Faithfully Yours Forever

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+12%3A1-14&version=NIV
Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14
Verse: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)
Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

The book of Ecclesiastes is often reported to be very negative or cynical in its view of life.  However, even among all the difficult circumstances presented in this passage of Scripture the author was able to tell us to remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come [v.1].   A little later in the passage we are again reminded to remember Him while we are still among the living [v. 6].  We are to have a holy fear of or reverence for God.  While we still live, more is to be heard from God.  We have much to learn.  Let us look to our heavenly Teacher.  Not only [is] the Teacher wise, but he also impart[s] knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true [v.9-10]. We are to respond appreciatively and obediently to the instructions we receive.  May we find encouragement, even among our trials, that He is near and will continue to guide us in the way we should go.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A1-12&version=NIV
Passage: Deuteronomy 6:1-12
Verse: Deuteronomy 6:5-6 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

Everything we do, related to the Lord, is to be done with all our hearts and with all our souls.  Nothing is to be done halfheartedly or without enthusiasm.  The Holy Bible tells us it is all about loving… returning… seeking… knowing… serving… obeying… following… and turning to the Lord with all our hearts and souls.  A quick search of the Scriptures revealed the phrase, in reference to the Lord, with all your heart and soul on numerous occasions in both the Old and the New Testaments.  In addition, with all our strength or with all our minds are frequently mentioned as well.  Again, no halfhearted efforts would be acceptable to the Lord.  May we enthusiastically love, return to, seek, know, serve, obey, follow, and turn to the Lord in all we do.  What else is there to do?  May we do these things with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.  May all that we do be pleasing to the Lord and give Him glory.  Amen! (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A1-14&version=NIV
Passage: Romans 13:1-14
Verse: Romans 13:10 (NIV)
 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

In Ephesians 5 we were told to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  In Romans 13 we are told to submit to governing authorities.  But, what does it mean to submit to someone or something… and who or what are the governing authorities we are to submit to today?  May you be guided by the one true God as you seek answers to these questions.  We know Jesus submitted to the Roman authorities, the religious authorities, and the local governing authorities of His time.  However, we also know Jesus spoke the Truth, stood up for the Truth, and was crucified for the Truth.  May we speak and stand for Jesus Christ and His example for holy living.  May we submit according to the will of the Father, in a way that is honoring to the sacrifice that was made by Jesus Christ for us, and as we are led by the Holy Spirit.  As we live our lives for Christ, let us remember love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law [v. 10]. Let us be mindful and do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed [v. 11].  May our hope, faith, and trust be in Christ… in Christ alone. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+47%3A1-9&version=NIV
Passage: Psalm 47:1-9
Verse: Psalm 47:7 (NIV)
For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.

Praise God!  Our God reigns!  As a whirlwind spins around us, may we still find peace, comfort, and joy in knowing that God will be the ultimate victor.  Our ultimate destiny is in His hands.  May we clap [our] hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy [v. 1] for our God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne [v. 8].  Praise Him!  For those who are struggling with aspects of daily living, may you be comforted.  For those of you who are battling the enemy of your soul, may you find strength to resist and peace in the storm.  For those of you seeking to find the way, may the Holy Spirit guide you and fill you with the joy of the Lord.  May the wonder of God’s creation inspire you today. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10%3A23-11%3A1&version=NIV
Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:33b (NIV)
For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

This passage, in some Bibles, has the heading of “The Believer’s Freedom.”  While we are free, it is written that whatever [we] do [related to eating and drinking], do it all for the glory of God [v. 31].  Many of us may claim that we have the “right” to do anything… as is written at the opening of this passage.  It states: “I have the right to do anything,” [we] say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive [v. 23]. However, verse 24 reminds us that no one should seek their own good, but the good of others.  As we seek to understand the Scriptures, remember that we are to consider the passage in the context, with the author’s purpose in mind, considering the intended audience, and with an understanding of the cultural conditions of the day.  May our choices today give glory to God.  May we not cause another to stumble, but instead may we seek the good of others so that they may be saved.  Have a blessed day. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1-8&version=NIV
Passage: Romans 12:1-8
Verse: Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

What is worship?  We worship God in many ways – sometimes through song, preaching, teaching, praying, and in fellowship with God’s people.  However, Romans 12 opens with a statement about the “proper” worship.  We are told to offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is [our] true and proper worship.  We must keep who we are in proper perspective.  We have been created by God for God’s purposes.  May we be about doing those things He has called us to do.  May we appreciate one another for the special gifts of God that we each may have been given.  May we come together as the Body of Christ at all levels of His church to love God and love others.  May we remember that each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others [v. 4-5].  May God bless our efforts to come together as one body in service to Him. [inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+2%3A11-21&version=NIV
Passage: Galatians 2:11-21
Verse: Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Do we present the same image of who we are to all people?  Sometimes we may not appear the same to everyone.  The relationships that we have and the circumstances of our interactions with various people may differ greatly.  However, sometimes the differences in how we appear to various people may be caused because we are more open, genuine, or forthright with some individuals than we are with others.  In this passage of Scripture Paul noted that these differences can cause problems.  We may confuse those who know us or we might even appear to be acting like hypocrites to them at times.  Paul cautions us that, as Christians, [we] have been crucified with Christ and [we] no longer live, but Christ lives in [us]. The life [we] now live in the body, [we] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved [us] and gave himself for [us].  May the Holy Spirit guide us in how we relate to others.  May we grow in our understanding of how Christ would respond to people who are inside or outside of the Christian faith.  May we seek to reflect the image of Christ in all our relationships. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A12-4%3A1&version=NIV
Passage: Philippians 3:12-4:1
Verse: Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
Brothers and sisters… forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [let us] press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus.

As Christians, may we not see ourselves as having arrived, but instead as a work in progress.  In addition, let us not be held back by our past mistakes, failures, or shortcomings, but instead may we lay those things down at the foot of the cross as we look toward the goal of becoming more like Christ in the future.  May we claim the promise that the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body [v. 3:21b-22].  May we continue to strive to be more like Christ each day.  May we support other believers as they journey on, in Christ.  May we praise the Lord, our God, for what He has already done in us and for His faithfulness in continuing to mold us into His likeness.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+68&version=NIV
Passage: Psalm 68
Verse: Psalm 68:19-20 (NIV)
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.   Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.

God has a way of taking care of those wicked or evil forces that may surround us.  In many ways, He protects us physically and spiritually.  However, we need to remember, during the times when we sense an evil presence around us, to rebuke and cast away those evil forces in the name of Jesus, the Christ.  May we rejoice and be glad when the peacefulness in our soul is restored as the evil force flees.  May we praise God that He is at work in our lives and in the lives of those we love and pray for.  May we remember to thank Him for His daily provisions.

Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before [v. 28].  May we proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens.  You, God… the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people [v.4-35].  May we use this power wisely… to advance Your kingdom and help to meet the needs of Your people.  All praise and glory be to God.