The truth sets us free

​S-John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭36‬ ‭NLT

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

‭‭‬‬O - Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.  By knowing Jesus we know the truth  and if we walk in his ways we are set free from the slavery of sin.  Though we still may sin , if we turn from these sins and toward Jesus he is able to set us free from the wages of sin (spiritual death).   Once we have committed our lives to Christ' lordship we are part of His family forever.

A - The application for me is to accept the gift of grace from the Lord, for my sins had separated me from God but his atonement has reconcilled me once a for all.  His freedom from the wages of sin have made me once more in communion with God the Father and free from the penalty of sin.  I am to walk in this truth with humbleness and gratefullness.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  Lord help me to walk in your truth and freedom you have provided.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Believe in the Son

​S-‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

O - Jesus is proclaiming the power of God that is within Him and that those who listen to His truth and believe in His message will have eternal life.   God will not condemn them but forgive them of their sins and lead them to eternal life.  

A - The application for me is to hold on to the truth that Jesus is the son of God sent to take away the sins of the world.  Anyone who believes in him will have eternal life.  I believe in Christ as my savior and now only need to stay close to Him to walk the path of eternal life.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart. I pray that you would help me stay close to you in my walk and that you show me your way to eternal life.  I pray all these things in Jesus name, Amen.

The light of the world

​S-‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.””

O- Jesus is speaking these words to the pharisee Nicodemus.  He is speaking that he is the light brought into the world by God.  For those that believe in Him he offers salvation and those that don't there is judgement.  The light of the world shines the light on our sins and those that acknowledge this light and their own sins, are forgiven when they accept the son as their Lord and saviour. 

A - The application for me is to recognize Jesus is the light of th world,  I need to believe in Him and allow his light to shine on and expose my sins.   I repent and turn away from these sins and seek to walk in the light and direction that Jesus is showing me.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank your for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you would help me to expose all my sin and repent and turn away from my sinful ways.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

​S-

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Son of man in heaven

​S-Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.”

‭‭‬‬O - Jesus here is proclaiming the truth of his place in Heaven at the right hand of the Father.  He says this so all would know who he truly is, but the high priest chose to view this as blasphemy vice the voice of God come to earth through Jesus.  

A- The application for me is to remember Jesus is the voice of truth who came to sacrifice himself for the sins of mankind.  It is through him that I experience God's grace and mercy and now have an advocate in heaven for me.   I need to ensure I daily put my faith in him and not in me.

P- Dear heavenly Father , thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray that you help me to live my life one with you and your ways.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, amen.

Be a humble servant

​S-Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

‭‭O - Jesus is teaching his disciples how not to act like the Pharisees and religious leaders who exalt themselves above the people they are meant to serve.  His disciples are to be servants and humble themselves before the people and not exalt themselves.   They are to follow Jesus' example and seek the lost and sick and restore and heal them.  

A - The application for me is to seek to humble myself before the Lord and people.  I am to be a servant to all those God puts before me , especially my family.  I am to serve them through my words and actions so that I can't be accused of being double minded.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you help me be humble in all my actions and deeds.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

​S-

“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Possible with God

​S-‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.””

O - The disciples were astounded at Jesus explanation to them how it was easier for a camel to go through the eye  of a needle than for a rich man to make it to the kingdom of heaven.  But we see here that what is impossible to be done by man, can be done by God.  It is through Jesus and only Jesus that we are able to come before God and enter His kingdom.

A - The application for me is not to focus on the things of this world that are valuable but to focus on the relationship with God through Jesus.  I am to count heavenly things as valuable and store up my treasures in heaven and not on earth.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's less may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord you help me to focus on the heavenly things in my life and maintain my relationship with Jesus.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen

​S-

“Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Out of a pure heart

​S-‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭17‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.””

O- Jesus spoke these words to the Pharisee's who were accussing his disciples of not washing their hands before eating which was their tradition.  He rebuked their tradition and said it is not what goes into your body that defiles you but the words that come out of your mouth that defiles the person.  It is what comes from your heart that is evil.  

A - The application for me is to be aware of the words that I speak and to make sure I maintain a pure heart.  I can do this by keeping Jesus in my heart and his spirit within me.  I must speak from the out pouring of Christ love that is in me. 

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for a clean heart out of which my words and actions would come.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Blessed are those that see and hear

​S-‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT

““But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

O  -  Jesus was speaking to those who would listen to him proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven is here.  He knew he was a fullfilment of many prophesies and promises that God had made through nation of Israel. What should have been an amazing revelation and experience these people were seeing for some it was a stumbling block.  This is not how some had envisioned the messiah would come and therefore had a hard time believing the things Jesus would say or even do.

A - The application for me is to by faith believe in these accounts of Jesus during his time on earth.  All of them happened that I might believe and receive Him as my Lord and savior.   I can trust in these accounts and the many miraclous healings and words of truth as witness to me to the power of the Messiah and the plan he had for all of us to be redeemed through Him.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would continue to reveal to me your truth in scripture and grow my faith in you and all you have done.  I pray the Holy Spirit would continue to guide me in my steps each day.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Jesus yoke

​S-Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.””

O- Jesus is preaching to those who would listen that they have been carrying a heavy burden.  The burden of their sins and shortcomings.  They may try to make up for their sins with good works and strict religious behavior but the burden is just to much for anyone to carry.  God knows this and because he loves us and doesn't want us to be stuck in our sin sent his Son to take away our burdens and give us a much lighter yoke to bear.  Rest is needed by us all who toil in our sin, but thanks be to God he has washed us clean of our sins and now only wants our hearts to stay focused on him and to carry on the load he has set aside for us.

A - The application for me is to not pick up burdens that Jesus has already taken away.  I am to seek the Lord's yoke and not the yoke of the world.  I am to focus on the relationships and responsibilities that God has ordained for my life and pour out His love in these relationships, specifically with my wife and two girls.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would help me to lay down at your feat all of the burdens I am carrying that are not from you.  Help me to have the wisdom and discernment to wear your yoke and lift the burdens you have for me.   I pray this all in Jesus Christ name, Amen