Daily Devotional 11-24-2021
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. He hastens to acknowledge that whatever he now is, he is by the grace of God. And he did not accept this grace as a matter of fact. Rather it put him under the deepest obligation, and he labored tirelessly to serve the Christ who saved him. Yet in a very real sense it was not Paul himself, but the grace of God which was working with him.
Daily Devotional 10-25-2021
Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. A believer’s consecration to God and his transformed lifestyle is demonstrated in his exercising his spiritual gifts in the body of Christ. As an apostle of Christ, Paul warned his readers individually – “Do not think of ourself more highly than we ought”. An inflated view of oneself is out of place in the Christian life. Then Paul encouraged us to rather think with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. God has given each believer some faith by which to serve Him. All natural abilities and spiritual gifts are from God. As a result, every Christian should have a proper sense of humility and…
Daily Devotional 10-2-2021
2Co 10:8 For if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame. As an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul had been given authority in connection with the churches he established. The aim of this authority was to build up the saints in their most holy faith. The false teachers, on the other hand, were exercising an authority among the Corinthians which they had never received from the Lord. Not only so, but they were exercising this authority in a manner to tear down the saints rather than build them up. So Paul says that even if he boasted more abundantly in the authority, which the Lord gave him, he would not be put to shame for it. His claims would eventually prove to be true.
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 8-11-2021
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. The Corinthians were urged to stand firm in the apostles’ teaching, unmoved by the denials of false teachers. This certainty, especially concerning the Resurrection, provided an impetus to faithful service since labor in the resurrected Lord is not futile.
Daily Devotional 7-19-2021
Act 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. As the apostle weighed this outlook in his mind, Paul did not think that his own life was the great consideration. His ambition was to obey God and to please Him. If in doing this, he would be called upon to offer up his life, he was willing to do so. No sacrifice we could make would be too great for the One who died for us. All that mattered was that we finish our race and complete the ministry which we received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. No title could better express the good news which Paul preached—the gospel of the…
Daily Devotional 7-16-2021
1Pe 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. Instead of imitating the ungodly world with its fads and fashions, our lives should reproduce the holy character of the One who called us. To be godly means to be Godlike. God is holy in all His ways. If we are to be like Him, we must be holy in all that we do and say. In this life we will never be as holy as He is, but we should be holy because He is.
Daily Devotional June 17, 2021
Rom 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Personal preferences (e.g. style of worship: Hill songs vs. Old hymns or personal choice of eschatology) are not that important and they are not the sum and substance of the kingdom of God. Only upright living, peace and joy in the sphere of the Holy Spirit are essentials of Christian fellowship and harmony. The Christian who serves Christ in the way of love, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Daily Devotional June 9, 2021
Col_2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. To live, as we do, in a highly sophisticated, technological society brings with it many benefits and animal comforts. It is not surprising, therefore, that all sorts of occult philosophies and religions are gaining ground in society. Man, who is made in the image of God, must have a spiritual explanation for his own existence. Biblical faith affirms that God has revealed all that is necessary to bring us into a living relationship with Himself and to enable us to travel through this world into His presence.