Devotion: Be An Encourager

Are you an encourager?  Or are you a discourager?  Most people are discouragers and do not even know that they are.  Don’t get us wrong, there are some very negative, very disgruntled, and very unhappy people in the world.  Normally, the things that they say can identify them.  But, when was the last time you checked yourself to see what kind of things you say?

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:20-23).

Scripture tells us that it is what comes out of us that contaminates and makes us unclean.  From inside of us, within our hearts flow evil thoughts, fornication, sexual sins, thefts, murders, adultery, covetousness, greed, wickedness, evil actions, deceit, licentiousness, unrestrained immorality, envy, reviling, insults, pride, arrogance, reckless folly, and foolishness.  All these wicked things come out from within our heart to contaminate and make us unclean.

Devotion: You Are Not A Loser

There are a lot of so-called Christians walking around defeated.  By defeated, we mean that they have not yet fully experienced all that God has made available to them through the new covenant, “a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).  By defeated, we mean that they have not yet experienced that “more abundant life” that Jesus spoke of in John 10:10.  The really sad part is that they do not even realize that they are defeated, living a defeated life.  They claim the blood of Jesus over their lives but it is of no effect or at best, it has a partial effect on their lives.  The biggest culprit is not the devil or any other outside forces, but it is an internal force known as “self,” what we will refer to as “an image problem.”

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: …” (Proverbs 23:7).

Devotion: Enjoy The Lord

With all that mankind has accused God of, which includes plenty mischaracterizations, many believe that it is not possible for anyone to “enjoy the Lord.”  Most of us are aware that God has never given us the punishment that our sins deserve nor rewarded us according to our wrongdoings, but instead has forgiven us.  Scripture tells us that God is merciful and gracious towards us.  The truth is, God’s mercy towards us, those who reverence, honor, and worship him, is as great as the heavens are above the earth.  He is full of kindness, love, and pity.  He is tender and sympathetic to us who respect, obey, and praise him.  He is slow to anger and does not hold a grudge because his anger does not last forever.  God is like a father who has pity on his children.  For the most part, we enjoy our earthy fathers or those we know to be and call father, but we do not share that same enjoyment with God.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God.  …Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you” (James 4:7-8).  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).  “Trust in the Lord, and do good...  Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  ...Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him…” (Psalm 37:3-7).

Devotion: When You Hurt, You Are Not Alone

For one reason or another, most of the world is hurting.  There appears to be this never-ending story of one crisis after another after another after another happening throughout the world.  There does not appear to be an end to the suffering that we see in the world.  As we “wrestle daily against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12), there are times when it feels that we are fighting these battles alone.  Even though people are fighting many of the same battles, we feel that no one else can relate to the hurt, to the pain, to the suffering, or to the loneliness that we are going through in our battles.  There are times when we hurt and we feel that we hurt alone.

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:6; 8).

Devotion: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

According to scripture, you are to love others as you love yourself.

“For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other.  For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love others as you love yourself’” (Galatians 5:13-14 TLB).

The thought is that when you love others as you love yourself, you will not want to do any harm to them.

“Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others—never finish paying that!  For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements.  If you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself you will not want to harm or cheat him, or kill him or steal from him.  And you won’t sin with his wife or want what is his, or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong.  All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself.  Love does no wrong to anyone.  That’s why it fully satisfies all of God’s requirements.  It is the only law you need (Romans 13:8-10 TLB).

When you love others as you love yourself, the belief is that you will not want to do anything that harms, hurts, or cheats the other person.  When you love others as you love yourself, then there would be not one thing that you would want that belongs to them, none of their possessions or their significant other.  When you love others as you love yourself, then stealing from them or killing them would never be a thought in your mind.  This is why the scriptures says, “For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command.”  When you “love your neighbor as you love yourself,” you put all of God’s commandments into one commandment where “love supposedly does no wrong to anyone.”

“And so I am giving a new commandment to you now—love each other just as much as I love you.  Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35 TLB).

