All Are Welcome

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely…

Revelation 22:17

You have an invitation from the Lord today to have your life transformed and taken to another level… There is a door that is open unto all mankind and that door is defined in the bible through the word come… It doesn’t matter the mistake, the decision, or the flaw, God reveals to John that He desires you to come… It doesn’t matter how far you have fallen or how much you have messed up in your journey of life, God wants you to know that all is not lost, stumbling blocks can become stepping stones and the missteps of yesterday can be corrected by your decision today to come before Him… The spirit of God knocks at the door of your heart seeking for you to come unto the will of God and to experience the pleasures and delights that He offers… The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift is from above; you must realize that the good gift you need, the perfect gift you desire can only come from God… You must align yourself with the will of the Father, you must put yourself in a position to seek the savior, and you must turn from the desires of mankind and focus on things eternal… Look at the call that is placed in John’s revelation written in this 22^nd chapter… “And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst come…” People all across the world are dealing with different types of issues and hardships… The call is not unique to one particular problem, but to all that don’t know Christ… The person who has heard the ways of this world can now hear the good news of Jesus Christ's bloodshed on Calvary… The person who has thirsted after the successes of this world can now drink from the rivers of life and never thirst again… Wherever you are today, know that God loves you; understand that the call has gone forth and that He desires for you to “come…” 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Has An Expected End

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 

Jeremiah 29:11-12

Though things appear dim or the chances seem slim, take courage in knowing that God has a plan… Even though things may seem to be on the verge of destruction, we must have enough faith to stay the course knowing the plans and desires that God has for us… Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet, he lived during the bondage that the Israelites encountered under the hand of the Babylonians and witnessed the oppression of God’s children… Even while in captivity and seeing the hand of the enemy prevailing, Jeremiah records this message that we all can live by today… Jeremiah records that God knows the thoughts that He thinks towards you, He knows the path that He wants you to travel; He knows the levels of greatness which He wants to see you reach! His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace (tranquility, happiness, and joy); not of evil or wickedness! He has an expected end for your life… 

Here in the midst of trials and tribulations, Jeremiah is reminding the people of God that the Lord has not forgotten about them; he is preaching to the masses that even though storms have entered your life, understand that God is still there and He will deliver you… This scripture has a two-fold meaning; the first is that God has thoughts of peace for your life; He wants to give you the best… However, the second is that your bondage is a result of the choices that you have made…Often times we want to blame God for the snares we face, and we want to question God’s authority when we face trials, but Jeremiah reminds us today that God wants nothing but the best for you, your family, and your life, but just like a parent, He must allow you to learn from your mistakes and sometimes you will have to take the rough road and rugged terrain of hardships to experience the promises of God… Don't lose sight, either path (smooth or rocky) can lead to God's expected end for you!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

A Godly Woman Is Priceless

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

 

What is your motivation as you get up from bed and prepare to head out to your occupation or school…? Are you focused on catching the attention of your peers or are you focused on conducting yourself in a manner that is pleasing to God regardless of the environment with which you are entering… The intent of your actions reveals more about you than the actions themselves… This proverb reminds us today that you can have all the physical tools that a man or woman desires (nice hair, skin, figure, etc…) You can be the kind of woman who turns heads everywhere you walk or constantly receives compliments on how you carry yourself, but this passage reminds us of the emptiness that lies within a person who is not under the authority of God. This verse starts off by saying Favor is deceitful, this means that you may have many compliments, and you may receive many gifts, but those who are on the giving end may be expecting something else in return (motives that are not Godly), those who are praising you may be the same ones that are trying to stab you in the back or cause you harm. In the same vein, you can favor one person over another and end up regretting your decision… 

