Category Archives: Daily Devotional

Messages from the daily devotional

Elizabeth Gives Birth to John the Baptist

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John the Baptist is Born image
A few months later, after Mary went back to Nazareth, Elizabeth gave birth to the son she had always hoped for. She named him ‘John’. Luke 1:57-66

Everyone was very happy and excited for her.

She did quite well for an elderly woman giving birth.

There was a discussion among family about the baby’s name and what it would be. They decided his name would be after his father, Zechariah. However, Elizabeth quickly corrected them. She was adamant, his name is “John”. Afterall, this is what Gabriel the angel gave instruction to.

Zechariah now able to speak. This baby would one day be a prophet of the Most High, he said, preparing the way for the Messiah.

This picture is the last we see of Elizabeth. By the examples of the time, she was already old, and she might not have lived to see John grow to adulthood.

So, the main takeaway from this story is that being patient and waiting on the Lord brings great blessings.

How are you doing in your waiting time? Share and bless others with your experience.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

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Mary Meets Elizabeth imageWhile Elizabeth was pregnant with the future John the Baptist, she gave refuge to her young cousin Mary of Nazareth who, pregnant with Jesus and single, might have been escaping from the anger of her relatives.

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, about a hundred miles away in Judea, might’ve been a dire effort by her family to save her from this destiny [in a Middle Eastern rural community at the time, this kind of situation could simply result in an honor killing of the young girl by her fiancé’s family], to get her out of the way until a resolution had been worked out. Leaving Galilee and traveling south, Mary punctually arrived at Elizabeth’s house in Judea after a trip of about three or four days.

When they met, each recognized that they and their children would be an incredible part of God’s plan for mankind.

Luke 1:39-45 Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hills of Judea. She came to Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside her jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She cried out in a loud voice, “God has blessed you more than any other woman, and he has blessed the baby to which you will give birth. Why has this good thing happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy. You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Well, in this story, at first glance, we just think two women relatives were meeting and the younger one might’ve been visiting to help the older one through the childbirth.

It’s likely that Luke was making diagonal references to the Old Testament stories of Hannah and Sarah.

You may not see it in your life, but God is using you and your life for a bigger plan than you realize. A magnificent and awesome plan. In the grand scheme of it all, our lives are like a massive grand puzzle that God is putting in place using all the pieces of life.

Don’t allow all of the life’s pieces to bring you down. That’s what satan wants. He wants us to be in strife so he can slip in and manipulate us with his sneaky ways keeping us oppressed and depressed.

How does this look in your life? What are you doing with your life puzzle pieces to honor and glorify God? Comment and let’s interact. Bless others with your testimony. Be blessed by what God is doing in other’s lives.

Next & final post coming up: Elizabeth gives birth to John the Baptist.

Elizabeth – Who is she?

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Who was Elizabeth?

What was her story?

Elizabeth is Eli-sheba. It means ‘God’s promise’, or ‘my God is generous’.

Her trust in God paid off.

Elizabeth becomes pregnant, Luke 1:5-25. Click scripture and read about Zechariah and Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was an righteious woman married to Zechariah, a member of the Jerusalem priesthood. She was past childbearing age, her husband was elderly, and she had given up hope for having any children. But Elizabeth’s life took an unanticipated turn. She became pregnant, to the surprise of everyone.

Luke 1:13-14 The angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John. He will be your pride and joy, and many people will be glad that he was born.

Luke 1:24-25 Later, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and didn’t go out in public for five months. She said, “The Lord has done this for me now. He has removed my public disgrace.”

Trusting and obeying Yahweh will bless you.

Next up in tomorrow’s post: Mary’s visit to Elizabeth.

What blessings have you been given because you trust and obey Yahweh? Comment and let’s interact. Bless others with your testimony.

Elizabeth: Mother of John the Baptist

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Listen to today’s episode of Trinity Tidbits – “5/10 Elizabeth: Mother of John the Baptist” on Anchor.fm.

At the moment each episode is available to listen to for 24 hours from the time it is recorded. You have until tomorrow, Tuesday, the 14th of Nov to listen to this episode. After, that, I’ll have a podcast channel we can use.

