You Cannot Escape Creation

JANUARY 17

MATTHEW 5:6_Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness…

I love this one! Look at what it says. Don’t you want to be righteous in the depths of your heart? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to go to bed every night and know you’d been righteous that day? Don’t you long for that? Would you even say you hunger and thirst for it? 

If you could choose between playing your favorite game or helping a desperate friend, which would you choose? I trust you would choose the latter. Why? Because no matter how sophisticated, or prominent, or brilliant you may become, you cannot escape creation. 

You were created to know and be in a relationship with your creator – the God in whose image you are made. He is a part of who you are, and He is righteous. Because He is a part of you, the Holy Spirit places in your heart a desire to serve, care for, and have compassion on the people in your life.

I know what you are thinking – there are way too many people who have no desire for righteousness or to be like their creator. Agreed.

Stay with these devotions. All the bases will be covered.

PRAYER

Almighty God, If I have no hunger or thirst for righteousness, please place it in my heart. “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness (Psalm 143:10 KJV). In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.   

Christ is righteousness—He can give it to me!

The Comfort of Jesus

 JANUARY 12

MATTHEW 5:4_for they shall be comforted.

Don’t you love the blessing Jesus has for the mournful? Comfort. If you go through a time of mourning wouldn’t you rather have comfort than anything else?

I see God’s created life with a cause and effect sequence. This sequence shows up in the laws God gave to Moses. It also shows up in the teachings of Jesus. Could the blessing of comfort depend upon why you are mourning? 

What is breaking your young tender heart? Cruelty? There certainly is plenty of reason to mourn there. Jesus experienced great cruelty, both verbally and physically. He understands your pain and desires to give you His comfort. Experiencing Jesus’ comfort is not something you can make happen. His comfort comes naturally as you grow in His love.    

On the other hand, are you mourning because you’re the only one in the class who doesn’t have the latest electronic gadget? That may not be the kind of mourning referred to here. It’s not that it doesn’t hurt. It hurts. To receive comfort, change thought patterns. What is important to you, having what people have or having what Jesus has?

Be comforted in knowing Jesus can give you a new heart. Let love rule your heart, not possessions.

PRAYER

Mighty God, You can give me a new life. Let me take comfort in Your love. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                    

Christ sees my heart—He can change it!

No One Is Exempt

DECEMBER 28

MATTHEW 7:29_For he taught them as one having authority…

Every aspect of Jesus’ character is seen in this sermon. He taught as The Creator. His principles of life go back to creation. No one is exempt. Regardless of how we fight against them—creation principles always prevail.

Jesus taught as The Great Transformer. This sermon has shown me my heart is wicked and deceitful. Jesus’ principles are righteous. I have learned to ask, seek, and knock in order to have my wickedness transformed into righteousness.

Jesus taught as The Great Balancer. He is perfect balance by example, and He taught me how to balance. He taught me balance through topsy-turvy principles like: “…whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

To balance judgment and mercy is something I can only do by the power of Jesus in me!

 PRAYER

Great Transformer and Balancer, Help me apply what You’ve taught me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

 Christ has given me all I need – To transform and balance!

God Events

DECEMBER 22

MATTHEW 7:28_And it came to pass…

Many God events occur in life – from birth to death. Some give joy and some pain, but each is designed to strengthen your walk on the narrow path.

With time it will come to pass that you recognize God’s hand in these events. The good and the bad, the joy and the sorrow, are tools in the hands of The Great Deliverer. He uses them to defeat the circumstances of life which can keep you in a pit. I know you want God to just reach in and pull you up without all these God events, but time is how God works. Your life of freedom will come to pass.

Reading this devotional blog is a God designed event.

Designed to bring you to Jesus.

To obey His creation principles taught in this sermon.

To develop a transformed heart able to truly love. 

As you read these devotionals you become part of the people who gathered on a mountain and listened to Jesus teach. They were a combination of different personalities with a variety of different needs, hopes, and dreams.

I don’t know if Jesus taught this sermon in a day or a week, but time came to pass for everyone listening.     

 PRAYER

Prince of Peace, Help me see Your designed events in my life. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ events help me stay on the path—I will!

Fertilizer

NOVEMBER 19

MATTHEW 7:19_and cast into the fire.

In the parable of the fig tree I see Jesus as the vine dresser. The needs you have in life require fertilizer. 

If you feel like your life does not and has not produced fruit—don’t panic. You are not about to be cut down and cast into the fire. Jesus sees your potential because He knows your created purpose. He wants to work in and teach your heart through the Bible. Jesus longs for you to hear His words and know the truth. And knowing the truth will make you … you guessed it … free!

This is freedom from believing the devil’s lies. 

Lies that make the tree (your life) wither.

If you believe anything negative about your created life—you’re withering.

If you believe that you were not created with a purpose in life—you’re withering.

If you believe you can never personally know God—you’re withering.

If you believe Jesus does not have the power to give you eternal life—you’re withering.

If you believe your physical afflictions or defects can keep you from achieving God’s purpose—you’re withering.

If you believe your lack of finances can keep you from achieving God’s purpose—you’re withering.  

All of these things cause you to come to God with your needs. God meets your needs with the fertilizers of faith and trust.

PRAYER

King Eternal, Please help me see that my needs increase my faith. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.    

Christ uses my needs to draw me closer – To Him!