Category: Devotion

Daily Word - The Just and Unjust

10/1/2014

MATTHEW 5:45

Sometimes it's difficult for us to understand what we see and perceive as injustice in the world today.

The news of horrific, evil acts make us cringe just at the thought of these events.

In our eyes is appears that "the good" are harmed, and "the evil" often go unpunished. Yet our own "righteousness" is riddled with fault.

God has called us to be gracious ... to love ... to bless ... and do good to them that hate you ... that we "might be the children of our Father in heaven" ... not by our works, but by the grace of God who sent His son, Jesus Christ, to redeem and reconcile us all.

Matthew 5:44-45

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

0 Comments

Daily Word - God's Grace

9/30/2014

0 Comments

GOD'S GRACE...

God's grace toward us is so awesome and abundant.

Seven-hundred years before Christ's birth, and even in the midst of Israel's disobedience and turning away from God's commandments...

God's promise of His sacrifice for us all to reconcile us to Himself was prophesied through Isaiah ...

Isaiah 1:18

18 Come now, and let us reason together, said the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 9:6

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

0 Comments

Daily Word - Just One

9/29/2014

0 Comments

ONE 'BAD' APPLE... (Romans 5:12)

There is an adage that says' "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch" ... which in simple a very simple phase, points to the fact that the bacteria causing the decay in one apple will eventually spread to the rest.

And in today's high tech world, we have seen how "digital viruses" can spread quickly from one source and destroy millions of other computers.

It was by the sin of one man, Adam, that we are all infected with this "virus" of sin, unto our death. But by the grace of God, and the ultimate sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ, that the cure to this disease of death has been defeated at the cross of Calvary.

1 Corinthians 15:22

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
--

0 Comments

Daily Word - Perseverance

9/27/2014

"I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK..." (Phil. 3:14)

Often times, when we are faced with what seems like insurmountable circumstances ... or something that we have worked so hard obtaining leave us disappointed or failed ... we feel like giving up .. giving in ... what's the use?

This condemnation is from the "Father of Lies" ... who's only hope in destroying God's plan for our life is to convince us to give up or give in, and forget the glorious victory that Jesus Christ completed at Calvary. Our Heavenly Father calls us to persevere ... to press on ... and through His strength ... He will carry through to the finish line.

Philippians 3 -

All our "worldly gain" is loss:

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

Press on:

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Daily Word - His Righteousness

9/26/2014

"THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OF ME..."

He is righteous: We are all forever indebted to Christ's propitiatory sacrifice at Calvary and the gift of salvation it brings us.

And also through Him, we have been restored and redeemed to the Father in heaven and all the blessings that come of having the righteousness of Christ upon our lives.

1 Peter 3:12

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers.

Peter 3:18

18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

Daily Word - Glory in God Only

9/25/2014

GLORY THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME...

It can be very subtle, but often when we're blessed by God materially or physically, we tend to forget that all of it comes to us by His hand.

We need to keep our perspective and pride in check ... and only prideful in one aspect alone ... that we are blessed by the loving, gracious and generous character of God.

Jeremiah 9:23-24:

"Thus said the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, said the LORD."

Daily Word - The Love of $ is THE Root of All Evil...

9/24/2014

THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL... (1 Tim. 6:10)

As I was studying this morning ... I was thinking about the previous discussion on the downfalls of wealth ... and most importantly, about wealth changing our outlook on everything in life.

I think it takes a lifetime of grace and maturity in Christ to be totally content with just "food and raiment" ... but I think that is the only place to be (if not in reality, at least in the attitude of our hearts) where the "temptation and a snare" of wealth and gain will not "drown men in destruction and perdition". (1 Timothy 6:9)

In other words, when Christ asked the rich man to give all his wealth to the poor ... he would have responded "Yes Lord, I will do that and follow you" ... because he knew, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Matt 16:26).

The instruction from Christ was really ... "Will you choose me or your worldly gain?" ... and the answer was one that lead to destruction and perdition. I've highlighted the parts that stand out to me in this these verses in 1 Timothy 6:

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

And here is our call as Christians:

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

13 I give you charge in the sight of God …

14 That you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My hope is that this will be an encouragement....we are all "in training" for life... and we never "arrive" (in this life) until we arrive with Christ. And that is promised and guaranteed through His blood at the cross.

Daily Word - Fear Not

9/22/2014

"HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU..." (Deut 31:6)

We can see a lot of chaos in the world today and it can often times create concerns and fears for what tomorrow holds.

But God's Word can cast out of fears through His power and strength:

2 Timothy Ch 1:7 -

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 John Ch 4:18 -

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love

As Psalm 31:24 says:

"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you and hope in the Lord"

God Bless!

Daily Word - Clay

9/21/2014

ISAIAH 64:5

There are many verses in the Bible comparing us as clay in God's hands.

When we take a look at clay in it's natural state, in the ground or under the soil, it is a very unstable material ... one that shifts under stress and weight .... and causes structures built upon it to collapse.

This is a good analogy of our "natural" lives ... in our natural state (sinful nature) ... we are unstable ... shifting under the stress and weight of the world around us ... and when we build our lives on it, everything comes crashing down.

But in the hands of our Father ... He molds and shapes us ... sees all our flaws ... kneads out the lumps and imperfections ... strengthens us through the fire and trials ... and creates a vessel for His pleasure.

Jeremiah 18:4
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it,

Isaiah 64:5
8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Daily Word: Imagination

9/20/2014

"WICKED IMAGINATION OF THE HEART..."

Daily Word: Imagination of the Heart

Our enemy, "the Father of Lies", will always use our own weaknesses to deceive us and try to turn us away from the truth, and ultimately from God.

His words will always appeal to our flesh and our imagination ... whether it be lust or greed, or anger and depression ... he knows that our minds and hearts can be easily manipulated through our feelings and emotions:

Jeremiah 7:23-24

"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people: and walk you in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well to you. But they listened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward."

But by the grace of Jesus Christ and his victory on Calvary, we are now equipped with His power and Spirit to resist the devil and his plan to use our imagination against us ... in Christ, we are more than conquerors:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

<<Previous

Daily Word - The Just and Unjust

Daily Word - God's Grace

Daily Word - Just One

Daily Word - Perseverance

Daily Word - His Righteousness

Daily Word - Glory in God Only

Daily Word - The Love of $ is THE Root of All Evil...

Daily Word - Fear Not

Daily Word - Clay

Daily Word: Imagination

Author

Archives

Categories