Daily Devotional

In the fall of 1977 the Lord said to me that I should begin reading His word daily. I had never read the Bible, had only owned one for about a year. I had been born again through faith in Jesus, and had confirmed in the previous months that the promise of the Holy Spirit was mine. He was alive and working within me.

I had many questions then as a young believer, only 30 years old. A critical one for me was, why did the church I was in not lead me to become born again? And since they did not, should I stay in it? And if I was to leave, where would I go? And more importantly, how would I decide? It was in this period as a young believer, not two years old in Christ, that I made a decision—the Bible, Genesis to Revelation, is God’s inspired word! Old Testament and New Testament. It is all one thing.

In that truth, by which I still live, I had the key piece of how to decide what was true—the Bible. I would read it and test the tenets my church against it. I would also test other prospective churches. Then in the Spirit, in cooperation with Lynn my life partner in Christ, we would know what to do. And thus it turned out.

In today’s text, Jesus declares a profound truth that is along these lines.

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. Mark 14:26–31 ESV

Shortly before His death, Jesus declared a discouraging truth to His disciples, “You will all fall away!” Peter said that though all the others might fall away, he would not. But what Jesus had said to Peter He also backed up. How? He said, “For it is written.” It had been decided more than 500 years earlier! It had been declared by the prophet, Zechariah. Now Peter, Jesus and the others would all live out that truth. When Jesus declared this, He confirmed the veracity, not only of Zechariah, but the entire Old Testament. And in Himself He was laying down all the New Testament yet to be written.

It did not matter what protestations Peter made. Jesus corrected him declaring that he, that night, would deny Jesus three times. A sobering prediction for Peter. But Peter persisted, saying, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And what we do not commonly recognize is that all the other disciples “said the same.”

Yet God’s word through Zechariah took place, even as recorded, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” It was a foregone conclusion for Peter and the others, despite emphatic statements to the contrary! Jesus’ words recorded in Mark were fulfilled, as were those in Zechariah 13:7.

The decision to declare the entire Bible as God’s inspired word is a decision that every believer must make! Without it, none of us will remain. None of us will bear fruit or fulfill our calling. But on the other hand, believing in Jesus, receiving the Spirit, and claiming all the word of God, the “It is written” statements that govern your life will absolutely determine that every jot and tittle which concerns your life and calling will take place, even until your last breath. You will not go until it is done!

Why not? Because “It is written” about you, even as was declared by David, “And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” Psalm 139:16, NASB.

It is written! Take hold of it! In the Old Testament. In the New Testament. Not one word will fail. All will be fulfilled, in its time! Let us rejoice and be glad!

Read: Hebrews 4:12–13, I Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 55:8–11, Zechariah 13:7–9
Sing: Wonderful Words of Life, by Philip P. Bliss

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.