Today's Good News Devotionals by Clay Corvin

Ps. 145:18 "The Lord is close to all who call on Him." NLT

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February 2005 Daily Devotionals

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3/1 Mark 8:35
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.

SACRIFICE
People are important to Jesus. When we make people important in our lives we are following in the footsteps of Christ. Jesus loves people most of all.

3/2 Mark 10:45
For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

EXAMPLE
Jesus is our example for living. If we will pattern our lives after Christ we will find ourselves becoming more Christ like. The Lord has called us to be His hands and feet.

3/3 Matthew 27:64
So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first."

WORLD
The world is always trying to control God. People waste time and their life trying to do things that will short circuit the Lord’s work in the world. Jesus is in control. He has a plan. What people do will not stop the Lord’s plan nor will it cause Jesus to jump to a plan b.

3/4 Mark 10:17
As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?"

SALVATION
Jesus wants you. He doesn’t want your best effort, significant skills, or wealth, He wants you. His gift is salvation by His grace and our belief. When we accept the gift of salvation and believe that Jesus has saved us we are saved. Salvation is a remarkable gift.

3/5 Mark 10:29-31
And Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property – with persecutions. And in the world to come they will have eternal life. But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then.

VALUE
Jesus measures value differently than the world. Every person we meet has value and worth to Jesus. It is their choice as to whether they claim their value. It is our responsibility to treat them as valuable.

3/6 Mark 6:14
Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because people everywhere were talking about him. Some were saying, "This must be John the Baptist come back to life again. That is why he can do such miracles."

WORLD
The world never recognizes Jesus. Once we become a child of God we know Jesus. The Lord resides in our heart, equips us to live a spiritual life and have fellowship with the Father. Jesus frees us from the chaos and tribulation of this world. He guides us as we grow in Christ likeness. When we know Jesus it is first hand knowledge.

3/7 Mark 16:8
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk. Then they reported all these instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life.

NEW LIFE
We have new life in Jesus Christ. We have a new heart and a new destination. We are part of the family of God and have an important ministry to perform. We are loved and valuable.

3/8 Luke 4:4
But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People need more than bread for their life.' "

LIFE
Jesus brings life. When he comes into our heart and saves us one of the things Jesus does is give us life. We are able to have fellowship with the Father and a friendship with Jesus. He guides us step by step so that we can have an abundant life and equips us for eternal life. Jesus will never leave us.

3/9 Luke 6:9
Then Jesus said to his critics, "I have a question for you. Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?"

LIFE
Our Father loves us. Jesus came that we might have a relationship with the Father, real life now and eternal life in Christ. This is a significant change of anything ever imagined by man. Our relationship is dependant on Jesus and not us. What a wonderful gift salvation is.

3/10 Luke 7:22
Then he told John's disciples, "Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.

PROOF
John said that when we ask Christ into our hearts we know it. Jesus ministers his love to us. He changes the way we think and live. I am saved and I know it. The Lord gives me His promise, His protection and His presence as I live my life with Him day by day.

3/11 Luke 8:14
The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

IMMATURITY
Jesus is in control of the world. I get into trouble when I take my eyes off of Jesus and look at my own situation as unique or beyond His reach. We belong to the Lord and our circumstances are not out of His reach or sight.

3/12 Luke 8:55
And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

LIFE
Jesus is involved in each one of our lives. His presence brings life to what might otherwise be a hopeless situation. The Lord will not forsake you nor will He fail you. Look to Jesus for real life.

3/13 Luke 9:7
When reports of Jesus' miracles reached Herod Antipas, he was worried and puzzled because some were saying, "This is John the Baptist come back to life again."

LIFE
A relationship with Jesus is a first-hand relationship. His presence and power are available to me when I ask Him into my life. I am responsible for my choices. I am the only one who can choose Jesus for my life. When I choose Jesus I will know Jesus.

3/14 1 Timothy 1:14
Oh, how kind and gracious the Lord was! He filled me completely with faith and the love of Christ Jesus.

EMOTIONS
Our emotions try to run away with us. We can claim Christ as the ruler of our emotions. When the world pours heartache and pain on us ask the Lord to cleanse you of those emotions of failure and ruin and fill you with the faith and love that comes from the presence of Christ.

3/15 Luke 14:26
"If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship requires me to give my heart and my life to Jesus. He is first and foremost in my life. When Jesus is first all of my relationships will be in proper perspective. People count with Jesus.

3/16 Luke 15:22-24
"But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began.

