumb I would be. Would I be way off? I suspect that on the days I would be excited to be measured, I would be way off due to my pride in being close to plumb. Thankfully, the Lord is kind and forgiving and seeks to restore us. 

Father, please help me to be plumb. I want to honor you in all areas of my life. Please help me to have confidence in Christ, and not in my own flesh. Amen.

Filed Under: Amos, devotional thoughts, Old Testament, Word Pictures

Amos 1:3

January 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Thus says the Lord: ‘For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron’” (Amos 1:3).

Amos introduces himself as a shepherd from Tekoa, about 5 miles south of Jerusalem. He lived before the Assyrian exile and prophecied to both the northern and southern kingdoms, as well as the surrounding nations. 

In chapter 1, he uses a literary device called numerical heightening, where a number is given, then one is added. The added number is used for intensity. Here, Amos uses this device to prophecy against five surrounding nations, each of which is guilty of injustice. 

Drawing from his experience as a shepherd and farmer, Amos uses the image of a threshing sledge of iron. These are typically used to break up wheat, separating the grain for harvest. Amos uses the image to illustrate the harshness and cruelty of Damascus toward the Israelites of Gilead. This cruelty has angered the Lord. 

Father, thank you that injustice and cruelty matter to you. There is none like you. Amen.

Filed Under: Amos, devotional thoughts, Old Testament, Word Pictures

Joel 1:2-4

January 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Hear this, you elders; give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation. What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten” (Joel 1:2-4).

Joel opens his letter with a call to the elders and everyone else to listen. So often, we think it is someone else’s job to listen to God’s word. Here, Joel calls on everyone to listen. Then, he used a historical event to make a spiritual truth/warning that should be passed on from generation to generation. 

During our first winter in Missouri, the weather forecast called for ice/sleet over the course of a few days. We weren’t alarmed by the weather forecast. We were alarmed by the reaction to it. Chatter started around town about the bad weather coming and that everyone should be prepared. The stores started running low on essentials, and every generator in town was purchased. Finally, we were told about the cause of the panic: Nine years before our arrival, an ice storm came through Springfield, taking down trees and power lines. Some parts of the city were without power for three weeks … in January! No wonder people were panicked. Now, 20 years after the initial ice storm, people still react to ice warnings because the story has been passed down, generation to generation. 

Joel reminded the people of an event they had passed, in which the locusts took it all:

“What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.”

He is using the locust event to encourage the people to repent and walk with the Lord lest his judgment come. And God’s judgment will be far worse than a locust plague. 

Father, please help me to see my own heart and repent of any sin that lingers. I feel like I’m in the middle of the locust swarm right now, so this word picture hits close. Please, Father, bless me with strong faith and a pure heart. Amen. 

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Joel, Old Testament, Word Pictures

Ezekiel 32:2-3

November 20, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Son of man, raise a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You consider yourself a lion of the nations, but you are like a dragon in the seas; you burst forth in your rivers, trouble the waters with your feet, and foul their rivers. Thus says the Lord God: I will throw my net over you with a host of many peoples, and they will haul you up in my dragnet.’” (Ezekiel 32:2-3)

This chapter continues the condemnation of Pharaoh and Egypt. What stood out to me today is the imagery that God uses to communicate His truths. For example, he uses a lion and a dragon in the seas. These are strong images that would clearly communicate to the recipient. Look at the powerful imagery of verse 6: “I will drench the land even to the mountains with your flowing blood, and the ravines will be full of you.” We are about 2600 years removed from that day, but still feel the bigness of that imagery.

This impressed upon me the need to think about (and improve) the way I talk about God and His works. Everything doesn’t have to be big like we have seen here, but it should be clear, as we have seen here.

Father, help me better communicate your message with others. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Old Testament, Word Pictures
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