LifeLink Devotions for Wednesday, November 5, 2025

I appreciate my heritage – a heritage of faith in Jesus Christ passed on from generation to generation. Not by perfect people, but by a faithful God. Not all memories are positive, but they were all used by God to bring out His best in me.

Some people don’t have such a heritage of faith. Some are the first generation of believers in their family, but their desire is to be the start of a spiritual heritage that will be passed on to their children and their children’s children.

Whether or not you have a spiritual lineage in your family, there is a spiritual heritage that is yours. God reminded the nation of Israel of their heritage when He told those who were seeking Him to look back at the rock from which they were cut.

Isaiah 51:1  “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;”

God was referring to Abraham and Sarah, and He was asking them to reflect on all the ways He had fulfilled His covenant promises to them and their descendants. Based on that heritage, God renews His commitment to them to fulfill every word He ever spoke.

You and I are a part of that same spiritual heritage. We have been cut from the Rock, Jesus Christ. Whether you are a first generation believer or have a multi-generational heritage, we can look back to the same place of origin – the cross of Calvary where Jesus died to redeem us. We have the privilege of looking back at all the heroes of the faith that prepared the way for Jesus and then proclaimed the truth of His grace and power since He rose from the dead.

When God tells Israel to look back, He is reminding us to do the same. Look back at the spiritual heroes of the Bible. Look back at the spiritual heroes of your family. Look back at the life of Jesus, the greatest Hero of all. If you need help doing that, read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Then, digest the wonderful truths and challenge of what comes next from the heart of God in Hebrews chapter twelve.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

There’s the rock from which we were cut, and the quarry from which we were hewn. There’s the pursuit of righteousness and the seeking of the Lord. Our spiritual heritage motivates us. It moves us to action.

So look back and see the rock. Then look up and see the Rock. Then look ahead and see the rock you are becoming as you prepare for the return of the Rock. You are a part of an eternal spiritual heritage.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions for Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Yesterday the Holy Spirit challenged us to follow the True Light that shines in the darkness of our hearts and lives.  It was a time for each one of us, if we chose to, to consider what or whom we really trust when times get tough. In fact, God designs the darkness so that we are brought face to face with the truth of our trust. That’s a reality many of us avoid facing. We want to think we really trust God, but when it gets dark we tend to turn on our own lights first.

God knew that was the truth about us when He spoke through Isaiah the words that follow His great promise of Light in the darkness. They are found in Isaiah chapter fifty verse eleven. Here they are from the New Living Translation.

“But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon lie down in great torment.”

You see it don’t you? You see the natural tendency we all have to try to create our own light to show us the way out of the darkness. We build our own campfires called comfort zones that will hopefully sustain us in the darkness and protect us from whatever lurks in the shadows.

We build campfires using firewood from friends, finances, and family.  We spend our daylight hours searching for more firewood so that when the darkness comes we will be able to keep the fire burning. We even keep a pile of fast-burning wood like alcohol, drugs, sex, and money. It flares up quickly so that we can get instant relief, even though we know that after it is burned up it will leave us in deeper darkness.

We carry flashlights powered by disposable batteries of human wisdom. We stock up on batteries for the impending storm by seeking the counsel and companionship of people. We look for friends that will give us the most light for the longest time, knowing full well that even the bunny gets tired and copper tarnishes. That’s why we keep buying more – more self-help books, more counseling sessions, more internet time. Somewhere out there someone has to be found who can really help us.

The problem with campfires and flashlights is that besides needing to always be powered by self-effort, they are motivated by fear. It is fear that makes us believe that fires and flashlights are necessary. When we finally admit that fear has taken over parts of our heart, we are on the way towards finding the eternal Light that shines in the darkness.

When fear is recognized and confessed, faith takes over. Now the True Light can shine, and it never needs to be stoked or stocked.  There is no human effort needed to keep the Light shining. It is powered by its own eternal nature, for God is Light!