This is why Jesus said that we have “a new commandment,” a commandment to love each other.  If we each love one another as much as Jesus loved us, then we too would give the ultimate sacrifice for each other.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.  Live within my love.  When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love.  I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy.  Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!  I demand that you love each other as much as I love you.  And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends; 1and you are my friends if you obey me” (John 15:9-14 TLB).

There is no greater love that one person can express for another then to give this life for them.  Those who understand this commandment, “to love one another,” have a cup that is truly filled with the joy of Christ.  And yes, that cup of joy does overflow.  Think about what this type of love could do if every believer in the body of Christ would adhere to it.  It could unite the body of Christ, with one purpose.  Then think what a united body of believers could do.  We could change the world.  One new commandment given by the one who showed the world what it meant, “to love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

We always give thanks to God for the ability to share our inspirational message with you.  We constantly pray that you will be blessed as well as informed by them and that you will be the better for having read them.  If you are blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Thank God For You!

Did you know that God has a plan for you?  God has a great plan for your life.  God has a purpose for your life.  He has included you into his master plan.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).

God wants you to be a part of his master plan.  A plan that offers peace and not turmoil.  A plan that includes good and not evil.  A plan that gives you a future.  A plan that gives you hope.  Though you may not feel that you are worthy to be a part of such a plan; know that God thinks you are worthy and he has never given up on you.

“And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of” (Genesis 28:15).  “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6).  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).  “Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

God is the one person who will never give up on you.  He has promised that he will never leave you nor forsake you.  He will never fail you, so be encouraged, and then just simply trust God.  God tells you to be strong and of good courage, in other words, do not fear because he is with you.  Always trust God, for he will strengthen you, he will help you, and he will uphold you with his mighty right hand of righteousness.  Be not dismayed, for he is and will always be with you.  God will never give up on you.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23 NASB).  “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 TLB).  “Therefore, never lose hope, for there is always hope.  It is in this hope that we are saved.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12 NIV).  “Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 24:14 NIV).  “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV).  “So hold fast to your confession of your faith without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).

God has declared that he know that plans he has for you, plans to prosper you and not hurt or harm you.  These plans include thoughts of peace and not of evil.  He has plans to give you hope and a future.  Therefore hold fast to your confession of hope and never allow yourself to waver from that hope, because he who has made the promise to be with you is faithful in his promises.  As you wait on the Lord, he will renew your strength, for you will run and not grow weary and you will walk and not grow faint.  God has a purpose for your life.  God has a great plan for your life.  Trust him.  Never lose hope, for there is always hope.  And always thank God for you, because you are part of God’s master plan.

As you read today’s message, we pray that it will be an inspiration to you as well as a blessing.  We thank God for you, because without you there would be no us.  So, we are truly grateful for those of you who follow our ministry and who share our messages with others so that they may be blessed by them as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Light and Easy

As a child of God, you have the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity.  You have a divine inheritance to the best in life, deserving all the Father has to offer.  Jesus tells us that he come that we might have life and have that life more abundantly (John 10:10).  Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).  Many believe the son of man’s main purpose for coming was to save individual lost souls, but truth be told, saving lost souls was the by-product of what he actually did.

There were many things lost that Jesus saved, but one of the more important things was the authority (dominion) (Matthew 28:18) that the first man had lost (Luke 4:6), in the garden when he ate of the fruit (Genesis 3:6-7).  This is how the devil became known as “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) or “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).  And while you may have the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity there be a thief, an adversary if you will, that is come to kill your good health, steal your wealth, and to destroy your total life prosperity (John 10:10).  He walks about like a roaring lion, seeking those that he may devour (I Peter 5:8).

In getting back this authority (dominion), Jesus also gave mankind the ability to cast out devils and to lay hands on and heal the sick (Mark 16:17-20), along with several other things.  Jesus, who redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), also gave man the privilege to become a child of God (John 1:12-13), so that all could share in the blessing of Abraham and receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:14).  As a child of God, man now has the right to the inheritance of the new covenant, a better covenant, built with better promises (Hebrews 8:6-13), the right to a divine inheritance to the best in life, deserving all the Father has to offer (Romans 8:14-17), which includes the right to good health, wealth, and total life prosperity (III John 1:2).

