Tag: Devotionals

Posted on

Share His Experience

38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). ~ John 1:38-41

If someone just tells you about an event or an experience, it’s not your experience; it’s theirs. But when you come and see, that experience is yours. No one can deceive you. No one can place doubts in your mind. No one can con you. It’s your experience, and therefore, it is personal to you. We must make the Gospel personal.

That doesn’t mean that we come and see and then keep all of the information to ourselves so that no one else can experience what we have experienced.

But rather, we now Go and Tell. We share the Good News of Christmas with others. We become the light in the darkness. We share the great news of Christmas; Christ the LORD has come.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Share His Experience.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Posted on

Share All You’ve Seen and Heard

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ~ Luke 2:17–18

As soon as the shepherds had gone to Bethlehem and had seen and confirmed everything that the angel had told them, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in a manger, they made known the saying. In other words, they went and told.

They did not keep it to themselves; they shared the Good News of the Savior’s birth. It’s the Good News of Christmas. They felt they had no other choice but to share this exceedingly good news.

They were not asked to take the angel’s word for it. They were encouraged to go and see for themselves. Go and experience Jesus for themselves. Now that you’ve seen and experienced, go and tell what you have seen and what you have experienced.

It’s the Christmas Mandate. Go See; now Go Tell. Experience Christ for yourself. Don’t take your parent’s, your friend’s, your pastor’s, or anyone else’s word for it. Experience Christ for yourself this Christmas. No one can stand for you before Him on Judgment Day. If you have experienced Christ, share Him. Don’t keep Him to yourself. Share the good news. Go and tell of all He’s done for you. Fulfill your Christmas Mandate. Live your Christmas Mandate all year long.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Share All You’ve Seen and Heard.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Posted on

Come Together

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ~ Luke 2:15–16

They said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see…” They were all in agreement, for the Scriptures stated that they said to one another. It was not just one zealot bullying everyone else to go. They were in total agreement.

They were not arguing or quarreling amongst themselves on what to do with the sheep? They felt it was their God-given responsibility and their God-given right to do so.

Often times we get so caught up with the little inconsistencies in our beliefs that we can’t come together as one body in Christ Jesus. We can’t come together as one Church body able to act as one being led by the Holy Spirit if we allow simple things to separate us and cause division.

This Christmas, try to become one with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. It was as the shepherds were on that the angel brought them good news and great joy. It was as the followers of Christ were one in the upper room that the Holy Spirit came down with great power. What will happen this Christmas if we all come together as one in Spirit and in Truth.

Place. Love. Go Forth and Come Together.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Posted on

Go and Tell

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:10-12

This is the very first Christmas. The long-awaited promise has finally come. The prophecy has finally been fulfilled. Joy should now fill every heart. A song should fill every mouth, for the LORD is come. Oh, come, let us adore Him. Oh, come, let us celebrate His coming. For He comes to seek and to save that which was lost. Praise the LORD.

The angel was, in fact, telling the shepherds, you need to go to Bethlehem and see this thing. This is the event you all have been waiting for your entire lives, and your parents before you, and their parents before them.

In other words, come and see. That is our Christmas mandate. Come and See; Go and Tell. It’s our Christmas mandate, and more than half of Christians do not know it even exists or can not recognize it. Maybe that is the reason why more and more Christians are falling down on their God-given responsibility of “Go and Tell.” They simply don’t know about it or are under the impression that it is not their personal responsibility.

According to Christ, it’s our responsibility. This is our call. This is our Don’tCommission. We are to tell the good news to anyone who will listen. Don’t wait any longer. Go and tell the good news. Christ has come. Hope is here. Salvation has been purchased for all of mankind. Don’t wait any longer. Don’t miss your opportunity. Don’t miss your Christmas mandate.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Go and Tell.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Posted on

Listen to His Nudge

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ~ Galatians 4:4-5

God didn’t wait until the last minute to send His Son into the world. He didn’t wait until it was almost too late. It was at the fullness of time that God gave the entire world hope. And we celebrate God’s gift of hope every Christmas.

Imagine if God waited. Imagine the lives that could’ve been lost. Imagine the people that wouldn’t’ve heard the good news. We all have a call on our lives, but if we aren’t awake and alert, paying attention to the times and to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we could miss our opportunity to share that hope with someone. The hope of eternal life. The hope of salvation. The hope of Jesus.

Don’t let all the bright shiny lights of the world null you to sleep. Wake up and pay attention to the subtle nudge of the Holy Spirit. He’s our guide, and if He could lead the wise men and the shepherds to be in the right place at the right time, then He can nudge and lead you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Listen to His Nudge.

Back to Spiritual Slumber?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Posted on

Safe in His Hands

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one. ~ John 10:27–30

There you have it from Jesus’ own mouth. No one can snatch us out of His hands. We are secure in His hands. All we have to do is to continue in obedience. All we have to do is abide in His everlasting, eternal love.

