Devotionals

Daily Reading 7-13-17

Romans 2:12-16 The Message (MSG)

 

Every culture and society recognizes some kind of moral law.  Even though that moral law may be viewed differently, there is evidence of what a society perceives as right and wrong.  If we are honest, we will have to admit that we fail to live up to even our own standards of right and wrong.  Knowing what is right and doing what is right must be our constant goal, but understanding that God is the One who actually decides what is right, sets the standard for us, and gives us the power to live it is the greatest truth. 

 

In our passage this morning, the Apostle Paul explains how knowing and doing is connected to the Living Torah (Law)-Jesus!  Has Jesus written the Law of God’s love on your heart? If so, you know what is right according to God.

 

Romans 2:12-16

12-13 If you sin without knowing what you’re doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you’re doing, that’s a different story entirely. Merely hearing God’s law is a waste of your time if you don’t do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.

 

14-16 When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God’s yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.

 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for making your standard and way known to my heart. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 7-12-17

John 13:1-17  Living Bible (TLB)

 

Do you agree Christ’s way is the humble way?  You know there is a difference between believing in the humble way and actually living it, right?  We are not better than our Master; so, if Jesus humbled himself, took on a servant’s role, and washed the feet of the disciples, then we should find ways to serve others in a way that glorifies God.  How do you treat the people around you?  Are you waiting for them to serve you?  Or, do you actively look for ways to serve them?  If we are willing to take on a servant’s role and serve others, then clearly Christ has washed us and we have become his partners.  Our passage today, reminds us to know the truth and do it is the path of blessing!  So, I am praying blessing for you today!

 

John 13:1-17

13 1-3 Jesus knew on the evening of Passover Day that it would be his last night on earth before returning to his Father. During supper the devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. And how he loved his disciples! 4 So he got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his loins, 5 poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.

6 When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Master, you shouldn’t be washing our feet like this!”

 

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now why I am doing it; some day you will.”

 

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you shall never wash my feet!”

“But if I don’t, you can’t be my partner,” Jesus replied.

 

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well—not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “One who has bathed all over needs only to have his feet washed to be entirely clean. Now you are clean—but that isn’t true of everyone here.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

 

12 After washing their feet he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Master’ and ‘Lord,’ and you do well to say it, for it is true. 14 And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you. 16 How true it is that a servant is not greater than his master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends him. 17 You know these things—now do them! That is the path of blessing.

 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the reminder that we are to serve you by serving others; we are partners in your mission.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Reading 7-11-17

Romans 3:1-8  Living Bible (TLB)

 

There are some things in life that should be overlooked, but sin is not one of them.  Do you think God overlooks your sin?  In his epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul reminds his listeners that everyone sins and stands guilty before a holy God.  With that in mind, the best way to handle the truth of that statement is repentance; a turning from sin in order to live for God.  

 

People love to make excuses for why certain sins are all right and others are not, but in reality sin is sin and God hates sin; he will judge it.  God sent the Holy Spirit so we could be delivered from sin and instead live in his righteousness.  God is good and will always be righteous, but we are his children who are to be growing into the image of Christ.  If we are not growing in righteousness, more than likely we are making excuses for the sin we want to practice.

 

Romans 3:1-8

3 Then what’s the use of being a Jew? Are there any special benefits for them from God? Is there any value in the Jewish circumcision ceremony? 2 Yes, being a Jew has many advantages.

 

First of all, God trusted them with his laws so that they could know and do his will.[a] 3 True, some of them were unfaithful, but just because they broke their promises to God, does that mean God will break his promises? 4 Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is not. Do you remember what the book of Psalms says about this?[b] That God’s words will always prove true and right, no matter who questions them.

 

5 “But,” some say, “our breaking faith with God is good, our sins serve a good purpose, for people will notice how good God is when they see how bad we are. Is it fair, then, for him to punish us when our sins are helping him?” (That is the way some people talk.) 6 God forbid! Then what kind of God would he be, to overlook sin? How could he ever condemn anyone? 7 For he could not judge and condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty brought him glory by pointing up his honesty in contrast to my lies. 8 If you follow through with that idea you come to this: the worse we are, the better God likes it! But the damnation of those who say such things is just. Yet some claim that this is what I preach!

