(The following is the May 14 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Acts 7 and pay close attention to verses 1-53.) False witnesses wrongly accused Stephen of blasphemy. The high priest of the Sanhedrin asked him, “Are these things true?” (v. 1). Stephen replied with a lengthy discourse that walked …
Selfless Love
(The following is the May 1 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 19 and pay close attention to verses 25-27.) Nail-pierced hands and feet bled, as did his head from the crown of thorns. His body was torn from the cruel lashes he endured before the crucifixion. Difficult breathing was …
My Prayer Before Reading Scripture
Each morning, I have two times of Bible reading. The first includes any devotional books I'm working through. For this year, that includes a devotional through Psalms and one through the New Testament. The second time in His Word includes whichever current plan I'm using to read through the whole Bible. Currently, that is a …
Immediate, Eternal Truth
(The following is the April 29 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 18 and pay close attention to verses 1-9.) Whenever God speaks, his words are immediately eternally true. We often read “thus says the Lord” when Old Testament prophets communicate God’s word to others. We repeatedly see “as it …
Never Fear What Christ Has Conquered
(The following is the April 26 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 16 and pay close attention to verses 25-33.) Jesus warned his disciples about difficult days ahead. In John 15-16, he warned that the world would hate believers just as it hated him. He talked about the sorrow disciples …
