Devotionals

September 28, 2018

Matthew 5:17-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

Last month, our LIFE Lesson Study was based on the foundational principles written in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. In his sermon, Jesus got very specific about the reasons he left heaven for his First Coming: to accomplish the purpose of the Law and prophetic writings.  In other words, Jesus lived without sinning and he fulfilled the Law with his life.  No one had been able to live a sinless life, as commanded by God, before the coming of Jesus Christ.  As well, Jesus fulfilled the writings of the prophets because they spoke of God sending a Messiah who would come and lay down his sinless life and take upon himself the sins of the world. By believing Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and the prophetic writings, we connect to Christ, receive forgiveness of sin, and enjoy a relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Now, Christ in us becomes the teacher of God’s heart regarding the Law and prophecy. Because of Jesus, we can know the heart of God, his purpose for our lives, and have the power to actually live for him.  Righteousness is spiritually imparted (begins invisible) by Christ and is worked out to be seen (made visible) in our daily lives.  As Christians, we are the visible manifestations of the difference the invisible God has made and continues to make in us.  So, according to Jesus, it isn’t enough to just receive his righteousness and talk about faith in God; although that is good.  If we are really going to live for Christ’s purpose in us, we must live what we say we believe every day so our lives will teach others about the presence of God in us.  It is how Jesus lived for our benefit.  Will we allow the Spirit to help us live the same way for the benefit of others?

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September 27, 2018

Psalm 19:7-14 The Message (MSG)

I love and enjoy people.  So many people around me bring good things to my life. I value people and their life lessons.  As I connect with them, I look for glimpses of the goodness of God evident in their lives.  People who have welcomed the Lord usually welcome all that God is as the Most High.  They give God the glory for all things.

Truly, God brings amazing blessings to human life.  Our part is to welcome him into our hearts, so those blessings are worked out in our daily lives.  In our reading today from the Psalter, we are reminded of the blessings and the benefits the presence of the Lord brings as a free gift just because he makes his home within us.  Some of those blessings that can be enjoyed in Christ are wholeness, righteousness, joy, and direction.  Some of the benefits are known as we cry out in prayer and he becomes our Protector, Provider, Savior, and Deliverer.  Do you know Christ, the Anointed One?  Even if you have never acknowledged him, he knows you!  Pray and ask him to make his home in your heart, today.

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September 26, 2018

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 The Message (MSG)

Over the past few weeks, we have been studying what God’s Word says about wisdom.  We have been challenge about the words that pour forth from our mouths: what we say, how we say it, and to whom we say it.  Communication is a huge gift from the Lord and our mouths have to come under the obedience of God just like every other part of our being in order to use our speech for the glory of God.  Our words are indicative of the purity of our hearts and the depth our character. Jesus, the Living Word, has been made Wisdom for us and we live in him.  Therefore, God’s wisdom should be reflected in and through our words; otherwise, we have engaged in foolish gabble.    

In our wisdom literature reading this morning, we are reminded God is in charge of all things and he wants to be in charge of our entire being.  He is true to his word.  Scripture teaches the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10).  So, if we want a transformed mouth, the answer lies in the fear of the Lord (awe for his majesty, love for him as our Father, and respect for his authority to correct us).

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September 25, 2018

Proverbs 27:17-21 New Living Translation (NLT)

Character plays a huge role in God’s idea of success and that reality motivated my father and mother.  I was blessed with parents who continually pointed at my responsibility to respect God, others, and myself when it came to success.  We need to include ourselves in that respect line up, because if we disrespect ourselves with how we live we can never get away from ourselves, can we?  You and I can accomplish all kinds of things the world may deem successful, but if we do not develop the right attitudes and character, we can find ourselves filled with lust, greed, pride, and arrogance which snuff the spiritual light and life out of us.

In our proverb today, we are reminded about the need for integrity and great character as an essential  portion of what God calls success.  Praise reveals a lot about our character; it works in our souls like high temperatures test metal.  Do we work just to get praise?  Is that our attitude and goal for success?  When people around us praise everything we do is that the only time we feel good inside?  If we try our hardest and no one praises us do we still feel successful? To grow in true personal success, we must ask ourselves: 1) “why” we do the things we do; 2) “what” we care most about in life; and 3) “where” we want to lead other people by our words and actions.

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September 24, 2018

James 4:8-17  New Living Translation (NLT)

God is calling his children toward holiness; he is getting us ready for his second coming.  We can judge ourselves and submit to his purification process, or we can wait for God to judge us and purify us then. According to God, it is an easier path and pleases God for us to submit and draw close to him now.   If we are going to embrace God’s plan as his children, we are going to need to stay on the path with his instructions and welcome the purification process as he deems necessary.  He is the only one who can make us holy, because he is holy.  