 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for guiding me toward righteous living; I need your help and power.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 7-10-17

Romans 1:18-25  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Yesterday morning when I was getting ready to leave the house for church, I saw the most amazing rainbow.  As I looked at the beauty before me, I heard myself say, “Thank you, Father, for your promise.”  The rainbow is a sign of God’s promise that never again will the world be destroyed by a flood.  As in the days of Noah, our sin grieves the heart of our Father, but His grace in Christ covers us and protects us from His wrath.  We are free to respond to God’s invitation for relationship.  If we are honest, we know God exists because of the beauty and inspiring ways He has revealed Himself through creation.  Let’s honor God’s promise by allowing Him to be the Lord of our lives.  If you have wandered away from God’s righteous ways, come back today.  The God who made the covenant with Noah, is the same God who makes His promise to us. Instead of embracing sin, let’s embrace Christ who helps us overcome sin.

 

Romans 1:18-25  God’s Anger at Sin

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

 

21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

 

24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for your promise to love me and to work with me so I may grow into spiritual maturity.  I hold onto your promise and reach for your heart.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 7-7-17

Luke 10:21-24 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Although truth is for everyone to discover and receive, we all come to Christ through childlike trust.  Scripture teaches the Lord opposes the proud, so we cannot be full of ourselves and full of Christ.  In our passage today, Jesus demonstrates the importance of thanking God that we have access to Him and for helping us to trust the work of grace in our lives.  

 

If you desire a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Christ, take the humble road, listen to his instructions, pay attention to his actions, and obey him.  It’s a privileged position; to know and be known by Almighty God.

 

 Luke 10:21-24 Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving

21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

 

22 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

 

23 Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. 24 I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

 

Prayer:  Father, thank you for the privilege of being a participant in your grace.  Keep teaching me and guiding me in your ways.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 7-5-17

Jeremiah 18:1-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

God has granted us freedom in His Son, Jesus Messiah.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. God has always existed in freedom; He is free to do His will, because His will is always righteous and just.  

 

In our passage today, we will read about how God is free to remake us into whatever vessel he chooses. He is our Creator; He knows the image into which we are to be made.   Remember, God will only choose good things for us, because He is Love and Light.  There is no darkness in the Lord.  That is why it is so important to allow God as the Potter to remake us into the proper image as His children.   If you believe God only wants good for you, then invite Him to fashion you as He chooses.  It means discipline, but God only disciplines those whom He loves. You are free.  How will you use your freedom?

 

Jeremiah 18:1-11  The Potter and the Clay

18 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” 3 So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. 4 But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.

 

5 Then the Lord gave me this message: 6 “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. 7 If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, 8 but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. 9 And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, 10 but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.

11 “Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’”

 

Prayer:  Lord, I want to be made in the image that is right as your daughter.  So, mold me and make me as you have willed.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 7-4-17

 

Happy Independence Day!  In America, we are a free people because we are one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.  How grateful I am to live in the United States and for our military and law enforcement who keep order and maintain mutual respect among its people.  

 

Because of Jesus, we are spiritually free.   We are free to receive the love of God so we may love Him in return and extend love to all people.  We are free from the penalty of sin.  We are free to turn away from practicing sin.  In Christ, we are free to serve one another in His love.  The Spirit makes us free and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.  

 

Take time to thank God for your freedom, because He is the Maker of heaven and earth; He is the One in control. I have chosen to share some Scriptures that highlight freedom.  Enjoy!

 

Luke 4:18-19 NLT

18 

Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,

    that the blind will see,

that the oppressed will be set free,

19 

    and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

 

John 8:31-32 NLT

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NLT)

 

2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT

17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

 

Galatians 5:13-14 NLT

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

1 Peter 2:16 ESV

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the freedom you provide. I celebrate the independence you have granted me; but I choose to be fully dependent upon you because you are abundant life.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  

Daily Reading 7-3-17

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12a Living Bible (TLB)

 

I want to thank the leadership of Connect2Christ Church, as well as the membership at large in how they have loved me and my family especially this past year. Loving and caring for my Mom has been and continues to be a great honor; it also consumes much of my time and energy.  Although we are home, I am taking this week to rest and enjoy some time with John as we celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary.  

