Faithfully Yours Forever

Passage: Luke 15:11-24
Verse: Luke 15:24 (NIV 2011)
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

The parable found in today’s passage, the parable of the lost son, is a powerful expression of redemption and the love that our heavenly Father has for all of His children.  Our heavenly Father longs for all of His wandering children to find their way home.  Lord, may we keep things in perspective – a heavenly perspective, not an earthly or worldly perspective.  May we praise God and express our gratitude for His mercy and grace that led to our salvation.  However, May we also rejoice as others are found and accept God’s gift of eternal life.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Luke 15:1-10
Verse: Luke 15:10 (NIV 2011)
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Have you ever obsessed over something that was lost?  Have you ever had to search for whatever was lost until it was found?  In this passage, we read of two of Jesus’ parables – one about a lost sheep and the other about a lost coin.  Other passages in Scripture tell us that God seeks for no one to be eternally lost.  We learn how He goes to great lengths to reach out to and find those who are lost.  Just as we celebrate when we find something that has been lost, the angels of heaven rejoice when a lost sinner repents and is found.  May we put in the time and energy required to find someone who is lost, but desires to be found.  May we share the hope we have found in Christ with them.  May we pray that they will turn to Christ.  May we rejoice when they repent and are no longer lost.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Matthew 6:5-15
Verse: Matthew 6:9-15 (NIV 2011)
This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Prayer and forgiveness are two practices that are so central to the lives of followers of Jesus Christ.  The prayer found in this passage of Scripture, often referred to as the Lord’s Prayer, serves as a model prayer for us.  It includes 1) words of adoration for our heavenly Father, 2) an expression of our willingness to do His will, and 3) an acknowledgement of our need for His provision, forgiveness, and protection.  May our prayers of adoration, submission, and need of a heavenly Father fill the heavens!  May we shed from our minds and hearts any unforgiveness we may have toward another.  As we confess any sins of unforgiveness, may we sense the peace and freedom that comes from laying those things down at the foot of the cross. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Psalm 19:1-14
Verses: Psalm 19:1-4a, 7-8a, 11-13a (NIV 2011)
Blessed are we because:

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

May we always remember:

The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.

The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.

May we harken to the Word of the Lord!  May the Holy Spirit convict us and guide us to righteousness and holy living.

By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.

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

Passage: 2 Chronicles 7:11-22
Verse: 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV 2011)
The Lord tells us, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

What does it mean to be humble?  I immediately think of reverently bowing down to the will, needs, and wants of another… for the sake of another.  I think of wanting to serve, rather than seeking to be served.  I think of graciously following another, rather than needing to be in control or in charge.  Oh, don’t we need to hear from the Lord today!  May we be willing to humble ourselves before the Lord so we may be able to hear His voice.  May we, as His people, plead for His forgiveness because of how we have treated each other and all of His creation.  We desperately need His wisdom and healing touch.  May we not only be humble, but may we PRAY, SEEK, and TURN to HIM. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Revelation 3:14-22
Verse: Revelation 3:19-20 [pt] (NIV 2011)
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in….

This portion of Revelation speaks of the seven churches.  In particular, this passage, writes about the church of Laodicea.  Just like we might want to spit out lukewarm water on a hot summer day, the Lord God might want to spit out the church of Laodicea because it is neither hot nor cold.    We, as His church, need to stand clearly for His holiness and His righteousness, rather than allow the world to water down or temper the message and teachings of Jesus, the Christ.  We must accept that He will rebuke and discipline us, if necessary, when we look more to the world for our sustenance than we look to Him.  May we remember, 1) that whoever seeks the Lord will find Him, 2) that the Lord will open the door for whoever knocks and seeks to enter in, and 3) that the Lord will enter in and have fellowship with whoever invites Him in to do so.  May we seek, knock, and enter in to eternal life with the Lord.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (NIV 2011)
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.

Isn’t it something to know that we, as believers, have been chosen by God!  He has chosen to work through us, His servants, to reach others who have yet chosen to believe in Jesus, the Christ.  The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is powerful.  May we be empowered by the work of the Holy Spirit to reach out to others for the glory of God and for the building of His kingdom.  Way we be the witnesses, in this day… at this time… and under these societal conditions, that will point others toward an acceptance of God’s free gift of grace and life.  May our witness be a guiding example of how the Lord would have us live our lives in the world.  May we sense the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in us and those around us. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Acts 3:11-26 (NIV 2011)
In Acts 2, we learned how the Holy Spirit was showered down upon the early church.  The Holy Spirit is present and at work in our world today.  Why are we amazed when the power of the Spirit of the Lord is displayed?  Haven’t we seen how the Lord has changed the lives of people… for good?  Haven’t we seen, or suspect we have seen, some kind of miraculous healing?

May we, by faith, believe.
Acts 3:16
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

May we, ourselves, be healed and made new.
Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

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

Passage: Acts 3:1-10
Verse: Acts 3:6 (NIV 2011)
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

We have been given power through Him, from above; power to be used in His name and for His glory.  It is not, however, power to be used for selfish ambition or selfish purposes.  It is power to be used to heal, to comfort, and to feed… spiritually and physically.  May we be worthy of the power, and calling, entrusted to us as Christians.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Psalm 34:15-22 (NIV 2011)

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)