Category - Devotionals

01/12             1 Corinthians 13:2

2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

LOVE

Love is critical in serving God.

We love Him totally and out of that love for God love our neighbor. 

Prophecy, faith and service without love are nothing. 

Love is the defining attribute of a Christ-centered life.

Without love we lose our value and purpose in life. 

Love surpasses all other gifts and is integral in serving God. 

01/11             Psalm 19:1-2

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.

SPLENDOR

Nature testifies to the splendor of God. 

The sky proclaims His handiwork. 

God is indeed glorious and magnificent.

God is constantly declaring his wisdom and omnipotence in His creation.

The testimony to God is unceasing. 

Creation serves as a constant and universal witness to the glory of God.

01/10             2 Peter 1:3

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

DIVINE POWER

God is able.

He can do anything that is necessary to accomplish His will.

God is the source of all power.

God’s provision for each one of us is more than sufficient. 

His provision is both practical (for life) and spiritual (for godliness).

Believers are called by God and begins with God. 

Christ is the standard and the source of the believer’s transformation. 

01/09             2 Peter 1:5-7

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

FAITH

We seek to be more like Jesus.

We can because of God’s precious promises. 

Growth in godliness requires intentional discipline.

We must cooperate with God and by faith we can.

Note the virtues listed above and they build on each other.

Our walk by faith builds through each of these virtues.

Only by the grace of God can we change and grow.

We have this promise from God that we can do this. 

True faith results in a transformed life. 

01/08             Romans 11:33

33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

PRAISE

God is infinite and his wisdom and knowledge create awe in us. 

Praise Him.

God’s generosity is immeasurable, His grace and mercy infinite and

His provision for salvation is complete in Christ. 

Praise God.

01/07             2 Peter 3:18

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

GROW

The command as 2 Peter ends is to grow in Christ likeness. 

Seek to understand the experience of God’s grace,

Which results in depending on God’s empowering presence. 

You will develop humility, gratitude and Christ-like character. 

Know Jesus better in Scripture, prayer and obedience.

Eternity begins now-we believe in Jesus. 

Keep growing. 

01/06             Proverbs 11:9

9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends,
    but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

SPEECH

The godless use their speech to destroy relationships and community.

Their speech is destructive, deceitful and malicious. 

They reject God and His ways.

They destroy community.

The righteous use their speech to bring life and deliverance.

They pursue moral and spiritual understanding from God.

The righteous avoid traps, resolve conflicts,

And protect themselves and others from harm. 

Speech can destroy or edify. 

People count and the Lord calls us to love one another. 

Be careful what you say.

Serve the Lord and your fellow man. 

01/05             Proverbs 9:10

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
    Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

WISDOM

Wisdom begins with awe and reverence of God.

Wisdom isn’t abstract, it is what we need to live a good life.

Knowing God involves our ability to discern and understand deeper truths.

We know God and we obey Him. 

Knowledge and obedience are required for us to grow.

This wisdom is both moral and spiritual,

And it is a divine gift from God.

01/04             Proverbs 1:7

7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

REVERENCE

Fear of the Lord is reverent awe of God’s power, authority, and holiness.

We love Him and honor Him and obey Him.

This fear of God is basic to acquire knowledge of Him. 

We are seeking knowledge for decision making and living life. 

Only a fool would reject the process of knowing God.

God’s discipline and teaching molds our character,

And gives us understanding.

All true knowledge and wisdom come from God.

Fools despise wisdom and knowledge.

They refuse a relationship with God.

The wise seek the Lord and obey Him. 

01/03             Proverbs 12:1

To learn, you must love discipline;
    it is stupid to hate correction.

CHANGE

Learning involves change.

Be willing to change. 

Correction accompanies change. 

Accept correction, live with it and grow.

Be more like Jesus, change.