Devotional Archives

July 21, 2024July 21, 2024

Believe Regardless

²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” ²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” ~ John 20:24-29

Thomas had stayed with Jesus for three and half years. He walked with Him and talked with Him. He saw miracle after miracle. He himself performed miracles, healings, and casting out of demons in the powerful name of Jesus. He believed in Jesus, but he couldn’t understand how God could be killed by man.

His faith had been put to the test just as many others had. The majority of people believe Jesus was a good man, a prophet, even the Son of God, but not God Himself. They can’t grasp how God, who flooded the whole world, could have come in the form of man and allowed His creation to kill Him. This is the same boat Thomas found himself in.

He refused to believe Jesus even rose from the dead because his faith had been so destroyed. He even went as far as to say he would never believe without being able to physically put his hand in Jesus’ wounds. It’s not until Jesus physically shows Himself to Thomas that Thomas truly believes that Jesus is God.
Jesus even responds to Thomas with these words:

Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

He didn’t deny that He was God. He didn’t tell Thomas he got it wrong. Jesus asked do you only believe because you have seen me? Then He says blessed are those who haven’t seen but yet believe.

We are to live by faith, not by sight. We are to believe regardless of what our eyes see. Jesus never blatantly comes out and says, “I Am God.” No. Jesus tells us through the Scriptures He fulfills and through the names He has. Why? Because He refuses to testify about Himself but allows others, such as the Father and His apostles, to do such things.

Today, you have the option to either walk by faith or by sight. To either believe that Jesus is God or just a good man and prophet. The choice of salvation is yours. So seize it today, for tomorrow is promised to no one.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Believe Regardless.

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Keep Going In Christ

¹⁹The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. ~ Joshua 4:19

On the 10^th day of the 1^st month of the Israelite year, they crossed over the Jordan into Gilgal. That would be the day they were to select either the lamb or the goat for the Passover sacrifice, which would be slaughtered on the 14th day of the month.

The 10^th day of the 1^st month can be thought of as the DAY of CHOOSING. Spiritually, what was happening was that God was choosing these people that day.

Remember that their fathers were all rejected because of unbelief and disobedience. So now God was selecting or choosing these people to enter the Promise that He had given to them and their forefathers several hundred years before. From the time of Abraham.

Then Paul likened the passing through the water to baptism into Moses (1 Corinthians 10:1-5). Those who were baptized, coming through the Red Sea, were now all dead, so these new Promise-Receivers had to be baptized.

Now, after they cross over and are symbolically baptized into Moses, they are circumcised on a mountain (Joshua 5:2-3). In prophecy, a hill or a mountain always represents places of worship. This act of circumcision was an act of worship to the LORD. An act of submission and acceptance of the covenant of God.

Therefore, consecrate yourself for the LORD. Turn your eyes away from evil and your feet away from the world. Seek the LORD and all of His righteousness. Don’t be conformed by the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

When we decide to follow God, we have to make sure to never turn away. We have to be on guard defending our faith and our relationship with Christ, lest we lose it as the first generation of Israelites to leave Egypt did. They didn’t make it into the promised land. They never experienced the blessings of the LORD and the victories the second generation did. Therefore, cling to Christ. Don’t allow yourself to fall into a spiritual rut, lest you spiritually fall asleep and spiritually die.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Keep Going In Christ.

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Multiply Your Talents

¹⁴For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. ¹⁷So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ ²¹His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²²And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ ²³His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, ²⁵so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ ²⁶But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ²⁹For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ~ Matthew 25:14-30

In the parable, Jesus contrasts the kingdom of God with a man going on a long journey. The man called his servants and handed them each a portion of His property according to their own ability. He gave one five talents. To the other, He gave two. And still the other He gave one talent.

The one with five immediately went and doubled his money. The one with the two talents did the same. But the one with the one talent went and hid his master’s money in the ground. After a long time the master, who represents Jesus, came back and wanted to settle accounts with them.

He called the five who now had ten and He was proud of him calling him a good and faithful servant. Then He gave him ten cities of his own to be over (Luke 19:17). The same with the one with the two talents. He was given five cities. Seems like Jesus grades on the curve, which is good news for us.

But the one with the one talent who went and dug a hole, wrapped the coin in a handkerchief and buried it, with him the master was not pleased. Jesus labeled that servant a wicked and slothful servant. He not only threatened, but He carried out His threat as well. Taking his mina away from him represents taking away his place in eternity and assigning him a place with the unfaithful.

Our life on this earth is temporary. It’s a very short trip compared to eternity. So, don’t allow anyone or anything to distract you from building the Kingdom of God while you’re here. While you still have time. We’re each given a gift so that we might further the Kingdom of God. Don’t waste that gift. Don’t waste the time you have left to share with your loved ones, friends, and co-workers.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Multiply Your Talents.

