The Most Important Question You'll ever be Asked:

The Most Important Question You'll ever be Asked:

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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Thought 306: What's your Motive? from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 306

What’s your Motive?

  What is your motive for doing most of the things that you do? Is it recognition? Achievement? A ‘good’ feeling? To ‘get’ a woman? To impress? To discover the “real” you? To discover you inner being? To see if this thing fits you? To experiment? To live for God? To quote a movie, video game, or book? To impersonate a TV star or an athlete? Etc…

  All those motives, except one are wrong.
Our motive should be Jesus Christ, His triune being: God the Father; Jesus, the Son; and The Holy Spirit, The Counselor and Spirit of Truth.


 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Thought 305: Fear from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 305

Fear

Fear comes in many forms that are considered “ok” by society and even Christians. Jesus said not to worry and the Bible says “Do not fear 365 times. I can’t quote all of those verses for you; but nervousness, embarrassment, doubt, suspense, etc… are forms of fear. The words spoken all around you in day to day life may be teaching you to be a child of fear rather than a child of God.

Sometimes the things that embarrass us are the very things that God wants us to discuss and (or) do.


 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Thought 304: I will take hold of your hand from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 304

I will take hold of your hand

“I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”

Isaiah 42:6,7 KJV
 

   Isn’t it great to know that the Lord has called us in righteousness! And that He will take hold of your hand! He will make us into a covenant for the people and a light to the world. Isn’t it wonderful when the Lord uses us as an instrument to open eyes that were blind to Christ, to free captives from the prison of a stronghold that has held them and to share the victorious freedom of Christ to those who sit far back in prison of darkness? I thank the Lord for using me to be a light to others in the past and for the future when He will use me—do you? May we cling to this Scripture.



 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Thought 303: Stewardship from Ryan's devotional book seris Thoughts


Thought 303

Stewardship

Stewardship. This really encompasses every area of our lives and everything we do as followers of the Way. The maintenance of our focus, which is also grounded on our Foundation; of remembering; of managing our talents; of our money; of our time; and of all our other resources are all forms of stewardship. In the beginning God gave man dominion over the earth, in essence at that point in time we (mankind) assumed the role of stewardship. With the Fall, man had the even bigger responsibility of making the right choice between good and evil. After the fruit was eaten, mankind then had the knowledge of good and evil, the very name that God gave to that tree testifies to that fact (Genesis 2:16-17).
In a deeper sense, we can think of Stewardship as they way that we look over our own affairs and those of our family in accordance with the will of God.


 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Thought 302: They have it, so should I! from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 302

They have it, so should I!

  Have you ever wanted something that someone else had really, really strongly? It’s called coveting. Even though your parents and family may have great material possessions, that doesn’t mean that you are entitled to have them as well. God gives to whom He pleases—He does not show favoritism, but His specific will for each person is not the same. “For the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof (1 Corinthians 10:26 KJV),” this verse means that God owns everything, so be faithful what HE has given to you.


 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Thought 301: Scars and Scabs from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 301

Scars and Scabs

  Christ heals our wounds, but when we rip the scab off and when we pick at the sore, we just make it worse. Recovery is longer; it hurts more, maybe bleeds more, and makes us miserable. In our agony we cry out to God and some blame Him for the pain that we have caused ourselves. The continued picking at a sore results in a final healing in the form of a scar. That scar is a constant reminder of how I, not the Lord, picked and picked and caused that healing sore to fester and take longer to heal.

  What are your scabs? What are your scars?

  The Lord wants to bind up our brokenness and hurt, but we can willingly resist His healing choice. Forgiveness may not be simple, discipline may not be enjoyable, and spiritual spankings (reproofs by the Lord) may hurt, but they are ultimately for out best interest—the Lord’s future plan for us.




 

Friday, January 25, 2013

Thought 300: Fruit First from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 300

Fruit First

  Dear readers, we need to be producing fruit before we are shooting out leaves for our own nourishment.

 I once listened to a sermon by a gentleman named Paul Duvall and the message that struck me was when he explained why Jesus cursed the fig tree. (Check out Matthew 21:18-22Mark 11:20-25 For the full story).

