Thought 224: A Purpose Driven Life from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 224

A Purpose Driven Life

  A life needs a purpose; otherwise there is no reason for that life to exist, right? No, God doesn’t create mistakes. You might not think that you look the best or are the smartest, but God created you to be you. He loves you and He cares for you.

Read Job 31:15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; and 1 John 4:16

The Lord created you for a reason (Psalm 139:13). God wants you to wholeheartedly pursue Him (Matthew 6:33): a fruitful life reflecting Christ will be developed as you intentionally live each day following Jesus (Luke 9:23).

For most of my life I didn’t have a purpose, or at least I felt like it. I would play army men, Legos, and video games for hours on end. Around my freshman year of High School it dawned on me that buying and playing the newest and “greatest” games, chasing “cute” girls, and pursuing having fun had no real meaning or lasting value to my life. My friendships were many and empty: there was no depth, no true understanding or growth for the good of both parties. But one day, the Lord spoke to my heart as I was sitting in my basement writing or reading that He had a plan for me—I had purpose!

You have a Purpose!

Thought 223: The SOLID Rock, The Sharpening Stone from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 223
The SOLID Rock, The Sharpening Stone

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”      Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)

 People can sharpen each other; but I submit to you is that Christ is sharpening us. . . As we read the Word, we are transformed and as apply what we’ve learned to our lives, we are like a piece of pottery in the Potter’s hands: be shaped and molded into the vessel that He desires.

Another analogy would be this: imagine yourself one day becoming a beautiful sword with precious gems inlaid in the hilt with a shining yet strong blade. All you are right now is a hunk of dirty old medal, and the gems are lying in a pile on a nearby table along with the sword polish across from the furnace. In order to be turned into that beautiful sword you have to be put through extreme fire—and heat!—sometimes to the point of becoming a liquid metal. You have to be beaten into shape and engraved with your Maker’s signature. The dirty, undesirable metals have to be drawn out so that you can become a pure weapon, worthy for your Master to use. It is the same way in our Christian walk, we don’t shine right away; our sword polish hasn’t been worked in enough. We grow brighter each day, yet we never reach the perfection on this earth: the metal we are made of has to pass into death so that the last bit of fire I’m not talking about “purgatory,” I’m talking about our sanctification [the process of becoming holy] on this earth which culminates in glorification [perfection] when we are united with Christ.) can cleanse us as we march over into eternity in Heaven. I’m not talking about purgatory, I’m talking about our sanctification on this earth and our glorification when we are united with Christ.

Thought 222: Christian Freedom from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 222

Christian Freedom

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”  Galatians 5:13-15 (NIV1984)

Thought 221: Obey from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 221

Obey

 “If only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.” Deuteronomy 15:5 (NIV1984)

   When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, f you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30 (NIV1984)

God blesses when we are obedient.

       We have just nailed one of the very important studs of Biblical truth into the spiritual building of our lives. Obedience is so important. This is why the child who cursed his father or mother was to be stoned under the law, this is why Christ died (in obedience to the Father’s plan), and this is why we go to Hell without Christ (refusing to acknowledge of out sin and receive Christ as Savior and Lord). 

  Pray about what areas God wants you to be obedient in.

Thought 220: Benefits of Blessing from Ryan's devotional series Thoughts

Thought 220

Benefits of Blessing

        You can either bless, or you can curse. Think of it in these terms: building up or tearing down. It takes time to build, but hardly any time to tear down. The foundation of the Bible, of Jesus Christ (the chief cornerstone, the capstone) must be laid down first, because it “will not be shaken” (Isaiah 54:10, Psalm 62:6, Psalm 16:8, Acts 2:25).