Tag: Devotional

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Pray For Your Nation’s Leaders

1 Samuel 4:10-11 NIV

[10] So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. [11] The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

During this time, Israel had no king. Israel was ruled by a judge. Eli judged the nation of Israel for forty years. During his time, his sons openly lived in sin (which he did not put a stop to) and Israel did not hear from God. Now towards the end of his life when he hears that the LORD has had enough of his lukewarmness and his sons’ evil acts, Israel goes to battle.

But the LORD wasn’t with them in battle, so they tried to force God’s hand by getting the Ark of the Covenant (where the presence of God rested) and went back to battle. What happened? God’s presence did not remain with them and the Ark of the Covenant was taken by their enemies. Eli’s two sons were killed. And Eli himself died when he heard the Ark was taken.

I want you to notice something. Just because they had the Ark didn’t mean that the LORD was with them. When the leader of a nation does not have God with them, the nation does not have God with them either. Does that mean that God abandons individuals within those nations that have leaders like this? No. God was still with Samuel, but as a nation, God was not with them.

Now, get this, the Ark did not return to Israel until a leader came forth who the LORD was with. It wasn’t until Eli was dead and Samuel became the new leader that the presence of the LORD returned to Israel. This is why we are to pray for our leaders.

We may not agree with everything they say or do, but as a nation, they are our head. And if the head of the nation is corrupt, then the entire nation is corrupt. The LORD will only dwell where He is wanted and pursued. Therefore, pray for your leaders. Pray for their salvation. Pray that the LORD Himself will guide them, keep them, and lead them as He did Samuel, so that His presence may always remain in our nation.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pray For Your Nation’s Leaders.

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Time of Mercy

Habakkuk 1:1-5 NIV

[1] The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. [2] How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? [3] Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. [4] Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. [5] “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

When Habakkuk cried to the LORD about the violence, murder, and betrayal God answered with His plan to punish the guilty, and God still has a plan to punish the guilty. Although He is just, God is merciful, not wanting any to perish. That is why He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on Calvary so that all who would seek life may find life.

We are living in God’s day of mercy. But He will not hold back His wrath forever. He will not hold His peace indefinitely.

The Scriptures tell us that a day of Judgment is appointed unto every man, and every man will have to stand before Him and give an account. Then He will part the nations and place the goats on His left and the sheep on His right.

Those are words to describe the two different types of people: those who have not accepted Jesus, and those who have. The goats represent those who have rejected the Savior, and the sheep represent those who have had their sins forgiven by accepting Jesus as their personal LORD and Savior.

Our God is just but He is also merciful.  Today is the day of Salvation. Tomorrow is promised to no man. No one can ensure they will make it to tomorrow, so why put off your relationship with Christ? One day God will punish the guilty with an eternal punishment. On that day, what will the LORD say to you? Will He welcome you into His Kingdom and will you be told to depart from Him?

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Do More Than Welcome

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both LORD and Christ. ~ Acts 2:36

Peter said, “You crucified Jesus!” He didn’t deliberately soften his words or his message in order to spare their feelings. He didn’t ease them into it to give them something to relate to or make them feel good. He didn’t water down the Gospel. No.

He let that “arrow of truth” fly and let it pierce whomever it hit, and that’s why they were cut to the heart, which caused them to yell in panic, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). You know how many were saved at that event? Three thousand souls.

Why do we, as Christians, try to continuously reinvent the wheel? Why do we feel we need to change the Word of God for the sake of not comfort? Any church that sinners (those actively living and indulging in sin) feel comfortable in and never feel any form of conviction isn’t housing the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit should move the hearts of the people through the words of the pastor.

We should be seeing growth in our Christians. Repentance in our sinners. Conviction in our heathens. There should be signs that the Holy Spirit is dwelling and meeting with us.

The church is to do more than just welcome people in. Yes, people should feel welcome to come to any church. Yes, they should be greeted with love. But the message should come from God and pierce their hearts.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Do More Than Welcome.

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Start Today

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. ~ Matthew 5:6

Have you ever been hungry? I mean, really, really hungry. It starts with a subtle, nagging sensation in your stomach—like an empty, hollow ache or a faint gnawing. It’s your body whispering, “I need fuel.”

Beyond the physical— hunger can tug at your mind. You might find yourself daydreaming about food, with the sight or smell of it becoming almost irresistible.

Cravings set in, hitting hard, as images of a nice, warm slice of pizza dance just outside your mental periphery, or whatever your choice of comfort food is.

We call it having “Food Horrors.”

Then, when you mix hunger with that primal, urgent sensation that screams, “Water…! I need water!”

The experience intensifies exponentially.

Thirst may start with a dry, sticky feeling in your mouth and throat, like your tongue is clinging to the roof of your mouth.

Your lips feel parched and cracked. Swallowing can become uncomfortable, almost scratchy. As the thirst intensifies, a slight headache, tiredness, and trouble concentrating set in as your body signals, “I’m dehydrating here.”

Now, think about all that I just described, and apply it spiritually. That is what Jesus is talking about. … those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Have you ever hungered and thirsted for righteousness like that? Where your soul, your whole being, cries out for more of Jesus?

“LORD, I will die, without You!” You want to be righteous before Him. You want to walk holy before Him. You want to please Him in every way.

If you haven’t felt what I’ve just described, spiritually, then you haven’t hungered and thirsted for righteousness. Everything within you yearns to walk righteously before your God. The mere thought of failing in any one part will make you sick to your stomach.

That is what we are striving for. To hunger and thirst for righteousness. How do we get there? By starting with reading and studying your Bible, spending time with God in prayer and worship, and putting your flesh into subjection through fasting. So, don’t wait to start seeking the LORD.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Start Today.