There are so many relationships that fall by the wayside because people have favored looks over humility… This is why we must come to know that favor is in fact deceitful as it will lead you down a road of empty promises, regret, and mistreatment... Not only do we need to know that favor isn’t what we should seek from the eyes of mankind, but the writer goes on to say that beauty is vain; this tells me that a woman of character isn’t just about looks. This implies to me that there must be something more that the woman brings to the table other than her body. I have seen many relationships that revolved around a physical attraction and within months it is over. I have known women who look beautiful but are weak within, they don’t have the strength to withstand temptations or hardships so they so they lure people in with their physical beauty; however, inwardly they are so ugly and dark that this soon leads to complications and heartbreak…  Beauty is vain because looks fade, beauty is vain because the stress of life alters your appearance; it is an ineffective resource that people use as a crutch for far too long… Favor and beauty are what derailed Sampson with Delilah, and favor and beauty is what derailed David when he saw Bathsheba; however, the fear of God is what kept Joseph from accepting the invite from Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her, it is also what allowed Esther to stand on behalf of the Jews before the king… Learn to appreciate what God thinks and not man; when you do that, you will come to know what this proverb also says 20 verses earlier, and that is that you are WORTH MORE THAN RUBIES!!!!

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Are Not Worthy Of His Grace

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

Luke 3:16

As a child of God we all must make a decision in life, this decision is the choice that we make to live our lives according to the will of God instead of adhering to the designs and plans of the world… Baptism is a result of the decision that we just looked at in the above verse; when one is baptized, you are displaying not only your faith and acknowledgment of your sin but also showing that you have a changed outlook and mindset internally. This is shown and declared by the visible steps you have taken which are outlined by being baptized… It is a privilege and indeed an honor for one to be able to be baptized… Through baptism, God has allowed you a golden opportunity to be transformed from your life as a sinner and be molded into the child that He specifically designed you to be… Remember that Jesus made His mission and assignment clear in John 10:10 when He said I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly… This is the fire and Holy Ghost that we receive when baptized by the one who is mightier than John… We indeed can decide to be about the work of God; however, you must have the indwelling Holy Ghost to serve as your comfort and guide along the way. Not only does the Holy Spirit comfort and guide, but it is also by the spirit that we ignite the flame of faith which will allow us to overcome storms and obstacles that are meant to break and deter… The only way to reach your divine destiny is to be baptized into the divine will of God… This step can only be obtained when you are under the guidance and rule of the savior… John the Baptist himself was not able to define the purpose and plan of a believer which is why he classified Jesus as the one, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose… Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. The Bible declares that there are two paths in life, one is broad and one is narrow. In order to travel the narrow path that leads to fulfilling the purpose and plan God has for you, one must commit to following and aligning with God's will. One of the first steps in this process is baptism...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Stay Focused On Jesus

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

 Jude 1:20-21

 

The key word for today’s devotional is maintain; Jude reminds us today that as we grow in Christ, we cannot allow our maturation process to be hindered by a lack of focus and remembrance… Oftentimes the struggles we face as Christians derive from our unwillingness to focus on Jesus Christ and place Him as the number 1 priority. We allow the things of this world or day-to-day activities in our lives to put Christ on the back burner. As a result of not putting God first, we often neglect to seek Him in every aspect of our lives and only turn to Him as a last resort... This is why Jude says that we are to build up ourselves on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost… When situations arise or storms approach, you cannot neglect your faith; as a matter of fact, this is where your faith is of the utmost importance and this is why Jude says that we must build upon it… Satan was mad when you turned to Christ and he will stop at nothing to alter your path and change your mind… Understanding the desires of the enemy allows us to gain an understanding of how important our foundation is… Jesus once spoke a parable regarding two men, one built his house upon a rock while the other built his upon sand; when a storm approached, the house built on a rock was the only one left standing… I incorporate this parable today to make the point that we all (no matter the foundation) will encounter storms; however, if we maintain our faith and hope in Jesus Christ, we will be able to survive and overcome the most daunting challenges… As a child of God, the first thing we must do is make sure that our foundation is secure in Him… 

 ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Open Your Heart Not Your Mouth

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:9

 

Just the other day we looked at the gospel of Luke and how we are called as Christians to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who despitefully use us… Today, we examine other aspects of our walk that lead to growth and display our acceptance of Jesus as the model for our lives… Peter was a man who faced many challenges, from the time he wept in the courtyard to standing before the courts of the Pharisees, Peter saw many trials and tribulations… It is in today’s reading that he reminds us that we can’t act like everyone else in the world, we can’t conduct business the way people conduct business and we cannot stoop to the levels of society that would lead us to straying away from our walk with the Lord… Peter was known as a man who didn't care for too many shenanigans; many scholars speak of Peter as being the kind of guy who would make you think twice before messing with him… All these things lead me to believe that Peter had a very quick temper; however, under the guidance of the Lord Peter teaches us today that we can’t be reactive, we can’t jump to conclusions, we can’t be like everyone else… How hard is it for you to turn away from somebody who has done you wrong? How hard is it to walk away from a person who has insulted you and/or gotten under your skin…? Peter reminds us today that as a child of God, we show our faith by taking these actions! Despite how we may have reacted as a product of the world, today we are reminded that we must have a different approach as a child of God… Quite frankly there are things in our lives that we use to do which will not be accepted nor tolerated in living a life that is pleasing to our Lord…

 

I know that biting your tongue can be difficult, extending a loving hand to your adversary may be challenging, and turning the other check can be a daunting task; however, the words from Peter are not only that these are things that you must do, but that these traits are obtainable when walking under the authority of God… Understand that by walking away you will inherit blessings; this is not a sign of weakness but maturity… As Christians, we all need to remember that God didn't repay us for our evil and sin, He responded with a blessing in the form of Jesus Christ… Blessings poured out in times of evil reap a harvest of glory and honor to God! Jesus didn't repay the Roman soldiers who hung Him on the cross, He sought for them to be forgiven and then bowed His head; now He sits at the right hand of the Father and all power has been placed in His hands! Let us draw strength from His example. Let us live our lives according to the will of God, when evil arises in your life, pour out the spirit of blessings that God has poured out on you… Speak a kind word to your enemy, and lend a hand to someone who has betrayed you… When you do these things, you rebuke Satan’s attack and store up more blessings from God in heaven… God has promised that you will be exalted in the face of evil (thou preparest a table for me in the presences of mine enemies…) so stand on faith in God and don’t take matters into your own hands… The Lord knows how many times you keep quiet and don’t overact; He will do the talking for you and will reward you openly with blessings…

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love In Spite Of

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:27-28

As we have studied the last couple of days, today’s devotional deals with the fact that as Christians, we are held to a higher standard or way of living… Today’s message echoes our focus this week which elaborates on the fact that you are to love your enemies and do good to them which hate you… Understand today that how you handle people is a direct example of how you feel Christ has dealt with you… Remember today that you were undeserving of His love, grace, and mercy just like the people who irk your nerves; however, we have to model Christ and continue to love others even if they don’t know how to love you in return…  Again, as we have studied throughout the week, know that as believers in Christ, we are held to a higher standard… We must go the extra mile and extend hands of kindness to those who may not be grateful… In this journey of life, we must speak words of encouragement to those who may be gossiping about us and we must stay focused on exalting God through our living… Jesus gives us instructions that we are called to live by today; we are not called to extend helping hands to just believers in Christ; we are called to see each and every moment in our lives as a chance to display our faith and God’s faithfulness… We give not expecting anything in return, we give showing that we are of Christ and that we want to bring praise and honor to the name that is above us… Remember the grace that God bestowed upon you when you were His enemy and bestow that same grace upon your enemies as a child of God…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Take Note: Jesus Came To Serve

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

Jesus came to this earth with one assignment, which was to serve the very creation of His father by laying down His life… Knowing that Jesus was and is the Savior allows us to place Him in high esteem or regard; however, we must know the submissive nature that He displayed to reach and obtain such a noble calling… We have to examine the life He lived which was indeed a life full of service and not one which was built upon people serving Him… Through today’s devotion, we are challenged to remember the humility with which we are called to live and know that our duty as Christians is to assist others instead of seeking our own goals and having others assist us in reaching them… This is not to be confused to say that you cannot have goals; however, what the passage says to us today is that we must be about the work of Christ which is extending hands of love and gratitude toward our fellowman if we want to reach and obtain these aforementioned goals… One of the biggest struggles in the church today is living a life of service… We can all shout, we can all quote a scripture, but the true definition of a Christian is found in their ability to minister... Mark reminds us today that Jesus, in all His glory, came unto this earth to minister unto all who would accept His offering which was poured out on the cross… We are reminded of this today because the call we have on this earth is not about “me, myself, and I” but to minister unto those we come in contact with… To be a true Christian is to serve throughout your life. Give to the needy, pray for your enemies, and be a beacon of light in this dark world.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be The Bigger Person

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:9

As a child of God, you are held to a higher standard… The way in which others may deal with situations should not and cannot be the same way in which you deal with them… Peter reminds us of this higher standard when He says Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insults… As you go through this life, there are two principles to which you must adhere too.. The first is that you must remember who you are representing; this means that you must carry yourself as a child of the Most High God, doing things that bring honor to Him which is what we examined yesterday… The second is that you must mature daily in the ability to control your tongue… Remember that James tells us that the tongue is an unruly evil which no man can tame… These two principles are what display Christ to others and bring exaltation to His name… When you walk in love, you will not indulge in evil, and when you control your tongue, you will lift up and edify instead of breaking down and cursing… Not only must we avoid these two pitfalls, but Peter even takes it to another level when He says that we must repay with blessing… You have to be able to rise above the sin to promote love toward and for the sinner… This requires a strong and intimate relationship with God…  Some of us have learned how to handle situations as far as avoiding the snare of the enemy; however, we still have not mastered the test as we have yet to transform that stumbling block of evil and insult into a stepping stone of love and compassion… How you handle evil and the ability to transform situations is what displays Christ and therefore promotes His grace and mercy in the lives of others… Can you be the bigger person today? Don't tell me, show me!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Honor Your Parents

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Exodus 20:12

As you journey through this life; know that the choices you make not only impace you, but also the people who joined together in your blessed creation… Your focus in life should be pleasing God and today we are reminded of a commandment given by God to Moses which deals directly with how we are to not only treat but also represent our parents… Understand today that there is always someone who is watching you, taking notice of every move that you make and every action you engage in; the message today is that you must make choices that will not only better you, but make choices that will place you and the family which you are a part of in a good light… In bringing honor to our parents I am reminded of the 3^rd chapter in the gospel of Matthew which speaks of Jesus being baptized, it is in that chapter that you will find these words recorded; “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” God says that He is pleased with His son; this is one of the best honors we can obtain... To be pleasing to the Lord our Father, we must represent him in every aspect of our life. This is demonstrated or carried out by what we say and do and part of that is how we honor our earthly parents. This is not to say that you must adhere to everything that your parents say and do (they are human as well); however, this means that regardless of what you have experienced or seen (good and bad) from or through your parents, you must recognize that God provided the seed which is you through them. So there should always be a special place in your heart for your parents and you should honor them by walking in the pathway which Christ has called you to and laid before you. Growing up, my earthly father would always tell us "Remember who you are and whose you are..." This has stuck with me as I go about my day-to-day activities. I am a child of God and I am a Satterfield. I carry both of those labels in high esteem and want my life to match how much both of those things mean to me!!! Jesus said in John 6:38, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." Jesus sought to honor his father here on earth even if it meant bearing the weight of sin which he never knew... It's time that we do likewise for our heavenly father and biological parents...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Wandering Eyes Lead To Destruction

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

James 1:13-14

The failures of your life are a result of the course which you have chosen to travel… The message of today’s devotional is simple; be accountable to yourself and God if you want to be transformed and grow in Christ… The problem of accountability is one that has plagued mankind since his creation… Adam ate of the forbidden fruit and when God inquired about his actions, the first thing he said was the woman that you gave me… Understand that the biggest hurdle we face is accepting our mistakes and failures as our own instead of trying to point the proverbial finger at someone else as if they are in control of our every single step… This happens when we blame others for our situation or even try to speak ill-advised words regarding the absence of God in our circumstances… You can be tempted by evil; however, God (conquering death and the grave) cannot… The first thing that we must realize on this earth, is that we are sinners from birth and the natural feel or instinct is to do what the flesh desires… This must be understood as we take this Christian journey because this will help us not only deal with temptations as they arise, but it will also help us to keep a proper perspective of what is of God and what isn’t… 