Jesus tells us that we will have trials and sorrow, but we are to be of good cheer because he has overcome the world (John 16:33).  And because we belong to God, we have already won our fight against those who are against Christ.  We have something within us that is much stronger than anything we can face in this world, “for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).  Jesus says, “Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke.  Wear my yoke—for it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens” (Matthew 11:28-30 TLB).  If you are have a hard time in this life, this is not the way life was meant to be.  Jesus has provided everything you need to make this journey “light and easy” but you have to come to him in order for him to help you.  And as he helps you, he will give you rest.

We always give thanks to God for the ability to share our inspirational message with you.  We constantly pray that you will be blessed as well as informed by them and that you will be the better for having read it.  If you are blessed by any of our messages, please share them so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Jesus Is The Only Way

For the most part, believers and non-believers are familiar with the passage of scripture where Jesus says,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6 NLT).

Now according to scripture (Acts 4:12), there is no other name under all heaven for men to call whereby they can be saved, for salvation can be found through no one else but Jesus.  The problem is that no one knows exactly who Jesus is.  We are so confused, so influenced by Satan and this world, that we have accepted the Jesus that they preach.  Just as he in the Garden of Eden deceived Eve, he continues to deceive us today in much the same way.  Why would he change his methods since they worked so well for him in the beginning?  Satan has infiltrated the body of Christ, becoming an intricate component in the church so much so that we find it hard to recognize him.

Because of Satan’s influence, we have some who describe Jesus as God himself; others as part of the three-in-one trilogy called the Trinity.  Some believe him to be some combination of God and man, both one-hundred percent God and one-hundred percent man; or fifty percent God and fifty percent man; or some in between combination.  Some say he has no beginning because he always existed.  Others say he has always existed because he created the universe and all that we see while some say he helped the Father with creation.  Some say he has a beginning but he was, at some point created before the universe.  Still some say he had a beginning but not until he was brought forth, created in the womb of Mary.  Others say he existed from the beginning, asked God the Father to create him a body so he could come to earth, while some say he created himself a body so he could come to earth.  Some say he was the king of the Jews, while other say he was no king at all.  Some say he was poor while others say he was rich.  Some say he was white, some say he was black, while others claim some other variation.  Some say he performed all kinds of miracles and healed many people.  Some say he walked on the water, others claim he did not.  Some say he raised the dead.  Some say he raised himself from the dead.  Some say he died on the cross.  Some say he did not die on the cross.  Some say that he survived the cross to father many children.

With so much controversy surrounding the person named Jesus, how do you know that the one you are following is “the way, the truth and the life?”  Many follow the name of Jesus as if he was some type of rock star.  Others do all within their power to avoid mentioning his name.  Many try to prove his existence by any means necessary while others do everything in their power to refute him.  There are books after books written about Jesus.  There are movies and documentaries made about Jesus.  There are websites created to support Jesus and sites created to invalidate him.  So much information that it is hard to decipher it to get to the truth about Jesus.  Imagine believing yourself to be a believer only to find out what you believed you were you were not; all based on untruths.  Imagine believing yourself to be a follower of Jesus only to find out that the one whom you claimed to follow was not the one that you needed to follow; all based on deception.  Imagine believing yourself to be saved because you believed you joined the family only to find out that the family you joined was not the right one; all based on a lie.  Imagine believing yourself to be free from condemnation only to find out you have been held in captivity because you have rejected the knowledge needed to make yourself free; all based on fiction.  Imagine believing in a truth that has been manufactured by the great deceivers for the sole purpose of taking you out of the kingdom of heaven.  Imagine not even being aware of any of this until it was too late.  Come out of the darkness and get to know the real Jesus.  Jesus says,

“Look!  I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking.  If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me (Revelation 3:20 TLB).  “My sheep recognize my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 TLB).

