​S-Roman’s 2:5-11NIV

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

Sanctified in Christ

​S-1Thes 4:3-6 NIV

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.  

O- Here Paul is speaking to the sanctification of believers.  In this sanctification process they are to avoid sexual immorality and to control their own bodies in a a way that is holy and honorable and not be led by passionat lust.   In this same manner no one is to take advantage of another brother or sister.  It is in these commands that we can live and love like true Christians do.

A - The application for me is to heed this exhortation to be sanctified in Christ and to avoid sexual immorality while controlling my own body, which is mine to lead.  I need to live a Christ centered life and not get distracted by sexual yearnings or distractions in my life.  I am to in the same manner not take advantage of other Christians , especially my wife and kids.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you help me lead a Christ centered life, and put all ways of sexual immorality behind me.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen

Serve those in need

​S-Matt 25:34-40 NIV

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me

O- Jesus is telling this parable to his disciples so they would understand what type of person will inherit the kingdom of God.  The kind of people that feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsy, invited in strangers,  clothed those without,  look after the sick and visit those in prison are the kind of people will that do these things for the least of these are welcomed into God's kingdom.

A -  The application for me is to follow the example here and humble submit and serve those of less fortune than I.   I am to look around me and serve those in my presence who are in need. 

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray you give me eyes to see the need and hands to serve the need wherever I am.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen

Denying oneself

 S - Matt 16:24-26 NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

O - These instructions are to Jesus' disciples as to what it will take to be a true disciple.  It takes denial of self and a willingness to take up their own cross and follow Jesus' example. Those that are clinging on their old life will lose their life in Christ and those that give up their old life will find new life in Christ. 

A - The application to me is to follow Jesus and his disciples example.  I am to lay down my old life and pickup my cross and follow Him. I must stop clinging to things of this world and seek to do God's will in this life.  I lay down my rights and follow Jesus unconditionally .

P - Dear heavingly father , thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord you help me to pick up my cross and follow you.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen

The yoke of Christ

​S-Matt 11:28-30 NIV

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

O- What an invitation Jesus gives us here.  To be able to come to him when we are weary and burdened and find rest in Him.   Take off any yoke you have put on yourself and put on his yoke because he will lead us gently and with a humble heart.  While under the yoke of Jesus we will find rest for our souls.

A - The application for me is to lay down my life to the Lord and take up his yoke.   This is not easily done and must be done frequently because I know my nature to take the yoke of the world on my shoulders and feel that burden.  Even if I lay it down before the Lord each day I will need to exam my heart and intent to live under the yoke of the Lord.  

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  Lord I give you my worldly yoke in exchange for your yoke.  Help me to walk in that new freedom of being yoked to you and not the world.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen

Perfecting my holiness

​S-2 Cor 7:1 NIV

7 Therefore, since we have these promises,dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

O-Paul here exhorts the Corinthians to act because of the promises of being in Christ, that the result should be a desire to purify themselves.  Specifically purify from those things that contaminate the body and the spirit within.  If they do this in ever increasing ways they will be perfecting their holiness, doing so out of their reverence for God.

A - The application for me is to remember the promises God has made and from that place seek to purify myself both body and spirit.  I need to submit all my thoughts and actions to God and pray he would help me to purify my actions and deeds as well as my thoughts. 

P -Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you help me to purify myself in body and spirit.  Help me to know and reject that which draws me away from your holiness.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Freedom in the spirit of the Lord

​S-2Cor 3:16-17 NIV

6 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

O- Paul here is speaking to the Corinthians about the power that comes from the spirit of God.  When we turn to Jesus and accept him as Lord and savior the veil is taken away so that we might experience His glory.   So those who are known by Christ the Spirit of the Lord is with them and where the spirit of the Lord is , there is freedom.  No longer bound by the law but free to walk in the spirit.

A - The application for me is to recognize that because Jesus Christ is my lord and savior the spirit is with me.  I have the freedom to walk in Christ and am no longer condemned by the law but show grace by Christ sacrifice for me.  

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you help me walk in the freedom of the spirit,  so I might witness to others the power of Christ in my life.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Labor in the Lord

​S-1Cor 15:58 NIV

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

O- Paul here exhorts the Corinthians to remember their victory is through Christ and not the law.   In order to inherit this eternal life they need to stand firm in Christ, letting nothing influence them away from Christ and always give themselves fully to the work of the Lord.  In this work there is no sin, and their work is not in vain.

A - The application for me is to seek to do the work of the Lord in all that I do.  I shouldn't get confused or mixed up in following the law which can confuse me, but rather to follow Christ who was without sin and can be trusted to lead me in the correct direction. 

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you  and your spirit would lead me in  my daily activities and that I would give myself fully to your work.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Gift of the Spirit

​S-1Cor 12:3-4 NIV

3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

O- Paul here is teaching on the gift of the Spirit and in verse 3 shows us that that the output of these gifts is consistent with who God is and who we are in Christ.  When we speak from the spirit that is within us we don't speak against who Jesus is and we don't proclaim his Lordship in our lives except by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.   Therefore as members of the body of Christ we are to be led and gifted by the Holy Spirit,  and since there is only one spirit for all of us, when we are led by the spirit we all come together to form the body of Christ.

