Monthly Archives: November 2015

Believe in God (Romans 3:21-31) November 30, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 3:21-31

Set – Romans 3-4

Go! – Romans 1-4

Romans 3:21-31
21 But now for the good news: God’s restorative justice has entered the world, independent of the law. Both the law and the prophets told us this day would come. 22 This redeeming justice comes through the faithfulness of Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King, who makes salvation a reality for all who believe—without the slightest partiality. 23 You see, all have sinned, and all their futile attempts to reach God in His glory fail. 24 Yet they are now saved and set right by His free gift of grace through the redemption available only in Jesus the Anointed. 25 When God set Him up to be the sacrifice—the seat of mercy where sins are atoned through faith—His blood became the demonstration of God’s own restorative justice. All of this confirms His faithfulness to the promise, for over the course of human history God patiently held back as He dealt with the sins being committed. 26 This expression of God’s restorative justice displays in the present that He is just and righteous and that He makes right those who trust and commit themselves to Jesus.
27 So is there any place left for boasting? No. It’s been shut out completely. And how? By what sort of law? The law of works perhaps? No! By the law of faith. 28 We hold that people are justified, that is, made right with God through faith, which has nothing to do with the deeds the law prescribes.
29 Is God the God of the Jews only? If He created all things, then doesn’t that make Him the God of all people? Jews and non-Jews, insiders and outsiders alike? Yes, He is also the God of all the outsiders. 30 So since God is one, there is one way for Jews and outsiders, circumcised and uncircumcised, to be right with Him. That is the way of faith. 31 So are we trying to use faith to abolish the law? Absolutely not! In fact, we now are free to uphold the law as God intended.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

No one is exempt from the fall. Everyone fails to reach Me in their attempts at righteousness. Since Adam and Eve, all have been born with the propensity toward wanting your own way. But I came into the world to pay the penalty for your sinful ways. I came as the perfect sacrifice for your sins. All you need to do is believe in Me for your salvation. The law points out your sin, I redeem you from it. I give you real freedom from the law.

Many think I abolished the law, but that really isn’t true. What I really do for you is make it possible for you to live as the law intended. The law gave you guidelines and pointed out your wickedness, but couldn’t do anything to redeem you because you couldn’t keep the law. But with Me in you, covering your sin by the sacrifice I made for you, you can keep the law the way I intend you to keep it.

I gave My life so you may live in freedom. Not freedom to do anything you want as many sometimes think, but freedom from the guilt and penalty of sin. Freedom from the prison chains that hold you fast because of the selfish ways you live because of the heritage that comes by way of Adam’s sin. Freedom to live the life I intend for humankind.

The simplicity of becoming one of My children rests in believing. It’s that simple. It’s not always easy to live for Me, but it is simple. Coming to Me is so simple a child can do it. Just believe that I am who I say. Just believe I came to save you from your sins. Just believe I died for you and I rose from the grave because death cannot hold Me. Just believe that I can redeem you from the evil one that tries to hold you to this wicked world. Believe that I can free you from his death grip. Believe I have a better way for you.

It’s not hard to believe. Just look around. Look at the universe I created for you. Examine the order of all I made. How can you not believe in Me? How can you not believe in the Creator of all things when you see the perfect design of the universe and all within it. How can you not believe in Me when you see the majesty of the mountains and the seas, the stars and the galaxies above you.

So just believe in Me and you will be saved. It is faith and nothing else that saves you. But when you are saved you will do good things for those around you because of your love for Me. Your good actions will demonstrate the faith you have in Me. So just believe in Me and get ready for a great ride for the rest of your eternal life. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

To please God, love (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12) November 29, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Set – 1 Thessalonians 4; 2 Thessalonians 3

Go! – 1 Thessalonians 4-5; 2 Thessalonians 1-3

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
1So finally, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus, we ask you, we beg you to remember what we have taught you: live a life that is pleasing to God as you are already doing. Yes, we urge you to keep living and thriving in that life! 2 For you know the instructions we gave you, instructions that came through the Lord Jesus. 3 Now this is God’s will for you: set yourselves apart and live holy lives; avoid polluting yourselves with sexual defilement. 4 Learn how to take charge over your own body, maintaining purity and honor. 5 Don’t let the swells of lustful passion run your life as they do the outsiders who don’t know God. 6 Don’t violate or take advantage of a fellow believer in such matters. As we told you before and warned you: the Lord will settle the score with anyone who does these things. 7 Here’s why: God does not call us to live impure, adulterous, scandalous lives, but to seek holiness and purity. 8 If you ignore this message, then you’re not only rejecting us but you’re rejecting God, the One who has given His Holy Spirit to live in you.
9 Now there’s no need for us to send you instructions on caring for your faith family because God Himself has already taught you how to love outside yourselves. 10 And it’s evident you learned that lesson well by the way you love all the people of Macedonia. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to love even more 11 and make it your goal to lead a peaceful life, mind your own business, and keep your hands busy in your work, as we have instructed you. 12 That way you will live peacefully with those on the outside, and all your needs will be met without depending on others.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul summed up his teaching with a good motto you should remember. Live a life that is pleasing to Me. He goes on to tell give you a few examples of what that means, but the bottom line rests in that simple motto. Live a life that is pleasing to Me. Too many times I see people trying to live their lives to please other people instead of pleasing Me. They look to make other people happy.

The problem is that it doesn’t work. You can make a few people happy, but when you make one person happy you make others mad. You can never please everyone. People are too fickle in their emotions, wants, and wishes. No matter what you do to please them, it will never be enough. People will always want something more. So you cannot please people. You’ll find yourself disappointed and frustrated in your efforts.

Pleasing people won’t matter in the end, anyway. It’s not people who will judge your actions when you give an account of yourself at the end of time. I will be the one to judge you, not them. People cannot judge fairly. Only I can. So you will give an account of yourself to Me and Me alone. So if that is true, then why would you want to please people instead of pleasing Me. Wouldn’t you want to please the one who will judge your performance in the end?

So, there we are. Paul’s summation. He got it absolutely right. Please Me and your life will be on the right path. You will love others if you live to please Me. You will live a holy life if you please Me. You will live a moral life to please Me. To please Me, you will live generously and care for the needs of others. You will avoid sexual immorality and learn how to take charge of your own body. You will do all those things Paul talks about if you live a life to please Me.

In doing all those things, though, you’ll find it won’t be a burden to you, because in pleasing Me you’ll find you do it because of love, not duty. You’ll find love the driving factor in your life as you love Me and others. It’s a life of love that pleases Me, you see, not a life of rules and duty. So as you do the things I’ve talked about, you’ll love unconditionally. You’ll love Me and you’ll love others. You’ll love more than you can dream you can. You’ll please Me in doing so because I am love. And that’s it. Love to please Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God’s guarding your heart (Matthew 28:1-10) November 28, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 28:1-10

Set – Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 3

Go! – Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 1-3

Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the Sabbath, as the light of the next day, the first day of the week, crept over Palestine, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb to keep vigil. 2 Earlier there had been an earthquake. A messenger of the Lord had come down from heaven and had gone to the grave. He rolled away the stone and sat down on top of it. 3 He veritably glowed. He was vibrating with light. His clothes were light, white like transfiguration, like fresh snow. 4 The soldiers guarding the tomb were terrified. They froze like stone.
5 The messenger spoke to the women, to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.
Messenger of the Lord: Don’t be afraid. I know you are here keeping watch for Jesus who was crucified. 6 But Jesus is not here. He was raised, just as He said He would be. Come over to the grave, and see for yourself. 7 And then go straight to His disciples, and tell them He’s been raised from the dead and has gone on to Galilee. You’ll find Him there. Listen carefully to what I am telling you.
8 The women were both terrified and thrilled, and they quickly left the tomb and went to find the disciples and give them this outstandingly good news. 9 But while they were on their way, they saw Jesus Himself.
Jesus (greeting the women): Rejoice.
The women fell down before Him, kissing His feet and worshiping Him.
Jesus: 10 Don’t be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. Tell them I will meet them there.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

There is a dimension of life you seldom see in your everyday life. It’s all around you and when you read My word you become aware of its existence, but often people do not acknowledge the importance of the realm I speak of. There is a spiritual realm where a battle between good and evil takes place. Sometimes the spiritual realm’s beings break in upon the physical realm you see with your five senses. When it does the reaction is always the same – fear, terror.

