Tag: Truth

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Nothing Ho-Hum

DECEMBER 26

MATTHEW 7:28_the people were astonished at his doctrine.

Absolutely one of my favorite portions of scripture! This divine encounter did not end with some ho-hum, blase kind of feeling, among the crowd. It ended with:

Shock! 

Wonder!

Amazement!

All of which come from great power!

From great love!

From great truth!

From something: topsy-turvy—180 degrees from life’s norm!

All this came in one package—delivered in one sermon.

My brother, Ted, sent me a text recently: Truth is not a meandering river. It is a rock. And Jesus is the only sure footing in a world filled with gravel. I think that is exactly what the Jesus listeners experienced. They, like we, were always searching for truth.The Scribes and Pharisees meandered around truth, but never landed on it. The Scribes and Pharisees were blind.

Matthew 15:8-9(KJV), Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah, “This people draweth nigh unto me [God] with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

When they finally heard truth—the people were astonished!          

 PRAYER

Strong Tower, You are my only sure footing. Your truth astonishes me! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ’s words are genuine truth—They astonish me!

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Truth and Love Never Fail

DECEMBER 25

MATTHEW 7:28_when Jesus had ended these sayings…

Truth and love never fail. This sermon ends, but its power never ends. It will continue throughout this life and into eternity. Its ability to free the heart and soul of man is unstoppable. There simply is no way freedom cannot prevail from this sermon. As always, there is a way to choose to escape truth.  

Everyone has something from which they need freedom—because everyone sins. Some sins have delicate holds, some firm holds, and some despairing holds of bondage. The words of Jesus are healing. Using the Bible as a key to open the spirit allows freedom to penetrate the soul. 

Time spent in prayer, baring the soul, is essential to freedom. The time will never come when quiet times are no longer needed. Time with Jesus in prayer and Bible is not something you out-grow. It will never come to pass that you have learned it all, and have ended your need for fellowship and worship of your Creator and Savior.

Hopefully, you will read through these devotionals again next year. Allow them to infiltrate deeper into your soul with more wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.    

 PRAYER

Heavenly Father, Praise You that love and truth never fail. I need them. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ’s words are healing—they heal me!

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Egg on Their Face

DECEMBER 23

MATTHEW 7:28_And it came to pass…

Something which came to pass as a part of Jesus’ ministry was: multitudes followed Him. We’ve mentioned the multitudes before, but let’s review these categories.

Definitely among the multitude were the spiritually hungry. Hopefully that is the category you fill. You have not spent a year studying Jesus’ teachings because you are spiritually full. These are people who want their lives to count for good before they leave the earth. 

There were the physically sick. These are people who believe Jesus can heal the incurable. They hope to experience His power.

There were the desperate, held in demonic bondage by the father of lies. They were searching for freedom. Had they found it? 

There were the curious who just wanted to see what all the hoop-la was about.

There were the jealous who sought to destroy the One who had stolen their thunder. And it came to pass that these left with egg on their face.

For those who don’t know what that means, it is to be made to look foolish or embarrassed.  

 PRAYER

Wonderful Counselor, I am spiritually hungry for Your truth. Please feed me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ can keep me spiritually full—He feeds me!

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Fall to Pieces

DECEMBER 20

MATTHEW 7:27_and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell…

It is a sad thing to see a life fall apart. There are many ways a life can break. It is not always from hardship. Sometimes success can break a life.  Sometimes, the greater the success the harder the brokenness. The truth is, very often success destroys. 

If you find it hard to believe that success can lead to destruction open your eyes. Pay attention to people who are in the limelight. Have you been a fan of a celebrity and watched them fall off the porch? This is especially true for those who are an overnight sensation. 

Building character requires time, lots of time.  When you try to rush through life by skipping over your God-designed waiting period, you often develop the talent, but not the character. Character is the rock-solid foundation of life. Talents are like houses, they need to be squarely set on firm foundations. Brilliant talents and abilities built on sandy soil, then beat upon by the floods of success and popularity, can fall to pieces.

Psalm 27:14 (KJV), “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

You may be destined for global greatness, but give God time to prepare you.

 PRAYER

Savior of the World, Help me wait on You to develop character in me! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ prepares me for my purpose – I will wait!

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Things to Come

DECEMBER 18

MATTHEW 7:27_And the rain descended…

I see a connection between the beginning of this verse and verse 25. Do you see it? It’s something we’ve seen all along. Trials, storms, disappointments, sufferings, and hard times, come.

They come regardless of whether you’ve built your house on the Rock, or on the sand.

They come to the wise as well as to the foolish.

They come!

Prepare yourself!

Jesus gives wise advice in John 16:13 (KJV), “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear [from God], that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

The Holy Spirit can prepare you for things to come. He speaks as you read the Bible and bears witness of its truth. The Holy Spirit makes you wiser than your enemy the devil, who wants you to fear the rains life can bring. Become a child of God and have the advantage of the Spirit’s teaching and leading. 

Jesus doesn’t teach the Spirit will predict your future.

The Holy Spirit will increase your faith, build your trust, and prepare you for whatever the future has in store. 

PRAYER

Glorious Lord Jesus, Thank You for the Holy Spirit. Help me listen and learn! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ prepares me for the future—Whatever it brings!