FORGIVENESS
Real forgiveness forgives and forgets. People count with the Lord and when the Lord is first in my life people will count with me. The amazing thing about forgiveness is that when I forgive I am the primary beneficiary of that forgiveness. My heart is right with the Lord and my life is balanced and in the proper relationship with the person I forgave. When I forgive others it blesses me.

3/17 Luke 15:32
We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'"

SALVATION
Jesus loves me. When I accepted Christ as Lord and Savior of my life there was joy in heaven. When I share what Christ has done for me and a person accepts Jesus as Lord there is joy in my heart and a great celebration in heaven. When a lost child comes home the Father rejoices.

3/18 Luke 17:33
Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it.

GIVING
We are made to give. When we learn to give our life to Jesus we are blessed with eternal life and an abundant life right now. When we learn to give our resources, money, and time, to the work of the kingdom we are blessed beyond our ability to comprehend. When we give is when we are most like Jesus.

3/19 Luke 18:18
Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?"

ETERNAL LIFE
Christ brings eternal life to us. It is a gift from God. And in addition to eternal life Jesus equips us to have real life right now. The Lord is a part of everything we do when we are His child.

3/20 Luke 18:29-30
"Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come."

LIFE
All around us we see the masquerade of life. So many things claiming to equip us for living, giving us joy, helping us to understand and on and on and yet they cannot give life. The only one who can give us life is the one who made us. Jesus is Lord and gives us life.

3/21 Luke 20:36
And they will never die again. In these respects they are like angels. They are children of God raised up to new life.

LIFE
In Christ we have new life. This life is not cancelled by our circumstances and is not overrun by trouble or tribulation. Life in Christ equips us for living here and accomplishing God’s plan for our life.

3/22 Luke 21:34
"Watch out! Don't let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware,

READY
I am called to be ready. I don’t know the day or the hour that I will be required to give an account of my ministry or life. Every day I am charged with the responsibility to prepare. The only way I can properly prepare is to make Jesus first. Christ is the answer and way.

3/23 John 4:36
The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!

SALVATION
We are partners with Christ in sharing the Gospel. I am called to speak. I am called to live a Christ-like life. I am not responsible for what others do but I am responsible for me. I am responsible to Jesus to make sure that everyone I know hears the Gospel. Jesus is Lord.

3/24 John 5:24
"I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

SALVATION
Salvation is now. It applies to my life, my experience from this moment on until forever. Salvation is life and this life gives me an opportunity to get to know Jesus and the Father. In Christ we have life.

3/25 John 5:26
The Father has life in himself, and he has granted his Son to have life in himself.

NEW LIFE
I was dead in my trespasses and sin and Jesus saved me. He gave me life. Jesus has made me whole. Now I can do what I was created to do-serve the Lord. Each one of us is responsible where we are to be about the Lord’s business. God’s business is giving new life to people who are dead in their trespasses and sin. In the Lord’s work, people count most of all.

3/26 John 5:28-29
Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to judgment.

PLAN
God has a plan. It includes you. But, it is your choice. We are given the opportunity to choose the Lord. He will not force us. The choice is yours. Choose Jesus.

3/27 John 5:39
"You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

JESUS
We cannot know God unless we know Jesus. Jesus is the way to the Father. By His own words, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Christ. Any other way to the Lord is simply man trying to control God.

3/28 John 5:40
Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you this eternal life.

JESUS
Man is dead in his trespasses and sin. Man wants to do things his way. Man is not willing to recognize his limitations. Lost people always think that things will happen some way that will favor them. The reason for this is the deceit of the evil one. The only way to the Father is through Jesus.

3/29 John 6:27
But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose."

LIFE
Real life is found in service to others. We will discover as we serve that the Lord is constantly equipping and providing. Today we live in a consumer society. Everything that is important is passing away. Jesus never leaves us and eternal life is eternal. Seek the Lord and serve Him as you grow in Christ.

3/30 Mark 7:20
And then he added, "It is the thought-life that defiles you.

THOUGHTS
The real battle for maturity in Christ takes place in our minds. We must discipline ourselves to read the Bible, hide the words in our hearts and permit Jesus to use those very words to teach us as we go. Each one of us has a ministry skill. There is no junk in the Family of God. It is important that you discover your ministry and be about the Lord’s business.

3/31 Luke 12:25
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not!

WORRY
Worry robs us of life. The future cannot hurt us. Jesus is with us. As we live our lives we are given the privilege of trusting our lives moment by moment to the Lord. He will not fail us. He knows what is going on in our lives. He will give us the courage and strength to face the future when it arrives. Do not fear, the Lord is with us.

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I send out the devotionals by e-mail and on an irregular basis observations from a Christian perspective.

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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