Monday, January 15, 2024

Monday, January 15, 2024
Hebrews 13:6
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out against racial injustice and prejudice in a time when it wasn’t safe to do so. He understood that human beings weren’t the ones who defined right and wrong, it was God; the God who spoke the world into being and filled it with people made in His image. People who were made for a purpose, and whom Christ gave up His life to save, regardless of the color of their skin. Martin Luther King Jr. stood up not only for a race, but for God, and in the end, he paid the ultimate price for that boldness. But he understood that there was a kingdom waiting for him, and if Christ had already conquered death itself, what could mere man to do him?

Friday, January 12, 2024

Friday, January 12, 2024
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

There are bigger things to live for than life. There is an eternal home waiting for you, and eternal rewards for those who serve the Lord faithfully in this lifetime. Eternal life is so valuable that Jesus said it was worth trading everything for. Like a man who found a treasure in a field and sold all that he owned in order to purchase the field, and obtain the treasure therein. Don’t put all your time and effort into this life; like a flower, it will grow, bloom and fade, and turn to dust. Instead, let Christ give your life purpose, and start living for Him, so that when you enter the Kingdom of God, you have the privilege of hearing the words “well done good and faithful servant.”

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Thursday, January 11, 2024
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.

Think about eternity for a moment. Ponder what it means to be saved by grace, and to have everlasting life. Through Christ, you have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and new life than cannot be taken. What a cause for joy! This short life is nothing compared to eternity in Heaven, and that ought to change everything about how you live. Let’s give God His due praise, not only for the paradise that awaits, but for the sacrifice that got you there. The Lord that you will enjoy Heaven with is the same Lord who bled and died to pay for the sins of the world.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Romans 15:5
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.

When Jesus ascended into Heaven, the community of believers here on earth became the “body of Christ” to continue His work until He returns. Talk about having the world’s best boss! And yet, because we’re human, our tendency is to bicker and disagree, letting pride trump over love. As Jesus’s representatives in this world, it’s our job to set an example, for believers and non-believers alike, of what Christlike love should be. It’s forgiving someone seventy-times-seven, blessing those who curse you, and humbling yourself enough to put someone else’s well being before your own. If we could all do that, there would be harmony on earth indeed.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Tuesday, January 9, 2024
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

If anyone in history had the right to hold their head high and live proud, it was Jesus. But He didn’t act like He was better than everyone else. He broke bread with the lowest of the low, washed the disciples’ feet, and let the little children with dirty sandals climb all over Him. He slept under everyday roofs, or no roof at all, and allowed Himself to be treated as a criminal rather than a King. And what did He command His followers to do? To walk humbly with your God, and to love others even more highly than yourself, following His example.

Monday, January 8, 2024

Monday, January 8, 2024
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Christ’s forgiveness is of no use to you if you refuse it. The gift of salvation really is free, but in order to have your sins forgiven, you have to recognize that you have sins in the first place. The lesson behind many of Jesus’ teachings was that nobody is good enough to get into Heaven on their own. Good deeds don’t outweigh bad deeds or erase sin; it was Christ’s death on the cross that wiped away your mistakes. The Heavenly kingdom can’t be earned, but if you confess your sins, the Lord is faithful and just to forgive you.