Tag: Devotionals

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Return To Holiness

14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ~ Hebrews 12:14NIV

Holiness is a word we don’t hear very often in the Church anymore, and when we do hear it, it is taken a bit out of context. We are led to believe that holiness consists entirely of our outward appearances and nothing else. Yet, we watch any old filth on the TV with the most explicit language and nudity and sexual content, and we don’t even bat an eye. Our consciences have been seared as with a hot iron and we don’t even realize it.

Holiness is belonging to and being dedicated to God. You have now passed from corruption to spiritual perfection or purity, unrighteousness to sacred because you are no longer tainted by evil or sin. In pursuit of holiness, we don’t continue doing the same old things we use to do. No, we resist temptation. We turn away from evil.

Your life will always go in the direction of the dominant images in your mind. What you let in by way of music, tv, movies, etc. (that is, hearing and seeing) is what will shape your destiny.

The return of Christ Jesus is so very close. Look around, and you will see, the time is near for His return, and He is looking for the holy, those whose garments are washed in the blood. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, I beseech you to get back to holiness.

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Crucified With Christ

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:20

Christ gave His life for us, so it’s now up to us to live our lives for Him. When we do, He gives us Eternal Life. Why? Because when we live our lives for Christ, we make the conscious, determined decision to do good. To do what is right. Because that’s what following Christ is, it’s denying your flesh so that your soul may live.

LORD, help us to deny our flesh so that we may spend Eternity with You surrounded in Your love. Help us to see that You want what’s best for us. Help us to also want what’s best for us and to crucify our flesh. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Bow Today

9 Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Philippians 2:9-11

One day every knee will bow, and everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, but on that day, many will be in mourning. Many will cry because they didn’t bow their knee earlier. They didn’t confess Jesus before they were face to face with Him, and they could not stand in the presence of the Almighty God.

But, those who bow their knee and confess before the Day of Judgment, they will rejoice, for they will see their King. Their LORD. Their Savior. They will be given crowns, robes, joy, and everlasting life, but those who do not confess will receive only pain, agony, regret, and everlasting death.

The things of this world are only temporary. We’re only here for a short time; what you do with that time determines how you will spend your Eternity. What may seem important to you today will seem frivolous and unimportant. The majority of our desires only last a short time, a few minutes to a few hours, then we’re left empty, unsatisfied, and filled with shame and regret. Nothing on Earth is worth your Eternal soul. Bow your knee today so that on Judgment Day, you will rejoice to see your King.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Bow Today.

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The Resurrected Peter

6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.” ~ Mark 16:6-7

This is after Satan demanded to have Peter. Peter then denied Jesus three times and went out weeping. But Jesus didn’t leave Peter there in his sin; He called him by name through the angel. And what does Peter do? He comes running. He runs to Jesus. He doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t stop to think it through. He doesn’t even walk. He runs to Him. Peter could see his second chance right around the corner.

This is us today. We’re each Peter. We’ve each been demanded for by the Devil, but we’ve also each been called back to God. But it’s up to us who’s call we decide to answer. When Peter heard, he didn’t hesitate he took off running to Jesus. And what did that get him? The chance to repent and be forgiven.

We have all denied Him, but we have all been called by name. And when we answer that call and run to our resurrected king, He resurrects us, just like He resurrected Peter.

LORD God, help us to not only hear Your call but to run towards You. Help us to heed every one of Your warnings and follow Your commands. Help us to watch and pray that we would not fall into temptation. In Jesus’ name, we pray amen.

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Enter Into His Places of Glory

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, ~ Hebrews 10:11-12

Jesus came to earth for one purpose and one purpose only, to redeem ALL of mankind from their sins. He came to give the one and only sacrifice that could cleanse mankind of our sins and reconcile us to God. After His sacrifice, He was buried in a tomb, and a huge stone sealed Him in. But, on the third day, Jesus rose again.

