Category Archives: devotional

Love is a choice, not an emotion (1 Corinthians 13), Mar 28, 2015

Today’s Podcast

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Corinthians 13
Set – Psalms 39, 41; 1 Corinthians 13
Go! – Judges 4-5; Psalms 39, 41; 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13
¹ What if I speak in the most elegant languages of people or in the exotic languages of the heavenly messengers, but I live without love? Well then, anything I say is like the clanging of brass or a crashing cymbal. ² What if I have the gift of prophecy, am blessed with knowledge and insight to all the mysteries, or what if my faith is strong enough to scoop a mountain from its bedrock, yet I live without love? If so, I am nothing. ³ I could give all that I have to feed the poor, I could surrender my body to be burned as a martyr, but if I do not live in love, I gain nothing by my selfless acts.

⁴ Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; ⁵ it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs ⁶ or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight! ⁷ Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what. ⁸ Love will never become obsolete. Now as for the prophetic gifts, they will not last; unknown languages will become silent, and the gift of knowledge will no longer be needed. ⁹ Gifts of knowledge and prophecy are partial at best, at least for now, ¹⁰ but when the perfection and fullness of God’s kingdom arrive, all the parts will end. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke, thought, and reasoned in childlike ways as we all do. But when I became a man, I left my childish ways behind. ¹² For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things, as when we stare into polished metal. I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture. But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face. In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God. ¹³ But now faith, hope, and love remain; these three virtues must characterize our lives. The greatest of these is love.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Listen carefully. This is what it’s all about. I created humankind to have loving relationships with Me and with each other. The church is all about love. My coming in human flesh and dying on the cross is all about My love for you. The entirety of the Bible echoes My love for My highest creation and My plan to redeem fallen humankind.

Today’s problem is that love has been hijacked by the entertainment world and made it something I never meant it to become. The cheap lust that the world substitutes for real love continues to pull people, young and old, into its clutches. But My intentions for men and women were much higher than the temporary pleasures Satan uses to tempt lost souls.

Read Paul’s description of real love in several different translations and let its meaning soak into your heart. Understand what I want from you as you relate to one another. I want you to love Me and love one another with the conscious, deliberate love Paul describes. It’s not an emotion, it’s an action. It’s a decision you make when you love one another. Here’s that description again to show you it’s not an emotion.

“Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight! Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what. Love will never become obsolete.”

I gave Paul these words because love is an action, a practice, a purpose, a choice you make every day with those around you. You can love your spouse, children, and family. You can love your brothers and sisters in Christ. You can also love your enemies. How? Because love is a choice, an action, a purpose, a practice you exercise each day. With My help, there is no one you cannot love. And remember what I told you in My word. If you cannot love your brother whom you can see, you cannot love Me whom you cannot see.

It might not be a bad idea to put this part of Paul’s letter in a place you can read it every day for a week to remind yourself what I want from you in your relationship with Me and each other. Give it try and see where you might be falling short.

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 a task for you (1 Corinthians 12:12-31), Mar 27, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Set – Judges 2; 1 Corinthians 12
Go! – Judges 1-3; 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12:12-31
¹² Just as a body is one whole made up of many different parts, and all the different parts comprise the one body, so it is with the Anointed One. ¹³ We were all ceremonially washed through baptism together into one body by one Spirit. No matter our heritage—Jew or Greek, insider or outsider—no matter our status—oppressed or free—we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Here’s what I mean: the body is not made of one large part but of many different parts. ¹⁵ Would it seem right for the foot to cry, “I am not a hand, so I couldn’t be part of this body”? Even if it did, it wouldn’t be any less joined to the body. ¹⁶ And what about an ear? If an ear started to whine, “I am not an eye; I shouldn’t be attached to this body,” in all its pouting, it is still part of the body. ¹⁷ Imagine the entire body as an eye. How would a giant eye be able to hear? And if the entire body were an ear, how would an ear be able to smell? ¹⁸ This is where God comes in. God has meticulously put this body together; He placed each part in the exact place to perform the exact function He wanted. ¹⁹ If all members were a single part, where would the body be? ²⁰ So now, many members function within the one body. ²¹ The eye cannot wail at the hand, “I have no need for you,” nor could the head bellow at the feet, “I won’t go one more step with you.” ²² It’s actually the opposite. The members who seem to have the weaker functions are necessary to keep the body moving; ²³ the body parts that seem less important we treat as some of the most valuable; and those unfit, untamed, unpresentable members we treat with an even greater modesty. ²⁴ That’s something the more presentable members don’t need. But God designed the body in such a way that greater significance is given to the seemingly insignificant part. ²⁵ That way there should be no division in the body; instead, all the parts mutually depend on and care for one another. ²⁶ If one part is suffering, then all the members suffer alongside it. If one member is honored, then all the members celebrate alongside it. ²⁷ You are the body of the Anointed, the Liberating King; each and every one of you is a vital member. ²⁸ God has appointed gifts in the assembly: first emissaries, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, and then those who speak with various unknown languages. ²⁹ Are all members gifted as emissaries? Are all gifted with prophetic utterance? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Or are all gifted in healing arts? Do all speak or interpret unknown languages? Of course not. ³¹ Pursue the greater gifts, and let me tell you of a more excellent way—love.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I really want everyone involved in the work of My church. There are a handful of leaders in a congregation that I’ve given the skills to manage the business of the church. But I don’t expect them to do everything because I didn’t give them the skills to do everything. I gave pastors the gift of preaching My word, sharing the good news of what I can and will do for you. But I didn’t give them all the skills necessary to fulfill all the responsibilities I planned for My church.

