Monday
Love Uncomplicated
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever (1 John 2:15-17 NLT).
We tend to complicate things. What do you really love? Do you love this world? Do we love our possessions or our physical cravings or our achievements?
But the love written about here is not about worldly things. It's about our love for God and what is to come when we leave this old broken world. Our lives on earth will fade away. These bodies and all our belongings will pass away. We will be gone from this world, but where will we be?
This is a matter of our decisions and choices. We have a loving but just God. He loves us but has given us free will. Our decisions are extremely important.
I hope each of us will spend time seeking Him and His instructions instead of the world's temptations and diversions. One has eternal value, the other does not.
No, I don't think it's wrong to enjoy what God has blessed us with. We are to enjoy every day what we have on this earth if it is within God’s law and standards. Otherwise, we all lose sight of the real goal which ties every moment to eternity: Are we seeking God and doing what pleases Him? Have we accepted Christ as our Savior? Are we opening His Holy Word and spending time, studying and learning what He has designed for each of us?
Lord, help us to have discernment for how we live. Help us to make the right decisions about life now, but most importantly, everlasting life. Draw us closer to you, Lord God. Save us from this broken world and from our selfish desires. Lead us, Lord, and may we follow. It is in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus that we pray. Amen.
Tuesday
Simple Truth
And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (1 John 5:11 NLT).
Many people stumble over this simple truth: Without Jesus, we are doomed. With Him, we have life everlasting.
May God bless your day today and if you don't know Jesus, please seek Him. Open God's Word to read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Ask for His help to open your eyes to the truth that He is. God is real, and His Son is the Savior.
Lord, we pray Jesus’ name that more of the lost will be found and saved by your mercy and grace. Amen.
Wednesday
Resisting Satan
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11 NLT).
We all come under the attacks of the Evil One and his demons. The spiritual warfare is real. Jesus gives us an example of how to handle the Devil’s advances and attacks.
Christ's example of using God's Word is paramount. Jesus told Satan, "For the scriptures say..." as He referred to Scripture.
After a few temptations, Jesus commanded Satan to go away and quoted this, "You must worship the Lord your God and only serve him." The Devil left.
So, my friends, God's Word gives us the sword to fight with and ward off attacks of the Evil One. When we have spiritual battles with the unseen world, we need the full armor of God (See Ephesians 6:10-18).
Do you know Scripture well enough to use it as your defense? Are you trusting in God to fight your spiritual battles? Are you calling on the mighty name of Jesus to drive off the attacks?
Lord God, help us to study your Word, so that we can fight off the attacks of the Evil One. Help us to stand on your Holy Scripture as our knowledge. Help us to totally trust you to fight our battles. We pray in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Thursday
Expectantly Waiting
O Lord, hear me as I pray;
pay attention to my groaning.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
for I pray to no one but you.
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly (Psalm 5:1-3 NLT).
Prayer and waiting seem to go together. We wait for God to say "yes,", "no," or "not yet". But the key part of prayer is we should wait expectantly.
Lord God, help us to wait patiently on your answer to our petitions. We love you, Lord, and trust you to be working behind the scenes in all our needs. Lord, we raise our hands high in praise for your love, mercy, and grace. We pray in the mighty name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday
Just Look Around
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens (Psalm 8:1 NLT).
If you don't see God's work around you, maybe you should open your eyes wider. Open His Word and see His majesty. Thank you, Lord!
Dear Lord, I pray that many people will open their eyes and their hearts to see Your glory. May they search your Word to be able to see your amazing work around them. I pray in the Savior’s name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saturday
He Set Heavens In Place
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor (Psalm 8:3-5 NLT).
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! (Psalm 8:9 NLT).
Take refuge in the statement that God “crowned them with glory and honor." Wow, He crowned each of us with His glory and honor. I wonder how we are living up to that. I know I don't do so well. When we try to live up to His standards, it pleases Him.
Lord, help us to see how your majestic name fills the earth. Help us to realize everything we see, feel, touch, and experience is your creation. You made and designed it all. You placed us here, crowning us with Your glory and honor. Thank you, Lord God, for your many and continued blessings. Amen.
Sunday
Scary Request
Arise, O Lord!
Do not let mere mortals defy you!
Judge the nations!
Make them tremble in fear, O Lord.
Let the nations know they are merely human (Psalm 9:19-20 NLT).
Are we prepared to make this request of God? We can look around us and see how our world and our nation defy God and His commands. It scares me to think of how we are shaking our fists at God.
All of us who have read Revelation know His judgment is coming. We don't know when, but it will happen when God has had enough. Are we prepared for His ultimate hand of judgment?
Lord God, we know you are a just and loving God. We know you have continued to give overflowing mercy and grace, but we also know you will judge our nations and each of us individually.
Lord, help us to draw closer to you and open your Word daily. Help us read, study, and grow closer to you. Help us, Lord God, for we are a defiant and disobedient nation. We pray in the mighty name of the Savior, Jesus Christ. 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.)
