Devotionals

Daily Reading 10-27-17

John 5:39-47 Living Bible

 

It is possible to read all of Scripture in order to seek God, but miss the evidence of the Anointed Lord—Messiah—within it’s pages.   In our passage today, the Lord rebukes the religious leaders for hanging their hopes for eternal life on the Laws of Moses; because Moses wrote about Love incarnate (Messiah) and they weren’t living it.  Only the Lord brings eternal life and causes us to honor the Father of Righteousness.  

 

In order to know the righteousness of God, we must know the correcting and sanctifying work of the Lord.  Jesus Messiah is the One who teaches Truth about what honors Father God.  So, please listen to the Word of the Lord and choose to grow in righteousness—the character of Messiah.  

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Daily Reading 10-26-17

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Any absence of godly leaders does not mean the absence of God or his love.  He alone is our dwelling place; our eternal Home and our Hope.  We must never forget it is by faith, as finite beings, we enjoy the eternal refuge of our Creator and Father.  We will go through times of pain and trouble, but God is still with us.  He is not bound by time for He is the Creator of time.  He does not lack power for He is sovereign and everlasting.  Even if all our circumstances aligned with our will, we would not be satisfied unless we were enjoying fellowship with the Lord.  It is the Lord who makes the difference in human existence.  

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Daily Reading 10-25-17

Matthew 17:24-27 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

In our passage today, Jesus’s critics are once again criticizing Him to His disciples about taxes. The temple tax was prescribed in Exodus 30:13. This passage is not about paying taxes to the civil government, it is about fulfilling a worship obligation to God.  

The point Jesus makes is that the Christ and His disciples enjoy a relationship with God that frees them from the obligations imposed upon “others.”  Kings and their family did not pay taxes.  Jesus, the King, owed no taxes; however, He chose to comply with the Law’s requirements to avoid offending others.  

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Daily Reading 10-24-17

Daniel 3:19-30 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

As followers of the Most High God, we are to have no other gods—nothing more important in our lives.  The world will always seek to woo us from our complete devotion to God; many false gods—idolatry—will seek to own us. The enemy knows if we remain committed to the abiding presence of God, we have power over the things of this world.  God is the creator of the heavens and the earth, so nothing is beyond His reach, love, or power.

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Daily Reading 10-20-17

1 Peter 5:1-5 The Message (MSG)

 

I have the great privilege of working and serving with some amazing leaders; gifted people who love God and His family.  They volunteer their time and work for the advancement of the Kingdom.  The right motive must drive all leaders called of God.  Our main concern must be pleasing God; our focus should not be on ourselves.  We serve not for what we get out of it—what benefits us or even brings us personal satisfaction—but for the honor of bringing glory to the very holy substance of our love—Jesus Christ.    

 

Godly leaders model integrity.  One should extend respect to those older and shaped by Truth, listen to those younger who come with fresh ideas to reach others, and be willing to learn from both.  Peter shares this wisdom not just for people who work in church, but for all of God children who are led by integrity.   Do you respect those with greater experience than you?  Do you listen to those we see things differently?  Are you willing to learn from both? 

 

1 Peter 5:1-5

1-3 I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.

 

4-5 When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly. And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—

God has had it with the proud,

But takes delight in just plain people.

 

Prayer:  Father, help me to lead and love your family in integrity and truth, because I want to please you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 10-19-17

Psalm 96:1-9 Living Bible (TLB)

 

The other day Mother and I were meeting with her oncologist and he asked, “Ida, how are you doing?”  My mother is an eternal optimist, so I looked her in the eye before she could answer and said, “Confession is good for the soul, Mom!”  We laughed because we knew how hard the past few weeks had been on her physically, but in the midst of all of it God remained faithful to get us the help she needed.  The doctor laughed, because he was overwhelmed with the joy we expressed in that moment.   Then the doctor shared with us that Mom’s recent MRI and CT scan showed no new cancer growth, Praise God!

 

We are to live each day by praying without ceasing—putting our needs before the Lord—and praising God for the provision and strength to press on.  We overcome by the blood of the Lamb—Christ—and the words of our testimony (Rev. 12:11).  Mom clings to Jesus Christ who is the true Life and she finds joy in the midst of the “mess!”  

 

Many people can praise God when life is going smoothly and emotions are running high and positive.  But, we are to be overcomers when it comes to this life; we overcome by bringing a sacrifice of praise.  I don’t know what you are facing, today, but grab ahold of your confession and make it count for God’s glory.  Holy joy—spiritual fruit—will fill you!

 

Psalm 96:1-9 Living Bible (TLB)

96 Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing it everywhere around the world! 2 Sing out his praises! Bless his name. Each day tell someone that he saves.