Therefore, Christmas is the security that we have in Jesus. That no matter what they take from us. No matter if they confiscate our property, and I believe that time is coming and is even right at the door when they will soon start the confiscation of Christian property to keep us compliant. Still, even if they do, they can’t take or confiscate our salvation.

So, no matter what may come your way, no one, and that means no one, can separate you from God. When we get all concerned about what’s happening around us, when we get all concerned when things aren’t going as we think they ought to, and we ask, what about all these times? We can have confidence that not even death can separate us from Christ, for to die is to gain.

Heavenly Father, help me to grasp the understanding that I am safe in Your hands. Help me to truly understand that nothing can penetrate Your love for me. Help me to understand that the only way I can be separated from You is to freely walk away, and may I never do so. Help me to build my life on You that my foundation may be strong and secure so that when rain and floods come my way, I can stand firm in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Fear?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Posted on

Love Recklessly

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4–8

At Christmas time, there are community outreaches to get involved in that will give you the opportunity to give back. Why is this so important? Because the body of Christ builds up, not tears down. The body of Christ unites; it does not divide. The body of Christ encourages it does not discourage. Because we operate in love, and love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.

And when would be a better time to start reaching out to others and bettering your community than Christmas? Because Christmas is a time for helping those in our community who are in need. Churches are filled with those who don’t have enough. They barely make ends meet.

I understand that there are scam artists out there. But even if we’re scammed 9 out 10 times, we’ve still helped the one. Isn’t that the point of leaving the 99? Isn’t that the beautiful, self-sacrificing, reckless love that saved us? If we could all love as Christ does, the world would be a much better place.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Love Recklessly.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Posted on

Follow in God’s Footsteps

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

In today’s world, so many young people are growing up without true role models. Their role models are celebrities, athletes, and other people who are far off and don’t know their names. I challenge you this Christmas to take the time out and mentor someone as God took the time to mentor you.

God could’ve left us on our own. He could’ve left us in our own filth and ignorance, but out of His own love for us, He set aside everything and became man. He took the form of an innocent baby, and every year at Christmas, we take the time to remember and celebrate His first sacrifice. We celebrate Him becoming our greatest mentor.

None of us were born knowing Christ; we all had to learn. We all had to be taught. We all had to be mentored.

Statics say that:

    • 55% of young adults with a mentor are less likely than their peers to skip a day of school
    • 78% – more likely to volunteer regularly
    • 90% – are interested in becoming a mentor themselves
    • 130% – are more likely to hold leadership positions

So many of us have become spiritually lazy and spiritually asleep that we don’t even see the impact that we could make in our own community. This Christmas, think about becoming a mentor. Don’t just give a physical gift and call it a day. Give something that is priceless, your time and knowledge of Christ. Let the tradition of self-sacrificing for the sake of another continue.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Follow in God’s Footsteps.

Back to Spiritual Slumber?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Posted on

Go Tell It On The Mountain

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:10-12

God gave us the most precious gift of all that very first Christmas. He gave us Jesus Christ. In Him, there is salvation and everlasting life. There is freedom and rest. There is hope and joy. And the free gift that is Jesus is free for anyone who wants Him. And if we want Him and accept Him, He will not be taken away from us.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. I did not say we couldn’t give it up. I said it will not be taken from us.

They might ban Bibles in schools. They may outlaw prayer in government buildings. They may try to lockdown churches. They may try to prohibit praise and worship in our services, but they cannot take the free gift of salvation from us. No man can pluck us out of His hand.

This is a gift like none other. Don’t keep it to yourselves. Don’t keep the name of Jesus quiet and hidden from others. This is the time of hope and rejoicing, for Christ has come down to us and has not left us as orphans. This is the time we remember His birth, His first sacrifice. He left all He had, His throne, crown, and Godliness. He set everything aside for us. Don’t keep that to yourself. Tell everyone who will listen to the good news of Christ.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Go Tell It On The Mountain.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Posted on

The First Christmas Gift

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon His shoulder: And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. ~ Isaiah 9:6–7

Therefore, Christmas is all about Giving, for a child was born, but a Son was given. God gave us an eternal Christmas present that very first Christmas. This is indeed the gift that keeps on giving because no matter when you are born, no matter where you are born, you still have the free opportunity to accept that eternal Christmas present. Christ was given, not just to the Jews, but to all of mankind. To everyone that will accept Him.

Why? Because we are living in a time that God has poured out His Spirit on all flesh. Not some. Not most. But all. Therefore, anyone who calls on the name of the LORD. No matter their bloodline. No matter their sin. No matter their past. ANYONE who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Accept The First Christmas Gift.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:
Proudly powered by WordPress