You see, fig trees bear fruit before their leaves come out, in other words, there’s fruit before the outward evidence of a living tree is there. He explained that the reason why Jesus cursed the fig tree is because its leaves were out but no fruit was to be found; therefore it symbolized, in at least one sense, the fake Christian. The fake Christian is somebody who has the appearance (hence the leaves), but not the results and changes (flowers and fruit) of a true relationship with Jesus Christ.

 
How can this little illustration be applied to your life? Meditate on it and listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice.



 

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Thought 299: Salvation! from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 299

Salvation!

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

Isaiah 41:17-18 KJV

     Are you poor and needy? I know that I need to be, because spiritual hunger, thirst, and need (desperation for the Lord) opens the door for the Lord to answer me, make the rivers flow, and restore my soul!  David had this type of attitude throughout his Psalms. He cried out to the Lord and was desperate for the Lord’s direction—he wouldn’t act without it.

     Where are you? Pause and examine yourself, are we desperate for the Lord? If so, you may want to record how He starts answering you and providing small bits off refreshment in the desert and on the barren heights. Close this devotional time by reading Matthew 6:33.


 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Thought 298: Humility from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 298

Humility

“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Psalms 25:9-15 KJV

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines Meek as: …humble, in an evangelical sense ; submissive to the divine will ; not proud, self-sufficient or refractory ; not peevish and apt to complain of divine dispensations. Christ says, “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and he shall find rest for your souls.” Matt. xi

    A mentor of mine has said, “humility is the key.” In life, being humble is an important key to everything: right standing with God, proper relationships with people, and most importantly, being in the right place and season that God has for you. A few years later, the same man told me that humility and the fear of the Lord when you study them out are synomomous.

     From our text, we learn that the Lord guides the humble, instructs them, and teaches them His way. As we go on we see the characteristics of the humble: keeping the demands of covenant of the Lord; and repentance, crying out: forgive my iniquity, Lord! By the Spirit, we can also see the Lord reveal through this Scripture that the fear of the Lord and humility are synonymous because the man that fears the Lord is instructed in the way chosen for him, in the path that God has anointed him for; and that the Lord guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

     Fearing the Lord brings prosperity and inheritance, but more than all that, the Lord confides in those who fear him! He makes his covenant known to them! Like David wrote, may we cry out and proclaim, my eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare! Let’s be humble, let’s Fear the Lord!


 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Thought 297: Discipline from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 297

Discipline

“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.Proverbs 15:10 KJV


      When one falls away from Christ and leaves the narrow road after walking on it, stern discipline awaits him. Scripture says that the Lord’s punishment is much worse for those who have known the Lord and then rejected him and gone astray. There are “levels” of intensity of judgment in Hell. Scripture teaches that some will receive a greater judgment than others. May we see clearly that those who depart from the path of the Lord will be disciplined and those who turn from Him will be punished.

2 Peter 2:20-22, 3:17,  2 Thessalonians 2:3, Hebrews 3:12

 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Thought 296: False Prophets from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 296

 False Prophets

“The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.” Micah 3:11 KJV

 
    Jesus (Matt. 7:16, 24:24) and Paul (Acts 20:13-38)  both warned us that false prophets, deceptive teachers, would come among us and deceive many. We are told that we can recognize them by their fruit (Matt 7:16). For example, the verse above clearly shows that the motivation of these judges and ministers was money, not God. They were fakes! Similarly, in churches around the world today, many false prophets are followed and revered. Why, you ask? How can so many follow a false prophet? Because they are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15): they look like Christians on the outside—they say the right things and subtly weave their lies in so that many don’t “notice.” Scripture says that inwardly these people are ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15). Just like Satan seeks to devour us, so these hungry wolves want to tear apart and draw away many from the flocks of sheep.

     You may know of some false prophets; but if you fully follow Christ, you will be able to hear the voice of the Master Shepherd, of Jesus Christ, and He will lead you. His sheep know His voice (John 10:27), but for those who aren’t His sheep or have fallen astray to some other gospel, let us pause now and spend some time in prayer for them: that the wolves may be exposed for who they are and that the sheep that have been captured will be redeemed.