When you see My warriors, you tremble in their presence. Look through My word at the experiences of every those who have seen My messengers. They all fell on their face or froze in place at the sight of one of My angels. Fearsome warriors with powers beyond human measure. Yet they are nothing compared to Me. On that first Easter morning, one came to visit the empty tomb. He rolled away the stone so those who came to finish the burial preparation could see that I was not there.

My messenger just sat casually on the stone while all who saw him cowed in his presence. Just the touch of his foot cause the ground beneath it to quake. The light of his clothing shone like the sun. The soldiers froze and trembled. These soldiers, feared by all who saw them, fell to the ground and cried like babies. The women trebled in fear. All who witnessed the scene remembered it forever just because of the fear the sight of this one figure brought to mind.

Now imagine the scene when My heavenly armies appear. Imagine a vast army of those warriors too numerous to count filling the hillsides and the sky coming to fight My battles. Imagine the power that army holds in their hands. If one messenger can cause the world’s best fighters to fall silent before him, imagine what an army of My warriors can do.

I have legions of armies at My disposal ready to do My bidding, one at a time or armies at a time. They operate in a dimension outside your sight, but they are there nonetheless. They fight for Me and for those who have faith in Me every moment. They keep the evil one at bay. They defeat Satan’s minions and ensure My plans succeed. They act as My hands and feet in the spiritual realm just as you act as My hands and feet in the physical realm.

Occasionally, I allow My messengers to cross over to be seen by you. Sometimes I let them interact personally with you. There are times they act as recipents of your grace and mercy as, unaware, you minister to My angels. So when you minister to them, I disguise them such that you do not recognize them. When they minister to you, they terrify you in their angelic form. Still, none compare to the power and majesty of the triune Godhead. When My messengers see Me, they fall on their face in honor and praise.

Why do I tell you all these things today? Because today you might need to know that you’re not alone. You might not see My messengers at work with you, but they are there at your side. They are working with you to keep you safe from the evil one, guarding your heart.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Unmoved, enduring, eternal (Psalm 125) November 27, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 125

Set – Psalms 125; Matthew 27

Go! – Psalms 125; Matthew 26-27

Psalms 125
1 All who have faith in the Eternal stand as Mount Zion:
unmoved, enduring, eternal.
2 Just as the mountains around Jerusalem embrace her,
the Eternal, too, wraps around those who belong to Him—
for this moment and for every moment to come.
3 For wickedness will not get the upper hand;
it shall not rule the land where righteous people live
Lest good people go bad
and do what is wrong.
4 Be good, Eternal One, to those who are good,
to those who are filled with integrity.
5 The Eternal will send all the wicked away
along with those who pervert what’s good and twist it in their own crooked way.
May peace be with Israel.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

David wrote his song before you built your monster machines. He would probably still write that those who have faith in Me are unmoving, enduring, and eternal like Mount Zion. But I know that you are more solid and eternal than even Mount Zion. Monster machines can cut through the rock and soil that constitutes Mount Zion and eventually it could move the mountain from one place to another. But it would take years to do it with all of the equipment currently available on earth.

For all intents and purposes Mount Zion is immovable to you. It will last forever as far as you’re concerned. But it won’t. A day will come, sooner than you think, when Mount Zion will be crushed. It will melt away in My wrath as the world as you know it disappears. But you, your immortal soul will endure with Me forever. It is eternal, unmovable, enduring, just as David says.

It might seem that now the wicked have the upper hand as you look around the world and see the graft and corruption in society. You might think they have the pleasures of life and you are left with nothing when you follow My commands and live the life I ask you to live. But the truth dispels such lies. Wealth does not bring satisfaction. Wealth and riches do not bring joy or peace. The temporary pleasures of this life are just that, temporary. There comes a day of reckoning at which the wicked must account for their ways and they too endure forever, but so does their punishment.

For those who have faith in Me, I am eternally good to them. They endure for ever, too. My goodness lasts forever as they live with Me in My home. Those who put their faith in Me enjoy My presence and My eternal rewards. I’ve been preparing them a long time. I know what pleases you, but what will please you most is just being in My presence, rejoicing in the company of the other saints, praising Me throughout eternity.