So here’s what we need to do. First, let’s face our fears, and the best way to do that is to put out our campfires and shut off our flashlights. Go ahead – right now – fill a bucket with the Living Water of God’s Word and throw it on your fire. Then switch off the flashlight of human understanding. Go one step further – remove the batteries. Let it be dark with no hope of any human light. Now look up. Don’t look out into the darkness. Look up into the light of heaven. It may only appear as a twinkle at first, but when your eyes are on that twinkle you become unaware of the darkness around you. It’s only when you extinguish the fire and shut off the flashlight that you can see the stars. And when you do, fear is dissolved into faith!

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions for Monday, November 3, 2025

I love camping. My wife and I didn’t get to do enough of it this summer. But there are trips that still live in my memory.  Like the one fourteen years ago we spent with our shepherd group from church. The kids were great and stayed occupied with the sand and swings. The campfire was stoked throughout the days and into the nights. The conversation with friends was stimulating and enlightening. We had a great time.

When the first evening of campfire chat had died down, Denise and I realized we had not brought a flashlight with us to the campfire. It wasn’t a long walk back to our campsite, but it was very dark. I told my wife that it would be fine because I’m a bowhunter and I walk in the dark all the time when pursuing Bambi. After a subtle comment from someone around the campfire about me being in the dark all the time, we took off hand in hand to walk back to our camper.

When we got near it I told her to follow me closely because there were obstacles in the path that could hurt if bumped into. She grabbed hold of my shirt and walked right behind me, trusting me to keep her safe. I didn’t lead her astray, and we arrived safely at the door.

That memory brings me to the next couple of verses in our study of Isaiah. Chapter fifty verse ten says, “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.”

Just as Denise trusted me that night by walking behind me as I led the way through the dark, we also can trust the Holy Spirit in us to guide us through the darkness of life. But there is one difference. You see, even though I was leading I was still walking in the dark. But with Jesus leading we are walking in the light because He is the Light of life.

Trust Jesus to light your way through the darkness when you follow Him.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions for Friday, October 31, 2025

My toes hurt! It’s not the fault of my shoes: it’s much more serious. The pain I feel in my feet is the result of a much larger foot stomping on mine. The owner of that foot had to get my attention because I was walking in the wrong direction. Once I get over the initial pain I will realize He did it because He loves me and is working to develop my character. But it still hurts!

On Wednesday God blessed my heart with the words of a song from Isaiah 50:4 and assured me that He loved our morning time together.

Yesterday the Lord showed me how He has opened my ears to listen and be taught, and that I should not rebel against what He says.

I was feeling pretty proud of myself as I woke up today to spend a relaxing day off. Then it happened. God’s foot came down hard on mine. I was confronted with the selfishness that still exists in my heart. It has been a painful journey that culminated when I really read and digested the meaning of today’s Scripture verses.

Isaiah 50:6-7  “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.”

What good is what you know if you don’t make it a permanent part of your life? Stomp number one.

What good is an open ear if it isn’t connected to an open heart? Stomp number two.

What good is what you say you have learned if it doesn’t change how you behave? Please stop stomping!

The prophet Isaiah is praising God for what the Lord is doing in his life. God has opened his ears so he can learn. He has taught Isaiah the words that will sustain others in their times of trouble. God has taught him how to teach others the truths that will change their lives. Then Isaiah says this, if you will allow me the freedom to put into my own words what verses six and seven say:

“Now that I know who God is and understand what is in His heart for the people of the world, it has transformed my heart so that my actions are completely in accord with God’s heart. When someone tries to physically abuse me because of my love for God, I will gladly offer them my back for the beating, assured that my actions are the message that God wants them to hear so their hearts can be broken by His love. When someone insults me, represented by the pulling out of the beard, I will not defend myself or argue for my rights. When someone brings shame on me by putting me down in public and destroys whatever reputation I think I have by literally or figuratively spitting in my face, I will not hide from them or cover my face from their attacks. When I respond like Christ in these situations, I know that the message I send to them will be the testimony of God’s grace that they need to see. I know these people who are hurting me are in trouble themselves and need to hear a word that will sustain them. My actions are the words God wants me to speak. My confidence is in Christ alone, and in Him I will never be put to shame. Therefore I am determined to show them God’s love.”

