Faithfully Yours Forever

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1%3A1-11&version=NIV
Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Verses: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

In this world we face many challenges and hardships.  Those of us who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are remarkably blessed with a comfort that is sometimes hard for others to understand.  May we help those around us, who face similar challenges and hardships, to find the comfort that may be known by having a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A15-22++&version=NIV
Passage: Psalm 34:15-22 (NIV)
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

There is justice in the Kingdom of God!  There is mercy in the Kingdom of God!  May we trust in the Lord for deliverance.  May we trust in the Lord for protection.  May we find comfort in knowing that He hears our cries.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A8-14+&version=NIV
Passage: Psalm 34:8-14 (NIV)
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

Such comfort may be found in these words!  Such wise instructions may be found in these words!  May we have ears to hear, eyes to see, and mouths to praise the Lord, our God.  May we have the wisdom and the power from above that we need to choose wisely the path we should take… each hour… each minute of each and every day.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A1-7&version=NIV
Passage: Psalm 34:1-7
Verse: Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

The Lord is faithful… just as we must be.  He hears us when we pray, when we cry, and when we rejoice.  He seeks only to bless us, because He loves us.  However, He is holy and righteous.  He knows what we need to grow and to have His image restored within us.  As the first verse of Psalm 34 tells us, the praise of the Lord must always be upon our lips… in all of life’s circumstances.  We need not fear those dark and difficult times.   He will carry us through them.  May we forever be His faithful followers.  May we forever be grateful to Him.  May we forever seek after the Him and glorify His name. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A14-19+&version=NIV
Passage: Genesis 3:14-19 (NIV)

In this passage of Scripture, we clearly see that Adam and Eve, and all people in the generations to come, would face some challenging consequences… because of their wrong choices.  Women would bear the pain associated with childbirth.  In addition, while desiring to be in control, they would be subject to their husbands.  Men would painfully toil amid the thorns and thistles to produce sufficient food to eat.  In the end, they would return to the ground as no more than a pile of dust.  We know, however, that God has a much better plan for us.  He desires to have a meaningful relationship with us and to freely give us the gift of eternal life.  May we choose the path of obedience.  May we repent of our wrong choices, seek after God, accept His free gift, and choose to do His will and be a part of His plan to redeem His creation. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A8-13&version=NIV
Passage: Genesis 3:8-13
Verse: Genesis 3:13b (NIV)
“What is this you have done?”

Several of this week’s devotional messages are focused upon Genesis 3, and what is often referred to as “The Fall” of mankind.  With recent events, we may be asking, “What is this you have done?”  Our thoughts may be drawn back to a time when life seemed perfect, or at least better.  The writer of the original devotional, in reference to the Garden of Eden, stated, “In a garden that was once perfect in true, pure innocence and intimacy with one another and with God, as suddenly as the shattering of a window pane, the peace of the garden is shattered.”  We learn, as we continue to read the Scriptures, that God will call all of us forward to account for our thoughts, actions, and deeds.  For those of us who have turned to Jesus Christ as our Savior, Lord, and Redeemer, may we find comfort and peace today.  For those who are far from Him, may they find their way to Him and His awaiting arms of protection and care.  Lord God, may Your kingdom come.  May Your creation, and everything in it, be restored to its original glory and state of perfection. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+2%3A4-17&version=NIV
Passage: Genesis 2:4-17
Verse: Genesis 2:17 (NIV 2011)
“[Y]ou must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Have you ever wished you could return to the innocence of your youth?  In today’s devotional message, we are reminded that God created Adam as the perfect man.  He was a man who was “holy, righteous, and pure.”  Adam and Eve’s willing disobedience caused a break in their relationship with a holy God.  For individuals born to the generations that followed, many have yearned to be restored to life in that perfect state.  However, we know we live in a broken world that is ravaged by sin and selfishness.  May we recapture the innocence of our youth by turning from unrighteousness toward holy and selfless living.  May we, through the grace of God, practice those things that set us apart, make us holy, and equip us for His service.  May we also experience the unmistakable joy found in a growing relationship with God. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A1-10&version=NIV
Passage: Ephesians 2:1-10
Verse: Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

What an amazing thing that through God’s grace, His unmerited favor, that we can be saved!  While it is a free gift from God, we need to have faith – faith to believe in the gospel message of Jesus, the Christ.  May we have sufficient faith to believe.  May God’s prevenient grace, the grace that goes before salvation, draw those seeking after God to a point where they are able to accept the gift of salvation.  May all those who have been saved, by the grace of God, continue to work out that salvation… all to the glory of God. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1%3A1-10&version=NIV
Passage: Ephesians 1:1-10
Verse: Ephesians 1:7-9 (NIV)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,

Do you remember how special you felt when you were chosen for something?  Maybe it was for an award or maybe to be a part of someone’s team.  Well, we have been chosen by God to be a part of His team… to be set apart and to be holy and blameless in his sight.  According to His pleasure, will, and love, through Jesus Christ, we became heirs with Christ.  May we understand the will of the Father.  May we be obedient to those things He has called us to.  May we feel the love He has for us.  May we remember to thank Him for thinking of us and for choosing us.  Be blessed today. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A24-2%3A5&version=NIV
Passage: Colossians 1:24-2:5
Verse: Colossians 2:2 (NIV)
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ….

I do not know anyone that particularly likes to suffer.  I do, however, know many people, including myself, who have grown closer to God through suffering.  In this passage of Scripture, the apostle Paul is writing to the Colossian church.  While he speaks of the suffering he has endured for the body of Christ… which is the church, he also speaks of the glorious riches of this mystery [the word of God], which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  It is hard to describe the glorious riches we experience through our relationship with God, but we must try.  Those we seek to reach for Christ need to see, or sense, how these glorious riches have changed our lives for the good… is spite of what otherwise might be seen as suffering.  May we experience His glorious riches.  May we genuinely communicate to others how those glorious riches have encouraged us and filled our lives in positive ways.  May we, in love, be able to share the full riches… and the mystery of God, namely, Christ with those around us.  Have a blessed day.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)