Devotionals

May 23, 2019

Proverbs 2:1-5 New Living Translation (NLT)

Lately, I find myself speaking a great deal about wisdom; it is such a beautiful treasure from God.  Therefore, I also find myself studying and praying a great deal about wisdom.  Multiple times every week I hear, “Pastor Mary, ______ is going on in my life and I need to know what to do?”  My response every time is “Let’s pray for wisdom, because God gives it generously to those who ask” (James 1:5).  Contrary to what many people may think, wisdom is very practical.  We need to gather knowledge, but we also need wisdom if we are going to understand what to do with that knowledge in a way that pleases God.  We want the blessing of God, so we must listen to the voice of wisdom.  The Apostle Paul teaches, “God has brought you into connection with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30).  We need the work of Christ and the leading of the Spirit to bring answers we understand. Those who are led by the Spirit understand the essential work of wisdom.  God encompasses all things; God wants to love and share Himself with us. 

Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and humbly hearing and seeking to do God’s will as revealed in Scripture and in the issues of life.  How can you have wisdom?  You must make Jesus your Lord, desire wisdom above all things, seek to live in harmony with God’s Word, live with eternity as your focus (rather than just the temporal things of the world), and pray for the Spirit to guide you. Wisdom is an inseparable companion to the Word; so be in the Word of God every day if you want the impartation of wisdom.  In these days that form a challenge for us, let us never forget the benefits of wisdom.

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May 22, 2019

Luke 10:25-28 New Living Translation (NLT)

Since cell phone texting has come along, it has made some quick informative or directive communications easier, hasn’t it?  Most of the time, I find texting helpful in my relationships and as a leader to deliver some quick information.  Short and brief, direct and to the point, bottom line response and all people have to do is read it and/or do it.  But, better add a few emojis if you make it too short, so you can show the emotional tone of the text!  

The leaders of religious law did not have to deal with cell phone texting, but many of them came to hear Jesus with a preconceived idea about devotion to God based on the text of the Torah. It was the job of these lawyers to interpret the law in the life of the people. In our passage today, an expert in religious law asks a question to test Jesus’ message; it is not necessarily adversarial in nature, but he wants clarification.  It is all right to have questions; Jesus can handle them.  Many times we know pretty much how Jesus may answer based on God’s Word, a bigger issue is whether or not we are willing to do what he says? In our passage, Jesus chooses to keep things short and brief in the biblical text.  He spins the question back to the leader who quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.  So, I imagine if Jesus had a cell phone to end the communication he would have texted, “Right! Do it!” ?

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May 21, 2019

Psalm 133 New Living Translation

God is Good and I am truly blessed! God opens my eyes to see His goodness, every day.  He opens my ears to hear His love.  He opens my soul (mind/will/emotions) to receive His grace.  Just think about the goodness of God and the opportunity each of us have to stand together in harmony or agreement and proclaim His goodness to the world.  As we stand in that place together, we are connected in perfect Truth.  As we stand in that place together, we are connected in divine Love.  As we stand in that place together, we are connected in One powerful and restorative mission. As we stand in that place together, we share in the Life of God. Let that soak in for a minute! In the goodness of God found in Jesus Christ, we have some big things in common, don’t we? Stand there! David new all about the power of harmony, so he called God’s people to focus on it in our psalm reading, today. 

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May 20, 2019

Acts 11:19-26 New Life Version (NLV)

Encouragement is a great gift from the Lord to His Church.  We all need encouragement in our faith if we are going to grow up into Christ.  We start as new believers and we look forward toward the maturity that God’s Spirit brings about in our lives.  True spiritual teachers are those who press us forward into maturity by encouraging us to trust and obey the Word of God while we love others.  Every Christian should be a source of encouragement for his or her brothers and sisters in the faith.  As we share our testimonies and reveal our experiences with God, it causes our faith to grow and broadens our view of the Gospel.

Peter’s testimony to the church leaders in Jerusalem that God was saving the Gentiles, caused the good news to flourish in Antioch.  Many people came to Christ.  God even used the persecution of believers in Jerusalem to spread the Gospel, because the believers headed out to other countries.  The life of God went with the believers and that life created more life wherever the believers went.  It was during this time, believers everywhere began to share their life experiences in Christ with others.  It was in Antioch where the first Gentile church was founded and the term Christians or “Christ-ones” was used.  Barnabas, an encourager, came and began teaching the new believers how to live in this new life they had been given in Christ.  Even though the believers were from different races, cultures, and spoke different languages, Barnabas taught them about all they actually shared in common in Christ.  This diversity of people sharing a unity of faith caused the church to increase.

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May 17, 2019

Revelation 11:15-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

It is hard when good things come to an end because we are so enjoying those times, but can I tell you I will not be sad to see bad or evil things come to an end?  According to Scripture, things like war, crime, hatred, pride, condemnation, injustice, greed, indifference, faithlessness, and lawlessness (just to name a few) will come to an end and I will be glad to see each of those things destroyed.  I am ready for the Lord of Love to rule and reign the nations!

Our reading today is from the Book of Revelation; the Lord’s revelation to the Apostle John and His message regarding the nature of evil and the eternal consequences it will be given.  The seventh trumpet is the one announcing the arrival of King Jesus; He is coming to rule and reign with His Kingdom on earth.  With His arrival, time stands still.  The Eternal and the reality of His Kingdom has arrived.  There is no time to go back and change things and there is no time to move forward without the consent of the King. That means, with His arrival, every decision we have made regarding the Messiah and living for God is final.  Even indecision is final.  Organized religion will not be the judge of the human soul.  Relationship with the King determines everything, because only the blood of Jesus is enough to save the soul from judgment. The King must know you and recognize you as His own.  Many people may reject this message, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is Truth based on God’s Word or Testimony.

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May 16, 2019

Revelation 10 New Living Translation (NLT)

I am always intrigue with how two people can experience the same exact thing and come away with a totally different interpretation of it.  As human beings, we are so different apart from our oneness with Christ.  It is that oneness with Christ that must hold our hearts in the last days; we cannot allow anything to separate us from that union. Our gaze must be upon Christ’s mission and our spirits and souls (mind, will, emotions) must be upheld by the Holy Spirit.  The gifts of the Spirit are being called into place, so we can help one another navigate in the Spirit each day.  You need other believers; you need the fellowship of the Spirit in other believers in order to gain the Wisdom—whole counsel—of God. The unbelieving world will struggle in the last days—lack understanding and guidance—but believers will be held together and encouraged by the Word and the spiritual family.  Are you staying in the Word and in fellowship with other believers?

John is exiled on the Island of Patmos for speaking and sharing the Word of God to those who did not want his message.  While imprisoned there, he receives a vision from the Lord.  In Chapter 10, we find John encounters a mighty angel who announces God’s final judgments that will deal with all creation.  John has been aware of two scrolls: the first scroll revealed in Chapter 5 was opened by the Lamb and listed judgments, but the content of the second scroll is not revealed.  It is described as small, but it is clearly critical to God’s purposes for the eternal Kingdom.  John is told to eat the scroll much like Ezekiel was told to eat the scroll regarding the judgment of Israel. It tasted sweet in the mouth of those believers, but it will actually bring hardship and destruction.  The Word of God is precious and comforting to those who receive the Lord, but for those who rebel against the Word it will bring sorrow and suffering.  

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May 15, 2019

John 10:31-42 New Living Translation (NLT)

Did you know getting familiar with the Voice of God’s Spirit is the perfect way to navigate through the difficult places in life? Jesus tells his disciples, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard from me.  He will tell you about the future” (John 16:13).  It is the work of the Spirit to guide God’s people; to speak into our spirits in order to protect us and help us avoid danger, as well as guide us into blessings.  It was the guiding of the Holy Spirit that helped those in the early church prepare for a future famine (Acts 11:27-29). The Holy Spirit hindered the Apostle Paul from going to certain places to preach the Gospel because it wasn’t safe, so he taught Christ’s disciples to listen, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

In our passage today, Jesus has been speaking at the Temple.  The Spirit of God is upon him to preach the Gospel and to heal lives.  The religious leaders have been listening for Jesus to say something that would be grounds for his termination. Even in the face of Christ’s many miracles, these religious leaders accuse him of blasphemy, because Jesus says, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30).  Because the religious leaders want to capture and kill Jesus, the Holy Spirit supernaturally guides the Lord through the midst of a crowd to escape.  

