The Road to Redemption | Day 13: Luke 6:37-49 – Building on the Foundation of Christ
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Road to Redemption | Day 13: Luke 6:37-49 – Building on the Foundation of Christ

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Plain by teaching about judgment, discernment, and the foundation of a godly life. He begins with a call to avoid a judgmental spirit. Believers are to reflect God’s mercy by forgiving and giving generously, trusting that God will measure His grace to them abundantly. However, Jesus is not forbidding discernment but is warning against hypocrisy, urging His disciples to address their own sin before helping others.

Read More
Faithful to the Covenant: Malachi 2:10-16 | 5 Devotions on The Hidden Dangers of Spiritual Drift
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

Faithful to the Covenant: Malachi 2:10-16 | 5 Devotions on The Hidden Dangers of Spiritual Drift

Faithfulness to God is more than just a private commitment—it shapes how we live, how we treat others, and how we honor the covenants He has given us. In Malachi 2:10-16, God confronts His people for their unfaithfulness, calling them to return to Him before their compromises lead to greater spiritual decay.

These five devotional readings are designed to help you reflect on the dangers of spiritual drift, the call to covenant loyalty, and the grace of God that restores us. As you walk through these passages, take time to examine your heart. Are there small compromises that need to be addressed? Have worldly influences seeped into your faith? Where is God calling you to greater faithfulness?

May these devotions encourage you to pursue a life of wholehearted devotion, trusting in the faithfulness of the One who never breaks His covenant with His people.

Read More
The Road to Redemption | Day 12: Luke 6:17-36 – Blessings, Woes, and Kingdom Living
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Road to Redemption | Day 12: Luke 6:17-36 – Blessings, Woes, and Kingdom Living

In this passage, often called the "Sermon on the Plain," Jesus teaches what it means to live as citizens of His kingdom. The blessings and woes He pronounces are countercultural, turning worldly values upside down. The poor, hungry, and grieving are blessed, not because of their condition itself, but because they rely on God and His promises. Meanwhile, those who find satisfaction in earthly wealth, comfort, and approval are warned of impending judgment.

Read More
The Road to Redemption | Day 11: Luke 6:1-16 – The Sabbath, Healing, and Christ’s Sovereignty
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Road to Redemption | Day 11: Luke 6:1-16 – The Sabbath, Healing, and Christ’s Sovereignty

Luke 6:1-16 highlights Jesus’ authority over the law, His compassion, and His sovereign choice in calling His disciples. The controversy over the Sabbath reveals the Pharisees’ legalism and misunderstanding of God’s purpose for the law. When Jesus’ disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath, He asserts His lordship over the Sabbath, declaring, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." Jesus reminds the Pharisees that the Sabbath was given as a blessing, not as a burden, and that works of necessity and mercy align with God’s intent.

Read More
The Road to Redemption | Day 9: Luke 5:1-26 – Jesus' Authority to Call and Forgive
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Road to Redemption | Day 9: Luke 5:1-26 – Jesus' Authority to Call and Forgive

In Luke 5:1-26, we see the power of Jesus’ call, the scope of His authority, and the joy of forgiveness. First, Jesus calls Simon Peter, along with James and John, to leave their nets and follow Him. The miraculous catch of fish reveals Jesus’ divine power and exposes Peter’s unworthiness, prompting his humble confession, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man." Yet, Jesus responds with grace, commissioning him to fish for people. This scene shows that Jesus uses imperfect people to carry out His mission, transforming them by His power and calling.

Read More
The Road to Redemption | Day 8: Luke 4:14-44 – Jesus’ Authority Over All
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Road to Redemption | Day 8: Luke 4:14-44 – Jesus’ Authority Over All

Luke 4:14-44 marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, filled with power and authority. Returning in the power of the Spirit, Jesus begins teaching in Galilean synagogues, with His reputation spreading. In Nazareth, He boldly declares Himself the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, revealing that He is the anointed One sent to proclaim good news, liberty, and healing.

However, His message confronts His audience’s expectations. The people in Nazareth, initially amazed, grow hostile when Jesus challenges their assumptions about God’s mission. By referencing Elijah and Elisha’s ministries to Gentiles, Jesus exposes their pride and exclusivity, pointing to the universal scope of the gospel. Their rejection foreshadows the opposition He will face throughout His ministry.

Read More
The Road to Redemption | Day 7: Luke 4:1-13 – The Second Adam’s Obedience in the Wilderness
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Road to Redemption | Day 7: Luke 4:1-13 – The Second Adam’s Obedience in the Wilderness

The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness is a profound demonstration of His role as the second Adam and the true Israel. Unlike Adam, who succumbed to Satan’s deception, and Israel, who faltered in the wilderness, Jesus stands firm, perfectly obeying His Father. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus confronts the devil’s schemes with the authority of God’s Word, modeling how believers should rely on Scripture in spiritual battles.

Read More
The Road to Redemption | Day 6: Luke 3:1-38 – Preparing the Way: John’s Call to Repentance
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Road to Redemption | Day 6: Luke 3:1-38 – Preparing the Way: John’s Call to Repentance

Luke 3 transitions us into the public ministry of John the Baptist, the one preparing the way for Jesus. By situating John’s ministry within a historical framework, Luke highlights the fulfillment of God’s promises in real time and space. The Word of God comes to John, marking him as a true prophet in the wilderness, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of the one crying, "Prepare the way of the Lord."

Read More
Worship Without Compromise: Malachi 1:6-2:9 | 5 Devotions on Guarding Against Spiritual Complacency
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

Worship Without Compromise: Malachi 1:6-2:9 | 5 Devotions on Guarding Against Spiritual Complacency

When we think of worship, we often picture singing songs in church or praying before meals. But worship is much more than that—it’s about the posture of our hearts before God. In Malachi 1:6–2:9, God confronts the priests of Israel for offering second-rate sacrifices, dishonoring Him by giving what was easy rather than what was right. Their worship had become routine, empty, and without true devotion.

