Tag: devotional

Freed from All Things

One of the great things that happen in the church is to hear the testimony of how God set someone free from a lifetime of addiction. You hear how their life was near ruin, and Jesus was the only option left and how He came shining through when there was no more hope. Paul talks in Acts how you can be freed from all things by Jesus’ victory over death.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:39

“and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.”

Paul liked to debate in the synagogues in the cities he planted churches. He would start there first, and because he had the pedigree of being a Pharisee trained by Gamaliel, he was allowed to speak. He would use the Old Testament to prove that Christ was the Messiah they were looking for. Here in Antioch, he tells them that King David was laid with his fathers and his body turned to dust and bones, but Jesus didn’t see the corruption of turning to dust but was raised by HIs Father. Because of this, forgiveness of sin is offered, and those who believe can be freed from all things. That message usually got Paul booted out of the synagogue by week three, but many there believed and followed him.

I Will Not Be Shaken

There are events in your life that will leave you feeling like your world has been rocked. Successful navigation of those events requires depending on the Lord. There are also minor annoyances that can leave us frustrated and reeling. David understood those and determined in his heart, “I will not be shaken.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:8

“I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

There is a multitude of things that can rattle your cage every day. It could be something a simple as a misunderstood look that sets your day off on the wrong path. David understood this, and that is why he kept the Lord so close to him. The phrase “at my right hand” refers to something that is right there with you and is easily accessible. Think of your phone and how often you have it in your right hand or somewhere close by.

Jesus Will Make All Things New

Every year, in one of my devotionals, I talk about the strawberry season. I do that because we have the best strawberries where we live. I also do it because it signals that spring has arrived. Spring is the season of new life. The dark days of winter are behind us, and more green starts to appear. Jesus says that when we are with Him in heaven, he will make all things new

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:5

“And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

When the tribulation is done, and after all the judgments are complete, this current earth will pass away, and a new heaven and earth will be ushered in. There will be no more weeping or sorrow because Jesus will wipe away every tear and make all things new. This will be the dwelling place of both God and man. It will be perfect in every sense because Jesus is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. It’s hard to picture, but it is exciting to think about.

From the Belly of a Fish

Have you ever got into a predicament where it feels like the walls are closing in on you, and there doesn’t seem like any way out? If that is the case, you can relate with Jonah. Whether your situation was self-inflicted or caused by external influences, Jonah shows us that we care to turn to…

The Upright Christian Life

What does the upright Christian life look like? There is a lot of debate that goes on about that topic, but David gives us a concise checklist that can keep us on track. He tells us to walk in integrity, do the right thing, and speak the truth.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭15:1-2

“O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.”

David asks the question, “Who is able to be in God’s presence?” and then answers by saying the one who walks in integrity. Now there is an Old Testament slant to this question. By the old covenant, Israel had to live by the law and keep it. If they didn’t, consequences would come. It was also understood that God wouldn’t have anything to do with unrighteousness. While that principle was true, God often made exceptions. He extended grace to the Jews more often than not.

The Great White Throne Judgment

If you have ever stood before a judge, you have felt that sense of judgment. Even if you were innocent, you still stood there with a sense of possible doom if things didn’t go your way. At the final judgment, it won’t be a courtroom but a throne on which God sits and judges those who rejected His Son, Jesus. It’s called the Great White Throne Judgment.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20:11‬

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.”

There will be two judgments at the end of time, one for believers and those who rejected Christ. For believers, you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of how you lived your life. Your reward in heaven will be based on what you did for God here. For those who rejected Jesus, there will be the Great White Throne judgment. This will be one of the most terrifying things ever! Here people will be judged by God and cast into eternal hell. I like how John calls it, “from whose presence earth and have fled away.” If that doesn’t send shivers down your spine, nothing will. As a believer, it should motivate you to take as many to heaven with you as possible.

Missed Opportunities

Some of the biggest regrets people have are missed opportunities. If they would’ve taken a chance, their life would be so much better. Jonah was presented with an opportunity to be used by God, but he chose to run away, which led to a storm, followed by being swallowed by a fish and then being spit out.

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1:10

“Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.”

Jonah is a short book in a part of the Bible called the Minor Prophets. They are not minor because they are not equal to the other prophets, but their books are usually smaller. Jonah is a well-known Bible story because a fish swallowed him, but his book’s message much deeper. He was a prophet who didn’t want to do the assignment God gave him, so he ran away. God caused a massive storm which put the ship he was on in peril. The sailors were in disbelief that he would run from God.

The Foolish Heart

Every report about the church today foretells bad news. More and more people are identifying as a “none” or are not affiliated with any religion. People don’t want to be affiliated with hate, or they just don’t believe what they were taught growing up. King David issued a warning for them. He said, “The foolish heart says there is no God.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭14:1

“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.”

David had a keen eye that was backed up by the Holy Spirit. He was able to look at the words and actions of a person and determine if they were Godly. A person could do all the religious deeds and impress people but still be corrupt. That was the state of Israel during His time. Saul was all about himself and did some horrible deeds. He had most people fooled. Contrast that with David, who is known as a man after God’s own heart.

Are You Making Yourself Ready?

Brides spend a lot of time and money getting ready for their special day. They want every detail to be perfect because it is going to be a celebration with loved ones. There is a lot of stress leading up to it, but in the end, it is all worth it. Did you know that the church is the Bride of Christ and that there will be a wedding? Are you making yourself ready for that day?

Revelation 19:7

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”

There will be a grand celebration when Jesus is finally wed to His Bride, the church. It’s is described as a marriage celebration with a great feast. As believers in Jesus, we should be looking forward to this day, and it should fill our hearts with hope and joy. Jesus has already won the battle on the cross, and nothing can take away our salvation, so in the meantime, we are making ourselves ready for that day. That is the mindset every believer should have.

It May Come Back on Your Head

Growing up, you hear things like “You get out what you put in” and “No pain, no gain.” All of it is meant to motivate a person to put the hard work in so that you will get the intended result. There is a flip side to that thinking. If you purposely do something wrong to hurt someone, it will come back on your head. That is what we see today as we look at Obadiah.

‭‭Obadiah‬ ‭1:15‬

“For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.”

I love saying the name “Obadiah.” It sounds cool but the meaning of his name in Hebrew is even more incredible. It means “Worshipper of Yahweh.” While we don’t know much about him, there are fifteen mentioned in the Old Testament. He is a prophet that is prophesying judgment on Edom. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Isaac’s son. Israel wanted to pass through Edom on the way to the Promised land, but they wouldn’t let them. They were a perpetual thorn in Israel’s side and laughed when Israel went through captivity. God sends Obadiah to tell them that their day of judgment is coming and everything they have done will return on them.