 

How Christians actively love one another is a big deal with our Father; because Father God is Love.  As His children we are to exemplify His holy character in how we display our love and concern for one another.  We are to be a positive force in society; acting independently in the liberating love the Spirit of the Lord brings us. 

 

In our lesson this morning, the Apostle Paul is writing to the Church at Thessalonica to remind them of the importance of being responsible in every area of life.  It is a developmental journey of allowing the Holy Spirit to make us good examples of how grace and love are operating in our lives. The results should be that others who do not know the love of God, will see it in action and desire a relationship with God, as well.  Every day we should honestly examine our love walk to make sure we are living in the character, integrity, and moral courage provided to us by the Lord.

 

9 But concerning the pure brotherly love that there should be among God’s people, I don’t need to say very much, I’m sure! For God himself is teaching you to love one another. 10 Indeed, your love is already strong toward all the Christian brothers throughout your whole nation. Even so, dear friends, we beg you to love them more and more. 11 This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and doing your own work, just as we told you before. 12 As a result, people who are not Christians will trust and respect you;

 

Prayer:  Lord, your love is perfect and all consuming.  Help me to love as you love and to be responsible in every area of my life.  Thank you for this time of rest and recuperation.  Thank you for the love of my spiritual family.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Daily Reading 6-30-17

Galatians 5:7-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Since the coming of Christ, humanity has experienced a propensity for choosing a legalistic approach to faith rather than the gospel of grace Christ actually modeled and taught.  Christ modeled the perfect fulfillment of the Law given to Moses by God; therefore, as we live and move and have our being in Christ we will learn how to obey God’s true Word as it is spoken to our hearts.  The Spirit speaks and we listen and obey.  Christ’s followers are not to be burdened by the “job description or code” of how to earn salvation by following the Law in our own strength.  Apart from Christ and the power of his Spirit, we cannot begin to obey.  If we try to make ourselves holy by practicing a do’s and don’ts list, we will fail every time.

 

Either we believe in the work of Christ on the cross to save us from our sins or we do not.  Grace provides forgiveness for our sins when we believe.  The cross is where the truth of grace actually begins; where we begin the training race of faith in the Spirit who brings holiness to human life.   If we are being taught anything other than obedience to the Word in us, we are leaning toward false teaching or legalism.  Christ came to set us free, so we could learn from him as we live life.  How loving is he?  Thank Amazing Grace!

 

In our passage, today, the Apostle Paul continues his letter to the Church at Galatia.  Legalism is an issue and the person teaching it is distorting the gospel. Mary paraphrasing the Apostle, “Come back to the truth and run the race in Christ!”  Blessings for your day…

 

Galatians 5:7-12 Christ Has Set Us Free

7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.

 

Prayer: Father, please help me to stay focused on learning, because that is what you have called me to do in my connection to Christ.  Today, I am going to take steps and I want each one to count for your Kingdom.  Thank you for taking my sin, so I may learn from you how to operate in holy love.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Reading 6-29-17

Galatians 5:4-6 The Message (MSG)

 

Over the past few days we have been reminded in our readings to keep Jesus, the Living Word, our first love by inviting the Spirit to teach us how to honor his name.  It is a consistent message we find in the gospels, because Jesus taught his disciples, “If you love me you will obey my commandments” (John 14:15).  In other words, if we have really taken to heart the gospel of grace, we will respond with respect to the Word of the Lord by allowing its authority to bring a change in our thoughts and behavior.  Obedience to God’s Word or Commands is how we are conformed to the image of God’s Love.

 

Today, we will gain a glimpse of what I just mentioned above from a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia reminding them the gospel is not about an exterior practice of a religious system.   Rather, the gospel is a faith-instigated internal obedience to the Word that becomes externally visible in our love walk.  How do you see the authority and work of the Word?  Do you understand and appropriate the power of the gospel of grace?  Pray and ask the Lord to reveal His heart to you regarding this Word, today.

 

4-6 I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.

 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be quick to obey your Word to my heart, today.  I will recognize my level of obedience by how well I love and extend the fruit of the Spirit, today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.