Daily Devotional For Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Good morning Southside and you have made it to “Hump Day.” I don’t know how many of you are sports fans, but if you are, you can relate to this. You’re at a basketball game and it is neck-and-neck and the scores are 1-2 points apart. Even if the clock has 2 minutes remaining, you know that can really mean 10 with time-outs and commercial breaks. While all of this is going on, everyone is out of their seats. I think of the 1992 NCAA Final Four Game as a good example of this:
I remember in 1992, we were having a Youth Disciple Now weekend in our home during the Final Four when #1 see Duke was playing against #2 seed Kentucky. Talk about nail biting, this game was! We were down to 2.1 seconds left in the game and Kentucky was ahead by one point. Audrey and I were pulling for Duke and all the youth in our home were pulling for Kentucky. They were already cheering Kentucky’s victory and we were sulking Duke’s loss, we thought. So, Coach K called a brilliant play. Since Christian Laettner had not missed one shot the whole game. Coach K had Grant Hill throw the basketball from the end of the court and to Christian Laettner, who was standing center court. As you know, timing is everything and the clock does not start until the player on court has the ball in hand. Grant Hill passed the basketball to Christian Laettner who caught it and immediately pivoted and threw the ball to the basket. As it was in mid air the time ran out and all our Kentucky youth were into celebration mode until it went into the basket. As you know, the ball was good since it was going to the basket before the clock ran out. Duke beat Kentucky 103-102. It was one of the best basketball games ever. Wow, what an intense game! Duke went on to the final game and won it for the National Championship.
That same kind of intensity is happening as we approach the End of the Age. The devil knows his time is limited. He knows he has authority in this age that he will not have in the next, and he is creating as much chaos as he can for as long as he can. We see expressions of it all around us. Human character is deteriorating. Values that have been in place for hundreds of years are eroding.
Look at Isaiah 59:19, “So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun, For He will come like a rushing stream, Which the wind of the Lord drives” (NASB). None of these things should frighten us, however, because the Bible says when our enemy comes in, the Lord will raise up a standard against him. Today, we have more opportunities to share the gospel than at any time in the history of the Church. So, let’s not stare into the darkness and wait for the final buzzer. We want to get busy and turn up the light.
Why? Because of three passages that come to mind .
- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, (18) while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (NASB).
- Romans 8:37-39, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. (38) For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, (39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NASB).
- Revelation 21:1-4, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. (2) And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, (4) and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (NASB).
We're salt and light. We need to turn up the light for others to see God as the One who can deliver and rescue them from destruction. It is coming whether we acknowledge or accept it. One day, God is going to wrap up everything. There will be a Judgment Day and an accounting of our lives. So, we need to be cheering and encouraging each other as well as being intentional about sharing the Gospel because the devil knows his time is running out.
Questions To Consider
- What would you say have been some “nail-biting” experiences in your spiritual walk with the Lord? How did you deal with them? What was the final outcome?
- The devil knows he cannot hurt God directly, so he uses another approach. The best way to “hurt” God is to lead as many people created in God’s image to hell with him. Think about if you are a parent. Which hurts you more? – someone who hurts you or hurts your children and family? – your children and family. He and his demons are relentless. When and how have you experienced his relentless attacks against you and your family? How did you deal with them?
- If there is ever a time to be busy in this game called life, it is now. One day the buzzer will sound and this game of life will end. So, until then, how can you be busy with getting the Gospel out personally?
- Of the three passages above, which one at this time gives you the most encouragement to stay busy for the Lord until the final buzzer sounds and why?
Scripture To Meditate On: Revelation 20:10, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Heavenly Father, through the cross, You have called us out of darkness and into the light of Your Kingdom. Thank You for Your deliverance from the enemy’s chaos. Help us stand strong, trusting You and turning up the light of Your truth so many can see, understand, and embrace Your redemptive purposes in the earth. Lord, help me to be busy for You until that final buzzer sounds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly