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Christian Devotional – August 29, 2014
Read Esther chapter 1 VERSE: Esther 1:17–For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ TRUTH: Every decision we make has far-reaching consequences. For Queen Vashti, she made a decision to not obey the king, but the advisors were more worried about that decision affecting the rest of the kingdom. We don’t know the reason that Vashti chose to disobey, but we see the result. Do we consider the far-reaching results of the choices we make? RESPONSE: Father, help me to be obedient to You…
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Christian Devotional – March 6, 2014
Read 2 John VERSE: 2 John 4–It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. TRUTH: We do not live the Christian life in a vacuum. We are surrounded by other believers and our obedience to God gives joy to them just as our disobedience brings grief to them. Similarly, heir obedience and disobedience affects us. John received encouragement and joy knowing that the others were walking in the truth and following God’s commands. Do we bring joy to other believers the same way? Do we rejoice in the obedience of fellow believers? RESPONSE: Father, You have…
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Christian Devotional – January 21, 2014
Read Proverbs chapter 21 VERSE: Proverbs 21:3–To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. TRUTH: Some people think God is all about sacrifice, but He is not. God is all about the attitude of the heart. Our heart and our motivation for why we do what we do is vitally important. We show God we love Him by doing what is right. We don’t earn God’s favor by what we do, but because we love God we are obedient to what God has asked us to do. RESPONSE: Father, my actions are to flow from the attitude of my heart. I desire that…
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Christian Devotional – December 29, 2013
VERSE: Titus 1:16–They claim to know God, but by their actions deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for anything good. TRUTH: Paul is warning Titus to be careful of the others around who claim to know God, bur are not truly believers. How would Titus be able to tell the difference? Their actions deny the very God they claim to serve. Do our actions line up with our words? If we claim to be followers of God, then our actions must be in line with our words, otherwise, we will be detestable and disobedient to God with the result that we are unfit for anything good. RESPONSE: Father,…
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Christian Devotional – December 17, 2013
VERSE: Numbers 31:53–Each soldier had taken plunder for himself. TRUTH: The Lord had commanded them to go to battle against the Midianites and then after they were successful, the Lord allowed them to each take part of the plunder for themselves. Each one who had been obedient also shared in the reward. As we are obedient to what God has for us, we can know that God will take care of us afterward as well. He is faithful to us! RESPONSE: Father, thank You for remembering each and every one of those who obeyed You, just as You remember me when I obey You. I will seek to follow You,…
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Christian Devotional – December 6, 2013
VERSE: Numbers 20:12–But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” TRUTH: God told Moses and Aaron to speak to a rock to bring fresh water, but they struck the rock with a staff instead. It doesn’t seem like a big difference, but to God, it was the difference between obedience and disobedience, between trusting in Him and not trusting in Him. Do we obey God’s commands completely? Or are we lazy with the details? God is concerned with the…
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Christian Devotional – October 25, 2013
VERSE: Hebrews 5:8–Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered. TRUTH: Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, learned obedience from going through suffering. He learned what it was to experience pain and problems and hindrances to obedience, yet He continued on in the obedience, yet He continued on in obedience. How do we learn obedience? We learn obedience the same way Jesus learned, through suffering. When we go through suffering, are we learning obedience through that time or are we just enduring suffering? RESPONSE: Father, suffering is hard, but it is the way in which You teach obedience. I pray You will continue to work with…
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Christian Devotional – September 26, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 16:4–Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.” TRUTH: The Lord promised to provide food for the people, but even the food was to be handled according to God’s specific instructions. Often God provides for us, but we must continue to acknowledge His hand in the deliverance and provision. We do that through our continued obedience to all that He says. Will we follow instructions in how we respond to God? RESPONSE:…
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Christian Devotional – September 21, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 11:2–Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold. TRUTH: Even before the people were allowed to leave, God was already preparing the way for their departure. He knew they would need money to finance their travels and He had the Egyptians give them the money. God is always preparing each step for us in every area long before He opens the opportunity to take that step. Are we willing to walk through the path He leads knowing that as we go He is there and has provided for every issue that comes up? RESPONSE: Father, some paths…
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Christian Devotional – September 19, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 9:30–But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God. TRUTH: Pharaoh was saying all the right things. He told Moses that he planned to do all the right things, yet Moses knew that Pharaoh was only just giving lip-service to God. True obedience to God doesn’t come from feeling cornered by God or out of trying to manipulate God. True obedience comes from understanding who God is. Pharaoh did not yet understand who God is and as a result went back on his promise of obedience, just as Moses knew he would. RESPONSE: Father, I know who You are. I acknowledge and…