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Be Concerned

¹⁰ And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. ¹¹ And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” ~ Jonah 4:10-11

God’s ways are not our ways, and our ways are not God’s ways. Not even our thoughts are like the Most High thoughts. Because like Jonah, we are concerned about the plant, while God is concerned about souls. That’s why He told us to cast our cares and our concerns on Him. The reason He said that is because He does care for us, and He does love us.

God wants us to be kind and loving to each other. He wants us to be concerned about other souls, especially lost souls. The book of Proverbs says that he who wins souls is wise. We are expected to tell the world about Jesus by testifying about His goodness.

Father, thank You for all Your many blessings upon me. Thank You for Your goodness and Your mercy. Thank You for Your everlasting love and Your perfect grace. Thank You that I know You and that You know me. Help me to be bold and testify to Your goodness. Help me to be a laborer in Your field, harvesting many souls for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Let The Message Change You

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. ⁵³ You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.” ⁵⁴ When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. ~ Acts 7:51-54^CSB

The people stayed silent and listened to Stephen’s message. He started with Abraham and made his way to Moses. The people didn’t contest anything he said, but when Stephen mentioned that they were the problem. That they killed the Messiah. That they were in the wrong, they were enraged. They were angered. Stephen had struck a nerve.

See, people are okay with hearing the historical references of the Bible. They’re even okay with hearing a moral story from the Bible. People only have a problem when you personalize the Bible. When the Scriptures are used to convict the conscience and change lives, that’s when people have a problem. That’s when people become angry because they’ve become attached to their flesh. The flesh becomes addictive. It becomes a stronghold that keeps you bound.

The message of Christ isn’t just to feel good and tickle our ears. The message of Christ is to lighten the darkness and change the lives of those who hear it. It’s not to make you feel comfortable in your sin; it’s to convict you of your past sins and change your life.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let The Message Change You.

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Choose Him

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16

Jesus did not die for a chosen few, as some advocate, and leave the others to burn forever, those who were unfortunate enough not to be selected, but rather, Jesus died for whomsoever will. Let him come. Let her come.

If you are willing to come, come. God will in no way turn you away or ignore you. He desires Satraps, Ambassadors, and Emissaries. Why? So That He Might Not Suffer Loss—the loss of another soul He loves choosing to perish instead of choosing Him.

Jesus loves you. He died for you. He’s knocking at the door of your heart beckoning you to Him. Jesus did all the heavy lifting; all you have to do is call on His name and believe. Then, you will be saved.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Choose Him.

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Be His Body

¹⁰For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. ~ Hebrew 2:10

God’s desire is to bring many sons and daughters to glory. Therefore, our job as Christians is to be Satraps and ambassadors for Christ so that we might add to the amount that are saved and redeemed. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We are His eyes and His mouthpiece. Therefore, our job is to be vigilant, watchful, and testify to the goodness of God, to His miraculous saving power, and to His steadfast love So That He Might Not Suffer Loss.

What’s the bottom line? We must work hard, for the fields are white on to harvest (John 4:35). The fields are ready for harvesting, yes, but the laborers are few, so that means we must work even harder so that the king, LORD Jesus, the King of kings, Might Not Suffer Loss.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be His Body.

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Be Careful

¹⁹I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, ²⁰loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. ~ Deuteronomy 30:19-20

From the very beginning, mankind was given a choice. Adam and Eve were given a choice in the Garden of Eden that day. It’s no good being given the freedom to choose but have no choices to make. It doesn’t work. It is only a farce. We have choices, and the freedom to choose.

We have a choice right now, either we step up to the plate and swing for the fence so that the King Might Not Suffer Loss, or we sit on the bench and watch the ball go by.

That is your choice!

Adam and Eve could have chosen to listen and obey God so that the king would not suffer loss, but instead, they chose quite the opposite.

Remember, man was created without sin. Adam and Eve were both innocent until they rebelled against God’s commandment and ate the forbidden fruit.

Instead of standing up to the serpent and protecting the king’s interest, both Adam and Eve gave in and rebelled against God, causing the king great loss.

Today, we still have a choice. We can either choose life or death. Freedom from Christ or sin. There is, always was, and always will be a choice.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Careful What You Choose.

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Hands of Man

²⁸And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” ~ Genesis 1:28

Did you notice God’s commission to Adam and Eve? This is the original Great Commission. To be:

Fruitful
To multiply and fill the earth
And subdue it

We were to get all of this done because God gave us dominion over all of the earth. Everything was placed under our control. Why would God place such power and control in the hands of man?

The short answer is So That He Might Not Suffer Loss.

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His Strength

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ~ Ephesians 6:10-11

AI, that Adulterous and Idolatrous city. Adultery is the same as spiritual Idolatry, and Idolatry is the same as spiritual adultery, and it comes in many forms.

Fornication
Sexual perversion
Pornography
Money
Power
Your job/work
Family
Car
House
Electronics
Games
Spiritual laziness
Sports
Celebrities
Concerts
TV
Ministry

When the men went up to fight AI, they were deceived into thinking they had it covered, not realizing they had a breach in their armor. Let us put on the full armor of God so that in the day of adversity, we will be able to stand.

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