Sovereignty

OCTOBER 9

MATTHEW 7:9_bread, will he give him a stone?

God is the father portion of the Trinity. He wants to be yours. Because God is a loving and just Father, He gives freedom to accept or reject Him. To accept God is to accept His sovereignty in your life.

An earthly father may fail you, and for that matter you may fail your earthly father. Your Heavenly Father will never fail you. Jesus has already made it clear that the Heavenly Father meets needs of food and clothes – even if you have to go through a time when they are limited. 

Jesus teaches the kind of heart that He wants in an earthly father—one who loves his children and meets their needs.  

God wants children to feel free to ask their fathers to meet their needs. He wants fathers to love and trust His heart, and believe He will help them to meet the needs of their family. Fathers who love God and have a desire to guide their families in His steps, will not lack God’s support. Again, that does not mean you get everything you want. It means something far greater. 

John 14:23 (KJV), “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

The very God of Heaven and His Holy Son are a daily part of the lives of their children. 

God is a true father!

PRAYER

True God, Help me grow into a Godly person who keeps Your Words. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ wants to consume me with His love—I want it!

Nothing …

OCTOBER 8

MATTHEW 7:9_Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask…

You cannot control the circumstances of your birth. You cannot choose the family into which you are born. Neither can you choose your race. Nor your country or culture. Nor certain physical features. Nor can you choose your time in history.

You may, or may not, be born into a religion. When you reach an age of understanding—religion is something you can choose.

Because this entire devotional blog is based on the Sermon on the Mount, the direct words of Jesus, it is my hope you find the answers to life in Christianity.  Christianity embraces all people as God’s children.  Regardless of the circumstances of your birth, your family, your race, country or culture, or physical features, God wants you as His child.

Jesus says in John 10:29-30 (KJV), “My Father, which gave them [Christians] [to] me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.” Well, there you go! Out of His own mouth Jesus makes it clear that none is greater than your Heavenly Father.

Nothing in life no matter how devastating it may seem to you, can take you from Jesus.

PRAYER

All Powerful God, Praise You that nothing can pluck me out of Your hand. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                             

Christ says nothing can take me from God—I choose Him!

Pray For The Fathers

OCTOBER 7

MATTHEW 7:9_Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask…

To become a parent rates very high in the blessing category. Psalm 127:3-5 (KJV), “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” 

According to this verse, children are one of those ways God rewards His people. Arrows in the hand of a mighty man are powerful. If hunting is the goal, then the bow is no good without the arrows. The arrows are everything to achieving the purpose of the hunt. Fathers should realize the reward God gives them in children. They should feel strength and might in fatherhood, and they should feel happy. 

I wish these verses were true in the life of every child who is born. However, since they are not, I pray for Malachi 4:6 (KJV) to become a reality, “And he [Elijah the prophet] shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers …”

As much as is possible in my tiny space in the world, I want to contribute to this becoming reality.

Pray for the fathers in your circle of life.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Help me feel the specialness that is mine as Your child. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ teaches children are a reward—I am one!

He Does It All!

OCTOBER 6

MATTHEW 7:9_Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask…

One of the great mysteries of the spiritual life is the Trinity. The Triune God who functions as three-in-one. 

The Bible teaches God can function as the Eternal Father, the Jehovah-Jireh provider, and as the I AM. The Bible teaches this same God can function as the Son, the Creator of all that exists, and as the Christ, the Messiah who saves for eternity all who believe. The Bible also teaches this same God can function as the indwelling Holy Spirit, who comforts, who teaches, and who guides. No wonder He is all-powerful—He does it all! 

Jesus calls God, Father. So do I. Jesus taught to pray to God as My Father, which art in Heaven. As a Jesus follower, you are a child of God. II Corinthians 1:3 (KJV), “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” Be comfortable in God because He loved you before you loved Him. 

God wanted King David to know how to call upon Him. Psalm 89:27 (KJV), “He [King David … and me] shall cry unto me [God], Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.”

God is all those things to me.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I stand in awe of You and worship You as my Father. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ teaches me God is my Father—I am His child!

Awesome!

OCTOBER 5

MATTHEW 7:8_and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Why do you knock? The door is closed. You’re on the outside. You want to come in. Or at least you want the door opened.

There are many doors you will knock on in life. You knock on the door of love—to give and receive love from the people in your life. You knock on the door of joy—to give and receive joy from the people in your life. You knock on the door of peace—to give and receive peace from the people in your life. You knock on the door of success—you want to receive success and perhaps there may be a way you can give it.

Jesus teaches to knock on the door of service. That’s not something you’re naturally inclined to do. John 13:16 (KJV), “Verily, verily, I [Jesus] say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.’

Jesus also says in Mark 10:43-45 (KJV), ” … but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Jesus says to knock on the door of serving others is to become like Him.

Awesome!

PRAYER

God Who Helps, Help me have a servant’s heart and become like You. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.              

Christ wants me to serve others—He will teach me!