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.

August 12, 2016

Christian Standard

Crying for Calvary

By Victor Knowles In 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation establishing the first National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. (It will be observed next on Jan. 15, 2017.) This day calls attention to the cause of the unborn and to the precious gift of life itself. Life is a sacred gift from God, but it was not considered so in the time of Christ. The Anglican priest and poet G. A. Studdert-Kennedy (1883″“1929) writes in his famous poem “Indifference”: When Jesus came to Golgotha they hanged Him on a tree, They drave great nails through hands and feet, and

July 22, 2016

Christian Standard

Don”t Look Away

By Nancy Karpenske You probably know someone who can”t stand the sight of blood””the man who considered becoming an emergency medical technician but couldn”t deal with the blood, the mom who nearly passes out while washing off her child”s bloody knee, the friend who avoids any movie with gory scenes. Blood can make us extremely uncomfortable. But the death of Jesus, horrifically bloody, is the centerpiece of our salvation. We can”t afford to close our eyes or look the other way. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed

March 26, 2016

Jackina Stark

merciful and mighty

Merciful and Mighty

In John 11, Jesus meets Mary and Martha in their grief with both compassion and power. This devotional reflects on his tears, his words, and the hope found in the One who calls Lazarus from the tomb.

March 4, 2016

Christian Standard

What Are You Waiting For?

By Jennifer Johnson As you read this it”s March, but I”m writing it in December. The lead times for print mean I”m usually penning reflections for an issue months before it goes to press, so although you are currently preoccupied with final preparations for Easter, I am in the middle of Advent. I have a love/hate relationship with this part of the church calendar. Christmas is my favorite time of year, but that”s because most of us jump right to the celebrating. Music, lights, special events, too much special food””we go right from Thanksgiving to Emmanuel. But Advent reminds us

February 12, 2016

Christian Standard

Hurting God

By Tom Claibourne When my son, Micah, was 7, he did his best to help me build a baseball backstop. After stapling the fencing to the frame, I let him hammer each staple to further secure it. I pointed each time where I wanted him to hammer, and he would proudly hit that spot. At one point he missed a staple so I pointed my finger near the spot, not realizing his hammer was already racing my finger to that location. Needless to say, I let out a loud wail after the impact. My cry startled him and he realized

February 5, 2016

Christian Standard

Unworthy at the King”s Table

By Tom Claibourne He had no business eating at the king”s table. His family background, physical infirmities, and utter helpless-ness should have barred him from such an honored place. But there he sat, day after day, like one of the king”s own sons. Mephibosheth had experienced more than his share of physical and emotional pain. Second Samuel 4:4 briefly recounts the tragic accident that left him unable to walk on the very day he learned of the battle deaths of his father, Jonathan, and his grandfather, King Saul. Now, years later, David ruled as king over all Israel. Second Samuel

February 1, 2016

Mark A. Taylor

At the Foot of the Cross (Easter Devotions for Our App)

Get Ready for Easter . . . At the Foot of the Cross Editor Mark A. Taylor has written a set of six meditations for the week leading up to Easter. This collection of devotions, titled At the Foot of the Cross, is available at no cost via Christian Standard’s free app. At the Foot of the Cross offers a meditation for every day in the week before Easter. These devotions offer a fresh look at the thoughts, fears, and motivations of those who saw Jesus die at Calvary””people like Simon of Cyrene, the Centurion, the robbers crucified with him, and his mother, Mary.

January 13, 2016

Christian Standard

The Burned Bits

By Jim Tune I love candles. That may seem like an unusual confession from a middle-aged, conservative, nonliturgical male. I like them at home and at church. I buy pure beeswax candles and love to light up our house with them during the dark winter months. They do nothing for my wife. Claudia just prays I don”t burn the house down. The flickering glow of a candle flame warms my heart. Unlike the electric lights in our home, candles protest the end of their life with a silent gasp of smoke when they are extinguished. Usually a remnant of melted

January 1, 2016

Christian Standard

Meditating on Love: January 1

By Becky Ahlberg Friday, January 1, 2016 Read Hebrews 1:1-3.  This passage brings the story of the incarnation full circle. We have come through another year to remember Jesus” birth with calls to hope, peace, joy, and love. I hope your Christmas celebration was meaningful. And now as you head into the new year, clean up the leftovers, return gifts, and put away the decorations, never forget that his coming, though a gift to you, was a sacrifice for him. I pray that the depth of that sacrifice moves you beyond the quaint story of a manger and hay. Never

December 31, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Love: December 31

By Becky Ahlberg Thursday, December 31 Read Romans 8:28-39.  It”s New Year”s Eve, a time for reflection. Another year has passed by and a new one dawns tomorrow. In this passage from Romans are some important promises to contemplate as you look back at this past year and forward to the new one: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (v. 28). Can you look back and see God”s hand in the days of 2015? What do you see? What are you still looking to find? “If God is for us, who can be against

December 30, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Love: December 30

By Becky Ahlberg Wednesday, December 30 Read 1 Corinthians 13 through the lens of Christmas. Verses 1-3 can sum up much of our problem with the whole Christmas season: it is filled with busyness and observances that are often void of “the real meaning of Christmas.” Why? Because they “do not have love.” How many gifts did you give out of obligation? How many parties did you attend because it wouldn”t look good to miss them? I hope you were able to do plenty of things that were filled with love. That is what keeps the season overflowing with love

December 29, 2015

Mark A. Taylor

Four Days Later””Still Time to Ponder

By Mark A. Taylor Today, just four days after Christmas, some of us are ready for the celebration to be over. We”re tired of travel (or worn out by our houseguests), we”ve exchanged or returned gifts that weren”t right, and we”re looking forward to a little rest or maybe even getting back to work. And even if we loved every minute of our family Christmas, we may still pause to wonder whether the impact of the incarnation penetrated our celebration. And so, today, here”s a word of inspiration. The following is adapted from a column first posted here two years

December 29, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Love: December 29

By Becky Ahlberg Tuesday, December 29 Read Ephesians 3:14-19.  We pray for other people all the time. How many times have you sat in your office or in a home or at a hospital bedside and prayed for someone to know the deep love of Christ? Praying for someone is an act of love and creates a bond of friendship, even kinship, as we make our requests known to the Lord. We pray, believing God hears our prayers and that prayer will offer hope and comfort to those we care about. But today, read this Scripture as a prayer for

December 28, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Love: December 28

By Becky Ahlberg Monday, December 28 Perhaps the greatest Christmas text is also one of the most familiar to Christians: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16, 17). God so loved . . . so “agaped“ the world, he put his privilege, his position, and his power aside and gave. He did what was best for us, not

December 27, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Love: December 27

By Becky Ahlberg For many, especially church leaders, the Christmas season is more chaos than celebration. Besides the extra programs and parties, family responsibilities and expectations also expand. These short meditations (which started December 6 and will continue with a new, early morning post each day through January 1) are designed with leaders in mind. Take a few minutes each day to ponder these thoughts designed to help you find the wonder of the incarnation in the midst of your responsibilities. Advent is simply a time to prepare for the celebration of Christ”s birth. In liturgical settings, Advent begins four

December 26, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Joy: December 26

By Becky Ahlberg Saturday, December 26 Read 1 Peter 1:3-9. We ended our thoughts yesterday with the first verse of today”s Scripture. The phrase “inexpressible and glorious joy” (v. 8) is the one that always jumps out at me. It”s the day after Christmas and these may not be your first thoughts! However, Christmas can bless us every year by allowing us to embrace anew the incarnation and the sheer joy of belonging to God””and it”s all because of his willingness to move first. Emily E. S. Elliott captures it in her carol, “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne”: Thou didst

December 25, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Joy: December 25

By Becky Ahlberg Friday, December 25 It”s Christmas Day””a day defined by giving. But oh how quickly (for many) it has become the season of “getting.” Today as you open gifts and celebrate with your family traditions and one another, here are a few Scriptures to remind you of who gave first, and how very much: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave

December 24, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Joy: December 24

By Becky Ahlberg Thursday, December 24 Having grandchildren is a particular joy. I am constantly amazed at their humor, insight, and ability to live with joyous abandon. They make me laugh and watch in wonder as they encounter their world. “Christmas is for children” is a common phrase this time of year. Decorations, extra “goodies” to eat, and, of course, gifts are some of their favorite things. We love to see them squeal with delight. But is that what brings them joy? The older I get the more I realize that children are elated with just about anything if they

December 23, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Joy: December 23

By Becky Ahlberg Wednesday, December 23 Read Hebrews 12:1-3.  “For the joy set before him he endured . . .” (v. 2). Is there a more graphic reminder of the purpose with which Jesus came among us? The long view was essential to his ability to endure his humanity experience. It is true for all of us. Planning, sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears are a part of every worthwhile endeavor. Why? For the joy set before us. Examples: pregnancy, labor and delivery, raising kids, training for a race, getting your education, building a career, making disciples, caring for elderly parents,

December 22, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Joy: December 22

By Becky Ahlberg Tuesday, December 22 “We consider Christmas as the encounter, the great encounter, the historical encounter, the decisive encounter, between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly; let him rejoice.”””Pope Paul VI The incarnation is a moment in history, but it also is a moment (or moments) for each one of us when “God with us” becomes a personal encounter. Recognizing that encounter changes things. There”s a palpable “before and after” that may not be definable, but it is discernable. It may come over time or in a deep “aha!” moment, but its effects are

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