The only ones who will be there are those who follow Me. Only those obedient to My will make it to My home. The wicked will never cross its threshold. I will not allow the wicked into My presence and they will never bother you again when you join Me in paradise. What a glorious time we will have together. You must make the decision now, though. Today is the day of salvation. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Get up and get at it (Matthew 25:14-30) November 26, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 25:14-30

Set – Matthew 24-25

Go! – Matthew 23-25

Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus: 14 This is how it will be. It will be like a landowner who is going on a trip. He instructed his slaves about caring for his property. 15 He gave five talents to one slave, two to the next, and then one talent to the last slave—each according to his ability. Then the man left.
16 Promptly the man who had been given five talents went out and bartered and sold and turned his five talents into ten. 17 And the one who had received two talents went to the market and turned his two into four. 18 And the slave who had received just one talent? He dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money there.
19 Eventually the master came back from his travels, found his slaves, and settled up with them. 20 The slave who had been given five talents came forward and told his master how he’d turned five into ten; then he handed the whole lot over to his master.
Master: 21 Excellent. You’ve proved yourself not only clever but loyal. You’ve executed a rather small task masterfully, so now I am going to put you in charge of something larger. But before you go back to work, come join my great feast and celebration.
22 Then the slave who had been given two talents came forward and told his master how he’d turned two into four, and he handed all four talents to his master.
Master: 23 Excellent. You’ve proved yourself not only clever but loyal. You’ve executed a rather small task masterfully, so now I am going to put you in charge of something larger. But before you go back to work, come join my great feast and celebration.
24 Finally the man who had been given one talent came forward.
Servant: Master, I know you are a hard man, difficult in every way. You can make a healthy sum when others would fail. You profit when other people are doing the work. You grow rich on the backs of others. 25 So I was afraid, dug a hole, and hid the talent in the ground. Here it is. You can have it.
26 The master was furious.
Master: You are a pathetic excuse for a servant! You have disproved my trust in you and squandered my generosity. You know I always make a profit! 27 You could have at least put this talent in the bank; then I could have earned a little interest on it! 28 Take that one talent away, and give it to the servant who doubled my money from five to ten.
29 You see, everything was taken away from the man who had nothing, but the man who had something got even more. 30 And as for the slave who made no profit but buried his talent in the ground? His master ordered his slaves to tie him up and throw him outside into the utter darkness where there is miserable mourning and great fear.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You can interpret the parable I gave that day many ways. Some will think the master cruel for the way he treated the one who did not multiply the talent he intrusted to him. Some will look at the parable as an encouragement toward capitalism and an indictment of socialism. Some will think the master unfair in giving the unused talent to the one who had ten and think it should go to the one with four so he could have a better chance of gain.

None of those interpretations are right. You see, the master cares about working within the servants’ capabilities. That’s all. He gave each of his servants talents within their specific capability to handle and multiply their means. He expected them to use what he gave them to do just that. Two of the three worked hard and did what he expected. The third, lazy servant, did nothing. He buried the talent and let it lay dormant in the ground.

And why did he give the extra talent to the one who already had ten? Because he knew it was easier for the one with ten to add a single talent to his portfolio and manage it than for the one who had four to add one to his. He knew the people who worked for him. He knew their skills and gave them what they could handle. Unfortunately, the one who could handle the single talent failed to do what he could and just sat by doing nothing.

I never expect you to just sit around and do nothing. I always have a task for you. Sometimes it requires some waiting for things to happen around you, but seldom does that mean you are idle in the process of waiting. Even in waiting, I expect you to be busy doing good for others. I never expect you to just sit by and watch the grass grow and the clouds drift by. My children never retire. I may change their tasks from time to time, but they never retire from My service.

So take a few lessons from the story. Don’t find yourself in the place of the servant with one talent. He wasn’t condemned for the fact that he had only one talent. He found himself condemned because he failed to use the one talent I had given him. Use what I give you for My glory. It will multiply. Never retire. Never quit. Never sit on the side lines. I have work for you to do. Get up and get at it.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God has work for you to do (Matthew 21:23-32) November 25, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 21:23-32

