Devotionals

It is usually difficult to face our human weaknesses, but it is always a spiritually mature attitude in which to stand before Almighty God. When we face our weaknesses, it opens the door to operate in the strength and power of God. That is when we become aware and others around us recognize the Truth living in us. So, we must choose to humble ourselves, because life will bring challenges that test our faith and reveal our weaknesses. The key to pleasing God is to stand strong in the Truth during the times when we are utterly dependent upon what Christ alone can do.

When we are navigating our lives according to the compass of the Truth, we are pleasing to the Father. We cannot use our desires or circumstances to determine the direction for the journey. Indeed, many times our desires are opposed to God and our circumstances are challenging, because the Truth living in us is either being revealed or opposed.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is getting ready for his third visit to the Corinthians. He wants to celebrate their growth in the Truth, but he is not sure that will be the case. Some of these believers are living in such a way they are opposing the Truth rather than revealing it. So, Paul warns them ahead of his visit that if they continue to oppose the Truth with their actions, he will have to confront, discipline, or even ask them to leave the assembly.

This may seem harsh to us at first, but the Body/Church must all be going in the same direction—into Christlikeness and Oneness or wholeness. Otherwise, there will be a spiritual tug-o-war limiting the growth of the whole. Leaders, like the Apostle Paul, who know spiritual maturity is what pleases God, will spiritually guide the people toward a committed and growing relationship with God. Leaders who care about pleasing the people—telling them what they want to hear—will accept spiritual immaturity and convey this is all the Lord requires. In my heart, this is opposing God’s power made available in Christ.

Friends, if Jesus is coming back for a radiant or “glorious Church”—pure, holy, without blemish, reflecting the perfection of Christ—let’s remember this is a spiritual state of being free from the power of sin and marked by righteousness (Eph 5:27). We must demonstrate and reveal the love of God and his character as we remain committed to the teachings of Christ who has freed us from the power of sin and death. The destination of the world depends on the revelation of the Christ in his Body/Church. So, we reach for righteousness and run along the illuminated path of Truth.

2 Corinthians 13:5-10 NLT
5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine [committed]. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you [ongoing experience in you]; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 6 As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.

7 We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. 8 For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 9 We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.

10 I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this reminder about what pleases you and how we are to examine our lives each day. We confess our weaknesses and give them to you in exchange for your strength and power in the Spirit to remain faithful. We reach for maturity knowing we become more like you as we obey your commands of love. Help us to take the necessary steps today toward righteousness. We commit our lives to growing in the Truth, because we desire to please you as our Creator above all created things. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Peter, James, and John have just witnessed heaven touching earth as Jesus is transfigured and revealed to them as the Son of the heavenly Father. It was a miraculous mountaintop moment with God. It was so awe inspiring these disciples did not want to leave the mountain; rather they wanted to camp there and rest in the presence of God. I’m sure we would have desired the same.

In our passage today, Dr. Luke’s gospel follows Jesus down the Mount of Transfiguration and into the valley. We follow Jesus and the disciples from a spiritual realm of God’s power and glory to the valley where evil has been busy robbing God’s human creation of abundant life. I can only imagine the contrast between these two experiences for the disciples. But, Jesus takes authority and changes not just one life but many.

We know this child suffers demon possession; if it were epilepsy, Dr. Luke would have used that word. We don’t really know why the disciples could not drive out the unclean spirit, but it still teaches us a very important lesson about faith and leaves us with the reminder that we can do nothing of eternal value in our own human strength apart from the authority and power of God, as well as faith in Christ.

Not every day is a mountaintop experience; in fact, some days are hard, challenging, and painful. There is a difference between eternal life in heaven and temporal life on earth. Yet, Jesus takes each one of us up the mountain only to be led back down and through the valley. King David knew all about both parts of the journey, yet like him we must fear no evil for God is with us.

As we look at our journey in life, like the disciples, we see the contrast between the goodness of God and the work of evil. The closer we get to God the more we gain a clearer vision of the work of evil. Truth is Light. The Spirit takes us out into a dark world, so we can be bearers to the Truth of God’s love for the world. Salvation is a miracle and it comes through faith in Jesus the Christ.

Luke 9:37-43 NLT Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
37 The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. 39 An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. 40 I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

41 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.”
42 As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil [unclean spiritually, morally, and physically—opposed to God] spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father. 43 Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.

Prayer: Lord, we must thank you for every mountaintop experience you have provided, because it makes us hunger and thirst for what only heaven can offer. We pray for courage and strength to take one step after another following the Light of Truth in a world that only knows the ways of darkness. Your supply of goodness is limitless, so we call for abundant and refreshing grace as we seek to live for you in a dry and weary land. Be our constant Companion and guide us along righteous paths. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

As human beings, we have innate powers; God has given them to us. Although we have inherited a sin nature from the world, we still have innate powers from the Creator. We have human wisdom, strengths, resiliencies/survival instincts, emotional responses, moral sense, and capabilities that are present from the womb; no learning required. The Lord who created and provided these innate powers, now asks for us to connect to Christ and allow him to gently guide that human innate power into his divine goodness where we find Oneness with God.

God’s Word has a lot to say about Oneness, because it is his purpose to bring this sinful and rebellious world back to wholeness in Himself. As Jen was sharing in the devotional, yesterday, we must take a side on the work of Christ for salvation in order to enjoy peace with God. Jesus is Truth and we must side with him vs. side with our flesh or the world. Agreeing with God is the place where we find and enjoy Oneness as a spiritual family; no more favoritism and no more prejudice.

We have spiritually been connected in Christ, but we must trust the work of the Holy Spirit to bring our souls [minds/wills/emotions] along to live in the will of God—making us whole in the Truth. We are becoming a family of diverse loving people learning to live as One Body with One God. The Holy Spirit leads God’s “body-building” process for living. We must listen and obey.

Think about the spiritual family and how different we can all be yet, we are called to become One in Christ. We certainly need a lot of help from the Holy Helper for that purpose, right? But “becoming” is the word we must hang onto all the time. We are not finished as a family, we are “becoming” One. Be careful to whom you give your power each day: Our Holy God, your fallen flesh, or the deception of Satan. The believer’s purpose is to live for the glory of God. There lies the choice of taking sides. Who guides your power and how is it being used? I pray it’s for Oneness and Peace in becoming God’s Temple.

Ephesians 2:11-22 NLT Oneness and Peace in Christ.
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

A Temple for the Lord
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, we know we are in the process of being built in Oneness as your spiritual family. Help us to see the journey from your perspective. We can find ourselves taking information and learning in such different ways that it can feel challenging. So we turn to you. Father, guide our innate power to see our differences in light of your creative beauty; we can then learn godly Truth from one another. Jesus, guide our power to focus on your selflessness; we can learn to lay down our wills and exalt the Truth of your will. Holy Spirit, guide our motives and actions; we need your help to apply the Word and live the Truth. Please help believers across the world become One. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If we are being honest, as Americans, we live in a country where everyone takes a side. Even if you are thinking that you are not someone who likes to take a side, you still take a side on almost everything. We do it for fun, like when we are rooting for our favorite sports team, we do it when choosing between Pepsi or Coke, we do it when we are focused on something more serious like voting, and the list goes on and on. You and I even do it when we scroll social media and decide that something someone is doing, something they are wearing, or something they are saying is not something we would do, wear, or say…and we instantly choose an opposing side to that person. So, does any of this matter? Does God have a side? And if so, what does His Word say we are to do?