This week’s devotions will help us reflect on what it means to worship God without compromise. We’ll explore how worship is about giving God our best—not just in church but in our daily lives. Through passages from Romans, Revelation, James, 2 Corinthians, and John, we’ll see how true worship flows from a heart that honors God in spirit and truth.

Read More
The Road to Redemption | Day 5: Luke 2:22-52 – A Glimpse of Jesus’ Identity and Purpose
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Road to Redemption | Day 5: Luke 2:22-52 – A Glimpse of Jesus’ Identity and Purpose

Luke 2:22-52 captures key moments in Jesus’ early life that affirm His identity as the Messiah and highlight His perfect obedience to God’s law. In the temple, Mary and Joseph faithfully fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses, demonstrating their piety and trust in God. This obedience foreshadows Jesus’ own perfect submission to the law on behalf of His people.

Read More
The Road to Redemption | Day 1: Luke 1:1-38 – God’s Sovereign Grace Unfolds
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Road to Redemption | Day 1: Luke 1:1-38 – God’s Sovereign Grace Unfolds

The opening of Luke’s Gospel sets the stage for the grand story of redemption. Luke writes with purpose, addressing Theophilus to assure him of the certainty of the gospel message. The careful, orderly account begins with the miraculous announcements of John the Baptist's and Jesus’ births. God is breaking the silence of centuries to fulfill His covenant promises.

Read More
The Faithful Love of God: Malachi 1:1-5 | 5 Devotions on God’s Sovereignty and Our Response
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Faithful Love of God: Malachi 1:1-5 | 5 Devotions on God’s Sovereignty and Our Response

How do we respond when life doesn’t look the way we expected? Do we trust in God’s promises, or do we question His love and faithfulness? In Malachi 1:1-5, the people of Israel had grown complacent. They doubted God’s love because they couldn’t see immediate evidence of His blessings. Yet, through the prophet Malachi, God reminded them of His sovereign choice, unwavering love, and faithfulness to His people.

This passage isn’t just a history lesson—it speaks directly to us today. We, too, can fall into empty routines, going through the motions of faith while our hearts drift. But God calls us back to something real. He invites us to trust in His sovereign plan, return to Him in genuine devotion, and rest in His unfailing love.

These five devotions will help you reflect on God’s sovereignty and our response—challenging you to examine your faith, reject complacency, and embrace a deeper walk with the Lord.

Let’s journey together through these truths and be reminded that God’s love is steadfast, His promises are sure, and He is always calling us to return to Him.

Read More
Crushed in the Winepress of Wrath: Revelation 14:14-20 | 5 Devotions on Living in Light of God’s Wrath and Grace
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

Crushed in the Winepress of Wrath: Revelation 14:14-20 | 5 Devotions on Living in Light of God’s Wrath and Grace

Revelation 14:14-20 gives us one of the Bible’s most striking images of judgment—the great harvest and the winepress of God’s wrath. It’s a passage filled with both sobering warnings and deep hope. These five devotions will guide you through the themes of God’s justice, the certainty of judgment, the hope for the redeemed, and the call to repentance. As you reflect on these truths, may they lead you to a deeper understanding of God’s holiness and His incredible mercy through Christ, who was crushed for our sins so that we might be spared the coming wrath.

Read More
Endurance and Reward: Revelation 14:1-13 | 5 Devotions on Persevering in Faith for Eternal Rest
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

Endurance and Reward: Revelation 14:1-13 | 5 Devotions on Persevering in Faith for Eternal Rest

In a world that offers false security and fleeting promises, Revelation 14 reminds us of the call to endurance and the certainty of Christ’s victory. Those who remain faithful to the Lamb will stand with Him, while the kingdoms of this world will inevitably fall. These five devotions will guide you through the themes of perseverance, worship, judgment, and the blessed rest promised to God’s people.

Read More
The Beast and His Deceptions | 5 Devotions on Endurance and Faithfulness to Christ
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

The Beast and His Deceptions | 5 Devotions on Endurance and Faithfulness to Christ

The world is filled with counterfeits—false kings, deceptive powers, and idols that seek our allegiance. Revelation 13 warns us of the beast’s influence, but it also calls us to endurance and faithfulness in Christ. These five devotions will help you discern truth from deception, stand firm in your faith, and trust in the unshakable kingdom of God.

Read More
War in Heaven, Hope on Earth | 5 Devotions on Standing Firm in Faith
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

War in Heaven, Hope on Earth | 5 Devotions on Standing Firm in Faith

Revelation 12 gives us a powerful picture of the battle between Christ and Satan, reminding us that while the enemy still rages, his defeat is already certain. As believers, we are called to stand firm in faith, trusting in God's protection and the victory secured by the blood of the Lamb. These five devotions will help you reflect on Christ’s triumph and equip you to remain steadfast in the face of spiritual battles.

Read More
Heaven Rejoices, Earth Trembles | 5 Devotions on God’s Sovereignty and Victory
Devotions Mark Groen Devotions Mark Groen

Heaven Rejoices, Earth Trembles | 5 Devotions on God’s Sovereignty and Victory

In Revelation 11, the seventh trumpet sounds, proclaiming the eternal reign of Christ. This moment brings both rejoicing in heaven and trembling on earth as God’s sovereign purposes unfold. These devotions invite you to reflect on the preservation of God’s people, His victory over death, and the assurance of His unshakable kingdom. Through these truths, may you find hope, strength, and confidence in the reign of our victorious King.

Read More