Ps. 145:18 "The Lord
is close to all who call on Him."
Prov. 30:5 "Every
word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection." NLT
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.
REJOICE.
12/01 John
12:1-2
Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany,
the home of Lazarus the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was
prepared in Jesus' honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with
him.
MIRACLES
Miracles happen and then life goes on. You and I are called to live our
lives daily with the understanding that the Lord is in control and He has a
plan for our life. Sometimes things we cannot understand happen. This we
can know for sure Jesus loves each one of us and is seeking the best for our
life.
12/02 John
12:3
Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence
of nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it and wiped his feet with her
hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.
FOCUS
This is real focus. The best that Mary had was focused on Jesus. The
question for you and me: are we focusing the best we have on Jesus? Do we
give Him our all? Check the quality and quantity of your experience with
Jesus.
12/03 John
12:4-8
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples
the
one who would betray him said,
"That perfume was worth a small fortune. It should have been sold and the
money given to the poor." Not that he cared for the poor he was a thief who
was in charge of the disciples' funds, and he often took some for his own
use. Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. She did it in preparation for my
burial. You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here
with you much longer."
TRUTH
We cannot fool
Jesus. We can fool ourselves. Why are we doing what we are doing? Are we
following God’s plan or fooling ourselves? Jesus is Lord. We are called to
give Him our life. We are called to give Him our service.
12/04 John 12:9-11
When all the people heard of Jesus' arrival, they flocked to see him and
also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the
leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that
many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.
MIRACLES
The Lord has worked
in all of our lives. He has worked miracles in our lives whether we are
aware of them or not. One of the things we can do that will help us as we
serve Jesus is to keep a written prayer journal. We can list in our prayer
journal specific answers to prayers and anytime the Lord reveals to us a
miracle in our life. Later when times are tough that written record becomes
a Lazarus that will impact our life. God is at work in us even when we
don’t realize it.
12/05 John
12:12-13
The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept
through the city. A huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and
went down the road to meet him. They shouted, "Praise God! Bless the one
who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!"
PRAISE
Jesus is worthy of all of our praise. Jesus is present now and is worthy of
all praise and honor and glory. When you meet Him in your morning
devotional remember that you are meeting the Lord of glory and simply begin
by praising Him.
12/06 John
12:14-15
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:
"Don't be afraid, people of Israel. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a
donkey's colt."
PROPHECY
Prophecy is foretelling the future. This is a promise fulfilled. Prophecy
is also forth telling proclaiming the truth before our eyes. Jesus is the
truth, the way and the life. He is our guide and our Lord. Look your King
is coming!
12/07 John
12:16
His disciples didn't realize at the time that this was a fulfillment of
prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered that these
Scriptures had come true before their eyes.
TIMES
We are living during one of the most exciting times in history. Today we
can see so many of the ancient Biblical prophecies fulfilled and in some
cases begin fulfilled before our very eyes. Rejoice in the day. You count,
Jesus is alive and we are partners together with Him in His plan for
mankind.
12/08 John
12:17-18
Those in the crowd who had seen Jesus call Lazarus back to life were
telling others all about it. That was the main reason so many went out to
meet him because they had heard about this mighty miracle.
TELL
These folks were telling others about a miracle they had witnessed. The
witness we have for others is not what they should do but what we have
done. Dry and dying churches have removed the power of God from their
midst. Impotent Christian witness is simply a matter of not telling others
what Jesus is doing in your life. Let Him have control and He will use
you.
12/09 John
12:19
Then the Pharisees said to each other, "We've lost. Look, the whole world
has gone after him!"
WORLD
The world and everything that is clinging to this world is dead. The world
will never follow Jesus. Don’t worry what the world will do. Focus on what
the Lord is doing in your life. Submit every aspect of your life to Him and
let Him give you direction for your life. You are loved.
12/10 John
12:20-21
Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover paid a visit
to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, "Sir, we want to
meet Jesus."
JESUS
We are called to be salt and light. Our lives and our words should cause
the world to want to know what is different about us. Why do we live a
peaceful life that isn’t falling apart like the rest of the world or when
our life is falling apart why are we able to recover so quickly? Jesus is
the reason. He lives in us to strengthen us and to partner with us in
sharing the Good News with everyone we meet.