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Focus On Eternal Treasures

19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~ Matthew 6:19-21

We brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing out. All that we will have in eternity is what we send on ahead of us. And that is the reason why Jesus warned us to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

This world and the things of this world will pass away. We can’t take what is perishable with us to a place that is imperishable. Eternity is forever. This earth is not. So, why are we obsessed with what the world has to offer? The LORD has in store for us treasures and joy that none can even imagine. Therefore, focus on eternal treasure, not the temporary treasures of this world.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Focus On Eternal Treasures.

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Build For Eternity

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4

The King James says that, “… they will not endure sound doctrine …” People don’t want to hear sound doctrine but want their itching ears scratched. They leave the Truth of the Church and cling to a lie because they love this world and want their own lusts and passions satisfied. But friend, this world is passing away and eternity is hurdling toward us at a breakneck speed.

Now, hear me… eternity is forever. Jesus is coming back. Paul said that a crown of righteousness is laid up for all those who love His appearing and look forward to it (2 Timothy 4:8). These earthly desires (the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life) are all of the evil one, the devil, and those who are of him will cling to the fables of this world.

But as for us we are to remain sober-minded. We are to endure suffering. We are to win souls. We are to be ready to suffer for the sake of the Gospel if necessary. We must run our race with endurance and finish our course in victory. Then we will receive the crown of life that is laid up for us.

Don’t get caught up in the things of this world and miss out on all the good things God has in store for us. Greed is sweeping the pulpits and washing over the congregations. The Gospel is being twisted into a self-help, wealth-building message that reduces God merely to a means of personal gain.

I’m not preaching against prosperity. I believe in sowing and reaping, but when the blessings of the LORD are being sold from the pulpit. When the increase of wealth without repentance is trumpeted. When the promise of power without purity is condoned. We’ve corrupted the Word of God. The Church is not all about the here and now, but the here and now in preparation for eternity.

We brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing out. All that we will have in eternity is what we send on ahead of us. And that is the reason for Jesus’ warning to us:

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Build For Eternity.

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Remain His Faithful

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…” – Luke 16:10 (NIV)

Jesus reminds us that faithfulness in small things matters more than we think. The little things are where big faith is built. They show God that we’re ready for the next step.

See, God isn’t going to elevate someone who can’t meet with Him daily. Read their Bible daily. Go to church. Spread and share the Gospel. God doesn’t just use people who refuse to be consistent. Why? Because He uses faithful people. Just because you have faith that God is real and Jesus is the LORD, doesn’t mean you are a faithful follower of Christ.

God rewards the faithful. He uses the faithful. He elevates the faithful. But to those who are not faithful, they remain in a state of lack.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remain His Faithful. 

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Watch How You Love

Matthew 22:37-40

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus said that all of the Law and the Prophets depend on two commandments: Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, and soul; and love your neighbor as yourself. In other words, you can do all things for God, preach and teach accurately, you can even give your life for the sake of the Gospel, but if you do not have love, you are a resounding symbol and you gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

And if we keep all the law, but we fail in the part of loving our neighbor as ourselves, what will become of us? We will be found without fruit. The LORD said that if we don’t bear fruit, we will be cut off and the thrown into the fire (John 15:1-6). So, what are we to do? Love. Love as Jesus did. He didn’t condemn. Insult. Demonize. Demean. Instead, we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Yes, we need to point out sin. But we have to do it without condemnation and insult.

So many of us claim to be Christians but insult and tear down others. What kind of testimony is that? If we, who are supposed to be Christ to the world, can’t do the basic foundational act of loving our neighbor (which is everyone), how can we expect the world to change? How we treat others matters. How we love matters.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Watch How You Love.

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Change Your Axiom

2 Corinthians 4:7-12NIV

[7] But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. [8] We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. [10] We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. [11] For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. [12] So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Often times, we take Paul saying “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” As strictly spiritually, but I believe Paul intended that to be our axiom for every aspect of our life. Because in life we will face challenges, disappointments, obstacles. We’ll become discouraged, depressed, anxious, if we don’t hold true to Paul telling us that “Yes, you’re struggling. Yes, you’re discouraged. Yes, things don’t look good right now. Yes, you’re not where you want to be, but God has not abandoned you.”

It’s easy to get caught up in all that’s going on and miss all that’s going right. It’s easy to forget the blessings, miracles, and favor God has given you over the years when your hard-pressed on each side. Paul isn’t tell us not to acknowledge the struggle. Paul is telling us to not disregard the victory. Don’t focus on what feels like defeat. Not every battle is won in one try. Some battles take all night. Some battles need the sun and moon to stop so that you have more time to fight.

The one thing you have to do, is keep going. That’s it. Because when you keep going you are actively putting your faith in God to carry you to the end. You’re actively saying “I know the LORD has good plans for my life and I won’t miss them because life is hard right now.” Paul understood obstacles, just like we do today, if not even more so, but the difference between us and Paul, is that he didn’t focus on the obstacle. Paul focused on the one who got him through that obstacle.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Change Your Axiom.

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Abide In His Word

John 15:7 NIV

[7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

When Jesus said that if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us, we can ask anything we wish, and it will be done for us, that was a real and achievable promise.

Because make no mistake, Jesus’ word never lies, nor will it return void, nor empty, nor will any of His great promises fail. So, when we don’t receive our prayer requests for things already promised to us such as healing, favor, etc. could it be because we don’t abide in Christ?

How many of us make Christ our main priority? How many of us can truly say that we abide in Christ and in His Word? God doesn’t owe us anything, but He does give us promises that will never fail. People tend to get offended when you say these kinds of things, but I think it’s more offensive to expect things from God that you don’t deserve without giving God anything. He doesn’t ask for much, just for us to follow Him. Faith is an action word. It requires an action in order for it work. Faith without action is dead.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Abide In His Word.

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