We don’t serve a dead God. Our God is alive and well. His life wasn’t taken from Him. He freely gave it. It was His call to redeem us from our sins. No longer is even on this earth, but now He is physically seated at the right hand of God. And because He lives through us, and He is now our High Priest, we have been given the right to enter into the presence of Almighty God. We have now been redeemed, restored, and adopted as Children of God.

So be encouraged today; our Savior is alive and well. He goes before us. He clears the way for us to walk. Jesus has torn the curtain separating man and God. Because our Savior not only lives but is seated in Glory, we can now enter into those places of Glory. We are no longer separated from God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Enter Into His Places of Glory.

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Have Hard Conversations

17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” ~ John 4:17-20

I think it’s safe to say that this was an uncomfortable conversation. Not only did Jesus tell the woman of her past sins and that she was still living in sin, but Jesus even went as far as to tell her that she doesn’t even know who she is worshipping because she is not a Jew. Jesus didn’t avoid these kinds of hard conversations because He understood that people would die in their sin without hard conversations. He was prepared for any response that the woman could have responded with because He loved her. His love for her gave Him the patience He needed to have the hard conversations.

We need this kind of love today. Not every conversation we have will be easy. Some will be hard. Some will have people becoming angry. Some will have people becoming all kinds of emotional, but without these conversations, how can they be saved? Jesus was crucified because of what He said and did, but yet He cried out on their behalf. Stephen was stoned to death. Paul was kicked out of several towns, beaten several times, and left for dead. The disciples were crucified. So many have died and are willing to die for the Word of God, for Truth, but in a free country, we are afraid to offend or upset someone. We are afraid of uncomfortable conversations.

Why? I believe it’s the lack of love. We’d rather allow someone to stay in their sin, ignorance, or lack of faith because we don’t want to be uncomfortable. If we only understand a tenth of the punishment they would face, we would have any conversation necessary to save their soul from destruction. We would humble ourselves and look at them with love. We would have mercy and speak life to them. Look at how Jesus finished His hard conversation.

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

John 4:21-26

He ended it with hope. He didn’t just say you’re a sinner. He didn’t just say, well, you’re not even a Jew. No, He left the woman with hope. The hope of the Messiah who would break down all barriers. The hope that no matter the past, the Messiah is the future. Who is it that you’re avoiding your hard conversation with? Don’t avoid it any longer. Don’t wait any longer, for tomorrow is promised to no man. Give them a chance to repent and find Christ Jesus.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Have Hard Conversations.

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Apply The Blood

7 Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. ~ Exodus 12:7

Without the sacrifice of the perfect lamb and the blood covering the doorposts and the lintel of the houses, the LORD could not stop the destroyer from entering the home and taking the life of the firstborn. This is the same with us today. Without the sacrifice of the perfect lamb, we cannot be freed from our sins, and we are bound for Hell. For the soul that sins must die. But don’t be discouraged; our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Our perfect lamb has been slain.

Jesus died for our sins 2000 years ago. He took our punishment on Himself, but even though He died for us, that doesn’t mean that we will all be saved. We have to now do an action. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can make it in without applying the blood. Likewise, don’t be lulled into apathy, thinking that all is good because you believe in God. You believe in God, good! Even the demons believe that there is a God and shutter.

Listen. Not everyone that says Lord, Lord, will be accepted. You have to apply the blood. How do you apply the blood?

    1. By accepting Jesus’ sacrifice and obeying His commands
    2. Read your Bible
    3. Become familiar with what Jesus said and what His Apostles revealed about Him
    4. Pray continually, and believe

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Apply The Blood.

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Thank Him For His Sacrifice

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. ~ Hebrews 7:26-28

We needed Jesus’ blood because His blood was and is untainted by sin. Just as the writer of Hebrews tells us that it was impossible for someone tainted by sin to redeem us from our sins, it always will be impossible for anyone other than Jesus to redeem us from our sins. Why? Because Jesus was our perfect, untainted, innocent final sacrifice. This act was not and is not God’s accepting nor condoning human sacrifice. This was Jesus saying Father, they’ve sinned, they can’t pay their debt; they can’t take their punishment, let me take their place. Jesus took our place on the cross. He took our punishment by sacrificing Himself so that we might be saved.

