Daily Devotions from Firmly Rooted (archive of 975 devotions). Browse by book, series, or season, or search below.
“Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees…
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10 (NASB95) The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. After stating two “do-nots” (don’t pray in public to be seen by people and don’t try to impress God with your many words), Jesus told them how to…
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. … Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:3,10 9 (NIV84) Jesus took His disciples up on a mountainside and preached to them and to the others who had been following Him,…
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed,…
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” — Matthew 4:17 (NASB95) This is the second time the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is used in the Gospel of Matthew. The first time it was from the mouth of John the Baptist, who was out in the…
“Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” — Matthew 3:1–2 (NASB95) Awhile back I taught a class on “The Kingdom of God/Heaven,” and I am now turning those studies into a devotional series. We certainly are familiar with the verses…
“But the Lord said, ‘You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I…
“But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, ‘It would be better for me to die than…
“Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.” — Jonah 4:6 (NIV84) Sometimes I just don’t get the way God thinks, and I am thankful for it. I am thankful that He…
“But the Lord replied, ‘Have you any right to be angry?’ Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.” — Jonah 4:4–5 (NIV84) I marvel at those who say that the…