Devotionals

Daily Reading: 6-17-16

Galatians 3:15-22  New Living Translation (NLT)

Some times it is difficult to persuade people to look beyond their own perspective on a topic and/or experience just in case there is more to be known beyond a slight turn of the will.  This can be true in our natural understanding or knowledge of the material world and in our spiritual understanding or knowledge of faith.  The point is not necessarily that what is presently known or understood is a bad thing or without purpose; in fact the present knowledge and understanding can be quite beneficial.  The point is there may be something ahead that actually builds upon that present perspective; a point of revelation to be encountered if we are willing to be taught.  Such is the case with the Apostle Paul and his argument with the Galatians that we will read today.  What is the topic of this dialogue?  The “What” is the Law of Moses or specifically the Torah.   

History:  The Jewish leaders managed to make hundreds of rules and rituals (Torah) out of God’s Ten Commandments—moral and ethical standard that is consistent with His Love.  In fact, those rules and rituals (Torah) governed almost every aspect of Jewish life.  It was slavery and self-defeating, because no human could fulfill the Torah Law human’s actually created. lol…  In the Gospels, Jesus confronted this reality all the time, because He revealed to the religious leaders of his time that they had actually broken God’s commands, found “loopholes” and convinced themselves they were obeying the Law while at the same time living self-centered, unrighteous, and greedy lives before the Father (Matthew 23:23-28).  Humanity apart from authentic Love is a manipulating mess that denies the authority of God.  Jesus, the Promise, came as the “descendant” of Abraham to bring forgiveness for humanity’s sinful or selfishly created “loopholes,” as well as the ability to live by the Spirit into newness of life.  Jesus connects us with a new beginning in the Love of God.  Let’s see how Paul explains freedom from the Law…

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Daily Reading: 6-16-16

Romans 2:17-29 New Living Translation (NLT)

Scripture teaches and history reveals that human beings can be deceived into thinking they have a special relationship with God, know His heart, and at the same time terribly misrepresent Him to the world through their actions. We need the Holy Spirit shining the light of Truth on God’s Word to know Father God’s heart; we need the Word (Jesus) and the Spirit operating in our lives in order for us to be one with His heart. God’s Word must be written on our hearts and lovingly lived out each day in the power of the Spirit for us to really represent God.

In our passage this morning, the Apostle Paul is speaking to a group of Jews in Rome who think they are in a position to judge others. Clearly, anyone can set a standard for others, judge them, only to find himself or herself violating that standard with his or her own life. It is only through the mercy and goodness of the Lord that any of us (human beings) are saved from a life of sin and death and reborn into a life of righteousness and eternal living.

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Daily Reading: 6-15-16

Mark 2:1-12 Modern English Version (MEV)

The Word of God brought forth creation and is such an awesome mystery.  It reveals the vital connection between the spiritual and material realms regarding God’s creation and the world in which He placed us.  The spiritual lessons are eternal and always relevant for the material world.  A biblical story is not only about what was going on in the text at a certain time in the past material world.  The Word is eternal and alive, so it transcends time to be partnered and loaded with a spiritual context and relevant lesson for a faith application.  This revelation is imparted to us by the Holy Spirit.  The Word always accomplishes what it is sent to do in our lives, that is why we must invest time in the Word every day.  As humans on a spiritual journey, the Word-Christ-is who connects us to eternal truth about our lives.  In Christ, we walk in our humanity by faith, not by what we see going on around us.

God is teaching me many things lately.  I confessed to the Lord this morning that many of the things He is teaching me are deep for me.  Let’s press in, anyway!  The number four in creation is symbolic of God’s material universe.  For the past four days, I have spent more time than usual listening to the news and what is going on in God’s creation.  The reports about the many happenings in Orlando consume not only the local and national networks, but the international ones, as well.  I usually limit watching the news, because I find the reports burden my heart-the pain others are enduring-which in turn pulls on my soul (mind/will/emotion).  I want to be informed in order to invest myself in prayer for others, but I cannot allow myself to be immersed in the news.  I have to stay focused on Jesus, the Living Word my Source of Peace, and press in through the crowd of doubt to understand what He is presently doing in the center of all His creation because He loves us; rather, than focusing on the violence and display of evil in the world that seeks to distract, impart fear, as well as bring chaos, confusion, and spiritual starvation to humanity.  Fear will always seek to paralyze and hinder our movement and growth as children of faith in God’s Love for His creation.  Satan knows our lives matter to God, so evil seeks to speak deception and keep us away (sin) from opening up the Word our Healer.   As children of faith we may have to grab ahold of one another, go to the mat, and struggle with understanding the things that go on in the material world, but Jesus-the LORD of all creation-will always speak an eternal Word to bring healing that helps us to rise in victory!  Others around us will notice when we have pulled back the barrier of doubt in order to be with Jesus; our lives reflect His glory.

