Author Archives: Agee

The power of His Spirit is love (Ephesians 3), June 7, 2015

Today’s Podcast

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 3
Set – Psalms 18; Ephesians 3
Go! – Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalms 18; Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3
¹ All this is exactly why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Jesus the Anointed, His representative to the outsider nations. ² You have heard, haven’t you, how God appointed me to bring you His message of grace? ³ And how the mystery was made known to me in a revelation? I briefly wrote about it earlier. ⁴ When you read what I have written, you will be better able to understand the depth of my insight into the mystery of the Anointed One, ⁵ a mystery that has never before been shown to past generations. Only now are these secrets being revealed to God’s chosen emissaries and prophets through the Holy Spirit. ⁶ Specifically, the mystery is this: by trusting in the good news, the Gentile outsiders are becoming fully enfranchised members of the same body, heirs alongside Israel, and beneficiaries of the promise that has been fulfilled through Jesus the Anointed.

⁷ I became a servant and preacher of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace as He exercised His amazing power over me. ⁸ I cannot think of anyone more unworthy to this cause than I, the least of the least of the saints. But here I am, a grace-made man, privileged to be an echo of His voice and a preacher to all the nations of the riches of the Anointed One, riches that no one ever imagined. ⁹ I am privileged to enlighten all of Adam’s descendants to the mystery concealed from previous ages by God, the Creator of all, through Jesus the Anointed. ¹⁰ Here’s His objective: through the church, He intends now to make known His infinite and boundless wisdom to all rulers and authorities in heavenly realms. ¹¹ This has been His plan from the beginning, one that He has now accomplished through the Anointed One, Jesus our Lord. ¹² His faithfulness to God has made it possible for us to have the courage we need and the ability to approach the Father confidently. ¹³ So I ask you not to become discouraged because I am jailed for speaking out on your behalf. In fact, my suffering is something that brings you glory.

¹⁴ It is for this reason that I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ after whom all families in heaven above and on earth below receive their names, and pray:

¹⁶ Father, out of Your honorable and glorious riches, strengthen Your people. Fill their souls with the power of Your Spirit ¹⁷ so that through faith the Anointed One will reside in their hearts. May love be the rich soil where their lives take root. May it be the bedrock where their lives are founded so that together ^18-19 with all of Your people they will have the power to understand that the love of the Anointed is infinitely long, wide, high, and deep, surpassing everything anyone previously experienced. God, may Your fullness flood through their entire beings.

²⁰ Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, ²¹ to Him be all glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Once again I want you to examine Paul’s prayer. He understood what makes My children different from the rest of the world. He asks that I fill your souls with the power of My Spirit and make love the rich soil where your lives take root. And that you will have the power to understand that My love surpasses anything you have ever experienced in your lives.

You see, the old song that says love makes the world go ‘round got it right. The phrase really is true. Everything I do comes about because of My infinite love for you. The discipline I must give to help you mature, the good gifts I bestow on you, the sacrifices I make for you, everything that I do comes from My spirit of love that drives Me. I am love.

You can experience that love and even demonstrate that love to others when My Spirit lives in you. Some will tell you it’s not possible to live that kind of life, but My word tells you different. My word tells you to be holy, because I am holy. I don’t give you commands you can not keep. But you can only keep them by the power of My spirit in you.

I told you when I was with you I would send My Spirit to live with you and live in you to empower you for right living. So many want to let My Spirit live with them, but not in them. Don’t let that be you. Let Me take control of your life. Listen to Me constantly. Let Me guide your every move. Let Me direct your thoughts. As Paul talks about in his letter to the Romans, let Me transform your mind so that you think like Me.

The transformation comes by letting Me fill you completely. Dying to self and living for Me. It’s that becoming a living sacrifice Paul tells you about in that same letter. Letting go of the selfish desires that come to you and listening to what I have in store for you. Pushing away the desires that the world says you should just automatically satisfy and disciplining yourself to live as I would have you live.

Can you do it? Yes, with the power of My Spirit in you. I will help you succeed. I will strengthen you. Just stop and ask Me. I will show you how.

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.

Building a place for God (Ephesians 2:11-22), June 6, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 2:11-22
Set – Ecclesiastes 3; Ephesians 2
Go! – Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalms 45; Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:11-22
¹¹ So never forget how you used to be. Those of you born as outsiders to Israel were outcasts, branded “the uncircumcised” by those who bore the sign of the covenant in their flesh, a sign made with human hands. ¹² You had absolutely no connection to the Anointed; you were strangers, separated from God’s people. You were aliens to the covenant they had with God; you were hopelessly stranded without God in a fractured world. ¹³ But now, because of Jesus the Anointed and His sacrifice, all of that has changed. God gathered you who were so far away and brought you near to Him by the royal blood of the Anointed, our Liberating King.