There is but “one” who is “the way, the truth, and the life and no one will come to the Father except they come by “the one.”  The true Jesus is standing at the door, constantly knocking, waiting on those who hear his voice to answer his call and open the door so that he can come and fellowship with them and them with him.  Before it is too late, you need to learn to recognize his voice and get to know him intimately because there is only “the one.”

We again give thanks to God for this avenue that he has given us to share his word through our commentary.  We continually pray that God’s grace will be upon you and that these devotionals will be a blessing to you.  If you are blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: You Are Not A Failure

Do you ever feel like you are a failure or think of yourself as a failure?  What if we were to tell you that you are not a failure, would you believe us?  Well, let us tell you just that, you are not a failure.  And you should believe us.  Just because you think your lifestyle may be less than what it should be or you think your past may be less than respectable or even unredeemable, you are not a failure.  Just because you think your family situation may be less than ideal or even if you have been through a divorce, you are not a failure.  Just because you think your financial situation is not be headed in the direction you think it should or even if you have filed for bankruptcy, you are not a failure.  Just because society may have deemed you a failure, God does not see you as a failure.

Failure is considered “to be a lack of success.”  We want you to know that “God want you to succeed and not fail.”  You were not created for failure, no matter what has happened to you in your past, what is happening to you right now, or what you expect to happen in the not too distant future.  God wants you to know that he loves you like no one else can.  And because of this love, God wants to you be successful in this life.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

God has a plan for you, a plan for good and not evil.  God has a plan to prosper you and not harm you.  God has a plan to give you hope and a future.  God has all of this planned for you but there is a part that you have to play in all of this.

“We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.  People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.  Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16 NLT).

Yes, we make plans all the time and think that what we are doing is always the right thing.  In our eyes, those things appear to be the right thing, but this is not the case when it comes to God.  God always looks at our motives.  If we want our plans to succeed, we have to commit our actions to the Lord.  And once committed, he will always give us the right answers for our plans to succeed.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).  “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works and to do good things.  God planned for us to walk in these good works and in good things as the way to live our lives.  When we commit our actions to God, we can be confident, that the one who began a good work in us will continue that good work until the day of Christ Jesus.  Because God sees our potential, he does not consider us a failure.  Now, we need to see our potential.  Now maybe you will believe us when we say, “you are not a failure.”  God does not see you as a failure and neither should you.

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

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Repentance

Many believe that in order for someone “to repent” meant for them “to turn from his or her sinful ways.”  This is not exactly what “to repent” means.  According to the Strong’s Concordance, “to repent” actually means, “to change one’s mind.”  It was John the Baptist who was in the wilderness preaching “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4).  He was in the wilderness “calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins” (CEB).

“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

John the Baptist was telling everyone that the kingdom of God was at hand; that it was near or soon to come, but now was the time for them to change their hearts, now was the time for them to change their minds.  He was telling them that now was the time for them to change their thinking and to believe in this gospel, the good news that he was preaching.  He was calling for them to change their minds about what they thought of God and turn back to him.

Paul, formally known as Saul, was explaining to King Agrippa, the son of King Herod, what had happened on his last mission.  On his way to Damascus, armed with the full authority and commission of the chief priests, to round up those who believed in Jesus Christ, Paul was blinded by a very bright light from heaven.  He heard the voice of the Lord, who told him that he had been appointed as the Lord’s servant and as a witness of what he had seen and what the Lord would later show him.  He was told that he was being sent to the very people he would be delivered from, his own people and the Gentiles, for one purpose.

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  but showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:18-20).

Paul was being sent out to open the eyes of the people and to open their minds.  He was to change their way of thinking so that they would turn from the darkness and the power of Satan to the light and to the power of God.  He was to change their thinking about God.  As Paul explained his actions to King Agrippa, he said, “I wasn’t disobedient to that heavenly vision.  Instead, I proclaimed first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to the whole region of Judea and to the Gentiles.  My message was that they should change their hearts and lives and turn to God, and that they should demonstrate this change in their behavior” (Acts 26:19-20 CEB).

