Relation of Jesus Christ

S-  John 1:12-13    (NASB)

 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were [i]born, not of [j]blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

O -  This is John's description of who Jesus was as he came amongst us.  In John 1 he reveals that Jesus was with God from the beginning, through creation, and all of the old testament times, but now he is amongst and those who believe in Him,  are born again through the spirit of God and not through any effort of man.

A - The application for me is to rejoice in God's revelation to us, His son, who came to restore a relationship with God and me.   I have worked hard most of my life to do good and be good, but along the way have stumbled and fallen in the wrong direction many times.  The person of Jesus is amazing to me, that he came and walked amongst us , taught a few,  died for our sins and know in heaven representing to God all those that believe in Him and call him Lord.   

P -  Thank you Lord for your revelation of who Jesus Christ is, and thank you Jesus for all you have done to restore my relationship with God by erasing all my past sins and giving me a new spirit to walk in.   I pray Lord you continue to reveal to me more of who Jesus is and sanctify me more and more that I may be a true child of God.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Waiting on the Lord - Patient endurance

S - 2 Peter 3:8-9   (NASB)

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance

O - Peters message to new church is to give them an exhortation to patient endurance.   For them the savior of the world had came and left.  Their hope was in Jesus Christ, now their Lord and Savior. So when would they be saved?   I think a lot of them likely thought while Jesus walked among them they would be saved, or when he ascended to Heaven then they would be saved,  each of them desperate to receive God's promise to once and for always save His people.  The truth is the Lord is in no hurry because time is not what concerns him,  it is our salvation which comes from our repentance.   If He were impatient many of us would never know His salvation,  and yet He wants non to perish, and therefore waits patiently on us to come to Him.

A -  The application to me seems now obvious, which before was such a mystery.    Why have I faced trials in the past, and why did I have to go through such a long period of suffering.  The answer is that it wasn't long at all from God's perspective,  the only thing that mattered was my humbly coming to the Lord, repenting of my sins and dedicating my life to following Him.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  Lord I pray that you would help me fully heal from the affects of my own sin,  building me stronger to never again walk on the wrong path.    Lord thank you for your grace and patience with me,  I want to be more like you in leading my family and those you place under my covering.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Sowing God's word and reaping His Harvest

S - Isaiah 55:10-11 (NASB)

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

O - This word from the prophet Isaiah speaks to the power of God's word.    It is the power to affect real change when we choose to allow it to rain down on us,  it will return from we who hear and abide a fruit of God's spirit.  This is a the simple principle of reap what you sow.  God's sow's in us , His word, and what grows and is harvested is God's will in and around our lives.

A  - The application is simple,  to be sure that everyday I am allowing God's word to sow in me and produce a crop which is abundant and God pleasing.  I do this through my daily devotions.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson , may it be sowed in my heart and yield an abundant Kingdom crop.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.
12 

Re-establishing the progressive habits of effective Christians

S- 2 Peter 1:5-11 NASB

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral [g]excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

O- Peter is teaching us in this passage the progressively perfect habits a Christian is to practice so that they may grow in Christ and follow God's calling on their life.  Faith builds moral Excellence is where we start so that the stumbling block of sin doesn't become an obstacle.   Out of moral excellence comes a hunger for the knowledge of who God is,  which in turn yields a life of self control.   When you have faith, knowledge, and self control  you are able  perseverance and walk in godliness which is the end goal for a Christian on their personal journey with the Lord.    Once you understand and are living a godly life you will be ready to be kind to and love other believers.   Out of God's outpouring of love on you, and you onto other believers you will learn how true love really is, and you will be able to love those who have yet to come to know Christ and you will be able to love them like God does.

A - The application for me is to return to these progressive habits of highly effective Christians.  I am to focus on the process of learning to live a godly life through strengthening my faith, growing in the knowledge of God,  increasing my ability to maintain self control of my attitude and behavior.   Out of this I will seek to expand my perseverance in all areas of my life (home, work, in the church).   This should be enough to focus on this season and prepare me more for the work in the mission field of spreading Christ's love for all mankind.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.   I pray lord for the knowledge and perseverance as I re-establish and grow my ability to love you and grow in Godliness.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Suffering for Christians

S-1 Peter 4:12-18 NIV

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a]

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

O- this is a fair warning to Christians that life is full of tough times.  While we have been saved, we have a purpose to live God and to love others.  It does not say we are too live without pain or trials.  Peter reminds us that we are too suffer according to God's will, and be faithful in serving God plan by doing his will.

A- the application for me is to reflect on my recent season of suffering.  In retrospect. God had a plan for me too face some past demons. - depression, unfaithfulness,. and lust. I understand my pain was my own doing, but my response today needs to be one of a greater son who appreciates the love and grace of my heavenly father.  

P-dear heavenly father thank you for today's message, may it be sealed to my heart.  Lord I pray that when I gave trials and suffering that I would be able to rejoice in it knowing you are perfecting me and redeeming the suffering for your purposes. I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

Having Godly relationships

S-1 Peter 2:13-17 NIV

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

O- These are wise words for believers that Peter speaks because of the reality of where they live and under whose authority they live. Peter them them they are too live as free people, doing good, but don't do these acts of good to cover up for your evil. The last verse summarizes how we are too treat all sorts of people's we will run into,. Showing proper respect to everyone as loving the family of God, fearing God and honoring the leaders over you.

A-the application for me is to head into this new season of the second half of my life with a fresh and goodly perspective on how I will treat and interact with people. I need to focus on showing proper respect to those I work with (pets, associates, and leadership),. Proper relationship with believers i surround myself with,. Proper respect to the leaders good appoints over me.

P- dear heavenly father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed too my heart.  I pray Lord for the wisdom and strength to live according to your word, to create and foster proper relationships with those you place in my life.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

The Prayer of Faith

S-James 5:. NIV

The Prayer of Faith

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

O-the prayer of a righteous person is effective, that is the message for me today. James reminds me we all have troubles we are dealing with but we all can pray, or more importantly we can go to the elders amongst us and ask for prayer.

A-. This is a reminder for me to have to prayer list, one for proper and things I am praying for and one in which I will send the prayers of elders who provide a spiritual covering that only God's people can provide.

P- Dear heavenly father thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart. Lord help me to seek out prayer for those things in my life that I need a spiritual covering.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Faith through works

S-James 2:14-17 NIV

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

O- James is making his famous plea that faith without good deeds is dead.  Now this was likely the message to the local church at the time who became internally focused.   Yes they had the saving knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. But they were likely stuck being focused on themselves.

A- the application for me is to evaluate my own faith in this season.  I c am coming out of a all time low in my faith and I am seeing my faith be restored, first by my relationship with the Lord through my devotions.  Now is the time I must her James's exhortation to not let my faith grow stagnate in good thoughts but be active in my faith by good works.

P Dear heavenly father thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.  Lord I pray you show me where I am to put my hands to work so that my faith may grow and be visible to those around me. I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Acts of faith

S- James 2:. NIV

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[e] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

O- I resisted journaling on this passage because I am coming out of a season of very little works and I didn't want to feel condemned by it.  Instead I feel more convicted to act in the coming season, rather than feel condemned for my past season.  The truth is my faith was well, and my acts were also probing James's point.  When your faith is strong and you are relying on God you walk in a freedom that allows you to do things that you couldn't if the worries of this world engulf your life.

A- the application for me is to allow this season of increased faith and restored relationship with God open up my eyes to the acts of faith good is laying before me. I need to stay looking and listening for goods guidance on where and how I am to serve the people he placed in my life.

P- dear heavenly father, thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord you give me ears to hear and eyes to see your will in my life.  I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

Trials and perseverance

S-James 1
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

O-the life of a believer is one of ever being shared into the image of Christ. Unfortunately there is no shortage of glasses to be removed and character to be shared. This is why paint tells us to consider it pure joy when we go through trials because he knows good will send out lifetime growing and shaping us because he cares for us, too much to leave us like we are,
.

A- the application for me is to recognize that good has been working on me for nearly 20 years, yet he is still working on me. I have some sins and flaws that good has allowed trials to reveal, and heal from.  Haven't just gone through a major trust I am so grateful to God for allowing me to survive these trials and strengthen me as a result of perseverance.

P-dear heavenly father, thank you for today's message, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you make use of these past trials to continue to strengthen me and refine me into the man you need me and created me to be. I pray this in Jesus Christ name,,Amen.

