Weekly Devo

Only evil thinking creates evil things (Matthew 12:34-37). Such actions bar us from communion with God (Psalms 15:1-3). Those who hated Jesus were filled with wicked thoughts about Him, and they had no issue communicating that with others (Matthew 11:19). They even voiced such evil conceptions about John the Baptist (Matthew 11:18). That, too, is a sin because we are not to be talebearers (Leviticus 19:16). People who think of evil and act on that evil; also condone others who do that same thing (Romans 1:29-31). As New Testament Christians, we have no room in our minds for such thoughts. We are to be thinking about true, noble, pure, holy, commendable, and correct things, to name a few (Philippians 4:8). These thoughts enable us to forgive like Joseph, love like Mary and Martha and live like Paul (Genesis 45:1-15; John 11:20-22, 32; Philippians 1:21). Those are just some of the characteristics of a love that thinks no evil. You see, being full of such thoughts and actions prevents us ...

         The world is provoked for different reasons. Anything from God’s word to good deeds for others to envy can cause wrath to be poured out (Jonah 3:10-4:1; Luke 15:20-28; Genesis 30:1, 2). What should provoke a New Testament Christian is quite different. Things like idol worship, inadequate treatment of others, turning from God, and dishonoring the house of God should cause indignation to swell up inside us (Exodus 32:19-22: 1 Samuel 20:33, 34; Matthew 21:12, 13; Acts 17:16, 17). This type of anger is justified (Mark 3:1-5). However, when this righteous indignation sets in, we will not forget who we are. We must be slow to anger (Nahum 1:3). It should not set in fast (Titus 1:7; Ephesians 4:6). We should be seeking to stir up love and good works no matter what (Hebrews 10:24, 25; 1 Corinthians 9:1, 2). We love the Lord so much it should bother us when He and His are mistreated. We need to handle things right and make sure we are never at fault for mistreat...

       Love is not a prideful thing. Love is only sustained through humility. You must be willing to serve and sacrifice for others to love appropriately. The world, full of pride, does not do that (1 John 2:16). When we love the world, we fill ourselves with such pride that humility leaves us, therefore loving is nonexistent in our lives. The Lord hears the humble and answers the humble (Psalmist 10:17). Jesus, who is love, exemplifies true humble love in His life, death, and resurrection (Philippians 2:6-8). Only when we humble ourselves can we love and serve the way God wants us to. When we humbly love, seen in our service, God exalts us (Luke 23:10-12). Only the humble will love the Lord enough to keep His commands and become His bondservant (1 John 5:2; Galatians 1:10). If we are to have and show the love that God so desires, we have to be humble enough to serve, live like Christ, become a bondservant of God’s and walk away from the world. Love has no room for p...

 1 Corinthians 3:3   When we feel discontented because of another’s success, that is just our fleshly selves ruling our heart (Galatians  5:19-23 ). We cannot resent someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck. That is their life, and this one is yours. The correct attitude is to be supportive and rejoice with them. That is the loving attitude that God wants us to embody. This caring attitude enriches your life and theirs.   On the other hand, envy rots you from the inside out (Proverbs 14:30). Look at Moses’s attitude in Numbers 11. Moses was glad when Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp. Moses didn’t see it as a threat, nor did he envy them receiving attention. No, he just reveled in the idea that more were doing the work of the Lord (Numbers 11:26-30). Don’t forget to remember that because something good is done doesn’t mean it’s void of envy. Paul made that clear in Philippians  1:15-18  when he said, “Some indeed preach Christ even from env...

2 Peter 1:7          A Christian grace is kindness. However, we need to make sure we do not swap kindness for niceness. Niceness is being in such a way that you are pleasant to those around you. Kindness does not always equal that. A drug addict may not think its kind of you to put them into rehab. Yet that is the more kind and caring thing you can do. As Christian’s our love is to be kind. We are to be kindly affectionate to one another (Romans 12:10). We are to be kind to unkind people (1 Peter  2:18-20).  God says that level of kindness is commendable. Even to our enemies we are to show kindness (Luke 6:35). The Proverbs 31 woman had a tongue that was the law of kindness. Look at the strongest brotherly example we have, David and Jonathan. Their love provoked a covenant that kindness was to always be shown (1 Samuel  20:14-17).  We need to have this kind of kind love toward one another and the lost.           ...

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!”  (Romans 6:1, 2) NKJV What is freedom in Christ? It is the freedom to live. Whether you agree or not, sin is bondage. Sin enslaves us and destroys us (Romans 6:16; James  1:13-15 ). Sin rots us from the inside out. It requires our life here on earth and in condemnation hereafter. Look at Judas as an example of what sin does, how blind it makes us, and how much it can destroy us. It can harden our heart so much there is no good left (Hebrews 3:13). We become bondservants to Christ and slaves to righteousness by choice because we choose to obey. Then how is freedom? We get to choose it. We become more in Christ. We become who God created us to be. Studies show that simple things like giving to or serving someone else brings us more joy than being selfish. That would mean the fruits of the spirit would bring us more joy than the fruits of the flesh. We are free from death, corruption, sin, di...

“For he who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:7 NKJV) Just take a moment and say to yourself, “I am free.” Now the rest of this week, look in the mirror every morning, look yourself in the eye, and say, “You are free!” How did that make you feel? If it is anything other than good, come see me. We should feel joyful, elated, ecstatic, and just overwhelmed with positive emotions. We are free. The price was paid. That battle has been won. Are you living like it? We often live life pondering salvation when we know we are saved (1 John 5:17). We live life in fear of God’s wrath when we know we are forgiven. (1 John 1:7-10). We live life as if we are not loved or wanted when God shows us otherwise (John 3:16; Luke 19:10). We are not to live this way. God’s children are the only souls that can hold their heads high no matter what may come. We know how to enjoy life to the fullest and in its pure richness. Christianity is not a prison sentence! It is freedom! Live that free life ...