Verse For The Day
“For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10)
Short Devotional Thought
Our Daily Devotional:
Without Love
1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV: If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
We face a never-ending struggle to find a certain feeling of being satisfied with who we are. So much of what we do is motivated by a desire to gain something for ourselves, and it is a hard thing to set aside that part of us controlled by our flesh in order that we might be more like Jesus. The mind of Christ is selfless and is always seeking what is best—not just for self, but for others. Yet our insatiable desire to shine, to be the best, or get the appreciation and applause of others can greatly harm our effectiveness in loving others as Jesus did. Even what we may see as the noblest things (serving others, ministry, witnessing, etc.), can become an avenue for self-glorification if we are not careful. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul warns of the dangers in using the gifts God has given for reasons other than love. Just as it was in his day, it is still so today—we can do many things that seem right, and good and honorable. We can witness, preach, share, serve, tithe, and teach. But it all means nothing if we are motivated by anything other than a genuine and Christ like love for those to whom God sends us.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Daily Ponder
Verse For The Day
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
Short Devotional Thought
Our Daily Devotional:
We Wrestle Not
Ephesians 6:12 KJV: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
What we wrestle against, as Paul writes, are principalities, powers, "the rulers of the darkness of this world," and "spiritual wickedness in high places." Or do we? That is, do we wrestle? Do we struggle against the things of this world that oppose God? Do we fight to be holy, to "throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles?" Do we wrestle against that which is ungodly, or threatens to bring ungodliness into our lives, the lives of others, or into the church? We are told in Hebrews, "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood" (4:12). How far are we willing to go to rid ourselves of the things that cause us and others to stumble? Do we find we often selfishly give into our whims and wants from day to day? Or do we wrestle?
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
Short Devotional Thought
Our Daily Devotional:
We Wrestle Not
Ephesians 6:12 KJV: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
What we wrestle against, as Paul writes, are principalities, powers, "the rulers of the darkness of this world," and "spiritual wickedness in high places." Or do we? That is, do we wrestle? Do we struggle against the things of this world that oppose God? Do we fight to be holy, to "throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles?" Do we wrestle against that which is ungodly, or threatens to bring ungodliness into our lives, the lives of others, or into the church? We are told in Hebrews, "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood" (4:12). How far are we willing to go to rid ourselves of the things that cause us and others to stumble? Do we find we often selfishly give into our whims and wants from day to day? Or do we wrestle?
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