Devotionals Archives

December 5, 2023December 4, 2023

Be Filled With Great Joy

⁸Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:8-12

Fear not! But how could they keep their hearts from racing, their hands from trembling, and their knees from quaking? This was a terrifying sight, but the words were comforting words. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you Good News of great joy…”

Good news of great joy is always good news, but this is even better because it was not just Good News for the Israelites or the Jews, the rich or the poor, white, black, Asian, Spanish, or any particular culture.

It was “Good News” for ALL “the people,” every single soul that will ever live and who has ever lived. It is Good News of great joy. But sadly, many people don’t find it to be very joyous. They are the Christ-haters. They hate the Name that is meant to bring great joy to everyone who hears that Name.

Why does it bring great joy? Because it’s the only Name that gives life and life more abundantly. It’s the only Name by which we can be saved. The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy for ALL people because ALL people can call on the Name of Jesus and be saved. That is the good news of great joy for all of us.

So, this Christmas season, remember that the Word of God became flesh to save you. Jesus didn’t just come for those whom the world deems good enough; He came for all people. He came for all of the world. You’re never too far gone for God to save and redeem you from your sins. All you have to do is ask and He will forgive you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Filled With Great Joy.

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Dethrone The Elites

⁷Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” ~ Matthew 2:7-8

Lies and deception came forth from Herod because of the fear of the news he had heard. Today, the elites haven’t changed. They tell us lies and try to deceive us. People in power will lie and steal and deceive to hold on to the power and wealth that they have.

It was no different back then from how it is today. Herod claimed He, too, wanted to go and worship the infant king of the Jews as well. When secretly, he wanted to murder Him and remove all threat of a king coming to dethrone him.

Jesus is still a threat to people today. They still want Him dead. They still try to kill even the memory of Him. They still say they will not have this Messiah rule over them. They still refuse to make from in their hearts for Him. Their no vacancy sign shines brightly that there is no room in this inn. Why? Because in Jesus, there is freedom. The power and authority that the elites think they have on this earth is threatened by the true power and authority that Christ Jesus has.

So, they will lie and try to deceive those who come to worship the King, just as Herod tried to deceive the wisemen that came to worship baby Jesus. They say that they are for worshipping the Christ, but they know a better way. They begin changing the way Christ demanded to be worshipped. They lie to the believers and followers of Christ and try to lead them astray so that they won’t be dethroned. So that the people never find the true Messiah.

This Christmas season, don’t allow anyone to separate you from the King of kings and LORD of lords. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you in any way. Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart, hoping that you will let Him in so that He might dwell in You and through You. Do you have room for him tonight?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Dethrone The Elites.

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Wise Men Still Seek Him

¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ²saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” ~ Matthew 2:1-2

These wise men, also known as the magi, were watching and waiting for the promised Messiah. The king of the Jews, which would be the hope of Christmas for the whole world. They were probably scanning the night skies for generations, if not for centuries, waiting and hoping that it would be them who discovered the sign of the birth of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. The One who will save the whole world.

As soon as these men saw His star rising on the western horizon, they, with joyful hearts, packed their bags and belongings and prepared for travel. Then, they set out to find this promised Messiah they had been so patiently waiting for.

As the Christmas yard sign says:

Wise Men Still Seek Him

How many of us can say we are seeking the Messiah like these wise men did 2000 years ago? They traveled long distances just so that they could worship the Messiah and give Him gifts. Today, we won’t even travel 10 minutes down the street for a Church service. We won’t turn off the TV or put the game or book down long enough to have quiet time. There is no longer a desire to encounter God in the Church today. This Christmas season, let’s make the conscious decision to end the year better than we started it by spending more time with the LORD.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Still Seek Him.

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Give God All

¹⁵Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, ¹⁶and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—¹⁷blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. ¹⁸In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” ¹⁹So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. ~ Genesis 22:15-19^NKJV

Abraham was formerly Abram, and God had given Abram a promise that he would be the father of a multitude of nations. Not only would Abraham be the father of a multitude of nations, but in his seed, the nations of the world would be blessed. This seed is Jesus.

God promised the coming of the Messiah to Abraham. He promised that He would save the world and use Abraham’s seed to do it. Why? Because Abraham didn’t withhold anything from God. All that Abraham had, he willingly gave to God with faith and trust that it would be for his good. How many of us can honestly say that this is us?

Very few of us have the faith it takes to be used by God the way Abraham was used by God. Why? Because how many of us rush to meet God when He comes to meet us as Abraham did? In other words, how many of us set up a time every day to worship, pray, and spend time with God? Very few of us.

To be labeled a devout Christian in today’s world, all we have to do is pray before our meals and bed. Isn’t that sad? We don’t have to be on fire for God or even seek Him daily to be labeled a devout Christian. If we want to be used by God, we have to give Him everything.

Peace. Love. Go For and Give God All.

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Look Forward To His Return

¹ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. ~ Luke 2:1

Jesus coming into all the world is the true and real Christmas story, yet there are those unbelieving critics who attack Christianity and the Bible by claiming that there is no proof that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus. Therefore, the Bible is in error and cannot be trusted. I mean, these people try so hard to disprove and discredit a God that they claim they do not believe in and that does not exist, yet they hate Him with a passion.

Remember, both God and His word are dependable and full of truth. I can assure you that God is not a man that He should lie. So, don’t let doubters, scoffers, or liars lead you astray; God is real, and His word is truth. Luke himself is considered a reliable historian, and his Gospel was written before the Book of Acts. Luke was also a companion and fellow worker with the great apostle Paul.

It’s generally accepted that Paul began his ministry around AD 49. So, the book of Luke would have been written close to around that time, probably in the AD 50’s. That would suggest that many people and many historians were still alive who would have witnessed the census, but there is nothing written that disproves Luke’s claims of a census or even challenges him.

If Luke was in error, he would have been called out by historians of his day. But as it is, nothing to the contrary has ever been found, and neither will there ever be. The people alive back then knew these facts to be true, so they did not dispute them. They couldn’t.

What I’m saying here is that we believe a true and real Gospel. It’s a true and accurate statement. Jesus is alive. Yes, He was dead, but now He is alive and well. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. And He’s coming back to get us real soon.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look Forward To His Return.

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Make Peace

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ~ Matthew 5:9

If you want to be called sons of God, you had better adhere to the prerequisite and be peacemakers, not dividers. It doesn’t matter how big your ministry is or how much talent you may have. It doesn’t matter how well-known your name may be. It doesn’t matter who you think you are; you are not above the law of God. God is no respecter of persons. Meaning there is but one law for all. And not one for you and one for everyone else.

We are to be peacemakers if we want to be called sons or daughters of God. We have to concentrate on what is before us and not what is behind us. We should have enough of this old world and begin to concentrate on our future, our eternity. Eternity is a long, long time, and many, many people are not preparing for it. We have to forgive and let go. We have to love and move forward.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Make Peace.

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The Goodness of God

⁶And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. ~ 1 Samuel 30:6 ^KJV

The Scripture states that David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. It wasn’t somebody else’s God. It was his God. David knew Him personally, and God knew David personally.

Imagine, there is chaos all around him. There are men wailing and crying. But these aren’t just ordinary men; they are seasoned warriors. Confusion and sorrowing of heart and loud lamentations are charging the air. While everyone else was wallowing in their own despair and self-pity, David found strength or encouragement in the LORD his God.

Many of us today are feeling low. We’re feeling heartache, pain, depression, sorrow, etc. The very weight of the world feels as though it’s been laid on our shoulders, and it’s crushing us. This is when we remember what David did, and we follow suit. We bow our knees at the feet of Jesus, and we cry out to Him. We encourage ourselves in His love, mercy, promises, etc. We remind ourselves that God is good even when our world becomes difficult and taxing.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remind Yourself of The Goodness of God.

