God Allows U-Turns

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.

Daniel 9:9

Despite the mistakes that you have made or the wrong choices that you have applied in your walk of life, Daniel reminds us today that God still loves you and allows u-turns…The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving… It is only because of our God's mercy and forgiving nature that we have not been consumed and still have a chance to right our wrongs… Today’s focus verse comes at a time in Daniel’s life when the children of God have been enslaved to the empire of Babylon; it is through the prophet Jeremiah’s word from God that Daniel knows that the bondage of the Israelites will not last forever…The children of God were enslaved because of their disobedience; however, the love of God is displayed at this particular time as He chooses to chasten them instead of abandoning them… This is a powerful message that we find here in today’s devotion: God will allow things to happen in our lives to get our attention, refocus our steps, and realign our vision with His will… These things are corrective measures and not displays of judgment as many may portray them to be… Daniel finds encouragement in knowing that this bondage would not last forever and sincerely thanks the most wise and everlasting Father… The same hope Daniel held onto in this passage of scripture is the same one we hold on to at this very time in our lives… There is no doubt that God has every right to pass judgment on mankind, and there is no defense which we could offer; this alone is reason enough to rejoice in knowing that God loves us, wants to spend eternity with us, and has devised a way of escape for us… The season of correction will produce a season of maturation in Christ, which will in turn bring you closer to Him and His divine plan for you… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Isn't A Title

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1

Not everyone who speaks the name of Jesus is a true believer of His sacrifice on Calvary… Not everyone you see at church is a member of the body of Christ, and today we are charged to “try the spirits whether they are of God…” We must not be fooled in our walk with the Lord. I once was told that Satan isn’t actually dwelling in the world but in the church; he tries to take up residence in the church because people in the world are already under his control… This verse is such a powerful one, penned by John, because oftentimes it isn’t that we are led astray by the world but by imposters who are “wolves in sheep’s clothing…” If I am walking down a dark alley at 11 o’clock at night, I will be very vigilant and apprehensive; however, if I am walking through a park on a nice Saturday afternoon, then I tend to lower my guard, and my apprehension is non-existent… This same analogy applies to our lives as Christians, when we are in the dark alleys that are this world, we are on guard and our eyes are wide open to see traps and snares; however, when we are in the church we open ourselves up to those who we see and whom we meet expecting them to have our best interest at heart… This is why so many have fallen and have found themselves wondering how they ended up where they are today, and this is the very reason why John says we must try the spirit “…because many false prophets are gone out into the world…” One of the biggest things that plagues the path of a child of God is the deception that lies in wait and redirects our focus… Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, and it was the deception put forth by Satan that caused the original sin of mankind… They were deceived not only by Satan, but also by the comforts that surrounded them… Being in Eden can be likened to a church in that we are in God’s territory; however, we must be on guard every day and every hour of our lives to refute and rebuke the snares the enemy may lay before us… There are many false prophets in the world. Be sure that you don’t follow or become attached to one! Your soul (spirit) is at stake!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Sanctification Is A Process

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18

It is good to know that the way we enter this world does not have to be the way we exit… Understand today that there is a transformation that takes place daily in the lives of Christians… Through the disobedience of Adam & Eve we all enter this world as sinners, but through the grace and sacrifice of Christ, we don’t have to leave that way! Paul charges the church of Corinth to understand that they are being formed into the image of God by His Spirit. There is a progressive work called sanctification that begins in the lives of Christians when they accept Jesus as the personal Lord and Savior…The work of redefining your life is a process that begins at acceptance and is continued through the presence and aid of the Holy Spirit, which will dwell inside you and mold you into the disciple that Christ has called you to be… This verse, which we focus on today, reminds me of God's limitless love for His creation... God has looked beyond your faults, established exactly what you needed, and then carried out the measures which had to be completed to bring you to that expected in… God’s love for you was made known before you even knew the errors of your ways or the depth of your sin…  We often hear that God isn’t a God of confusion, and that is true, but let us not take that to think that God cannot work in confusion… Through the trials you face, God will show up if you turn to Him, He will be found if you seek Him, and He will transform your spirit into His image if you let Him…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Fruit Is Without Restriction

