Devotionals

December 26, 2019
Matthew 18:1-14 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Watching a child experience Christmas morning is captivating; they enjoy with great enthusiasm the wonder of giving and receiving. Less we forget, Father God is the ultimate Giver and we are to be the joyful receivers who learn from Him. In fact, when we are jubilant in our receiving from the Father, we have capture the heart of Kingdom living.

In our passage today, Jesus reminds the disciples of the importance of this child-like attitude of receiving from the Father. Note the posture of the receiver: accepting, teachable, and humble.

Matthew 18:1-14 Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom Realm?
18 At that time the disciples came to ask Jesus, “Who is considered to be the greatest in heaven’s kingdom realm?”

2 Jesus called a little one to his side and said to them, 3 “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in. 4 Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this gentle child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.

Prayer: Father, I open myself up to learn from you. Continue to teach me your Kingdom ways. You are my Lord and Master. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

December 25, 2019
Luke 2:14 The Voice (VOICE)

The Gift of the Christ—Messiah—is God’s greatest act of love for humanity. “For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life (John 3:16). Take this Truth into your soul (mind, will, emotions); in Christ, God has brought redemption into the world! Christ—God wrapped in human flesh—is our Creator AND our Redeemer. Redemption is the promise of God to save and deliver us from the power and presence of sin. The redemption of humanity is what brings the glory that is truly due to God!

It is Christmas, and your Gift awaits your response. Think about each day as a way to open the Perfect Gift and share Him with others. Live your life as a way to radiate God’s glory! Join with the heavenly choir this morning as we sing, “Glory to God in the highest!”

Luke 2:14
14 
Heavenly Choir: To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God!
    And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the greatest Gift—Jesus—I could ever receive. May my life bring you the glory you are truly due. I can only live in a way that pleases you through Messiah, so I choose to follow my Redeemer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Titus 3:4-7 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

I love the Christmas season; each year it captures my heart and takes me on a journey filled with joyful memories of worship celebrations and meaningful family get togethers. Our family gatherings have changed a great deal over the past ten years; many of our family members are already with Jesus. Others have moved away. Yet, Christmas remains my favorite holiday to celebrate. God’s gracious gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love still fill me with praise. The Christmas journey is a heart journey that is focused on the goodness of God and the Perfect Gift of his Son.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul calls us to remember the goodness and kindness of Almighty God. Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of the Christ—the Messiah. It is also a time to celebrate the new birth—yours and mine—in the Spirit who invites us to grow into the likeness of Christ. We start as a spiritual babe and, as we trust the work of the Spirit, we mature in grace and wisdom. The gift and work of the Spirit is to prepare us for eternal life. Merry Christmas!

Titus 3:4-7

4

God our Savior showed us

how good and kind he is.

5

He saved us because

of his mercy,

and not because

of any good things

that we have done.

God washed us by the power

of the Holy Spirit.

He gave us new birth

and a fresh beginning.

6

God sent Jesus Christ

our Savior

to give us his Spirit.

7

Jesus treated us much better

than we deserve.

He made us acceptable to God

and gave us the hope

of eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, today is Christmas Eve. Thank you for making my heart the manger for the Savior—the Spirit of Christ. Please continue to help me mature in grace and wisdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

December 23, 2019
Luke 1:46-55 New Living Translation (NLT)

Every day I praise the Lord, because I see just how blessed I am by God. He is good and his favor rests upon me to keep me encouraged and fulfilled as I seek to lovingly lead his people. I am surrounded by devoted followers of Christ and I have the privilege of sharing life with them. My life is not always easy, but I am always blessed. Many people think about the word “blessed” and connect it to a life of comfort, but in our passage today, Mary calls herself blessed and nothing about her situation is comfortable.

Many times our blessings come in the shape of a cross; we must bear the burden in the strength of God. But in that connection with God, we can trust and know the divine presence and gain a greater understanding of his perspective of love and life. Wherever you find yourself this Christmas, please let Mary’s song of praise encourage you. Take time to look for the blessings in your life and praise God for them.

Luke 1:46-55The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise
46 Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47 
    How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 
For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.
50 
He shows mercy from generation to generation
    to all who fear him.
51 
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
    He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 
He has brought down princes from their thrones
    and exalted the humble.
53 
He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 
He has helped his servant Israel
    and remembered to be merciful.
55 
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and his children forever.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking notice of my heart and blessing me. I praise you for your goodness; I thank you for your mercy and strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Galatians 4:4-7 CEV

Today, I found the need to run errands and throughout my journey I spent quite a bit of time waiting. I waited to make left turns. I waited for appointments. I waited in lines to purchase supplies. Wait, wait, wait…it seems to go with the season.

