MONDAY
Stand on the Rock
For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth (2 Corinthians 13:8 NLT).
Followers of Christ must always stand firm in God's word. But our firm stand must be seasoned with love.
We know that God's word is perfect and true, so we have the truth on our side. By proclaiming His truth and word, no one should have an argument with us, for their argument is with God. We are only proclaiming and following His guide for our lives.
I thank God everyday for His word so that I might know truth and direction for my life.
Dear Lord, help us to share Your truth with all people, not by beating them over the head with the Bible, but by our relationship with them and with You. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
TUESDAY
Speak Truth Without Fear or Shame
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV).
Today's culture has a lot of Christians backing away from God's word. The political correctness of society is literally scaring Jesus out of His people. I have one question, What is wrong with you?
God's word is perfect and true. God defines the moral values of society in the Ten Commandments. Right is right and wrong is wrong, when that was written and now.
How dare any of us back away from the truth of God. We only breathe because of His amazing hand and His mighty breath in our lungs. How dare any of us call our creator God, wrong and old fashioned. How dare anyone stand on their own beliefs and feelings over the word that God gave us.
Wow, are we completely washed up as a society? I believe that without God, we are a lost and pointless society.
Now the Good News, No matter how far we have strayed from God and His truth, is that He accepts us back to Him with open arms if we are repentant. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are made right. By our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven. Just as the father accepted his prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) back into his home, God accepts us back.
Folks, it's time to decide who we are going to serve, man or God? It's our choice. Choose wisely.
Lord, thank you for Your love, mercy and grace. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
Love & Respect
“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us” (1 John 4:11-12 NLT).
Love others. Respect others. This doesn't mean that we should love or respect what they do or their lifestyle.
We are called to love and respect them as a creation of our God and as a person, but condoning their sin is not what we are called to do. We are called to show others how to live a godly life while showing love and respect to them as a person.
We are all broken. We are all sinners. The big difference is that when followers of Christ sin, we come under conviction and are called to repentance. That is a big difference.
Dear Lord, help us to "go and sin no more" and help us to live a God glorifying life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
THURSDAY
God Is There
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalms 23:4 NLT).
The God of the mountain top is the same God that is in the valley.
I have a lot of friends who are dealing with life changing/challenging situations. We need to remember and rest in the comfort of knowing that God's word is true. He is with us.
God also promises to bring you "through" the valley. He will not leave you there. How He brings you through the valley might be totally different than what you want or envision, but His way will prove to be the best way.
Trust in God, my friends. He loves you more than you can ever comprehend.
Father God, thank You for not leaving us in the valley. In Jesus' name. Amen.
FRIDAY
Let's Be Salt and Light
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God (Titus 2:11, 12 NLT).
As followers of Christ, we are called to be salt & light in this dark and broken world. We are to be "in" this world but not "of" this world. We are the hands and feet of Jesus and should always be vigilant in how we live remembering that others see and observe us. Live a godly life, my friends. People are watching.
Dear Lord, we all fail at living the life that You would have us to live. We all stumble and fall. We all have transgressions. We all are broken. We are all sinners. But You, Lord, deemed us worthy. You Lord, deemed us deserving of Your love, mercy and grace. Thank You Lord, for we would never be able to enter the gates of Heaven without Your sacrifice. Thank You Lord Jesus. Amen.
SATURDAY
God's Promises
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:3-8 NLT).
Godly life, His glory, Precious promises, Moral excellence, Knowledge, Self-Control; all provided by God, just by following Him. Thanks be to God.
Dear Lord, help us rely on You and Your promises. Help us to not rely on human understanding and human accomplishments. Lead us, Father, down Your path of righteousness, in Jesus' name, Amen.
SUNDAY
Our Goals
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls (1 Peter 2:21-25 NLT).
We must set our goals high, not that we can ever achieve the perfection of Christ, but we should try to be more like Him, today than we were yesterday.
No one will ever be sinless or pure, but it doesn't mean that we are not to try to live up to God's standards. When we sin and drift from God's instruction, we need to remember that God's grace covers us by the blood of Jesus Christ. We shouldn't take the covering of His grace lightly or use it casually. We need to re-live His grace daily in our lives. Without the grace of God, we would be doomed, but by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, we are made right and pure.
Have you come to Christ? Have you asked Him into your life? Have you repented of the sin that is destroying you and your life? Are you willing to lay that sin at the foot of the cross and walk away from it? Are you ready to give God reign over your life? Is it time, or is it past-time that you finally admit that you can't get through life without Jesus?
Today can be the first day of the rest of you life, a new life. Today is not too late. You are not too broken. Your sin doesn't surprise God, He knows everything you have done and loves you no matter of where you are or have been. Jesus is waiting on you to open the door and let Him into your heart. Pray now and never doubt that God is capable of doing all things. He hears your cries and our petitions. His arms are open wide, come to Him.
Dear God, your will; nothing more; nothing less. Amen.