Now you know why my toes hurt. Now you know where my heart is being worked on. Maybe the Lord is doing the same to you.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions for Thursday, October 30, 2025

One morning as I was browsing Facebook I saw a post from a good friend. It was his contribution to my spiritual walk. He posted his Bible verses for the day. My ears were open and ready.

After refreshing myself with the wisdom of Proverbs 3, especially verses five and six, I turned over to First Corinthians 2:11-13 where it says, “No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.”

The Lord opened my ears. Just think of the truth in those verses. Our human rational thought process is incapable of knowing God and His plans for us. But He has given us His Spirit so we can know Him and know what He desires for us. We can know what God thinks of us. That’s simply amazing.

Then, as if that’s not enough, His Spirit also qualifies us to teach the spiritual truths to others.

Last week a friend posted this on Facebook – “God does not call the qualified, but rather He qualifies the called.” My ears were open to that as well. I wonder how many of us are not doing what God has planned for us because we don’t think we are qualified? How many people are eliminated from our prospect lists because we don’t think they are qualified? How many more servants of Jesus would become strong leaders for Jesus if we realized that He has called them and that we are the ones to help qualify them?

We are all called to be teachers of spiritual truth. But if we are going to do that, our key verse today from Isaiah must be understood. Isaiah 50:5says, “The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.”

In that verse God says there are two ways that we become unqualified for helping others with the spiritual truths God has given us:

1. We rebel against God. The word here means open, contentious disobedience. Some people are like that. They try to follow God, but when things don’t go according to their own desires and plans, they openly reject God and rebel against Him. Attitudes and actions like that keep us from teaching spiritual truths to others because we have become unteachable by the Holy Spirit.
2. We draw back from God. This is where I think many of us struggle, and our biggest struggle is with the denial that it’s even happening. The Hebrew word used here means to move away, turn back, and backslide. Every time we step off the path of God and onto a path of our own making we are guilty of drawing back from God (Psalm 44:18). Every time we ignore what God has taught us and don’t apply it to our lives, we have drawn back from God. And even though we think it’s not really that serious, it is to God, and the punishment for drawing back is the same as for worshipping false gods. To be sure, read Zephaniah 1:4-6.

God has graciously saved us. He has filled us with His Spirit who teaches us all the spiritual truths we need for an abundant life of service to His Son. But we have drawn back into a comfort zone of culturally-defined Christianity. It is time for us to ask the Lord to once again open our ears, and to pledge to Him that we will not rebel, and that we will not draw back.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions for Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Isaiah 50:4  “The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”

No sooner had I read this verse this morning that a song started flowing through my brain. It will be with me all day. I can only pray it is with me every day.

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise

Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

It made me think about these two questions:

• When you woke up this morning, did you wake up your spiritual ears to listen to the Lord, and what has He taught you?
• How will you use what He has taught you to instruct others and give them the word that will sustain them through their day?

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions for Tuesday, October 28, 2025

One day several years ago I was on my way to an appointment. On the way I would pass the farm of an elderly gentleman that I had yet to meet, but who might be willing to let me bow hunt for deer on his property – at least that’s what another new acquaintance of mine told me. So I stopped at his house. He wasn’t home. On my way home from my appointment I dropped by again, and he still wasn’t home. I was disappointed. In one month the season opens, and it sure would be nice to have some land to hunt that was closer to my home. I’m really sorry I didn’t get to meet the landowner.

Most of the time I carry business cards in my pocket for just such occasions, but that day I didn’t have any on me. Usually I take one out and write these words on the back – “Sorry I missed you.”  Then I give a quick explanation of what I wanted and ask them to call me. Most people appreciate the effort and respond.

As we continue our study of the biblical book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, we come to chapter fifty where God is having the same kind of a day with the nation of Israel. He came to visit them, and they weren’t home. He called them and there was no answer. Then the Lord gives them the reason for His visit. He was there to rescue them from the trouble they were in. Unfortunately they weren’t available.