Set – Matthew 21-22

Go! – Matthew 20-22

Matthew 21:23-32
23 Jesus returned to the temple and began to teach. The chief priests and elders came to Him and wanted to know who had given Him permission to disturb the temple precincts and to teach His crazy notions in this most sacred of spots.
Chief Priests and Elders: Who gave You the authority to do these things?
Jesus: 24 I will answer your question if first you answer one of Mine: 25 You saw John ritually cleansing people through baptism for the redemption of their sins. Did John’s cleansing come from heaven, or was he simply washing people of his own whim?
The elders knew that this question was tricky; there was no simple answer. If they acknowledged that John’s ritual cleansing was from heaven, Jesus would ask why they had not accepted John’s authority. 26 But if they said he had dipped people simply by his own accord, they would outrage the people who believed John was a prophet.
Chief Priests and Elders: 27 We don’t know.
Jesus: Then neither will I tell you about the authority under which I am working. 28 But I will tell you a story, and you can tell Me what you make of it: There was a man who had two sons. He said to his first son,
Father: Go and work in the vineyard today.
First Son: 29 No, I will not.
But later the first son changed his mind and went. 30 Then the father went to his second son.
Father: Go and work in the vineyard today.
Second Son: Of course, Father.
But then he did not go. 31 So which of the sons did what the father wanted?
Chief Priests and Elders (answering at once): The first.
Jesus: I tell you this: the tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 John came to show you the straight path, the path to righteousness. You did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. Even as you saw the prostitutes and the tax collectors forgiven and washed clean, finding their footing on the straight path to righteousness, still you did not change your ways and believe.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Saying the right words doesn’t go very far with Me. A lot of people know the right words to say. They’ve practiced them a long time. They know how to fool those around them with their pious words and for a short time they act the part well. With their knowledge, they fool those around them into thinking they know Me, but they don’t. They are far from Me.

I attempted to point out the same problem with the story I told the chief priests and elders in the temple that day. Those leaders taught their disciples all the right words. They knew the rituals. They practiced the forms and recitations and could point out the smallest deviations when someone failed to perform them perfectly. It’s not the recitations that builds relationships with Me. It’s not the words you know or the rituals you practice. I want you to know Me.

Knowing Me only comes through letting Me live in you. That comes through faith. Believe in Me for salvation. Believe that I can teach you. Believe that I love you more that you can ever imagine. Then ask Me into your life. Then just talk with Me. I will talk with you through My word, through pastors and other believers, and through My Spirit speaking to you. You can know Me, not just about Me.

Then as in the story I told the chief priests and elders that day, do what I ask you to do. Don’t just say you will obey, but really obey. Don’t be like the second son who told his father he would work in the field but didn’t. Be the first son who obeyed his father and went into the field and worked. Your heavenly Father will bless you when you obey His call. He has work for you to do.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Follow, whatever the cost (Matthew 18:1-11) November 24, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 18:1-11

Set – Matthew 18-19

Go! – Matthew 17-19

Matthew 18:1-11
1Around that same time, the disciples came to Jesus and questioned Him about the kingdom of heaven.
A Disciple: In the kingdom of heaven, who is the greatest?
2 Jesus called over a little child. He put His hand on the top of the child’s head.
Jesus: 3 This is the truth: unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 In that kingdom, the most humble who are most like this child are the greatest. 5 And whoever welcomes a child, welcomes her in My name, welcomes Me. 6 And do not lead astray one of the weak and friendless who believes in Me. If you do, it would be better for you to be dragged down with a millstone and drowned in the bottom of the sea.
7 Beware indeed of those in a world filled with obstacles and temptations that cause people to turn away from Me. Those temptations are woven into the fabric of a world not yet redeemed, but beware to anyone who lures righteous women and men off the narrow path. 8 If your hand constantly grasps at the things of this world rather than serves the Kingdom—cut it off and throw it away. If your foot is always leading you to wander, then cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to hobble, crippled, into the kingdom of life than to burn in hell with two hands and two feet. 9 And if your eye always focuses on things that cause you to sin, then pull your eye out and throw it away. It is better for you to see the kingdom of life with one eye than to see the fires of hell with perfect sight.
10 Make sure that you do not look down on the little ones, on those who are further behind you on the path of righteousness. For I tell you: they are watched over by those most beloved messengers who are always in the company of My Father in heaven. 11 The Son of Man has come to save all those who are lost.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

My words might sound harsh when I tell you it’s better to cut off your hand or foot or pluck out your eye than to keep on sinning. But My words are true. Don’t let anything keep you from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. You don’t want to be on the outside at the end of time. Satan will try to tell you it isn’t real. He’ll try to persuade you My truth is a façade, but Satan is the father of lies. Just look around and listen with your heart. My Spirit will guide you to the truth if you will let Him.