So, what does this blood do for us? According to Hebrews 9:13-14, the blood of Jesus did what the blood of animals could not do; it cleansed us from our sins and all unrighteousness. Unlike the animals’ blood, Jesus’ blood purified us from our sin and purified our minds from the guilt of our sins. He not only cleansed us physically but spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. He freed us in every aspect we can think of, with His Holy and precious blood.

Now because the Blood of Jesus cleansed us of our sins, it also brought us closer to God. The writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 10:19-20 that we are now able to enter the Holy places, that we couldn’t enter before the cleansing Blood of Jesus. We have been given, through the new way of Jesus, a path into the Holy places. We can now go before the Throne of God with confidence.

“16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” ~ Hebrews 4:16

Before we couldn’t do that, we couldn’t enter into the presence of God, or we would die because of our sin and filth, but now we have that privilege because of the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for taking our place and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Thank Him For His Sacrifice.

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Guide Your Children With Love and Patience

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.” ~ John 20:24-25

Jesus not only represents the relationship between a husband and a wife but also between a parent and a child. Isaiah 9:6 and John 14:18 confirm that Christ is also our Everlasting Father. Now, Thomas looked like Jesus, followed Jesus, but had very little faith. He knew Jesus said He would be raised again, but Thomas didn’t have the faith to believe that it was true or even possible. Jesus didn’t get angry at Thomas; He didn’t get frustrated and condemn Thomas. When Thomas didn’t have the faith, Jesus showed Him the Truth so that He could have the faith. Jesus helped Him 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 20:26-29

This is the patience and love we have to show our children, especially as parents. We can’t become angry or frustrated when our children lack faith; we have to look at them with love and empathy that we may be able to help them in their unbelief. We have to follow Jesus’ footsteps by spending time in prayer and studying the Word of God so that we might be able to guide our children through Scripture into a deeper and stronger faith.

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. ~ Romans 10:17

You only have a short time to influence your children’s lives before they start to become influenced by the world. Don’t let the world negatively influence your children, take the time to lovingly guide them. Show them that they can come to you about anything. Show them that they can trust you with anything. Show them that no matter how they come to you, you will be there for them to guide them back into the Light. Start this from a young age so that when they are grown, and they need someone to lean on, they can lean on you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Guide Your Children With Love and Patience.

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Supplement Your Faith

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11for if you practice these qualities, [or in other words, if you do these things], you will never fall. For in this way, there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Peter 1:10-11

Peter admonishes us to be diligent in making sure our names are on the guestlist, but the question that begs to be answered is, how? Well, in the first couple of verses, Peter says that through Jesus’ divine power, He has given us everything we need for Godly living. Nothing is lacking. We can’t say, well, we didn’t know, or we didn’t have the right tools. Everything we need has been made available to us so that we are without excuse.

Not only are we given everything we need from Jesus to live a Godly life, but Peter also instructs us about the supplements or the additions to our faith that we should all do. He said, “for this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith.” What are the supplements?

    • This word faith means a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith
    • To faith, we add virtue. Virtue simply means moral excellence, mastery over immorality. We are no longer to be led astray by sin and temptation, immorality, and debauchery. We are to live a wholesome and holy life
    • And to virtue, we add knowledge. This means to have a strong grasp or an intelligent comprehension of the knowledge of who Jesus is

The LORD God wants us to know Him, and He wants us to be just like Him, practicing the same things He practices:

    • Steadfast love
    • Justice
    • Righteousness

He is the only one who is good. We are filled with sin that defiles us, but through Jesus Christ, we are able to be cleansed from all unrighteousness because He took our punishment for us. If we repent and turn to Christ, He will make us a new creation in Him.

Dear LORD, soften our hearts towards You. Fill us with a fire that can never be put out, that we may never be lukewarm. Give us a desire for the things that please You. Give us a desire to seek You and love You with all of our heart. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

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