Today, too many parishioners think they only need to warm a seat in the sanctuary and they fulfilled their responsibility to Me. That thought is so far from the truth. I gave each individual in the congregation just the right skills and talents I need to help My church complete all I want it to complete. When everyone gets involved with the skills I gave them, the very gates of hell can not hold it back from the success I have for it.

The problem most churches have is you’ve told yourselves for too long that the work is someone else’s responsibility. Since when did that work ethic become part of My plan? You may not be gifted in teaching, but if you’re not, that’s probably not the job I had in mind for you anyway. Standing in front of a crowd might make you want to faint. If so, I probably didn’t give you the gift of preaching.

Perhaps, though, you have a tremendous knack for carpentry. I gave it to you for a reason. Would it hurt you to give some of that talent to support My church or the people I direct you to help? Maybe you are at the top of your league in some sport. Could you spare some time for some of the kids in your neighborhood to teach them some of your skills…for Me? I gave you those talents for a reason. I want you to use them to carry out My plan for you.

You see, it takes all kinds of talents to carry out the plans I have for your particular congregation. I have a job for every single individual there. I just need you to get on board and recognize the skills you possess came from Me for My purposes. I have plans for you, individually and collectively. When all of you work together to build My church and My kingdom, amazing things can happen. But when you try to let a few carry the load, they don’t have all the skills they need, no matter how hard they try.

It’s time for you to pitch in and do your part. Did you ever think about tithing your time to Me? Remember, I want your living sacrifice much more than I want your money or material goods. Everything in the world is Mine, so I don’t need your money. I gave you particular talents because I want you. I want your time. I want your commitment to the plans I have for 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.

You must choose each day (Joshua 24:11-28), Mar 26, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Joshua 24:11-28
Set – Joshua 24; Psalms 44
Go! – Joshua 23-24; Psalms 44; 1 Corinthians 11

Joshua 24:11-28
¹¹ When you crossed over the Jordan into the land of Canaan and came to Jericho, the leaders of Jericho fought against you. So did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I gave them all into your power.

¹² I sent hornets ahead of you to run off the two kings of the Amorites; it was not done by your bow or sword. ¹³ I delivered to you fields you had not worked and towns you had not built, yet today you live in them. You eat the fruit of olive trees and of grape vineyards you did not even have to plant.”

¹⁴ So remember: fear the Eternal and serve Him sincerely and faithfully. Put away from you any gods your ancestors served across the Euphrates River or in Egypt, and serve only Him. ¹⁵ If you decide that you’re not willing to serve Him, then today is the day for you to choose whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors bowed to in the land beyond the great River, or the gods of the Amorites whose country you possess. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Eternal.

People of Israel (responding): ¹⁶ Nothing could be further from our minds than abandoning the Eternal to serve other gods. ¹⁷ We know that the Eternal One our God rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. We remember that He performed all those great signs in front of us. He protected us from the people we passed as we traveled. ¹⁸ And we know that He removed the Amorites and all the peoples who lived in Canaan. We, too, will serve the Eternal One, for He is our True God.

Joshua (warning them): ¹⁹ If you think you will be able to serve the Eternal, you are wrong. He is a holy God and a jealous God; He will not tolerate your shortcomings and your sins. ²⁰ If you desert Him and worship these foreign gods, He will fall upon you and totally consume you, even though He has done all this great good for you.

People of Israel: ²¹ All the same, we choose to serve the Eternal.

Joshua: ²² All right, then. You are witnesses—against yourselves, if it comes to that—that you have made this choice to serve the Eternal.

Israel: We are witnesses to it.

Joshua (repeating): ²³ Then you must put all other gods away from you and turn your hearts to the Eternal God of Israel.

Israel: ²⁴ We will serve the Eternal One, our God, and we will obey His voice.

²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem and gave them statutes and ordinances to obey. ²⁶ Joshua wrote the words in the scroll of the law, and he had a large stone set up underneath the oak tree near the Eternal’s holy place.

Joshua (to all the people): ²⁷ This stone will also be a witness to your vow. It has heard all the words the Eternal spoke to us, so it will be a witness if you turn your backs on your True God.

²⁸ So he sent the people away, back to the lands He had given them.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Everyone must make a choice about whether they will follow Me. Joshua made the choice early in his life while assisting Moses in the Exodus of Israel from the bonds of slavery in Egypt. Then as Joshua neared the end of his life, he called on the rest of the Israelites to make a choice for themselves. They did. But they didn’t keep their covenant with Me.

