DEVOTIONALS
Devotional 1
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." ~Proverbs 19:21
We are forever making plans. We have our calandars and daily planners for the purpose of remembering the many plans we are always making. As children we often dream and plan what we are "going to be when we grow up". Planning is just a natural thing to do. Not only is it natural, but it's vital to survive.
Planning ahead is a good thing. But what happens when our plans don't go as scheduled? It's kinda disappointing...unless something better happens instead! This verse reminds us that it is the Lord's purpose that will prevail. His plans are superior to ours. He knows what is in our best interest, even better than we do ourselves. And His purpose will prevail! Isn't it good to know that instead of settling for what we have planned, we can have something better? Something purposed by God whose will is perfect.
-HK
Devotional 2
"If anyone says 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." ~1 John 4:20
This is one of those scriptures that we often conveniently overlook. It plainly tells us that we MUST love others to love God. Who is the "brother" referred to in this passage? Well, if we are all God's children, then we are all brothers and sisters, right? If God is living in your Christian brother or sister's heart, and you hate the person, you can't say you love God. It's as simple as that...though we all know that this command is not really a simple one to follow.
Sometimes certain people can really get on your nerves. Other people are just plain hard to get along with. Then there are the people who are rude and for some reason seem to have something personal against you. The list can go on. There are many different excuses -some valid and some not- that we use as reasons why we don't act in love towards our Christian brothers and sisters. But the truth is, no matter how valid our excuses are, God still expects us to treat others with love. Otherwise we don't really love God. If we can't love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we can't say that we love God. You see, if God is living in someone and you hate that person, it's just not honest to say that you love God.
So what if in your heart you really do love God, but you still have a really hard time loving that certain person that irritates you to no end? What then?
The truth is, none of us actually have it in our own power to love everyone, no matter how sincere our love is towards God. BUT, all things are possible through Christ. Turn it over to God and let HIM give you the love for that person. Then be willing to do your part. Obey God; do what He tells you to do. Be honest with yourself; if you don't want to make things right and act in love towards all your Christian brothers and sisters, and if you aren't willing to obey God, then God's help won't be effective in your life. You have to make the effort. Do you love God? Then it's necessary that you also love those He lives in.
-HK
Devotional 3
"Now Peter was sitting in the courtyard, and a servant girl cameto him. 'You were with Jesus of Galilee,' she said. But he denied it before themall. 'I don't know what you're talking about,' he said." ~Matthew 26:69,70
It was the big moment. The true test in life. And Peter was about to face it. As his friend and teacher was sentanced to crucifixion on a cross, Peter sat in a courtyard, confused, and not knowing what to do. Yes, he was very confused. He had seen Jesus perform so many miracles, and yet it seemed that Jesus had now been topped by a power greater than Him, something out of His control. He was to be crucified.
Peter's thoughts were interrupted when a servant girl basically accused him of associating with Jesus. If Peter had not been so afraid, so confused, so unsure of everything that was happening, he might have responded with pride that he sure was a friend of Jesus. But instead he denied ever knowing Him. This happened three times before a rooster crowed twice, reminding Peter of an earlier conversation with Jesus in which he had promised never to deny Him, and Jesus had told him that he *would* deny Him three times before the rooster crowed twice. It had happened just the way Jesus had said it would. You can probably imagine how terrible Peter felt after that. The Bible says that Peter went outside and wept bitterly. At this point, Peter no longer felt confused or afraid for either his life or his image. Now everything was clear and he had only one feeling: regret.
Have you ever been in this same position before? Maybe you didn't actually deny knowing Christ publically at a crucial moment, but have you denied Christ by your actions? Have you ever done something out of confusion or fear of what people would think if you didn't and then afterwards felt so terrible for doing it?
I think we have all felt this way to some degree at some point in our lives. But there's good news! You see, even though Peter messed up and denied Christ, he was forgiven and was still considered as Christ's closest disciple. Later, after Jesus had risen from the dead, He asked Peter three times if he loved Him. And each time after Peter replied "yes", Jesus told him to feed his sheep. By doing this three times, the same amount of times that Peter had denied Him before, Jesus was showing Peter final forgiveness and leading him to restoration. He was telling His right-hand man that He still trusted him and would still use him. He was fully forgiven and restored from his failure.
Jesus is asking us that same question, "Do you love me?" If you have failed God, He wants you to know that He will forgive you and restore you, just like He did Peter. He still wants to use you. Now the ball lies in your court. Will YOU still feed His sheep?