¹⁴ He is the embodiment of our peace, sent once and for all to take down the great barrier of hatred and hostility that has divided us so that we can be one. ¹⁵ He offered His body on the sacrificial altar to bring an end to the law’s ordinances and dictations that separated Jews from the outside nations. His desire was to create in His body one new humanity from the two opposing groups, thus creating peace. ¹⁶ Effectively the cross becomes God’s means to kill off the hostility once and for all so that He is able to reconcile them both to God in this one new body.

¹⁷ The Great Preacher of peace and love came for you, and His voice found those of you who were near and those who were far away. ¹⁸ By Him both have access to the Father in one Spirit. ¹⁹ And so you are no longer called outcasts and wanderers but citizens with God’s people, members of God’s holy family, and residents of His household. ²⁰ You are being built on a solid foundation: the message of the prophets and the voices of God’s chosen emissaries with Jesus, the Anointed Himself, the precious cornerstone. ²¹ The building is joined together stone by stone—all of us chosen and sealed in Him, rising up to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In Him you are being built together, creating a sacred dwelling place among you where God can live in the Spirit.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Prejudice never seems to go away among My highest creation. For some reason, humankind in all its array of colors, sizes, and shapes knows each of its individual race obviously attains the highest level among the races. But that’s just not true. I made them all. Some races have had more advantages than others through the centuries. Some races because of prejudices tried to destroy others. It didn’t work because I won’t let it, but they tried nonetheless.

The cross puts and end to all that when you let it. My love reaches across the racial boundaries and once for all sets aside the petty differences humankind sets in place to distinguish between nations, races, sects, and other groups. The cross makes clear My love for all races. All men and women. Everyone, everywhere.

When I split the veil in the Temple at My death and became the perfect sacrifice for all humankind, I ended the divide between Jews and non-Jews, olive-skinned, dark-skinned, pale-skinned, whatever colored skinned. I died so everyone could be forgiven. All that needs happen is you accept the gift of My forgiveness. Like any gift, though, it must be accepted before it is yours.

When you accept My gift of salvation, you become part of My new kingdom. You become part of that building Paul talks about. Person by person, you act as the stones that build upon the sure foundation of the cross that build a mighty temple in which My Spirit can live and act.

So imagine yourself as one of those stones in a mighty castle or temple. Imagine what happens if you crumble or remove yourself from your place in the wall. The wall weakens. If enough of those stones decide they no longer want to remain faithful to the task of doing their part of maintaining the strength of the wall, the wall crumbles and falls and other stones fall with you.

You see, your part in the structure is important. You might be part of an outer wall for all the world to see or part of a basement supporting wall or one of the inner walls that few will ever notice, but your part in supporting My structure is important. I need you to fulfill the task I’ve given you. And as you’ll remember in ancient structures, every stone is different. No two stones are cut exactly alike. The master mason carefully places each stone to optimize the strength of the wall. That’s what I do with you. I place you where and when I need you most.

Don’t think your placement is accidental. Don’t think I didn’t know what I was doing when I created you. Don’t think My plan is too hard for you or beneath you. My task for you is the one best suited for you at this moment and brings the most glory to 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.

Pray before you read (Ephesians 1:14-23), June 5, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 1:14-23
Set – Proverbs 31; Psalms 33; Ephesians 1
Go! – Proverbs 30-31; Psalms 33; Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:14-23
¹⁴ as the guarantee toward the inheritance we are to receive when He frees and rescues all who belong to Him. To God be all praise and glory!

¹⁵ This is why, when I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus that is present in your community and of your great love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I haven’t stopped thanking Him for you. I am continually speaking to Him on your behalf in my prayers. Here’s what I say:

¹⁷ God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You. ¹⁸ Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. ¹⁹ Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.

Friends, it is this same might and resurrection power that ²⁰ He used in the Anointed One to raise Him from the dead and to position Him at His right hand in heaven. There is nothing over Him. ²¹ He’s above all rule, authority, power, and dominion; over every name invoked, over every title bestowed in this age and the next. ²² God has placed all things beneath His feet and anointed Him as the head over all things for His church. ²³ This church is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is a good one to start your devotions. I hear your prayers. I want to answer them. When you open your heart the way Paul suggests in his prayer for the Ephesians you will begin to understand who I am and what I can do for you. Listen to his request again.

“Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You. Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.”

When you open My word, pray that prayer. Before your pastor begins his message, pray that prayer. When you meditate on Me and what I have for you, pray that prayer. But instead of them and their, make the prayer personal. Replace those words with your name.

I want to open My word to you. I want you to understand what I have to tell you through My word. I don’t keep secrets from you or make My interests in you or my tasks for you difficult to find. I want to have a personal relationship with you that you know is real and vibrant. That only comes if you spend time with Me and you let Me make My word clear to you.

