Simple Devotions

Tag: christianity

  • to fulfill

    “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  matt 5:17

    The greek word “pléroó” which means to make full, complete or satisfy, in this way it was meant to fully preach or teach.

    Jesus goes on to say “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (You good-for-nothing) shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

    This leads to the evidence that every breathe we take we are either keeping the law or breaking it. Wait? What?! Yep..it’s a matter of principles. So lets ask ourselves some honest questions. Can we keep all the laws?

    Lets play a game, below I’ve listed The Ten Commandments how well do you think you keep them? For every one that you keep without any hesitation give yourself one point. I included an “underlying principle” so that you may see how it applies effectively to your life today.

    Only 1 rule: be perfectly honest with yourself because your answers affect only you.

    Exodus 20:3-17

    Then God spoke all these words:

    #1 I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You must have no other gods before me.

    • Don’t praise yourself ( Have I ever said ..yeah..that’s what I’m saying!? Look at me – like a boss , obviously)

    #2 Do not make an idol for yourself—no form whatsoever—of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. I punish children for their parents’ sins even to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. But I am loyal and gracious to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

    • Don’t look at yourself in the mirror every 5 min or take “selfies” constantly. ( guilty on a good hair day..)

    #3 Do not use the LORD your God’s name as if it were of no significance; the LORD won’t forgive anyone who uses his name that way.

    • Don’t say OMG ( or use it on text .. your still saying it)

    #4 Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy. Six days you may work and do all your tasks, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. Do not do any work on it—not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your animals, or the immigrant who is living with you. Because the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them in six days, but rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

    • Don’t do your own thing. ( often)

    #5 Honor your father and your mother so that your life will be long on the fertile land that the LORD your God is giving you.

    • Don’t disrespect your parents council or authority. ( they are so old..l’m gonna do it my way, they don’t understand.)

    #6 Do not kill.

    • Don’t harm your own body, drinking, drugs, unhealthy lifestyle choices. ( what’s the matter with the occasional killing my brain cells, oh maybe the fact I was created in His image, my body -His temple. )

    #7 Do not commit adultery.

    • No porno, no sexual immorality. (Lusting doesn’t count right see #10 )

    #8 Do not steal.

    • Don’t take from others. ( pretty simple unless it’s taxes..)

    #9 Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.

    • Don’t gossip. ( but is it if it’s true? or if you pray for them afterwards does it still count as gossip..)

    #10 Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s house. Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

    • Don’t envy or be jealous others. ( unless they are not being real then we can call it righteous indignation.. every Christian carries that card that only belongs to Jesus..)

    So how many points did you score?

    Well you know my score. I really need to work on my surrender skills and I guess I should have told you this beforehand. According to the one who scored a perfect 10 and holds the long standing record. Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in Him.  Anyone who continues to live in Him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know Him or understand who He is.

    We are no good on our own merit..the good points in our lives are as filthy rags, but His rightousness is our robe of hope.

    He fulfilled the law perfectly and He will teach us if we surrender and repent of our sins, telling Him we need Him.

    He is the law for us and will show us the way to walk, if we lay it all down.

    Pray, ask, seek.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • scripture forecast

    Ezek 38 Ish 28 Ish 25 Psalm 107 Psalm 55 Nah 1

    Through out these passages there is a divine forecast, a message of impending judgment and destruction. Let those who have ears, hear.

    Being watchful to seek the Word is like the wise virgins filling our lamps, not sleeping.

    These scriptures describes the Lords powerful force coming, bringing disaster and desolation upon of those whom are against Him and His Kingdom.

    A call to action is made to both spiritual Judah and Jerusalem, urging us to gather and take refuge from the coming calamity.

    This is not a test, not a false alarm. This is coming from the Word of God saying..be watchful, pay attention. A storm is coming.

    The warnings of storms, and winds symbolizes the intensity of God’s anger against wickedness of this world. This time even now is getting darker. There is no doubt that even non believers are noticing. Everywhere we see more and more waking up to the understanding of impending doom. More are hearing the sirens in their hearts. The one who created those hearts, is calling them to hear Him and enter into His care before its to late.

    There is a plea for repentance, throughout the Word of God, with an emphasis on the need to cleanse our hearts and abandon evil thoughts. Have nothing to do with wickedness, and being obedient to His call.

    Ultimately, the scriptures in this forecast highlights God’s power and His role as a refuge for the needy amidst the coming turmoil, contrasting His vengeance against the unfaithful who live in wickedness, yet proclaiming His care and protective nature for those who seek Him.