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-23

A quick and easy way to tell a child of God isn’t through the things that come from people’s mouths; it is not through the praise they offer up in worship service, but the kind of fruit they bear in their lives… The fruit we produce is a direct reflection of the seed which lives within, and this fruit can not be altered or changed from its original state… This is why Paul states the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit… These characteristics cannot be found in fruit not produced within the Spirit of God… For example, the bible teaches us that God is love; therefore, being a child of God, one must have fruit of love in their lives which not only takes root in them but also produces offspring of love to enable them to extend a hand to their adversary or forgive one who has wronged them… You cannot straddle the fence with a mixed bag of fruit and call yourself a child of the Most High… This is one reason why we find a passage in the gospel of Matthew which speaks to recognizing people by the fruit that they bear… “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:16)” This message is imperative for us today because as a child of God, we are not known by what we claim but the fruit that we bear… Paul writes to the church of Galatia reminding them of the fruit that the Spirit indeed does bare; today let us read these verses and take an inventory of our lives to see if we are baring these fruits, if we aren’t then it is time that we make sure that we are walking in the right spirit… 

As a child of God, we are to be filled with His spirit, and this is displayed in our daily actions in various forums… How we treat one another displays the spirit we walk in, how much time we devote to God displays the spirit that we walk in and how we deal with trials and tribulations display the spirit that we are walking in… If you treat your fellow man unkind, never spend time with the Lord and throw your hands up whenever a storm comes your way it is time for you to check the true direction that your life is headed in… This fruit doesn’t correlate to Sunday or Sabbath Day worship, this fruit is produced 7 days a week 24 hours a day… We all know the death that Jesus offered on the cross, but we often forget about the spirit He displayed in the moments leading up to the cross and even the time spent upon the cross… The bible says that while being mocked, spit upon, and beaten, Jesus never said a mumbling word; the bible says that on the cross, Jesus prayed for forgiveness for His adversaries and that He extended salvation to a thief… Remember that Jesus told us that we would do greater things than Him, and that is a pretty high benchmark for us to cross… To do greater things, we must first acknowledge what was done and strive to be the best that God has created us to be. This starts by first, walking in the right Spirit; secondly, we must produce fruit that carries these features and third, impart them into every phase of our life and every person we come in contact with… Walk in the spirit…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Yoke Is Easy, His Burden Is Light

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Are you tired of being alive but not living? Do you ever find yourself frustrated by the things of this world and wonder how you are going to make it…? The truth of the matter is the enemy wants you to be so bogged down by the cares of this world that you have no time to really start living (which is to give your life to Christ)… Matthew records the call that Jesus makes to all mankind, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” Jesus bids you to come out from the places you currently reside… This beckoning isn't a physical call, but a voice which desires to lead you in and on the path of truth and to give you life and give it to you more abundantly (Jesus declares this as the soul purpose of His arrival to this earth)… We labour daily trying to live up to other people's expectations, we are heavy laden when we allow the thoughts of others and the temptations we face to weigh us down and strip our attention from the things that truly matter… This isn't to suggest or say that the life of a Christian is easy; however, it is to suggest that there are things that are worth laboring for and being burdened by because they will lead to eternal rewards and joy… If you are laboring in the Lord, then this message provides a sense of comfort and stability in the heaviest laden times in your life… Amid trials and tribulations, Jesus reminds us through the gospel of Matthew that we can cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us… A lot of storms will rise and chaos will approach your door, but Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us today that Christ’s yoke is easy, His burden is light; He has enough room to carry the load for you, He is mighty enough to hold you up and lead you to victory no matter what you are facing at this present time… He will give you the peace to keep your mind sane and the resources to overcome and ascend to becoming the being He created you to be…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!