Tag: Devotionals

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Clean Some Leaven

7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. ~ 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

The Israelites prepared for the Passover by cleansing the leaven out of their homes. This was a foreshadowing of the good and better things that have now come. Jesus, our Passover over lamb, has been sacrificed, and we overcome the world and its sin through Him.

No longer is it just a physical act; now, this action is also spiritual. We remove the spiritual leaven from our lives. The sins, false teachings and beliefs, strongholds, wrong relationships, etc. are all broken and cleansed from our lives through Jesus. This may not happen overnight, but it will happen through perseverance in Christ.

No longer does our sin have to separate us from God; now, through Christ, we are cleansed of our sin and forgiven. We are now reconciled to God. We are now a new creation being molded into the very image of Christ.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Clean Some Leaven.

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Fear God

19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on Him at that very hour, for they perceived that He had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. ~ Luke 20:19

Jesus had just told the Pharisees a parable about the Wicked Tenants, and rightly so; they perceived that He had told the parable about them. So, what do they do? They plan to kill Him. But do you know what stayed their hand? The fear of the people is what stopped them from laying their hands on Jesus right then and there. Not fear of God Himself, but fear of man. Think about this: they planned to kill God, but they feared the people! Talk about having your priorities wrongly aligned. But that is the problem; there is no fear of God, plenty of fear of man, but no fear of God. Jesus said this,

But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

Luke 12:5

People and ministries are running around with no fear of God, doing whatever pleases them as if there are no consequences. There are always consequences. Good or bad, there are always consequences to every action. God is not expecting you to live your life in fear and cowering, but He does expect you to fear the consequences of your wrong actions.

Remember, one day Jesus will judge the living and the dead and will assign to each their just reward. To those who make good choices, eternal life. To those making bad choices, eternal punishment away from His presence. I would encourage you today to fear God and not man. Do not worry about their threats or their accusations.

A time is coming when those who stand up for Jesus will suffer persecution. They will be thrown in jail and have their stuff confiscated, and some will even be killed, but know this: God will never leave those who love Him and fear His name. Jesus is soon coming back; be prepared and do not fear man.

Heavenly Father, teach me how to fear Your great and mighty Name. Teach me Your ways that I may always stand in awe of You and serve you wholeheartedly, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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Don’t Rely On Others

19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out my wrath upon it with blood, to cut off from it man and beast, 20 even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness. ~ Ezekiel 14:19-20

No matter how good we think we are, we can’t deliver anyone but ourselves from the wrath of God by our actions. If, LORD forbid, we were to die tonight, it’s not based on our parents’, grandparents’, aunts’, uncles’, cousins’, or friends’ prayers for us that will save us. No one but ourselves can make the decision to follow Christ.

We like to try to preach people into Heaven after the fact, but those touching, heartfelt words mean nothing when we’ve lived a life of continual sin, never once clinging to the savior for help. We do this as a false sense of hope and relief for ourselves, but it further teaches others that it doesn’t matter how we live our lives; Christ still will accept us in the end.

The righteousness of Abraham didn’t help Ishmael be a part of the chosen people. Lot’s righteousness didn’t help his descendants be a part of the chosen people. Isaac’s righteousness didn’t help Esau be a part of the chosen people. Our actions are what we will be judged on. It’s our actions that will either save us from or condemn us to the Wrath to come. There’s nothing else that can save us but our own decision and action of accepting salvation and following Christ with all that is in us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Rely On Others.

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God Our Present Help

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. ~ Psalms 46:1-3

Have you ever been in a place in your life where you feel surrounded by strangers? Even though those around you are your friends and acquaintances, you still feel abandoned and alone, like no one loves you or cares about you? Proverbs 18:24 says that there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and that friend is Jesus. He is our refuge in times of stormy weather. He is our strength in times of weakness. He is our very present help in times of trouble.

It doesn’t matter what others might say about you. It doesn’t matter how they try to make you feel. Even when others insult you and say all manner of evil against you, there is one who will never leave you nor forsake you. Again, His name is Jesus. Even when all the world comes against you and the earth seem to give way beneath you. Wild things are happening all around you, things that cause the strongest heart to flutter; Jesus is your peace.

How do you receive such peace? First, you have to come to Jesus and accept Him as the LORD and Savior of your life. Then you must learn to trust Him with everything in your life. Trust that He will do the right thing by you even if it doesn’t feel like He is at the moment, trust and believe. You can only get to that point in your life if you learn His ways and learn who He is. How? By reading the Bible. The Bible is God’s written revelation of Himself to us. If you want to learn who God is and how He operates or works, then read His revealed word to us. You cannot trust someone you barely know. You must form a relationship with Him through constant prayer, through worship and through the study of His word.

So, the next time the mountains around you seem to shake and quiver, or even if they seem to be moved and fall into the heart of the sea and its waves roar and foam, remember God is for you and can and will deliver you, so trust Him to do what is right for you, and He will deliver you. Heavenly Father, thank You that You are my Help in times of trouble. Thank you that You hold all things in Your hands, and no one can pluck me out of Your hands. Help me to understand who You are and to know Your ways. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Fight Your Battle

15 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: 16 “Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’” ~ Jeremiah 39:15-18

We are currently in a spiritual war. A war between good and evil. The target of each side is for each and every person’s soul. You are the target of both God and Satan. The LORD God desires to protect and keep you from evil, whereas the Devil desires to corrupt and destroy you with evil.

These are our two options. These are our two choices. Freedom and everlasting life in Christ Jesus or slavery and eternal punishment in the Devil. Each and every choice we make here on this earth decides where and how we will spend eternity.

The enemy will try to overcome you with lies and temptations. In the moment, it will feel worth it, but as soon as it’s over, you feel full of regret. The lies of the enemy are to keep you bound away from God for all eternity, just as he will be bound away from God for all eternity.

We’re not just put on this earth to live our lives however we want. It’s to find God and seek a closer relationship with Him. It’s to be with God and He with us. Don’t let anyone fool you. There is a war going on for our souls and it’s up to us to fight each battle with the full armor of God and the Holy Spirit.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Fight Your Battle.

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Be Changed By Faith

21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 2:21

Many people believe that it doesn’t matter how you live your life; all you have to do is believe in God, but is that what Scripture says? Paul’s second letter to Timothy explains that if we want to be used by God, we have to first turn away from our sin. In other words, we can’t just live our lives however we want.

We can’t just claim salvation while continuing in our sin. We have to strive for righteousness. That doesn’t mean that we never sin again; it means that we don’t just dwell in sin but fight against it. We turn 180° and run towards holiness. That is the race set before us.

Christianity isn’t about talk or even belief; it’s about action. It’s about following Christ. It’s about change. If you believe the Word of God but don’t follow it, what good does that belief do you? Faith without action is dead (James 2:26). Therefore, your salvation may be attained through faith and faith alone, but it is maintained through how that faith changes you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Changed By Faith.

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Be Friendly

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ~ Matthew 5:44-48

So many of us strive for friendship with the world. We want the world’s acceptance and love. Many even go out on a limb and say, “Well, Jesus was a friend of sinners.” Here’s the thing: Jesus said to be His friend is to follow the command He has given. To follow His command is to allow Him to change you from sinner to saint. Therefore, Jesus isn’t a friend of sinners but a friend of saints. What does that mean for us?

We are to do the same. There was never a time when Jesus refused to eat or drink with someone. There was never a time when Jesus mistreated or condemned someone. Jesus spoke with and ate with anyone willing to sit down with Him. But even in all of His kindness, Jesus always corrected the sins of those He ate and spoke with. He never allowed Himself to be tainted spiritually for the sake of the feelings of another (Ezekiel 33:8), but He did it with love.

He didn’t call the woman at the well an adulterous whore, no He simply told her what her sin was, having many husbands. Jesus didn’t even bring up her sin until she did. Before that, Jesus was speaking to her about the living water He had that she needed. When they came with a repentive heart, Jesus didn’t even mention their sin, like the unnamed woman who cried at His feet wiping them with her hair. Jesus simply said, though her sins are many they are forgiven. He never once mentioned what those sins were.

Often, we believe that as Christians, we need to shun those who don’t meet our standards, but the Truth of the matter is that we should be willing to speak with and eat with anyone willing to do so.

God Himself lets His sun rise on both the wicked and the righteous. In other words, His mercies are renewed each morning for both because each day is another chance to follow Christ and do better than the day before.

God Himself also sends rain on the saint and the sinner. He pours out blessings on each. God doesn’t hate anyone. He doesn’t hate the wicked, His desire is that all come to repentance and accept Him. Paul asked this:

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Romans 10:14

We aren’t to be a part of the world, but we are to be in the world shining the Light of Christ with all willing to hear. For if no one tells them, how are they to believe? Therefore we are to be friendly with all, but not friends with all.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Friendly.

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Strive For Friendship

 12 This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. ~ John 15:12-15CSB

Jesus is often referred to as a friend of sinners, but that’s not quite right. Jesus says that the overzealous religious people of His generation accused Him of being a friend of sinners, as well as a drunkard and a glutton in that same sentence, but we never refer to Jesus as either of those last things. So, why do we refer to Jesus as a friend of sinners?

When I see this being used or referenced in today’s world, it’s being used by people justifying their own sin. They say Jesus hung out with prostitutes and deviants, but that’s not true either. Jesus was friendly with everyone. He spoke to and ate with anyone willing to listen. After being in His presence, one of two things happened: the person changed their ways, or they were left where Jesus found them.