 

3 Publish his glorious acts throughout the earth. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. 4 For the Lord is great beyond description and greatly to be praised. Worship only him among the gods! 5 For the gods of other nations are merely idols, but our God made the heavens! 6 Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty are in his Temple.

 

7 O nations of the world, confess that God alone is glorious and strong. 8 Give him the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship him. 9 Worship the Lord with the beauty of holy lives. Let the earth tremble before him.

 

Prayer:  Lord, if I am willing you always find a way to turn my attention toward your goodness and provision.  Thank you for capturing my heart and my attention with your love.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Daily Reading 10-18-17

John 6:27-38 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

How important is loving and believing in Christ?  Jesus tells us in our passage, today, believing in him is the “only” work God wants from us.  In other words, we cannot trust in our own efforts to gain salvation, because we can never perform at a level to earn it.  However, we can trust the love of God found in Jesus Christ as Messiah to pay the debt for our sin and receive salvation as a gift.  I am fully convinced “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9).  Believing in the work of Christ brings eternal life, but that connection brings love and nourishment we cannot even imagine!

 

John 6:27-38 The Bread of Life

27 Jesus said, “Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

 

28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

 

29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

 

30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

 

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

 

34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

 

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

 

Prayer:  Lord, I believe you are the Bread of Life that nourishes every aspect of my life.  Thank you for your great love and provision.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Daily Reading 10-17-17

Philippians 3:13-4:1 New Living Translation (NLT)

What is the main objective of your effort each day? At the deepest level, what are you trying to accomplish with your schedule and time?

 

The Lord gave us a Word on Sunday in our worship time about faith, humility, and the importance of bearing the fruit of the Spirit as a key component of His kingdom reign.  According to 2 Corinthians 9:10, the Lord supplies the seed and multiples the seed for sowing which increases the harvest of our righteousness. As the Lord of the harvest, Christ invites us to be prepared for His Second Coming (a great harvest of souls) when He calls us home to reconnect to the Tree of Life.  

 

I am sure God is pleased when we spend time in His Word and pray.  I am positive it pleases God when we allow that Word to cause us to be more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, gentle, thoughtful, and approach each day with more self-control.  If we are going to be victorious in producing the fruit of righteousness, it will require us to pick up our crosses and follow Christ through our daily activities.  Is bearing the fruit of the Spirit your highest goal each day as you interact with people and go about your schedule?  Do you give equal emphasis with your whole being to produce spiritual fruit in your relationships over and above the actual task or responsibility at hand?  We have an opportunity to touch the lives of others every day in some way.

 

Philippians 3:13-4:1  Focused on the Goal

12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

 

15-16 So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.

 

17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

 

20-21 But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

4 My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God.

 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to focus on your Kingdom and the growth of my spiritual fruit each day, knowing you have promised to make me prosperous in the other things my earthly life requires.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Daily Reading 10-16-17

Jude 17:25  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Building others up and encouraging them to stay the course of faith is the call of Christ.  Especially in these days where people just want to quit, because life is challenging. Without the Holy Spirit religion is empty and void of power.  When we pray in the power of the Spirit and remain in Christ’s love, we are kept safe by the Lord.

 

Our quest in these days is to remain faithful to the Word of God and obedient to the work of the Spirit in our lives.  If you are tempted to give up the holy fight for righteousness, hold on longer.  The Lord himself will keep you from falling away if you call on his name.  

 

Jude 17-25 A Call to Remain Faithful

17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. 18 They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

 

20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

 

22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

 

A Prayer of Praise

24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the joy you place within my heart and the reassurance that you will see me to my eternal home without fault.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 10-13-17

Mark 2:18-22 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Being with Jesus was a time to celebrate; a time for new wine or a time to learn a new way to live.  The religious leaders were critical of Jesus and the way he taught his disciples when it came to fasting.  For Christ, the motive of the disciples was the most important reason for fasting.  Fasting was to be connected with repentance and not simply to draw attention to one’s piety as modeled by the Pharisees.

 

The Pharisees were not interested in religious change; they liked the old way of doing things even though they were not growing in their faith. There was no room in their understanding for the Messiah of Grace.   Jesus clearly was bringing a new way of enjoying a relationship with God, so he encouraged his disciples to put this new wine (gospel) into new wineskins (pliable heart and renewed mind). 

 

Jesus wants to teach each of us how to really enjoy our new lives in him.  So, keep your heart pliable, be led by the Spirit of Truth, and celebrate the Love of God.

 

A Discussion about Fasting

18 Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?”

 

19 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. 20 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

 

21 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”

 

Prayer:  Lord, sometimes letting go of old ways of doing things is a challenge, but I am going to keep my heart pliable so I can expand my understanding of your love and enjoy life with you!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.