 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Thought 295: Take Every Thought Captive from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 295

Take Every Thought Captive

This is the only way to win the battles that lust faces us with, men, and the mental struggles that plague us all.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. 17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.    2 Corinthians 10:3-18 KJV



 

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Thought 294: Be a voice for the heart of God from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 294

Be a voice for the heart of God

  God’s heart is pure unlike mans’; but when salvation occurs, God begins to change our heart; we still have to be careful not to ‘follow our hearts’ though. Christ lives in the Redeemed, but just because we are redeemed, doesn’t mean that we cannot reject our redemption and walk away from the gift of salvation. We can choose to hearken unto the voice of our old nature instead of our new one. We cannot follow our heart, because while we remain in this world our Flesh, of which our carnal heart consists, constantly desires the fun and exciting sin that the world seems to enjoy. God is King, He has rules, and He has set definite consequences for following our Fleshly, carnal heart because He loves us as a Father loves his children.

A loving parent will discipline their child because they love them, but a parent that doesn’t care will let their child do anything without consequence; and therefore they set the child’s life on the wrong course by implanting rebellion as ok, and discipline, authority, and rules as the “big bad guy.” But God isn’t like that. He has laid out the Rules, He has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit. Instead of following your old nature, follow your new—Christ’s Spirit within you! And be a voice for the heart of God amidst a world of prideful hearts.


 

Friday, January 18, 2013

Thought 293: Plan...Water...Harvest from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 293

Plant…Water…Harvest

 

Plant

Some plant…

Water

Some water…

Harvest

Some harvest the crop…

 

  In your lifetime you might not reap everything that you sow. In your spiritual walk, God may not use as a great harvester; instead, you might plant many seeds that God waters and harvests using other servants and other means. This book is a seed, but if the Lord tarries, this book could have another 200 or 300 years . . . . or more . . . . or less to spread God’s truth.

1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

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 is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Matthew 13:1-52 KJV

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Thought 292: Busy or Occupied? . . . The Lord is coming back! from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 292

Busy or Occupied? . . . The Lord is coming back!

  Being occupied is simply doing something with purpose. Busyness is often doing just for the sake of doing, but occupation is actual work with a defined goal. Our occupation should be rooted in our Lord’s will. Are we doing as He would do? Are we willing to forsake the things that He would forsake? True occupation is living a life for our Lord and not for our own betterment. We might have a lot to do as we follow Him, but it should be a joyous, purposeful occupation, not a hated routine.

We can choose to be occupied with our Lord, both in work and rest; or we will be living a busy life.

Get alone before the Lord and seek His answer to this question: Are you busy with needless things or are you occupied living the life that you were meant to live?


 

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Thought 290: You already look like a fool; let God kill your pride from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts



Thought 290
You already look like a fool; let God kill your pride
 
  Stop letting the fear of failing or looking like a fool keep you from being blessed by obedience to the Lord. Many of us have already looked like fools before in our day to day lives. So let’s face it stepping out there and living out your Faith won’t really be ‘all that bad.’ Sure people may not believe your testimony, even Jesus experienced that. Some may persecute you or make fun of you for your seemingly stupid “‘religious ‘practices;” that happened to Jesus. But—Hey!—we are supposed to be the Light and Salt of the earth. So let’s lay down the pride of failure and foolishness and start being Fools-4-Christ!
“We are fools for Christ’s sake….” 1 Corinthians 4:10 KJV


Monday, January 14, 2013

Thought 289: Hope from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 289

Hope

  Your hope seems to eventually run out, doesn’t it? I have news for you: there is a place to have your hope restored. There is a person who should be the center, the foundation of your hope. When your hope runs out; eventually it will run out when it is founded on the things of this world. 

   I’ll admit that my hope has run out and I needed a ‘lift’, but where did I get it? The altar. Now an altar does not have to be literally in a church or even a literal object, it is simply anywhere that you pour out your heart to God and guess what? He has the power to refill and make a new wine skin out of you, because HE IS THE CREATOR!
Where is your hope focused? Do you need a fresh ‘refill’? Ask the Father for He has sent the Son to save you and the Holy Spirit to empower you to be His witness in the earth.



 

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Thought 288: Hear, Do, Say--What God tells you from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 288

Hear, Do, Say—What God tells you


“What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. Matthew 10:27 KJV
 

Reflect on the meaning of this verse and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you its meaning.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Thought 287: You've always been told.... from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 287

You’ve always been told….

