For Not On
Philip.1:21-22 “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ…” (emphasis added)
We must not confuse a full life with a meaningful life. Full does not necessarily translate to being fulfilled. It is possible to be full and not be fulfilled. We often try to fill our lives with sports, or watching television, or with social media, or with partying. Read the rest of this entry
The Better Life
John 4:14 (TLB) “But the water I give them,” he said, “becomes a perpetual spring within them, watering them forever with eternal life.”
In yesterday’s devotional, we established that everyone wants to have “the good life” and the good life means different things to different people. However, in the pursuit of the good life, we experience exhaustion; we are tired because it is draining. Read the rest of this entry
Jesus Alone
Jude 1:24 “Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.” (emphasis added).
This was the scripture God gave me after I had given my life to Jesus. I can never forget. Though I had surrendered my life to Christ, I did not know how living for Him would be possible because I knew the type of life I was living. Read the rest of this entry
Responses II
Matt.12:11-12 “Jesus said, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a PIT on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep!” (NIV, emphasis added).
How do the five major world views [religions] respond if one falls into a dip pit? Yesterday, we looked at three responses. Buddha says, it is your karma. Mohammed says, you violated the law of Allah. Hindus say, the pit does not exist, it is an illusion, it is in your mind. 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
Reckless Love
2 Sam. 22:20 “He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.”
Heb.12:6-11 (GW) “The Lord disciplines everyone he loves. He severely disciplines everyone he accepts as his child.” Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. Read the rest of this entry
His Love
Ps. 119:67-68 “I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees.” (emphasis added).
We [human parents] do not discipline. We do more than discipline, we punish. What is the difference? Remember my story from yesterday? That moment when I see my grandmother and immediately, I wish I was lost again. Read the rest of this entry
Treasured
Matt.18:12-13 (VOICE) “…Should the shepherd leave the flock on the hills unguarded to search for the lost sheep? God’s shepherd goes to look for that one lost sheep and when he finds her, he is happier about her return than he is about the 99 who stayed put.”
You need a shepherd and you need a flock. Isa.53:6 “We’re ALL like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him.”(MSG, emphasis added). Read the rest of this entry
Shepherd vs. Cowboy
Ps.26:3 “Your constant love is my guide and your faithfulness always leads me.” (TEV, emphasis added)
Who is your shepherd? I hope that by now you can say Only Jesus! A lot of us know people or are people that travel. When we travel to new places, sometimes we go around the city just to appreciate the sights. Read the rest of this entry