Forgive me while we have growing pains with this audio segment of Trinity Digital Ministry. Thank you for your patience.

Eve Received the Divine Prophecy of the Cross

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eve-serpent-eden image

Eve Was the First to Receive the Divine Prophecy of the Cross

Eve was the first sinner and saw the fruit of her sin as she stood at the world’s first grave and buried her dead son. After confessing her sin she heard the Lord say to that serpent, the devil, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15). With this first promise of the Redeemer, there started the wicked path of life ending at the cross where Jesus Christ, born of a woman, presented a satisfying victory over sin and Satan.

Through a woman, God’s just universe was ruined and became “a world of sinners lost, and ruined by the fall.” Now, through a woman, a perfect salvation has been given for a sinful people. Through Eve’s sin, death came into the world, but at the cross, both sin and death were defeated, through “dying, death He murdered.” When Jesus cried, “It is finished,” He meant that the serpent’s head, symbolizing power and authority, had been bruised. He defeated all satanic principalities and powers that Eve’s sin brought into the world, and put them under His feet.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

As we leave our reflection upon the world’s first woman, first wife, first sinner, first mother, and first mourner, there are one or two lessons to be gleaned from Eve’s story. For instance,

  • “many daughters of Eve have learned that the serpent is never more dangerous than when he claims to be the sincere supporter interested in nothing but her progress and happiness.”

What a shrewd, wicked impostor Satan is. How naive so many are – of his tricks! Besides,

  • any temptation is a common occurrence, and each of us should learn from the first person on earth to be tempted, its way of reaching and continuous actions, and protect ourselves from a fall through the benefit of Jesus Christ’s own victory over the enemy.

There is no sin in being tempted. We only sin when we give way to temptation. Refusing to give way to the attraction of sin, our Garden of Eden awaits perfect.

  • At the heart of Eve’s wretched story, however, is the good lesson that a woman has the power of burden or blessing over a man’s life. If she falls, man falls with her.

Paul said, “in Adam, we die- in Christ, we are made alive.”

In asking loyalty to Christ, Paul relates Eve to represent the quickness that one is wicked (see 1 Timothy 2:12-14).

So, there you have it. The Biblical account of Eve.

How can you relate to Eve’s story? Comment, let’s interact.

Next week: we’ll be talking about, Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist.

Eve – Wife and Mother

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Eve Was the First Woman to Be Called a Wife and Mother

Eve Was the First Woman to Live Upon the Earth

The results of a divine creation, Eve emerged as a complete, perfect woman. She was never a baby, a girl, or a daughter. The first female born into the world was Eve’s first daughter (After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Genesis 5:4). How many daughters were born to Adam and Eve we aren’t told. If Eve lived as long as her husband—930 years (So Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died. Genesis 5:5) – there would probably be many sons and daughters in earth’s first family. Eve, therefore, wasn’t born. She was created out of Adam. Having existed in God’s plan, she came upon the earth. Pioneers, evolutionists, and worldly authors may ridicule that “rib of Adam” out of what Eve was made. Adam was literally created by God out of the dust of the earth, but Eve was formed out of a bone taken from Adam’s side.

George Herbert comments, “The man was dust refined, but the woman was dust double refined.” There is a spiritual application of the bride God made for Adam. It speaks of the sacred mystery, the bride of the Lamb, who owes her life to His bruised side (John 19:33-37), and who, even more than Eve, has a place close to the Bridegroom’s heart (Jeremiah 31:3), and who is intended to enjoy His companionship in a sinless paradise (Revelation 2:7; 21:9). The marriage of the Lamb, like that of Eve’s, is made in heaven.

Formed out of the man (Adam), she became Adam’s mate and partner, his wife.

God saw that even though Adam was in a state of perfect purity, it wasn’t good for him to be alone. It would be good for him, spiritually, mentally, and culturally to have a wife. He needed someone to love and bear his children since the command had gone out “to multiply and replenish the earth.” Therefore with Adam – the world was sad, the garden was off, and man the solitaire lamented till woman greeted him. God spoke of the woman He was to present for Adam as his “helpmeet” – a helpmeet or reconciled to him – a phrase giving the woman her true standing in the world. It is only where the Bible exists and Christianity is practiced that she succeeds to such a place as the helper, or equal of man.

In lands where darkness dominates, a woman is a slave, the goods of man. Therefore Eve was given to Adam and their two hearts beat as one in love for each other and for God. Eve was formed while Adam slept. He knew no pain during the operation as still there was no sin in the world. How true it is that God is continually working while men sleep! He frequently awards true blessings to His own as they sleep.

It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2

When I wake from sleep, despair has fled, and hope is near; The sky seems blue, and visions clear have banished all my dread and fear; quoted from: All the Men of the Bible/All the Women of the Bible Compilation Book By Herbert Lockyer

So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one body. Genesis 2:24

marriage image

Eve Was the First Mother

What a path of grief and wretchedness followed her sin! When Cain, her firstborn, came into her life and home how Eve must have loved him. She named him Cain, meaning “to get” or “to possess” or, “acquisition.” He became a tiller of the ground. Her second son was Abel, a name implying, “that which ascends” or “a vapor” – something doomed to fade. The following was a spiritual man and sacrificed the firsts of his flocks to the Lord. The previous son brought of the fruit of the ground, that is, that whatever he had produced, and gave it to the Lord who rejected it and received Abel’s offering because of its sacrificial satisfaction. Cain lost his temper over this act of divine reception and denial and murdered his brother Abel. Consequently Eve’s favorite firstborn was marked with shame, and spiritual Abel became a saint. Behind Cain’s murder of his brother was the serpent who had caused their mother the world’s first sinner. Jesus said that he was a murderer from the beginning (You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44).

After the crime and exile of her first son, and the funeral of her second one, God gave her another that she called Seth. “For God,” she said, “has appointed me another seed instead of Abel, for Cain murdered him.” In naming her third son so she voiced her faith in God’s love, mercy, and provision. It was through Seth that the spiritual genealogy was kept and it was after his birth that Eve’s name disappears from the pages of the Old Testament, even though it is mentioned twice in the New Testament. While Eve unquestionably shared the length of Adam’s life – 930 years – and brought forth an unspecified number of sons and daughters, there is no record of her motherhood apart from the three named sons.

I love the parallel comparison scripture has of Adam and Eve as the first bride and groom and the Bridegroom of Christ being Himself and the Bride being His church.

I also am in amazement and awe at how the whole world came from Adam and Eve.

Looking at Eve, however, the text talks about her standing in the world, in culture. The wife at Adam’s side, his equal.

We, as women, were not created to be the head of the home. We were created to be a “helpmeet” for our husbands. Is it any wonder there is such chaos in the world?

There is much debate in the world about women and being equal with man. We are equal. But not as the world defines equal. We’re equal to being one with our husbands.

Just like with our body parts. Each one has its function. If all the body was one part how would it function? Looking at the standpoint of a machine. If the whole machine was one part, how would it function? All the parts cannot do the same thing, or it wouldn’t operate.

As one, we have different functions. We work together, as a team, to accomplish what we need to get done, spiritually and physically.

Where are you in this functioning? How’s your team doing? Let’s interact. Comment. No hate speech! Period. If any negative hate speech and lambasting happens the comments will be deleted and commenting will be disabled. There’s no place here for hate. Think very hard at what you are about to comment before commenting.

Eve-Mother of all Living

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Genesis 3-Adam and Eve imageEve’s Story

Eve means ‘life-bearer’. Eve is the Great Mother, Everywoman.

  • Creation of the universe.
    This story about Eve describes the creation of humanity and the universe.
  • Eve, the first woman. What does she do? What’s Eve’s role?
  • God created Eve to be Adam’s helper; his wife.

    Genesis 2

    18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
    20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam, there was not found a helper fit for him.
    21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
    22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
    23 Then the man said, “This, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.”

They are of the same flesh and the same bone. From the moment of creation, neither man nor woman can be complete without the other. Working together, they form the basic unit of society, the family. The story recognizes that men’s and women’s lives interlock so completely in economic and social matters, that need each other.

