Faithfully Yours Forever

1 John 5:11-12 (NIV 1984)
And this is the testimony [about God’s Son]: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Eternal life is the gift given to us, as believers, because of our faith in Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.  It sounds so obvious, but yet we sometimes have doubts.  May our faith be sufficient to believe.  May all our doubts be removed by a fresh encounter with the Son of God.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NIV 1984)
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

Sometimes we are torn between our love and appreciation for God’s earthly creation and our desire to be with the Lord in our heavenly home.  We may yearn for a place that is free from pain, tears, injustice, and every day struggles.  God has, however, placed us here.  He has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives.  He has promised the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us as we travel on our earthly journey.  May the Holy Spirit sustain us until the time when we are taken home to be with the Lord.  However, until that time comes, may we faithfully serve Him.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

John 17:17, 19 (NIV 1984)
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth…. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 

Oh, today’s passage is dear to me.  As I sought to understand what it meant to be sanctified, to be made holy and set a part for the work of the Lord, these words spoke to me.  It really was like a light bulb being turned on in a darkened room.  All of a sudden things became clear.  It is by being obedient to the truths found in the Scriptures that we may become holy or sanctified.  However, we cannot do that on our own.  It is only through belief in Jesus Christ, because of His holiness, that we may become holy in the eyes of God.  May we grow in our understanding of the Scriptures and may we be bathed in the love of God, through the work of Jesus, the Christ.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV 1984)
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

It is the Spirit of the Lord, living within a believer, which allows a believer to reflect the character and nature of God to others. But we, with our imperfections, do not always allow for a clear reflection to be seen.  Sometimes those imperfections are removed through the fires found while living in a fallen world such as ours.  At other times, those imperfections can only be skimmed off the surface of a tarnished heart when we take the time to slow down and listen to the wee small voice that is trying to break free from within.  May we be open to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to renew, shape, and guide us to be better reflectors of God’s love in this world.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

John 6:63 (NIV 1984)
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

What a precious gift we have been given!  The Holy Spirit lives inside the heart of each believer.  How blessed we are when we can feel the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, but how forlorn we can become when He seems so far away.  May we faithfully seek Him.  May we grow to hear His voice more clearly with each passing day.  May we treasure the guidance and reassurance he provides.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

2 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV 1984)
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

As Christians, we are all ministers of a new covenant – the gospel of Jesus the Christ, a message of love for God and others.  God has done, and is doing, a work in each one of us.  He is preparing us to serve Him, to help build His kingdom, and to share the gospel message with others.  May we, through the work and guidance of the Holy Spirit, spread a message of life in Christ to those seeking after such things.  May the covenant be written upon our hearts, but an open book for all to see and read.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

1 John 4:7 (NIV 1984)
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Let it be true; let us love one another!  God seeks to restore His image within us.  Scripture tells us that God is love and that people will know we are His by the way we love one another.  May He instill in us a love, first for Him, and then for others.  When someone looks at us, may they see the love of God flow freely from our hearts to the lost and needy people of this world.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Acts 11:18 (NIV 1984)
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

As a Christian, aren’t we blessed to be counted as one of God’s chosen people?  However, let us not forget that the gospel of Jesus Christ is intended for everyone.  May we chose to believe the gospel message that Jesus Christ is our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer.  May He help us to touch the lives and hearts of others who are seeking to know, understand, and accept the truth of the gospels.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV 1984)
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

I do not know about you, but I would like to be able to say, at the end of my earthly existence, that I have no regrets.  I know I will only be able to say that, when all is said and done, if I have been able to lay down those things, before Christ… at the foot of the cross, that I have handled in less than a godly way.    Christ restores those who genuinely repent of their sins… and then choose to walk in a way that is honoring to Him.  May we be guided by Him as we navigate the difficult situations in our lives.  May we choose life with no regrets, through Christ, rather than death.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)