Joshua tried everything he could to remind the people of their promise to follow Me. He wrote the covenant on a scroll. He had a memorial stone erected under an oak tree near the tabernacle where they worshipped Me. He called all the elders together and had them and all the people personally vow their allegiance to Me.

Joshua gave all of them the consequences that would follow if they failed to keep their vow and the rewards they would gain if they kept it. Still, over time they forgot what they pledged and fell away from Me and began to worship the pagan gods of the nations I defeated for them. It’s truly a wonder to Me as to why they would trust the idols of the lands I defeated instead of trusting Me after I clearly showed My power over them. But they did.

You must make a choice also. And just as with the Israelites, you will find yourselves bombarded by a host of other gods that try to sway you from worshipping Me. Today’s gods don’t appear as idols of wood, stone, or silver, though. Today, Satan has become more subtle in his attempts to gain humankind’s attention. The most sought after god of the world today finds itself in the form of money and material goods.

Men, women, and young people around the world seek material goods and socio-economic status as their prime objective rather than pleasing Me. They chase the dollar and the things they think will earn them more. They worship money instead of Me. People give themselves to the pursuit of making more regardless of what it takes to do so. They sacrifice almost anything to accumulate more things that won’t last and in so doing, give up what is really important.

Families become secondary. Spiritual growth becomes unimportant. Support to others becomes a waste of hoarded resources in their eyes. Relationships are built only for what they can provide rather than for the joy of the relationship. The world turned My creation upside down for so long that what I ask of you seems topsy-turvy. But trust Me. Following My way leads to real life. Real joy. Real peace. Real riches. Just try 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.

Exit signs and work ethics (1 Corinthians 10:12-33), Mar 25, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Corinthians 10:12-33
Set – Psalms 47; 1 Corinthians 10
Go! – Joshua 21-22; Psalms 47; 1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 10:12-33
¹² So let even the most confident believers remember their examples and be very careful not to fall as some of them did.

¹³ Any temptation you face will be nothing new. But God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. But He always provides a way of escape so that you will be able to endure and keep moving forward. ¹⁴ So then, my beloved friends, run from idolatry in any form. ¹⁵ As wise as I know you are, understand clearly what I am saying and determine the right course of action. ¹⁶ When we give thanks and share the cup of blessing, are we not sharing in the blood of the Anointed One? When we give thanks and break bread, are we not sharing in His body? ¹⁷ Because there is one bread, we, though many, are also one body since we all share one bread. ¹⁸ Look no further than Israel and the temple practices, and you’ll see what I mean. Isn’t it true that those who eat sacrificial foods are communing at the altar, sharing its benefits? ¹⁹ So what does all this mean? I’m not suggesting that idol food itself has any special qualities or that an idol itself possesses any special powers, ²⁰ but I am saying that the outsiders’ sacrifices are actually offered to demons, not to God. So if you feast upon this food, you are feasting with demons—I don’t want you involved with demons! ²¹ You can’t hold the holy cup of the Lord in one hand and the cup of demons in the other. You can’t share in the Lord’s table while picking off the altar of demons. ²² Are we trying to provoke the Lord Jesus? Do we think it’s a good idea to stir up His jealousy? Do we have ridiculous delusions about matching or even surpassing His power?

²³ There’s a slogan often quoted on matters like this: “All things are permitted.” Yes, but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted,” they say. Yes, but not all things build up and strengthen others in the body. ²⁴ We should stop looking out for our own interests and instead focus on the people living and breathing around us. ²⁵ Feel free to eat any meat sold in the market without your conscience raising questions about scruples ²⁶ because “the earth and all that’s upon it belong to the Lord.”

²⁷ So if some unbelievers invite you to dinner and you want to go, feel free to eat whatever they offer you without raising questions about conscience. ^28-29 But if someone says, “This is meat from the temple altar, a sacrifice to god so-and-so,” then do not eat it. Not so much because of your own conscience [because the earth and everything on it belongs to the Lord], but out of consideration for the conscience of the other fellow who told you about it. So you ask, “Why should I give up my freedom to accommodate the scruples of another?” ³⁰ or, “If I am eating with gratitude to God, why am I insulted for eating food that I have properly given thanks for?” These are good questions.

³¹ Whatever you do—whether you eat or drink or not—do it all to the glory of God! ³² Do not offend Jews or Greeks or any part of the church of God for that matter. ³³ Consider my example: I strive to please all people in all my actions and words—but don’t think I am in this for myself—their rescued souls are the only profit.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I want you to focus on two things you heard from Paul’s letter today; first, about temptation and second, about your actions and words.

So many today think they cannot live the life I’ve asked you to live. They forget I’ve sent My Spirit to live inside you to give you assistance. I can help you and guide you. I can give you the strength you need to withstand temptation, but most often I give you a way of escape. What most people do, though, is fail to look for the way of escape. Instead, they try to withstand the blast from Satan in their own strength and fail.

I always give you an escape, but too many fail to look for the exit sign. The best way to keep from yielding to the temptations of life is to find the exits and run as fast as you can. Remember, I always make a way of escape for you. Take it!

The second thing so many forget today is to do everything for My glory. When your aim focuses on My outcomes instead of your own, giving glory to Me instead gaining glory for yourself you will prosper more than you can imagine. You may not gain prosperity as the world measures it, but you might. I might entrust you with the riches of the world as I did Abraham, Joseph, Solomon, and others. But I will certainly give you other riches like the internal peace that only comes by knowing your spirit is secure in Me.

In his letter, Paul talks about eating and drinking, not offending others by your actions. But if you’ll operate with the thought in mind to give Me glory by your actions, you’ll never have a problem with trying to figure out what you should do. Just ask Me the question. “What would Jesus do in the this situation?” You’ll get your answer and you’ll give Me glory in your actions and in your words.

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.

Vengeance belongs to God (Joshua 20), Mar 24, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Joshua 20
Set – Joshua 20; 1 Corinthians 9
Go! – Joshua 18-20; 1 Corinthians 9

Joshua 20
¹Then the Eternal One spoke to Joshua.

Eternal One: ² Tell the Israelites, “You must set apart cities of refuge, as I directed you through Moses, ³ so that anyone who accidentally or unintentionally kills a person may flee there. These cities shall be set up as a refuge from anyone seeking blood revenge. ⁴ If the slayer flees to one of these cities, he can stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain the case to the elders of that city; then the fugitive will be taken into the city and given a place, and he will live among them. ⁵ If the person seeking to avenge in blood comes after him, the people of the city may not give up the slayer since the neighbor was killed by mistake and there was no premeditation or prior hatred. ⁶ The slayer may remain in that city until there is a trial before the congregation. And when the high priest who currently holds the office dies, then the slayer may return home to the town from which he fled.”

⁷ So they set apart and consecrated Kedesh in Galilee (in the hill country of Naphtali), Shechem (in the hill country of Ephraim), and Kiriath-arba (Hebron, in the hill country of Judah). ⁸ Beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer (in the desert plateau from the tribe of Reuben), Ramoth in Gilead (from the tribe of Gad), and Golan in Bashan (from the tribe of Manasseh). ⁹ These, then, were the cities set aside to be sanctuaries for all the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who killed a person accidentally could flee there and not die at the hands of someone seeking blood revenge until there was a trial before the congregation.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Vengeance is Mine. It was true during the most violent times of ancient biblical history and is still true today. The laws that meet out punishment for crime is necessary to keep order in society, but ultimately, I will dole out the appropriate punishment for the sins and evil of the world. Vengeance is and always will be Mine and belongs to no one else.

You might say, “But you don’t know what he or she did to me.” Yes I do. I know all things. Still, vengeance belongs to Me alone. That’s the reason I set out the cities of refuge in the early days of the nation of Israel. I wanted reason and justice to prevail, not the heated emotions that follow an action. I know the motive and intent of men’s hearts and so I own the final say in giving the punishment due each, not you.

I didn’t want family members to conduct mock trials and hold the blood of the innocent on their hands because of rash decisions made in the heat of the moment. The cities of refuge reduced that opportunity and placed it into a more just system. Witnesses must prove guilt before priests who I would hope would also consult Me before making their final decisions about the guilt or innocence, and punishments given to accused.

Laws changed through the years and you no longer go out and kill those who wrong you. But I’ve see society at work. You can kill in more ways than with knives and guns. Words can ruin and destroy people just as easily as weapons. You can cut as deeply as a dagger with your words and ruin reputations with just a few sentences on a piece of paper or a few characters in an email. But remember, vengeance is Mine, not yours.

There are no more cities of refuge. I wish there were. I wish I could take all the times people exact revenge on another person, separate them, and put one into a city of refuge until real believers can consult Me on what should be done. What a different world it would be! How much violence, gossip, and discord would decrease if I could do it!

Think about the cities of refuge the next time you think you’ve been wronged and want revenge. Remember vengeance is Mine, not yours. Don’t let yourself get trapped by your emotions and do something you’ll regret. I’m the Avenger. Vengeance is Mine…always. Let Me handle the outcome. I will, trust Me. Yes, I want all to come to saving knowledge of Me and have their sins forgiven, but I also know best how to deal with the consequences, the guilt, the restitution, the punishment in this life and the next. I am the one who can bring justice to the world. After all, I give you My grace and you don’t deserve it either. All have sinned and come short of My glory. But I am the giver of grace and mercy. I am also the deliverer of justice and wrath.

Vengeance is Mine, not yours.

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.

You are your brother’s keeper (1 Corinthians 8), Mar 23, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Corinthians 8
Set – Joshua 17; 1 Corinthians 8
Go! – Joshua 15-17; 1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians 8
¹ As to the concern of eating food dedicated to idols: we know that all of us have knowledge, but knowledge can be risky. Knowledge promotes overconfidence and worse arrogance, but charity of the heart (love, that is) looks to build up others. ² Just because a person presumes to have some bit of knowledge, that person doesn’t necessarily have the right kind of knowledge. ³ But if someone loves God, it is certain that God has already known that one.

