Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Christ’s people have a kingdom to advance and souls to save, and it is important that we are each prepared to stand firm against the Lord’s enemy. Just as a soldier puts on armor before going into battle, you must intentionally and purposefully “put on the armor of God.” One way we do this is by spending time in His word, gathering with other believers, praying, and meditating on what it means to follow Him. These things will help keep your mind centered on what’s important and will give you a foundation to stand on when all other solid ground crumbles away. Take advantage of every resource the Lord has given you and make Him your first line of defense when trouble comes your way.

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Tuesday, May 23, 2023
2 Corinthians 10:4
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Your fight isn’t a physical one, and your strength isn’t material either. Your mission isn’t to win earthly victories, but instead, to live a victorious life that honors God and wins the battles He made you for. And thankfully, your strength does not come from yourself or any worldly means, but from God alone. He has given you access to powerful weapons such as prayer, His Word, and the Holy Spirit to help you pursue what’s right and ward off temptation and discouragement. Trust in God’s power and seek Him diligently, allowing Him to equip you with the weapons you need to win wars. With God on your side, you are more than a conqueror.

Monday, May 22, 2023

Monday, May 22, 2023
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

The Christian life is full of joy and purpose, but it isn’t easy. The more you grow to love the Lord, the more you want to serve Him, which means battling against your own nature. Against pride, selfishness, laziness, greed, and temptation: all things that our “flesh” tends toward. To fight the good fight of faith is to fight yourself, and to chase the version of you that looks more like Christ. You know that eternal life with God awaits you, so live every day of this temporary life for the Lord, doing good works and playing your part in His story.

Friday, May 19, 2023

Friday, May 19, 2023
1 Timothy 1:17
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Nothing comes close to the glory and power of our God. He is the Creator of all things, the Author of history, and His Son is the Savior of the world. He had no beginning, and He will have no end. He deserves all the worship and honor His people can muster, and then some. Every day, find something to praise Him for: the way He rewrites bad things into good, the beauty He put in living things, or the way He died to rescue people who had only ever sinned against Him. He’s a God of limitless kindness and love; the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, to whom we give all honor and glory forever and ever. Amen!

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Thursday, May 18, 2023
Romans 13:1
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

In the time this verse was written, the “governing authorities” were far from friendly, especially towards the church. You might not appreciate some of our world’s politicians, but world leaders in Paul’s day were feeding Christians to lions. And yet, the Bible assures us that there’s only one true king, and that He establishes the rulers of the world. You should never put the law of man over God’s law; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego showed us that when they refused to bow to the king’s idol. But honoring God and His subjects means respecting the authority that has been placed over you, recognizing that it isn’t our job to make the rules. There will come a time when the only rules are His rules, but as long as you’re here, you and I must be good stewards of the world God has established, and we do that by showing honor and respect to the ones in charge.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Romans 12:10
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Paul challenges believers in the book of Romans to outdo each other in showing kindness and love, as if it were a competition! That’s some serious dedication, but it’s seldom too much. God wants you to take care of others, and He’s put people in your life to take care of you, too. The Body of Christ is at its best when everyone in it treats each other with love, respect, and care. No child of God is more important than another, and no sinner is too filthy to be forgiven: the understanding that we are all one in Christ is the first step to putting them before yourself.