Tag: Devotionals

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Check It

Ephesians 4:26-27

[26] Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, [27] and give no opportunity to the devil.

Two teenage boys and their families’ lives are destroyed recently. One teenager stabbing and taking the life of the other teenager only for him to be found guilty and sentenced to years in prison. What a heartbreaking story. Two young lives that had potential for greatness have both been destroyed because of anger.

Anger in itself isn’t evil or even a sin, but unchecked rage is. When you fly of the handles easily, you are a loose cannon. You have the potential to be deadly. This is a dangerous way to live. Why? Because every life matters. Each soul is precious to the LORD God above.

We are the only creation that He created in His own Image. He cares for the Sparrow, therefore, He cares even more for us. When we allow unchecked rage to lead us in life, we will destroy those around us as we destroy ourselves in the process.

We reach only get one life in this world. What we do with that life is what matters. It’s very short, therefore don’t let others dictate your feelings or emotions. Don’t let others get the best of you. You are meant for greatness. Each of us. But we’ll never reach our full potential flying off the handles.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Check It.

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Make The World Better

Matthew 5:14-16

[14]  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

I recently started video taping myself packing orders, testing games, etc. and posting them online to Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube in hopes that maybe that could help sales and build up some traction that I could make a few extra dollars a month. But of course, it’s the internet and people are just out here being negative for no reason. I was told my music is annoying (I used an old song I had made as background music so the video wasn’t in silence), so I told the man who made the comment that being rude to total strangers wasn’t really necessary. He then got upset and attacked me some more and insulted the video telling me it was stupid and no one cared, so I pointed out it was too late to insult the video as he already liked it and took the time to comment asking what it was I was packing up. We went back and forth for a bit, but ultimately he stopped responding after I explained his comments though hateful and intended to hurt me only helped my video get more views (because regardless of the content of the comments, Facebook sees interactions as a good thing and boosts your videos to more people) and only making himself look bad.

I could have easily gotten angry and attacked him back. Insulted him. Made him feel small, but I chose restraint. I chose not to allow myself to become angry or offended by what a stranger said about me online. Since social media, we, as a society, have grown callus towards one another. We try to tear others down for no reason other than because we can. Suicide in this younger generation is very high. They grew up on social media, where anyone can harass, hate, torment, and bully you relentlessly. Being behind a screen, hiding behind a fake name, feeling powerful for bringing down others only shows how weak and pathetic you truly are.

Social media doesn’t have to be a toxic place. I’ve never watched someone’s video and felt the need to comment to let them know how much I hate them or what they’re doing. I’ve never needed to tear someone else down to build myself up. How we act towards each other matters. Whether online or in person. As Christians, we are the light of the world because Christ shines through us. We have to take the high road, even when we feel like we have a right not to. Our life is no longer our own. It now belongs to Christ. Therefore, we need to be Christ to the world.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Make The World Better.

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Build Honest Wealth

Luke 16:10-13 NKJV

[10] He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. [11] Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? [12] And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?[13] “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

I recently got a request for a Switch 2 console. This is a little harder to find, as it just came out. But I started hunting one down and came across some by another seller I know, I’ve spent a couple hundred well buying stuff from him, so I figured maybe he’d cut me some slack or something. But I wasn’t gonna ask for special treatment, so I simply asked what kinda trade were you looking for in return for the Switch 2. His response shook me. He said that this kinda trade wouldn’t really be for me as he expects $700-$800 worth of consoles and games. Let me put it into perspective for you. The Switch 2 can be bought brand new from Nintendo themselves for $499.99 right now with a free game. This genuinely upset me. I’m all for making a profit but not like this.

This to me is Mammon. No longer caring about your fellow man and only about profit. He explained he liked to keep same and then sell the rest to get his money back. With $700-$800 worth of stuff, you’re more than getting your money back, you’re now taking advantage of people who don’t know any better. I decided in that moment I’d never buy from him or work with him again. This Isn’t the kinda seller I wanna be like or learn from. This is the kind of seller that gives other sellers a bad name. We all need to make money but not by taking advantage of others. We should never keep someone else down to push ourselves up. That’s how the wicked prospers and their end is destruction and death. Therefore, don’t be like them. You can’t take that money with you, so don’t let it take your eternity.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Build Honest Wealth.

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Stir To More

Romans 11:29 NKJV

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “Use it, or lose it.” But when it comes to God’s gifts and calling, that saying does not apply. What God has given you cannot be lost or revoked. Paul encourages his young protégé, Timothy, to “stir up the gift of God which is in you.” (2 Timothy 1:6).

We need to do the same thing—we must stir up the gifts given to us. Just as natural talents and skills are sharpened through training, practice, and repetition, spiritual gifts are activated the same way—by putting our faith into action.

We will never see the sick healed if we never pray for the sick. We will never exercise authority over demons if we never act in faith in the Name of Jesus when those situations arise.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Stir To More.

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Work Out Your Own Salvation

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. ~ Philippians 2:12-13

I heard a well-known preacher say that another preacher was a heretic. Why? Because the one preacher did not subscribe to the belief that we have absolutely nothing to do with our salvation. See, he didn’t believe that if God wanted you saved, you’d be saved. He believed that you had to choose God. That you had to make the decision to follow Him, while the other preacher believed that if God wanted you saved, you’d be saved and unable to resist His pull. So, what’s wrong with believing that? Isn’t salvation a gift from God so that no one can boast?

It absolutely is. The issue, though, is that believing God will save you if He wants to means that He doesn’t want to save everyone. This line of thinking doesn’t line up with the Word of God. See, Salvation was purchased entirely by Christ for us. There is nothing that we can do to save ourselves; that is why there is no boasting. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have to choose Him. We do. He tells us to seek Him while He can still be found. To come to Him and He will give you rest. These aren’t the words of a God that only wants to save some while creating others specifically to burn in Hell for all eternity.

No, Paul tells us, “How will they believe, unless they hear? And how will they hear unless someone tells them?” This is Paul’s call to evangelism. To the spreading of the Word of God to all the nations. If we have absolutely no choice but to give in to God’s call, there would be no need to evangelize. No need to preach. Why? Because they’d have the call of God that they wouldn’t be able to resist, and they’d automatically follow regardless.

God promised that He would pour His Spirit out on all flesh, not some flesh, but all flesh. Therefore, He gave every single soul on earth the opportunity to be saved. He called, tugged on the heart of each and every single soul. Then He gives the final nail in the coffin, “anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” These aren’t the words of someone who doesn’t desire all flesh to be saved. No. These are the words of a loving Creator that desires none to perish, but all come to acceptance.

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Therefore, don’t just expect the LORD to change you without putting any work or effort into it. We are to work out our salvation with much fear and trembling. In other words, we are to humble ourselves before the Throne of Grace and crucify our flesh daily so that we might remain saved. So that we don’t lose this race set before us.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Work Out Your Salvation.

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Die To Self

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:14-17

I just saw a short of a woman upset that another woman found Christ and stopped dressing in a sexual manner and no longer identified as queer. She went on to explain how she believes “Jesus Glow” is actually just losing yourself and your individuality. She intended this to be an insult, but she’s not wrong in saying this. That is the very definition of following Christ. To lose yourself and become more like Him. To be made into His Image. To literally die to self.

See, our flesh, our desires, they only lead us astray. They only lead to destruction. To death. They may feel good in the moment, but in the end, they leave you without Christ. Christ is peace; without Him, there is only torment. Christ is joy; without Him, there is only depression. Christ is life; without Him, there is only death. Without Christ, there is nothing. We can create our own identity and individuality, but it will never compare to the life the Creator of the Universe has in store for us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Die To Self.

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Do More Than Words

Revelation 3:1-3

[1]  “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. [2] Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. [3] Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.’”

Jesus gives seven different instructions to the seven different Churches. To the Church in Sardis, He tells them that He knows their works then hits them with “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” See, Jesus saw through what they were declaring and presenting. Jesus doesn’t look at the outer, He looks at the heart. He sees what we do in public and what we do in secret.

In today’s world, we have so many people who don’t just claim Christianity, but are known and recognized as devout Christians, but you can’t watch any of the movies they’re in or music they make because of the language and religious exclamatories. If they make clean music, they go on tour with and make music with those who do those things, some even openly talking about consuming the blood of their partner for rituals, They are known for Christianity, but bear no front, They have the reputation of being alive, but they are dead. It’s not enough for the world to see you as a Christian. You have to bear fruit. You have to make a stand for righteousness.

Jesus ends His letter with a call to repentance. A warning that if they don’t wake up, He will come against them like a thief in the night. In other words, the LORD has given them a chance to repent. An opportunity to return to Him before He comes against them. When we claim to be alive, but are dead, we lie. We make ourselves an enemy of God, an enemy of Christ. Therefore, don’t waste your opportunity. Today is the day of salvation, tomorrow is promised to no one.

