Weekly Devo

Children have an uncanny ability to forgive others. They often forget the wrongs that are done to them. Perhaps we need to be that same way. When someone repents and ask for forgiveness forgive them. We cannot hold things over each other’s heads. We ought to forgive as much and often as God has forgiven us. The parable of the unforgiving servant lets us know that the king had forgiven his servant 164,383 years worth of daily wages. He would have never been able to pay that back. It is an infinite number of debt with an infinite amount of forgiveness. That is the level or rate we should forgive others. Remember we pray to be forgiven as we forgive others. (Matt.  6:12 )

We are to be mature in understanding, our faith, grace, and knowledge. (1 Cor.  14:20 ;  16:13 ; 2 Pet.  3:18 ) Our senses are to be exercised. (Heb.  5:14 ) God does not expect you to be a baby forever. We are eternally God’s children, but not infants. As we grow up in our understanding we can serve more and swerve away from sin more. Our increased growth of our faith makes us stronger and immovable in Christ. As we grow in grace and knowledge we can better apply God’s word. When we exercise our senses to discern both good and evil we become very wise. That wisdom comes by the word and its application in our lives. (Col.  3:16 ) We are to grow up to be like Christ. (1 John 2:6) Do not be content with being an infant in Christ. There is a lot more to be enjoyed as a spiritual adult.  

I changed, did you? We all did. Change is not a bad thing. We came to know Christ, God’s son, who died for us. This sorrow produced the desire and action to change, repent. Then we obeyed the gospel and became new. (2 Cor.  7:10 ; Rom. 6:4) What I left behind and shed from my life was of no value. We are to lay aside malice. We should be void of all deceit. Our lives should not have any hypocrisy. Bitterness should end and forgiveness freely poured forth. Envy has become a thing of the past. Also, we lay down all evil speaking. (1 Pet. 2:1) Much more is done away with. (Gal.  5:19-21 ) I mention these things, so we can note how much has changed. I continue to change and go through this process every day. If this list along with much more has not been released from your life are you living right? Are you God’s child? Never stop changing and growing!

        We spend so much time trying to grow up we neglect to think about the wonderfulness there is in being a child. When we get older and look back we see how great it was. The world is a place of wonder. All God’s creation is amazing and full of curiosities. (Gen. 1) A child is so simple, joyful, and innocent. When we become a Christian we start out as a baby. (1 Pet. 2:2) We are to feast on the pure milk, the word. We have shepherds to keep us safe and help us grow. (1 Pet. 5:2-6) We have Christ as our head to govern everything for us. (Heb. 3:6) Only God’s house can provide these things for us. Only God can build His house and grow these spiritual babies. (Psalm 127:1)                                                                                                              

We have studied a great deal of God’s word and the attributes needed to succeed in Christ. Those wonderful verses in the Philippian letter are sweet to our ears. (Phil. 4:4-9) They are hard on our hearts and rough on our feet as we live them out. We must meditate on them and act on them. We must be sure we don’t get to busy “doing” that we forget why we are doing it. God’s grace manifested in Jesus Christ is our motivation. Without our works, our faith is dead. Make sure you are keeping your faith alive by doing what God commands. Go and do! The God of peace will be with you! 

When we become Christians, we become God’s children by being born again into his family. (John 3:3-7) We begin a new life when this happens. (Rom. 6:3-5) We are His child. There is an overwhelming number of blessings that come with this position. There is not enough time to discuss them all. We can be certain that it is far better to be His child than a child of the devil. (John 14:1-4; Rev. 20:11-15) Always remember whose child you are and whose family you belong to.

We are not alone in this task. God didn’t save us and walk away. He is here with us always. It is God who strengthens us on our mission. (Phil. 4:13) If we keep God’s commands and do what is pleasing in His sight we will receive what we ask for in our prayers. (1 John 3:22) When we pursue the pleasing of God by diligently making our calling and election sure we are kept from falling away. (2 Pet. 1:10, 5-7) God wants us to succeed in Him. (1 Tim. 2:4) He has and will give us all we need to make us succeed in Christ. He will not change the rules. He will not make it any easier for us. Use the aid from God to be successful in Him. Never forget you are not alone when you act on His commands.