Shine His Light
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:5 NLT).
We are designed to shine God's light through our lives. Yet how many times do we get caught up in things of this world that we know, God will not bless? I'm talking about our decisions that stray from His Word and teachings like lifestyle choices, addictions, crude jokes, or crude stories.
We were not designed to emulate darkness but were made to shine His brightness into this dark and dying world. We must continually guard against falling into the darkness around us.
Lord, lead us in your righteousness and help us not to be detoured from the path you would have us travel. In Jesus' name, amen.
Tuesday
A Way For All
“I am the Alpha and the Omega — the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come — the Almighty One.” (Revelation 1:8 NLT).
It's important to realize that through the love, mercy, and grace of God, we might be saved and spend eternity with Him. It's free and doesn't cost you a dime. So, how do you achieve salvation? You must accept His Son, acknowledge Jesus as your Savior and King, repent and invite Jesus into your heart.
For Jesus is the only way. Look at John 14:6,
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Dear God, thank you for providing the way to heaven through Jesus Christ. I pray this in His mighty and matchless name. Amen.
Wednesday
Gone In An Instant
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog — it’s here a little while, then it’s gone (James 4:14 NLT).
When we reach the sixty and over crowd, we begin to make many more visits to the local funeral homes. We are not only laying our aged parents to rest but we are also experiencing losses of our schoolmates and longtime friends. It is part of this broken world. When we are born, we will die. How we live this life is important but Who we profess our faith in makes an eternal difference.
Our Christian goal should be to get to heaven and take as many people with us as we can. So you might ask, "How do we do that?" We shine Jesus' Light everywhere we go and preach the gospel with His Word and by how we live in our actions. Being with those who are lost or struggling is a call on each of our lives. They need to see Jesus through us.
So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!" (Luke 15:3-7 NLT).
Dear Lord, give us your comfort, strength, and peace to not only preach the gospel everywhere but to also endure the loss of family and friends. Hold us and assure us your Word is true and right and that you will provide during any circumstance. Lead us today so we might be more like Jesus than yesterday. I pray this in His mighty name, amen.
Thursday
Beyond Our Imagination
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds (Psalm 36:5 NLT).
When our eyes open each morning, we should immediately thank God for another day of life. He blesses us each day. His love for us goes beyond our ability to understand the depth of that love.
God is faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him. He grants us forgiveness time and time again. He knows we are a broken people who are pulled into sin through our sinful nature. He knows that we will mess up. He knows we need a Savior, which He provided through His Son, Jesus Christ.
We should praise Him daily and come to the foot of the cross in worship. I pray that you know Him and that you have committed your life to Him. If you haven't, then today is not too late to turn to Him, but tomorrow might be because we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. Isn't it time to make your decision for Christ?
Dear Lord, I pray many will come to you in repentance. Help the lost know they are lost for eternity without you. I pray this in the mighty and saving name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday
Come As You Are
[Jesus speaking]
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him," (Luke 15:20 NLT).
No matter how far we run, no matter how many years we hide, no matter what we have done, our heavenly Father is waiting for our return. He has His mighty arms, spread wide open, ready to embrace us. He loves us more than we can ever imagine and has never forsaken us or given up on us. We are His valued children.
Isn't it time to come back home? Isn't it time to turn from your wicked ways and find out what real life is all about? Isn't it time to let God bless you and redeem you? Aren't you tired of running?
Dear Lord, use this message to bring someone “home” to you. Father God, my prayer today and always. bring them home. Someone reading this needs to turn around and head back into your mighty arms, Father. please Lord, bring them home. I pray this in the mighty name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saturday
The Power Of God
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:20 NLT).
Not one of us can live up to our full potential without the power of God in our lives. His power drives us to do more; to do better; to serve others; to love those that are unlovable; to hate the sins that destroy our friends; to be great mothers, fathers, and children; to be better citizens; to enjoy His creation; to be better at praising Him; to feed the hungry; to house the homeless and to love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls.
Not only that but He encourages us to employ His power for protection by putting on what Ephesians 6:10-17 describes as the armor of God.
God wants us to be centered in Him and His Word. He wants us centered in His love, mercy, and grace. By our faith, we believe and He gives us the free will to choose if we want Him to be God of our lives. I pray that everyone will choose wisely.
Father God, lead us to live up to our full potential, not the potential that we see for ourselves, but the potential that you see for us. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
Sunday
Made Spotless And Pure
Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. (Romans 3:27 NLT).
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet, God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus who freed us from the penalty for our sins. Take a moment to read all of Romans 3 to see.
Dear Lord, we boast only in you! Thank you, God, for your Son. Through His sacrificial death, we are able to have a relationship with you. We are incapable of living a sinless life and following your law. But by the blood of Jesus Christ, our lives are made clean, our past transgressions are wiped clean. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' mighty name, we are made pure and righteous. Amen.
(Editor's Note: "God Has a Gift for You" is the good news that restores the broken relationship we have with God because of our sin.)