Paul understood the confusion that abounded in the city of Ephesus. These new Christians were surrounded by false prophets who said they needed to abide by the traditions and laws I laid out for the Israelites. That’s not the command I had for them.

Gnostics tried to spoil the gospel with their belief that the spirit and body were wholly separate and you could behave in any way you wanted with your flesh as long as your spirit remained pure. That isn’t true either. You are one entity until you die and your spirit finds itself in one place dictated by the behavior you exhibited in your earthly shell.

Animists tried to convince these new Christians that God was in everything and the idols they worshiped had supernatural powers and so deserved their worship. Again, not so. I am everywhere, but not in everything. I am God with three personalities, functions, manifestations – Father, Son, and Spirit.

I am beyond understanding, but My message to you is not. So pray for understanding. Pray for wisdom. Pray for discernment. Pray that My truth will flood your mind, soul, and spirit so that you will revel in glory of My presence with you and in you. Understand I will guide you if you let Me. I will lead you into perfect peace, if you will follow Me. I will give you riches the world doesn’t know, if you will be My child.

Put Paul’s prayer in your place of devotion. Put it in the Bible you carry to church. Put it in your prayer journal. Put it in a place you will refer to it often and pray that prayer for your self and those around you whenever My word opens before 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.

Tidbits of wisdom to live by (Proverbs 29), June 4, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Proverbs 29
Set – Proverbs 29; Romans 16
Go! – Proverbs 28-29; Psalms 60; Romans 16

Proverbs 29
¹ The one who remains defiant after repeated reprimands
will suddenly be shattered, and there will be no remedy for him.
² When just leaders are in power, the citizens celebrate;
but when evil people gain control, their joys become moans.
³ An adult who loves wisdom and follows its ways gives his parents joy,
but one who hangs out with women of the street will lose everything.
⁴ A king brings stability to a land with his justice,
but one who makes unjust demands brings it to ruin.
⁵ The one who flatters his friend
is laying a trap that will catch his friend’s feet.
⁶ An evil person is sure to be trapped by his sin,
but a man who lives right is free to sing and be glad.
⁷ The just get involved with the poor and know their issues,
but the wicked cannot comprehend such concerns.
⁸ Mockers stir up a city and inflame passions,
but the wise know how to put out the fire and ease tensions.
⁹ When the wise go to court against a fool,
there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.
¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men despise those who are honest,
but the just find a way to help them.
¹¹ A fool does not think before he unleashes his temper,
but a wise man holds back and remains quiet.
¹² When it is known that a ruler listens to the words of liars,
soon he will have only scoundrels for advisors.
¹³ A poor man and his oppressor have this in common:
the Eternal created them and provides both with light and life.
¹⁴ The king who is fair in his treatment of the poor
will see his dynasty continue forever.
¹⁵ Corporal punishment and correction produce wisdom,
but a child left to follow his own willful way shames his mother.
¹⁶ When evil people are free to flourish, sin is on the rise,
but the just will surely see their destruction.
¹⁷ If you discipline your children, they will make your life easier
and refresh your soul.
¹⁸ Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild,
but those who adhere to God’s instruction know genuine happiness.
¹⁹ Words are not enough to correct a servant;
even if he understands, he will not respond.
²⁰ Have you ever met someone who is overly eager to talk?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
²¹ If you indulge your servant from early in life,
in the end it won’t go well for either of you.
²² A hot-head provokes quarrels,
and one mastered by anger commits all kinds of sins.
²³ A person’s pride brings him down,
but one of humble spirit has a firm hold on honor and respect.
²⁴ Anyone who teams up with a thief must despise his own life,
for he is bound by an oath to tell the truth and yet refuses.
²⁵ If you fear other people, you are walking into a dangerous trap;
but if you trust in the Eternal, you will be safe.
²⁶ Many people vie for special treatment from a ruler,
yet genuine justice proceeds from the Eternal.
²⁷ The right-living are disgusted by the actions of the unjust;
likewise, the wicked are disgusted by the ways of the righteous.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I’ve given you in these words, more tidbits of wisdom to live by. They are so simple, yet so profound. These are worth teaching to your children early in life and helping them live them daily by living them yourself as an example.

Take for instance the proverb, “A fool does not think before he unleashes his temper, but a wise man holds back and remains quiet.” If you can hold back you temper and teach your children to do the same, they will be much more likely to succeed in the world. Those who rant and let their rage rule their voice will not get ahead in life. Their attempts to intimidate by their volume will not go far.

Or how about, “If you discipline your children, they will make your life easier and refresh your soul.” Have you ever watched the parents who failed to discipline their children from an early age? By the time they’re toddlers it’s almost too late. If children haven’t learned self-discipline before their teenage years, trying to start then is almost impossible for you. It can only happen with My intervention and few teenagers want My intervention at that point.