We see that John the Baptist and Paul preached the same message of repentance.  Both were telling people to change their mind, to change their thinking about God and to turn back to God.  And while many will continue to believe that true repentance means “to turn from one’s sinful ways,” you now know the truth.  Repent means “to change one’s heart and one’s mind; to change the way one thinks.”  It is the actual act “of turning back to God” that actually causes people to change their sinful ways.  Think about it this way, if it was possible for us to change or turn from our sinful ways, there would be no need for us to turn back to God for his help.  It is because of God, through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ, that we have available to us the power to break from the darkness, to break from the power of sin, and to break from the power of Satan.  But first, we must change our heart towards God and change our thinking towards God.  True repentance will result in a change of actions, but it is “the change in our heart, the change in our thinking” that results in a change in our actions.

As a footnote to Paul’s story, when he was testifying before King Agrippa, we see the King making this statement to Paul; “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28 NKJV).  Paul had almost changed the thinking of this King.  So, if you have not changed your heart toward God, changed your thinking towards God, and changed your thoughts toward the light, then you need to “repent” now, for the kingdom of God is near and at hand.  Turn to God and free yourself from the darkness, free yourself for the power of sin, and free yourself from the power of Satan.

We pray that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on what it means “to repent and turn to God.”  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: Fight The Good Fight Of Faith

One of the biggest enemy’s in “fighting the good fight of faith” is what is called “sense-knowledge.”  “Sense-knowledge” is the kind of knowledge that is based on physical evidence.  This enemy forces us to concentrate only on those things that can be perceived by our five senses.  We only believe those things that we can see, taste, smell, hear, or touch.  “Sense-knowledge” requires us to rely upon physical evidence as the motivator for our belief system, which in turn drives our faith in God.  By allowing this enemy to grow within us, we in turn, place our trust only in “the witness of the senses or what the senses are telling us.”  But is this the kind of faith that God requires of us?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

We know from scripture that faith actually provides substance or assurance and then evidence.  There is not a lot of difference between assurance and evidence other than the qualifiers for each of them, which involves hope and realities that are unseen, respectively.  Everything in our life that we have learned has come through our five senses or through “sense-knowledge.”  However, “the God kind of faith” is not at all perceived by the senses.  Faith is actually the evidence of the thing hoped for, the evidence that the thing exists but it is not the thing itself.  Faith is the substance or the tangibility of hope.  While hope cannot change your circumstances, it can change your attitude about the circumstances.  Hope is a goal setter and faith is the way to achieve the goal.  You see, we do not need evidence to believe in something that we can physically see, taste, smell, hear, or touch.  The thing itself provides the evidence of the thing’s existence.  Faith is the evidence that something does exists regardless of the witness of the senses or what the senses are telling us.  Again, “the God kind of faith” is not perceived by any of the senses.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7).  “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18).

In order to walk by faith, we must leave the world of the senses.  As we walk by faith, we leave behind what our senses are telling us and completely trust God.  This is key component to “the God kind of faith,” completely trusting in him.  When we take up this walking by faith, our mind is not focused on the things that can be seen.  Our mind is not focused on the troubles around us.  The things that are seen or perceived by our senses are temporary in nature and can only be seen for a time.  When we walk by faith, our mind should be focused on those things that cannot be seen, for the things that are not seen or perceived by our senses are eternal and everlasting.  Some people will disagree with this assessment because their faith is based one hundred percent on their “sense-knowledge” or what some would call “head faith.”  Again, this type of faith requires one to rely upon physical evidence as the motivator for his or her belief system, which in turn drives his or her faith in God.  When we walk by faith, we are not walking by our senses when it comes to the things of God.  This is the kind of faith that God requires of us, this is that “God kind of faith.”

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (I Timothy 6:12).

In all of this, we see that faith contingent upon “sense-knowledge” or “head faith” has several limitations and can become a hindrance to our faith.  Focusing our mind on only those things that we can see, taste, smell, hear, or touch or physical evidence will limit or hinder our faith and is just another one of the many enemies to our faith that we need to overcome in our efforts to “fight the good fight of faith.”