12/11 John
12:22-24
Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus. Jesus
replied, "The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. The
truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it
will be alone a
single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels a plentiful harvest
of new lives.
LIFE
Jesus brings us life. He enables us to live an abundant life right where we
are. We belong to Him and He belongs to us. His life in us equips us to
truly be ourselves and be glad about it. We count and Jesus enables us to
see that.
12/12 John
12:25
Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise
their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
SOJOURNERS
Sojourners know they are just passing through. We have one life and one
opportunity to live that life and then we go to be with the Father for
eternity. This world is not our home and the things of this world are not
the things that equip us for eternity. As children of God we are committed
to eternal things. Rejoice, Jesus is alive and lives in us.
12/13 John
12:26
All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my
servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor
them.
SURRENDER
When we give our life to Jesus it is for life and into eternity. Here
on earth we spend time with Him to cultivate our spiritual surrender to the
Father. It takes time, lots of time for us to grow into Christ
likeness. It takes time with Jesus for us to deal with our daily life
and our deep seated habits that separate us from spending time with the
Lord. Start now and joyously become His disciple.
12/14 John
12:27-28
Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, 'Father, save me from what
lies ahead'? But that is the very reason why I came! Father, bring glory to
your name."Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, "I have already brought
it glory, and I will do it again."
DEVOTION
Jesus
was fully devoted to the Father. His example is worthy of my attention. I
am to be devoted to the will of the Father. I can only find that will in
surrender. God is not waiting on my okay, He is seeking my surrender. Help
me Lord to bend my knee daily to you and let you have control of me.
12/15 John
12:29-32
When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others
declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, "The voice was
for your benefit, not mine. The time of judgment for the world has come,
when the prince of this world will be cast out. And when I am lifted up on
the cross, I will draw everyone to myself."
FORTH-TELLING
Jesus tells us the truth. He is what we need and who we need. In Jesus my
life has meaning and worth. In Christ we are partners together with Him in
telling the world the Good News-God loves you and has a plan for your life.
12/16 John
12:33-34
He said this to indicate how he was going to die. "Die?" asked the
crowd. "We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever.
Why are you saying the Son of Man will die? Who is this Son of Man you are
talking about?"
TRUTH
The world is invested in things that are perishing. In Christ we are
invested in things that are eternal. Christ died for you and me and paid
the price for our reconciliation with the Father.
12/17 John
12:35
Jesus replied, "My light will shine out for you just a little while
longer. Walk in it while you can, so you will not stumble when the darkness
falls. If you walk in the darkness, you cannot see where you are going.
SPIRITUAL
This world is not our home but it will gladly blind us. The wisdom of this
world will not get you through the next crisis or opportunity. Spiritual
wisdom comes from Jesus. If we are interested in spiritual wisdom we will
ask Him. He will give us the wisdom we need to accomplish the plan the Lord
has for our life for today.
12/18 John
12:36
Believe in the light while there is still time; then you will become
children of the light." After saying these things, Jesus went away and was
hidden from them.
LIGHT
Today is the day of salvation. Today is the only opportunity we have to
proclaim the Good News. Do not lose the opportunity to serve, rejoice,
proclaim and claim Christ as Lord.
12/19 John
12:37-40
But despite all the miraculous signs he had done, most of the people did
not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:
"Lord, who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving
power?" But the people couldn't believe, for as Isaiah also said, "The
Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so their eyes cannot
see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let
me heal them."
LIGHT
Jesus is the light and He brings light to us. Spiritual wisdom is critical
for us to follow the Lord. His light will bring spiritual wisdom to us if
we will ask Him and believe that He will give us what we need.
12/20 John
12:41
Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he made this prediction, because he
was given a vision of the Messiah's glory.
FULFILLED
Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies about the Messiah in the Bible. He is
here and lives in each one of us that have asked Him to save us. We live
our lives with confidence because we know the Eternal One and He has given
eternal life to us. Rejoice and do not fear. We are part of the family of
God.
