Devotionals

Daily Reading 9-30-16

Matthew 20:29-34 New Living Translation (NLT)

I tend to be an idealist or visionary. Sometimes I can look at life…and certain things–positive opportunities–seem so clear to me; yet, I can chat with others who look at the same thing and cannot see anything positive because their focus is entirely on the negative stuff. Where we choose to place our focus determines what we see! Hint: Focus on Jesus; His Word lights the Truth of his power!

Jesus has been teaching in the town of Jericho about laying down his life so the whole world could enjoy life with God. It’s a life of serving others and being the Light of Christ to bring answers the world so desperately needs.   Jesus talks about the power of God.  Some of those gathered around Jesus listened to his message and some did not.  

After Christ delivers his message he leaves town. Two blind men are sitting by the road. They called on Jesus the Son of David to open their eyes and help them see more clearly. Identifying Jesus as the Son of David is very telling, because it demonstrates these men recognized the supernatural Savior-the Messiah-when he spoke. They knew he brought power for change. The very fact these two blind men recognized Jesus is profound, because the spiritual leaders who said they were waiting and looking for the Messiah heard the same message and did not recognize him at all when he was sharing the Father’s heart with them about bringing salvation and serving others.

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Daily Reading: 9-29-16

Psalm 37:1-9 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

What would it look like if every day we practiced being faithful to God?  I believe the answer is we would be blessed (happy and to be envied) as well as fulfilled, because God wants to give us the desires of our hearts when we are focused on His righteousness.  Are you waiting for God to meet the desires of your heart?  If so, wait patiently for Him to provide for you.

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Daily Reading: 9-28-16

Matthew 19:16-22  The Message (MSG)

We hold all kinds of things in our minds, hearts, and hands, don’t we?  We like stuff.  Some stuff we hold onto is good and some stuff not so good.  We want to think that which is good will get us rewards in heaven.  But in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples they do not enter into heaven because they are good or that they do good.  They enter into heaven because God is good and they are willing to do what he asks of them.

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Daily Reading: 9-27-16
Psalm 62:5-12 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

In a world where words and actions are frequently unkind, isn’t it wonderful to know that God is entirely kind? Our hearts are always safe with God. Always. He does not love us because we are respectful or kind to Him. He loves us because He is powerful and infinitely kind enough for all of us no matter what the state of our hearts. As humans, we can accept or reject God and He will still be kind. However, how sweet to enjoy fellowship with Him in Christ. Seek His kind heart!

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Daily Reading: 9-26-16

Revelation 3:14-22 The Voice (VOICE)

To be rich in God’s Kingdom is to share the robe of Grace with Christ and to allow the purification process of the Spirit to recreate us for passionate and abundant living.  If we are not allowing the Spirit of Christ to bring that ongoing discipline and refining, we become dispassionate and ineffective for God.  Jesus said it this way, “You have a form of religion, but you reject the power that could make you godly ” (2 Timothy 3:5).

In our passage from John’s Revelation, Jesus sends a message to the church at Laodicea. It is a word of correction and a warning for them to grow in godliness.

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Daily Reading: 9-23-16

Ephesians 2:1-10 The Message (MSG)

God is a Father who desires to share his perfect love with all of his creation. It appears when we do not know how much God loves us we will expect humans to make us feel worthy and valuable.  And, if humans don’t rise to the occasion the way we expect, then we generalize things and assume “no one” cares.  It’s just not true.  God cares and many people who have experienced God’s love also care.

The real issue is that we have sought to gain our worth and value out of human flesh that has its own war with sin.  In time, people will let other people down.  It may not be a deliberate thing; it’s simply a human thing.  God, on the other hand, not only values us He has made a way to enjoy fellowship with us on a perfect performance level. He never disappoints. He takes our messed up thinking and living then guides us into a plan for us to prosper; a plan only we can fulfill.  If people do not seek God, they will never know how special they are nor what amazing things they could do in the power of God’s grace.   

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Daily Reading: 9-22-16

Psalm 91:1-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

More and more I crave the reassurance of safety and security from my heavenly Father.  He is the refuge and shelter for my soul and I never need to be afraid, because God will cover and protect me.  Just knowing I can live in God’s shelter, causes me to breathe a sigh of relief, how about you?

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Daily Reading: 9-21-16

Luke 20:45-21:4 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Sometimes it appears that people get away with some pretty awful things; not all crimes are met with the proper justice in this world.  But, Scripture teaches that God will punish people who use their positions of responsibility to cheat others while pretending to be sincere.  God will deal with people who see themselves as superior to others.  Superiority is a worldly and dark mindset that can happen in government, the workplace, home, religion; basically, anywhere a spirit of pride is welcomed and fed.

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Daily Reading: 9-20-16

1 Corinthians 9:19-23  The Living Bible (TLB)

I truly love this reading, today.  It reminds me of the importance of knowing who we are in Christ Jesus; to operate in a spirit of humility and acceptance of the person without necessarily agreeing with every choice a person makes with his or her life.  Our goal as Christ’s followers is to allow God’s love and grace to so fill us that we are influential in revealing Christ operating in our lives.  The world needs Jesus not our pompous opinions or religious judgment.  We must seek to find what we share in common with others and then enjoy discussing areas of life from there while still holding onto our own convictions.   Maybe we will be able to tell many about Jesus just by starting with respect and kindness.

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Daily Reading: 9-19-16

Acts 4:1-12 The Living Bible (TLB)

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, so they were very upset with Peter and John’s message about Christ and how God raised him.  These religious leaders set up a council to question John and Peter.  Interestingly, Peter turns the table at the inquiry and he uses this session with the council as a way to share the gospel about the Messiah.  Because of Jesus, all of humanity is offered a relationship with God.

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