⁴ So to address your concerns about eating food offered to idols, let me start with what we know. An idol is essentially nothing, as there is no other God but the One. ⁵ And even if the majority believes there are many so-called gods in heaven and on earth (certainly many worship such “gods” and “lords”), this is not our view. ⁶ For us, there is one God, the Father who is the ultimate source of all things and the goal of our lives. And there is one Lord—Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King; through Him all things were created, and by Him we are redeemed.

⁷ But this knowledge is not in everyone. Up until now, some have been so familiar with idols and what goes on in the temples that when they eat meat that has been offered first to some idol, their weak consciences are polluted. This is the issue. ⁸ Again, here’s what we know: what we eat will not bring us closer to God—we gain nothing in feasting and lose nothing by fasting. ⁹ Now let me warn you: don’t let your newfound liberty cause those who don’t know this to fall face-first. ¹⁰ Let’s say a person (someone who knows of Jesus) sees you eating in the temple of an idol; and because the person with a weaker conscience is still unsure of things, he becomes confident, follows your lead, and eats idol food. ¹¹ Now, because of your knowledge on display in your conduct, the weaker brother or sister—for whom the Anointed One died—is destroyed! Ruined! ¹² What’s more, by living according to your knowledge, you have sinned against these brothers and sisters and wounded their weak consciences—and because you sinned against them, you have sinned against the Anointed One, the Liberating King.

¹³ So if any type of food is an issue that causes my brothers and sisters to fall away from God, then God forbid I should ever eat it again so that I would never be the crack, the rise, or the rock on the road that causes them to stumble.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul’s words seem to cause a lot of people discomfort and discord in the church today. Some go much too far on the side of anything not specifically prohibited in My word is permissible. That’s clearly not what I want from you. Others go too far the other way and declare anything that in any way might cause anyone any kind of disturbance must be banned. This too is not what I want from you.

I inspired Paul to write the words. I want you to help your brothers and sisters grow in Me. That means discipling them. I expect you to help them eventually grow to understand that what they eat doesn’t mean anything. Idols don’t mean anything. What is dedicated to senseless pieces of wood and stone mean nothing. But I also know that it sometimes takes time to change from an infant to an adult spiritually just as it does to grow from an infant to an adult physically.

Just as you would help a child grow to maturity by keeping them from dangerous activities at an early age, I expect you to keep my infant children from things that are dangerous spiritually. For instance, you don’t let children play with fire or knives. So don’t entice my spiritual children with things that may become harmful to them in their infancy. That’s the message Paul shares with his readers.

Today, the problem may not be food dedicated to idols. The problem might look like soccer practice instead of prayer meeting. A night at the movies instead of a night at the church’s revival service. Sunday on the lake instead of Sunday in worship. None of the former are bad and in some instances might even be necessary at times. But when they cause one of My spiritual infants to fall because of your behavior and their lack of discipleship, I have a problem.

You see, just as with Cain and Abel, you are your brother’s keeper. I expect you to do everything you can to help each other grow in your understanding of Me and My kingdom. How will you help your brothers and sisters this week through your actions and your words?

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 does the impossible (Joshua 14:6-15), Mar 22, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Joshua 14:6-15
Set – Joshua 14; 1 Corinthians 7
Go! – Joshua 12-14; 1 Corinthians 7

Joshua 14:6-15
⁶ Some members of the tribe of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal, including Caleb, son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite.

Caleb (to Joshua): Remember what the Eternal said to Moses, the man of God, about you and me in Kadesh-barnea. ⁷ I was 40 years old when Moses, the Eternal’s servant, sent me out from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land of Canaan. I brought back an honest report. ⁸ The others who were sent as spies only discouraged the people and melted their hearts, but I obeyed the Eternal One, my God, completely. ⁹ At that time, Moses swore an oath to me: “Someday the land on which you have walked will be given to you and your children as an inheritance forever because you have been completely faithful to the Eternal One, my God.”

¹⁰ So here I am. The Eternal has spared my life these 45 years since He spoke this to Moses while Israel was in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old, ¹¹ still as strong today as I was when Moses sent me into this country, able to fight and able to work.

¹² So now I ask that you give me this hill country the Eternal spoke about on that day. You heard then how the Anakim were there with great fortified cities, and so they are still. Because the Eternal goes with me, I will drive them out, just as He has said.

¹³ So Joshua blessed Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and gave him Hebron as an inheritance. ¹⁴ Hebron belongs to the descendants of Caleb, son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, even now because he obeyed the Eternal God of Israel completely. ¹⁵ (In ancient times, Hebron was called Kiriath-arba after Arba, who was the greatest of the Anakim.) So that land was peaceful.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Caleb had a special place in the promised land because he had a special place in My kingdom. Of all the spies who went into Canaan to report on the land I would give the Israelites, only
Caleb told Moses My people should go in immediately and take it because I would be with them. All the other spies cowed to their fear of failure in the face of people bigger and better equipped for war than they. They forgot that God plus one is always a majority.

