Devotionals

July 3, 2019
Matthew 10:16-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

In our passage today, the Apostle Matthew provides us with direct instructions from Jesus that were given to the twelve disciples. As I was reading over today’s passage, The Whole Armor of God kept coming to my heart. Yesterday, the Apostle Paul reminded us of the grave importance of Living by the Spirit’s Power, and one chapter over from that lesson, He taught that we are to put on The Whole Armor of God so that we can stand firm against all strategies of the devil. The enemy is cleaver and cunning, he doesn’t just test and fight our flesh in the earthly realm, he battles against us in the spiritual realm (much of which we cannot see) and so we need to be equipped to stand firmly against him. Every day we must arm ourselves with God’s: 1. Belt of Truth, 2. Breastplate of Righteousness, 3. Shoes of Peace from the Good News, 4. Shield of Faith, 5. Helmet of Salvation, and 6. Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-18). Once armed we can live out Jesus’s instructions in today’s passage. He knows that we are His sheep walking amongst wolves. He wants us to beware, to be on guard against people of this world, to understand that worldly people will try to stop the sharing of the Gospel, He wants to use us to witness to them, and we need to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us. It’s exciting to know that the same Spirit that Jesus imparted to the disciples lives and moves in us!

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July 2, 2019
Ephesians 5:15-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

Yesterday, the Apostle John reminded us that we are to live in the Light of Christ. Today, the Apostle Paul teaches us that when we chose to live in the Light of Christ, we are “Living by the Spirit’s Power”. These 5 verses from the 5th chapter in Ephesians, are AMAZING! I see verse 15 as an instruction guide to a 4-step daily process found in verses 16 – 20:

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July 1, 2019
1 John 2:7-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

Do you ever find yourself speaking poorly about a brother or sister in Christ? Do you not like a fellow believer?

In our passage today we learn from the “Apostle of Love”, John. He not only writes about love, but he puts the true love of Christ into action within his life. At one time Jesus nicknamed John and his brother, James, the “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17), and in Luke (9:51-56) these two brothers wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a village. So, John may have not always been known as the “Apostle of Love”, however, he followed Jesus and grew to know that reality is to be lived by God’s way, and no longer the world’s way. In verses 7 – 11 John repeatedly uses the words: love, life (living), and light. These words belong together in our lives as Christians. Our love is affected when we choose to either live in light or darkness. If we are walking in the light of Christ, we will love our fellow Christian brothers and sisters. If we are walking in the darkness of the world, we will spread hatred even amongst our brothers and sisters. John lived his life loving like Jesus, and so should we.

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June 28, 2019 Galatians 4:8-16 New Living Translation (NLT) God has called me to preach and teach his Word of Truth; hearing His Word miraculously brings regenerating love to human life. By listening to the Truth, we become mature in Christ’s love (Eph. 4:15). “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (2 Timothy 3:16). In our passage today, the Apostle Paul was able to speak Truth to the Galatians when he first came to preach to them. They joyfully received the Word and invited the Spirit to help them live it out in love. However, in time these same Galatian Christians began to move away from the Truth; finding themselves enslaved to the world’s principles. Scripture teaches us to connect with the Living Word of God, so we can live in the Truth as God’s children. God makes the power available!

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June 27, 2019

Psalm 16 Good News Translation (GNT)

I truly love the life God has provided for me. It hasn’t been an easy road, but it’s my road, so I love it. I thank him all the time—like a constant prayer—because I know the Lord has revealed to me much about his heart in the midst of my simple life. I call these revelations the Lord has shared with me LIFE Lessons, because they are things God revealed to me about our relationship; our spiritual dance. When I have allowed the Lord to lead, we have danced to a heavenly symphony. When I have demanded to lead, I have danced to my own worldly tune.

I look back and the past tells me the Lord was with me; I was blessed. I think about today and the Lord’s presence with me; I am blessed. I place my hope in Christ and eagerly look toward tomorrow; I am sure I will be blessed, again. The Lord has been so faithful to love me—to bring to my life his highest and best—so I place great confidence in him for every tomorrow. Do you have confidence in God’s love for you? I hope so, because God wants only good things for you, too.

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June 26, 2019

Luke 9:37-43 The Message (MSG)

As you make a spiritual journey through each day, do you sense an awareness of God’s powerful presence with you? I am not talking about an internal emotion; I am asking if you understand the power of God made available to you, as you seek his heart, and the role prayer plays in releasing that power into the lives of others. 

