There's Still Room For You

Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever.

Jeremiah 3:12 

Despite the many avenues you have traveled in life and the dark paths you may be on right now, be encouraged to know that God desires for you to “Return…” Just like the prodigal son; no matter your current situation or how far you have fallen, God is standing with open arms waiting for you to come home… In a vision concerning Jerusalem and Judea, Isaiah the son of Amoz records words from the mouth of God in the 1st chapter and 18th verse of his prophetic book, the words, "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Make no mistake about it today, you are a filthy rag, and without the cleansing blood of Jesus, hell has an RSVP with your name on it… Even as ugly as it may be or however hard it may seem to acknowledge, know that you have made mistakes, and acknowledge that you have given in to temptation. You must acknowledge the errors of your ways; however, in doing so, you must also come to the realization that you can overcome and be victorious through the saving power of Jesus Christ… Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet; his words were recorded in light of the coming destruction that the house of Israel would face… His tears were sown knowing of the coming doom and bondage that was on the horizon… Today, know that these same tears are sown in your life when others see you heading down the wrong path; these tears are sown in your life when people see the direction in which you are headed and how your life seems to be spiraling out of control… These tears are sown not because of the destruction, but because God’s desire is not for you to go against His will… The destruction you face is because of the trials of life that have conquered you and the temptation you have given in to… You have “backslid,” and God is indeed angry; however, He wants you to know that if you return to Him, that “… I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you…” God wants you to turn to Him; He is tired of watching you fall, He is tired of watching you struggle, and He wants you to know that He is merciful… Jesus is waiting with open arms, saying, “WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM COME”.

The question of the day is, is He speaking to you?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Stay Positive; Things Could Always Be Worse

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The challenge of every Christian is to live every day and every hour of their life with the purpose of fulfilling God’s will… This doesn’t mean simply inquiring about God’s will, but executing the very steps outlined in today’s devotional scriptures… We are called to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances… The part we tend to lose sight of is the “in all circumstances” as we find ourselves from time to time becoming distracted by situations both positive and negative, and ultimately losing sight of what God’s will is… Understand today that it is very easy and even natural to rejoice when things are pleasant; it can become second nature to pray when things become difficult… But how do we handle the opposite; are we able to rejoice when things or situations are unpleasant? Can you continue to pray to the Father when the storm has left your doorstep? Can you give thanks when you don’t receive what you desire…? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves today, knowing that we are to live these points in every area and situation of our lives. As a Christian, we are to rejoice no matter what, we are to pray without ceasing, and we are to be thankful for everything… God has a plan for you, and it is perfect. You rejoice because your Master is in control, you pray because this is your communication line directly to the father and you remain thankful because things could always be worse…  Always walk in the will of God, because I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18).

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Is Coming Back

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Revelation 1:7

There is one thing guaranteed in life, and that is that Jesus is coming back… Paul states in his letter to the church of Philippi, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” The “secret” Paul is referring to is trusting and having faith in Christ… No matter what you face or encounter in this life, you must have the understanding that Christ will be exalted and through all things His name will be glorified… As I go through life, my hope is neither in the present nor in the conditions of this earth, but in the promise of Christ’s return to this earth… Through John’s suffering and isolation, God reveals a plan and purpose behind all that we go through… We are reminded in the 22nd chapter of Revelations (12^th verse) that the Lord’s coming is approaching: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”… As a Christian, we are to live every day as if it’s our last (not live it up according to the world but live knowing that pleasing Christ should be our desire, knowing that tomorrow isn’t promised and that Christ is Coming Back!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It Was Christ Which Delivered You

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

It is only through the mercy of God and the grace of His son that you have been “delivered from darkness…” This passage cautions me to be thankful unto the mercy and saving power of our God… As I read these verses, this epistle informs me that there is news for the one who thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think; this letter provides a bit of information for the one who places all his care into the hands of physical wealth or power… Paul asks a question to the church of Colossae that should be echoed to us today, “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness…?” As the songwriter said, “If it were not for the Lord who was on my side, tell me, where would I be?” Make no mistake about it, you are here by the grace of God and are alive because He has allowed you to experience His love, affection, and tender mercies… It is of the utmost importance that we remember who has delivered us from darkness. Paul posed this question to the body of believers, and it is very germane to today’s church as well… 