    So lets be ready. A storm is coming.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • united to Him

    We are all naturally united to something. Whether family traditions; culture upbringing maybe a college team in sports or other team sports with all the fan gear. Maybe it’s the youth group at church or other special interest outreaches. Nothing new, in every generation there’s a need to belong somehow.

    But here’s the realty of that nature, if we are not united to Christ in the way that we just read, there’s no future for sure.

    So I ask this question, what are you united in? And my answer is I want to be united to Christ, but I am a sinner and I have an enemy who wants my life so how will I stay united with all the temptations?

    And the Word gives me all the answers.

    Psalm 12:6 ( Pure are the words of the Lord purified 7x means complete)

    His Word will never fail me.

    2 Sam 22:31 ( the Word is proven; a shield for all who trust)

    His Word is alive and active.

    Psalm 18:30-32 (His way is perfect. Our Rock, our strength)

    His Word never fails.

    Psalm 119:40 (His Word/precepts revive me)

    His Word is righteous, giving life.

    Rev 15:2-3 (John sees a perfect mix of peoples “united”)

    His Word unites in the end.

    Jesus was fitted for all the conflict by the indwelling (uniting) of the Holy Spirit. He never consented to sin, not even a thought. He was perfect in every way even in temptation He recalled the Word. He came to make us partakers with Him of divine nature. As long as we are united to Him by faith, sin has no more dominion over us. God reaches for the hand of faith to direct us to lay hold of Christ perfection of character.

    So when we are tempted, rely on God’s Word.

    Which will UNITE US TO HIM ! YAY JESUS!!! GO TEAM JESUS!!

    In Christ love, Amen

  • the Light

    You’ve heard it said “be the light in this dark world.”

    But have you ever really asked what does this look like? I find the passage of 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 “enlightening” there’s a part that basically says do not adulterate the word of God. This makes you stop and ask “what would this look like? Self- wisdom, worldly ideas.”

    I looked at the chain reference in my study bible and found this next text helpful in explaining it in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

    So who are those “worldly wise men” who come to Christ as poor lost sinners..” let’s walk this out, as not to run past new understanding.

    Men/women of the world coming to Christ as poor = they come with open minds and hearts letting go of what they know, to receive what He gives. Which is ?

    The way, truth, light. (Life)

    This brings to mind the the rich young man who did everything right according to the law and was living very well but when he asked Jesus what he must do to inherit the kingdom, Jesus says “go sell everything and follow me.”

    You see it? It wasn’t that he couldn’t have what he had BUT it was that he had no room to receive what Jesus had for him, he was not poor/ humble in spirit.

    Or what about the time when Naaman the commander of the army, who needed healing of leprosy. Go read! It will help you to see there’s a humbling process even when you have worldly gains, prestige and power.

    How many times have we in our searching thought “oh I’ve just got to keep praying for xyz, God will work it out” have you ever wondered if the answer is delayed because we are not able to receive? It’s not because He doesn’t hear or even because He doesn’t want to bless you. It’s most likely our minds are already full with our own wisdom.

    It’s not till we become poor that we become wise unto salvation.

    So those who come in their own wisdom will fail to receive “the light” how many times have we talked with another who had knowledge but that was it..no love no generosity of spirit or humility. It seemed like the light was very dim or non existent.

    No one can give the knowledge that gives light, only God can.

    To humble and surrender our will to His, is to let God have our hearts and minds to receive the glorious conceptions that God will teach, leading us in truth. Each study, each passage we read and every hidden link will be from Him who commanded light to shine out of the darkness – and that light will be what leads and gives light to others.

  • It is Him

    Based on Isaiah 40

    On this day 30 years ago I married my best friend, the one God appointed for me to walk with on this life’s journey. We have seen the goodness of life because He was put in the center of our marriage. It was Him who taught us to surrender our self-will and conceed in an argument. It was Him who gave us eyes to see with love. It was Him who reminded us of true love towards one another in forgiveness. It was Him who provided when we didn’t know how it would work. It was always Him.

    In this life that is like that of grass and flowers, here today and gone tommorow, we can be assured of only one thing that will last, the Word of God stands forever.

    When we surrender our life to Jesus we will never be defeated. He will never cease to care for and minister to the needs of His children. He purposed to come and reason with us, to lay down His life for us that we may believe and have life enternal.

    It is He who sits above the circle of the earth. There is non like God, and you will learn this, when you trust in His Word.

    Pray, Read, Repeat.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • Beholding

    Psalm’s 34 Please stop and read His Word before proceeding.

