The Lord is a just and fair God. To the Believer and the unbeliever He is the same. To one there is reward, to the other punishment. To one there is requital, to the other, retaliation. Measure for measure it’s the same…paying back in full, in all righteousness… we all will stand before Him to be judged one day.
Tag: daily devotional
Isaiah 9:2 ” The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
Here Isaiah is foretelling God’s promise of sending His Son, Jesus, as a great light to all mankind. As the darkness – the spiritual blindness increases…we as Believers must let the inner light of Jesus shine forth from us… And in doing so, allow His truth to dispel the dark around us.
House Rules – If you open it…close it.
Hebrews 12:1 states, “…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Don’t give up,but finish the race, for much can be learned during it. We learn how faithful our God is and we learn just how strong we are. So don’t surrender what you’ve started… rather, set your face towards the finish line and pursue with determination…for God’s goal for you is closer than you think.
House Rules – If it meows or barks…feed it.
Proverbs 12:10 says, “A righteous man cares for the needs of his animals…” Taking responsibility for the family pets is one job most children get. It’s an excellent way to show them how to be kind towards animals and dependable in their care. Years later, that well-meaning consideration towards animals will translate into generous, thoughtful adults.
House Rules – If you drop it…pick it up.
When you’re taken down by sin, you have two choices before you. One is to succumb and give in, beating yourself up and telling yourself how bad you are and that you’ll never amount to anything. The other is to get up and ask the Lord what you can learn from that mistake. Don’t wallow in the guilt and shame any longer, lean on God…for He will sustain and strengthen you and raise you up out of the mud and mire. For it says in Psalm 145:14, “The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.”
House Rules – If you sleep in it…make it.
Joshua 24:15 reads, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” Maybe you’ve heard the old saying, You’ve made your bed, now sleep in it. Unfortunately, we all live with the consequences of bad choices we’ve made in the past, for our days are filled with choices…some good, some not so good… but with the Lord’s guidance, He can help us make the best choices for us. Wise and good choices that will have eternal consequences.
House Rules – If you can write in it…dust it.
Psalm 38:18 says, ” I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.” We need to be grieved by our disobedience, but sometimes our sin is obvious to everyone else, but us. We see it as something well hidden, when in actuality, its conspicuous to all others. Self-awareness must be the starting point of our journey with God.
House Rules – If its dirty…wash it.
Psalm 51:2 states, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” The meaning of sin in this verse is habitual sinfulness…the kind of wrongdoing that takes over in a slow, gradual way until we’re so accustomed to it, we can’t see a way out. When this type of ingrained, continual sin is allowed to fester and grow, it can only lead to serious consequences such as depression and suicidal thoughts. Habitual sin can be overcome, but we have to first own up to it. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” If you have a habit that has ownership over you today…confess it to the Lord and allow Him to cleanse you from that guilt and shame.
House Rules – If it rings…Answer it.
The next House Rule deals with listening and then obeying. The Scripture comes from Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me.” If you examine the famous painting depicting this verse, you’ll see that there’s no doorknob on the outside. Jesus stands knocking, but can’t open the door Himself…we have to. All throughout our Spiritual journey with the Lord, He’ll knock at certain doors…doors of opportunity…doors of ministry…doors that are so foreign, scary, and frankly, so far-fetched, that we can’t put our heads around what He’s calling us to do. It’s at that point that we must make the decision to obey…to open that door and allow Him and His plan for us to come in.
Matthew 3:15 ” Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented.”
Why was Jesus so insistent that John the Baptist baptize Him? Why would the Son of God need to submit to it at all? First for credibility…a sinless Jesus could identify with all sinners by humbling Himself to baptism. Secondly for obedience…Jesus demonstrated His total submission to His Heavenly Father in baptism. Finally for new beginnings…for this was the first step in the start of His public ministry here on earth.
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