In today’s passage, Paul reminds us that there are simply two sides. One side consists of a group that thinks that the cross is foolish, and the other side believes that the Word of the cross is the very power of God. Since God was, is, and has been aware of everything, as Pastor Mary preached about yesterday, His purpose of the cross was to destroy human wisdom, and to leave worldly philosophers, scholars, and debates scratching their heads. Those too proud to seek God’s salvation would (and will) not be able to discern His divine wisdom. However, those who humble their hearts would (and will) spiritually see the contrast of humanity’s flawed wisdom in comparison to God’s divine wisdom. Paul reveals how the Jews and Gentiles were hung up on things that did not matter. Which is no different from what we do today, we look for a side that sounds good. Rather than seeking the Truth, we can get caught up on external things, situations, appearances, people, etc., and in this place, the cross sounds foolish. But, for those who cling to the cross, who want to grow in relationship with Jesus, who remember what life was like without Him and never want to go back, we look at Jesus and what He did on that cross, and we long for that strength and divine wisdom operating in and through our daily lives.

Yesterday, Pastor Mary said that “fear torments the mind, but Truth torments fear”, let us hold firm to that Truth today and remember that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Having reverence, respect, and awe for almighty God, is having fear of the Lord and within that place, we remain in awe of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross, and that is our first step in having true wisdom.

Today, we cannot allow pride or fear to move within our hearts; it will weaken and eventually destroy our relationship with Jesus. We must humbly remember how Jesus saved us within our past, give Him praise for what He is doing within our presence, and be joyful that by His powerful wisdom we are His Church for all eternity.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (NLT)

The Wisdom of God

18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”

20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

Prayer: Jesus, we chose You through salvation and we cannot thank You enough for all that you have, are, and will continue to do for each one of us, Your brothers and sisters. May we hold firm to Your hand as we walk each day and never forget what You did for us on the cross. Holy Spirit, please continue to impart Your holy and divine wisdom into each one of us and guide us on the path that You have for our lives. Please remove pride from each of our hearts and replace it with a spirit of humility. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Legalism has been and continues to be a flesh problem among God’s people.  A working definition of legalism is conforming to a standard for the purpose of accomplishment; which is ultimately a way of exalting one’s self.  A legalist believes in order to be right with God a person must ‘do something;’ add good deeds to Christ’s good deeds in order to please God.  We are not made right with God based on anything we bring to the table besides humility and repentance.  We are made right, our sins forgiven, and given eternal life through faith in Jesus.  Salvation is not made more secure by anything we do.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul tells the Galatians to stop thinking they will be closer to God if they “do” spiritual things.  Although our obedience is essential, God has chosen to save us based on grace [unmerited favor].  These early believers had fallen into a legalistic mindset of salvation.  Paul tells the church they cannot approach God by trying to keep the law—because only Jesus was able to obey it perfectly.  

The law reveals the nature and will of God.  It points out our sin; clearly we see it is impossible to obey it by our will alone.   Essentially, the law proves our sinful actions are an offense to God and we remain sin’s prisoners without Jesus who provides a way of escape.  The law is important, because God has written it on our hearts.  As well, the law partners with the promise of God to bring unbelievers to faith.

Friends, Jesus is the Promise; the Seed of Abraham.  We have already failed to obey the law, so let’s do what we need to do and depend on God’s grace to teach us how to live.  Pray and ask Jesus for help, seek his grace for guidance, and knock on the door of heaven and speak the name of Jesus. Have a blessed weekend…

Galatians 3:15-22 NLT The Law and God’s Promise

15 Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child [seed]. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children [seeds],” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.

19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.

21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for making salvation so wonderful and yet so easy to receive.   Forgive us for making it complicated and self-exalting.  Help us to share the Truth that it costs you everything, but only costs us our sinful pride.   In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

“The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls Father.” 

 Charles H. Spurgeon 

19th century preacher/theologian

What is God like?  God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  We begin to know God by forming a personal relationship with him through Christ; we taste his abundant and miraculous Love.  As a result of our connection to Christ, we start seeing God in nature, as well as working through the many circumstances we encounter in life. Our faith grows and, in the Spirit, we are assured of his presence with us.  He is our Helper; He is real and genuine. 

Here’s a list of some attributes ascribed to God in Scripture:

• Omnipotence: All-powerful.
• Omniscience: All-knowing.
• Omnipresence: Present everywhere.
• Immutability: Unchanging.
• Holiness: Set apart, pure.
• Justice: Fair and righteous.
• Love: Showing love and compassion.
• Mercy: Compassion and forgiveness.
• Goodness: Kind and generous.
• Faithfulness: Reliable and trustworthy.
• Eternality: Existing outside of time.
• Self-existence: Existing independently.
• Spirit: Non-physical and immaterial.
• Truth: Genuine and real.
• Wisdom: Possessing perfect knowledge and understanding.

We glorify God when we live our lives in alignment with his divine characteristics—the Truth.

In our passage today from the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul addresses hypocrisy—which is saying the right words to others, while knowing the Truth has not taken root in our own life.  Israel was privileged to receive the covenant law from God—a special relationship with him—for the purpose of being a light to the Gentiles [non-Jews].  However, they were inconsistent with living up to God’s purpose for them. They preferred empty self-righteous piety.

The law is holy and was never the problem; it just did not have the power to change human hearts.  The law may tell us what to do, but it cannot empower us to do it.  Now, in the Spirit of Christ, the law of God is written on human hearts; our hearts.  Therefore, we are transformed by the motivation of our hearts to obey the Lord.  Our hearts must be right with God in order to enjoy fellowship with him!  

Circumcision of the heart is something the Word and the Spirit symbolically does within. We separate from the world’s ways and devote ourselves to God.  Our purpose is to please God—bring him glory—by how we live our lives, as well as how we love him and how we love and treat everyone else.  The beauty of God’s Spirit is he is able to help us apply God’s word in a way that is consistent with his intentions.  Today, I pray for us to grow in our trust of God, to rely on the Spirit, and to genuinely love others.

Romans 2:17-29 NLT The Jews and the Law

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the work of your Spirit to lead us into the Truth.  Thank you for changing our hearts; taking our hard hearts and giving us a heart that is obedient to your purpose for us.  We desire to live in such a way that all people will see and understand your amazing attributes and beautiful nature at work in us.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

We have all experienced coming to a ‘fork in the road’ of life.  You know what I mean by this metaphor, right?  It is a defining moment when we must choose between two very specific courses of action—two very different routes to travel.  It’s a pivotal decision with no return. One route is wide and feels safe; it may be welcoming and celebrated by many people.  Yet, the other route may be narrow, lonely, hard, and involve a measure of suffering.  So many times this is the road Jesus walks. Will we follow?

In these moments, we know we are facing uncertainty and change that will be accompanied by irreversible consequences—moral, ethical, or even eternal.  Life can be altered in these moments which will affect spiritual development, relationships, and even most assuredly personal growth.   It’s a test of integrity; Jesus is the teacher and the Holy Spirit is the proctor of the test.

In our passage today, Daniel faces a fork in the road.  He must choose between a Babylonian lifestyle of privilege and “unclean” delicacies—one that would defile him—or a Hebrew slave’s ration of veggies and water—one that would please the Lord.  Daniel chooses to place his highest allegiance as a servant of God; he knows it is the Lord who makes him strong and successful.  Although God’s way is sometimes strewn with struggles and suffering, in time God reveals his faithfulness and provides the privileges of heavenly grace.

Integrity is very important to God.  As God’s children, we will face the integrity test—a fork in the road of life—a decision to do what is righteous before God even when it is not popular.  Integrity is valuable and although we have all fallen short of practicing it flawlessly, we must leave the past behind and press forward seeking to live without compromise.  Integrity not only pleases God it sets us up to receive his promises and enjoy the freedom and power that only God can provide.

Daniel 1 NLT  Daniel in Nebuchadnezzar’s Court

1 During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah,[605 BC] King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” 5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.

6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:

Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
Hananiah was called Shadrach.
Mishael was called Meshach.
Azariah was called Abednego.

8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”

11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 16 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.

17 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.