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Sow Good Seed

⁸By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.¹⁰If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. ~ John 15:8, 10

God wants something in return from us once we accept His free gift of salvation. How does that work? God doesn’t want to just redeem us and we remain exactly the same; He wants us to change and grow. He wants us to bear fruit that not only brings glory to His Name but grows our relationship with Him and shows others the way to Him.

God is glorified when we bear fruit, and we bear fruit when we have such a close relationship with Jesus that we can ask whatever we wish, and it will be done for us. How is all of this done? We have to abide in Him. Matter of fact, I would venture to say that it is impossible to get our heart’s desire without continuously abiding in Jesus’ love.

If abiding is so important, how do we abide? Jesus told us that if we keep His commandments, we will abide in His love. Jesus was speaking from experience. He kept His Father’s commandments, and He abided in His Father’s love. So, He gave us the same commandment. Therefore, if we want the benefits, we must adhere to the requirements. We can’t expect to reap if we don’t first sow.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Sow Good Seed.

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The Dangers of Ungodly Fear

¹⁸Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off ¹⁹and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” ²⁰Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” ²¹The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. ~ Exodus 20:18-21

The people of Israel feared and trembled when they saw and heard the glory of God. In other words, they let ungodly fear overtake them, and they stood a far off from God. Ungodly fear is a predator. It will separate you from God, and it will cause you to stand a far off. But Godly fear will cause you to run to God.

Make no mistake, Moses was afraid as well, but his fear was a Godly fear, the kind of fear God requires us to have. It is called the fear of God. A healthy fear that gives you reverence for the LORD and the things of the LORD.

After fear overtook them, they said, “You speak to us, Moses, but do not let God speak, for we will die.” People have this ungodly fear of God still to this day. They believe that if you make one mistake, He will strike you down. Like God is waiting in heaven, looking intently for you to make one mistake so He can kaput you. Or if you go out on a Sunday, God will cause you to die. You can’t do this or do that without severe consequences. God is not waiting for you to make the wrong move, and bam, “Turn Over.” That is what happens with ungodly fear.

The Israelites refused to hear God for themselves; thus, they refused to know Him. They wanted Moses to hear God for them. The only problem with that is you have to hear God for yourself in order to know Him for yourself, and you can only know Him by talking with Him (prayer), reading His Scriptures (it’s His revealed word about Himself), and meditating on God’s word and letting Him speak to you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Let Ungodly Fear Overtake You.

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Change You, Not God

¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

As a woman, it’s very easy to buy into the so-called struggle women have. Self-oppression is one of the most detrimental things we can do to ourselves. Why? Because it causes us to be our own worst enemy. When we are self-oppressed, we see oppression and hatred everywhere we look. We create obstacles that hold us back and keep us from fulfilling the call God has for our lives. We also begin to twist the world around us, even the Scriptures, in order to make ourselves feel better. To ease the wound that we’ve created in ourselves.

I’ve seen many women and feminist men who’ve bought into female oppression proclaim loudly that God is either both male and female or only female. I don’t understand this. I can’t relate. Are there times I feel like men look down on me because I’m a woman? Sure, but those times are few and far between. There’s always going to be people who don’t like us because of something that we can’t change about ourselves, whether it’s our race, sex, height, nationality. There’s always going to be haters, but their opinion doesn’t matter. We don’t try to change God in order to ease the wounds that we create or that others create in us. We allow God to change us. We invite God into our lives so that He can show us who we are in Him. God’s desire for us is for our good. Therefore, He’s the only voice that we can trust and believe when it comes to defining who we are and what our worth is.

Dear LORD, thank You for saving my soul. Thank You that You see a creation worthy of Your time in me. Thank You that my worth and identity aren’t found in the world or even in my own opinions of myself, but that my worth and identity are found in You. Because in You I’m a new creation, the old has passed away, and the new has come. Please help me to never lose sight of who I am in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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