Devotionals

November 27, 2018

Revelation 11:15-19 Good News Translation (GNT)

Scripture teaches when the seventh trumpet sounds it signals the arrival of the King of kings and the Lord of lords; the Son of God our Jesus Messiah.  He is coming back to earth to rule forever.  Once that trumpet sounds there is no turning back; at that point judgment will have arrived and evil will have no escape.  For the people who have declared their need for Messiah to cover their sin, they will be rewarded for their love and reverence of the Lord with eternal life in God’s presence.  Obedience to God’s Word is His provision to protect us from the effects of divine wrath against evil.

God has revealed his plan in advance so humanity could get ready for his return and reign.  Are you ready?  Evil and sin will be destroyed and those who partake of it—who connect to and live out the very things God has forbidden—will not survive the wrath of God who will take down evil in every form.  If you haven’t already done so, ask Jesus to cover your sin and then turn to live in obedience to God’s Word.  It is the Good News! 

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November 26, 2018

Revelation 11:1-14 The Message The Two Witnesses

God promises “spiritual protection” to those in his church (believers) who seek to faithfully abide and obey his Word; God will spiritually protect his own during times of persecution. Evil will come to an end, but until it does God will take care of those who call on the name of the Lord.  He has given his Word. 

In our passage today from the prophetic Book of Revelation, the Apostle John has a vision of the passion and power of God to save the world.  God provides two witnesses to speak truth to the people outside the spiritually protected church; God does not give up on getting the Truth to humanity.  God desires that no one would perish, but all would come to the saving knowledge of the Lord.  Yet, notice humanity’s reaction to the witnesses who speak only what God tells them to speak; truth of God’s love and the need for repentance or turning from sin.  The people are miserable, they cannot enjoy their sin when these two are speaking.  The Word pricks their conscience and the unbelievers don’t like it. People actually celebrate the death of these two prophets, so they don’t have to listen anymore to the truth.  Could human hearts be so harden against God?  The Bible teaches when human hearts are hardened, God allows the stubborn to face the consequences of their sin without his spiritual protection.

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November 23, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:20-28 New Living Translation (NLT)

We must all be wise and diligent in getting ready for the Second Coming of Christ.  When Christ returns we will be raised to life the way he has been raised to life.  In our passage today, we are reminded when Christ returns he is coming to destroy every power and source that opposes God’s Kingdom reign; therefore, Christ will bring every opposing spirit under his authority,  Jesus is not only Good News…he is Lord!

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November 22, 2018

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Because of Jesus we are invited to live the resurrected life; I don’t know about you, but this understanding fills me with joy unspeakable.  There is nothing for which I am more grateful than being able to respond to God’s giving of his Son so I can live, move, and have my being in Christ.  In Christ, I have an amazing family, friends, spiritual brothers and sisters who live life with me and teach me more about the Lord.

As you spend time celebrating the holiday called “Thanksgiving” please remember to be filled with joy, pray for God’s will in your life, and give thanks for all he has done, is doing, and will do to get you ready to bring him glory. Happy Thanksgiving for Joyful Thanks Living!  Blessings!

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November 20, 2018

Hebrews 10:32-39 New Living Translation (NLT)

Are you focused on what is truly important in life?  If we are going to operate in wisdom, we must stay focused on Truth.  The Word of God is Living Truth and the Spirit bears witness to the Truth when we hear or read it so we can wisely align our lives with it.  

The Book of Hebrews focuses on persevering in our Christian faith, as well as being transformed in our actions as we patiently wait for Christ’s return.  Everyone faces suffering, but how we suffer has to do with our faith and our focus.  Do you realize suffering is a part of human life and even Christians experience seasons of suffering? That’s why God helps us develop perseverance.   If we will focus on doing God’s will, stay connected to people who live in Christ, and remain filled with joy and gratitude for the good things God has done for us, then no matter what comes our way we can persevere in our faith.  For those who do not remain focused on Christ and his promise of salvation, they can find themselves isolated and their faith faltering.  Faith calls us to rest confidently in what Christ has done for us in the past, as well as trusting him for what he promises to do for us in the future.  He is faithful; we must be faithful too.

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November 19, 2018

Hebrews 10:26-31 Good News Translation

The truth of God’s love has been made know through the Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. The same love and power that forgives our sin through the righteous blood of Jesus is the same love and power that delivers and helps us grow beyond any sin that tries to keep us enslaved.  If we resist the grace that tries to separate us from sin, then we are opposing God.  We must offer ourselves as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God; we must chose to follow Christ into a deeper level of freedom.  Scripture teaches if we will judge ourselves, we will not be judge by God.  So, evaluate your heart and invite God to continue to pour his grace into your life so you can go into the future with “Thanks Living.”

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November 16, 2018

Colossians 2:6-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

According to our Scripture passage today, every time we follow Christ beyond the cross into “eternal living” our faith in Christ is grown and our trust expanded.  It is difficult to take those steps to follow Christ, because all of our emotions which are motivated many times by fear, come to make us feel the only safe place is what “feels” good to our flesh.  But what if our finest blessings and experiences lie beyond the fears that seek to stop us?  What if God is asking us to live beyond the fears in order to root our faith more fully in the Truth of who we really are now in Christ?  

We must get to the point where we wisely discern that God is Agape and Wisdom and the very things we have known in our human comfort zones is not necessary the Truth.  God is always wanting to give His children more glimpses of pure Truth; however, it takes obedience to follow and a heart that is hungry to discover the Truth about ourselves.   Do you think if we really believed God has only Good and Holy things for us that make us more authentic to who he created us to be, that we would stop fighting against where he wants to lead us?  How are we ever going to know how much work Christ has done inwardly in our lives until he releases it and reveals it outwardly as we follow? We must live “on earth as it is in heaven.”  Blessings for your weekend in Christ!

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November 15, 2018

Psalm 16 The Wisest Decision

David made a life time commitment to the Lord and in our psalm today, he describes the benefits of that decision that brought him peace and joy.    The fullness of God’s presence found in David’s commitment sustained him in this life and brought him hope for eternity.  The world brings fleeting pleasures, but at the righteous hand of God, we can know true and lasting pleasure as he takes us from being a refuge to making us an heir in Christ Jesus.  Jesus never promised his followers a trouble free life; rather, he promised to always be with us and to guide our paths.   Pray for God to make you hungry for eternal pleasures and fill you with heavenly joy as you trust him with your life.

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November 14, 2018

Luke 4:16-21 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus—wisdom incarnate—understood his Spirit-driven purpose to bring Good News. Do you know every day your purpose is to share the Good News with others in your sphere of influence? It’s true. The Spirit of Christ—who lives in you—wants to continue his purpose of connecting with the spiritually poor; bringing sight, relief, and freedom to the spiritually blind, wounded and oppressed, because God’s favor and wisdom awaits those who will turn to him. Jesus, the Light of the World, wants to shine a Light of Truth through you for the sake of others to give their life purpose, too. Favor comes to those who live with purpose!

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November 13, 2018

Psalm 113 New Living Translation (NLT)

When you think about your life and expressing gratitude, how far or high do you need to look in order to find a reason to be thankful?  If we are simply looking directly in front of us or to our immediate right or left, we may have difficulty seeing beyond the challenging situations or circumstances surrounding us.  We may have passed through some great things in the past for which we are grateful, but God is a very present help in time of need.  We cannot live in the past even though we can be thankful for God’s goodness years ago.  Where do you see him working in your life today?  How is the Lord revealing his glory in your life now? Pause and Ponder…then, Praise!

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