18 When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. 20 Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

21 Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.[539 BC]

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for this integrity lesson from Daniel. As your children, may we live without compromise in this world and may we trust you as Daniel did.  He was a captive, yet he honored those in authority without dishonoring you.  Holy Spirit, help us to live in a way that honors you but delivers respect for the people [believers or unbelievers] we are to serve while here on earth.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Last Friday afternoon, I was on my way to Floor and Decor to look at some samples for the necessary repair of our bathrooms—all damaged from hurricane Helene.  I got as far as Tyrone Boulevard and 66th Street when the traffic in front of me came to a complete stop.  The crosswalks were strategically filled with a parade of people, so no vehicles could turn left or right. The traffic was blocked as I sat through four cycles of the traffic lights before I could get close enough to weave through the people and take an alternative route. 

Many of the people protesting “No King Day” held US flags, as well as signs which contained profane, foul, and hate-filled messages. I was astounded by the outrageous outward expression of inward hatred.  Can you visualize the Lord standing on the side of the road screaming profanities, holding signs with profane and hateful messages, or using hand gestures to get human beings’ attention to implement change? No, because God does not hate people or his creation, he hates sin.  This protest before me [in this location] was clearly about the hatred of a person—the 47th president of the United States.  

I would love to see a great deal of change in this world—in this nation—but if we want change we need to humble ourselves before the Hand of Almighty God, plead for mercy, and ask for the Lord to heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Solomon teaches the best rulers choose Wisdom and operate in righteousness (Prov 8:15-16).  Only through Wisdom will a change come that brings a righteous result. 

In our passage today from Solomon, we learn Wisdom brings good judgment.  The fear of the Lord [Heb. yirah meaning awe, fear, worship] is the beginning of Wisdom—it leads people toward humility and away from pride.  We listen to God when we have a proper attitude about the One who’s really in control. Wisdom never leads a person to speak in ways that harm others or bends the truth.  Foolish people speak foolish words; the Truth about what’s actually in a person’s heart eventually comes out.

As a covenant people, we have a choice each day.  We can choose to trust and apply God’s Wisdom.  As well, we can choose to pray about the things we cannot change and be governed by love to change the things we can.  Lawlessness—a refusal to submit to God’s rule or government—will never be divinely instigated.  Yet, Jesus warned us about an increase in lawlessness as a sign of the end times where love will grow cold (Mat 24:12). Lawlessness is the work of evil.  Reach for Wisdom and Pray for this nation.

Proverbs 8:4-21 NLT 

4

“I call to you, to all of you!
    I raise my voice to all people.

5 

You simple people, use good judgment.
    You foolish people, show some understanding.

6 

Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
    Everything I say is right,

7 

for I speak the truth
    and detest every kind of deception.

8 

My advice is wholesome.
    There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

9 

My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
    clear to those with knowledge.

10 

Choose my instruction rather than silver,
    and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11 

For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
    Nothing you desire can compare with it.

12 

“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
    I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.

13 

All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
    Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
    corruption and perverse speech.

14 

Common sense and success belong to me.
    Insight and strength are mine.

15 

Because of me, kings reign,
    and rulers make just decrees.

16 

Rulers lead with my help,
    and nobles make righteous judgments.

17 

“I love all who love me.
    Those who search will surely find me.

18 

I have riches and honor,
    as well as enduring wealth and justice.

19 

My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
    my wages better than sterling silver!

20 

I walk in righteousness,
    in paths of justice.

21 

Those who love me inherit wealth.
    I will fill their treasuries.

Prayer:  Lord, we pray for this nation and people.  Help us to focus our eyes upon you and keep loving and serving others.  We pray for your righteousness to overtake lawlessness; for your love to overtake hate.  May the Wisdom of Christ rule in the hearts  of believers and keep our words kind and constructive for the change we seek. We want you to be glorified, Lord.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Today’s devotion picks up from where Pastor Mary’s devotion left off on Friday in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, which we know as believers is a letter for each one of us. The Apostle Paul wants us to understand that we are all a part of God’s eternal plan to bring all things together in Christ Jesus. His letter aligns with yesterday’s sermon from Pastor Mary, that our lives’ purpose is to have the ability to make the presence of God known to the entire world (or all of His creation), and we do this as one united Body in Christ Jesus.