And here’s one you see lived out every day. “The right-living are disgusted by the actions of the unjust; likewise, the wicked are disgusted by the ways of the righteous.” That explains the growing divide you see between the righteous and the religious today. It explains the riff that grows between those who abide by My commandments and those who try to dismiss them to suit their own pleasures.

This last proverb explains the chasm only the cross can bridge as people finally see their sinful life against the purity of My spotless sacrifice. But when you see it and reach out to Me, I bridge the gap and forgive. I bring you into a renewed relationship with Me so you can live a righteous life as I created you to live.

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.

Love brings unity (Romans 15:1-13), June 3, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 15:1-13
Set – Proverbs 27; Romans 15
Go! – Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15

Romans 15:1-13
¹ So now what? We who are strong are not just to satisfy our own desires. We are called to carry the weaknesses of those who are not strong. ² Each of us must strive to please our neighbors, pursuing their welfare so they will become strong. ³ The Anointed One Himself is our model for this kind of living, for He did not live to please Himself. And as the Scriptures declared, “When they insult You, they insult me.” ⁴ You see, everything written in the days of old was recorded to give us instructions for living. We find encouragement through the Scriptures and a call to perseverance that will produce hopeful living. ⁵ I pray that our God, who calls you and gives you perseverance and encouragement, will join all of you together to share one mind according to Jesus the Anointed. ⁶ In this unity, you will share one voice as you glorify the one True God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, our Liberating King.

⁷ So accept one another in the same way the Anointed has accepted you so that God will get the praise He is due. ⁸ For, as I am fond of saying, the Anointed One has become a servant of the Jews in order to demonstrate God’s truth. Effectively this confirms the promises He made to our ancestors ⁹ and causes the non-Jewish nations to glorify God for His mercy. As the Scriptures say,

For this I will praise You among the nations
and sing praises to Your name.
¹⁰ Again the Scriptures say,

Nations, celebrate with His covenant people.
¹¹ And again,

Praise the Lord, all nations.
Raise your voices, all people; let your praises flow to God.
¹² Again Isaiah says,

Then, the root of Jesse will emerge—
He rises to rule all the peoples of the world
who come to Him for guidance and direction.
In Him they place their hope.
¹³ I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul spends a lot of time in his letter to the Romans talking about unity in the church, acceptance of people unlike yourself. Recognizing that the inviolate laws I laid down for you are few and simple based on just two, love Me and love others. If you keep these two you will keep the rest.

Love others and love Me and you will have unity. Love looks past differences. Love doesn’t care about the color of skin or the nationality of people. Love looks past language and culture. Love just sees people and their hurts, like Jesus did. Love sees the potential in the lowest of people and the highest of them.

Love looks to embrace all men and women in every station of life. Because love knows everyone needs love and love springs best from a heart guided by My Spirit. Until filled with and guided by My Spirit, people work for selfish motives and love extended works toward selfish ends. But once guided by My Spirit, love takes on a different role in the life of My children.

All My children begin to see others as I see them. You begin to see the potential I see in those around you. You begin to see into the hearts of the hurting souls that cry out for attention in the world you touch. You see opportunities to share what I am doing for you and what I can do for them.

Love changes everything…and brings everything together.

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.

Laws or convictions? (Romans 14), June 2, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 14
Set -Proverbs 24; Romans 14
Go! – Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14

Romans 14
¹ It’s high time that you welcome all people weak in the faith without debating and disputing their opinions.

² Here’s the issue: One person believes that nothing’s off the menu; he’ll eat any food put before him. But there’s another believer—we’ll call him the weaker—who eats only vegetables because the meat is tainted through contact with an idol. ³ If you are an eater of all things, do not be condescending to your vegetarian brother or sister. In turn, those who abstain from certain foods on religious principles should not judge your brothers and sisters who eat meat—if God has accepted them, you have no reason to reject them. ⁴ How could you think for a moment that you have the right to judge another person’s servant? Each servant answers to his own Master, and he will either stand or fall in His presence. The good news is that he will stand because the Master is able to make it so.

⁵ There may be a believer who regards one day as more sacred than any other, while another views every day as sacred as the next. In these matters, all must reach their own conclusions and satisfy their own minds. ⁶ If someone observes a day as holy, he observes it in honor of the Lord. If another eats a particular diet, he eats in honor of the Lord since he begins by giving thanks! If yet another abstains from that same food, he abstains out of respect for the Lord and begins his meal by thanking God too. ⁷ The truth is that none of us live for ourselves, and none die for ourselves. ⁸ For if we live, we live for the Lord. If we die, we die for the Lord. So in both life and death, we belong to the Lord. ⁹ The Anointed One, the Liberating King, died and returned to life to make this a reality: through His death and resurrection, He became Lord of the living and the dead.