As God gives the people the reasons for His visit He also reveals the reason for the trouble they were in – they didn’t think God really cared or that God could really do anything about it. God says, “Why are you avoiding me? Is it because you think my arm is too short to ransom you or that I lack the strength to rescue you?” In other words, do you really think God doesn’t care or that He lacks the ability and resources to help you?

I wonder how many times I have missed a visit from God in my life because I was off trying to fix things in my own wisdom and strength. As I reflect on my natural tendencies I know that I tend to jump rather quickly into fix-it mode. Then, when my strength and resources are exhausted, I turn to God for help. How sad!

How great is the denial in which we live when we think that what we are doing is just our natural tendency, almost as if we are trying to justify our behavior. Oh how we need to fall on our knees before the Father and admit that we just don’t trust Him or think He really cares. We prefer our own control rather than surrender to His control. As a result we wander off to do things our way, and we miss His visit.

But God is so gracious. He reaches into His bottomless pocket and pulls out His business card and a pen. Then, with ink that strangely resembles blood He writes these words – “Sorry I missed you” – and places it in the door of our heart where we are sure to see it whenever we choose to open it again.

Quick. Look inside and check your heart’s door. Maybe God’s been at your place recently. He’s still available.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions for Monday, October 27, 2025

Years ago I learned something about myself, and since then I have noticed it in others as well. We all have verbal crutches. I discovered it when I got my first job in radio as an announcer. My boss would record us while we were on the air and then call us into his office to listen to the tape. It was revealing. Three out of every four sentences I spoke while the microphone was live started with the word “Hey.” Weird, huh? Coming out of a song I would say, “Hey, that was…” and then name the song and artist. Or I would begin a news segment with, “Hey, let’s look at the news.”  Almost every sentence started with that word. It was my crutch, or as I now call it, my clutch. You see, it was what had to be released to get the brain engaged so the mouth could move.

Some people, in fact a lot of people, use simple clutches, the most popular being “Umm…” Just listen to people and you will start to hear it used all the time. Even public speakers do it. For some reason the foot is always on the clutch and they keep pushing it in just a little and it “umm’s”.  Why is it that we have to be making some kind of noise while we think about what’s next to say?

Well, after I got the “Hey” clutch resolved, I developed another one. This one became famous in that part of the world where I worked. I became the weather guy at the radio station and was responsible for reading the radar system we had installed. I also worked closely with Civil Defense in determining the need for the sirens to be sounded. I actually had a remote desk and broadcast equipment in their offices in the basement of the courthouse.

When storms would be coming, and their path had been carefully predicted, I began saying the phrase “Here it comes.”  It was fine at first, because it started in the summer, and the path of those storms is more easily predicted. However, when winter came, and I made my first big prediction of a blizzard and said “Here it comes,” it never came. Schools had been cancelled; businesses were shut down, and then nothing. The storm totally went around us. How embarrassing. That’s when I was told by my boss that I had been using the phrase “Here it comes” too frequently. I had developed another crutch.

God never says “Here it comes” as a crutch. When He says it, it will happen. The rest of the forty-ninth chapter of Isaiah is God’s “Here it comes” for the nation of Israel. In verses 8-9 we read, “This is what the LORD says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’”

It declares the beginnings of the plan of God for the redemption of His people. That plan will be revealed for the rest of the book.  At a time of God’s choosing, when all is favorable for the revelation of His glory, He will answer our prayers and help us.

I tend to help myself too much. I tend to evaluate whether or not this is the time of God’s favor. Unfortunately it usually turns out to be the time of my favor. But God has a time of favor. He knows our every need. He knows how to meet that need and do it within the context of His purpose. He has said “Here it comes”. We tend to put too much emphasis on the word “Here”, believing that means right now. But God will not fail to bring what He has promised. His redemption is coming, and reading the rest of this chapter was a good reminder of that. It also filled me with great joy to see the glory of God revealed.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions for Friday, October 24, 2025

Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, who is fully and eternally God, was called by the Father to accomplish His will – to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel that had been kept by God. In addition, the Messiah would be a light for the Gentiles – you and me – and bring salvation to the ends of the earth. But before He clarifies the call God confirms the commitment. Was Jesus, the Son of God, in all of His eternal glory, willing to humble Himself and become a man, taking on the form of a servant, if that’s what it took to accomplish God’s glory? Or would He consider that calling too small a thing for someone so qualified?