Eve [and Adam] were given a perfect world, but they were also given the power of choosing, making decisions.

However, here’s what happens:

‘Eat the fruit’ said the serpent. ‘Why not?’ Eve was intrigued. The fruit would make her wise, she thought. So she took one piece from the Tree of Knowledge, ate it and offered some to Adam. He ate it too.

  • Eve explores the Garden, she meets and questions the serpent, she makes a decision, then retreats to Adam and makes suggestions for a game plan.
  • Independent and curious, she disobeys God’s command. She eats the forbidden fruit, bringing a significant change in the Garden of Eden – and in human history. [The fall of man.]
  • Eve’s actions transfer humanity out of the Garden. [Genesis 3:24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.]

What choices and actions have you taken that further this curse Yahweh has placed on humanity?

What can we do to get in line with Yahweh and living a Godly life?

Afterall, Yahweh gave us the option of choice. What are your choices? How do they affect your life?

Next up will be more about Eve and her role as wife and mother! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post.

Please offer feedback and leave comments/questions. Let’s interact.

Do you or a loved one need prayer? Send me a message using the below contact form.

Esther: For Such a Time as This

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Queen Esther image

Listen to this segment: “Esther: For Such a Time as This” on Anchor for the short audio version.

‘Esther’ means ‘hidden’ – her Jewish identity was hidden from the King. Esther’s Jewish name Hadassah, means ‘myrtle’, a tree whose leaves release their fragrance when crushed.

Queen Esther’s story has three parts:

  1. Vashti was banished, and Esther became Queen.
    Queen Vashti disobeyed the orders of her husband King Ahasuerus, so he divorced her. Lonely, he sought a new queen who was to be the most beautiful woman in the land. A young Jewish orphan, Esther, was chosen. She kept her Jewish identity secret. Her cousin Mordecai, a servant of the king, overheard a plot and warned his master through Esther.
  2. Esther saved Mordecai from Haman.
    Mordecai offended a high court official called Haman, who decided to kill not only Mordecai but all the Jews in the Persian empire (the first recorded slaughter against the Jews). Esther turned the tables on Mordecai. She pleaded with the king at two banquets she gave, and Haman was horribly punished. He was hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai.
  3. Esther saved the Jewish people.
    Letters were sent throughout the kingdom revoking the order and the Jewish people in Persia were saved. There was great rejoicing, and an annual festival was celebrated to remember the courage of Esther and the deliverance of the Jews. This festival was called Purim.

Why did Esther’s story mean so much to Jews?

  • Esther was a symbol of Jews who lived successfully in an alien culture.
  • As a woman, she was not in a position of power, just as Diaspora Jews were not members of the power elite.
  • As an orphan, she was separated from her parents, as Diaspora Jews are separated from their mother-country.
  • With both these handicaps, she had to use every skill and advantage she had, as Diaspora Jews did. They, like Esther, had to adapt themselves to the situation.

What are the main themes in Esther’s story?

  • Let God be your ruler: Esther’s story was a political ridicule, showing the danger of giving absolute power to someone who might be a fool. Ahasuerus governed by whim rather than by wisdom, becoming the tool of anyone shrewd enough to exploit him. The lesson is clear: do not give too much power to any one person; in the long run, God alone should rule us.
  • Right Living: the Book of Esther was written for Diaspora Jews (Jews who lived outside Israel), to show them how to live in exile. If they encountered bigotry and prejudice, they must act with courage, wisdom, and integrity.
  • The origin of Purim: the story explained the origin of a major Jewish feast day.

Christianity is sometimes accused of causing the anti-Semitism that has shamed the modern world. This story shows this prejudice existed long before the birth of Jesus.

The book of Esther doesn’t suggest that the goal of proper Jewish living is to return to Judah; rather, it encourages the idea that Jews can live personally fulfilling, and even socially successful, lives in exile from Palestine. It asks who are we; if we not only don’t live in Judah but also don’t even want to?’

Life Lessons

  • Esther’s courage and wisdom were used by God to save His people from extinction.
  • Beauty and creativity are also useful tools for a God-fearing woman.