    Today’s scripture helps us to know that we can trust in the promises of God’s word! When you read it line by line, the evidence is in the experience we have had or will have because He wants us to “taste and see”.

    Instead of depending on the word of another, we can go to the direct source and know we will not lack any good thing because God is good!

    And again there’s more proof of His Angels who protect (Cover) us as Christ faithful followers in verse 7.

    I personally believe if you could see what evil agencies we are up against daily, you would cling to the Word of God more fully and give every opportunity for His leading us step by step. This is something we should always talk to Him about in our prayers.

    However on that day of His return when His eternal light comes, we will see the full providence of God. What He has been protecting us from all along, until then we need to lean into His word and behold His goodness and His faithfulness.

    Here’s more Words to consider:

    Proverbs 16:20; this I will do! Proverbs 16:25; this we need to pray against following our own way ..is pure folly. Like traveling an unknown area without a GPS. ( ohhhh another good topic ..)

    In Christ love, Amen

  • sweet smelling

    As a follower of Christ we have an unconscious influence, meaning we either “smell good or we can smell offensive” at times.

    Have you ever found yourself standing in public and you smelled a really good scent and you wondered what it was they were wearing? Your thinking “wow I want to smell that good”?!

    That I can remember this has happend only once to me and I’ll never forget the persons response when I asked: “the One”.

    {Now that I think about it how appropriate for this post.}

    Needless to say I went out and bought it.

    Is our Christian aroma putting off the same reaction?

    That someone likes what we are “wearing” enough so that they want to run out and purchase it for themselves?

    There’s so much we could learn in the way of scriptures today, but lets keep it simple.

    Romans 14:19 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

    Are You sweet smelling?

  • Abiding in Christ: How to Discover Truth

    To study the Word of God is to know the matter of the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of error.

    Read 1 John 4:1-6

    Once we start to know the difference we will have choices to make. And He will help us.

    Read 1 Corith 2: 9-16

    As we read these words alone it’s pretty convincing, and while Paul shared with the teachers and the students of the law most were convinced that Jesus was the Son of God but it was not in harmony with their own ambitious desires to confess Him.

    How many times does “our will” conflict with His truth ?

    So it is even still today, for the sake of gaining worldly treasures most will not confess Christ Lord of their lives. And since this is the case for them the treasures of His word are hidden. They will believe in error over truth.

    Yet even so He laid down His life to pay the penalty for our sins – knowing we would still “wonder”.

    There’s only one way to find knowledge. And God intends that the truth of His word shall be ever unfolding to His people. There is only one way we can attain understanding God’s Word.

    By Abiding in Christ..

    1 Corith 1:9 John 15:15 John 15:4

  • abide

    Recently I was clearing some land to plant a new bush I’ve grown from a seed. The hole I dug had roots from every kind of tree and shrub around the area. As I was pulling up anything that would cause issues for my new baby plant. I quickly realized how deep most of those roots ran. What should have taken a few minutes took over an hour to prepare. The vines and buried roots varied in sizes but all had a grip and were not letting go easily, I was tugging and pulling to dismantle these roots from branches that were running deep, even pulling up some web roots. This reminds me how important it is to stay “rooted” in Gods word daily. So that I will be able to withstand the daily dose of life unhinged here. (Eph 6:10-12)

    Being surrendered to Jesus means a life to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between me and my Savior. Because like the branches and roots that ran deep they draw life and continue to grow and thrive even in dark places. So just like these, we must abide to receive from Him, as His word clearly says. John 15:4-5

    Pray, Read, Apply and Repeat.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • God’s standard, not ours

    2 Peter 1:2-4    According to scripture God gave us  His wonderful and powerful promises, so that as a result, we will share in His divine nature. 

    God's  truth is to be planted in our hearts . It will teach us self control of the mind and feelings. Our whole character will be transformed by His Word, when brought into the daily practice. And when we do this we become in harmony with God's standard of righteousness.  His holy law we will learn to love because the  rule by which God measures the actions in that we should "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul And Love your neighbor as yourself,"  will be the test of character in judgment. 

    Prayer:  "Lord help me to be a voice and light in this dark World.
    Teach me to abide in Your ways completely, being quite when the time calls for it or speaking out clearly for Your glory when necessary.  Let no caution of mine take head to lead when You have a purpose.  Let Your plans for our lives prosper!
    Your Word says: be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to anger.  These are areas I need more self control of - show me - instruct me to learn this for the purpose of being used by You for Your glory. 
    Thank you Lord for times like this - when clarity and peace meets."

    In Christ love, Amen

    ” I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

    John 15:15 NIV