Category Archives: Kingdom of God
This John, II
1Jn.1:1 “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.” (emphasis added).
At the end of his life, John could confidently write that Jesus is not a figment of his imagination. He knew Jesus experientially; John said, “this is the Word of life whom I have seen, I have touched and I myself have handled”. The Word can become life to you. Read the rest of this entry
This John, I
1Jn.1:1 “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.” (emphasis added).
John was big on love and relationship; he is known as the Apostle of Love. John is the one who would tell us in his letters that, “God is love; he that loveth not knoweth not God…” [1 John 4:7-8 please read]. James had a similar theme, but John was heavily focused on love. Read the rest of this entry
Harmony
James 3:9-10 “Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!”
Our final thought from yesterday’s devotional is really big and worthy of repetition because it is so important that we get what James is saying to us. And it is this; exhibiting the gifts of the Holy Spirit and not manifesting the fruit of the Holy Spirit is a misnomer. Read the rest of this entry
Responses I
Ps. 92:4-6 “You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O Lord, what great works you do! And how deep are your thoughts. Only a simpleton would not know, and only a fool would not understand this”
How does your shepherd respond when you are in a pit? If one falls into a deep pit, there are more than five world views on the corresponding response. I am going to share five of the major world views from the five major world religions. Read the rest of this entry
The Exchange I
Job 42:5-6 “I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
Sometimes, because we cannot see very far, we tend to argue with God. We look at our lives and we question God’s heart and His goodness. Why did You not do this and why did You not answer that prayer. Read the rest of this entry
Kingdom Minded
Mark 9:34-35 “But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
One of the many things that separate Jesus from a lot of the leaders we know, is His servant-spirit. Over the next few days, we will be learning from this hugely profound attribute of Jesus. Read the rest of this entry
Childlike
Mark 10:14 “…Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” [with emphasis].
When God looks at you and calls you champion, it is not wishful thinking or motivational speaking. God is not just trying to make you feel good and He is not just trying to pep you up. Read the rest of this entry
Uncommon
Isa.55:8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
When I first gave my life to Christ, I would pray about something, but I would not stop at praying alone. I would also give God several options and methods He can use to execute my request. Read the rest of this entry
