Words of Hope Daily Devotional
THE DEVOTIONAL IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR EMAIL AND IN PRINT.
The Words of Hope Devotional is a non-profit, donor-supported publication whose goal is to encourage readers to grow in faith through the practice of daily Bible reading and prayer.
THE DEVOTIONAL IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR EMAIL AND IN PRINT.
The Words of Hope Devotional is a non-profit, donor-supported publication whose goal is to encourage readers to grow in faith through the practice of daily Bible reading and prayer.
THE DEVOTIONAL IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR EMAIL AND IN PRINT.
The Words of Hope Devotional is a non-profit, donor-supported publication whose goal is to encourage readers to grow in faith through the practice of daily Bible reading and prayer.
The Alpha and the Omega
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:22-28
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God. (Rev. 1:8)
Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In today’s reading, God says, in essence, “I’m the beginning and the end—and everything in between.”
Nothing exists apart from God or outside of God. Yet things have gone terribly wrong in God’s original creation. Some of God’s highest and most glorious creatures have turned against him. Angels have become demons and seek to destroy everything that’s good. Human beings, made in the very image of God, rejected God and brought death into the world. In a passage that could serve as the outline of the book of Revelation, the apostle Paul explained how God would set things right again. “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power . . . The last enemy to be destroyed is death . . . When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:22-24, 26, 28).
In the beginning, there was only God. In the end, there will only be God. Plus “those who belong to Christ.” The creation will be restored, and God will be all in all.
As you pray, praise God, the Alpha and the Omega.
About the Author
Rev. David Bast
David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.
Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he is the author of nine devotional books and Bible studies, includingWhy Doesn't God Act More Like God,Christ in the Psalms, andA Gospel for the World.
Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rev. First Last
David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.
Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he is the author of nine devotional books and Bible studies, includingWhy Doesn’t God Act More Like God,Christ in the Psalms, andA Gospel for the World.
Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.
The Helmet of Salvation
Read: Acts 16:25-34 . . . and take the helmet of salvation. (Eph. 6:17) What’s the most important piece of God’s armor? If I had to pick one, I’d have to say it’s the helmet. We can survive blows to
The Shield of Faith
Read: Matthew 17:14-21 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. (Eph. 6:16) Let’s say we have withstood an initial assault of the enemy. Give God
Readiness
Read: Romans 10:14-15 . . . and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (Eph. 6:15) You don’t wear high heels to the beach or flip-flops to a formal dinner. Footwear
The Breastplate of Righteousness
Read: Matthew 5:17-20 Stand therefore . . . having put on the breastplate of righteousness. (Eph. 6:14) I grew up watching baseball in the fifties, when home plate umpires had huge black inflatable chest protectors stuck up under their chins
Stand With the Belt of Truth
Read: Ephesians 6:13-17 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth. (v. 14) Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) wrote, “we must do our business faithfully without trouble or disquiet, recalling God to our mind tranquilly as often as we find it
Reporting for Duty
Read: 2 Timothy 2:1-4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. (v. 4) John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach at UCLA, began the first practice of each new season