Promise for Today - More Than a Hope

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

1 John 5:11-12 (NIV)

If you walked around a park today and asked people if they were going to heaven or hell, you’d likely hear many of them say, “I hope I’ll go to heaven.” But hope just isn’t good enough. I pray that’s not your answer. Your eternal destiny is too important not to know for sure.

You’re not guaranteed another minute on this planet, much less another hour. The most recent statistics show that mortality rates worldwide remain at 100 percent! Death is inevitable—so it’s foolish not to be prepared. Don’t put off the most important choice you’ll ever make.

Our Scripture for today tells us, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (NIV). That’s about as clear as you can get. If you have Jesus, you have life. If you don’t have Jesus, you do not have life. You have a choice.

You won’t go to heaven because of someone else’s faith. You’ll never go to hell because of someone else’s choice.

It’s your choice! You get to decide where you’ll spend eternity.

This is why we celebrate Christmas and Easter. If Jesus hadn’t come at Christmas—and then if he hadn’t died and come back to life on Easter—our situation would be hopeless. Nothing you do would matter. You wouldn’t have this choice.

The Bible says, “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14 NLT).

The cross is the answer to your deepest problem: your separation from God. Make the choice today to be reconciled to God through Jesus and secure your eternity in heaven.

Talk It Over

None of us are promised another second on earth. How does that reality give more urgency to either your decision to follow Jesus or the decision your friends and family need to make?

Who in your life needs to read the message in this devotional? How can you develop your relationship to a point where you can share this message with them?

If the decision to follow Jesus and have life—or reject Jesus and not have life—is so clear and stark, why is it still hard for some people to choose?

- by Pastor Rick

***************************************

Prayer:

Father,

          Your Word tells us, “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse!" We are blessed if we choose to follow Your commands and cursed if we choose to reject them. Father, we want the security of Your Word, Your promise of eternal life with You. Give us the wisdom and Your strength to daily walk out that choice. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Controlled Response

If by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the faith. 

Philippians 1:22-25 (GNT)

Paul was an old man when he was in prison in Rome. He was a long way from home. He was awaiting execution. Everything had been taken from him—his friends, his freedom, his ministry, and even his privacy, with a guard chained to him throughout the day. It wasn’t exactly a happy time for Paul.

But there was one thing they could not take away from Paul: his purpose. Paul made the choice to stay focused on his purpose, even when he had lost everything else. What was his purpose? Serving God by serving others.

I’ll never forget reading Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning. Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist who was imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps in Germany. Most of his family and friends were gassed and murdered. He writes in his book about the day he stood in front of the Gestapo. Everything was taken from him—his home, his clothes, and even his wedding ring. As he stood there with nothing at all, he suddenly realized there was one thing the Nazis could not take away from him: his freedom to choose how he would respond.

You cannot totally control what other people do to you. You cannot control what other people do around you. But you can control how you respond. When you stay focused on your purpose instead of your problem, you can have joy, even when life seems to be falling apart.

Choose to serve others, even when you are hurting. Choose to forgive. Choose to focus on God’s promises and not your circumstances. Those are the kind of choices that lead to greater faith. And then your faith will produce greater joy.

Talk It Over

What do you believe is your purpose in life?

Why does God want you to think about others and serve them, even when you are going through difficult circumstances?

How does your choice to focus on your problem or your purpose reflect what you believe about God?

- by Pastor Rick

******************************

Prayer:

Father,

          We humbly ask that You shine Your light of Truth anew on Your plan and purpose for our lives. Help us to realize that the only thing we can control - and must control - is our response to You and to the world around us. Give us Your strength to choose to walk according to Your Word: with integrity and justice, with fairness and integrity, showing kindness and compassion, living in daily dependence on You, and walking in humility before You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today Favorite - Setting the Example

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT

I have several friends who use similar quotes in the signature line of their e-mail replies. One is "Choose carefully how you spend your time today because you are spending a day of your life for it." Another refers to it as "trading a day." When was the last time you gave conscious thought to how you spend each of your days or the moments in them?

And in the spending and trading of our days, how many of us truly think about what kind of example we set for those around us every day? The truth is each day of our lives, we set a GREAT example... Either it's a great example of how we should live or it's a great example of how we should NOT live. What kind of example are we setting?

What kind of example do we want to set? The choice is ours.

Prayer:

Father,
          We know the time is short. Remind us daily to make the moments count. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - The Big Ask

Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

Luke 5:27-28 NLT

Levi (also called Matthew - see Matthew 9) was a tax collector; despised by those from whom he collected money. Jesus knew this, yet called him anyway... To me, the wild thing is Matthew just got up, left everything (the Word says) and followed Him.

Think about that for a moment. We hate to see the tax man coming. And I think tax collectors may be as unpopular today as they were in Jesus' time.

What was Matthew's next recorded act? He threw a party (held a banquet) and invited Jesus to meet all his former co-workers and friends. This from a man who had become instantly unemployed the moment he made the choice to follow Jesus.

