Thursday, August 17, 2023

Thursday, August 17, 2023
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

All it takes is one small mistake to disqualify you from deserving Heaven, because God’s standard is perfection. The sins you’ve committed, the commandments you’ve broken, they condemn you to a miserable existence away from God’s paradise. But if you’ve accepted Christ’s free gift of salvation, your mistakes have been washed away, and you are considered not only innocent in the eyes of God, but as a beloved son or daughter. Now it isn’t your sins that count, but the good deeds you do with a pure heart to serve God. Live in a way that would make Jesus proud, because He is watching, and one day, you will be rewarded for the life you lived.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Wednesday, August 16, 2023
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks to God in all circumstances is a real demonstration of faith. Whether you’re happy or sad, you can always rejoice knowing that God is always good, and that nothing can separate you from His love, or disqualify you from salvation. Whether things are going well or going poorly, you can pray unceasingly for your own needs or someone else’s. And whether you’re in a season of joy or of pain, you can give thanks in all circumstances, because the Lord works all things together for the good of those who love Him. These three things are exercises in faith, both in God’s character, and in His promises.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

To do justice is to hold yourself responsible, meditating on what’s right and wrong, always being ready to stand up for the truth. To love kindness is to love others, going out of your way to make their lives better, and treating them the way you’d wish to be treated. To walk humbly with your God is to recognize how small and broken you are, and yet how loved and blessed you are, and how far Jesus went to pay your debt. You are finite, and you won’t be able to become a Christlike person all on your own. That’s why God sent a part of Himself, the Holy Spirit, to dwell inside you, so that by believing and having faith you may learn to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God more and more each day.

Monday, August 14, 2023

Monday, August 14, 2023
Matthew 6:25
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Your lifetime is but a vapor, the Word says; a mist that passes quickly and is gone. Your earthly joy and sadness, wealth and poverty, satisfaction, and hunger… it’ll all be so forgettable compared to God’s kingdom. Aren’t there better things to be worried about than the things of earth? Instead of stressing about how to earn wealth here, shouldn’t you put effort into your treasure in Heaven? Instead of worrying about your outward appearance that people see, shouldn’t you pay attention to your inward heart that the Lord sees? These words that Jesus spoke weren’t an encouragement to be unwise and irresponsible with your life, but a wake-up call to recognize that there is more to live for than the world around you.

Friday, August 11, 2023

Friday, August 11, 2023
1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

The life you build and the legacy you leave behind will inevitably fade with time and become only a memory. This world isn’t meant to last, but the paradise God is preparing for us in Heaven will go on forever. The most meaningful thing you can do in this life is put it in Christ’s hands, and let Him turn you into the person you were meant to be. Even though you’re temporary, God still put you here, which means you have a part to play in His story. Be attentive to His will and follow His commands, and you will be richly rewarded in the life to come, with treasures that time cannot erode.

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Thursday, August 10, 2023
Philippians 4:12
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

What Paul learned during the hard chapters of his life was how to be content, no matter the circumstances. Instead of basing his emotions on life’s ups and downs, he chose to ignore circumstance, and look at the big picture. He was no longer Saul of Tarsus, but Paul, a servant of Christ who every day gave Him strength. If he was beat up, imprisoned, shipwrecked, or stoned, it was all because of his dedication to Christ, and to the mission God had called Him to. No matter the abundance or the suffering, it was all insignificant compared to the love and peace that came from his relationship with Jesus… a relationship that He offers to you, too.