A -  The application for me is live by the spirit of God within me.  I am to walk and act out of the Holy Spirit's prompting and therefore I need to stay tuned in to what God is doing and saying in my life.  I am to speak from the spirit within me and not from my flesh.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for your Holy Spirit's presence in my life.  Help me to hear and discern your promptings and speak from your spirit's guidance in me.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

God's grace

​S-1Cor 1:27-31 NIV

27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holinessand redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord

O -  Wow this is such a convicting and humbling verse of scripture from Paul to the church at Corinth.  It sets up the attitude we should each have in ourselves and in our church.  It says don't be boastful in yourself and what you have or have done, but  boast in the Lord.   We know this because God chose us despite our weakness and sin.  For this reason we should not want to boast about ourselves but witness to all creation God's merciful grace.  It is because of God that we are given the redemptitive work of Christ who is wisdom from God if we would only receive it. 

A - The application for me is to boast in Christ.    Recognize the gift that Christ is to me a lowly sinner who falls short without Christ but is reconciled with Christ to a real relationship with God the Father.  I am to humble myself before others and before God, testifying to His redemptive work in my fraile and broken life.   

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray that you would help me to humble myself and live my true identity in Christ alone.  I pray that you allow my testimony to be a witness to God's grace and mercy.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Love well

​S-Galatians5:  13-15 NIV

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

O- Paul's epistle to the church in Galatia was written to teach and lift up the Galatians who likely had some internal strife within the church.   Their humanity was not meant to condemn them but rather Paul wrote to help them avoid heading down and path that would lead to the destruction of the church.  Paul reminds them they were called to be free, but that freedom wasn't meant to indulge themselves but rather to serve one another , humbly with love.   Paul echoes the commandment that fullfill's the law that Jesus once answered the Pharisee's when question.  To love your neighbor as yourself will leave you on the right side with others and with God. 

A -  The application for me is to acknowledge the freedom I have in Christ, and use this fact to humbly love those around me.   I am to avoid biterness and backstabbing to those around me.  By learning to love my neighbor as myself I will keep focused on those in need around me and not focused on myself. 

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you would help me love others well.  Help me to turn my focus away from my needs and wants and to place it on those around me who need to know your love through me.  I pray this in Jesus Christ name, Amen

Great commission

​S-Mark 16:15-18 NIV

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons;they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

O - Jesus after his resurrection came to see his disciples before his ascention to heaven.  He gives them his great commission, to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  Just as it was with him, people will be healed and saved if they believe in the gospel and are baptized.   Many signs will accompany those disciples who are bringing the good news to the unsaved: they will drive out demons, speak in new tongues, and pick up snakes, and drink poison without being hurt.  They will lay hands on the sick and they will get well. 

A - The application for me is to have faith in the same great commission and accompanying power is available to me.  I have been saved and baptized and am no longer condemned but saved by grace.  I am to to walk by faith sharing the good news  of what Christ has done for me.   I am to pray for those who do not yet know him and share with them God's unending grace. 

P - Dear heavenly father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  Lord I thank you for your amazing grace, and ask that you show me where and when I am to bring the gospel to those around me.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Love is the answer

​S-Mark 12:29-31

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”

O - Jesus here answer's the question of one of the Pharisee's as to which of God's commandment is the greatest.  Jesus answers them with the words to love is the greatest commandment.  First and foremost is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and then love your neighbor as yourself.   If we focus on these we will find ourselves right with the Lord because all of our thoughts and actions will be directed to loving God.   Our love for others will prevent us from sinning against others and spreading God's love to all those we interact with.

A - The application for me is to put my full effort into loving God with all my heart, mind, soul and stregnth.  To focus my attention and energy on loving Him from the time I wake to the time I sleep. I must also posture myself to love my neighbors with the love of Christ.  

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  Lord I pray you show me your way to love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and how to love my neighbor as myself.  I pray this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Entering God's kingdom

​S-Mark10:24-27 NIV

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

O - Jesus says this parable after the rich man comes to him asking what he needs to do to inherit eternity.  Jesus told him to follow the law of moses to which he claimed to have followed since he was a child.  Then Jesus told him to take and sell all of his stuff and give everything to the poor and follow him. Jesus then tell's his disciples that it easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.  The disciples then asked then who can be saved.  Jesus said things are impossible with man are possible with God and therefore even a rich man can enter the kingdom if he follows God.

A -  The application for me is to seek God and my salvation through Jesus. I need to lay down my need for earthly treasures and seek kingdom treasures.  I must focus on my relationship with God and seek his will first and trust in him for all other needs.  

P - Dear heavenly father thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for you to reveal you kingdom to me and show me the way to enter it.  I pray for your provision to be enough to satisfy my needs and worries.  I pray all of this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.