We face many trials and tests throughout our walk; however, James reminds us today to remember that the temptations we face are only tempting because of the lust that lies within... Temptation is a desire to do something; especially to do something that is wrong… We break down the meaning of temptation because doing something wrong and walking with God does not go hand and hand… We must realize that the enemy is busy and when we choose to walk with the Lord we choose the narrow path that few find… This path takes a trained eye to find; however, the broad path, the path that can be seen very easily and appealing to the eye is the temptation that we face on a day-to-day basis… God desires that all men would come to know Him and that no one should perish, this shines light on the fact that God doesn’t tempt you, He doesn’t want you to be enticed to do something wrong; however, the enemy will always place temptations in front of you to make you second guess or become apprehensive about the direction in which you are going… This walk with God is as much about obeying Him as it is about being accountable to yourself… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There Is No God Like Thee

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.

Micah 7:18

Just as we have studied throughout last week; Micah again calls us to remember the saving Grace that defines our Lord… No other god sent His only begotten son to die the most humiliating death known to man… No other god laid down his life and rose three days later… These things all point to the mercies that God pours out every morning upon His creation and it’s because of these great things that Micah asked the question, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity…” In reading this passage from Micah, I am reminded of a similar question that entered the minds of the Pharisees in the gospel of Matthew; it is in the 9^th chapter of his book that you will find these verses:

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man,“ Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. 

I recall this passage in today’s devotion to make the point that we serve a God who simply is above all others; just think about the paths that He has paved and doors that He has opened for you. It is because of these things that you too will utter the words found in this prophetic book of Micah… What other gods can you call on that have the power to save you, have the power over this earth and heaven? What other gods can you call on that have taken the form of man, walked this earth, and conquered death and the grave…? Even when Christ died, the love of the only true God still pardoned our iniquity… Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Jesus was crushed so that we could be saved, He died that we might live and He paid the ultimate price so that we could go free… Do you know of any other god that loved you enough to sacrifice the life of His own son…? Again Micah is asking a question which has yet to be answered… “Who is a God like unto thee”, the mercies that have been bestowed upon our lives are unmatched, the paths that have been laid by God could not be laid by anyone else and I am sure that we all can vouch for the iniquity (wickedness, evil, sin, and crime) that God has pardoned us from… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Live By His Grace

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-6

You are here because of the grace and mercy which God so generously poured out on this earth through the life of His son… It pains me when I hear people who take credit for things which can only be accomplished through Christ… Here is a simple equation that I live by, Christ equals life; in other words, if He had not died then there simply is no way that you would be here let alone be able to accomplish anything on this earth… Today’s devotion challenges us to keep a level head and always a proper perspective on life… Humility is a word that comes to mind when reading these verses from Paul’s letter… One who lacks humility will go as far as to take credit for things which they have not even done…  Make no mistake about it, if it were not for the mercy that God poured out from above, you and I would not be here… We deserve every punishment imaginable; however, the mercy of God has kept us from feeling the full weight of our sins and mistakes… The word of God tells us in Lamentations 3:22, 23 “It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” We sin on a daily basis, sometimes we sin without even recognizing the sin we have committed; however, Jeremiah reminds us and Paul confirms it that it is only through the mercies of God that we are not consumed and that we are able to make it through each day of this lives… Understand today that you will endure trials and persecutions, but also know that things could always be worse and the hand of God that is stretched out over your life is what has kept you and will keep you… I don’t know about you, but it’s comforting to know that God is rich in mercy… It’s a good feeling to know that God loves me and showed His love for me when I didn’t even know Him or love Him…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Don't Take His Name Lightly

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Exodus 20:7

You should not take your commitment to the Lord nor the meaning of His name lightly… Today’s devotion reminds us of the seriousness with which we must approach our relationship with the Most High God… Notice that the second book of Moses tells us the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain… The word of God teaches us that we must not allow situations and/or circumstances to stop us from adhering to God’s commands… See oftentimes we utter words that we do not necessarily mean and today’s message reminds us that we must guard our mouth and lips accordingly… We are called to fear the Lord; this means to revere, honor, and admire Him… I state this calling to all children of God because there are so many of us who misuse the name of the Lord… We can find ourselves in a predicament and utter the words “Jesus Christ” or we can be struck by an unforeseen circumstance and curse by saying “God Da*n it…” These are just a few scenarios in which we can find ourselves improperly using God’s name or using it in vain… To use His name in vain is simply to use it out of the context in which it should be used… Calling on the name of the Lord should be in times of praise, in times of worship, and in times of prayer or petition… The enemy will certainly try and test you each and every day of our lives and today we must recognize that using the name of the Lord in vain is one of the ways in which he will do that... The commandments tell us not to use the name of the Lord in vain. God cannot be compared to anything, nor should His name be used if not exalting Him…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Live Because Of His Grace

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 John 1:17

Today’s devotion reminds us of the thankfulness which we should approach each and every day of our lives with; knowing that we are living under the grace of God… John reminds us today that the law which was put in place by Moses (the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic) was not obeyed by mankind and thus judgment and condemnation should have been our end result; however, Jesus came to this earth with an assignment from His Father which He clearly defines in the 5th chapter of Matthew with these words;“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” I don’t know about you, but I am thankful that Jesus was sent to this earth with the assignment of fulfilling a law that I could never stand up to; I praise God and believe that we should always offer up praise in knowing that God’s grace has spared us and given us the life which we have at this present time… Understand today that the law was set in place by God through his servant Moses. The Ten Commandments were set over the house of Israel when Moses led the people from the land of Egypt into the wilderness… These laws along with the 603 mosaic laws were put in place to govern the children of God and direct them as to how they ought to live on this earth… Even those who saw God’s hand in their deliverance from Egypt and bore witness to His authority over the earth with the parting of the Red Sea didn’t remain faithful to God and His laws… Through this disobedience, all the generations led from Egypt were wiped out at the door of the Promised Land… Just like those children then; we find ourselves daily falling short of the laws of God… We find ourselves coveting, dishonoring our mother and father, stealing and serving other gods… We too deserve to be wiped from the face of this earth, we deserve the judgment of damnation which was placed upon our heads from our mother’s womb; however, we are reminded of the gift that Christ offered through His life... Truthfully, we should have died a long time ago, but the grace and truth that Christ poured out on Calvary is what keeps us every day and what allows us a chance to inherit eternal life. Knowing this should allow us to always keep a praise in our spirit as we have evidence that He is with us!

 ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Name Stands Alone

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 1:11

Read the next sentence very careful as we study this verse taken from the prophetic book of Malachi… The things which you suffer upon this earth are a direct result of your lack of giving God the best which He deserves… This sentence embodies the meaning of today’s focus in the Old Testament; the Israelites were defiling the very alter of God; giving blemished sacrifices and believing that God would be pleased… It was through this that God rejected their cries and speaks this word through the prophet Malachi today… Make no mistake about it, God will be great among the nations whether you carry the torch of His will or are engulfed by it… Too often we believe that we can get over on God, we believe that just enough is enough and today we are reminded of what God truly requires of us… God requires that His name is great among the Gentiles and this is accomplished by receiving only the best which we can offer… This is not to say that we should be pouring thousands of dollars into the church but that we must give God our very best everyday of our lives… I recall growing up and how my father would speak about the importance of appearance and remembering who we are and who’s we are… I incorporate this lesson I learned in my early childhood into this devotion to say that you must remember that you are walking under the Most High and therefore anything less than your best will not qualify… In remembering who I am, I was able to decipher the road which I should be traveling… Knowing that I am a child of God, I know that there is nothing which God would not desire for me to have unless it would not be beneficial to me… I am a sinner saved by the grace of God… He didn’t give me leftovers, He gave me His only begotten son and so it is time for me to fulfill the words of Paul in the 12^th chapter of his letter to Rome in which he said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” When you really begin to think about all that God has done for you and the paths which He has paved and set before you, it is your reasonable service to present your bodies as a living sacrifice and to give Him your very best… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!!!

