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.

Friday, January 5, 2024

Friday, January 5, 2024
Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

We’ve made plans and chased goals. W have run the race, but the One who tied our shoes and put solid ground under our feet is God and God alone. The Lord paved the way, provided what He knew we would need, and kept your head above water when you were struggling to stay afloat. If you can’t see that yet, it means this chapter of the story isn’t over. Difficult seasons are hard to see through, and it can feel like the ground is caving in underneath you. But what the Lord allows to crumble, He can rebuild tenfold. All He asks is that you trust Him.

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Thursday, January 4, 2024
James 4:14-15
…Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Who are you to say what life will or won’t be like? If there’s one thing life on earth has taught us, is that it’s unpredictable. You never know what might happen, or what part God wants you to play in His story. Does that mean life should screech to a halt? Should you put your dreams and plans on hold until God makes the way clear? There’s nothing wrong with seeking His guidance and meditating on His will but remember that God gave you your dreams and your free will for a reason. Live wisely, and honor Christ as you live the life He gave you to the fullest. Keep Him at the center of it, pay attention to where He is leading you, and remember that an even greater life awaits you beyond this one.

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Saying “what can go wrong?” seems like an invitation for something to go horribly wrong. But Paul had that level of confidence in his God: the confidence to face a world that was actively persecuting him, and say “what can mere man do to me?” What Paul understood was that all things are woven into the Lord’s plan, and no pit is ever dug that God can’t turn into a well. If Christ wanted Paul to proclaim the gospel to the whole world, He would make a way, and when Paul’s time came, death would only mean instant paradise with his Savior. That kind of confidence didn’t belong to just one man, either; the God that gave Paul his boldness is your God, too.