Being outside My kingdom means being alone. You might find some temporary pleasures for a time, but you’ll find yourself alone more often than not. In My kingdom, you’re never alone. You always have Me with you and you’ll find brothers and sisters will come beside you in times of need to bear your burdens with you because that’s what love does. My children learn to love and they will come along side you in this life just like I will.

Sometimes you might feel alone in this world, but you’re not. I will always be in you when you come to Me and My children around the world will lift you in their prayers. Some will call your name. Others will lift you up to the Father because I put them on their mind even though they’ve never met you and don’t know you. But you will never be alone as long as you are part of My kingdom.

Not so with those who fail to come to Me in repentance and allow Me to live in them. They may have people surround them that call them friend. But when the money runs out or the times get hard, those friends disappear. When you really need them, they are gone. At when the end of time comes, you are truly alone. You find yourself away from Me, away from God, isolated from everyone and everything. Truly alone with no means of comfort. No means of support. No one who cares for you. Only eternal torment – alone.

Do My words seem harsh? Not when you think of the alternative. Do whatever it takes to make it into My kingdom. Don’t let anything keep you from Me. Sacrifice anything you need to sacrifice to remain true to My word and remain on the path I lay out in front of you. The suffering you endure here will seem as nothing compared to the incomprehensible riches you receive when you come into My glory at the end of the age. Trust Me, you won’t be sorry with your decision to follow Me at all costs.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Walk on water (Matthew 14:22-36), November 23, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 14:22-36

Set – Matthew 14-15

Go! – Psalms 134; Matthew 14-16

Matthew 14:22-36
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on to the other side of the sea while He dismissed the crowd. 23 Then, after the crowd had gone, Jesus went up to a mountaintop alone (as He had intended from the start). As evening descended, He stood alone on the mountain, praying.
24 The boat was in the water, some distance from land, buffeted and pushed around by waves and wind. 25 Deep in the night, when He had concluded His prayers, Jesus walked out on the water to His disciples in their boat. 26 The disciples saw a figure moving toward them and were terrified.
Disciple: It’s a ghost!
Another Disciple: A ghost? What will we do?
Jesus: 27 Be still. It is I. You have nothing to fear.
Peter: 28 Lord, if it is really You, then command me to meet You on the water.
Jesus: 29 Indeed, come.
Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water and began walking toward Jesus. 30 But when he remembered how strong the wind was, his courage caught in his throat and he began to sink.
Peter: Master, save me!
31 Immediately Jesus reached for Peter and caught him.
Jesus: O you of little faith. Why did you doubt and dance back and forth between following Me and heeding fear?
32 Then Jesus and Peter climbed in the boat together, and the wind became still. 33 And the disciples worshiped Him.
Disciples: Truly You are the Son of God.
34 All together, Jesus and the disciples crossed to the other side of the sea. They landed at Gennesaret, an area famous for its princely gardens. 35 The people of Gennesaret recognized Jesus, and they spread word of His arrival all over the countryside. People brought the sick and wounded to Him 36 and begged Him for permission to touch the fringes of His robe. Everyone who touched Him was healed.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Two things I want you to notice from what you heard today. First, take note of My prayer schedule and its importance to Me. I talked to the Father for long periods of time and I talked to Him often. I plan to talk with Him several times a day, but sometimes that plan is interrupted. When it is, that doesn’t stop Me from spending time with Him. When the crowds found Me praying on the sea shore and interrupted My quiet time with the Father, I stopped and met their needs.

I spoke to the crowd from the shore until the crowd grew so large I had to get into a boat so all could hear Me. At the end of the day, I sent the crowd away and sent My disciples ahead of Me across the Sea of Galilee to Gennesaret. I went back up on the mountainside to a quiet place to resume My conversation with My Father. Although the day had been long and the disciples departed without Me, time with the Father was more important than rest. I spent the evening hours and stayed deep into the night talking with Him.

The second thing I want you to remember is Peter’s actions. Remember that a disciple when I walked the earth was one who became like his teacher. He studied under his teacher until he dressed like him, talked like him, adopted his habits and mannerisms. In essence, a disciple became the next generation’s copy of his teacher to carry on the legacy of his teacher.

