Walk in Wisdom
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These daily devotionals are written to help you remain rooted and grounded in God's Word each day. We have one devotional for each weekday, and one for the weekend.
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Latest Devotional
The Gospel Call
The Gospel Call
Exodus 19:3b, 5b-6a
The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, … “’If you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’”
Theologians have often debated whether this Exodus 19 covenant here is a conditional covenant, predicated on the obedience of the people, or an unconditional covenant, predicated on God’s faithfulness in spite of Israel’s disobedience, but the condition itself strikes me in a new way as I read it. Notice that this invitation isn’t just given to Moses and the other priests, but to all the people. We could read it like this: “If all of you obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you’ll be my treasured possession among all peoples.” But one false prophet will sully the holiness for everyone. One wicked king will spoil the kingdom blessing. One unjust judge will forfeit peace for all. A little leaven in the bread will spoil the whole feast. And that’s the troubling part, right? Because there’s never been a single chapter in Israel’s storied history where every man followed God. Not even when David beat Goliath or Josiah tore down the high places or Gideon made peace with surrounding nations. Because David still had his adulteries and Josiah still had enemies within the gates and Gideon still kept a golden ephod.
Whatever eschatological conclusions one may draw from Exodus 19, I see the light of Christ radiating between these shadowy lines. The question resounds: what if one priest could live purely and righteously in every thought, word, and deed? What if one king could obey the Father’s will perfectly without adulteries and greed and golden ephods blemishing the record? What if one prophet could faithfully preach the truth in love and justice and embody it? What if one Son of Adam could give Himself as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of His brothers and sisters? Could it ever be?!
Yes and amen! In Christ, we are a holy priesthood today, friend! In Christ, we are a sanctified nation and a treasured possession! Not because we all lived up to the call, but because Jesus did—and He paid it all!
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Supreme Court Justice
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An Intervention
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The Tie that Binds
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Coming Around
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Pitching In
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Strong as a Rock
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How Long, O Lord?!
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Treasures in the Dust
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Mark My Word
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Heaven Sent
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In Between
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Meaning, as a Rule
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Fight or Flight
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If the Bones are Good
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Sabbath Psalm 34
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The Power of His Word
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A Song is Rising
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A Wake-Up Call
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Genesis, First-Hand
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Do or Die
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Sabbath Psalm 33
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Face Off
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Not on Auto-Pilot
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Oh the Radiance!
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Unbreakable Bonds
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God is Strong—for Starters
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Sabbath Psalm 32
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Indigenous Saints
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A Traveling Band
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A Blood Bath
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Reserved Seating
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Shadow and Substance
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Sabbath Psalm 31
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Another Genesis
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Wonderful News
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Post Traumatic Sacrifice Disorder
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A Great Glimpse
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Some through the Fire
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Sabbath Psalm 30
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Let There be Light
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A Painful Plea
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Sour Words
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From the Mouths of Babies
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Mustard Seeds
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Sabbath Psalm 29
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At the Heart of the Story
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The Hardened Heart Problem—Continued
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Mid-Life Crisis
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The Fuss—no Feast—of Faith
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Defining Lines
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Sabbath Psalm 28
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Absent-Minded Professors
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Temporary Relief
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So Close
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The Emperor’s New Trick
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Another Lying Serpent
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Sabbath Psalm 27
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Roads Not Taken
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Deep, Deep Waters
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Recharge
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Lost in Translation
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Feeling the Weight
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Sabbath Psalm 26
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Today: A New Testament
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Slipping Up
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Beating on an Open Door
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Says Who?
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Growing Pains
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Sabbath Psalm 25
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Holiness Hurts
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Mountain Climbers
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Playing Dumb
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Shepherding Made Easy?
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A Name to Bear
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Sabbath Psalm 24
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The Reluctant Hero
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The Art of Becoming
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Home at Last
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God Only Knows
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Over the Hill
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Sabbath Psalm 23
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Missing Pieces
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Anti-Hero
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Sealed with a Tear
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Like Father Like Daughter
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Motherhood: an Exhibition
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Sabbath Psalm 22
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An Ode to the Small
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Ignorance or Arrogance?
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A New Dawn
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Just the Beginning
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Story Time
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What a Testimony!
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Lamb Keepers
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Candlewicks
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Providence—a Patchwork
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Ever After
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Sabbath Psalm 20
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A Genesis Flood