Devotion: God Loves You More Than You Love Yourself

Did you know that the greatest miracle of all was what God did for us through Jesus Christ?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

Love and redemption, these are the greatest miracles of all and this is what God gave us through what Jesus Christ did.  Because of his love for the world, God made it possible for the world to be saved, through the sacrifice of his only begotten son.  Yes, God loves you just that much.  God loves us just as much.  God loves everyone just as much, which is what the scripture means when it says, “For God so loved the world.”  And because he loved everyone just so much, God made it possible for the entire world to be saved, through the sacrifice of his only begotten son.  God’s love and his redemption does not pertain to a particular person, to a particular people group, or even to a particular nation of people.  God loves everyone and he did not exclude anyone.  Everyone is included.  That means that regardless of what you may or may think of yourself, God loves you, unconditionally.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.  For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (Romans 5:6-11 NLT).

God loves you.  God loves you even in your darkest hours and will comfort you even in your darkest moments.  God loves you and he forgives you even in your darkest failures.  God loves you, more than you will ever know.

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (I John 4:9-10 NLT).

God loves you probably more than you love yourself.  Please note that the scriptures did not say that God loves us so much that he actually saved you.  No, this is not what is being said in the scriptures and should be interpreted to say so.  The scriptures are actually saying that God loved you so much that he made it possible for you to be saved, by accepting the sacrifice of his son.  But the question is, Do you love yourself enough to take his “free gift of salvation,” which provided to you through the sacrifice of his son?  Do you love yourself enough to claim his “free gift of everlasting life,” by believing in and accepting the son?  How much do you really love yourself?  Do you really love yourself enough?  Do you really love yourself that much?  While you are deciding just how much you truly love yourself, know that real love comes from God and that real love is God’s love for us because “God is love.”

May our today’s inspirational message abundantly bless you and greatly inform you.  We pray that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by today’s message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: You Are Part Of Christ's Body On Earth

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Scripture tells us there is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.  Should there be any variations when we are told through scripture that there is only one?  Should there be variations amongst the members in the one body, “the so-called body of Christ?”  Believers are taught that each of us have different assignments, but does this mean that the members of the one body have different objectives?

Here is an interesting statistic, discovered a few years back while doing some research:  there are more than 103.5 million members in more than more than seventy-five different church bodies that make up the “so-called body” body of Christ.  But if there be one body, shouldn’t these members of this body at least have the same objective, the same vision, and the same mission before them?  What about their knowledge of Christ, shouldn’t that be similar amongst the member?  If not, does this mean that the members are permitted to have varied beliefs as to who Christ is, what he is and where he comes from?  If there be only one Lord, shouldn’t the more than 103.5 million members in the more than more than seventy-five different church bodies that make up his “so-called body” be in agreement about him?  One would surely think so, unfortunately, this be not the case.

“But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion (opportunity) from them which desire occasion (opportunity) that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed (transforms himself) into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (II Corinthians 11:12-15).

The problem is that Satan has infiltrated the body of Christ and divided the kingdom.  He has entered the organization and has become part of it so much so that he is hard to recognize.  That one we believe to be him in disguise is usually not him but that one we believe to be a member of the body is actually him in disguise.  We have allowed him to get close to us and close to our hearts.  We have allowed him to come into our family and become a part of it.  We have allowed him into our house and have set a place at our table for him.  We have allowed him to influence whom we talk to, what we think of, what we say, what we believe in, and much more.

“And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.  No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil (plunder) his house” (Mark 3:24-27).

Christ has one body, which is the church (Romans 12:4-5; I Corinthians 10:16-17; I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:1-6).  The misunderstood teachings, misguided theologies, and misinterpreted doctrines that have been introduced by Satan have blinded the mind of man to the truth pertaining to the body of Christ.  Because man did not control and maintain these truths contained in the wonderful gospel, Satan has divided the body of Christ (the church) into the many different factions that exist today.  Imagine the power the body of Christ (the church) would have if it could unite as one and agree as to what the Bible says about God, Jesus the Christ, salvation, and many other things.  This is what Satan does not want to happen, unity among the people and agreement on the gospel of Christ.  Since Satan has divided man, the gospel of the glory of Christ is now hid from man.

The truth of the matter is that there be only “one body of Christ” and every member, those more than 103.5 million members in the more than more than seventy-five different church bodies that make up the body of Christ needs to have the same objective, the same vision, and the same mission.  Every member should have the same knowledge of Christ and hold the same beliefs, without variation.  Scriptures tells us, “he who ascended up on high, leading captivity captive, gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8).  Scripture also tells us he who ascended up on high gave these gifts to men for three specific reasons.  One of the reasons for the gifts was “for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).  The other reasons were “for the perfecting or equipping of the saints and for the work of the ministry” (Ephesians 4:12).  But it is the purpose for these gifts that we are most drawn to.  The purpose for these gifts is to bring us “into unity or in agreement about the faith and about our knowledge of the son of God” (Ephesians 4:13).

