Friday, October 6, 2023

Friday, October 6, 2023
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Jesus taught His disciples to “follow Him,” not only on foot, but by example. Sometimes we pray and wait for God to give us special orders for how He wants us to serve Him, forgetting that the most effective way to serve the Lord is by living like Him. A Christian is a Christ-imitator; a flawed human being who loves God with all their heart, treats others as they would want to be treated, and speaks truth in a world of lies. Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, and live in a way that would make your Savior proud. Remember that it’s not all you; the Holy Spirit will transform you from the inside out if you’re willing to let it.

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Thursday, October 5, 2023
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

Hard times will push the limits of your faith and test you in ways you haven’t even thought of. It’ll make you question why you believe what you believe, and who this God is that you serve. People may ask you why you have hope regardless of circumstance, and faith regardless of sight. When these questions arise, what will your answer be? Dig into the scriptures, find answers, and dedicate yourself to what you believe. Have an answer for the hope that is in you and be prepared to defend the truth with gentleness and respect.

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Hebrews 10:25
…Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Gathering with other believers is incredibly important, more so than you or I can even guess. When Jesus was on earth, He didn’t call one disciple, or two. He surrounded Himself with twelve men that He called friends, and later sent them out into the world to plant churches and spread the gospel like wildfire. None of them took on this mission alone, and even when apostles like Paul traveled by themselves, they always returned to the church, and to the “body” of Christ. Not only did Jesus send His disciples to impact believers, but He also used believers to impact His disciples. Iron sharpens iron, and the more often you rub shoulders with people whose lives have been transformed by Christ, the sharper you’ll become.

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Romans 6:16
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

You can’t be devoted to two masters at once, especially when they both hate each other. God despises sin; it is, by definition, any action or intention of the heart that goes against His original design for the perfect world. It’s because of sin that the world isn’t so perfect anymore. But Jesus died to save you from the world, and from your mistakes. Christ paid the price for your wrongs, and good thing too… because in this life, you and I will never be perfect like He was. But that’s no excuse to embrace imperfection. You will always be a slave to the master that you serve: either your own filth which ends in death, or the One who died to give you life.

Monday, October 2, 2023

Monday, October 2, 2023
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

God is living, active, and infinite. There will always be more of His character to discover, more opportunities to serve Him, and more ways to become Christlike in everyday life. At no point should anyone become stagnant and still in their relationship with the Lord. Until the day He calls you home, there will always be more for Him to show you, change in you, and equip you for. So make a conscious effort every day to spend time with the Author of your story, whether that’s in prayer, scripture, or quiet moments. Search your heart and root out the weakness and sin that distracts from what matters most.

Friday, September 29, 2023

Friday, September 29, 2023
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

God made you Himself, along with all your personality, talents, quirks, and ambitions. He could have chosen for you to be born at any time and place in history, but he chose this one. The Lord has placed you here specifically, and for a purpose. Everyone has a purpose and a part to play in God’s story… but not all choose to repent, believe, and serve Him. Give your life to the only One who can truly give it purpose, and let the Lord use you for amazing things. If you persevere, both physically and spiritually, the Bible promises that you will reap what you sow. Do not give up.