All but Caleb and Joshua forgot a few months earlier I delivered them from Pharaoh and the great Egyptian army. The Israelites didn’t lose a single person when I defeated Pharaoh’s army. I kept them safe, fed them, gave them water. I did miraculous things they saw with their own eyes, yet when they saw the size of the people in the land, they forgot Me and what I could do for them. Only Caleb and Joshua believed I could lead the Israelites to victory despite the odds against them in men’s eyes.

So Caleb, the Kenizzite, received his reward. He received all the land he spied out for the nation when he entered it forty years earlier. He also has a place in My kingdom. A place reserved for him in heaven. My servant did what I asked of him and will have a great reward because of his faithfulness among the unbelievers with whom he worked. He tried his best to convince others of who I am and what I can do. It wasn’t his fault they failed in their own faithfulness. Caleb did his part and will find his reward because of it.

The point is, trust Me. I can do all things. Something that looks impossible to you, if I’ve told you to do it, I’ll be with you and together we will make it happen. I just want you to allow yourself to be an instrument in My hands. I know what you are capable of much better than you. Remember I made you. I also know how best to use you to complete My plan on earth. So make yourself available to Me. That’s all you need to do. I’ll do the rest through you. Just believe in Me and let me take care of everything else.

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.

Know God’s voice (Joshua 9/3-25), Mar 21, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Joshua 9:3-25
Set – Joshua 9; 1 Corinthians 6
Go! – Joshua 9-11; 1 Corinthians 6

Joshua 9:3-25
³ But the people of Gibeon, who were Hivites, had a different idea when they heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai. ⁴ Knowing that Joshua might turn his attention to them next, they decided to use their wits, not their military might. They formed a delegation to serve as envoys and gathered the most worn-out sacks for their donkeys and worn-out, patched-up wineskins they could find. ⁵ They took some ragged sandals and patched them. They dressed in thread-bare clothes—all so it would look as though they had come from far away. Even the food they carried was dry and moldy, as though it had been carried a long distance.

⁶ These envoys went to Gilgal to meet with Joshua and the men of Israel.

Gibeonite Envoys (to Joshua and the men of Israel): We have traveled from a far country and beg you to make a treaty of peace with us.

Israelites: ⁷ How can we make a treaty with you? How do we know you aren’t from around here?

Gibeonite Envoys (to Joshua): ⁸ We are your servants.

Joshua: Who are you? Where do you come from?

Gibeonite Envoys: ⁹ Your servants have made the journey from a distant country because even there the name of the Eternal One your God is in the air. We have heard of what He did for you in Egypt ¹⁰ and what He did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan (King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth). ¹¹ So our elders gathered us together and directed us to take provisions for a long journey so we could tell you we are your servants. Please, we beg you, make a treaty with us.

¹² Look. Here is all that remains of our bread. It was fresh, warm from the oven, when we set out, but now it is nothing but mold and crumbs. ¹³ And these patched-up wineskins were new and full when we left home. And our clothes, our sandals are worn—you can see that we have traveled a very long way.

¹⁴ The leaders did not consult the Eternal. They broke bread with the messengers, ¹⁵ and Joshua offered them a treaty of peace, with the leaders of Israel swearing an oath to bind it.

¹⁶ Three days after they had sworn peace with these deceptive messengers, they discovered the visitors were Gibeonites from the land of Canaan, their neighbors, who, in fact, were living in part of the land God had promised the Israelites. ¹⁷ So the Israelites went to their cities: Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim on the third day, ¹⁸ but they did not attack them. Even though they had been tricked into making a treaty, an oath made in the name of the Eternal was sacred. The people of Israel grumbled and complained against their leaders, ¹⁹ but they replied to the entire congregation.

Leaders: Look, we have sworn an oath in the name of the Eternal God of Israel, and we must not touch them. ²⁰ If we attack them now and break our word, God’s anger will fall on us. Let them live and serve us.

²¹ So the leaders kept their promise to the Gibeonites who became servants of the entire congregation, cutting their wood and drawing their water.

²² Joshua summoned the Gibeonite leaders.

Joshua (to the Gibeonite leaders): Why did you lie to us? Why did you claim to be from far away when really you lived right here among us? ²³ Your lie comes with a curse. You will live, but you will always be our slaves, carrying our water and chopping wood for the sanctuary of my True God from now on.

Gibeonite Leaders (to Joshua): ²⁴ We knew for a fact that the Eternal One, your True God, had told His servant Moses that He would give you all of this land and that you would destroy all of the people in it. We were so afraid of you that this seemed the best thing to do. ²⁵ But now we are in your hands. Do to us what seems fair and just to you, and we will accept it.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You see what can happen when you don’t include Me in your decisions? Joshua and the rest of the Israelite elders didn’t ask Me about the Gibeonites when they came into the camp. They didn’t inquire about the treaty this “far-away” people wanted to make with them. They just looked at the outward appearance of the entourage, believed what they saw, and made a foolish judgment. But that’s the way with humankind.

