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Christian Devotional – July 11, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 5 VERSE: 1 Samuel 5:4–But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold only his body remained. TRUTH: The Israelites had been disobedient, so the Philistines had defeated them in battle and captured the ark of the covenant. The Philistines mistakenly believed that God was just like any other god so the placed the ark in their temple with their other god Dagon. But, God is God and He is over every other thing and so that feeble…
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Christian Devotional – July 10, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 4 VERSE: 1 Samuel 4:11–When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.” TRUTH: The Israelites had been defeated in battle and they started out asking the right question. The problem was they didn’t actually answer that question. So often we treat our plans just like that. We make a plan, go out and try it, then when it doesn’t work, we look up to…
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Christian Devotional – July 9, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 3 VERSE: 1 Samuel 3:10–The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” TRUTH: How many times does God have to call us before we start to listen to what God has to say? Each day God is seeking us and desiring to communication with us so that we can learn more about Him and glorify Him even more. Are we listening or do we get confused about who may be calling us? We must learn to hear God’s voice in our lives and respond to Him with listening ears. RESPONSE: Father,…
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Christian Devotional – July 8, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 2 VERSE: 1 Samuel 2:17–This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt. TRUTH: The Bible is very clear that what we offer the Lord in sacrifice is to be our very best. These men were taking that lightly and were choosing the best portions for themselves. How do we approach the things that we give God? In Romans, God indicates that as believers in Christ, we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God. We must treat ourselves as the Lord would have us treat the very best. We often treat…
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Christian Devotional – July 7, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 1 VERSE 1 Samuel 1:17–Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” TRUTH: Hannah was in distress and she was crying out to God. She poured out her soul to God with all her hurt and pain and agony. Eli, once he understood what she was doing prayed that she would have peace. He asked that she would be able to move forward from this time in her life and from this place with a sense of peace. Only after that did he pray that God would grant her request. Do we pray and ask…
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Christian Devotional – July 6, 2015
Read Mark chapter 16 VERSE: Mark 16:6–“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.” TRUTH: These are the greatest words in the Bible. The One who came and lived the perfect life we couldn’t live and then died the death that we deserved didn’t stay dead. He lives! Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and so we who believe in Him can have resurrection and overcome death and the power of sin in our lives because the same power of God that rose Jesus from the dead, lives…
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Christian Devotional – July 5, 2015
Read Mark chapter 15 VERSE: Mark 15:38–The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. TRUTH: This curtain was very special and had a specific purpose. The curtain was designed to keep people away from the Holy of Holies in the Temple. For only specific people in specific conditions were able to enter the presence of God. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God made a way to allow everyone to have access to God. When Jesus died as the payment for all the sins that we have committed, God was able to look on His sacrifice instead of our sins The curtain was no…
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Christian Devotional – July 4, 2015
Read Mark chapter 14 VERSE: Mark 14:34–“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” TRUTH: Appropriate that God led me to this verse on the day we in America celebrate independence day. There are so many things in this world and America that continue to grieve God. Jesus, at this point, knowing that He is going to be taking on all the sins of the world for all time, knew even about these sins that we are doing now. Oh, how that would have broken God’s heart! He desired his companions and their support to make it through…
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Christian Devotional – July 3, 2015
Read Mark chapter 13 VERSE: Mark 13:31–Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. TRUTH: As we look around us, what do we see that will last Our possessions won’t last. The house, the car, the garden, our jobs, nothing will last. The only thing that will truly endure through time is God’s Word. Do we treasure and value the Word of God with the importance that it deserves, knowing that it will outlast anything else we have? RESPONSE: Father, Your Word will endure. No matter what else goes on, Your Word will remain. I will place my trust in You and Your Word and…
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Christian Devotional – July 2, 2015
Read Mark chapter 12 VERSE: Mark 12:44–They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on. TRUTH: How do we give? Do we give to God out of our abundance or out of our need? Do we wait until we have everything that will satisfy us, or do we give to God first? Jesus here calls out the importance of sacrifice. When we give anything, money, time, etc and we give out of sacrifice, then we are displaying faith in God and in His ability to provide for us. If we are always worried about making sure that we are…