What are your thoughts on this story? Comment, let’s interact!

Ruth: Loyal Daughter-in-Law

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Today’s devotion will focus on Ruth.

Listen to this segment: “Ruth: Loyal Daughter-in-Law (2nd of 10 in the Women of the Bible series)” on Anchor.

What’s the Book of Ruth about?

Ruth means ‘lovely friend’.

People often think the Book of Ruth is just a pretty love story. It’s not. It’s an outcry account against some of the severe laws passed in Israel at the time – the ‘purity laws’ of Ezra and Nehemiah.ruth image

These laws banned Jewish men from marrying non-Jewish women and commanded Jewish men to divorce their non-Jewish wives.

Many people disagreed. They said a woman’s worth was in her actions, not her blood-line. Boaz agreed. He knew Ruth was from Moab, not Israel, but he loved her and married her anyhow.

It’s awesome he did: she was loyal, hard-working, and generous – and gave him a great-grandson who was Israel’s hero, King David.

Ruth’s story

Even though there was protesting against the laws; the text of the Book of Ruth is, still, one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible.

  • It’s about loyalty: to God, to family, to each other.
  • Ruth wasn’t the sort of heroine you’d expect: Ruth is a foreigner, not even an Israelite – which meant a lot at that time.

Notwithstanding of this, Ruth survived and thrived. It’s just as well she did because it was vital for the future of Israel. Ruth’s great-grandson will be David, king of Israel, founder of a royal dynasty.

The story of Ruth has four parts

  1. Naomi and Ruth go to Bethlehem – the grief of losing someone you love.
    Naomi and Ruth suffered terrible misfortune: the men in their family, including both their husbands, died. Deserted in Moab, the older woman Naomi decided to return to her home in Bethlehem. Ruth, though a Moabite herself, chose to go with her. She vowed her loyalty to Naomi and they set out on the long journey, arriving in time for the barley harvest.
  2. Ruth meets Boaz – a love story.
    Soon after, Ruth met Boaz, a rich land-owner, and relative of Naomi. It seems to have been love at first sight for him, and he commanded that Ruth be well attended to when she worked in his fields. The older woman Naomi saw immediately what had happened, and encouraged Ruth to continue working in Boaz’s fields.
  3. Ruth proposes marriage to Boaz.
    Cleverly, Naomi notified the young woman how to catch her man. Ruth addressed Boaz during the night, on the threshing floor, and the text crookedly hints that there may have been some intimate mischief. The next morning, Ruth recommended that they marry, reminding Boaz of his responsibility to her as her nearest male family. Boaz promised to do all he could.
  4. Ruth and Boaz marry – a happy ending.
    Naomi’s plan worked. Boaz demonstrated good on his word, and he and Ruth were married. She had a son called Obed, and Naomi cared for the child, who would grow up to be the grandfather of King David.

What are the chief points of Ruth’s story?

  • Friendship: Ruth was poor and a foreigner, but she listened to the counsel of an older, wiser woman. In turn, Naomi was honored by Ruth’s steadfast loyalty. The message? Courage and ability triumph over hardship.
  • Family: The story of Ruth honors the family and the way it continues through many generations. Ruth, a childless widow at the beginning of the story, became the great-grandmother of Israel’s great king, David.
  • God’s plan: The story of Naomi’s family and the way it remained is a common theme. Even Ruth, a foreigner from the detested Moabites, could move God’s plan towards accomplishment.

Ruth has special importance for Christians: Matthew’s gospel lists four women who were ancestors of Jesus (Matthew 1:2-17). Ruth is one of them.

Life Lessons from Ruth

  • Ruth’s promise to Naomi is one of the most beautiful declarations of commitment in Scripture (Ruth 1:16-17).
  • Her obedience to Yahweh God brought rich rewards (4:10-17).

Do you have rich rewards from your obedience to Yahweh God? If not, why? If so, praise His Holy Name. Share with us.

Why be obedient to Yahweh? What’s the importance of it?

Comment and let’s interact. Or, if you prefer, send me feedback in the contact form below: