Devotionals

Devotionals gathers Christian Standard articles designed to encourage daily faithfulness through Scripture, prayer, and reflection. Here you’ll find short, accessible readings that connect God’s Word to everyday life—offering wisdom for discipleship, comfort in hardship, and reminders of the hope found in Christ. These devotionals aim to help readers stay rooted in the gospel, grow in spiritual maturity, and practice consistent habits of worship and obedience.

April 1, 2021

Austin Gohn

Caiaphas and the Central Park Five

In the summer of 2019, between seasons of The Great British Baking Show, my wife and I binge-watched the dramatized miniseries When They See Us. It was a true binge because we started the show at 8:00 on a weeknight right after we put our son down to bed and finished it around 2:00 a.m. Directed by Ava DuVernay, When They See Us is a four-episode series depicting the events that unfolded surrounding the Central Park jogger case in New York City in 1989 when five Black and Hispanic teenagers were falsely charged with assault and rape of a White

April 1, 2021

Dan Hamel

Pilate’s Guide on How to Miss the Truth

Most of us think we are unbiased in our quest for truth. We like to think of ourselves as impartial evaluators of data who seek to arrive at the best decision. But the truth is, most of the time, we desire a specific conclusion, and we search the data in such a way that helps us end up there. We overlook red flags and yellow lights. We come up with excuses and unreasonable explanations. And we usually don’t even realize we are doing it. We think we are looking for the best answer, when in reality we are looking for

April 1, 2021

Chris Hankins

The Repentant Thief’s Story:
A Beautiful Reminder of God’s Amazing Grace

The repentant thief on the cross who put his faith in Jesus is one of my favorite people in the Easter narrative. Possibly more than any other Bible character, this man shows that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace and it is truly never too late to trust in Jesus. The repentant thief shows us today can be the day of salvation! While this crucified criminal is mentioned in all four Gospels (Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27, 32; Luke 23:32-33, 39-43; John 19:18, 31-33), it may seem we know little about him. But Matthew and Mark used the

April 1, 2021

Caleb Kaltenbach

We’re Still Choosing Between Barabbas and Jesus

In 2009, a young man named Hu Bin accidentally killed a bystander while drag racing through the streets of Hangzhou, China. To describe his trial as “shocking” would be an understatement. Though the judge handed out a measly sentence, a newspaper reported that people were more stupefied at who was standing trial. A few eyewitnesses of the accident and trial claimed someone resembling Hu Bin took his place in the courtroom. Some allege that Hu’s wealthy family hired a “stand-in” to serve his prison sentence. Flashing back more than 20 centuries, we see another case of a stand-in on full

April 1, 2021

Ryan Rasmussen

What Judas Can Teach Us About Jesus

By Ryan Rasmussen You might be surprised that the name Judas means “let God be praised.” I find it incredibly ironic that the man who betrayed Jesus would carry a name of such reverence. Sometimes, though, things aren’t what they seem. For example, the fact that Judas Iscariot was a disciple at all must have baffled those who spent time with Jesus. While Jesus welcomed misfits and the marginalized into his friend group, Judas must have seemed “next level” in this regard. The Gospels documented that Judas, the band’s treasurer, would regularly skim money from the group’s funds (John 12:6).

March 22, 2021

Christian Standard

Watched, Scoffed, and Mocked

Luke mentioned three groups of skeptical witnesses to Jesus execution. None in those three groups of people understood that Jesus chose to die willingly. Nor did they imagine they could be freed from their lethal bondage because of his sacrifice.

March 15, 2021

Christian Standard

Abel’s Blood

In Hebrews 11, Abel was listed as one of the giants of faith because of what he gave to God. In the very next chapter, the writer again mentioned Abel, when he said that Jesus’ sprinkled blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

March 1, 2021

Laura McKillip Wood

Laura-McKillip-Wood

An Ending and a Beginning

Maureen closed the book she’d been trying to read and switched off her bedside lamp. Burrowing into the covers, she tried not to think about the future. She felt her spirit stirring, as if God was about to do something big and different, but she didn’t yet know what that would be. “God, here I am. Send me,” she prayed for what seemed like the millionth time. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, still unsure of where God would take her. Several months later, an insightful missionary friend invited Maureen to attend a Global Perspectives on the World

February 15, 2021

Christian Standard

Attitude

By Scott Franks  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God,    did not consider equality with Godsomething to be used to his own advantage;rather, he made himself nothing    by taking the very nature of a servant,    being made in human likeness.And being found in appearance as a man,    he humbled himself    by becoming obedient to death—        even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8). In other words, God submitted himself to us! Christ died because it was necessary for us to live. Christ’s incomprehensible journey from the glory of Heaven to

January 25, 2021

Michael C. Mack

Jan 31 | Discovery

We study the Bible not just to hear and know God’s Word, but to put it into practice. What specific teaching from this study will you put into practice this week?

January 1, 2021

Renee Little

Crossing Rivers

Dealing with COVID-19 is like trying to cross a swift-moving river on foot; both present a formidable challenge to get safely to the other side. After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua and the Israelites found themselves just needing to cross a river to finally enter the Promised Land. Can you imagine standing on the banks of the great Jordan River when it was swollen and surging during spring rains? As you look across the river, you know God is calling you to the other side, I don’t know about you, but my feelings would be as charged-up as the

December 28, 2020

Mark Scott

Jan 3 | Backward Blessings

The unit for January 2021 is the “Sermon on the Mount,” and the theme is “Upside-Down Kingdom.” Our lesson writer, Dr. Mark Scott, shares, “The greatest sermon ever preached was so upside down. It was countercultural and counterintuitive in every way. It turned the world’s wisdom on its head. From it we learn who is truly blessed, how high the bar of righteousness really is, where genuine rewards are located, what focused generosity looks like, and how to make judgments that are not warped.” (This lesson treatment is published in the January 2021 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout.

December 21, 2020

Stuart Powell

God’s Ways

By Stuart Powell Have you ever thought you were the last to hear about something important? Why is that? Do you lack influence or political connections? Is your opinion not valued because of your lowly social status? Do you live in the wrong neighborhood? If the emptiness of your life is exposed by these questions, you are in good company. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the

November 22, 2020

Christian Standard

Abiding Peace in Troubled Times

By Jessie Wells Clark It was the Christmas season in 1940, but there was no peace. England was at war, and Nazi bombers were raining death and destruction from the air. Yet, in London’s underground shelters, the people sang, seemingly oblivious of the pandemonium above: O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by;Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light.The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. What a picture that must have brought to the minds of those singers! Perhaps

November 9, 2020

Christian Standard

Streetlights

By Jon Wren In the 18th century, some American cities began placing streetlamps in parks and at busy intersections to provide extra light and safety for their citizens. But the earliest lamps weren’t very efficient and had to be cleaned often due to the soot caused by the flame. In Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin watched the lamps being cleaned and had an idea for a new design. He proposed using four flat panes of glass on the sides, a long funnel above to draw up the smoke, and crevices below to allow for air. Franklin’s lamp was brighter, cleaner, and more

November 2, 2020

Stuart Powell

The Spectacle of the Cross

By Stuart Powell The first-century Romans knew how to create spectacles. In the theater, stories from Roman history were glamorized to build legends. In their military parades, known as the “Republican triumphs,” the spoils of Rome’s conquests were prominently displayed. Even when carrying out executions, the Romans attempted to draw the attention of the crowds by putting the condemned on display as graphic examples of the consequences of rebelling against Rome. The intention of crucifixion was to create a spectacle by causing the one convicted to suffer in a visually striking way for their crimes against the empire. In Jerusalem,

October 26, 2020

Stuart Powell

Not a Waiting Room

By Stuart Powell What do you do before you see a doctor? Most people simply sit and wait. Many idly leaf through old magazines or survey their surroundings to pass the time. Have you ever pictured the Christian life this way? I hope not, because the Christian life most definitely is not a waiting room. Paul explained the life of grace to Titus using these dynamic words: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting

October 12, 2020

Christian Standard

Two Loves

By Jon Wren In the late 1980s, author Maggie Gallagher asserted that almost all human relationships fall into one of two categories. The first category she described as, “You are mine because I love you.” In such a relationship, the affection and love can be real, genuine, and significant, but never completely permanent. That’s because in the relationship, “you are mine” is contingent on the feeling, “because I love you.” According to Gallagher, this type of relationship is the most common, but also the most destructive for a person’s well-being because it’s based upon feelings and perceptions that can change

Help Keep Christian Standard Free & Accessible with a Tax Deductible Donation

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Does Your Church Want to Support Christian Standard?

Would your church consider including support for Christian Standard in its annual missions budget? Your support would help us not only continue the 160-year legacy of this unifying ministry, but also expand the free resources, cooperative opportunities, and practical guidance we provide to strengthen churches in the U.S. and around the world.

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Secret Link