With that thought in mind, think about Peter and all the other disciples crowded in that boat in those early hours of the morning. Only one of those men chose to be enough like Me to climb out of the boat into the darkness and walk on the water. Only one overcame his fear and put enough faith in Me to be like Me in those few moments. Did he later fail and fear the waves and begin to sink? Yes, he did. But Peter was the only one at that point in our journey together to do what I was doing at the moment and forget everything else around him. Peter alone disregarded everything he thought was truth and believed me enough to get out of the boat. When he did, he walked on the water, just like Me.

So, spend time talking with Me. A lot of time. Never sacrifice the time you should spend with Me. It’s important. And when you spend time with Me, you’ll do amazing things. You might even do some things you never imagined you would ever do. You might even end up doing things as remarkable as Peter, like walking on the water to Me. You just never know.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Watch truth unfold (Matthew 13:1-23), November 22, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 13:1-23

Set – Matthew 12-13

Go! – Matthew 11-13

Matthew 13:1-23
1 That same day, Jesus left the house and went to sit by the sea. 2 Large crowds gathered around Him, and He got into a boat on the sea and sat there. The crowd stood on the shore waiting for His teaching.
3 And so Jesus began to teach. On this day, He spoke in parables. Here is His first parable:
Jesus: Once there was a sower who scattered seeds. 4 One day he walked in a field scattering seeds as he went. Some seeds fell beside a road, and a flock of birds came and ate all those seeds. 5 So the sower scattered seeds in a field, one with shallow soil and strewn with rocks. But the seeds grew quickly amid all the rocks, 6 without rooting themselves in the shallow soil. Their roots got tangled up in all the stones. The sun scorched these seeds, and they died. 7 And so the sower scattered seeds near a path, this one covered with thorny vines. The seeds fared no better there—the thorns choked them, and they died. 8 And so finally the sower scattered his seeds in a patch of good earth. At home in the good earth, the seeds grew and grew. Eventually the seeds bore fruit, and the fruit grew ripe and was harvested. The harvest was immense—30, 60, 100 times what was sown.
9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Disciples: 10 Why do You speak to the people in parables?
Jesus: 11 The knowledge of the secrets of heaven has been given to you, but it has not been given to them. 12 Those who have something will be given more—and they will have abundance. Those who have nothing will lose what they have—they will be destitute. 13 I teach in parables so the people may look but not see, listen but not hear or understand. 14 They are fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy:
You will listen, but you will not understand;
you will look, but you will not see.
15 The people’s hearts have turned to flab;
their ears are clogged;
their eyes are shut.
They will try to see, but they will not see;
they will try to hear, but they will not hear;
they will try to understand, but they will not comprehend.
If they, with their blindness and deafness, so choose, then I will heal them.
16-17 Many holy prophets and righteous men and women and people of prayer and doers of good have wanted to see but did not see, and have wanted to hear but did not hear. Your eyes and ears are blessed.
18 This is what the parable of the sower means. 19 It is about the kingdom of heaven. When someone hears the story of the Kingdom and cannot understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away whatever goodness and holiness had been sown in the heart. This is like the seeds sown beside the road. 20-21 You know people who hear the word of God and receive it joyfully—but then, somehow, the word fails to take root in their hearts. It is temporary. As soon as there is trouble for those people, they trip: those people are the seeds strewn on the rocky soil. 22 And you know people who hear the word, but it is choked inside them because they constantly worry and prefer the wealth and pleasures of the world: they prefer drunken dinner parties to prayer, power to piety, and riches to righteousness. Those people are like the seeds sown among thorns. 23 The people who hear the word and receive it and grow in it—those are like the seeds sown on good soil. They produce a bumper crop, 30 or 60 or 100 times what was sown.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Do I hide knowledge from you? Why would I tell My disciples about Isaiah’s prophecy that “though seeing, they will not see; though hearing, they will hear; though understanding, they will not comprehend”? Do you think I hide knowledge from you?

No. But Satan often pulls a veil over your eyes so that the truth seems camoflagued. The lies you’ve heard for so long cause you not to see the truth right in front of you. It’s like looking for the hidden face in a picture. It’s not really hidden at all and once you see it, you can’t help be see it every time you look at the picture. In fact, it’s the first thing you see when you look at the picture.

