Daily Devotional 9-10-2021
1Ti 1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. In fact it was just for this purpose – that is, to demonstrate God’s plan to save sinners – that Paul himself was saved. As the worst of sinners, Paul represents the extreme example. If God was patient and gracious enough to save Paul, He is patient and gracious enough to save anyone. All who follow can look back at Paul as a prototype or pattern. The ultimate sinner became the ultimate saint; God’s greatest enemy became His finest servant. Somewhere between these extremes fall all the rest. In studying Paul’s pattern, Christians can therefore learn about themselves.
Daily Devotional 9-9-2021
Rom 15:14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Though he has never met the Roman Christians, he is confident that they will welcome his admonitions. This confidence is based on what he has heard of their goodness. In addition, he is assured of their knowledge of Christian doctrine, which qualifies them to admonish others.
Daily Devotional 09-08-2021
Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The description of God as the God of hope relates to hope in to the promises of God recorded in the Scripture which give hope. Paul desired God to fill his readers with all joy and peace. Joy relates to the delight of anticipation in seeing one’s hopes fulfilled. Peace results from the assurance that God will fulfill those hopes. These are experienced as believers trust in Him. As a result, believers overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The achievement of all God’s purposes for the spiritual welfare of His children comes from the power given by the Spirit of God.
Daily Devotional 9-6-2021
Rom 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. A believer’s hope, since it is centered in God and His promises, does not disappoint him. “Disappoint” means “put to shame because of disappointment” in unfulfilled promises. The reason this hope (resulting finally from affliction) does not disappoint is that God has poured out His love into our hearts. God’s love, so abundant in believer’s hearts, encourages them on in their hope. And this love is poured out by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. The Holy Spirit is the divine Agent who expresses to a believer the love of God, that is, God’s love for him. The reality of God’s love in a believer’s heart gives the assurance, even the guarantee, that the believer’s hope in God and His…
Daily Devotional 9-5-2021
Joh 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. The communion and fellowship which disciples have with Jesus in this life will increase in eternity. The goal of a believer’s salvation is future glorification which includes being with Jesus. Jesus’ last testament and will is that His disciples enter into see His glory. This glory was what Jesus had from the Father and would again have. His testament was sealed by His death and resurrection. Since His will is identical to the Father’s, it will certainly come to pass.
Daily Devotional 09-04-2021
Zec 2:3-5 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, (4) and said to him, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it. (5) ‘For I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” Another angel, possibly coming from the surveyor, gave a message to Zechariah’s interpreting angel to be conveyed to the prophet. That Jerusalem will be a city without walls indicates that the city will overflow its boundaries because of divine blessing. It will need no fortification or protection because of God’s presence. The Lord will be Jerusalem’s protection without and glory within. This promise looks forward to the Lord’s personal presence through the Messiah in the millennial…
Mat 20:25-27 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. (26) “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, (27) and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; While some people (rulers and high officials) lord it over others, the disciples were not to do so. Greatness in the Lord’s kingdom does not come through rulership or authority but through service. Their goal should be serving, not ruling. Those most highly esteemed will be those who serve, those who are humble.
Daily Devotional 9-2-2021
Rom 13:13-14 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. (14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime. Crime, violence, and wickedness are associated with darkness and the night. Perhaps this contrast was suggested to Paul by his phrase “deeds of darkness”. At any rate the activities and attitudes he listed – orgies and drunkenness… sexual immorality and debauchery… dissension and jealousy are certainly “deeds of darkness.” It is interesting that Paul linked jealousy with immorality. Such actions and attitudes have no place in a Christian’s life. He belongs to “the light”; these deeds and thoughts belong to the darkness. A Christian’s lifestyle must be pure and holy, especially in view of Christ’s approaching…
Daily Devotional 9-1-2021
1Pe 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, (7) casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Knowing God’s attitude should cause Christians not only to be subject to others but also to subject themselves deliberately to God’s sovereign rule. The command humble yourselves could be translated “allow yourselves to be humbled.” Those who were suffering persecution for Christ’s sake could be encouraged by the fact that the same mighty hand that let them suffer would one day lift them up. Christ sustains because He cares. A Christian’s confidence rests in the fact that Christ is genuinely concerned for his welfare.