¹⁰ So how is it that you continue to judge your brother? How is it possible for you to look down on a sister? We will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹ For it is written,

“As I live, so I promise,” says the Lord, “every knee will bow down to Me.
Every tongue will confess to God.”
¹² So every one of us, regardless of our eating habits, should expect to give an account for our own lives to God.

¹³ In light of this, we must resolve never to judge others and never to place an obstacle or impediment in their paths that could cause them to trip and fall. ¹⁴ Personally I have been completely convinced that in Jesus, our Lord, no object in and of itself is unclean; but if my fellow believers are convinced that something is unclean, then it is unclean to them. ¹⁵ If the food you eat harms your brother, then you have failed to love him. Do not let what you eat tear down your brother; after all, the Anointed laid down His life for him. ¹⁶ Do not allow people to slander something you find to be good ¹⁷ because the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking. When God reigns, the order of the day is redeeming justice, true peace, and joy made possible by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ You see, those who serve the Anointed in this way will be welcomed into the whole acceptance of God and valued by all men. ¹⁹ Join us, and pursue a life that creates peace and builds up our brothers and sisters.

²⁰ Do not sacrifice God’s work for the sake of certain foods. It is true that all things are clean, but it’s wrong to eat if you know that eating something will cause offense. ²¹ It is right for you to abstain from certain meats and wine (or anything else for that matter) if it prevents your brother from falling in his faith. ²² Hold on to what you believe about these issues, but keep them between you and God. A happy man does not judge himself by the lifestyle he endorses. ²³ But a man who decides for himself what to eat is condemned because he is not living by his faith. Any action not consistent with faith is sin.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Why do you get so hung up on insignificant things? If you think about the laws I gave the Israelites about eating before they crossed the desert, you’ll recognize those laws kept them safe from disease and sickness. There are no refrigerators in the desert. Meat spoils quickly and the scavengers I prohibited them from eating pick up the diseases from the animals they eat.

I gave the Israelites rules about eating and washing for two reasons. First, to keep them healthy and second, as a discipline to help them in their daily disciplines to Me. Do they still apply? For some, they are convicted by My Spirit to keep the laws, but not by all. I hold some to different different disciplines and different requirements than others. Not because the things I want you to avoid are necessarily evil in themselves, but because I know those things can lead you down a spiral of temptation and sin.

Take for instance alcohol. Some are prone to easy addiction. Perhaps you come from a family that drinks alcohol heavily or you carry within you a genetic code that makes you more prone to addictions than another person. If so, I know about it but you may not. For your protection from strong drink, I will have My Spirit convict you of drinking any alcohol at all to protect you from sliding down the slippery slope of alcohol addiction. For another person, I might not give those same directions, although I do command them not to drink to excess.

What I do ask of all people is that you not offend your brothers and sisters by the personal convictions I give you. I give you disciplines that protect you because I know you better than you know yourself. When I give them to you, don’t disobey Me by breaking the commands I give you personally. But don’t expect others to live by your convictions. Know the difference between the laws and convictions. Get into My word and understand My love and the freedom that comes by living in My Spirit. Let Me guide you in all things.

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.

All authority comes from God (Romans 13), June 1, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 13
Set – Proverbs 20; Romans 13
Go! – Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

Romans 13
¹ It is important that all of us submit to the authorities who have charge over us because God establishes all authority in heaven and on the earth. ² Therefore, a person who rebels against authority rebels against the order He established, and people like that can expect to face certain judgment. ³ You see, if you do the right thing, you have nothing to be worried about from the rulers; but if you do what you know is wrong, the rulers will make sure you pay a price. Would you not rather live with a clear conscience than always have to be looking over your shoulder? Then keep doing what you know to be good and right, and they will publicly honor you.

⁴ Look at it this way: The ruler is a servant of God called to serve and benefit you. But he is also a servant of God executing wrath upon those who practice evil. If you do what is wrong, then you’d better be afraid because he wields the power of the sword and doesn’t make empty threats.

⁵ So submission is not optional; it’s required. But don’t just submit for the sake of avoiding punishment; submit and abide by the laws because your conscience leads you to do the right thing. ⁶ Pay your taxes for the same reason because the authorities are servants of God, giving their full attention to take care of these things. ⁷ Pay all of them what you owe. If you owe taxes, then pay. If you owe fees, then pay. In the same way, give honor and respect to those who deserve it.

⁸ Don’t owe anyone anything, with the exception of love to one another—that is a debt which never ends—because the person who loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commands given to you in the Scriptures—do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not take what is not yours, do not covet—and any other command you have heard are summarized in God’s instruction: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Does love hurt anyone? Absolutely not. In fact, love achieves everything the law requires.

¹¹ And now consider this. You know well the times you are living in. It is time for you to wake up and see what is right before your eyes: for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. ¹² The darkness of night is dissolving as dawn’s light draws near, so walk out on your old dark life and put on the armor of light. ¹³ May we all act as good and respectable people, living today the same way as we will in the day of His coming. Do not fall into patterns of dark living: wild partying, drunkenness, sexual depravity, decadent gratification, quarreling, and jealousy. ¹⁴ Instead, wrap yourselves in the Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed, and do not fuel your sinful imagination by indulging your self-seeking desire for the pleasures of the flesh.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I’m always surprised by the number of people who want to revolt against the authorities I allow to sit in power over them. They forget that no one sits in seats of power unless I allow it. No election surprises Me. No person in a place of authority shocks Me. No one who wields power moves Me from My throne.

I still know what goes on in every country, every state, every city around the world. I allow people to sit in seats of power for a reason. Sometimes it’s to bring peace and order to the people they govern. Sometimes I use people who sit in positions of power to punish another nation’s people who have grown cold in their love for Me or their fellow man.

Occasionally, I will put someone in a place of authority to punish the people of their own land because of their apostasy. But rest assured I always have a reason for allowing the person to hold their position of authority. It’s never an accident. You may never understand the reason why, but you’re not Me. You don’t have the infinite wisdom I have and cannot see into the future to know why I allow the events to unfold as I do.

You can read the Old Testament and see how I used kings and nations to reward and punish My chosen people and the nations around them. Reading their histories might help you understand I’m always in charge. I never make mistakes. And I use a variety of tools and instruments, sometimes even politics to meet My ends.

You can trust that I know what I’m doing by sometimes allowing unbelievers, even evil people, to hold positions of authority. But ultimately, they too will answer to Me for their actions. I may use them to further My ends, but they still make the choices to act the way they do.

So, in the end, obey the authorities over you. I allow them to be there. Obey Me. And trust Me to help you through even the most corrupt governments. They are only there at My pleasure after all.

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.

Trust God to carry you through (Proverbs 16), May 31, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Proverbs 16
Set – Proverbs 16; Romans 12
Go! – Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12

Proverbs 16
¹ People go about making their plans,
but the Eternal has the final word.
² Even when you think you have good intentions,
He knows your real motives.
³ Whatever you do, do it as service to Him,
and He will guarantee your success.
⁴ The Eternal made everything for a reason.
Even wrongdoers fit in His plans; troubled times await them.
⁵ He abhors arrogant people.
Make no mistake about it! They will be punished!
⁶ The penalty of sin is removed by love and loyalty;
and by devotion to the Eternal, evil is avoided.
⁷ When people make good choices, He is pleased;
He even causes their enemies to live peacefully near them.
⁸ Better to have little and stand for what is right
than to become rich by doing what is wrong.
⁹ People do their best making plans for their lives,
but the Eternal guides each step.
¹⁰ The king makes a decision under divine inspiration,
but he must never render an unfair judgment.
¹¹ The Eternal requires that business be conducted honestly;
He wants fairness in all your dealings.
¹² When kings commit evil, it is despicable,
because their thrones should be built on justice.
¹³ Kings admire those who tell the truth;
they adore those who set the record straight.
¹⁴ A king’s rage signals that people will die,
but whoever is wise will pacify him.
¹⁵ If a king is smiling brightly, life will be granted;
his favor is like a cloud swelled with the first spring rain.
¹⁶ How much better it is to receive wisdom than the riches of gold
and to gain understanding over some silver prize!
¹⁷ The highway of the just bypasses evil;
those who watch where they’re going protect their lives from sin.
¹⁸ Pride precedes destruction;
an arrogant spirit gives way to a nasty fall.
¹⁹ It is better to be humble and live among the poor,
than to divide up stolen property with the proud.
²⁰ Those devoted to instruction will prosper in goodness;
those who trust in the Eternal will experience His favor.
²¹ The wise at heart have a reputation for understanding;
pleasant words make the lips more persuasive.
²² Understanding for those who have it is a spring of life,
but it is pointless to try and instruct a fool.
²³ From a wise heart flow careful words;
wise words make the lips more persuasive.
²⁴ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb:
they drip sweet food for life and bring health to the body.
²⁵ Before every person lies a road that seems to be right,
but at the end of that road death and destruction wait.
²⁶ People work to stay alive,
pressed daily by their need to eat.
²⁷ Good-for-nothings conjure up evil ideas;
their conversations fuel destructive fires.
²⁸ Perverse people stir up contention;
gossip makes best friends into enemies.
²⁹ Violent people try to recruit their neighbors,
wanting to lead them down the vile path of evil they have chosen.
³⁰ Body language can expose a person’s intentions:
whoever winks the eye is planning perversity;
whoever purses his lips is intent on evil.
³¹ Gray hair is a crown of honor,
earned by living the right kind of life.
³² It is better to be a patient man than a mighty warrior,
better to be someone who controls his temper than someone who conquers a city.
³³ We may try to control the roll of the dice,
but actually, the Eternal decides what they will determine.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You just heard a lot of good pieces of advice from if you’ll take them to heart. Things like young people should listen to people who have life experience. They know a little bit about what you’re going through. Times really haven’t changed as much as you think.

