Monday
Salvation – More Than a Brief Moment
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath (Psalms 39:4, 5 NLT).
We must always remember how quick our lifetime passes. Life here is but a mere vapor. Our time here is short but those who know Jesus have an eternity in heaven waiting, not a vapor but eternity. Thanks be to God for His gift of salvation!
Dear Father, our days are numbered on Earth, but Your eternal promise gives us hope, and with that hope, strength to carry on in this world's troubles. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tuesday
He Fills Our Lives with Richness
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts (Colossians 3:16 NLT).
As the people of God, it is my opinion that we don't praise Him enough. We don't truly appreciate all He has blessed us with. We have turned into an entitlement culture. We just expect God's goodness and blessings.
Look around. There are those who have it better than us, but look again, there are many who have it worse. No matter our situation, each of us is living under the grace of God, no matter your human situation. We should get on our knees and praise Him, from whom all blessings flow.
Thank You, Lord. When our human condition is not good, remind us that there is much more to be thankful for. Thank You, Jesus. Amen and Amen.
Wednesday
Idol Worship
Then God gave the people all these instructions: “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me (Exodus 20:1-3 NLT).
Have you placed something or someone between yourself and God? Have you made an idol out of something of this world? This world makes it easy to find something or someone to come between us and God. It could be a car, motorcycle, home, wife, kids, or even grand-kids. When we start placing something, anything, at a more important place in our lives than God, we have a problem.
Who should we put first and foremost? God, of course. There should be no contest. The 2nd Commandment's point is to love God, know Him, worship Him and place Him in the highest place in your life.
Thank You, Lord, for giving us a road map for life and everlasting life. Help us turn from life's distractions and give You our full attention. We pray in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Thursday
Judgment
In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right (Isaiah 26:9 NLT).
Are you right with God? Have you begun a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
One day all the Earth will face Jesus when He returns to claim His church. Are you part of His kingdom?
It's for each of us to choose and I pray each of you will make the right choice. That choice has eternal consequences.
Thank You, Lord, for holding open the door for us. We just pray that we will walk into Your grace, mercy, and love. Amen.
Friday
How Are You Living?
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, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds (Titus 2:11-14 NLT).
So many people want to say they are a Christian, then continue living like hell on Earth. Folks, it doesn't work that way. When you accept Christ and invite Him into your heart, there isn't any room for continued sin in your life. When Jesus truly resides in your heart, you will want to turn from the sin that separates you from Him.
Jesus Christ comes to us, as we are, old broken sinners with many issues and problems. But He loves us too much to leave us as we are. There is real change involved in your salvation. It's not just words that you say that make you feel good. Jesus = change. It's a change that we all need because without Him, we will continue walking a path to destruction.
Lord God, open our eyes, minds, and hearts to know that we are sinners and without You, we will continue a path of turmoil and destruction. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
Saturday
Richly Blessed
What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 NLT).
God has richly blessed us to be alive and enjoy days like today. No matter if it's windy, rainy, snowy or beautiful outside, each day is a blessing from God.
He has also blessed us with all that we need and many times, much more than we need. I feel as Scripture states, we should enjoy all that He has given us and all that we have worked for because all things are a blessing from our heavenly Father. This life goes by quickly, enjoy it and live to it's fullest. Thanks be to God.
Father God, we are truly blessed as Your children. Lead us and direct us today and might we follow Jesus closer than ever before. Amen.
Sunday
Ultimate and Unlimited Hope
Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, "You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?" Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt (Matthew 18:32-34 (NLT).
Jesus speaks volumes about mercy and forgiveness and we should listen closely. Because of God's mercy for each of us, He sent His Son to die for us so that we might have a relationship with Him. Without the mercy of God, we would not have any hope.
Because of God, we have ultimate and unlimited hope.
On this Earth, shouldn't we grant mercy (forgiveness) to others? Shouldn't we forgive and help others feel that same “freeing” forgiveness?
Jesus speaks about this and we should heed His words. We should forgive, as we have been forgiven. Yes, I know it's easier said than done, but it is not just recommended by our Savior but commanded. In order to be forgiven, we must forgive.
When we don't forgive others, we not only deprive those that have wronged us, of the freeing mercy of that act of forgiveness, but we also free ourselves from a burden on our very souls.
Forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean that we forget, but we forgive, put it behind us and move on with life. We each deserve a life that is far better without this burden of unforgiveness, which tramples our hearts and destroys our souls. Forgive, not only for those who sinned against us, but forgive for your well-being.
Dear Lord, we all struggle with forgiving others for actions that were taken against us. Lord, help us to remember that we (our sin) nailed You to the cross and even after that, You said, “Forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Father, if Jesus can forgive us for what we did to Him, let us see how important it is that we forgive each other. Lord, we know that we are unable to accomplish this level of forgiveness without Your help. Please Lord, give each of us the ability to forgive even the worst crimes against us, all the way to the petty issues that people have betrayed us with. Lord, grant us your wisdom and the power of Your love, mercy, and grace. I pray this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
