Devotionals

March 11, 2019

1 John 2:1-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

Today is the fifth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God.  A Kingdom heart grows through obedience to God’s Word and by following Christ’s way of living.  

Salvation is for the world, but each individual must, by faith, accept the work of grace. The Father desires a relationship with every follower of Christ; he connects in order to have fellowship and bring salvation to human hearts.  In our passage, today, the Apostle John teaches who God is and how he expects his children to live.  He cautions those listening to run from anything that would break fellowship with God. The Apostle John speaks as a loving teacher to his disciples.  He encourages them not to sin. Truth:  We have a way to stay in right fellowship with the Father.

Christ calls us to live in the truth and be obedient to follow him, but sometimes our steps are wayward.  John comes along to tell these Christ followers they cannot lose their fellowship or salvation with God, because they have an Advocate who intercedes for them with the Father. Sin hinders us, but Jesus has made a way for us to regain that fellowship through repentance of sin.  As we are forgiven we must grow from that place to overcome the sin that previously so easily hindered us.  Mature love for God manifests in obedience. Obedience measures our faithfulness and the truly faithful bear the Kingdom fruit of righteousness.  The mature, obedient, and faithful to the will of God are the ones who “know” God.  If we are going to “know” God, it means we have to take up our cross and follow Jesus.  Truth:  We must reflect on and examine our level of obedience.  Love for God and his rule over our attitudes and actions, as well as love for others will mark our lives.

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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March 9, 2019

John 12:27-36 New Living Translation (NLT)

Today is the fourth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God.  A Kingdom heart is fashioned by a deep respect and gratitude for our Creator.  God is Light and in him is no darkness. Christ is the Light we all need to fulfill the Father’s purpose; so we must connect to Christ.  God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of his Son (Colossians 1:13).  Therefore, we must also follow Christ.  Be aware, we do not habitually practice what the Word calls sin; otherwise, we are living in the dominion of darkness.

If we are truly following Christ, we are living a life of continual confession of sin; even as children of the Light we still sin and need forgiveness.  Selfishness and worldliness can gain the upper hand if we open the door with our flesh.  Walking in the Light is walking in fellowship with God and loving others especially fellow believers. The Spirit of Truth convicts us when we have failed to love as God requires and our response should be repentance.  If we confess our sin, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  True Christianity is about partaking of the ongoing cleansing blood of Jesus, as we recenter our hearts before him according to his Word. 

In our passage, Jesus accepts the pain God allows to his flesh in order to fulfill the Father’s purpose.  Many days we just want to handle the next task, seek fleshly pleasure, and certainly avoid pain to our flesh at all costs.  When God cleanses us—does sin surgery—it is painful for a while, but it leaves room for Kingdom rewards.  Therefore, the question before us today in light of this Word… “Will we invite the Light of the World to shine Truth upon any sin in our flesh, repent, and allow God to cleanse us, so we can continue our journey to become authentic children of Light?  

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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March 8, 2019

Psalm 91:14-16 Contemporary English Version

Today is the third day of our 40 Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. We pursue God’s presence and enjoy time with him; we learn from his wisdom and gain valuable insights and revelations.  Having a Kingdom heart brings an attitude of surrender before the Lord.  So, today reflect on this question, “Do you perceive God as your Righteous Rescuer?”

Scripture teaches the Lord will deliver his children from every evil attack and will bring us safely into his heavenly Kingdom (2 Tim 4:18).  He is the Righteous Rescuer.  Our part is to stay close to him; to connect, attach, or bind ourselves to him.  In this connected place, we know the heart of God experientially. In other words, because of our connection in Christ we have heart knowledge of God.  This becomes a place of intimacy between God and each individual; a place of deep trust and devotion to the truth of God’s love for his creation. Has God ever pulled you from a difficult or even dangerous situation?  Or, maybe God has rescued you by providing the resources you needed to get beyond a difficult situation?  However he has chosen to rescue you in the past, it has been to reveal his unfailing love for you and to call you into a greater measure of trust and protection.

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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March 7, 2019

Psalm 91:1-2 Contemporary English Version

Today is the second day of our 40 Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Remember, Lent is a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God.  Having a Kingdom heart is an attitude of surrender before our All-Powerful God. In our surrender, we seek the Kingdom of eternal life and fellowship with the loving Lord; we should wisely bring our lives under his care because nothing is impossible with God.

Whether we are aware of it or not, we all need a solid foundation for our lives.  Life brings along many unknowns which can threaten our faith, scatter our relationships, and unsettle our confident hope that we will find a place of safety for our hearts and lives again.  Many times our first response is to foolishly scurry and gain control of our unraveling circumstances, rather than seek the solid rock and fortress of the Lord to ask for help.  Nothing is too difficult for God; he is awesome in his love for his children.  From the beginning, humanity was created to live under the Lord’s care and protection; yet, thousands of years later humanity still chooses to exalt self-preservation and fail. 

Our God is All-Powerful (1 Cor 1:24).  There are two things to keep in mind when surrendering to the power of God and pressing in to ask for his will to manifest in our earthly lives.  First, God’s focus for us will be entirely consistent with his perfect character.  He will bring good things to pass and provide a righteous way for us to portray the attitude, wisdom, and heart of Christ, so we can live as Christ’s examples in a fallen world.  Second, as the All-Powerful, everything he desires to do in our lives can be carried out.  He will accomplish everything he sets out to do in our behalf.  As people watch our lives, they should be aware of the presence of the Lord with us.  

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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March 6, 2019

Joel 2:12-17 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Today is the first day of our 40 Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent is a perfect time for prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration.  Authentic reflection calls for a shift in our perspective; to honestly evaluate how near we are to God. He hasn’t moved away from us, but perhaps we have moved away from him. The Lord must always have first place in our hearts; we are to have no other gods before him. Every day the enemy distracts us with “other gods” seeking to move God out of his rightful place in our lives. As well, we can bring along a stubborn will and flesh filled with lousy priorities, careless choices, and unbiblical lifestyles that try to usurp God’s authority to direct our paths. We must draw near to God in prayer and seek him with all of our hearts. No half-hearted measures will do. God desires to pour himself entirely into a relationship with us; so our response should be to give ourselves entirely to him in return.

Our passage today is from the Old Testament book of Joel; he served as a prophet of the Lord following the Babylonian captivity around 538BC. God’s people had allowed things to enter their lives; things that separated them from God.  The all-knowing God was waiting for his people to return.  Now, to avoid judgment, the people needed to embrace change. Prayer would bring that change. Joel told the people to place their hope for restoration in the Lord. Hope was possible because of God’s steadfast love and generous mercy. Joel called people to repent and encouraged them to ask the Lord for relief.  

As Joel called God’s people to pay attention to their lives; today, I call us to do the same. During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart. P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield. May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.  

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March 5, 2019

Acts 10:23-33 Good News Translation (GNT)

When it comes to our relationship with God, there is always going to be room to grow and receive more. God is limitless in supply and love. In our passage today, Cornelius is hungry for more of God, but he does not really understand the work of faith, the supply of grace, or how to be filled. Charity and giving to others has been Cornelius’ focus, but now God is directing his attention toward a personal relationship of power from the inside out. Peter has a personal relationship with Christ and God is setting him up to share about it with hungry souls. The connection between Peter and Cornelius all began with prayer.

People around you need to know a personal and loving God; the God you serve and love. If people do not know Christ, nor have received him into their hearts, they are hungry for something they have not identified. So, pray and make yourself available to God then turn and help others put the pieces together and make the connection.

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March 4, 2019

Acts 10:9-23 Good News Translation (GNT)

The longer I walk through life with Jesus, the more aware I am that his plan for me—and all the connections with others he has for me to make while in this world—comes together precisely at his appointed time. It is really quite exciting; only God could line everything up so perfectly.  Of course, individually and collectively we must be in step with the Spirit.

Peter is filled with the Spirit, but he drags along some religious misconceptions.  God has a plan to change Peter, so he can embrace a Kingdom mindset.  Peter goes to a high place—the rooftop—to pray.  God uses Peter’s hunger to teach him something about his present level of spiritual understanding, as well as God’s heart and plan for salvation.  While Peter is praying, the Lord releases a vision.  Much of that vision doesn’t make sense to Peter until the Lord brings in the next step…a connection to Captain Cornelius.  Peter is a Jew and he truly believes the gentiles are unclean, but God instructs Peter to the contrary.  Like Peter, we must embrace God’s Word as Truth and adjust our lives accordingly.  God wants to redeem the whole world; he is ready to make any willing heart clean.

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March 1, 2019

Acts 10:1-8 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Cornelius is a Roman military leader on assignment from his headquarters in Rome; soon he will return to Rome.   He is noted as a generous man who believes in God; he guides his family to do the same.  Cornelius faithfully practices his faith by praying to God; his prayers are sincere.  Then one day everything changes.  The Lord communicates back to Cornelius through a vision, calls him by name, and gives him specific “marching orders.”   This is a huge change in the prayer life of Cornelius!  What is his response?  Obedience to God’s Word. The results of Cornelius’ obedience is the gospel will spread to the empire’s capital city.

Praying to God is a wonderful act of reverence and respect.  Seeking, communing, conversing with the living Christ is a whole new level. Cornelius has a religious practice, but he realizes this day—a day of conversion—that Christ is real, alive, and with him.  Does God want to speak with you in Christ?  Yes.  Yes he does.  When he does, will you be obedient like Cornelius?

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February 28, 2019

Psalm 99:1-5  Contemporary English Version (CEV)

To be Christ followers is to acknowledge God has a claim on our lives and we are to live under his authority and leadership.  It is no longer about living according to the dictates of our flesh; it is about living under the authority of God’s Word.  He alone is fair and just; he shows no favoritism. Sometimes we think God doesn’t care about our thoughts, desires, or what would make us “happy;” but that is a false perception.  He loves us and knows more about our selfish and corrupt flesh than we do.  If the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, it is because God sees the harm that sin can do.  He knows all things.  He is gentle, kind, and the Spirit’s work is to connect us in his perfect shalom.

In our passage today, the psalmist reminds us about God’s greatness, mercy, and might.  Our response should be “Yes” and “Amen” to that truth.  God is great, full of mercy, and brings his might to help us live each day.  Praise for the Lord should continually flow from our lips.  Charles H. Spurgeon once said, “It ought to be our daily delight to magnify so good and great a God.”

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February 27, 2019

Luke 17:1-4 The Message

In our lesson today, Jesus is teaching the disciples about sin and their need to live as examples, as well as, their need to forgive others.  We live in a fallen world and sin is a part of human nature.  We tend to think about sin being an individual matter, but that is rarely the case.  Think about Adam and Eve.  Scripture teaches Eve was deceived and sinned, but Adam did not stay the course to obey God and sinned, as well.  Bottom line, as believers we do not want to be the ones tempting or causing another child of God to sin.

Do you struggle forgiving fellow believers who repeatedly hurt you?  We must forgive personal offenses; it is a part of Kingdom living.  In fact, we may have to forgive the offending brother or sister multiple times.  Therefore, forgiveness is granted by faith. Forgiveness is a holy act; when we forgive and move on we are the most like Christ.  When we have truly forgiven someone, we ceased to discuss it with others or mentally entertain it further.  Otherwise, we sin before God, too, because we say we have forgiven and our mouths prove otherwise.  This makes us hypocrites.

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