When you to come to Me in faith, I can open your eyes to the truth. Sometimes your prejudices, your past, your own experiences get in the way of the truth. As Isaiah says, you can see the truth right in front of you, but not see it, like camoflague. But once you let My Spirit in you open your eyes, you can see it clearly. I give you new eyes. I transform your mind. I let you see the way I see. Truth opens up to you and you begin to understand as never before.

Exercise your faith in Me and see if truth doesn’t unfold in front of you.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Faith and righteousness (Matthew 8:1-13), November 21, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 8:1-13

Set – Matthew 8-9

Go! – Matthew 8-10

Matthew 8:1-13
1 Large crowds followed Jesus when He came down from the mountain. 2 And as Jesus was going along, a leper approached Him and knelt down before Him.
Leper: Lord, if You wish to, please heal me and make me clean!
Jesus (stretching out His hand): 3 Of course I wish to. Be clean.
Immediately the man was healed.
Jesus: 4 Don’t tell anyone what just happened. Rather, go to the priest, show yourself to him, and give a wave offering as Moses commanded. Your actions will tell the story of what happened here today.
5 Eventually Jesus came to the little town of Capernaum. In Capernaum a military officer came to Him and asked Him for help.
Officer: 6 Lord, I have a servant who is lying at home in agony, paralyzed.
Jesus: 7 I will come to your house, and I will heal him.
Officer: 8 Lord, I don’t deserve to have You in my house. And, in truth, I know You don’t need to be with my servant to heal him. Just say the word, and he will be healed. 9 That, after all, is how authority works. My troops obey me whether I am next to them or not—similarly, this sickness will obey You.
10 Jesus was stunned by the depth of the officer’s faith.
Jesus (to His followers): This is the plain truth: I have not met a single person in Israel with as much faith as this officer. 11 It will not be just the children of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob who celebrate at their heavenly banquet at the end of time. No, people will come from the East and the West—and those who recognize Me, regardless of their lineage, will sit with Me at that feast. 12 But those who have feigned their faith will be cast out into outer darkness where people weep and grind their teeth.
13 Then Jesus turned to the Centurion.
Jesus: You may go home. For it is as you say it is; it is as you believe.
And the officer’s servant was healed, right then.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Matthew comes back to a story of faith. He tells a lot of stories of faith because that is a center piece of righteousness. Many think righteousness has to do with how you behave, the rules you keep, the church you attend. It doesn’t. None of those things make you a righteous person. Go back and read about Abraham and what made him righteous. He didn’t have any rules. Remember? He came before the Law. Moses didn’t come around for another 400 years!

And how about Job. It wasn’t his behavior that made him righteous before Me. After he lost everything he had, he couldn’t do much more than grovel in the ashes. He couldn’t do any of the things he did with the wealth he had before Satan attacked him, but I still said he was righteous before Me. So it’s not about behavior.

It certainly isn’t about your church. Did you know there are probably child molestors and adulterers and murderers in your denomination and maybe in your congregation. They’re pretty invisible to most people. So it isn’t about the church you attend. That doesn’t matter much to Me. They all have their faults because they all have people in them. They all have hypocrits in them.

Righteousness is all about faith and who you put your faith in. The Centurion got it right. He put his faith in Me. I had not seen faith like his until that point in My earthly ministry. He understood. I didn’t have to go to his house. All I needed to do was say the words and his servant would be healed. He understood authority and had faith that I held authority over the disease that touched his servant. That’s faith. It’s not hard. It’s just believing that I can do what I say I can.

That’s what righteousness is all about. Believing in Me. Believing I am who I say. Believing I can make you into the person I created you to be. Believing I died to pay the penalty you owe for your sins. Believing because of My death on the cross, I have the power and authority to forgive you. And when you exercise that little bit of faith, I can transform your life. I can take away the guilt and the stain of sin in your life and show you a better way to live. I can teach you real love. I can help you to love God and love others in ways you cannot understand until your sins have been washed away by My blood.

Believe in Me. Exercise your faith in Me. Abraham learned I counted him as righteous because of that faith. I will do the same for you and everyone who will do the same. Righteousness is something I give you. Just believe.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.