Weekly Devo

“ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. ” Romans 12:16      We are not to set our mind on high things. This doesn't mean things above ( Col. 3:2 ). However it does mean things on earth.  Paul is talking about things like money, privilege, education, social achievements, power, etc.. All the things that the world lifts up as high achievements, recognition and or priority. These should not be the goal of our pursuits.  We should not be influenced by such things.  When we are they become a gage for our attitude toward those in the body. Associate with the lowly literal means to be carried away with in the Greek. Instead of admiring the music artist, actors and athletes of society we need to seek to be with the lowly or humble.  Are you carried away with the humble? Do you gauge your life by the prestigious in society? Do you let those with big money inf

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6      Are you seeking to train your child up in the Lord?     When we fail to do this we lose a generation. We essentially tell them their salvation is not worth our time. “What!!?? That’s offensive! There salvation is of  the up most importance. ” I mean no offense by it. When you place a higher priority on sports, secular education, events, and worldly achievements than the word you are teaching them that the worldly way of life is more important.  With that type of raising they will depart from the word.  When you place all priority on the word and maturity in it then you teach them that their walk in Christ is more important ( Col. 3:16; 1 John 2:5-6 ).      “How can I change their view point?” Their view point is yours. If you adhere to the word as the commands of Christ seeking to be faithful and obedient in everything, they will too. What you do, they w

         “ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. ” Romans 12:16           Be of the same mind toward one another ( Acts 4:32 ). There should be no division due to money, social statues, look, etc. We should all be considered brothers and sisters in Christ.   We are one body ( Eph. 4:4-6 ). Although we have many part we are still to be in one mind ( 1 Cor. 12:12 ). That’s how we can have all things in common ( Acts 2:44 ).   We have to work out our own salvation as individuals, but it’s the same work and the same salvation for us all ( Phil. 2:12-13; Acts 2:39 ).   So we are to be unified in all we do (Phil. 2:1-4).   Picking favorites and have exclusive cliques in the body is not healthy. That clique concept can hinder your walk. Do you feel like you’re the only one doing the Lord's work? Do you think of some better than others?   Do you prefer to only c

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15        We are not meant to be isolated.  We need to seek to be with others, and have sympathy for them. Christ was not harden against others, like some many of His children become. Christ wept for Lazarus ( John 11:35-36 ). Christ wept for Jerusalem ( Luke 19:41 ).  He had compassion on individuals and for the multitude ( Mark. 1:41; Luke 7:13-14; Matt. 9:35-40 & 14:14 ).      When we are saved we have something the world does not. We also have an understanding and clarity about sin.  We all have been there ( Luke 19:10; Rm. 3:23 ). Christians are to be all things to all people ( 1 Cor. 9:19-23 ).  For the gospel’s sake we need to seek to be around others and be what they need. That doesn't mean we sacrifice the word or our faith. Our goal is that they may come to be saved. Are you seeking to weep and rejoice with those who need you? How are you going about it? Are you seeking to be

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:14       All who desire to live godly will be persecuted ( 2 Tim. 3:12 ).  We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world ( Matt. 5:13-16 ).  We can’t hide from those around us. If we hide then we are not living right, we are not walking as He walked. So we will be persecuted because we must live faithfully a life that cannot be hidden.  Love and pray for your enemies that they may become children of God ( Matt. 5:43-48 ). Love you enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.  Loving your neighbor does not mean hate your enemy ( Lev. 19:18 ). As Christians we must do good for evil. Our goal is that they may be like we are.  We need to firmly and gently show them their error and try to correct that.  Are you only loving those who love you? Are you cursing those who curse you? What are you doing to bless those who persecu

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all suffering and teach. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. " 2 Tim. 4:2-3     If the word is everything that pertains to godliness and life ( 2 Pet. 1:3 ). The word is God breathed and is profitable so that every man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).  The word is the commands of Christ ( Matt. 28:20 ). Christ is righteousness ( 1 John 2:29 ). Everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. We are to walk as he walked ( 1 John 2:5-6 ).  If we want to be righteous we must observe all His commands. Any one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous ( 1 John 3:4-9 *7 ). He was obedient so that we may have salvation in obedience ( Heb. 5:8-9 ).  Christ is only going to claim

“distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”      Romans 12:13         We are stewards of God. We need to distribute what God blessed us with. We need to do it especially for the saints that are in need.  Don’t wait to be asked, seek opportunities to be hospitable.       A great distinction of Christianity is our concern for the needy. No man is truly genuine in his walk who does not exhibit that quality of character ( James 1:27 ).  We need to seek to be hospitable to strangers ( 1 Tim. 5:10 ) .         By being hospitable to strangers some have entertained angels ( Heb. 13:2 ). That could be reference to Abraham and Lot ( Gen. 18:1; Gen. 19:1 ). Not that that should be a reason for our hospitality but it should provoke an understanding of watchfulness in hospitality.  Although many may go away served giving back nothing more than a thank you, there are some that are a blessing and honor to the host.       He who has pity on the pour lends to the

“rejoicing in hope,   patient in tribulation,   continuing steadfastly in prayer: ” Romans 12:12     Continuing steadfastly in prayer means we are to have a strong habit of praying frequently.  Christ prayed ( John 17 ). Christ gave us a model for prayer ( Luke 11:1-4 ).   We need to pray without ceasing. We have the blessing to pray. Prayer doesn't  need to be forsaken. The neglect of it will decimate our spiritual life.  There is a right way and a wrong way to pray. Are you praying? Do you have a strong habit of prayer? What do you need to mature in to gain a strong habit of praying? Do you know how God want's you to pray?   http://stevelynnjohnson.blogspot.com/2014/10/in-secret-in-private-in-quiet.html

“rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer:” Romans 12:12     We must be patient in tribulation. When we read Matt. 5:10-12 we see that the righteous will be persecuted. We must understand that persecution will come to all who desire to live godly ( 2 Tim. 3:12 ).  Our faith will be tested.  We can count it all joy for it produces patience. Patience can in its perfect work prefect and complete you.  Such patience that comes from the testing of your faith can leave you lacking nothing ( James 1:2-4 ).  Although we find persecution trying and undesirable it has its purpose in our walk ( 1 John 2:5-6 ). It will come if we walk in the light. Let us take it in stride. Rejoice and be glad for our reward is in Heaven. How are you handling persecution? Is your faith being tried?  Are you living in fear of persecution?  Are you living your life avoiding trials and persecution?

  “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;” Romans 12:12         We are exhorted to look beyond the preset trials and affliction to the high exalted hope of eternal glory with God ( 1 Pet. 1:6-9 ). Rejoice in the Lord always ( Phil. 4:4 ). A despondent, complaining, disheartened and pessimistic spirit is not in accord with being a Christian.        We have every reason to be optimistic about everything. There is always something for us to rejoice in. At the very least it’s the hope of eternal salvation. This hope serves and as anchor for the soul ( Heb. 6:19 ). It’s a sure and steadfast hope.      Faithful Christian's have a treasure is there ( Matt. 6:19-20 ). Our citizenship is there ( Phil. 3:18-4:1 ). Our name is written there in the Book of Life ( Luke 10:20; Phil 4:3 ). Our Lord has prepared for us a place there ( John 14:1-6 ). Our affections should be there because where our treasure is there our heart will be also ( C

"O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" Jeremiah 10:23     It is not up to us to direct our own way.   1 John 2:5-6   makes it clear that if we say we abide in Him then we must walk as He walked. It's impossible for us to accomplish this by ourselves. We must seek God's word to know the way ( John 14:1-6 ). God's word is more than sufficient for this task ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ). Everything is there that pertains to life and godliness ( 1 Pet. 1:2-4 ).  Can we take a moment today and make an assessment of our walk?     Are you trying to direct your path? Are you relying on your own feelings and understanding to make decisions? Do you seek God's words to know what step to take next? Are you trying to create a path that is not there? Are walking the way He walked?

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Col. 3:16   "A 2014 study found that readers of a short mystery story on a Kindle were significantly worse at remembering the order of events than those who read the same story in paperback. L ... ead researcher Anne Mangen of Norway's Stavanger University concluded that "the haptic and tactile feedback of a Kindle does not provide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does."" Take a minute and read the whole article: http://mic.com/articles/99408/science-has-great-news-for-people-who-read-actual-books     I’m not saying the phone apps or kindle bibles are a bad thing. Just saying that the old fashion reading, you know a real paged bible, is better. Perhaps it would be a good idea next time you head of to the worship asse

             “ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;” Romans 12:11           We are to be working hard and efficiently. Whatever you do, do with all your might. Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father through Him   ( Eccles. 9:10 and Col. 3:17 ). Work, labor, toil and don’t be a burden on anyone. Set the example in such ways. Do not be disorderly or busybody but work in gentles and eat your own bread. Do not grow weary in doing good.   Don’t keep company with those who won’t keep the Word ( 2 Thess. 3:6-15 ).    Are you about the work of the Kingdom? Are you working hard at what is set before us? Are you a couch potato when it comes to Christianity? Are you setting the example? What do you need to change?

" Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ” Romans 12:10      We are to have love for our brethren ( Heb. 13:1; 1 Pet. 1:22; John 13:35 ). It should be a family or brotherly type of love and affection. The love we learn from God should be like that of a family. We need to be showing true love. That means we need to encourage one another to continue in the faith. Trying  to make them happy is not showing love.       Only seeking to make someone happy often time keeps them from truly receiving what they need in order to mature and stay steadfast. We need to love them enough to give them the truth and hold them to God's word. Helping them reach the goal of eternal salvation is more important and more loving than a moment of happiness.       Take the lead in honoring others ( Luke 14:7-14 ).   Instead of waiting to be honored we should seek to honor others. We should lead others in the manifestation of

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” Romans 12:9          Our love should be without segregation by race, creed, wealth, or male or female. Christ does not see such things as warranting different amounts of love ( Gal. 3:26-29 ). We need to love each other. We also need to love everyone. Christ did ( Rm. 5:8; Lk. 19:20 ).       Hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing another. That’s seeking our own glory ( Matt. 23: 1-12 ). That’s what the Pharisee did ( Matt. 23:13-36 ).  Our love for others should not be about seeking our own glory. Our love should not be hypocritical.     We need to abhor what is evil. Abhor means the most extreme hatred that one can have ( Psalm 119:104 ). We are to cling to what is good.   Clinging is the strongest devotion one can have.      We are to abhor one extreme only to cling to the other extreme. That makes abhorring and clinging the same virtue in this case. They both are strong words on the same s

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God .” Heb. 12:1-2       Let us not compete with the world for worldly things. The worldly race is changing and the prize is fleeting. We never know when we will win, what we will win and how long those winnings will last. In Christ we have a for sure goal that is set before us. A prize that is guaranteed for those who run the race. A prize that will last for eternity. Let us run the race, as children of God, to win the treasure of eternal salvation. ( 2 Tim. 2:3-4; 1 John 3:1-3; Heb. 5:8-9; Heb. 12:1-2; Phil. 3:12-16; Matt. 6:19-21 )

Romans 12:9-21 * 12 “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer:"     We rejoice in hope as Christians.   We have the ability to look far beyond our trials. We have the hope of eternal glory with God.   We can rejoice in the Lord always for such reasons as this.   Our hope is where our treasure is ( Matthew 6:19-20 ). It’s were our citizenship is ( Phil. 3:18-4:1 ). The names of the faithful are written there ( Luke 10:20 and Phil. 4:3 ). It is where our Lord and Savior is. Not to mention its where Christ is preparing a place for us ( John 14:1-6 ). Finally it is the place where our affections should be ( Col. 3:1-4 ). Hope is our anchor ( Heb. 6:13-20 ). That hope is living in eternity in Heaven. To be in the Kingdom of God as children means everything is taken care of. All we have to do is be about His work. What an anchor!!       How would you live your life if everything was taken care of   and you were going to live f

               Self-acceptance is the beginning of growth (Gen 5:1 and Luke 19:10). In order to grow you have to understand who you are. You are created by God. We are all sinners. Some of us are lost and some of us are saved. To grow in Christ you must ask yourself: Am I saved or am I lost? For some of us that is going to be a tuff question.   Sometimes we are saved and we act lost. We have to find our place and start there. When we are immersed into Christ authority we are anew (Rm. 6:1-4). We may not feel like it, or think we are.   We have to embrace the fact we sin. Denying the sin in our lives only makes us liars (1 John 1:8). We when embrace the fact we sin and we have sin then we can start dealing with it (1 John 1:9) Sin is not the problem.   Sin is a result of something much deeper.   We sin because it’s how we choose to deal with something instead of letting God.   Sometimes we deem it easier to do it “my way” than His way.       Take sometime today to ask yourse

Job 1:1-22             The faithful man Job desired to please and obey God. God had blessed Job with many blessing for Job was a faithful man (Job 1:2-4 & 9-10).  We learn early in the book of Job that God is in control. Even though Satan is free to wonder he still had to come before the Lord (Job 1:6-7). We learn that Satan is wondering to tempt. With that goal in mind Satan ask for permission from God.   Again we are shown that God is in control. James in James 2:19 lets us know that evil recognizes God’s authority, they simply choose not to obey.   They have the choice. God is still in control and when it’s needed He puts evil in its place. God being in control gives Satan permission to test Job.            Job’s faith was strong (Job 1:13-22). All Jobs possessions were lost.   Job morns his loss but still praises the Lord. How? Job understands one simple thing. He knows who is in control. He knows who gives and takes blessings away.   In all of this lament and loss