Today’s inspirational message just might give you a new perspective on what it means to “fight the good fight of faith.”  We 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: 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: Redeemed By His Blood

There is so much that was accomplished when Jesus died on the cross.  Our redemption was just one of many things that Jesus accomplished on the cross.

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race.  His sin spread death throughout all the world, so everything began to grow old and die, for all sinned (Romans 5:12 TLB).  For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin.  But this one man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God’s mercy.  Adam’s one sin brought the penalty of death to many, while Christ freely takes away many sins and gives glorious life instead.  The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to be king over all, but all who will take God’s gift of forgiveness and acquittal are kings of life (reign in life) because of this one man, Jesus Christ.  Yes, Adam’s sin brought punishment to all, but Christ’s righteousness makes men right with God, so that they can live.  Adam caused many to be sinners because he disobeyed God, and Christ caused many to be made acceptable to God because he obeyed” (Romans 5:15-19 TLB).

Man, Adam to be more specific, not by God, changed the original creation, the original nature of mankind.  However, it has been God’s plan, hidden since the beginning of time, to reconcile mankind back to him.  Jesus was a part of this plan.

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:18-19).

It was God, who was in Christ Jesus that reconciled his creation back to its original state.  But it was the obedience of Jesus Christ, even unto death (Philippians 2:10) that enabled us to be reconciled back to God (Romans 5:10).

“And since by his blood he did all this for us as sinners, how much more will he do for us now that he has declared us not guilty?  Now he will save us from all of God’s wrath to come.  And since, when we were his enemies, we were brought back to God by the death of his Son, what blessings he must have for us now that we are his friends and he is living within us!  Now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying for our sins—making us friends of God” (Romans 5:9-11 TLB).

Now that we have been brought back to God, through the blood of the son, Jesus Christ, we can rejoice in our new relationship with God.  Because of what Jesus did on the cross, dying for our sins, we are now new creation.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17).

For if a man be in Christ, he be a new creature, redeemed for his old sinful nature to a new nature for him, a spiritual nature, that nature of the original man, before the fall.  When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside.  He is not the same anymore.  A new life has begun.

“But thank God, Christ has redeemed us and brought us out from under the doom of that impossible system of laws by taking on the curse himself.  Yes, Christ purchased our freedom from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us when he hung on that wooden cross.  Because Christ purchased our freedom, we now can share in the blessings belonging to Abraham, who was full of faith and accepted God’s promise.  It is through the blessings of Abraham that we of like faith might receive the Spirit that God had promised to give” (Galatians 3:10-14 TLB).

Because of Jesus, I am accepted, I am alive, and I am forgiven.  Because of Jesus, I am now heaven bound.  Because of Jesus, I am a child of the most high God.  Because of Jesus, I am all of these things.  And because of Jesus, I am redeemed.

As always, we pray that our inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly 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: Faith And Patience

Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations?  Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems.  For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete (James 1:2-4 TLB).  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient.  And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.  Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:3-5 TLB).

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and desires, and enticed.  Then when lust and desire hath conceived, it bringeth forth and gives birth to sin: and sin, when it is finished and full-grown, bringeth forth death.  Do not err and be deceived, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness or variation, neither shadow of turning (James 1:12-17).

Behold, we count them happy and blessed which endure.  Ye have heard of the patience and perseverance of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and compassionate, and of tender mercy (James 5:11).  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with and surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset and ensnare us, and let us run with patience and perseverance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author, the originator, the finisher and the perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Be strong!  Be courageous!  Do not be afraid of them!  For the Lord your God will be with you.  He will neither fail you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6 TLB).  Do your best to improve your faith by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love (II Peter 1:5-7 CEV).  May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light (Colossians 1:11-12 NRVS).