We pray that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on “being part of the body of Christ.”  We also pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Prayer Guidelines

Recently, we discussed how understanding the benefits of prayer would help us to understand why we should pray.  We discussed the same model that Jesus showed to his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray as John taught his disciples to pray.  The very first thing Jesus did was to tell them to revere the name of the Father and to honor him for his holiness.  Jesus said, when we pray, we should say, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

We now know that when we come before God, we are to enter into his gates with great thanksgiving and enter into his courts with praise (Psalm 100:4).  We know that when we pray, we need to give praise to him, to speak of his glories and of his grace, to boast of his kindness, to give thanks and to bless his holy name, and to exalt his holy name.  When we pray, we need to pray primarily for these reasons, but these are not the only reasons we need to pray.  Praying is a process and for effectual prayer, we need to follow the guidelines that Jesus showed his disciples.

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth (Luke 11:1-2).

Next, Jesus told his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom would come and that his will would be done here “in or on the earth as it is done in heaven.”  Remember, we are to “pray without ceasing,” constantly “giving thanks to God in every situation” because “this is the will of God for us” (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen” (Matthew 6:13).

Jesus ends his prayer lesson to the disciples with more reverence and honor for the Father using words similar to those King David once spoke when he blessed the Lord.

“Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.  Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.  Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name” (I Chronicles 29:10-13).

While in the presence of his entire congregation, David expressed his praise for the Lord.  David acknowledges God’s kingdom, his power, and his glory, thanking him and praising his holy name.  It would appear that we should follow the same process, that we should follow these same guidelines.  This is a far cry from the way many believers have been taught to pray.  Instead of using prayer as an opportunity to inform God of all of your terrible problems or your impossible situations, you should use prayer to reverence and honor the Lord God.  God, who is all-knowing, truly knows your problems and your situations better than you know them.  God knows what you have need of before you even ask (Matthew 6:8).

This is not to say that we do not need to tell God about our problems or our situations.  Nor are we saying that we do not need to ask God to help us in our time of need.  We are just saying that we need to follow the instructions that Jesus gave his disciple, the instructions we believe John the Baptist gave his disciples, and the example that we see from King David.  Somewhere in between the reverence and honor that we give the Lord God when we enter into his gates and the reverence and honor that we give him when we exit his gates is where we need let our problems, our situations, and our needs be known to God.  When we follow these guidelines for prayer, we will not become overwhelmed and discouraged by any situation or problem we face because the process of thanking and praising God will keep our faith built up in the awesomeness of God.

We pray that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on “the process of praying.”  We also pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Why Pray?

Understanding the benefits of prayer will help us to understand why we should pray.  Most people, believers and non-believers alike, only pray in a time of need, when things are out of their control.  The problem is that prayer should be the first thing you, as a believer, do every morning and the last thing you, as a believer, do before you go to sleep.  This is not to say that these are the only times that you should pray because the scripture say that we should pray always, without ceasing.

“Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).

We are told to pray without ceasing, but did you notice what else we are to do when praying?  Scripture tells us that we should give “thanks in everything.”  According to this passage, prayer is not just something we do in our hour of need, but something that we should constantly do, constantly giving thanks to God in every situation, because “this is the will of God for us.”

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth (Luke 11:1-2).

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray as John taught his disciples to pray, the first thing Jesus did was to teach them to give honor and praise to God.  Jesus said, when we pray, we should say, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”  Jesus basically told them to revere the name of the Father and to honor him for his holiness.

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).

When we come before God, we are to enter into his gates with great thanksgiving and as we enter into his courts, we enter with praise.  Yes, when we come before God, we need to first thank God, we need to first praise God, we need to first worship God, and we need to first glorify God.  Then on top of all of that, we need to be thankful to God.  And last but not least, we need to bless his holy name.

“I will praise the Lord no matter what happens.  I will constantly speak of his glories and grace.  I will boast of all his kindness to me.  Let all who are discouraged take heart.  Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name” (Psalm 34:1-3 TLB).  “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3).

We know that this somewhat different from the way you have been taught to pray, but this is how Jesus told his disciple to pray and what he told them to do.  When we pray, we need to give praise to the Lord God.  When we pray, we need to speak of his glories and of his grace.  When we pray, we need to boast of his kindness.  When we pray, we need to give thanks and to bless his holy name.  When we pray, we need to exalt his holy name.  When we pray, we need to pray for these reasons.  Notice that we did not say that these were the only reasons we need to pray, but they do be the primary reasons.  Prayer is a process and there is more to come in the near future.

Here is one other thing that we found most interesting in all of this; the fact that the disciples had asked Jesus to teach them to pray as John the Baptist had taught his disciples to pray.  There is not much mentioned in scripture as to what or how John the Baptist taught his disciples about prayer, but we do know that John was the forerunner of Jesus Christ; that he prepared the way for Jesus; and that John and Jesus had many similarities between their ministries.  With that being said, we can conclude that he must have taught his disciples the same if not a very similar way to pray as Jesus did, saying, “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.”

We pray that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on “prayer and why we pray.”  We also pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW