Faithfully Yours Forever

Passage: Matthew 7:15-23
Verse: Matthew 7:16 (NIV 2011)
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)

Passage: Colossians 1:9-14
Verse: Colossians 1:10 (NIV 2011)
… 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)

Passage: Colossians 1:1-8
Verse: Colossians 1:3b-5 (NIV 2011)
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)

Passage: 1 John 5:1-12
Verse: 1 John 5:3 (NIV 2011)
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome…

Just as previously mentioned, 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)

Passage: 1 John 4:13-21
Verse: 1 John 4:18 (NIV 2011)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Sometimes even the basics of the Christian faith are not clearly communicated or known.  In this passage, we are reminded of some of the basics.

• God loves us.
• Our faith in God is to be based on love, not fear.
• As Christians, we believe, as this passage indicates, that:
  • the Spirit of God lives within us
  • the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of the world
  • if anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God [v.15].
• We are to love God and love others.

May we feel God’s love for us today.  May we show the love that God has for us by extending His love to others around us in meaningful ways.  May our love for God spring out of His love for us, not because we fear Him or the wrath to come.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: 1 John 4:1-12 (NIV 2011)

We are cautioned, at the beginning of this passage, to test the spirits to see whether they are from God [v. 1] or not.  What does the Scripture tell us about how to recognize when the Spirit of God lives within another person?  This portion of Scripture mentions two noticeable factors that are seen in those who are from God.

• Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God [v.2]
• Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God… because love comes from God [v. 7]

This gives us a couple of simple attributes we will see in those who are from God.  Let us be careful not to judge those that have yet to find their way to God.  However, let us be on guard for those who deny the incarnation of Jesus… as God coming to us in the flesh.  May we be able to discern the Spirit of God from the spirit of darkness.  May we acknowledge Jesus as part of a triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… three in one.  Because God loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins [v. 10]… we also ought to love one another [v.11].  May we more easily be able to show our love for others.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: 1 John 3:11-24
Verse: 1 John 3:18 (NIV 2011)
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

So what do we read of in this passage of Scripture?  We read that:

• we are not to be surprised when those we know choose to mistreat or hate us
• loving one another is directly connected to having eternal life
• knowing what love is… is seen in the actions of an individual
  • do [or would] they lay down their lives for another
  • do they help others in need, if able to do so
  • in actions and in truth, not merely in words or speech, they show their love for others.

We also read that even when our hearts condemn us, that God is greater and knows all.  He provides us a way for us to be redeemed.  May we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us [v. 23].  May we be reassured in knowing that the one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us [v. 24].  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: 1 John 2:28-3:10
Verse1 John 3:1a (NIV 2011)
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

Is there a difference between being one of God’s children and being a child of God?  Everyone is one of God’s children, but being one of the children of God required a decision be made.  The child of God has chosen to put their hope and faith in Jesus Christ.  In this passage of Scripture we are told to continue in him…to continue in our belief of Jesus as Lord, Savior, and Redeemer.  It also tells us that all who have this hope in him [Jesus Christ] purify themselves, just as he is pure [v.3].  This command should have practical implications for how we choose to live our lives.  May we do what is right in His eyes.  May we turn from anything that is sinful.  May we love our God and love others in a way that is honoring to Him.  May we be more than just one of His children; may we be a child of God… and one who follows in His ways.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Ephesians 5:1-20

Highlights from Ephesians 5:1-20 (NIV)

Follow God’s example:

• walk in the way of love
• there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed
• nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving
• Let no one deceive you with empty words and do not be partners with those who are disobedient
• live as children of light… which consists of goodness, righteousness and truth
• find out what pleases the Lord
• have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them
• understand what the Lord’s will is and make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil
• do not be foolish
• do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery
• be filled with the Spirit… speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit
• sing and make music from your heart to the Lord
• always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:13b (NIV 2011)
But the greatest of these is love.

Faith, hope, and love… but the greatest of these is love.  Think about it!  We know how important faith and hope are, but we are told that the greatest of these is love.  Earlier in the passage it states, if I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal [v. 1].  Our words mean nothing unless they are motivated by love.   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 do not have love, I am nothing [v. 2].  Possession of any or all of the spiritual gifts… without love… is of no value.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing [v. 3].  It is a matter of the heart.  May our hearts be filled with a Christlike love for others.  May our love be expressed in absolute devotion to God.  May God’s mercy and grace allow us to experience the love that He intends for us, as His children. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)