The devil wants you to think that the trials you go through means that God does not love you.  Do not be deceived.  Do not mistake God’s patience for his absence, for his timing is perfect and his presence is constant—he is always with you.  Happy is the person who learns to wait as he prays and never loses his patience, for God’s time is the best time.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  Regardless, have faith and rejoice in the middle of all of your trials, because they, your trials, will produce the patience and endurance that you need to face anything that comes your way.  A moment of patience in a moment of anger saves thousand moments of regret.  Never lose hope for there is always hope.  For in this hope we were saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Romans 8:24-25 NIV).  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12 NIV).  For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete (James 1:4 TLB).

We again give thanks to God for this avenue that he has given us to share his word through our commentary.  We also thank God for the accompanying inspirational message that he also provided.  We continually pray that God’s grace will be upon you and that these devotionals will be a blessing to you.  If you are blessed by them, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Accept God’s Acceptance

So, if you be in Christ, then you be “a new creature” (II Corinthians 5:17).  You are no longer a part of Adam’s sinful race, a race that has a fixed moral nature in sin.  No, you are now part of a new race, a spiritual race, created solely by Jesus through death and resurrection.  This new spiritual race has a nature that is fixed in righteousness.  No longer do we “know good and are unable to do it.”  No longer do we “know evil and are unable to resist it” (Ephesians 2:1-3).  We have been given “a second chance.”

“But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead—only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved—and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did.  And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ.  Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ.  And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it.  It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others” (Ephesians 2:4-10 TLB).

Because God, who is full of mercy and because of his intense love for us, he gave us “a second chance.”  Though we were spiritually dead through our sins, it is by his grace that we have been saved.  Because he loved us so much, he gave us back our lives, when he raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  Only through his undeserved favor, God also lifted us up from the grave, raising us from the dead with Christ and into glory where we are seated with him in the heavenly realms because of what Christ had done.  For it is by grace and the kindness of God that we have been saved through our faith in Jesus Christ.  This salvation is a gift, freely given to us by God so that no one can boast by works, deeds or merits and take the glory that belongs solely to God for him or herself.  It is God himself who made us what we are; his handiwork that was created in Jesus Christ for good works which God had pre-planned long, long ago that we might spend these lives in helping others.

“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins” (Colossians 1:13 NLT).

We have been delivered out of the dominion of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of his dear son, Jesus Christ.  Through his death, Jesus was able to purchase our freedom, forgive our sins, and reconcile us back into agreement with God (Ephesians 2:14-22).  When we were enemies, haters of God, we were brought back to God through the death of his son (Romans 5:10).  Actually, the truth is that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world back unto himself” (II Corinthians 5:19).  Yes, folks, that is stated correctly.  God was in Christ, restoring mankind back unto himself, even when we were yet still sinners (Romans 5:10).  Through what Christ did, God made peace and brought us back to himself (II Corinthians 5:18).  In doing this, God gave us “the ministry of reconciliation,” entrusting us with his message of reconciliation.  This honor of preaching this news of peace belongs to those who are in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17).  Those who are in Christ be a new creature, a new creation if you will.  Remember, it was through his death that Jesus took two groups and made them part of himself.  In making them a part of himself, Jesus was able to fuse the two together into a new creation, into a new man.  It is this new creation, this new man that are the ambassadors for Christ, his representatives (II Corinthians 5:20).  God uses this new man to urge others to come into his favor, to be at peace with him, and to be reconciled to him.  Now that we have been reconciled back, it does make one wonder what blessings God may have for those who come into his favor.

We pray that this inspirational message will be a blessing to you as well as informative.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: Be A Minister

Most believers are familiar with “The Great Commission.”  These were a set of instructions given to the disciples by Jesus Christ.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus gave these instructions shortly before he ascended to heaven to “sit at the right hand of the Father” (Acts 2:33-34).  These instructions basically told his disciples, which now includes all “those who have love one to another” (John 8:35) to go forth and to make disciples in all nations, teaching them “to observe all things whatsoever and to obey all the commands” that he, Jesus had given them.  Some of you do not feel that you are qualified and will not answer the call.  But if that be the case, then listen to these words of Paul.