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

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Spread Hope

 

Buying and selling things can be discouraging at times. The other night I stayed up for a late-night stream because my regular hours just wasn’t producing anything. So, I started at 3am, instead of my regular 7:30pm, and hoped for the best. About 30 minutes in, and I’m feeling really discouraged. It’s just me in my stream. No one else. And I feel like giving up. Then out of nowhere someone enters my stream and we start having a chill conversation. I let him know I’m trying to save up for a car and the response? He tips me a $1.

One single dollar turned my entire night around. I didn’t have a game he was interested in, so he tipped me what he could. A single dollar. I’ve never been so rejuvenated by something so small before. Why? Because it wasn’t about the amount of money, but the action itself.

You never know what a little kindness will do for someone. How discouraged or hopeless someone feels. Just the smallest spark can change their entire day. Their entire outlook on their current goal. Kindness won’t cost you much, but it will cause others to hope much.

Today, as you go through your day, look for someone you can share a little kindness with. Someone you can give hope to. It doesn’t even have to be giving them money. Just encouraging someone, sharing a smile, a hug, a meal, something they need, is enough to spark hope in their heart to keep going. Hope that things will get better and they can do it.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Spread Hope.

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The Treatment of Others

10 And He called the people to Him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And He said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” ~ Matthew 15:10-20

I’ve recently started getting back into selling on WhatNot. WhatNot is a streaming site where you sell items live. One thing that I’ve noticed is that people no longer know how to communicate with the most basic human decency. For instance, if they don’t like a price, instead of simply moving on, they tell you very rude things in the chat. If they ask to see something, and you show them, and they aren’t interested in anything, they simply leave the stream instead of simply saying thank you and then moving on. It’s these simple little things that used to just be common and basic communication. Why do these things matter? Because how you treat people, whether in person or online, matters. It tells the world the kind of person you are.

How you treat others directly defines who you are. If you are someone who feels you don’t need to treat people with basic respect, that becomes like a spark that can cause an internal fire. Your mouth is a great way to test your heart. What you say to people, or even in private, comes directly from your heart. Therefore, if you are quick to anger, that’s going to show up in how you communicate with others. If you are an ungrateful person, that’s going to show up in how you communicate with others. Our words, almost always, go before our actions. They’re not just empty phrases, or meaningless letters put together in a sentence. No, they hold weight. They matter.

Jesus went as far as to say that not only do our words have the power to corrupt us, but they are so important that we will be judged based on what we say.

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Matthew 12:36-37

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Watch What You Say.

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Look For The Connections

5 By awesome deeds You answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; 6 the one who by His strength established the mountains, being girded with might; 7 who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, 8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. ~ Psalms 65:5-8

A lot of people read the Bible and find it extremely boring. They find it to be a difficult read, but I find it extremely interesting. Why? Because there are so many different connections and subtle quotes, references, etc., that each and every time you read it, you see something new that you never saw before. For instance, I was reading the book of Psalms for the hundredth time, and when I read this verse, I immediately went “Wait a second!”

See, this is a song of David declaring who the LORD is. The God of our Salvation. Our Savior. When the LORD Jesus was on this earth, He didn’t come declaring, “I am God.” No. Instead, He let His works testify for Him.

23 And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep. 25 And they went and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?”

Matthew 8:23-27

See, this wasn’t just Jesus doing any ol’ sign. This was Jesus making a point of who He is. He’s not just another prophet. He’s not just another teacher. Not just another Rabbi. Not just another good man. He is the LORD of the Universe. The God of our Salvation.

See, talk is cheap. Talk isn’t what Jesus came for. He came to establish and build His Kingdom. And His Kingdom is not one of talk, but of power (1 Corinthians 4:19-20). Therefore, He led by example. He, the forerunner of faith (Hebrews 6:19-20), led the way by showing who He is. He didn’t say, “I am God,” and then act otherwise. No, He let His actions speak for themselves.

Today, the Church is quite the opposite. We go around saying we are Christians, but rarely do we act like it. A lot of the time, we look more like the world than the world does. We spew hatred instead of correcting in love. We mock those who disagree with us and speak all manner of evil against anyone who just annoys us. We no longer follow the way of the LORD. Instead, we’ve paved our own path that seems right but leads to death. It’s time we allow our actions to speak for us once again.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look For The Connections.

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