Friday, September 15, 2023

Friday, September 15, 2023
Colossians 3:5
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

The Bible doesn’t say “tone down the evil desire” or “try not to be sexually immoral.” These things should be put to death, not because God expects you to be flawless, but because Christ was. If you truly believe that Jesus was and is Lord, it should be represented by the way you live. Put to death the things in your life that get between you and a closer relationship with Christ. Rid yourself of the things that grieve Him, driving the nails deeper into His hands. If sin isn’t worth getting rid of, it’s on a higher pedestal in your life than the Lord is, and that’s what the Word rightly calls idolatry. You may not always defeat sin overnight, but with His help, there is nothing that can’t be overcome.

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Thursday, September 14, 2023
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

There are a lot of philosophies and beliefs out there, and the same was true when Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians. Man is desperate to find purpose, and the conclusions they come to about morality, life and the universe are often far from the truth, because the truth is uncomfortable. The truth is that God is very real and very just, and according to justice, everyone has sinned, and deserves punishment. But God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, and whoever believes in Him will not be punished, but have eternal life. Believing in Christ means following Christ, letting go of sinful lifestyles in the process… and people want to believe anything but that. What do you believe?

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The world around you is made of material things, and material things can be lost just as quickly as they are gained. Jesus preached often about the futility of amassing wealth and “happiness” here on earth, where moth and rust destroy, because there are greater things to pursue than the things of this world. You aren’t going to live here forever. With the time God has given you, follow His commands, be kind to the people He puts in your path, and by doing so, you’ll build up treasure for Heaven. Keep yourself free from the stress and futility that comes with pursuing money, and instead, leave it in the hands of the One who has promised to never leave you, nor forsake you. What greater form of wealth can one have on earth than a relationship with Him?

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Romans 1:21
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

God’s existence and glory have been made clear through every aspect of His creation, from the first cry of a newborn to the stars scattered across the night sky. But even so, most humans throughout history has turned its back on the one true God. Paul writes in this verse that the people of his time had become futile in their thinking, and that their foolish hearts were darkened… and in this country today, that couldn’t be truer. But hope is far from lost, because those who have given their lives to the Lord are salt and light in the world: you are salt and light in this world. Be a living example of Christ that can’t be ignored, and God just might use you to change someone’s heart.

Monday, September 11, 2023

Monday, September 11, 2023
Exodus 20:3
You shall have no other gods before me.

The first and perhaps greatest of the ten commandments: make God the one true God of your life, as long as you live. This commandment is easy to skim over… after all, you and I don’t worship other gods very regularly, do we? Perhaps not in the traditional sense, but “serving no other god” means making the Lord the number one priority in your life, over anything else that might try to take precedence. Is serving God as important to you as your career? Is His opinion of you less valuable than the opinions of others? “You shall have no other gods before me” should make you question what the “god” of your life really is, and tear down idols that shouldn’t be there.

Friday, September 8, 2023

Friday, September 8, 2023
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit is there to transform you from the inside out. It makes you more like Christ, changing you and guiding you in ways that you never could by yourself. It may lead you to witness to a stranger in the grocery store parking lot, or it may urge you to weed out bad habits. But, because God loves you, He has given you a choice. You have the power to ignore Him, to make wrong choices, and to do what makes you happy even if it betrays Him. In so doing, the Bible says that you grieve the Spirit, whose goal is to make you more like Christ. Your sins have been forgiven, yes, and no mistake can disqualify you from the Kingdom. But like a diseased tree, the rotten fruit you produce will make the fruit of the Spirit harder and harder to find.