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!

The Mysterious Keeper

DECEMBER 5

MATTHEW 7:24_Therefore, whosoever…

Remember, the word therefore has an important purpose. Go back to Jesus’ previous principle. He is about to give you more clarification and some new insight. In this verse He sends you back to the very beginning of the sermon. He wants you to apply this final teaching to the entire sermon.

My sister in Jesus, Joan Morris, sent me an email. In it she made a statement which fits so well the therefore and the whosoever. She said, “The mind is a mysterious keeper of our past, both good and bad.” I really like that and fully agree. God created the mysterious keeper. Like everything; He wants it to be used for your good. If God created something for good, the devil will do all he can to use it for destruction. He knows the bad of the past in your keeper. He whispers the bad into your mind for as long as you allow yourself to listen. 

Therefore, Jesus has given you the greatest sermon ever preached by anyone at any time in history. He preached it for everyone—whosoever. He wants this sermon seared into your mysterious keeper. He wants it to be available throughout your life. One time through will not get it.

Commit to reading these devotionals next year.

PRAYER

Almighty God, Praise You for teaching me so much truth! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ’s sermon teaches the truths of life—I will study!

Absolutely Not!

NOVEMBER 26

MATTHEW 7:21_but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

To do God’s will is how to enter into heaven. I see you squirming … but hold on. Does this contradict what has already been settled—the only path to heaven is through the shed blood of Jesus? Absolutely not! Jesus is not teaching the way to heaven is through good works.

God’s will is that you accept Jesus as Savior, serve Him as Lord, and love His people. This is the will of your Father which is in heaven. Good works will be a natural byproduct. 

We will be judged by our works:    

Romans 2:5-6 (KJV), “… and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds.”

II Corinthians 5:10 (KJV), “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”                                                                                                      

Revelation 20:12 (KJV), “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,  according to their works.”

If our good works are not a natural byproduct of a saving relationship with Jesus, then they are not good works.                  

PRAYER

Prince of Peace, If I ever do anything good—it comes from You. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                                                                                    

Christ will judge works—Only He makes mine good!

Quench Your Thirst

NOVEMBER 20

MATTHEW 7:20_Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

You already know good fruit is salt and light. Salt that preserves the truth once it’s found. Salt that whets the appetite so you thirst for more truth. A thirst that can only be quenched by a relationship with Jesus. If you are being led to quench your thirst by anything other than Jesus—you will not produce good fruit. 

In Matthew 13 (KJV), Jesus tells a parable about planting seeds in different types of soil and how the seed responds to where it is planted: “19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground [heart] is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

PRAYER

Only Wise God, Please plant in my heart the words of Your kingdom. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.    

Christ plants His kingdom in my heart—I receive it!

Don’t You Believe It!

NOVEMBER 17

MATTHEW 7:19_that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down…

You’ve learned a lot of truth from Jesus this year. Now you’re in the home stretch. The devil does not want you to experience the freedom gained from this Creation Principle. He wants you to see it as judgmental and legalistic—don’t you believe it!

The devil can give you an easy and fun life—forget all this about hard times and struggles. But remember—his fun times are temporary. The fun turns into far greater pain than life’s struggles.

Hebrews 11:24-26 (KJV), “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

Moses knew there was pleasure in sin. He had lived as an Egyptian prince in a palace of false gods and idols. This is how he learned the pleasures of sin are only for a season. When the fun is gone all that’s left is bondage – trying to get the pleasure back. 

If the tree doesn’t produce good fruit it will be cut down.

Corrupt trees do not produce good fruit. 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, Your rewards are far greater than the pleasures of sin. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                                                                    

Christ knows sinful pleasures are bondage—He frees me!