Men and women can only see what’s on the outside. You can only judge what you can see. You can’t look inside the hearts and minds of the people you see and talk to every day. Consequently, unless you ask Me, your judgments can and often will be flawed. Until you learn to lean on Me for your decisions you’ll continue to find yourself in the same situation Joshua and the Israelites were, making bad choices and consequently suffering for them.

I can help you with that discernment. I can help you with your choices. I can help you understand the right paths to take and when you steer down the wrong one. I can help you stay clear of the dangerous connections. But you have to listen to Me. You have to begin to incorporate Me into your thought process for all those decisions. You have to recognize your inability to look into the hearts of men.

It’s not always easy to make the transition I’m asking you to make. It’s simple to say, but not always easy to execute. I’m asking you to give up ownership of you. Let Me take charge of your life…every part of it. From the most complex to the simplest decisions, include Me in the process. That’s the only way to know you’re on solid ground. But that’s okay. I want to become that involved in your life. I want to be there as your advisor. I want to so permeate your life that turning to Me for those decisions becomes a common, ordinary act for you.

How does it start? Get to know Me. Spend time with Me. I know all about you, but you need to know Me. You need to know My voice. Be able to recognize Me in the chatter of voices the world throws at you to pull you away from 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.

Taking My Name in vain is more than just using bad words (1 Corintians 5), Mar 20, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Corinthians 5
Set – Psalms 69; 1 Corinthians 5
Go! – Joshua 7-8; Psalms 69; 1 Corinthians 5

1 Corinthians 5
¹Because of my deep love for you, I must express my concern about the report brought to me regarding the lewd and immoral behavior exhibited in your community. This scandal has come to my attention because this kind of thing is unheard of even among the outsiders around us: I understand a man is having sexual relations with his father’s wife. ² You have turned into an arrogant lot who refuse to see the tragedy right in front of your eyes and mourn for it. If you would face these hard realities, the one living in this sin would be removed from the community.

³ Despite the fact that I am not physically present with you, I am there in spirit and already have spoken judgment against the man who has engaged in this conduct. ⁴ When you gather in the name of the Lord Jesus and I am present with you in spirit, and the infinite power of our Lord Jesus is present also, ⁵ I direct you to release this man over to Satan so his rebellious nature will be destroyed and his spirit might be rescued in the day the Lord Jesus returns.

⁶ Your proud boasting in this matter is terrible. Don’t you understand that the tiniest infraction can bring about an unwelcome chain of events? That just a little yeast causes all the dough to rise? ⁷ Get rid of all the old yeast; then you’ll become new dough, just as you are already a people without sin’s leavening influence. You see, the Anointed One is our Passover lamb; He has been sacrificed for us. ⁸ So let the real feast begin. Get rid of all the old yeast, the yeast of hatred and evil. Throw it out so we can feast on the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

⁹ In the letter I wrote to you previously, I made it clear that you are not to band together with those who have embraced immoral lives. ¹⁰ Don’t misunderstand; I’m not telling you to hole up and hunker down from the rest of the world. That’s impossible. The world is filled with immoral people consumed by their desire for more; they steal from one another without hesitation and will worship man-made idols with no shame at all. If you attempted to avoid these people, you would have to leave the world itself. ¹¹ What I was saying is that you should not associate with someone who calls himself a brother or sister but lives contrary to all we stand for: committing immoral sexual acts, consumed with desire for more, worshiping tangible lifeless things, using profanity, drinking into oblivion, swindling and cheating others. Do not even sit at the table with a person like this. ¹² Why would I ever attempt to judge those outside the church? Aren’t we called to judge those within the church? ¹³ God judges the outsiders. Your job is this: “Expel the wicked from your own community.”

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

In the early days of the church, it wasn’t popular to become a member. You literally put your life on the line to join. As the church grew, though, Satan did what he does best an began to use his lies to infiltrate even the sacred halls of the church. Some leaders began to want the wealth of some of their members more than they wanted the pure character of Christlike behavior.

Consequently, some, the wealthy or friends of the wealthy, were given…allowances…in following what My new covenant required of them. Paul recognized the problem and met it head on. The church is My church, not the pastor’s, not the board’s or council’s, not man’s. It is Mine. I expect the church to live as I want it to live. I want it to be an example to the world around it. His letter condemned the members at Corinth for putting up with the apostasy in their congregation.

The same apostasy happens in many of the churches around the world today. The church has become big business instead of the place of redeeming grace I want it to be. James talks about how the rich are given comfortable seats while the poor are dismissed or moved to the back of the room. Members allow inequities and injustices because they fail to recognize the importance of living for Me instead of for themselves. Selfishness creeps into the body and the lies of Satan make them think the money or skills of some are so important allowances must be made for their behavior.

The truth is My church doesn’t need the money of the apostate. I need the repentance of those living in hypocrisy. I need their attention and their understanding they are far from the kingdom. Their sin keeps them separated from Me and unless forgiven, they will never see My face.