One Saved Soul Is Worth Rejoicing

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luke 15:7

Luke reminds us today that God is happy with the one who is seeking His will on a daily basis; however, He is overjoyed at the individuals who decide to leave their old paths and turn to Him today… This is not to say that He is doesn’t care about those who are trying to walk right, but that He is devoting His resources to strengthening you so that others can turn and seek Him… You play a vital rule in the kingdom of God and this is not about your appearance in church but how you appear to others that you encounter on your way to church or your home or workplace… God is smiling at the steps you are taking and joy is filled in heaven when you bring another soul to Him… Your desire on a daily basis should be to get at least one… Share the good news of the gospel with your peers, be the beacon light God created you to be and open up your hand of love to the stranger that may have never known love before… You are called to please God and the best way to do that is bring another person before Him…  Jesus made His mission clear on this earth when He said, “I am here for the sick…” The desire of God is not to see us perish, it isn’t to see us struggle nor to see us in bondage to sin or in captivity of the desires of the flesh; God desires that we repent from our natural form of sin and be reunited with Him… Repentance is the ability to acknowledge your sin and then choosing to turn away from it… There are a lot of us that have not completed the repentance stage of this Christian walk and this leaves our lives still full of voids and unanswered questions… God is ready to transform, mold and wipe clean; however, He is waiting for you to truly repent and turn… This message today reminds us that all is not lost… You may feel down and out, you might have written yourself off and may even be on the edge; the word of today is that there is joy waiting to spring up, Christ is ready to smile down with favor upon you and is ready to fill your life if only you would give Him a try… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Live The Way God Intended

Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Zechariah 7:9-10 

The one thing that we must exercise as a Christian is love; in demonstrating this one word throughout our lives we encompass the desires of God for us and through us… The Bible declares in 1 John 4 that God is love… We bring this passage into today’s devotional to make clear the command that God has for His people… When we walk in love, we are living as God has called us to live and therefore we are children of God by exercising this very being… Love keeps us from oppressing the widow and the fatherless; love opens up our door to a stranger and feeds the poor… This is why Jesus said the greatest commandment is that we love one another… The love you have for Christ is not a love that you speak, it is not declared by mere words but actions; notice that it is the Lord who spoke to Zechariah and has given him this message for the people… If you want to please the Lord, don’t speak of His goodness; demonstrate His goodness to others... This passage reminds us that we are to show mercy just as Christ has and is... The Bible tells us to love your enemy and pray for those who despitefully use you. You want to know a true child of God, see how they act around mixed company, examine the mercy they bestow and the compassion that they have on the weak, abused, and confused of our societies! Christ died not because He had to, but because He chose to… The choice is yours and it’s shown by how you execute judgment, show mercy, and display compassion…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Builds Up

Knowledge puffs up but love builds up.  The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.  But the man who loves God is known by God.

1 Corinthians 8:1-3

As we go through life accumulating knowledge on different subject matters; we are reminded today that the greatest thing we must learn to do is to love… The main difference between knowledge and love is that knowledge is shown predominately by what you say and love is something which is demonstrated by your actions… This is why our set of focus verses starts off by saying knowledge puffs up but love builds up…Knowledge centers around the individual whereas love centers around the individual’s ability to build themselves up through the building of another… We have to be about building up each other instead of trying to accumulate knowledge that we can use to better ourselves or our appearance to others… Knowledge is one of the most deceptive downfalls of a Christian, this is not to say you are to be dumb, but that you must apply your knowledge in a way that God can use it and be exalted and not allow knowledge to lead you down a road of being conceited and separated from the will of God… Paul writes this letter to the Church of Corinth speaking from his own experiences… It’s imperative that we remember who Paul was (originally Saul) and how he persecuted the church of “the way…” It was the knowledge that puffed up inside him and led him to conduct acts that were not of God… We must be careful of the things that serve as tools of motivation in our lives… Our heart's desire must be centered on and around pleasing God; however, for many of us, this desire takes root in trying to one-up one another through pride and egos… Jesus came to this earth and served mankind; make no mistake about it, He was better and superior to mankind, but He still humbled Himself and fulfilled the needs that mankind had… Today, take a lesson from Jesus and read these verses recorded in Paul’s letter, learn to humble yourself and serve the needs of others… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!