Isaiah 49:6   “And now the Lord says, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

The Elders of the church I am currently serving on a temporary basis have started a search for a permanent pastor. But at this point of our church’s growth we can only afford a less than full-time position. What a challenge! It is becoming extremely difficult to find someone who is willing to serve the Lord in bi-vocational ministry.

We have created a culture in our modern church era that places ministry on the same level as professional employment. Granted, the Bible teaches that the workman is worthy of his hire, but the same Apostle who wrote that first taught by example how to be bi-vocational to ease the burden on the local church so ministry to people could flourish. Yet in our past experience we have had potential applicants give this response.  “I have my degree, I’m a professional, and I have certain pay requirements, and I can’t do part-time.”  In some cases the hearts of the applicant were right based on the needs of their family, and I respect that. But we wonder if our position will be too small a thing for most candidates.

I believe that we are in denial about how serious this issue is in our own lives. The materialistic society in which we live has impacted our willingness to serve Jesus sacrificially. There are things God has called us to do that we have determined are beneath us and don’t meet our needs. We are blinded by the immediate and therefore miss the glory that could be seen. We have climbed to the mountain top of our pride and forgotten that the only view of God’s glory is from the lowest place.

Once I met a man who understood this. He knew that there is no call too small. He knows there is no need to put conditions on God’s call. Obedience to God’s call will always be accompanied by God’s provision to accomplish it. We tend to put the provision ahead of the call, and that is not how God works. There’s a reason for that…because that puts us in a position to receive glory to ourselves. If we focus on the provisions as a condition, then when the task is complete we will believe we had some part in making it happen. God has stated that He will not share His glory. If we are seeking to provide for ourselves, then God will not honor the work we are about to do, for it is not 100% being done for Him.

What a blessing it was to meet that man and talk to him. He ended up becoming a part-time, bi-vocational pastor and the work flourished under his humble leadership. As for me and you, let’s be ready to consider any place God takes us for any reason, and not consider any call too small.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions for Thursday, October 23, 2025

Some days work seems meaningless. There are times when it appears that no one is listening. Moments of doubt can turn into mountains of discouragement as investments deliver no return. Such is the mindset stamped with the signature of Satan.

I thoroughly enjoy being in my workshop. I haven’t had anything to do out there recently but when a project presents itself I love it. Whether it’s sharpening the blades on the lawn mower or repairing a small appliance or building something from wood, I love working with my hands. I think the reason is that I need something where I can see visible results. I need to see the product of my labor.

Many of you get to see that every day in your job. You go to work, fulfill your obligations, check things off the “to do” list, and at the end of the day you can see what was accomplished. It’s different for me. Sometimes it gets hard. There have been times in my life of ministry when I have absolutely related to Isaiah’s words in chapter 49 verse 4. “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.” Fortunately this is not one of those times, but maybe it is for you.

Maybe this is a time in your life when it seems that you have no purpose. You may be in a profession that involves people rather than production, and the people for whom you labor are not responding. You work hard to accomplish something of value, but it seems that it has no effect on anyone. Nothing changes. Then add to that the lack of affirmation about what you are doing and suddenly the personal value tank is empty.

I have had times like that. But that’s not where Isaiah ended verse four. It goes on to say, “yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.”

That’s why hanging on my wall in my office where I can see it all the time is a plaque.  It had hung on the wall of my parent’s home since I was a child. I was so glad when I was able to keep it for myself. It is an open Bible with the following verse on it – “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know your labor is not in  vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Today I will print out the words of Isaiah 49:4 and hang them on the wall directly below that plaque. But not before I ask the Holy Spirit to stamp them as God’s signature on my heart and mind right alongside 1 Corinthians 15:58. I know there will be a time when I will wonder when I will ever see the fruit of my labor and I will need them. Maybe you need them too.

Pastor John