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Christian Devotional – October 20, 2016
Read Titus 1:16–They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for anything good. TRUTH: Words and actions go together. Here, Paul is warning Titus against people who talk a good talk, but then whose actions fail to deliver. Often, many people will say whatever they think they need to say to please someone. However, we must also line up people’s actions next to their words and confirm that they are actually doing what they are saying. Otherwise, they are unfit for anything good. Will my words and actions match up today? RESPONSE: Father, I desire that my words and action…
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Christian Devotional – April 21, 2016
Read Acts chapter 20 VERSE: Acts 20:32–Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are satisfied. TRUTH: Paul was giving a farewell speech to several believers that he knew he wouldn’t see again. While he cared for them deeply and had been sharing Christ with them, he now knows that he must leave them over to God’s care. Paul has taught them all they need in order to be able to seek after God themselves, so he commits them to God and to His grace. When we are teaching and training…
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Christian Devotional – November 20, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:8–Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded. TRUTH: As we come into a relationship and fellowship with God, He will come near to us. How do we draw near to Him? That is answered in the remaining part of the verse. First, we need to examine our actions (wash our hands) and ask for forgiveness for those actions that do not line up with God. Second, we must purify our attitudes (our hearts). The motivations for why we do what we do is just as important to God as…
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Christian Devotional – October 27, 2015
Read James chapter 2 VERSE: James 2:24–You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not be faith alone. TRUTH: As James concludes his example of how faith and actions go together, he wants people to realize that they must be focused on their actions as the living out of their faith. We are a combination of both. Our actions reflect our thoughts and beliefs and our beliefs are reflected by our actions. They should both go together and mirror each other. Are we being consistent in how we live out our life? God sees both our actions and our belief; is He pleased with what…
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Christian Devotional – October 20, 2015
Read James chapter 2 VERSE: James 2:15-16–Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? TRUTH: James gives another example of how not to do something. Earlier the example was about love, now this example is about faith. If we say great, spiritual sounding things, but then don’t follow up with the actions that support our words, what good is it? James here is reminding believers that if we say we have faith in God, our faith will also be seen in…
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Christian Devotional – May 30, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 2 VERSE: 1 John 2:4–Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. TRUTH: Do we know God? More important than how we verbally answer that question, is how our life answers that question. Do our actions confirm the truth of our words, or do they prove we are a liar? Our words are important and our actions must match the words that we say. RESPONSE: Father, my words and actions must go together. I will follow Your commands and will ensure that my actions convey the truth of my words. I…
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Christian Devotional – February 2, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 2:7–The son of Karni: Achan, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things. TRUTH: Most people in this chapter are just listed as part of the genealogy. However, a few people have a little bit more written about them; a sort of epithet of their life boiled down to one sentence. Achan probably wished he could go back and change his. He is noted to be responsible for bringing down the entire nation of Israel with his disobedience. If someone were to write one sentence to describe your life, what would it be? Would you be remembered for glorifying and praising God or…