Long ago, people walked in the darkness waiting for the Light of the world to arrive. At the appointed time—when the time was right—God sent his Son. Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the arrival of Immanuel—God with us! Now, we no longer have to live in the darkness; we can live in the Light that leads to abundant Life with Father. Blessings for your weekend.

Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, 5 so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God’s children. 6 Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. 7 You are no longer slaves. You are God’s children, and you will be given what he has promised.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the life you bring each day; a beautiful reminder of your perfect timing. Thank you for being with me, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Galatians 3:23-29 The Voice (VOICE)

Yesterday, we shared a mission outreach to the residents at Oak Tree ALF. It was such a special time. They were so very appreciative of the gifts we brought, the refreshments we served, and the songs we shared to celebrate Christmas with them. Our gifts were socks and slippers. We had to do a little shuffling with sizes, but eventually I think everyone received a pair of slippers and socks that fit him or her. Getting the right size is important; enclosed toe and heel slippers must fit each individual’s feet.

Salvation is one gift that fits every believer; one size fits all hearts. To be saved means to be born from above—to make room in our hearts for the Anointed One. To be born from above is to be spiritually transformed and set apart for God’s purposes as his children. Therefore, we take on Christ’s characteristics and values with our lives. At Christmas, we tend to focus on tangible gifts, but the best gift you can give your friends and loved ones is Christ in you. Love them the way Christ loves you. Treat them with kindness and patience as you share time. Forgive others who have hurt you; honestly, forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. Be subject to His power, because Christ wants to touch other lives through you and he values people and relationships.

Galatians 3:23-29

23 Before faith came on the scene, the law did its best to keep us in line, restraining us until the faith that was to come was fully revealed. 24 So then, the law was like a tutor, assigned to train us and point us to the Anointed, so that we will be acquitted of all wrong and made right by faith. 25 But now that true faith has come, we have no need for a tutor. 26 It is your faith in the Anointed Jesus that makes all of you children of God 27 because all of you who have been initiated into the Anointed One through the ceremonial washing of baptism have put Him on. 28 It makes no difference whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a freeman, a man or a woman, because in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, you are all one. 29 Since you belong to Him and are now subject to His power, you are the descendant of Abraham and the heir of God’s glory according to the promise.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the generous love and kindness you always extend to me. In fact, the love and kindness you give me is always the perfect fit. Your saving care is the answer to my longing heart this Christmas. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 8:14-17 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Touch is a powerful gift from God. We send and receive messages and meaning through touch; therefore, it is a form of language. God made us to respond to his powerful touch, as well as to respond to the emotional and physical touch of loved ones. I tend to be a hugging person, but I realize and respect the fact that some people might not feel the same way. Sometimes just taking a person’s hand and praying for them is the perfect message that initiates healing.

During his first advent—when Christ came and took on human flesh—he touched people and they received all kinds of messages and healing miracles during his ministry. In our passage today, Jesus takes Peter’s mother-in-law by the hand and instantly she is made well. If you need a touch from Jesus today, just ask him. Each week during prayer I ask Jesus to give me a hug. Touch speaks to my heart and gets me ready to reach out to touch the lives of others. Jesus is the Healer and he does that through touch. Let him touch you!

Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus Heals Many People

14 Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. 15 He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal.

16 That evening many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus. And with only a word he forced out the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick. 17 So God’s promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,

“He healed our diseases and made us well.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power of touch. Please continue to touch my soul and leave me well. May I experience the power of your loving hug and touch every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jude 17-25 The Voice (VOICE)

Are you quick to protect that which you treasure most? As a Christ follower, I understand the opposition that will come into my life because I have chosen to live and teach God’s Word as the standard of Love and Truth. The Holy Spirit is my Protector; therefore, I seek to guard the work of the Spirit in me. The enemy does not want me to focus on the Spirit of Truth or the power that God has offered to deliver me from evil. If you are a follower, you understand that to be true of your life, as well. Therefore, we have to contend for the faith against the opposition of the darkness that tries to overtake the Light or Truth. We must live in harmony with God’s plan and obedience with how God has designed it to manifest in our lives. Protecting God’s Truth is our greatest act of obedience. What we value most, we guard, right?

In our passage today, we are encouraged by Jude—brother of Jesus and James—to remain vigilant in our faith; it is the Christian duty because we have committed our lives to the Son of God. In one short letter Jude exposes the work of false teachers trying to deceive people by telling them Christ’s followers can live any way they want in their flesh without fear of God’s punishment. Therefore, divisions start popping up all over the place. Jude stands to protect the Truth in that place. I encourage you to focus on the Truth, guard the work of the Spirit in you, and give no power to the darkness.

Jude 17-25

17 But you, friends, remember the words of the emissaries[a] of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King: 18 “At the end of time, some will ridicule the faithful and follow their lusts to the grave.” 19 These are the men among you—those who divide friends, those concerned ultimately with this world, those without the Spirit. 20-21 You, however, should stand firm in the love of God, constructing a life within the holy faith, praying the Spirit’s prayer, as you wait eagerly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, which leads to eternal life.

22 Keep being kind to those who waver in this faith. 23 Pursue those who are singed by the flames of God’s wrath, and bring them safely to Him. Show mercy to others with fear, despising every garment soiled by the weakness of human flesh.

24 Now to the One who can keep you upright and plant you firmly in His presence—clean, unmarked, and joyful in the light of His glory— 25 to the one and only God, our Savior, through Jesus the Anointed our Lord, be glory and greatness and might and authority; just as it has been since before He created time, may it continue now and into eternity. Amen.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this wisdom from Jude, today. Help me to focus on and exalt the Truth of your Love you have placed around me each day. I want to starve the darkness that tries to consume my faith by remaining in your Joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Isaiah 29:17-21 New Life Version

In his prophetic word from the Lord, Isaiah describes the new world God will create for his people. It will be a world that is entirely different than the world in which we live now. Violence and hatred will have no place in God’s Kingdom. In fact, the new world will reveal the joy, compassion, and justice of God. It will be governed by his flawless and perfect character of love. The focus for everyone will be upon Jesus the Light of Truth and every knee will bow to worship him.

In my study today, I am reminded that God is always seeking to bring justice. He knows all about the wrong things that have happened to us because of the work of evil. He is not unaware and one day he will deal with it; he will right every wrong. I am not sure how he plans to do that, but I look forward to the day when evil has been destroyed and Truth enthroned.

Isaiah 29:17-21

18 In that day those who cannot hear will hear the words of a book. And the eyes of the blind will see out of the darkness. 19 Those who have suffered will be happier in the Lord. Those who are in need will have joy in the Holy One of Israel. 20 For those who show no pity will come to an end. And those who laugh at the truth will be stopped. All who want to be sinful will be cut off. 21 Those who say something to make a man seem to be in the wrong, and who trap the one who acts as a judge at the gate, and who tell lies to cause a good man to be punished, will be cut off.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the justice you have extended to me in Christ Jesus. You have saved me from the penalty of my own sin. I know one day, you will provide a world that is fueled by joy. It will be so amazing! Thank you for your plan. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 Peter 3:11-18 The Message (MSG)

The other night John and I drove and took friends to a Christmas Dinner Party in downtown St. Petersburg. John was driving and I was sitting way in the back to accommodate our guests (our SUV has three rows of seats). Sadly, many times when I sit in the back of a vehicle I suffer with motion sickness. So, I asked John to drive very carefully; no quick movements, turns, or sudden stops (lol…miracles do happen!). Anyway, I was determined to pray and keep looking forward. He said, “Mar, I may not be aware. How will I know if you start getting sick due to my driving? Give me a secret phrase, so we will not concern our friends.” I said, “Ok. I will say, ‘Did you see that?’”

As I sit here studying our passage this morning, I am reminded how many times in our sin-sick world the Lord places things before His creation as a way to say, “Did you see that?” In other words, God is always working to get our attention to the signs of the time and the sickness of the human soul apart from the work of Christ. We must not allow the sickness of the world to overpower or misdirect us; keep looking in the direction of the Word. Wake up! If your focus each day is on Christ, you are going to be looking in the opposite direction the unbelieving world is looking. What is important to you doesn’t make the list of unbelievers. In fact, devoted believers will be hope-filled, peace-living, joy-driven people whom the unredeemed, angry, and flesh-driven world cannot comprehend. Never forget, the things of the flesh are opposed to the things of the Spirit (Gal. 5:17). Jesus is behind the wheel and is driving on the journey through this sick world and we are going to be experiencing all kinds of things—pressure will build as he reshapes his children in the image of Christ and works to bring salvation to the whole world. But, stay obedient to the Word and keep looking for Jesus, because you are going to see some amazing miracles as promised by God.

2 Peter 3:11-18

11-13 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

Prayer: Lord, this is such an amazing time to be alive and I thank you for the promises you have given that keeps me moving forward with hope, peace, and joy in your love. You are so good! In Jesus’ name. Amen.