You know Peter and Andrew, James and John were all fishermen. If they bombed as disciples, they could always go back to the fishing industry. When Matthew made the choice, there was no going back. AND he was immediately unemployed. We tend to panic when we even think our job may be on the chopping block.

What I find most fascinating about this story are the gifts God had given Matthew when He created him in his mother's womb. Record-keeping, organization, the mighty pen. And Matthew had used them in a way that was not pleasing to God. However, when God called Levi, all that changed.

The mighty pen wrote the gospel of Matthew. His organizational skill was able by God's grace to keep it all straight. What a testimony!! Want to take a guess at how many people have been ministered to by Matthew's Gospel?

Even when we start out bad, when we make the decision to follow Christ, our gifts are washed white as snow, too. Levi left everything and followed Him. Would you if He asked? He's asking.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your Word that gives us the comfort of knowing You have a plan for us, that You have gifted us to fulfill Your purpose and plan for each of us. Give us Your perspective on our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Intentional Choices

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2 NKJV

When we face the hard times in life, times that include inflation, pandemics, wars, rumors of wars, etc, we have the choice of trusting God or being afraid and worried. Which will you choose? Do we stand on the Word of God - His Truth - and trust Him in it or do we say, "Yeah, but..." and spout off all the circumstances that we see that are in opposition to His Word?
2nd Corinthians 5:7 tells us ...we walk by faith, not by sight.

It IS a choice. Our choice.

And choosing to trust God is always the right choice. He is our salvation. What does that mean? According to Merriam-Webster, salvation is defined as 1: the saving of a person from sin or evil. 2: something that saves from danger or difficulty.

Yes, both sound exactly like our God. Will we choose to trust Him?

Prayer:

Father,
           In all things, in all situations, in all circumstances, we actively, intentionally choose to trust You. According to Your Word, we believe, Father, help our unbelief. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What Will You Believe?

And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
1st John 5:5 NLT

This world is fast becoming one we do not recognize. Nothing is "normal". Life, as we knew it just ten years ago, no longer exists. And the speed at which it has happened can be overwhelming and downright scary. However, if you follow Jesus and walk with Him, you should quickly recognize fear as a ploy of satan. It is his greatest tool in trying to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).

To not be afraid is the most repeated instruction we receive in the Word of God. In order to not be afraid, we must trust the One who promises peace as only He can provide. Peace in the midst of the storm, peace that passes all understanding. Jesus gave us His own peace. He said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

Jesus was very clear about what people could expect from being His followers. The picture He presented on this Earth was not warm and fuzzy, but He gave them - and all of us - this assurance. [Jesus speaking], I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NLT). You'll notice He said many trials and sorrows...

And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. So, what will you believe?

Prayer:

Father,

          We believe and do declare that Jesus is Your Son. We are forgiven because He laid down His life for the remission of our sins, He was buried and rose to life the third day, and even now sits at Your right hand, interceding for us. And it is because we believe in Jesus that we will not be afraid. In Him, we can win this battle against the world. Help us to stay focused and to not be distracted. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Believe It or Not

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV

God the Father has spoken Truth since Day One. He speaks nothing else. He doesn't say we have to believe. He gives us the either or and we're free to choose from that point. We can choose to believe or choose not to - we always have a choice.

Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah. They knew He was coming.  They watched for Him. It was written down in Scripture for them to know because that day in the Temple, Jesus stood to take His turn at reading from what Isaiah had written. Luke tells it this way: And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And that's all it took. It was on from there. He'd no sooner closed the book and the debate began, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Immediately, the world and its' junk began crowding in. Then they had a choice - believe it or not.

We all have moments when we have to choose what we believe. Oh, we've all heard people say, "I had no choice."  We've even said it ourselves but the truth is, there's always a choice.

Will we, by faith, choose God's Truth over what we see with our eyes? Faith tells us one thing, but we are tempted to believe what we see and hear in the natural. It's at that point that many times we struggle to believe it or not. I don't say that to point fingers. We're in good company - John the Baptist did the same thing. John - the same John Isaiah wrote about, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. And yet when John was in prison, awaiting his fate, he sent some of his own disciples to Jesus. Luke 7:20-22 NKJV reads, When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’” And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them." Jesus did not say to John, "Yeah, it's Me. I'm the One. It's all good."

Jesus gave John the Truth. The Truth of His Word - Scripture fulfilled - and it was John's choice to believe it or not.

We've all experienced moments when we question, but when we seek Truth, it is not a fearful thing. Believe it.

Prayer:

Father,
         You are not a man that You would lie. All Your ways are just and true. Help us to know Your Truths  - write them on our hearts and in our minds, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

No Other Choice

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Mark 4:38-41 NKJV

In our text for today, it’s important to know that when Jesus got in the boat, He told the disciples they were going to the other side. When the wind kicked up and the waves threatened them, the disciples forgot what He said. Yet He spoke one time to the wind and the waves, and they instantly obeyed His voice. There was no other choice. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven...  

God spoke the world into existence. His words created light and life. He took the dust of the Earth He had created and breathed life into it and formed mankind in His own image...and I personally think that was the first and last time God didn't get an argument from somebody about what He was doing and the way He chose to do it. Up to that point, there was no other choice. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven...

When God speaks into our lives - when He speaks to our hearts - if we claim to be His - what makes us think we have the right to offer and choose alternative options for how WE think HE should do it?

There is no other choice. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven...

Prayer:

Our Father,
                   Which art in Heaven. Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. THY will be done ON EARTH as it is in Heaven. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Power of Choice

"Oh, thank you, sir!" she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. 
1st Samuel 1:18 NLT

In spite of Eli's first false assumption about her, piled on top of Peninnah's derision, and the judgment of others regarding her childlessness that hadn't changed - once she gave it to the Lord, Hannah chose to be grateful, rather than continue in being offended.

It hit me like the old hymn, Leave It There... when we bring our burdens to the Lord, we need to leave them there and CHOOSE to believe His Word. CHOOSE to trust Him. CHOOSE to live in God's Truth that He IS sovereign and He has the plan and that ALL the parts of it work together for our good!

♪♫ Leave it there! Leave it there! Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there! If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out! Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there! ♪♫ 

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your Word to guide us in the hard times. Thank You for the measure of faith that You give to all of us. We choose to trust You. We choose to be grateful. We choose to give thanks IN all things, according to Your Word and not according to our flesh and how we feel... Help us, O Lord! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Check Check

This is a little take-away from a message I heard my son preach today (he filled in for his pastor who is on vacation). For me, it adds a whole new perspective to "a child shall lead them..." 
***********************

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Mark 10:17-22 NKJV

Obviously, this young ruler had been taught the commandments to follow God. According to him, he'd been practicing them since he was a child. Was he looking for a way to complete his checklist - the one he had designed on his own? 

Search for God. Check.
Learn His commandments. Check.
Implement and follow God's commandments. Check. Check.

Some of us tend to do the same kind of thing. Are we looking to complete our own checklist? 

Go to church. Check.
Read my Bible. Check.
Pay my tithes. Check.
Do good deeds. Check. Check.

How many of us, just like the rich, young ruler in our text for today, would love to see Jesus face to face and have Him tell us exactly what we need to do to get to Heaven?  But then, how many of us would be just like the rich, young ruler, and walk away sad because we're not willing to give up what He's asked us to in order to have eternal life with Christ? Think about that. Search your heart. You know what He's been talking about to you.

Jesus is going to challenge those things in our lives that need to change, and if we don't recognize His touch, His voice, His way, we're going to walk away very sad...and lost.

Challenge. Check. 
Choice. Check. 
Change. Check. Check. 

Prayer:

Father,
           Change our hearts, O God! Make us ever true to Your Word and Your way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Believe It or Not

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV

God the Father has spoken Truth since Day One. He speaks nothing else. He doesn't say we have to believe. He gives us the either or and we're free to choose from that point. We can choose to believe or choose not to - we always have a choice.

Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah. They knew He was coming.  They watched for Him. It was written down in Scripture for them to know because that day in the Temple, Jesus stood to take His turn at reading from what Isaiah had written. Luke tells it this way: And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And that's all it took. It was on from there. He'd no sooner closed the book and the debate began, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Immediately, the world and its' junk began crowding in. They had a choice - believe it or not.

We all have moments when we have to choose what we believe. Oh, we've all heard people say, "I had no choice."  We've even said it ourselves but the truth is, there's always a choice.

Will we, by faith, choose God's Truth over what we see with our eyes? Faith tells us one thing, but we are tempted to believe what we see and hear in the natural. It's at that point that many times we struggle to believe it or not. I don't say that to point fingers. We're in good company - John the Baptist did the same thing. John - the same John Isaiah wrote about, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. And yet when John was in prison, awaiting his fate, he sent some of his own disciples to Jesus. Luke 7:20-22 NKJV reads, When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’” And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them." Jesus did not say to John, "Yeah, it's Me. I'm the One. It's all good."

Jesus gave John the Truth. The Truth of His Word - Scripture fulfilled - and it was John's choice to believe it or not.

We've all experienced moments when we question, but when we seek Truth, it is not a fearful thing. Believe it.

Prayer:

Father,
         You are not a man that You would lie. All Your ways are just and true. Help us to know Your Truths  - write them on our hearts and in our minds, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Re-post - Free to Love

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
John 14:15, 21 NLT

I read something that seems profound to me. I want to share it with you. It's from Max Lucado's book, In the Eye of the Storm.

He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground...

All were silent as the Creator reached in Himself and removed something yet unseen. "It's called choice. The seed of choice."

Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of His self. The God of might had created Earth's mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.

Now it's our choice. Will we?

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for creating us with freedom of choice. Freedom to love You in return by our choice. Help us, Father, to always recognize what a gift You have given us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen