Devotionals

James 3:13-18 (TPT)

Live Well, Live Wisely
13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

I want to build a reputation for wisdom; to be real, honest, and sincere before God and in my dealings with others. I am not nor will I ever perform perfectly, but I can still be wise. I won’t always preach the perfect sermon, but I can still be wise. I won’t always receive the applause of people, but I can still be wise. To be wise is to be right with God and to live humbly and lovingly while treating others with dignity and respect. In our passage today, the Apostle James teaches believers if we are actually living in the wisdom of God, our lives will radiate the proof of that wisdom because we will be humble and peace-loving. When we are filled with selfish ambition and we are willing to diminish or hurt others by setting ourselves up to judge them, we are actually opening up a door for evil.

Prayer: Father, thank you for placing within me the desire to build a reputation for wisdom. May I live well and wisely, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 7:48-50 (TPT)
48 “However, the Most High God does not live in temples made by human hands, as the prophet said:
49 
‘Heaven is my throne room and the earth
    is but a footstool for my feet.
    How could you possibly build a house
    that could contain me?’ says the Lord Yahweh.
    ‘And where could you find a place where I could live?
50 
Don’t you know that it is my hands
    that have built my house,[all these things] not yours?’

In our passage today, Stephen endeavors to speak Truth about the temple to the religious leaders. They come with limited mindsets and He wants them to know that God’s plan for salvation is far greater than a building. For these religious leaders, their affection for the temple had actually turned into idolatry; God would judge them accordingly. Although we may not worship the church building, we can certainly step into idolatry if we try to confine God to a certain place. God’s plan is redemption and he wants to be invited into every area of our lives. The earthly temple gives way to the spiritual temple where contrite hearts worship the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making my heart your dwelling place. Help me to release your love into the lives of other each day. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Psalm 119:129-133 (TPT) I Long to Obey You
129 
Your marvelous words are living miracles;
no wonder I long to obey everything you say.
130 
Break open your word within me until revelation-light shines out!
Those with open hearts are given insight into your plans.
131 
I open my mouth and inhale the word of God
because I crave the revelation of your commands.
132 
Turn your heart to me, Lord, and show me your grace
like you do to every one of your godly lovers.
133 
Prepare before me a path filled with your promises,
and don’t allow even one sin to have dominion over me.

When our hearts are open to God’s perspective, it brings revelation of his love and justice to our understanding; in Christ the infinite communes and communicates with the finite. We do not have to guess about sin or the righteousness God requires, we simply need to turn toward God and listen to his Word. From there the Holy Spirit will let us know if repentance and change is necessary. As we obediently turn our hearts toward his ways, he responds by turning his heart toward us. In that moment of obedience and in the power of grace, our paths are filled with the miraculous promises of God for salvation and deliverance. Obedience is actually a set up for spiritual triumph or victory.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making a way, in Christ, for me to be spiritually triumphant. I rest on the work of the Word within me; so, break the word open and help my life shine for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 12:15-21 (The Voice)

15 Jesus knew that the Pharisees were plotting to kill Him and left the area. Many people followed Him, and He healed them all, 16 always insisting that they tell no one about Him. 17 He did this in keeping with the prophecy Isaiah made so long ago:
18 
This is My servant, whom I have well chosen;
    this is the One I love, the One in whom I delight.
I will place My Spirit upon Him;
    He will proclaim justice to all the world.
19 
He will not fight or shout
    or talk loudly in the streets.
20 
He will not crush a reed under His heel
    or blow out a smoldering candle
    until He has led justice and righteousness to final victory.
21 
All the world will find its hope in His name.

In our passage today, Jesus does not want the people he heals to tell others about his miracles, because he does not want them coming to him for the wrong reasons. Christ wants people to hunger for the truth of God’s justice—to be made right in relationship with God, one another, and the natural creation. The Pharisees have cared more about their animals than the people; an act of hypocrisy and injustice for which Jesus will take issue. The people care more about having a Messiah who will step up as the king of Israel and fight all “their” visible enemies; an act of immaturity and injustice in their response to God. Neither group understand Christ’s mission to provide salvation from spiritual enemies, as well as provide a way to genuinely know God’s love for all nations and his heart for wholeness. Christ’s invitation goes way beyond Israel to the nations; therefore, the world will find its hope in His name. He is the King of kings. I pray for the nations of the world to see the revelation of their righteous King—the Lord who proclaims justice and makes things right.

Prayer: Lord, when I am tempted to think your salvation is narrow in focus because of what is visible, help me to remember you have come to save the world and as I trust you I can be a part of it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 139: 17-22
17-22 
Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
    God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
    any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
    And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers—out of here!—
    all the men and women who belittle you, God,
    infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
See how I hate those who hate you, God,
    see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
    Your enemies are my enemies!

As believers, we strive to be in the Word of God all the time in order to better understand God’s love and holy character. According to Scripture, God’s character goes into the creation of every single person. You have been created in the image of God; so, learning to see yourself through the lens of awe and respect for God—the fear of the Lord—is the beginning of wisdom (Pro. 9:10). Wisdom reveals we are the Lord’s treasure; fearfully and wonderfully made to praise and live for him (Ps. 139:14). When we gain understanding of that truth, we begin to better understand our lives as a whole.

Two spiritual powers—good and evil—exist and vie for human carriers and devotion. God who is good brings an invitation to experience his love, forgiveness, grace, and eternal life in salvation. Satan who is evil brings self-serving temptations followed by berating accusations to shame people and weigh them down, so they lose hope for salvation. If we desire to receive from the love of God [which is something God has offered], we must submit to the holiness of God. The Holy Spirit has been given to help us grow in God’s holy character. Therefore, rejection of evil is a mark of divine wisdom.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the wisdom to know the difference between good and evil, as well as the power and purpose of grace so I can choose to live for you. In Jesus’ name.

Psalm 139:13-16
You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside
and my intricate outside,
and wove them all together in my mother’s womb.
14 
I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex!
Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking.
It simply amazes me to think about it!
How thoroughly you know me, Lord!
15 
You even formed every bone in my body
when you created me in the secret place,
carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something.
16 
You saw who you created me to be before I became me!
Before I’d ever seen the light of day,
the number of days you planned for me
were already recorded in your book.

How precious are the conceived yet unborn children to the Lord; each child is unique and a sacred creation formed by his Almighty Hand. Creator God places an eternal life-spirit inside the conceived child and watches over him or her as they develop and grow. God creates us out of nothingness—out of the darkness—shapes us inside and out, and determines who we will be and how we will serve him, as well as our communities. For this reason, God knows everything about us and how to guide our lives toward fulfillment. This is why Satan has generated deception that has caused a desensitization regarding abortion and the very real injustice it inflicts upon the unborn. A society moved by true justice will form and enforce laws to protect the marginalized and oppressed, as well as the most vulnerable—the unborn—from violence and death.

Prayer: Lord, today, I pray for mercy, revelation, repentance, and the salvation of human hearts. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hebrews 6:13-20 TPT

God’s Faithful Promise
13 Now when God made a promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater than himself, he swore an oath on his own integrity to keep the promise as sure as God exists! 14 So he said,
“Have no doubt, I promise to bless you over and over,
    and give you a son and multiply you without measure!”

15 So Abraham waited patiently in faith and succeeded in seeing the promise fulfilled.

I just love the passage for today. God makes a faithful promise or oath to Abraham, as well as his descendants and seals it by swearing to the reputation of his own name. God is incapable of lying or not fulfilling his Word. What he says is Truth and he places his integrity on the line for generations of people to witness until Christ returns to set up his Kingdom on earth.

I am so grateful our pledge or oath of allegiance to the flag (to the Republic it represents) still bears the phrase “under God,” so as to remind us of the integrity of God. According to our passage, if we honor God’s ways, we can experience multiplied blessings based on his oath alone. When people take an oath of office it may include “so help me God,” but many states have asked for the phrase to be removed. It is perceived as specifically “religious” and therefore culturally divisive and offensive to some. The message of such an oath “so help me God” is to communicate a greater degree of seriousness and accountability in the performance of one’s duty; taking the oath before the One with flawless integrity who will one day serve as Judge. That does not seem religious to me, but of course the name of God is involved and instead of being viewed as the essential Creator, Savior, and Guide for humanity in every area of life, God is viewed by some as religious garnish.

The states that have removed the phrase “so help me God” prefer an affirmation “I swear” or “I affirm” which is only as valuable as the level of that person’s integrity; without the work and grace of God it is sinful and self-serving at best. I am waiting patiently to see how God is going to justify (prove) his perfect integrity to a country that was formed under his authority and yet has employed government leaders, judges, representatives, and lawmakers, as well as state and civic leaders and workers that devalue God’s Word or oath and reject his righteous Ways. I pray all the time for mercy and forgiveness, because I know one day we will all give an account for our allegiance, love, and devotion to God, as well as how our “deeds” to love our neighbors have actually aligned with his will. My duty is to vote; my name and integrity is on the line before Almighty God in that moment. Please pray for our country, leaders, representatives, officials, law enforcement and first responder heroes, and for people’s hardened and unbelieving hearts to be open to the goodness of Almighty God, his ways of love, and the blessings he has given his oath to extend to those who call upon his name.

Prayer: Lord, I take a deep breath today in your love, goodness, and the hope of my salvation found in Jesus Christ. Please guide me in the duties to which you have called me. Keep me accountable as I serve you and my neighbors. I pledge my life so help me God! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hebrews 2:1-4 (TPT)
A Warning Not to Drift from Truth
1 This is why it is so crucial that we be all the more engaged and attentive to the truths that we have heard so that we do not drift off course. 2 For if the message of the law spoken and confirmed by angels [who participated in giving of the Torah] brought a just penalty to every disobedient violation; 3 then how would we expect to escape punishment if we despise the very truths that give us life? The Lord himself was the first to announce these things, and those who heard him firsthand confirmed their accuracy. 4 Then God added his witness to theirs [disciples]. He validated their ministry with signs, astonishing wonders, all kinds of powerful miracles, and by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which he distributed as he desired.

The author of Hebrews set forth a series of warnings for the early church: 1) do not drift away from the truth of salvation (Heb. 2:1-4); 2) do not fail to enter the faith-rest life (Heb. 3:7-4:13); 3) do not diminish in your devotion to God throughout your earthly life (Heb. 5:11-6:12); 4) do not willfully sin after you know the truth (Heb. 10:23-39); 5) do not be surprised at God’s discipline (Heb. 12:1-17); and 6) do not close your heart against God’s voice (Heb. 12:25-29). Believers are to cling to and obey the truths found in God’s Word; otherwise, we may drift off course from the Truth of eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, to be adrift is to be neither moored or steered. I want you to be my Rock and my Captain, so I will remain attentive to the truths found in your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 13:10-13 (TPT)
10 Then his disciples approached Jesus and asked, “Why do you always speak to people in these hard-to-understand parables?”

11 He explained, “You’ve been given the intimate experience of insight into the hidden truths and mysteries [revelations into the nature and ways of God] of the realm of heaven’s kingdom, but they have not. 12 For everyone who listens with an open heart will receive progressively more revelation until he has more than enough.[habitually abounds with understanding] But those who don’t listen with an open, teachable heart, even the understanding that they think they have will be taken from them, 13 That’s why I teach the people using parables, because they think they’re looking for truth, yet because their hearts are unteachable, they never discover it. Although they will listen to me, they never fully perceive the message I speak.

As believers, we have been created to engage in the realm of the Spirit; learning to be led by indwelling Truth. That means we must get beyond a purely intellectual knowledge of God by opening our hearts to understanding his holy character and the nature of his righteous ways. The Word of God gives us a foundation of understanding that is spiritually essential; we learn how our holy God has interacted with his faithful, as well as faithless human creation in the past. We learn from the life of Christ how to abide with the Father and be led by the Spirit.

The Spirit makes faith in God practical for believers; we are invited to develop the fruit of the Spirit—experiential learning of God’s nature—so we can become aware of his power and indwelling presence to guide our lives. God is holy and he releases the revelation of his holiness to us as we are open to receive glimpses of his divine character and align our actions accordingly. Therefore, the first step is a biggie; we would have to confess we don’t know it all. If we have already made up our minds about who God is and how he is displayed in the world, then we may actually miss the greatest message of Truth and revelation he has for us in the Spirit. Well-meaning people may even distort his true message by calling good evil and evil good (Is. 5:20). Be determined to keep your heart open—humble and repentant—so you can engage and in the realm of the Spirit by living in Christ’s love. You will find and enjoy the reality of our glorious King and his Kingdom there.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the work of your Spirit in my life and thank you for helping me open my heart up to the revelations of your love and grace which surround me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ephesians 4:24-32
24 And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
28 Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work.
29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
30 Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Because of the work of the Holy Spirit in believers, we have learned Christ. In other words, we do not have to guess how God feels about things, we have God’s Voice speaking to us inwardly and witnessing to his will for our lives. Our part is to listen and obey. It truly is a new way to live. Before we invited Christ to enter our lives, we did what we thought was best, made sense, or what our flesh desired to do. Now, we belong to Christ, so we live by faith and according to the Spirit’s leading. Therefore, our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors will all be examined and sometimes challenged by the will of God. The Apostle Paul reminds us in our passage today how strongly God in us—Christ—feels about reflecting his character and integrity in the world. In the God-fashioned life, there is no room for lying, angry rage or revenge, stealing, foul or profane mouths, gossiping, spreading rumors, or unforgiveness. That really gives us a lot to consider, today, doesn’t it? May the Holy Spirit help us to be containers of his presence that actually reflect his heart and integrity.

Prayer: Lord, as your daughter, I am called to allow you and your beautiful Spirit of holiness to live out of my physical being. Help me to ponder these aspects in your Word today and grant me the grace and power to apply them according to your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.