DAILY BREAD
An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but what about a Proverb a day? What's the importance of reading scripture daily, you might ask. Well, daily reading of God's Word is like eating daily. Do you like to eat daily? I sure do!
When you starve yourself of God's Word and don't take the time to read and study it every day, it's kind of like starving your physical body: you become a little weaker...you get kind of irritated and angry easily...you lose out on nutrients that you need...it's just not very comfortable, and besides, it's not very much fun!
Proverbs is a good book to read a chapter of of every day. It has 31 chapters, and can be read in a month. The wisdom that is offered in these proverbs are written by Soloman, the wisest person (well, except for Jesus) who ever lived. But they are inspired by God. I guarantee that they will help you! But of course, you can't just read them, you have to actually use them for them to work. :)
(Note: Proverbs are good...but they aren't the only thing you should read each day. Pick a verse or section of verses from another book of the Bible to read also for best results.)
Day 1
Proverbs 1
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Day 2
Proverbs 2
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Day 3
Proverbs 3
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Day 4
Proverbs 4
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Day 5
Proverbs 5
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Day 6
Proverbs 6
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Day 7
Proverbs 7
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Day 8
Proverbs 8
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Day 9
Proverbs 9
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Day 10
Proverbs 10
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Day 11
Proverbs 11
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Day 12
Proverbs 12
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Day 13
Proverbs 13
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Day 14
Proverbs 14
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Day 15
Proverbs 15
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Day 16
Proverbs 16
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Day 17
Proverbs 17
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Day 18
Proverbs 18
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Day 19
Proverbs 19
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Day 20
Proverbs 20
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Day 21
Proverbs 21
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Day 22
Proverbs 22
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Day 23
Proverbs 23
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Day 24
Proverbs 24
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Day 25
Proverbs 25
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Day 26
Proverbs 26
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Day 27
Proverbs 27
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Day 28
Proverbs 28
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Day 29
Proverbs 29
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Day 30
Proverbs 30
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Day 31
Proverbs 31
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The Fruit Bowl
In Galations 5:22,23 we find a listing of the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. We're told in God's Word that people will know us by our fruit. That's how they will be able to tell if we are followers and servants of Christ. The Bible also tells us that God will cut off the branches that don't bear good fruit! Yikes! This fruit thing is pretty important, isn't it?!
Well, here we will feature one of these "fruits" in each issue, starting with the first fruit mentioned: Love. Do you think that the "fruit" you bear is good? Do you think that people are able to tell that you are a Christian by the way that you act or respond in different situations?
Let's take a look at this issue's featured fruit...
LOVE
Love. The term is used 560 times in the NIV Bible. Love is the first Fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians, and this not without reason, for it is also called the "greatest" among the three things that remain: Faith, Hope, and Love. (1 Cor. 13:13) But what is love? The dictionary defines it as: An affection based on admiration or benevelonce. Warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion. Unselfish concern that freely accepts another in loyalty and seeks his good.
1 Corinthians 4 defines love as: patient, kind, something that does not envy or boast. It is not proud or rude or self-seeking. It's not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrongs. It does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres. It never fails.
Who are we supposed to love?? First and foremost, we are to love God. Also, the Bible tells us to love our neighbors (those around us). It tells us to love our enemies and those who persecute us. We're told to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. And finally, we're told to "love one another", which basically includes everyonne. John 13:35 says that people will know we are disciples of Christ if we love one another.
When asked by an "expert of the law" what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-39)
1 John tells us that love is from God and anyone who does not love does not know God, because God IS love...Since God loved us we also should love one another...We love because He first loved us.
love covers a multitude of sins. It is a remedy for hate and anger. Proverbs tells us that a harsh word stirs up anger, but a gentle answer (one that is spoken with love, in other words) turns away wrath. Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
The last thing that I want to point out about love is found in the final two verses of 1 John 4. "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."
It is very important that love, the first fruit of the Spirit, is evident in our lives. 1 Corinthians tells us that even if we speak in the tongues of angels, if we do not have love, we are only like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If we have knowledge, wisdom, and faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, then we are nothing.
Love is not a suggested character traite for us to have, it is a necessary character traite for us to have AND use! We must act in love towards everyone around us. For whatever we do to the least of those around us, we do to our Heavenly Father and Savior.
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