For Jesus to be a friend of sinners is to say Jesus is a friend of the world. But this is impossible. Look at what the Scripture says:

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4

Jesus wasn’t an enemy of God; He was, is, and always will be God. Jesus was friendly with everyone but wasn’t a friend of everyone. Look at what He tells His disciples:

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.

John 15:14-15CSB

This is after Jesus washes their feet. After the Last Supper and the LORD’s Supper. After Judas goes out to betray Jesus. It’s just Jesus and the eleven. They had been following Him for about 3 ½ years. Three of them had witnessed the transfiguration and saw Moses and Elijah with Him. They had all cast out demons and healed the sick. Nevertheless, they weren’t His friends until that night when He would be arrested before sunrise and killed before the next sunset.

If these men, especially Peter, James, and John, were not counted as Jesus’ friends, how can we say Jesus is a friend of sinners? Yes, it sounds good. Yes, it makes for a good talking point, but there isn’t any Truth to it. Jesus said if you are my friends, you will do what He has commanded. That means to allow Him to wash you in His blood and Word that you might no longer be a sinner but now a saint.

Therefore, don’t allow the twisting of Scripture to confuse you. Don’t allow your ears to be tickled by the deceived. Seek a true relationship with Christ, a true friendship that will change you. If your religion doesn’t change you, then it doesn’t save you either.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Strive For Friendship.

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Be Gentle

23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. ~ 2 Timothy 2:23-26

I’ve seen many people claim to be Christians while mocking, ridiculing, and demeaning anyone who doesn’t agree with them. Sometimes, the argument isn’t even over something that is life and death but trivial matters, such as Satan, Lucifer, and Leviathan; the Nephilim and their origin; Abaddon and his identity; things that don’t impact your salvation. Yet they’re filled with anger and pure rage when you don’t agree with them and have Scripture for reasons why.

Of all the fruit of the Spirit, love is the most important. Of all the commands in Scripture, love is the most important. Without hope, we can’t have faith, and without faith, no one can please God, yet love is still greater than these. Yet the Church struggles with love. We either live like the world and refuse to correct, or we love like the world and spew hatred. Rarely do we see Christians love people like Jesus did.

Jesus corrected without insult and hate; He didn’t just watch the world continue in darkness without showing them the Light. He didn’t make sure they knew how perfect He was; He made sure they knew how much God loved them by sharing the opportunity to change and better themselves.

Love is patient and kind; it doesn’t boast or delight in evil but rejoices in Truth. Love never fails. When we can define love accurately, that’s when we can begin to truly love as Jesus loves.

Therefore, we don’t react as the world reacts to arguments. We defend our case with gentleness and kindness, using Scripture rather than our own opinions. When we do this, we give people the opportunity to see the Light of God and turn from their false beliefs.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Gentle.

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Be Chosen

12 During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. 13 When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose twelve of them, whom He also named apostles: ~ Luke 6:12-13CSB

When we think about the twelve disciples being called, we think about them being Jesus’ only disciples, but that wasn’t the case. Jesus had many disciples. Many people were following Him because of the great miracles and healing He was doing. Because of the great wisdom and authority, He was preaching with.

Jesus didn’t just see them and instantaneously pick them as the Twelve. No. They were called to follow Him like many others were. Then, they followed Him like many others did. It wasn’t until Jesus spent all night in prayer, most likely specifically about this, that He then chose the Twelve.

Jesus called many people. There was a large crowd following Him, yet only twelve were chosen. James, the brother of Jesus, understood this when he wrote:

8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:8CSB

James wasn’t one of Jesus’ apostles. James wasn’t even one of Jesus’ disciples. He didn’t draw near to Him, and he missed his opportunity. When Jesus taught that He was the bread of life and they must eat His flesh to be saved, many left because they couldn’t understand the teaching. When Jesus looked at the others, they asked them if they would leave Him, too. Peter replied:

68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

John 6:68-69CSB

Many are called, but few are chosen. Few hold on when they don’t understand. Few continue to seek when finding is hard. Few believe when they can’t see. Few stay strong when their faith is tested. Few run the race set before them.

Jesus said He’s knocking at the door, waiting for us to open our hearts to Him. He didn’t say He knocked on only red doors or blue doors. He said that He was knocking. That means He’s knocking at the door of all of our hearts. He’s calling all of us, but very few even accept the initial call. And even fewer continue to follow and carry their cross.

Which one are you? This earth is filled with reasons not to believe and follow Christ. It’s filled with distraction after distraction. Evil after evil. Wickedness and lawlessness rule our land. There’re so many reasons not to believe, but as Peter said, where else can we go to find the Words of Life? Words that redeem and Sanctify. Words that heal what is broken and restore what has been crushed. Only in Christ do you have a hero die for the villain to save his soul. There’s no other story like our story.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Chosen.

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