The bible cautions us several times that we “are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think…” You cannot do it on your own. If you look at your life when you have tried to handle things in your own power, I am sure that you can agree with this statement, knowing that nothing worked as you planned… We couldn’t save ourselves, and the filth that we are wasn’t, nor is it worthy of heaven… This is why Paul goes on to ask not only who delivered us but also who “hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son…?” To be translated in this sense is to be converted, transformed, or turned… God has converted us from what we were, He has transformed our way of thinking and what we truly desire, and He has turned us from our path of sin…  God has delivered us from the bondage of sin and has provided us a golden opportunity to come back to Him through the sacrifice of His very own beloved son, Jesus Christ! We didn’t have the pure sacrifice that was needed to pay the debt that we owed, and if we understand that, we can understand and know that Christ has delivered us and wiped our sins away!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Victory Is Found In Christ

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:7

The word of God declares that you have the ability through the offering of Jesus Christ to “come boldly before the throne of grace…” We are promised that “ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you…” This is very good news to know, as we are assured that our prayers do not fall on deaf ears; however, in order to see this promise come to fruition, you must first choose the path of life that you desire to travel… Notice that Jesus says, before you can ask, and it will be done; that you must “…abide in me…” Your prayers haven’t been answered because your life hasn't been submitted or surrendered… How many times have you heard people say that God will do whatever it is that you ask? How many times have you heard people recite John 14:14 or say that if you ask God He indeed will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19)…? These sayings and the reciting of these scriptures are frequently uttered in the church or serve as reminders when we are in the face of adversity or opposition; however, we are called today to remember that asking God to do something or praying for a breakthrough is one thing that can be done, but to experience God’s goodness, we must first submit to Him… The bible says that “when you seek me with your WHOLE heart, then you will find me…” You must have a desire to totally give your life to Christ; you must be abiding in God's plan for your life and making the word of God a part of your everyday being to see these promises come to light… God is calling and desires an intimate relationship with you, a relationship that you put your full trust in and will adhere to as it relates to His divine plans... THEN and only then, you can ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. This command is not negotiable; there is no reading between the lines or loopholes for a quick turnaround; if you abide in Him, He will abide in you!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Edification Requires Thinking Before Speaking

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

Ephesians 4:29

When I was a little child, I can recall how often my father would instruct me to think before I speak… Even though I never really paid his instructions any mind, today I have come to know and understand exactly what he meant… Words are powerful; the things we speak can sow seeds of abundance or failure in one’s life; this is why James writes in the 3rd chapter of his book about the importance of taming our tongue… In this chapter, he says, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell...”

Your tongue can transform lives or tear them down, your tongue has the ability to reap corruption or alter the atmosphere; because of the power that lies in its use, we are reminded today that we must not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth… When I read this passage, there are two points that jump out to me: either you think before you speak, or you need to just learn to shut up… “What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.” People will always talk about you, they will always say things that you may not agree with or may be hurt by, but the ultimate sign of a true Christian is not your response in words to the accusations, but how you flip this trial so that God receives glory and honor. Isaiah 53:7 says,” He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Bottom line, think before you speak, and if that doesn’t work, just shut up…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Purification Works From The Inside Out

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

1 Peter 1:22

Notice that this passage says that you have purified your souls through obeying the truth by the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit residing within you, you cannot accomplish anything. We have to be led by the Spirit; we have to have the Holy Spirit abiding within us. Remember, Christ spoke to the disciples before His departure and said that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes; through the Spirit, we can overcome and be victorious on this earth. It is also through the Spirit that we can love unconditionally; we can help our enemies and be kind to those who show no kindness towards us. This passage emphasizes the fact that I should be able to tell your spiritual makeup by the way you fervently love one another. To be fervent means that you are passionate, eager, zealous about something; I should be able to see all those traits in your lifestyle as a Christian. Remember, greater man have no love than this, then that he lay down his life for his friends!!!!!! That is Jesus showing his fervent love for us! This is the same love we are to show and will show through the aid and presence of the Holy Spirit… The bible declares that everything is possible through Christ… This has a new meaning for us today as we walk in love; we can love our biggest adversary through Christ, we can smile in times of frustration and adversity through Christ, and we can turn the other cheek even in the most daunting of all challenges through Christ… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!