“For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel; and even my preaching sounds poor, for I do not fill my sermons with profound words and high-sounding ideas, for fear of diluting the mighty power there is in the simple message of the cross of Christ.  I know very well how foolish it sounds to those who are lost, when they hear that Jesus died to save them.  But we who are saved recognize this message as the very power of God.  For God says, ‘I will destroy all human plans of salvation no matter how wise they seem to be, and ignore the best ideas of men, even the most brilliant of them.’

So what about these wise men, these scholars, these brilliant debaters of this world’s great affairs?  God has made them all look foolish and shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense.  For God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find God through human brilliance, and then he stepped in and saved all those who believed his message, which the world calls foolish and silly.  It seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven as proof that what is preached is true; and it is foolish to the Gentiles because they believe only what agrees with their philosophy and seems wise to them.  So when we preach about Christ dying to save them, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.  But God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power of God to save them; Christ himself is the center of God’s wise plan for their salvation.  This so-called ‘foolish’ plan of God is far wiser than the wisest plan of the wisest man, and God in his weakness—Christ dying on the cross—is far stronger than any man.

Notice among yourselves, dear brothers, that few of you who follow Christ have big names or power or wealth.  Instead, God has deliberately chosen to use ideas the world considers foolish and of little worth in order to shame those people considered by the world as wise and great.  He has chosen a plan despised by the world, counted as nothing at all, and used it to bring down to nothing those the world considers great, so that no one anywhere can ever brag in the presence of God.  For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus.  He showed us God’s plan of salvation; he was the one who made us acceptable to God; he made us pure and holy and gave himself to purchase our salvation.  As it says in the Scriptures, “If anyone is going to boast, let him boast only of what the Lord has done” (I Corinthians 1:17-31 TLB).

Regardless of what you think, whether you think yourself to be a minister or not, the truth of the matter is that your life is a ministry.  Understand and recognize that the most powerful sermon in existence is you.  Your sermon is not only what you say, but it is also about what you do.  People are always watching you, whether you know it or not.  They are looking to see if you are who or what you claim to be.  J. C. Ryle was once quoted as having said, “A Christian is a walking sermon.  They preach far more than a minister does.  For they preach all week long.”  Scripture tells us “We are Christ’s ambassadors” (II Corinthians 5:20).  God is using those of us who are willing to minister, to spread the gospel to those who are unbelievers.  It would appear that God does not call those who are most qualified, but he certainly does qualify those who answers his call.  So, we leave you with this question, “Is your ministry leading others to God or is it leading them astray?”  You be a minister, whether you know it or not.

We forever pray that this inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly 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: Be Slow To Speak

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing.  My brothers and sisters, this should not be.  Can both freshwater and saltwater flow from the same spring?  My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?  Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water (James 3:7-12 NIV).

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29 NIV).  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:4 NIV).  Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips (Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV).  You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Matthew 12:34 NIV).

An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies.  Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.  Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.  Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!  No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.  The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth (Proverbs 12:17-22 NLT).

What are worthless and wicked people like?  They are constant liars, signaling their deceit with a wink of the eye, a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle of fingers.  Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble.  But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing.  There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family (Proverbs 6:12-19 NLT).

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8 NIV).  Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification (Romans 14:19 NIV).  Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up (Romans 15:2 NIV).  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:6 NIV).  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (I Thessalonians 5:11 NIV).

It is said that a tongue has no bones, yet it is strong enough to break a heart.  Therefore, we need to be extremely careful with our words.  We should not allow unwholesome talk to come forth out of our mouths because it tells the world just where our heart truly is and what is in it.  Instead, let only those things that are helpful for building others up according to their needs come from our mouths.  It is this kind of talk that benefits all who listen.  Keep in mind and never forget that it is always best to listen much, be slow the speak and even slower to anger.  Once angered, you cannot be good as God has demanded us to be nor can we achieve his righteousness.  So, let us get rid of all that is wrong in our lives, all filthiness and rampant wickedness, both inside and out.  Let us be grateful for the wonderful message and receive it with all meekness and humbleness because it is able to save our souls as it takes over hold in our hearts.

We forever pray that this inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly 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