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Daily Reading: 6-14-16

Psalm 130:1-5 New Living Translations (NLT)

The spirit of deception is busy seeking to cause God’s human family to destroy one another. Deception always presents as truth, but it is evil, twisted, misleading, and self-serving at its core; all about personal advantage and power over others.  In contrast, the Spirit of Truth calls us to gather to God, as His children, and grow together as we experience and learn about His love.

My heart is burdened in recognizing the evil deception that drove a young man’s terroristic thoughts and actions to rob the freedom and life from so many innocent people in Orlando this weekend.  It breaks my heart that some people may be so deceived that they think this young man’s actions pleased God.   As well, my heart is burdened by the knowledge that any human being can be a host to evil deception when we do not submit ourselves to and respect God who created us to live in His loving image.  The Holy Spirit is the One who helps us understand the Truth of God’s love and our great need to learn from Him.

I pray for people to turn to God and connect to Love in these difficult days, because Love is the only thing that will sustain us when facing the mountain of deception that evil throws our way.  First Corinthians 13:4-8 reminds us what a person who lives loyal to God’s Love (modeled by Christ) actually exemplifies: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”  

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Daily Reading: 6-13-16

Galatians 3:1-9 New Living Translations (NLT)

The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the promises God made to Abraham under the Old Covenant of the Law—(based on perfect performance to God’s standards through human effort).  God promised to make Abraham the faith father of many descendants.   Through Christ’s love, death, and resurrection, humanity is offered the choice to have a right relationship with God and a New Covenant called Grace.  The New Covenant of Grace is built on trusting God to make us righteous; rather, than trying to make ourselves righteous. 

Human beings can always lose their way when it comes to faithfully following God’s Word.  Even though we may love God, we can still wander and lose sight of the big picture associated with God’s heart.   In our lesson, today, the Apostle Paul wants the wandering Galatians to remember the foundation of the church and having a right relationship with God is built on the New Covenant and the work of the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live by faith.

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Daily Reading: 6-10-16

2 Samuel 15:1-12 New Living Translations (NLT)

Since the Garden of Eden, humans have been infiltrated with deception—an egocentric bent or inclination.  It is why we must humble ourselves and draw near to God.  Deception tries to draw us away from God and tempt us to give our authority to the purposes of evil (a supernatural force that produces sin or rotten fruit:  e.g. profound immorality, wickedness, depravity, and corruption).  Only God can liberate us from the power of evil and position us for His divine purpose.  Please remember, we overcome evil with Good (Romans 12:21).

In our study of Revelation this past Wednesday evening, we discussed the rising presence of deceptive evil in the world.  If humans do not draw near to God in order to grow in the Word by the Spirit of Love, we can open ourselves up to controlling and deceptive spirits.  In particular, we discussed the presence of a Jezebel spirit (Jezebel is a name synonymous with an evil and seductive egocentric spirit).  A Jezebel spirit tries to control humans with the purpose of getting the unwitting to live for the kingdom of darkness; rather, than live for the purpose of releasing God’s Love and Goodness.   Some characteristics of a Jezebel spirit present as follows:  accusatory, easily offended, divisive by forming conspiracies against those who seek to release Good, twists communications, constricts the desire to live in integrity, morally unteachable, manipulating, controlling, competitive, and vindictive when others resist being controlled by them.  All we need to do is ask the Spirit to open our eyes and watch the news for a few minutes to see the presence of a Jezebel spirit active in our world. Humans can give authority to supernatural forces that control the soul (mind/will/emotions).  However, we never need to be afraid, we simply must choose to be led by the Spirit of God and resist evil by releasing Good fruit (Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, thoughtfulness, self control. Galatians 5:22). Jesus gives us the authority and power to be victorious for His Kingdom.

In our reading below, David’s son, Absalom, has given power to deception and presents with a Jezebel spirit.  He initiates a conspiracy against his father who seeks to honor God by twisting communications, manipulating, and competing for power and authority.  

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Daily Reading: 6-9-16

James 4:1-7 New Living Translations (NLT)

I am grateful for every day God gives me breath (ruach or spirit) in my lungs to live in His created world! I believe God is the Giver of all Life. As recipients, humans are given the freedom to choose how we will live that life before the Giver. As Creator, God asks humanity to humbly draw close to Him and choose to live for a God-centric purpose. Scripture teaches how we are to live in God’s Love; we need Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. God wants only good for humanity, so when we draw near to Him, we are actually opening the Door to our greatest and most fulfilling purpose. The world (now infiltrated by evil) seeks to draw us away from God in order to live and fulfill an egocentric purpose which always leaves a person unsatisfied and misdirected.  A focus on self alone will always produce poor choices.

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Daily Reading: 6-8-16

Luke 8:40-56 New Living Translations (NLT)

The last few days we have been reading Scripture passages on faith; how our faith will be stretched, because our souls need to rise in spiritual maturity.  Since it is impossible to please God without faith, it must be our faith that causes God to move in our behalf. The Word stretches our faith, guides and corrects us, so the Spirit can come and respond to our faith with healing.

Jesus is the Living Word who is filled with the Spirit of Love doing the Father’s will.  Here is another way to say the same thing: Jesus has the heart of the Father for all creation, has obediently and flawlessly applied the Word to his humanity, and is filled with the healing Spirit of Love to go about releasing the goodness of God into the world.  Jesus is the fullness of God to bring salvation.  

Many people claim to know Father God. Do you know the Father’s Son, Jesus, the Living Word in human flesh?  Do you realize the gift and value of Scripture when it comes to your life as a child of the Father who is spiritually growing to look like the Son, so you can be useful in the power of the Spirit for God’s kingdom?  Timothy said it this way, “All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead and have all they need to accomplish every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

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Daily Reading: 6-7-16

Galatians 2:11-14 New Living Translations (NLT)

Yesterday, we looked at a passage from Genesis that reminded us our faith will be stretched.  That reminder is necessary so we will always be prepared to protect the joy of our salvation and our trust in the Lord’s Love for us.  He disciplines those He loves; He guides those who welcome renewal. 

Today, we will read a passage from Paul’s letter to the Galatians.  This is a great reminder why our faith needs to be stretched; our souls need a dose of divine healing and renewal to reflect the heart of God.  As Christ’s followers we must be more concerned with pleasing the Lord than pleasing people. Peter is going to experience that love and faith-stretching lesson in a public confrontation.

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Daily Reading: 6-6-16

Genesis 22:1-14  New Living Translations (NLT)

Has the Lord been stretching your faith? For every child of God who calls on the name of the Lord (Here I am, Lord!), he or she will experience salvation.  Please remember salvation of the spirit is instantaneous; because of Grace we become a new (redeemed) spiritual creature. Our spirits are reborn in the righteousness of Christ; the Holy Spirit remains our Companion.  Salvation of the soul (mind, will, emotions) is revealed and learned experientially; the journey for the salvation of the soul is taught by the Spirit.  Not only does the Spirit help us to learn Truth about God’s heart and ourselves through the Word, the Spirit stirs our desire and offers the power for us to bring our minds, wills, and emotions into obedience with God’s plan for us as His children of faith and Love. 

The fear of the Lord is reverence for His authority as our Creator.  God allows experiences to strengthen our faith and secure our devotion to Trust Him; He knows the plans He has for us and He desires to love us into that plan.  When our faith is being tested, we will be tempted to question God’s love.  It is a refining fire that purifies our faith.  God allows the test, but we must always remember God brings the provision for salvation, as well.  The revelation of God’s salvation for us and in us brings us a testimony of His goodness and an increase to our faith. We become greater instruments for God’s plan to redeem the world.

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