Faithfully Yours Forever

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A13-26&version=NIV
Passage: Galatians 5:13-26
Verse: Galatians 5:13b (NIV)
But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Have you ever heard the expression of calling a spade a spade?  Today’s passage does just that; it speaks honestly and directly on topics that are often avoided.  We have been given, by God, the freedom to choose to be in a relationship with Him or not.  If we desire a relationship with Him, we are to live and walk by the Spirit.  We are not (to) use (our) freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  The acts of the flesh [we are to avoid] are obvious:

sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like [v. 19-21].

Denying the desire to indulge in fleshly things will not help us to gain power over them.  We need to acknowledge any desires related to these things, before Christ, and turn away from them, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The fruit of the Spirit are equally as obvious in this passage.  They are:

love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control [v. 22-23].

May we remember, and claim the promise, that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  In addition, since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit and love (our) neighbor as (ourselves) [v. 25 & v. 15].  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A15-23&version=NIV
Passage: Matthew 7:15-23
Verse: Matthew 7:16 (NIV)
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

There are a couple of hard lessons in today’s passage of Scripture.  We are told that not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven [v. 21].  In other parts passages in the Bible, we are told that wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it [Matthew 7:13].  May we seek the narrow gate, by believing in and following the way of the good shepherd, Jesus Christ.  Once we have found and entered in through the narrow gate, may we guide others to do the same.

In addition, from a spiritual perspective, we are also reminded in this passage that not everyone is looking out for what is in our best interest.  Let’s not be deceived.  May we recognize the branches, from the true vine, that produce good fruit.  May we also recognize those things that need to be pruned, weeded, or cut down and thrown into the fire [v. 19].  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A9-14&version=NIV
Passage: Colossians 1:9-14
Verse: Colossians 1:10 (NIV)
… so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…

We can get a warm feeling inside when we know that others are praying for us.  It can be humbling when we realize that someone regularly prays for us… even when nothing is going wrong in our life.  May we be filled with the knowledge of God’s will for our life.  May we bear good fruit and live a life, guided by the knowledge and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, that is worthy of the Lord.  May we walk in God’s strength and power… displaying endurance, patience, and thankfulness… as we run the race that is before us.  May we express our gratefulness to God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – for showing us the way out of darkness and by providing us with a way to live life to the fullest.  May you know that you have been prayed for today.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A1-8&version=NIV
Passage: Colossians 1:1-8
Verse: Colossians 1:3b-5 (NIV)
we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel

This brief passage prompts me to consider several questions.

• Do we always thank God for those things He has given us?
• Do we pray for others of the Christian faith?
• Does our faith and love stem from our belief in Jesus Christ?
• Is the fruit we bear stemming from the gospel message?
• Have we been faithful to the gospel message from the first time we heard it?
• Do we look to the Spirit to be our guide?

Well, those people referenced in today’s Scripture passage appear to have been able to answer yes to many of these questions.  May the Holy Spirit encourage you today.  May He help you grow your faith in Jesus Christ and in the gospel message He brought.  May the love we share with and for others bear fruit for the kingdom of God and for all of His people.  May you have a blessed day. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+5%3A1-12&version=NIV
Passage: 1 John 5:1-12
Verse: 1 John 5:3 (NIV)
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome…

The basics of the Christian faith are not always clearly communicated or made known.  Sometimes assumptions are made that everyone already knows or understands the basics.  Sometimes it is just an oversight as we delve deeper into the mysteries of God.  Sometimes it is because we do not want to offend others or appear to be socially insensitive.  However, we are cautioned to speak the truth concerning the gospel message.  In this passage we learn that God’s testimony concerning His Son is greater than any human testimony.  God’s testimony about His Son is this:

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life [v. 11-12].

May we believe in and follow Jesus, God’s Son.  May we grow in our knowledge, understanding, and love for God.  May God remove any doubts, fears, or unbelief that exist within our hearts.  May we be assured of our place in His kingdom and in the receipt of His gift of eternal life.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1%3A1-6&version=NIV
Passage: Psalm 1:1-6
Verses: Psalm 1:1a, 2 (NIV)
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
…
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

Reflect on The Ten Commandments that we considered two days ago [Exodus 20:1-17].  May we, in this earthly life, be delighted and blessed, as we, and those around us, are seek to follow the directions given to us in the Scriptures.   (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A20-26&version=NIV
Passage: Exodus 20:20-26
Verse: Exodus 20:20 (NIV)
 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

Test results show us the correct responses to the questions on the test.  What we believe to be true, or correct, is either affirmed or rejected.  A test can also show us where our understanding of things needs to change or be improved.  May we learn the way of the Lord, our God, so we can live lives that are honoring to Him.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A1-17&version=NIV
Passage: Exodus 20:1-17
Exodus 20:3 (NIV)
 “You shall have no other gods before me.”

The Ten Commandments [Exodus 20:1-17] contain such words of wisdom!  They are instructions from God – containing information on how we are to relate to Him and to others.  Our relationship to God is a covenant.  As the featured verse indicates, we are to have no other gods before us.  Let’s not allow anyone or anything to step into the position that the Lord, our God, should have in our lives.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A1-14&version=NIV
Passage: Matthew 7:1-14
Verses: Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Again, we learn of the gate… the narrow gate… of which some will enter through.  We each must choose which path to take.  Will we choose the well-beaten path or the road less traveled?  May we be reminded of what it takes to enter in through the narrow gate that leads to life.  A genuine belief in Jesus, including the gospel message He proclaimed, is required… no more, no less.  Let us each ask to receive, seek to follow, and knock upon the narrow gate.  As we repent of our sins, believe in Jesus, and follow Him and His example for holy living, may the narrow gate be opened wide so we may enter in.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A1-6&version=NIV
Passage: Psalm 23:1-6
Verse: Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Such comfort, peace, and rest are found in this passage.  May we always look to the Shepherd.  I will forever praise Him because:

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes  my soul. 

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Praise Him for what He does for us each day.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)