Violence is contagious. You’ve seen it recently in America as mobs took to the streets in some of your major cities in response to violence. You see how mobs react and how peaceful protests turn violent with just the spark of one blow thrown.

Look at the aftermath of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters and you see the truth in “people work to stay alive; pressed daily by their need to eat.” When hunger strikes people will do almost anything for a crust of bread.

But in the proverbs you heard, probably the most important is the first one in this chapter. “People go about making their plans, but I have the final word.” You have no promise of the future. You have this moment. That’s all. I want you to plan for the future. I want you to stay diligent in caring for those in your responsibility. Don’t cry the sky is falling and quit all your activities in planning for the tomorrow. But remember life is really just a breath and is gone.

Make right choices knowing that I have the final word in everything you plan. Also know that I will do what is best for you and what brings glory to Me. You may not think it best at the moment, but trust Me. I might let you go through pain and suffering for a moment in time, but I know the end results. I know what you’re going through and I’m with you to the end. I know your future and you can trust that I know what you need in your life for each moment.

The final word is mine. Trust Me as your God and Savior to carry you through this life into the next well.

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.

Choices, choices, choices! (Romans 11:25-36), May 30, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 11:25-36
Set – Proverbs 14; Romans 11
Go! – Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11

Romans 11:25-36
²⁵\ My brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be in the dark about this mystery—I am going to let you in on the plan so that you will not think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has been hardened to the good news until the full number of those outside the Jewish family have entered in. ²⁶ This is the way that all of Israel will be saved. As it was written, so it also stands:

The Deliverer will come from Zion;
He will drive away wickedness from Jacob.
²⁷ And this is My covenant promise to them,
on the day when I take away their sins.
²⁸ It may seem strange. When it comes to the work of the gospel, the fact that they oppose it is actually for your benefit. But when you factor in God’s election, they are truly loved because they descended from faithful forefathers. ²⁹ You see, when God gives a grace gift and issues a call to a people, He does not change His mind and take it back. ³⁰ There was a time when you outsiders were disobedient to God and at odds with His purpose, but now you have experienced mercy as a result of their disobedience. ³¹ In the same way, their disobedience now will make a way for them to receive mercy as a result of the mercy shown to you. ³² For God has assigned all of us together—Jews and non-Jews, insiders and outsiders—to disobedience so He can show His mercy to all.

³³ We cannot wrap our minds around God’s wisdom and knowledge! Its depths can never be measured! We cannot understand His judgments or explain the mysterious ways that He works! For,

³⁴ Who can fathom the mind of the Lord?
Or who can claim to be His advisor?
³⁵ Or,

Who can give to God in advance
so that God must pay him back?
³⁶ For all that exists originates in Him, comes through Him, and is moving toward Him; so give Him the glory forever. Amen.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Centuries ago I gave a wanderer named Abraham a mission. I asked him to uproot his family and travel to a place he’d never been before. I asked him to follow My directions and I would make his family more numerous than the stars in the sky. I promised him all nations of the world would be blessed through him.

Abraham did what I asked, mostly. He erred along the way and some of the blessings I wanted to give to other nations were curtailed because of his failure to remain completely honest with those leaders. Still his family grew and through his children the world was blessed.

His descendants had the same mission, to bless others through following My directives, My instructions. They forgot their mission, though. They became selfish and hoarded My love instead of spreading it to others. They failed to spread My grace generously and suffered for it.

I came in the flesh to redeem My people once again. I died as a sacrifice for them and for the rest of humankind. I wanted all the nations to understand My desire to bring everyone into a relationship with Me. They didn’t understand My message or My mission and put Me on a cross.

The circumstances that played out from those faithful few that listened to My message and believed in Me spread My good news across Asia Minor, Africa, and Europe and within not long a span all around the globe. Persecution drove My children from one city to another but they couldn’t help but tell the story to others and the news spread.

As My chosen nation rejected Me, My good news spread to every other nation and thousands accepted Me as Lord and Savior. And the number of people who believe in Me continues to grow as persecution continues. There has never been more persecution than today. There have never been more Christian martyrs than today. I’m not talking about name calling or legislation not going your way.