As the Body of Christ, we need to remember that our differences are an intentional part of God’s perfect design, and Paul tells us that our diversity as a Church (or Body) is for a purpose. God’s purpose is for ALL of us, as a united Church, to be “mature in the Lord” (v. 13). This means that individually and collectively we must reflect the glory of Jesus, so that we make Him and His Name visible to the world. This can only happen when “we will no longer be immature like children” (v. 14) rather when, “we will speak the Truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the Head of His Body, the Church”. (v. 15). As one united Body, the Holy Spirit “makes the whole Body fit together perfectly” (v. 16). Within this place of divine unity, each one of us can effectively live out our part for the Kingdom, we can help others live out their part, and together we can grow and live in the fullness of Christ’s love.

Yesterday, Pastor Mary preached that our salvation is Christ Jesus is a miracle. Sharing this miracle with someone today is the most special gift that you can give to them. Let Jesus’s love be known!

Ephesians 4:7-16 (NLT)

Unity in the Body

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”

9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for being the Head of our Body, the Church. Holy Spirit, we need Your help so that we can work together as we grow in our individual and collective faith. As Your Church, we want to continue to mature in Your Word so our unique gifts flourish as one in You, Jesus. Equip us to do Your work, to share Your love so that more hearts may come to You in salvation. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Jesus walked this earth with a pure heart [characterized by integrity and free from hypocrisy].  He lived and taught, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Mat 5:8).  He chose to overcome evil by returning righteousness and extending love in response to selfishness.  Our Master and Lord was so permeated with the love of the Father, empowered and led by the Spirit, and focused on an eternal purpose that nothing in this world weakened his faith or robbed his power to increase the Kingdom of God.  

Never forget Jesus was human [flesh], as well as divine [Spirit]; Oneness with God is being “fully human.”  A pure Spirit-man created in the Beginning (Gen 2:7).  While on earth, Jesus had to deal with the Adversary—Satan—just like we do. However, he was so devoted to the Father he operated in the Oneness of divine power.  Jesus hated sin, because he saw what it did to his beautiful creation.  So, he died on the cross to pay the debt for human sin and sent the Spirit to embody and help believers defeat and overpower their spiritual enemy.

As I sit and think about this passage from the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians, my mind is wandering to how different the atmosphere of this world would be if every human being operated in humility, gentleness, patience, and love.  Because it has become commonplace, I cannot imagine a day not having to engage in spiritual warfare with self-centered arrogance, aggressive rudeness, and irritable impatience trying to take dominion of my soul or operating in and through the unguarded soul of others.  It’s a daily battle to stay in the selfless—humble, gentle, and patient—love of God.  

Today, invite the Spirit to keep you “awake” to God’s presence with you and help you guard your heart against the work and temptation of the Adversary to serve unrighteousness—evil.  Pray for the unity created by the Spirit to motivate believers in their callings across the world. “O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:  to do what is right [righteous fairness], to love mercy [compassion], and to walk humbly [in integrity] with your God (Micah 6:8).  If believers would guard the unity of the Spirit [Oneness] and make the atmosphere thick with God’s love, we would be world-changers! Today, “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good” (Ro 12:21).

Ephesians 4:1-6 The Voice

1 As a prisoner of the Lord, I urge you: Live a life that is worthy of the calling He has graciously extended to you. 2 Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love. 3 Make every effort to preserve [guard] the unity the Spirit has already created, with peace binding you together.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were all called to pursue one hope. 5 There is one Lord Jesus, one living faith, one ceremonial washing through baptism [purification], and 6 one God—the Father over all who is above all, through all, and in all.

Prayer:  Father, we ask for the Spirit to keep us aware of your abiding presence.  We need the Helper to guard, protect, and deliver our hearts from evil.  Quicken and motivate us to protect the unity of faith you have created by your Spirit.  And, help us walk in humility, gentleness, and patience, so we can leave the fragrance of your love everywhere we go, today.  Faith in you is our Victory.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.