It’s time to clean up My church. Does that mean I don’t want you to reach out to the lost and bring them in? No, I want you witness to them. I want you to share my message with them. I want you to introduce them to Me. I don’t want them to parade around as My followers until they have given themselves to Me, though. It soils My Name and My Name means something to Me. In fact, calling yourself by My Name and behaving in a way contrary to My decrees violates the Third Commandment. It uses My Name in vain! It tarnishes My reputation to a lost world. There are severe consequences for those actions. Don’t be a part of 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.

The other cheek lifestyle (1 Corinthians 4:1-13), Mar 19, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Corinthians 4:1-13
Set – Joshua 6; 1 Corinthians 4
Go! – Joshua 3-6; 1 Corinthians 4

1 Corinthians 4:1-13
¹Rather than power brokers, think of us as servants of the Anointed One, the Liberating King, caretakers of the mysteries of God. ² Because we are in this particular role, it is especially important that we are people of fidelity and integrity. ³ It makes little difference to me how you or any human court passes judgment on me. I even resist the temptation to compare myself to the ever-changing human standard. ⁴ Although I am not aware of any flaw that might exclude me from this divine service, that’s not the reason I stand acquitted—the only supreme judge, our Lord, will examine me in the proper time. ⁵ So resist the temptation to act as judges before all the evidence is in. When the Lord comes, He will draw our buried motives, thoughts, and deeds (even things we don’t know or admit to ourselves) out of the dark shadows of our hearts into His light. When this happens, the voice of God will speak to each of us the only praise that will ever matter.

⁶ Right now, brothers and sisters, the best thing I can do for you is to apply these principles to the situation with Apollos and me. Maybe we can show you the meaning of the saying, “not beyond the things written.” If you learn that, perhaps none of you will swell with pride because you fall into the seductive trap of pitting one against the other. ⁷ Is there any reason to consider yourselves better than others? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If you received it as a gift, why do you boast like it is something you achieved on your own?

⁸ Now let’s see if I have it straight. You suppose that you already have all you need. You already are rich and prosperous. And without us you’ve already begun to reign like kings. To be honest, I wish you did reign so that we could reign with you ⁹ because it seems to me that God has put His emissaries at the end of the line, like convicts in their final walk to certain death. We have become a spectacle to the rest of the world—to all people and heaven’s messengers. ¹⁰ We are nothing but fools for the cause of the Anointed One while you are wise in Him. Am I right? We are feeble and tired while you are mighty and full of life. You are well respected by others while we’re treated as contemptuous creatures by pretty much everyone everywhere. ¹¹ Up to this very minute, we are famished, we are thirsty, and our clothes are shabby, practically rotted to pieces. We are homeless, hapless wanderers. ¹² But still we labor, working with our hands to meet our needs because, despite all of this, when a fist is raised against us, we respond with a blessing; when we face violence and persecution, we stay on mission; and ¹³ when others choose taunts and slander against us, we speak words of encouragement and reconciliation. We’re treated as the scum of the earth—and I am not talking in the past tense; I mean today! We’re the scraps of society, nothing more than the foulest human rubbish.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

How do you get to the place Paul found himself as he wrote these words? “…when a fist is raised against us, we respond with a blessing; when we face violence and persecution, we stay on mission; and when other choose taunts and slander against us, we speak words of encouragement and reconciliation.”

I talked about turning the other cheek when someone strikes you, but is it possible to do so? Shouldn’t revenge come in there somewhere? Doesn’t vengeance play any part in the life of a follower? Look at what is happening to Christians around the world, can’t we defend ourselves?

Paul learned that he doesn’t have the power it takes to overcome the evil of the world. Were he to try to stop the violence, persecution, and slander aimed at him, it would only multiply. Paul never had the strength to stand against his enemies. He didn’t stand a chance against them. But I did. And I still do. When Paul was left for dead, I revived him. When Paul faced the critics in the arena, I gave him the words to say to counter their arguments. When Paul stood before kings, I spoke through him with just the right information so they were astounded with his knowledge.

Paul leaned on Me for his strength, wisdom, words, protection. He knew I would sty with him in whatever predicament he found himself. I promised never to leave him or forsake him. I’ll do the same for you. The promises I make to My children don’t differ much. I’m just and fair. Though life might not be fair, I am. So you can rest assured that I will stay with you whatever happens to you. I will remain with you in the happiest and the darkest of days. I will let you tap into the greatest power source available to get you through your troubles. Me.

You will astound your enemies because of Me. You will paralyze the greatest armies because of Me. Others will think you have some secret weapon. Me. Miracles will happen around you. You will be deemed different, odd, peculiar, strange, weird. You’ll be unlike the average person. You should, you’ll have God inside you directing you’re life. Just give Me all of you and you can experience what Paul experienced. Confident calm in the midst of the fiercest storms. Because I am in control of it all.

Learn of Me. Know Me. Invite Me into your life. You’ll never need to fear again.

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.