SCRIPTURE
1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
OBSERVATION
Again, I love these verses. We have been given a great compliment; a huge favor of the Lord! He calls us "children of God". Does it get any better than that? It speaks to His great love and regard for us. It speaks to His generosity towards us. And then John goes on to declare 'that is what we are'. What's also interesting to me is that these two verses have exclamation marks. They're not used extensively in the Bible so this tells me that John is adament about these two statements.
APPLICATION
My take away is that I am to fully realize that I am a highly regarded child of God. That I am blessed by an Almighty Father. That I am to act like a princess of the Highest King. I should claim my heritage and all the power and love that comes with it. Each day should begin and end with this awareness.
PRAYER
Thank you, Father, for this gift! I want to always remember the love and wonder of my Father. I want to claim all that goes with the title of 'child of God'. Let me live up to that humbling and beautiful title. Amen.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Blessings and Praises
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 67:1-4 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the people praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.
OBSERVATION
The psalmist asks for God's blessings for His people. They pray, in turn, that because of the people's praises to God, the nations see and praise Him as well. They see that God provides for his people and that He is a just and guiding God.
APPLICATION
The blessings of God are many, from material to emotional to spiritual. To me, one of the greatest gifts we have is hope - hope that comes from a loving Father who is with us through good and bad times . . . hope that allows us to endure daily struggles of life and relationships . . . and a hope that we have a perfect eternity ahead of us through the price paid by Jesus. How do people make it through life without hope? I don't want to know.
PRAYER
I pray that people who do not know Jesus will see hope demonstrated in my life. Father, let me model reliance and hope in You to my children, my friends, and all those around me. Amen.
Psalm 67:1-4 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the people praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.
OBSERVATION
The psalmist asks for God's blessings for His people. They pray, in turn, that because of the people's praises to God, the nations see and praise Him as well. They see that God provides for his people and that He is a just and guiding God.
APPLICATION
The blessings of God are many, from material to emotional to spiritual. To me, one of the greatest gifts we have is hope - hope that comes from a loving Father who is with us through good and bad times . . . hope that allows us to endure daily struggles of life and relationships . . . and a hope that we have a perfect eternity ahead of us through the price paid by Jesus. How do people make it through life without hope? I don't want to know.
PRAYER
I pray that people who do not know Jesus will see hope demonstrated in my life. Father, let me model reliance and hope in You to my children, my friends, and all those around me. Amen.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Three Important Reminders
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 105:1-4 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
OBSERVATION
In just four verses, the psalmist reminds to do so many things regarding our Lord, I feel that I'm falling short. Thank Him. Call on Him. Speak to others about Him. Sing to and praise Him. Tell. Rejoice. Rely on the Lord's strength, seek His face always. Alot of reminders! But if I group them, I come up with 3: PRAISE, RELY UPON and TELL OTHERS. The psalmist gives us several examples of how we can do these three things. But, looking at the three main reminders - it sums it all up for me . . . praise Him, rely upon Him, tell others about Him.
APPLICATION
Am I doing all that I can each day to accomplish these three things? Am I spending enough time each day praising my Lord? Am I relying upon Him with ALL things? Or do I lean on my own strength and understanding? And, finally, am I doing all He has called me to do to tell others about the amazing God I serve? Daily reminders (in His Word) can do alot to keep us on track.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me on track. Keep putting reminders before me that you are a God worthy of praise, omnipotent so as to be relied upon with all things, and certainly worthy of telling others. Thank you for your Word. Amen.
Psalm 105:1-4 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
OBSERVATION
In just four verses, the psalmist reminds to do so many things regarding our Lord, I feel that I'm falling short. Thank Him. Call on Him. Speak to others about Him. Sing to and praise Him. Tell. Rejoice. Rely on the Lord's strength, seek His face always. Alot of reminders! But if I group them, I come up with 3: PRAISE, RELY UPON and TELL OTHERS. The psalmist gives us several examples of how we can do these three things. But, looking at the three main reminders - it sums it all up for me . . . praise Him, rely upon Him, tell others about Him.
APPLICATION
Am I doing all that I can each day to accomplish these three things? Am I spending enough time each day praising my Lord? Am I relying upon Him with ALL things? Or do I lean on my own strength and understanding? And, finally, am I doing all He has called me to do to tell others about the amazing God I serve? Daily reminders (in His Word) can do alot to keep us on track.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me on track. Keep putting reminders before me that you are a God worthy of praise, omnipotent so as to be relied upon with all things, and certainly worthy of telling others. Thank you for your Word. Amen.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
By Believing, Life in His Name
SCRIPTURE
John 20:30-31 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
OBSERVATION
I love these verses because they tell so much in just two sentences. First, we're told that the book of John tells only some of the miraculous signs are included and that not all are recorded. Verse 31 then tells us that these words are written for us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and therefore have life everlasting.
APPLICATION
This tells me that God included enough, but not everything, in His Word to convince all of us of truth. It also points me toward blind faith - in not only what is written, but in what I know in my heart to be true.
PRAYER
Lord, let me continue to draw and learn from Your Word, but continue to remind me that You have given us Your Holy Spirit to lead us to the truth. Please help me to become less proof-led and more Spirit-led. Amen.
