Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
This book (the Bible) will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book. ~ D.L. Moody
Paul is referring to his former life; this new life happened because of what Jesus did on the cross.
No Longer I Who Live, this means, “Not I, who once ate from the earth [like Adam]. Not I who was once grass, as all flesh is grass, but Christ who lives in me. That is, there lives that living bread which comes from heaven, their lives wisdom, their lives righteousness, their lives the resurrection.” On Paradise 76.
The difference between the old and new covenants is that the new covenant's blood, the blood of Christ, actually cleanses from sin.
I gave my sins to Jesus Christ, and He gave me His righteousness - Pastor Spada.
The Peace Of God
In a time of uncertainty, one thing the Word of God tells us, is our peace comes from Almighty God.
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.
Thomas Merton
Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us the privilege to approach God freely, that means we can vent to Him everything, today I choose to do so.
Father, our life is in your hands, and I can't find a better place, in Jesus’s name.
Ps 91 Rest Trust Believe
I Went From Why To Whom, Psalm 73
Isa 6 - Jer 5 - Matt 13 Eyes To See And Ears To Hear Devotional
“Anger, resentment, and jealousy will not change the heart of others-- it only changes yours." - Shannon Alder.
God’s justice can be trusted.
Matt 26:50-52 Jesus said put your sword “Anger, Resentment, and Jealousy” aside and trust my justice.
When we retaliate, we take matters into our hands instead of trusting the Lord for His justice to prevail. Until the heart of mankind is converted and transformed, our righteousness will be the wrong justice.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." – Martin Luther King Jr.
"I'm never justified in the sight of God when I think my justice is better than God's justice" – Bruno A Spada.
Father, your heart must be mine to deal with mankind in Jesus' Name.
There is no fear in love
Peace from out of this world
Living by Faith
Eyes to See & Ears to Hear Devotional
2 Pet. 3:4 “And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
We can see and hear that we are in the last days. The believer’s main message above all is that Jesus is coming back soon. The word of God tells us there will be scoffers and mockers and those who will make the message of Jesus’ coming secondary.
Paul tells us in 1 Thess 4:16-18 that our hope is beyond anything in this world, and this hope destroys fear. V.18 “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
This world as we know it is not our home.
Don’t ever be so caught up with this world that leaving here seems strange. Be ready to be caught up with Jesus and changed in the twinkling of an eye. B. Spada
Sinking No More
Matt 14:28 Peter was saved from drowning, in these last days, the devil has summoned his army to intimidate and overwhelm belivers in Christ to the point of backsliding. I hear the voice of the Lord saying backslide no more we will not be intimidated; we will serve the Lord we walk on the waters of this life and be faithful to Him until we hear Him say, well done good and faithful servant you have been faithful over a few things now I will make you ruler over many things. Like Peter, I refuse to sink in the stormy waters of this life. I will serve the Lord until I see Him face to face. Jesus told Peter to come, and he walked on water. It's time for believers in Christ to say I will serve the Lord no fear, no doubt, no going under, no turning back.
Father, I will serve you and not be intimidated by the devil; I will not sink in the storms of life. I will walk on the waters of this life that seek to take me under in Jesus' name.
What to do when it looks hopeless Psalm 37
Be still and know that I am God
Eyes to see and ears to hear devotional
Matt 24:7-13 Can you see and hear what the scripture is saying to us about the last days? This is the time of the revised Roman Empire, today we would call it The Great Reset, as believers we call it the New World Order which is orchestrated by the anti-Christ. The disciples asked Jesus what the sign would be in the last days. Jesus said there would be famine, pestilence, and earthquakes. Jesus said there would be persecution, but for me, as a believer in Christ, the most significant sign is V.12 “because iniquity abounds the love of many wax cold.” The blindness is to hate other people for whatever reason, but John tells us in Jn.13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Don't let the day we are living in cause you to hate, let the love of Jesus push away the blindness of hate.
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." - Martin Luther King Jr.
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."- Martin Luther King Jr.
Father, in these days of hate, nation rising against nation (different people groups), help us love others and don’t let our hearts grow cold, in Jesus name.
The God Who Never Slumbers Nor Sleeps
Eyes To See And Ears To Hear Devotional
Why the Pharisees were blind spiritually: Isa 6:9-10: Isaiah’s prophetic warnings were not heeded, and the people had already been warned, but they ignored the revealed word of God yet again, so God’s will would no longer be received. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not.
To avoid the trap of the Pharisees, we've got to guard the interconnection between our thoughts and our attitudes. - David Jeremiah
Blindness
Mark 2:1-12: They would not receive Jesus as God in the flesh, who was reaching people with the good news, Jesus, the savior of their sins.
Spiritual blindness comes when you try to discern this world's events without the word of God as your filter. Pastor Spada 1 Cor 2:14
Victory In Defeat
Isa 6 - Jer 5 - Matt 13 Eyes To See And Ears To Hear Devotional
One of the most significant lies told today is, you can find your own truth. What system will you choose to find the truth? Pilate, the Roman governor, represented the truth of that day, and yet he was looking for the truth John 18:37- 40 Pilate asked Jesus what truth was, and it was standing right in front of Him. Will you know the truth when you see it?
Jesus said John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus Christ the doorway to God the Father and eternal salvation.
Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Give us a clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything. – Peter Marshall
With no fact as a referent, what is normative is purely a matter of preference. – Ravi Zacharias
Father help us see with our eyes and hear with our ears in Jesus's Name.
Incarnation God In The Flesh
Christmas, we are celebrating God putting on flesh because He understands the frailty of our humanity.
Heb 4:15 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Phil. 2 Jesus made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Father, we could not get to you, so in your mercy you came to us thank you from the crib to the cross.
God’s Gift To Us Unconditional Love
Matt 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Conditional love is based on meeting a specific condition. God's gift to us is not dependent on whether we were worthy. God so loved us; He gave His Son to us for our salvation.
Is the covenant between God and his people conditional or unconditional? Yes. Yes. Jesus came and fulfilled the conditions so God could love us unconditionally.
— Timothy Keller
Father, thank you for your unconditional love.
The King Came as a Servant
Phil 2:1-6 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus emptied Himself, and God highly exalted Him. Jesus humbled Himself. God gave Him name above all names. Jesus was obedient even to death; God made every knee bow to Him.
Jesus taught us that revelation from His Father comes to the humble.
Matt 11:25 At that time, Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Father, I trust you for revelation and truth; this is my Christmas gift.
Selfishness is when we pursue gain at the expense of others. However, God does not have a limited number of treasures to distribute. When you store up treasures for yourself in heaven, it does not reduce the treasures available to others. It is by serving God and others that we store up heavenly treasures. Everyone gains; no one loses. – Randy Alcorn