Devotionals

25January 2025

The GMO Gospel

By |January 25, 2025|Categories: Christ, Christlikeness, Gospel, Justice, Kingdom of God|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on The GMO Gospel

GMO stands for “Genetically Modified Organism”.  This is a practice that involves changing the genetics of a plant in order to alter some aspect of its nature for some desired end.  Genetically modified food is banned in parts of the world for health reasons.  Jesus, in the parable of the sower, tells how “The

24January 2025

I Belong to Jesus

By |January 24, 2025|Categories: Christ, Spirit|Tags: |Comments Off on I Belong to Jesus

We do not own Jesus; He owns us. “Does He have me?” is the better thought.  Is He my all in all!  Is He the highest point in my worship or, is my life consumed with other things that I value, want and crave?  If this is the case, then what I have is

22January 2025

Life Isn’t Fair

By |January 22, 2025|Categories: Character, Christ, Justice|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Life Isn’t Fair

Life was not fair to Joseph: a pit, a bloody multi-colored coat, Potiphar’s wife’s false sexual allegations, and an unjust imprisonment.  Life was not fair to Paul and the other apostles.  It was not fair to Jesus either.  Sooner or later most folks experience some kind of injustice or undeserved injury. We can allow

21January 2025

Sing to Remember

By |January 21, 2025|Categories: Worship|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Sing to Remember

I watched him as he walked around the nursing home mumbling, not knowing fully who he was nor where he was.  We opened a hymnal and started to sing, he stopped what he was doing and came, standing nearby, to join the hymn without missing a word.  He remembered!  Israel had a hymnbook; it

20January 2025

Whoever Believes in Him

By |January 20, 2025|Categories: Believe, Christ, Incarnation, Teaching, Trust|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Whoever Believes in Him

The words “believe in Jesus” is far more than mental assent.  Believe is a bigger word in Greek than it is in English; let’s explore it.  It means, “Whoever trusts his whole being on Him will have eternal life.”  It means, “Whoever adheres to Him and becomes one in solidarity with Him will have

19January 2025

Born from Above

By |January 19, 2025|Categories: Character, Christ, Christlikeness, Father, Holiness, New Creation, Righteousness|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Born from Above

We are born from above to be like God: we are to born from an old self to a new self. This transformation is to give us a whole new attitude of the mind; the focus of the mind has a new center.  God is righteous in all of His actions; that is what

18January 2025

Implications of Incarnation

By |January 18, 2025|Categories: Christ, Christian, Creation, Incarnation, Spirit|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Implications of Incarnation

The fact that God became flesh in Jesus of Nazareth shapes all of Christian belief and practice.  God embodied Himself in physicality, a human body, God in human flesh.  The incarnation does away with the idea that a human body equals sinfulness. It destroys ancient arguments that the physical was bad but the spiritual

17January 2025

Out of Nazareth

By |January 17, 2025|Categories: Christ, Humility|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Out of Nazareth

Someone good did finally come out of Nazareth.  Contrary to public opinion, the promised Messiah showed up there.  Our prejudice keeps us from seeing God in places where He is very present.  We think He cannot be present and working with some people, when in fact, He is.  He is not only present with

15January 2025

Coercion or Persuasion

By |January 15, 2025|Categories: Choices, Christ, Grace, Kingdom of God, Love, Relationships|Tags: , |Comments Off on Coercion or Persuasion

The gospel of Jesus Christ advances by witness and persuasion.  False religion seeks to advance itself by deception or coercion.  The sword cannot truly convert. A forced conversion is not a conversion of the heart; this is counter to the nature of God who is love.  Because He wants our hearts, He wants us

14January 2025

The Object of Temptation

By |January 14, 2025|Categories: Christ, Faith, Father, Relationships, Trust|Tags: , |Comments Off on The Object of Temptation

The Father affirmed the Son at His baptism.  “Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased’" (Mark 1:10-11 NASB).  After the baptism the

11January 2025

Power of Trials

By |January 11, 2025|Categories: Christ, Hope, Suffering, Trials, Trust|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Power of Trials

Trials can have a way of consuming us. They can eclipse the light and leave us in a dark place. Their noise can keep us from hearing heaven’s music.  It is easy in these times to let the “feeling” of the test become emotionally central.  Trusting God can see us through.  Know that in

10January 2025

Deeper Beauty

By |January 10, 2025|Categories: Christ, Divine Likeness, Worship|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Deeper Beauty

Some worship and admire their own faces and bodily appearance; these have succumbed to the cult of beauty.  This cult values a few people above the rest.  The self-centered who always look at the reflection of their own mirror always become corrupted by the look.  The sex-culture is married to the cult of beauty. 

9January 2025

High and Near

By |January 9, 2025|Categories: Christ, Love, Wisdom, Worship|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on High and Near

Theologically we seek to balance the immanence and transcendence of God; that is, how He is “high and lifted up” and “near as our breath”? How can we see what cannot be seen?  Yet, He makes Himself visible in His Son who is Word and Wisdom incarnate. He Who is Holy, Who is Love,

8January 2025

Experience God

By |January 8, 2025|Categories: Christ, Father, Love|Tags: |Comments Off on Experience God

Experiences can often change us in profound ways. A trip to the Holy Land!  A near-death experience!  A tragedy!  A loss!  A divorce! A windfall!  These, and other significant events may uproot us and replant us.  Persons who have traveled into space and looked back to see the earth and the 360 degrees of

7January 2025

Fight Against 

By |January 7, 2025|Categories: Choices, Christ, Christlikeness, Formation, Righteousness, Temptations, Trials|Tags: , |Comments Off on Fight Against 

You may tell what a person is by what they fight.  The scripture is clear that our fight is never to be against other people, not even enemies. Our resistance against evil is not so we can define ourselves more righteous than others, but so that evil will not make inroads into our own

3January 2025

Nearer Than You Think

By |January 3, 2025|Categories: Christ, Encouragement, Light, Love|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Nearer Than You Think

All the energy that flows through and sustains the universe has reached even you.  The One by Whom all things exists, consist, and are maintained is very near you. He who holds all things together, holds you together (Colossians 1:17).  The God who fills all things has come to fill you.  He who loves