12/21 Luke
2:1-4
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be
taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when
Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own towns to
register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King
David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled
there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
CHRISTMAS
Christmas is a celebration of the worth and value that the Lord gives us.
He came to us in the flesh. He came for us because we could not solve our
sin problem. The Romans were in charge of the world but the Lord is in
charge of all things. He is Lord.
12/22 Luke
2:5
He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was obviously pregnant by this
time.
FACTS
This is a fact. It is not a negative fact, just a fact. But this fact is
also a divine fact because it was prophesied in the Old Testament and
fulfilled by the will of God. He is not at the mercy of the world. The
Father is in control, has a plan for our life and will use us if we will let
Him.
12/23 Luke
2:6-7
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She
gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of
cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the
village inn.
BIRTH
The birth of Jesus was not a condemnation of the people of Bethlehem. It is
in fact a celebration of the coming of God to man in a way that we can
understand. Any one of us could have experienced this kind of birth. Any
one of us could be at what appears to be the mercy of the world. The
difference is that when we have Jesus we have everything we need.
12/24 Luke
2:8-14
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village,
guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared
among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were
terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he
said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior yes, the
Messiah, the Lord has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!
And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a
manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!" Suddenly, the angel was joined
by a vast host of others the armies of heaven praising God: "Glory to God
in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."
FAVOR
We have favor with the Lord. He is waiting to hear from us. When you stop
and pray you can have confidence that the Lord is listening. Remember
whenever it gets tough you have favor with God.
12/25 Luke
2:15-20
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other,
"Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has
happened, which the Lord has told us about." They ran to the village and
found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. Then
the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to
them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished,
but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them
often. The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and
praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen
the child, just as the angel had said.
JESUS
Jesus came for each one of us. This is our story-THE LORD HAS COME.
12/26 John
12:42-43
Many people, including some of the Jewish leaders, believed in him. But
they wouldn't admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees
would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than
the praise of God.
COURAGE
Do not
fear. Jesus has changed everything. He has brought us favor with the Lord
and He brings us light and life for living. We believe in Jesus and we do
not fear men.
12/27 John
12:44
Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If you trust me, you are really trusting
God who sent me.
TRUST
Trust is a choice. It is a choice that we make in the moment. I can trust
Jesus and every time I trust Him it is easier the next time to trust Him.
It is important that we know that trust is a like a staircase, we must start
at the beginning to get to the top. Trust Jesus in everything and you will
succeed as you seek to live a life of trust.
12/28
John12:45
For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.
GOD
Jesus is God. He is God come to man so that we can understand His great
love for us and that He is in this together with us. We are not alone. We
belong to Jesus and He is here with us.
12/29 John
12:46
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put
their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness.
WALK
Walk in the light. When you walk in the light of Jesus each day will be a
day of discovery and growth. The choices we make each moment and each day
make the difference in the kind of life that we will live. Claim Christ and
serve Him.
12/30 John
12:47-48
If anyone hears me and doesn't obey me, I am not his judge for I have
come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my
message will be judged at the Day of Judgment by the truth I have spoken.
JUDGMENT
Judgment is coming and it will come upon the ungodly. Do not worry about
those who are evil. Do not worry about those that refuse to accept Christ.
All we must do is tell them and remember them. Each person has to make up
their own mind about Jesus.
12/31 John
12:49-50
I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me gave me his own
instructions as to what I should say. And I know his instructions lead to
eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say!"
TRUST
We go
to the Lord and He hears us. This is significant as we pray and fellowship
with Jesus. Our confidence grows day by day because we know He listens to
us. This is also true, if I ask Him for wisdom, mercy, grace and
understanding He will give it to me. Time with Jesus equips me to act like
Jesus and to know how to respond like Jesus would respond.
April
2007 Devotionals
May
2007 Devotionals
June
2007 Devotionals
July
2007 Devotionals
August
2007 Devotionals
September 2007 Devotionals
October 2007 Devotionals
November 2007 Devotionals
contact Clay:
clay@lifesongs.com
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Scripture quotations are
taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright© 1996. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
NASB Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New American
Standard Bible, copyright 1975. All rights
reserved by the Lockman Foundation.
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