As we extend our lives to the work of the Spirit, we are assured of his guidance.  The Spirit sees what we do not see; knows what we do not know, and understands the heart of the Father and his will for our lives.  Ask the Holy Spirit to lead your life; to be your Guide.  Invite him to take on the role of being your Teacher and Leader, because no matter what the enemy may use to attack you, the Spirit will make a way of escape.  The key is to cooperate with the Spirit.

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May 14, 2019

Acts 9:32-35 New Living Translation (NLT)

The other night John and I watched an old western staring Henry Fonda, My Name is Nobody.  Most of the time, we have really enjoyed watching some older movies, but this one was a stretch as far as me really enjoying it.  For me, the plot was just too vague for too long with filler taking up too much space. What was the main character’s purpose?  He travels from town to town for what?  Have you ever watched or read something and thought, “Where is this going?”

Our lesson today, from Luke in the Book of Acts, is quite the opposite of the movie.  Jesus is the Somebody that everyone needs. It’s clear from the very beginning of the reading that God is wasting no time to reveal His heart or purpose.  Peter has been filled with the Holy Spirit and he is on a mission to bring the Good News of Jesus the risen Lord everywhere he goes; Peter is relentless in his passion to serve God and people.  He travels to wherever the Spirit leads him and he speaks the words the Spirit places on his lips.  And what happens?  A dunamis (Gk. powerful) domino effect.  One man is instantly physically healed by the touch of Christ through Peter which leads to a whole community turning to serve God, as well.  The evidence of God’s love and purpose is overwhelmingly evident; there is no missing the plot.  Then, Peter moves on to the next town.

What does this mean for you?  God wants to do something powerful in and through your life, but you must focus and make His purpose your purpose. Like Peter, God just wants the best life for you which is the Spirit of Christ abiding and living in you.  We are children, sons, and daughters of an All-Powerful God who desires to change lives and communities; turn every heart toward His love. It’s salvation in action.   You and I can drag ourselves through each day with no real purpose, or we can be led by the Spirit into great opportunities to reveal the realities of the true Lord of Life.  You decide.

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May 13, 2019

Psalm 100 New Living Translation (NLT)

What is your favorite hobby? We all have varied interests and doing those things that bring us joy can be very diverse. God placed healthy desires in you; things to develop that would bring you joy, because He loves you.  He wants an abundant life for you.  Personally, I like to bake goodies.  When I was a very young girl, my grandmother taught me how to bake.  She made the most amazing baked goods; spent hours in the kitchen every day.  Baking was one of the ways she shared the love of God with others.  She put such “heart” into everything she made and whether she realized it or not she helped me see the value of doing such things that I also enjoy as an act of worship.  Worship is about Oneness with God; bowing down to thank God for our lives and the blessing of his design.  When you look at your life, do you understand every aspect of you is unique and lovingly crafted, so you will acknowledge and thank your Creator as you enjoy your life? 

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May 10, 2019

Psalm 23:4-6 New Living Translation

Testimonies are powerful teaching tools; they inspire us to hope for more.  I always enjoy hearing people share how God has touched their lives or provided for them during difficult times.  The Body of Christ can always benefit from the sharing of testimonies; they encourage and enrich our faith.  When we listen to testimonies it spurs us to seek for more encounters in the beauty of God’s presence.  We believe God is Good and takes good care of his own, but it affirms our faith and fills us with joy as we hear others share good news.  

Today we will explore the rest of the passage from Psalm 23.  Note the writer (David) is one of the Shepherd’s sheep and he is testifying about the loving care he has personally received.  Does God’s love make you feel protected, held in high esteem, and blessed?  If so, tell somebody…testify!

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