S-Hebrews 12:   (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverancethe race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

O-this writers is encouragement us for believers why though they have experienced the joy of the lord inevitably will face trials.  Our joy and our strength come from the Lord.

A-  the application for me is to walk in the truth of this passage,  so I might be strong and joyful in good times and bad trusting in Christ ad my firm foundation .

P- r thanks you lord for today’s message, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray for great faith and patient endurance,  in Jesus name, amen

S - Herbrews 11  (NIV)

Faith in Action

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d]

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

O -  This is a such a great compilation of the Faith in Action of characters in the bible.  It makes it clear that faith in God and His promises is a character trait that God is pleased with and rewards with salvation and promises for a Heavenly kingdom like none on earth.  

A - The application for me is to live like these members of the Hall of Fatith.  Be led by their examples, and operate daily seeking God's will and then following His instructions by faith, trusting His ways are better than my ways and His promises are true, not just for me now but for the future of my family.   

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for your grace, promises, and today's word may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would continue to lead me is the season of rebirth and help me to walk by faith and not by sight.

God's new and eternal covenant

S-Hebrews 10:15-18(NASB)

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”[b]

17 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”[c]

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

O - Paul is describing here what had occured when Christ came as the one true Priest who offered up the only truely effective sacrifice for our sins.  Prior to that God's people followed Priests and sacrifices that were merely symbolic of the one true Priest and His sacrifce.   But we should rejoice now that Jesus has came and offered the new covenant and to our great benefit instead of  working for our salvation He puts in our heads and hearts His laws,  and pays the full price for our sins, and in the end remembers our sins no more.

A -  The application for me is to be sooooo  grateful for God's grace.  I have fallen short and sinned, and have required forgiveness of these sins.   I know God is working in me to love and live by His laws which reflect how His kingdom is run.  I am thankful that I get to learn from my mistakes, and have understanding and respect for God and His perfect ways.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the message today that you have given me through your word.  I pray Lord that my experiences would not be wasted but that in some means you could use me for your purposes, and that my past mistakes can be redeemed for your glory.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Walk humbly with God

S-Micah:6. 8(NASB)
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love [c]kindness,
And to walk [d]humbly with your God?


O- Micah is describing 2 God's people exactly how they are to live. This was likely necessary due to hats people stream away from the path he had put them on.

A- the answer to how we are to live it's quite simply shown here in 3 steps. One. Love Justice, meaning seek not Revenge, or equality but rather Justice. 2. Love kindness, meaning not only practice being kind but love others around you who are kind. Three. To walk humbly with God, meaning daily walking with him, with a humble heart so that you may learn from the father, and do what he is doing, knowing where your strength is from, it is from the Lord.

P- dear heavenly father thank you for today's message may be sealed to my heart. I pray the Lord that you would help me walk humbly with you, seeking mercy and justice Wherever I Go. I pray all this in Jesus name,Amen.

Walking in God's truth

S-Psalm 101 (NASB)

I will sing of lovingkindness and [a]justice,
To You, O Lord, I will sing praises.
2 I will [b]give heed to the [c]blameless way.
When will You come to me?
I will walk within my house in the [d]integrity of my heart.
3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes;
I hate the [e]work of those who fall away;
It shall not fasten its grip on me.
4 A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will know no evil.
5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will [f]destroy;
No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure.

6 My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me;
He who walks in a [g]blameless way is the one who will minister to me.
7 He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house;
He who speaks falsehood shall not [h]maintain his position before me.
8 Every morning I will [i]destroy all the wicked of the land,
So as to cut off from the city of the Lord all those who do iniquity.

O- David's heart to positively follow God is one in which I wish to have a heart like David. Here we see him posturing himself before Godso that his ways were righteous and pleasing. By no means does this mean that David was perfect, only that hethe sought to a righteous life.

A- I myself having just come out of a dark season recognize the need for righteous living. By posturing my head and heart towards God's righteous ways I can begin to walk again in his light. I will do this by following David's example by putting nothing worthless before me. The things that I look at See and covet need to be things I would be okay with god seeing. In particular my eyes need to be looking towards fellow believers whose walk is strong and can be trusted to speak truth into my life.

P- dear heavenly father thank you for today's message me it be sealed to my heart. Lord I ask you to give me eyes that see your righteousness in the world, and give me the courage to look away from those things that are not pleasing to you. I pray all this in Jesus Christ's name, amen.