In our passage today, Peter, James, and John have been up on the mountain with Jesus.  They have witnessed the glorious presence of Almighty God surrounding Messiah, Moses, and Elijah.  It is a miraculous moment for the disciples’ faith; it is like a foretaste of heaven on earth. These disciples can’t even speak about the glory; it is overwhelmingly powerful. However, the crowds, religious leaders, and the disciples waiting at the base of the mountain have not witnessed the Transfiguration.  They do not have the same sense of God; therefore, they do not have the same power in the Spirit against evil.

May the first thing we do each day be to gain a renewed sense of God; to climb the spiritual mountain for a fresh revelation of his power and might.  Let’s get into the Word, pray, and allow the Spirit to stir our faith in his power at work in and through us.

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June 25, 2019

Matthew 11:29-30 The Message (MSG)

I like to take our small dog, Gracie, with me when I head out for a kayak ride.  She loves being with me, but in order to go she must put on a special life-jacket.  When I first put the jacket on her, she lays down like it weighs a ton, but actually it is very lightweight.  So, within a few minutes, she is up and moving freely. The jacket is the perfect size for her and provides protection while we are making the journey; she is required to put it on.

Gracie’s life-jacket symbolically reminds me a little bit of Christ’s yoke of grace for believers; how we learn to live by faith and through grace. God does not weigh us down with an ill-fitting yoke; rather, God’s grace is a perfect fit for our salvation.  Christ knows we need freedom to move about, but we also need the protection grace provides.  Christ’s yoke is a blessing; we do not need to worry about anything while we are learning the rhythms of grace.  The Holy Spirit guides us along and will one day deliver us to our journey’s end.  In the meantime, grace protects us and allows us to enter a confident rest in God’s love.  So, don’t resist the work of the Spirit.  Instead, thank the Lord for his yoke of grace and learn from him.

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June 24, 2019

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 The Message (MSG)

On this amazing Monday morning, isn’t it great to be on the way of salvation?  Doesn’t hope in God’s love for you make every day exciting?  We are following the Savior into new territory each day.  We can share about the love of Jesus for the world and the salvation that is offered every seeking heart.  Salvation calls us to invite the Spirit to bring change and renewal to our souls.  Are you daily inviting God into every area of your life?

Listening to the Word being taught is wisdom that opens the eyes of the spiritually blind and teaches the spiritually hungry how to please God.  When we gather for worship, it is not for entertainment purposes; sadly, that would be making worship about us.  Rather, worship is filled with expressions in the Spirit  as each of us exalts God.  Worship leads us into thriving and life-filled opportunities beyond our gatherings; to help us grow in our love and trust of God.  Take a minute today and think about how God has connected you to abundant opportunities. 

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June 21, 2019

Proverbs 8:11-13

In this week’s Bible study time, we looked at Luke 18:35-43.  In the biblical lesson, Jesus is walking down the Jericho Road.  A blind beggar who is sitting beside the road begins to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Jesus comes close to the man and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”  The man says, “I want to see!” And Jesus says, “All right, receive your sight!  Your faith has healed you.”  Instantly, the man could see and he begins to follow Jesus.

Whether we accept it or not, every human being is spiritually blind unless he or she connects to Christ—the Light of the world.  There is no sight unless there is Light; because Light is our stimulus.  Faith is walked out with Jesus who goes before us and lights our Way.

In our Scripture passage for this morning, Lady Wisdom is talking.  She is reminding us the best thing we can ever ask for is wisdom and spiritual eyesight. When we have wisdom, we have the fullness of God’s knowledge and insight. If we are going to ask God for wisdom, we need to be willing to step away from the things God hates; the things the enemy has used to cause and keep us in spiritual blindness.  Pray for wisdom and spiritual eyesight.

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June 20, 2019

Proverbs 7:1-4 Good News Translation (GNT)

When I was in my forties, it became necessary to wear corrective eye glasses.  I tried contacts, but I struggled putting them into place.  Every time I got the contact close to my eye, the lid would instinctively clamped shut.  Something within my response system saw that little piece of plastic as a tremendous threat. 

In our wisdom passage for today, we are reminded to carefully follow the Lord’s teaching; we must protect God’s Word and care for its well-being against all the destructive intrusions of evil.  We are told the enemy comes for the Seed of the Word in our souls; he seeks to rob, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).

Everyone needs to protect his or her eyes in the physical realm; we need to make sure nothing destroys our sight.  We also need to protect our spiritual eyes, the enemy does not want us to receive wisdom and hear from the Lord; the enemy works against the growth of our faith because the Word causes that growth.  When we are tempted by the enemy to be disobedient to God’s Word, the threat to our spiritual eye sight is substantial. So, treasure wisdom and follow the Word; by doing so you will clamp your soul shut at the right time against the destructive work of evil.

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