John 20:30-31 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
OBSERVATION
I love these verses because they tell so much in just two sentences. First, we're told that the book of John tells only some of the miraculous signs are included and that not all are recorded. Verse 31 then tells us that these words are written for us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and therefore have life everlasting.
APPLICATION
This tells me that God included enough, but not everything, in His Word to convince all of us of truth. It also points me toward blind faith - in not only what is written, but in what I know in my heart to be true.
PRAYER
Lord, let me continue to draw and learn from Your Word, but continue to remind me that You have given us Your Holy Spirit to lead us to the truth. Please help me to become less proof-led and more Spirit-led. Amen.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Does God Still Speak Today?
SCRIPTURE
(John 16:13) "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
OBSERVATION
Jesus spends this discourse telling His disciples that He is about to die. They do not have to fear because the Spirit of God will come and comfort them and lead them by speaking the heart of God to them. God speaks to us today through His Holy Spirit. The question is, do we really want to hear Him?
APPLICATION
Jesus said the Spirit will only say to us what He has heard the Father say. Paul in I Corinthians 6:17 says that when we join ourselves to Jesus we become one spirit with Him. His spirit is united with our spirit and His spirit speaks what God is saying and where He is leading. Are you listening to your spirit?
PRAYER
Lord, I know Your spirit desires to commune with my spirit, but I often restrict the communication by focusing on worldly distractions. Keep my eyes focused on You, so I can hear Your voice.
(John 16:13) "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
OBSERVATION
Jesus spends this discourse telling His disciples that He is about to die. They do not have to fear because the Spirit of God will come and comfort them and lead them by speaking the heart of God to them. God speaks to us today through His Holy Spirit. The question is, do we really want to hear Him?
APPLICATION
Jesus said the Spirit will only say to us what He has heard the Father say. Paul in I Corinthians 6:17 says that when we join ourselves to Jesus we become one spirit with Him. His spirit is united with our spirit and His spirit speaks what God is saying and where He is leading. Are you listening to your spirit?
PRAYER
Lord, I know Your spirit desires to commune with my spirit, but I often restrict the communication by focusing on worldly distractions. Keep my eyes focused on You, so I can hear Your voice.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
And it was Going So Well!
SCRIPTURE
(John 15:1&2) "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit."
OBSERVATION
Hearers of the Word of God that do not bear fruit will not be allowed to remain a part of the true vine. Jesus says in this passage that God will cut them off and discard them. Those who are bearing fruit will go through times of limitation or pruning, for the purpose of being more effective for the kingdom of God.
APPLICATION
When things are hard or difficult in life experiences, God is most likely pruning you or preparing you for the future harvest. To develop a discontent disposition or a bitter heart will require more pruning to get rid of the non-productive growth. We can rejoice in momentary light affliction because we know it is producing eternal glory.
PRAYER
Have Your way Lord in my life. I submit to Your molding and shaping of my life so that You might be glorified. I want to bear fruit in the most productive way that you see fit.
(John 15:1&2) "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit."
OBSERVATION
Hearers of the Word of God that do not bear fruit will not be allowed to remain a part of the true vine. Jesus says in this passage that God will cut them off and discard them. Those who are bearing fruit will go through times of limitation or pruning, for the purpose of being more effective for the kingdom of God.
APPLICATION
When things are hard or difficult in life experiences, God is most likely pruning you or preparing you for the future harvest. To develop a discontent disposition or a bitter heart will require more pruning to get rid of the non-productive growth. We can rejoice in momentary light affliction because we know it is producing eternal glory.
PRAYER
Have Your way Lord in my life. I submit to Your molding and shaping of my life so that You might be glorified. I want to bear fruit in the most productive way that you see fit.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
You Want Me to do What?
SCRIPTURE
(John 14:12) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father."
OBSERVATION
There are instances when Jesus raised the dead, worked physical healings, and defied the laws of nature. He says that if we believe in Him and the works that He did, then we will be able to do even greater things. The key is belief in Him and to know the source from which He was able to do what he did.
APPLICATION
When I worry because things become tight with my finances, or I doubt God's ability to work through me to achieve great things, what I am saying is that I question the validity of who Jesus said He was. Mark 9 says all things are possible to him that believes. I do not have to worry about my family, my finances, or my calling because God is in control of it all and He has given me His authority through Christ Jesus.
PRAYER
God, I do not want to doubt the power and authority of Your Son. Help me to become more aware of the authority that You have given me through Jesus, and to act upon it.
(John 14:12) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father."
OBSERVATION
There are instances when Jesus raised the dead, worked physical healings, and defied the laws of nature. He says that if we believe in Him and the works that He did, then we will be able to do even greater things. The key is belief in Him and to know the source from which He was able to do what he did.
APPLICATION
When I worry because things become tight with my finances, or I doubt God's ability to work through me to achieve great things, what I am saying is that I question the validity of who Jesus said He was. Mark 9 says all things are possible to him that believes. I do not have to worry about my family, my finances, or my calling because God is in control of it all and He has given me His authority through Christ Jesus.
PRAYER
God, I do not want to doubt the power and authority of Your Son. Help me to become more aware of the authority that You have given me through Jesus, and to act upon it.
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