Monday
God Is In Control
A Time for Everything
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
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: 1-13 NLT).
We are to work hard in our jobs. We are to love God and respect and glorify His holiness. We are to be thankful for all God has blessed us with and we are to enjoy all He has given us.
Time moves along and we move in cycles. We all have mountain top experiences. We all have the turmoil of life's valleys. We all live in a broken world and because of the world’s brokenness along with our brokenness, we need God continually in our lives.
God is with us. Rejoice, brothers and sisters!
Lord God, we rejoice in your presence! We rejoice in your love for us! We rejoice in your mercy! We rejoice in your grace! We rejoice in our salvation! Lord, we rejoice and lift up your mighty name. Thank you, Lord God, we rejoice! Amen and amen.
Tuesday
Are You A Gambler?
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself – and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:39-43 NLT).
I pray you won't gamble with your salvation like the thief on the cross did by waiting until his last breath. We never know when our last breath might come. It could be so sudden we don't have time to cry out in belief before that final breath. Are you really willing to take that risk?
I pray you will accept Jesus now and begin a new life with Him today.
What about your family? Don't they deserve to know they will see you again in heaven? The thief's family never knew he had accepted Jesus so they did not have the assurance of his eternity.
Please accept Christ today, declare Him your Lord and Savior, then turn from your former life of sin and grow deep in being a new creation of the Most High of all creation.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your rescue mission to save us from ourselves. We are so undeserving of your amazing love, mercy, and grace. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Wednesday
Looking For Jesus
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:1-10 NLT).
At what lengths are you willing to search for Jesus? How high are you willing to climb? In the gospel of Luke, Zacchaeus was willing to climb up in a tree, just to be able to see Christ as He walked by. Are you willing to go to extraordinary measures to see Him?
Jesus also knew Zacchaeus was there. He called him out of the tree. Is Christ calling you out of your sinful life? Is He saying “Come to me. Leave your sin behind,” as He looks at your heart?
Jesus made Zacchaeus' home, His resting place. Jesus moved in. Are you willing to let Christ move into your heart?
Are you worried about what others will say about you when you begin living with Christ in your heart and your life? Don't be. Come to Christ and never look back.
Are you willing to give of yourself and your possessions to further the Lord's kingdom? Are you willing to lay down your transgressions for the freedom Jesus offers? There is total freedom by giving yourself to Him. Freedom happens when we claim Christ as our Savior, acknowledge Him to be the Son of God, repent (turn) from our sins, and give of our self, our time, and our finances to show people the love of God.
What are we blessed with by coming to Christ? We will experience total life change and salvation plus an eternal home in heaven with Him. Folks, it doesn't get any better than that.
Jesus came, lived, was crucified, died, and was resurrected for you! He poured out His blood for you. He offers you a personal relationship, but you must accept it, claim Him and come to Him in repentance. It's your choice. Please choose wisely. There is not any sin that is too big for Jesus. There is not a problem, too big for Jesus. There is nothing too big for our Lord, Jesus Christ!
Lord God, please save us from ourselves. Father, help us to put away our old ways and come to You. We ask and pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Thursday
Short and to the Point…
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners (Romans 5:6 NLT).
Thank you, Jesus! Amen.
Friday
Jesus Upholds God's Law
Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved (Matthew 5:17-18 NLT).
God's commandments are just as true today as they were when He gave them to Moses. Jesus spoke directly to this in Matthew 5:17-18. (Please read Matthew 5)
We are to use the Ten Commandments as a guide to life. Folks, I get excited to think how different our world would be if we, as a nation, would truly live by the Word of God. Then after that brief excitement, I come to the reality of how far we have fallen from His Word and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
We have one hope. That one hope is Jesus Christ, our Savior, and King. If you don't know Jesus, then now is the time. Don't wait another minute. You never know when this life will end.
Thank you, God, for loving us so much you gave us a way to your kingdom. Amen.
Saturday
God's Amazing Grace
For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son (Romans 5:10 NLT).
God sacrificed His only begotten Son so we might have a relationship with Him.
Without Jesus taking our sin to the grave, we could never have that relationship. We are broken, sinful people who God loves but in our sinful nature, we could not enter into His presence without atonement with God – Christ’s sacrificial death for our sin (Romans 5:1; Hebrews 9:22). We cannot be saved without the sacrifice of Christ.
The only one who could cover our sin is the Lamb of God. Nothing or no one but Christ could ever do fulfill this role. Perfection died for us. The gift of grace is all about God's mercy, grace, and love for us. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, laid His life down to save us from ourselves. It doesn't get any better than that.
Lord God, thank you for the glorious gift of salvation. We praise you and your holy name. Amen.
Sunday
Praise Him Forever!
Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
He gives food to those who fear him;
he always remembers his covenant.
He has shown his great power to his people
by giving them the lands of other nations.
All he does is just and good,
and all his commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true,
to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for his people.
He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Praise him forever! (Psalm 111:1-10 NLT).
I don't think I have to tell any of you, but I will anyway. I love the Lord. He saved me from sure spiritual death and from an early, earthly death. I thank Him every day for each new day He blesses me with. He died so I might live forever in eternity with Him.
The Good News is Jesus did this for you, too. If you don't know Him, ask me, and I'll introduce you to Him. Any follower of Christ should be able to tell you about our Savior. Just ask. (Editor's note: See the last sentence.)
There is only one Way to heaven, Jesus Christ. Choose Him today.
Thank you, Lord. Yes, we praise your name. Amen.
(Editor's Note: Please visit "God Has a Gift for You" if you want more information about the gospel.)
