Monday
Only One Way
For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault (Colossians 1:19-22 NLT).
Jesus is the only way to heaven. Period. By His death, burial, and resurrection, we are made worthy.
Only by His blood that was shed for us, do we have the ability to stand in the presence of God.
His plan is perfect. His Word is true. Read it, study it, and let it guide your life.
Lord God, thank you! Amen!
Tuesday
A Heavenly Gaze
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever (2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT).
The best is yet to come. Don't get caught up in the "poor ole me" syndrome. God promises much more. All we need to do is run the race that He laid out for us.
Dear Lord, help us endure the valleys of life. Help us keep looking up and to know that we can't even imagine how great you will bless us on the mountaintop. We ask and pray in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Wednesday
Selflessness
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too (Philippians 2:3-4 NLT).
Do you do something or help someone without any selfish motives?
When I ask this, I'm thinking of the times that we do things for others with the thought in the back of our minds that they will do something for us.
If you want to truly exhibit a selfless act, do something for someone who could never repay your action. Also, do it without others knowing you did anything.
Lord God, help us perform acts of selflessness for others. Help us do things for others that they have no idea who provided the help that they needed. Remind us not to tell anyone about what we have done. Let our acts of kindness be between you, Lord, and us. Lord God, thank you for your selflessness when you gave your life for us.
We pray in your mighty name. Amen.
Thursday
Christian Goal
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)
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 by how we live. Those who are lost or searching for God, need to see Jesus through us.
Those who are solid Christians, need to see us as a good witness for Christ.
Lord God, help us to shine your light into this lost and dying world, so that unbelievers and believers, both, will desire to find out what we have that they don't. Lead us today by your Holy Spirit and keep us safe. In Jesus' mighty name that we pray. Amen.
Friday
Is Every Day Thanksgiving?
And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20 NLT).
Well, every day should be Thanksgiving!
Just what are you thankful for? Our health, family, friends, job, car, Jeep, or motorcycle? Shouldn't we be thankful for everything, for all good things come by way of God's blessings? We should also be thankful in the bad times and in the valleys. Jesus is always with us. He never leaves us.
What is another reason for being thankful, every day? God gave us the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ!
Dear Lord, let us come to you in all our needs. Open our hearts to hear your response. Lead us down your path so that we might better serve you and others. In Jesus' mighty and matchless name, Amen.
Saturday
Our Shepherd
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need (Psalm 23:1 NLT).
Are you letting the Lord, shepherd you? Are you letting Him lead you, direct your path, provide for your needs, protect you and care for you, physically, emotionally, and spiritually?
He is the great Shepherd. Let Him be your Guide.
Lord, help us to let go and let you lead us! Amen.
SUNDAY
When Jesus Returns
And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
and unplug the ears of the deaf.
The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will water the wasteland.
The parched ground will become a pool,
and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.
Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish
where desert jackals once lived.
And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
fools will never walk there.
Lions will not lurk along its course,
nor any other ferocious beasts.
There will be no other dangers.
Only the redeemed will walk on it.
Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.
They will enter Jerusalem singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness (Isaiah 35.5 NLT).
We have a lot to look forward to when our Lord comes back to reclaim civilization. But we have a lot of tribulations to experience before His coming.
One verse before today's Scripture reminds us to be strong:
Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you” (Isaiah 35:4 NLT).
So, remember to remain in Him and He will remain in you:
And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame (1 John 2:28 NLT).
Father God, may we remember who you are, the God of all creation. Help us dwell in your mighty Word and keep us strong and without fear because you are coming to reclaim your people. May we remain in you so that we will have peace during all of the coming tribulations. Remind us to "be still and know that you are God". Amen and Amen!