The persecution I’m talking about takes the form of beatings, taking homes, businesses, even children from parents because of believing in Me. Look at what ISIS does to believers. That’s persecution. Look at what Christians face in Somalia. That’s persecution. It happens all over the world. People sold out to Me willingly lose everything because they know what happens next.

Abraham, My Apostles, those in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, and thousands since discovered the joy of serving Me in the face of severe persecution. They knew the short time of suffering in this life is nothing compared to the reward they receive in following Me. It’s time to choose which side you will live on – Mine or the world’s. One leads to eternal life, one leads to never ending death and destruction. I think it’s an easy choice. My followers know they made the right choice.

Which path will you follow? Time is running out to decide.

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.

Do you know what He did? (Romans 10:5-21), May 29, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 10:5-21
Set – Proverbs 12; Romans 10
Go! – Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10

Romans 10:5-21
⁵ Moses made this clear long ago when he wrote about what it takes to have a right relationship with God based on the law: “The person devoted to the law’s commands will live by them.” ⁶ But a right relationship based on faith sounds like this: “Do not say to yourselves, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’” (that is, to bring down the Anointed One), ⁷ “or, ‘Who will go down into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring the Anointed One up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it actually say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the good news we have been called to preach to you). ⁹ So if you believe deep in your heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and if you voice your allegiance by confessing the truth that “Jesus is Lord,” then you will be saved! ¹⁰ Belief begins in the heart and leads to a life that’s right with God; confession departs from our lips and brings eternal salvation. ¹¹ Because what Isaiah said was true: “The one who trusts in Him will not be disgraced.” ¹² Remember that the Lord draws no distinction between Jew and non-Jew—He is Lord over all things, and He pours out His treasures on all who invoke His name ¹³ because as Scripture says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ How can people invoke His name when they do not believe? How can they believe in Him when they have not heard? How can they hear if there is no one proclaiming Him? ¹⁵ How can some give voice to the truth if they are not sent by God? As Isaiah said, “Ah, how beautiful the feet of those who declare the good news of victory, of peace and liberation.” ¹⁶ But some will hear the good news and refuse to submit to the truth they hear. Isaiah the prophet also says, “Lord, who would ever believe it? Who would possibly accept what we’ve been told?” ¹⁷ So faith proceeds from hearing, as we listen to the message about God’s Anointed.

¹⁸ But let me ask this: have my people ever heard? Indeed, they have:

Yet from here to the ends of the earth, their voice has gone out;
the whole world has heard what they have to say.
¹⁹ But again let me ask: did Israel perhaps hear and not understand all of this? Well, Moses was the first to say,

I will make you jealous with a people who are not a nation.
With a senseless people I will anger you.
²⁰ Then Isaiah the fearless prophet says it this way:

I was found by people who did not seek Me;
I showed My face to those who never asked for Me.
²¹ And as to the fate of Israel, God says,

All day long I opened My hands
to a rebellious people, who constantly work against Me.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Do you know someone who needs Me in their life? Do you really believe Me when My words says that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”? Now think of that someone again. Put that person’s face in your mind. Make his or her feature very clear for a moment. Do you want them to be eternally lost or do you want them to find Me?

I hope your immediate response was to find Me. To know Me as their personal Lord and Savior. If that wasn’t your immediate response, please find an altar for yourself quickly! My will, My desire is that all would come to know Me as Lord and Savior. Everyone. Everywhere. In every nation of the world. I don’t want to exclude anyone from My salvation. But each individual makes their own choice.

Now picture that person once more. Listen to Paul’s words again. “How can people invoke My name when they do not believe? How can they believe in Me when they have not heard? How can they hear if there is no one proclaiming Me? How can some give voice to the truth if they are not sent by Me?”

I’m giving you a mission. Proclaim Me to that person. You don’t need to preach. You don’t need to know the Five Spiritual Laws. You don’t need to memorize five books of the Bible before you talk to him or her. I just want you to tell them one thing you know I did for you this week. That’s it. Just in conversation, tell them, “You know what God did for me this week? He…”

Tell them that one thing I did for you. That’s not so hard to do. But it proclaims Me. It opens doors. It plants seeds. It begins to let you witness My hand on your life. It prompts them to let My Spirit work within them. It may begin the process of them letting Me become their Lord and Savior. Can you take that tiny little step to save that someone from eternal separation from Me? “How can they believe if no one tells them?” Can you be the one who tells them the good news about Me in your life? I can do the same for them. Be My instrument of life for someone you know and love.

You don’t even need to worry about whether they believe. Many that listened to Me didn’t believe. But they heard My words and made their choice. You are not responsible for their choice, but when I give you a mission, you are responsible for the mission. Who did I lay at your feet today? Maybe you should pick up the phone!

As Isaiah said, “Ah, how beautiful the feet of those who declare the good news of victory, of peace and liberation.”

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.