In our passage today, the Apostle James is calling for the people of God to stop being divided in how they are living.  They have allowed the world and their flesh to tempt them and cause them to deviate from their devotion to God. In true fashion, we like to look at the lives of others so we can say we are more holy than “that person.”  But, judging another person is not our job.  So, if we are inclined to judge others, we should stop, get out the duct tape, put it over our mouths, and bow our own lives before God.  Keeping track of our own sins and repenting is enough work to keep us busy. Amen?

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September 21, 2018

Romans 11:25-32 The Message (MSG)

In God’s economy of love, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord benefits.  God loves everyone so he opens the door for relationship and everyone who reaches for God experiences that love.  It’s really a win-win, because God extends love and receives love as we receive love and return love.  

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is sharing about Israel—the people of God—and their future since many Jews rejected their Messiah in his first coming.  Can there still be a win-win?  Can Gentiles and Jews find themselves being loved by a holy God even though at one time we were both outside of his love?   According to Scripture, God has the final say over all creation.  He has declared to be faithful to his “oldest friends.”

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September 20, 2018

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

In yesterday’s devotion, we were reminded of two kinds of wisdom:  heavenly and earthly. According to James, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere” (3:17). 

In our lesson today, the Apostle Paul—who had a dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the Road to Damascus—was sharing his story with others in Corinth about Jesus.  Greek culture valued earthly wisdom, so those listening to Paul wanted to argue point by point with the purpose of pridefully proving him wrong.  Paul let these folks know he did not base his words on earthly wisdom and rhetoric; rather, his words of wisdom were heavenly empowered by the Spirit of truth who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  No argument could refute Paul’s experience with Christ; it happened (truth) and it changed Paul’s whole mindset and direction for life.  Earthly wisdom had nothing to do with it and deserves no credit according to Paul. Heavenly wisdom is imparted through faith in Christ.

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September 19, 2018

Proverbs 29:15-20 The Message (MSG)

There are two kinds of wisdom: earthly and heavenly.  Heavenly wisdom is essential to spiritual victory.  We are to allow heavenly wisdom to guide all of our paths and when we do so God leads us into spiritual success in His shalom.  God has promised to never leave us or forsake us, so the presence of the Spirit of Christ must speak and we must listen.  

Wisdom grows as we allow God’s Word to correct us in order to transform our souls (mind, will, emotion) and reestablish our lives according to God’s plumbline who is Jesus Christ.  It means discipline and that is never really enjoyable.  However, when we allow God to correct us we become so much stronger.  Then, it becomes easier for others to see Christ as the standard to which we have chosen to connect. Our part is to pause long enough to gain God’s will and then do the next thing He asks of us.  

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September 18, 2018

Colossians 3:1-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

When I was a child, I loved playing the game hide and seek.  I was petite for my age, so I could find some great places to hide until I wanted to be found.  Sometimes spiritual things are hidden or veiled. God is all about order and timing; until his appointed time arrives some things remain hidden no matter how diligent we seek. 

According to Scripture, our lives in Christ are somewhat hidden from the world until God decides the time to reveal him in us.  Can you imagine what that appointed time will be like?  In a twinkling of an eye to be found in the complete likeness of Jesus!  It will be revealed that Christ is tabernacling or inhabiting us.  Until that day, while we are hidden in Christ, we must allow the work of the Spirit to transform us from the inside out for the new life; to give us new desires as we put to death our old way of living. Everyone who believes in the work of Christ’s redeeming love is on this hidden journey and seeks to be found living the new life.  Christ is the Master of this spiritual hide and seek.  I am ready to be found…are you?

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September 17, 2018

Proverbs 22:1-21 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Book of Proverbs shares practical snippets of wisdom for living; that wisdom is usually contrasted with a foolish way to live. We can choose to live wisely or foolishly. For those who desire to serve God and live in fellowship with him, we seek to follow the righteous path vs. the foolish path. Yet, we cannot do that in our own strength or righteousness.  Good behavior alone does not bring salvation; belief in Christ brings salvation and a desire to please God.

God desires for us to have a pure heart before him and Jesus brings deliverance and forgiveness; we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s pure requirements. Our sin has caused us to be separated from God.  Jesus is the Savior who died for humanity and paid the price for our sin-filled lives, so we could re-connect with the Father.  The blood of Jesus makes spiritual purity possible and obedience to God’s Word keeps our hearts tender and ready for the change new life in Christ requires.  To stay on the righteous path, we must be willing to allow the work of the Spirit to bring transformation to how we think, how we speak, and how we act.  Because of Jesus, we can enjoy life with God; the way we were originally created to live before human sin.  So, practice wisdom and follow the Lord with your life.

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