Words of Hope Daily Devotional

The Words of Hope Devotional is a non-profit, donor-supported publication whose goal is to encourage readers to grow in faith through the practice of daily Bible reading and prayer.

The devotional is available in your email and in print.

Blessed Reading, Blessed Hearing

Read: Revelation 1:1-3

Blessed is the one who reads . . . this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it. (v. 3)

Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead; he is risen. He’s alive right now, and he’s still speaking to his disciples. The opening chapters of the book of Revelation both describe the risen Lord Jesus and record his continuing message for his church. Jesus sent an angel to give this message to John so that all of us, “his servants” (v. 1), can know it too.

Think of John as he appears at the end of the New Testament. At this point he was a very old man; all the other apostles were gone—martyrs for the sake of the gospel. John’s body was worn out, his eyesight dimmed, his hearing faded. But spiritually his senses were as keen as ever. John’s symbol in the church was the far-sighted eagle. His spiritual sight penetrated to the highest heaven, his vision extended to the end of time. Don’t think of him, though, as some sort of seer. Think of him as a journalist. John called himself a “martyr” in the original sense of that Greek word—a witness. John wasn’t making this stuff up. He simply recorded what the angel showed him, in a book that can be read and heard and obeyed.

This raises a question. What do you think of the Bible? Is it just a product of the religious imagination, or is it a revelation from God, given through human witnesses? Blessed are those who read it as the latter, and who hear and keep it accordingly.

As you pray, praise God for his Word.

About the Author

david bast
Rev. David Bast

David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word. 

Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he is the author of nine devotional books and Bible studies, includingWhy Doesn't God Act More Like God,Christ in the Psalms, andA Gospel for the World.

Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.

The Anonymous Messiah

Read: Acts 8:26-39 Who is the prophet talking about? (v. 34 NIV) When the Messiah would come into the world, says Isaiah, he wouldn’t “fit the profile.” He wouldn’t stand head and shoulders above the crowd like King Saul. He

Read More »

The Ugliness of Jesus

Read: Isaiah 52:13-53:2 He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. (v. 2 NIV) Isaiah is sometimes called the fifth gospel. Though written centuries before, the portrait of

Read More »

Dying with Christ, Living with Christ

Read: Romans 6:1-11 If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. (2 Tim. 2:11-12) You are likely familiar with talk about Jesus’s death on the cross. Christ

Read More »

Working Out Our Salvation

Read: Philippians 2:12-13 Be holy, because I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16 NIV) Martin Luther described the dynamics of the Christian life this way: “This life is not health but healing; not being but becoming; not rest but exercise. We

Read More »

In Training

Read: 1 Timothy 4:6-10 Train yourself for godliness. (v. 7) Kids like to imitate superstar athletes, the way they dress, how they talk, the moves they make on the court or the field. That’s why the superstars get paid so

Read More »

Repentance

Read: Matthew 4:12-17, Luke 15:11-24 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 4:17) The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, which means to change your mind. Lent is a good time to do that. Repentance is closely

Read More »

YouVersion Series

Words of Hope devotionals are available on The Bible App!

Books

Autobiographies and reading plans for groups or individuals.