  I have been told since I was very young that I am a leader. As I grew older, I heard the same type of thing. The words of those people have been a blessing to me during some discouraging times. What have you always been told? Some things that others tell us are lies and curses, while others are blessings and truth. First, ask the Holy Spirit to help you determine whether blessings of curses have been spoken over you. Remember the blessings, and forgive those who cursed you—pray that they may experience Christ’s love and forgiveness and as far much as you can, try to share Christ’s love and truth with them if you come in contact with them.

“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (servant).”

Matthew 20:26 and Mark 10:43 KJV parenthesis added

 That verse that tells us that whoever wants to be the greatest among men has to be a servant. Did you catch that? The “greatest leaders” in the world today often miss it.  The way to be a great leader is to throw away your own pride and embrace humility—begin to serve. True leadership is humbly following God in whatever and wherever He leads you. Even if it looks impossible and all your men, friends, family, and colleagues say that you’re crazy. Jesus’ mission seemed crazy to His own brothers (John 7)!

What God tells me to do has often made me ‘shake-in-my-boots;’ I am attacked fiercely by the Enemy. But God allows me to be tempted by the Enemy as a test. By that test God teaches me something. Unlike earthly tests, this test is all for me, not one ounce of the test is for God because He already knows all of the results, but nevertheless, He lets me go through it so that I might see sometime later what He has taught me.

What are you being called to do? Be a doctor? A scientist? Entrepreneurship? A Mother instead of just a Mom? A Father instead of just a Dad? Be what you were called to be, it may be tough, but GOD IS WITH YOU!

Friday, January 11, 2013

Thought 286: The Birth of a Ministry from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 286

The Birth of a Ministry

  God has given me these dreams: The Timothy Commission (originally the Timothy Foundation), Focusing on the Mark Ministries (originally Pressing Towards the Mark Ministries), writing and designing books and literature, studying the Word and History, teaching, mentoring, and preaching. Very few of these ‘dreams’ have come into being at the time of this writing, but they are dreams.

I have desired to start the dreams that God has put in my heart. But waiting on HIS timing is key. If I don’t wait, I will just be operating in my own strength and not the Lord’s blessing; so, I wait until God makes the way.

Has the Lord given you an idea that has or has not come to fruition? Are you trying to rush God or are you waiting on the Lord?

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Thought 285: Faithfulness and Obedience are a Choice from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 285

Faithfulness and Obedience are a Choice

  You can choose to be faithful and obedient. You are never just “naturally” obedient; your human nature is naturally disobedient (Gen 3:6). Obedience is contrary to our nature, and thus we must exercise our will—make a choice—to obey.

But I have a great reminder for you! We serve a God that is always faithful and always keeps His Word! In other words, He obeys (keeps) His promises. And the greatest thing of all is that He loves you and me and ‘keeps after’ us with the message of His Son and the conviction of the Holy Spirit—He desires that none perish; yet they must make a choice: accept the final debt payment of Christ’s redemption from the power of sin or reject signing the debt over to Him and carry it themselves.

How’s your faith and obedience right now?

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Thougth 284: True Love from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts


Thought 284

True Love

Read 1 Corinthians 13.

The following is a definition came to me one day during school. I had been thinking about love and how to describe what it was to a group of young men I was sharing with on lust the previous week. You see, we had talked a lot about what lust was, but I hit a roadblock on how to describe love. Thus, as I was doing some homework or something one day, I had an idea and grabbing a piece of paper and a pen this “definition” is what came out of it. May those who read be given some insight into what Love is and don’t give me credit—give the credit to Jesus who by His gift of the Holy Spirit has taught me these things.

 
Definition of Love :

  Love cannot be adequately defined by a modern dictionary or Hollywood, it is not an emotion or bubbly feeling, but rather, a patient, sacrificial person whom God created to be of the utmost importance in our Christian lives.

  It is an action founded in Christ, of whom our perfected example lays. It overlooks age, race, color, and social and economic standings. It corrects, reaches, instructs, teaches, and touches the very soul. It looks past hate and pride – of which pride is forth most its enemy; since every sin somehow is stemmed from that wicked root.

  Love is thereby adequately defined by 1 Corinthians 13 which declares Love to be patient, merciful; it is an action of sorts, the opposite of hate, and above all the Divine Nature of Providence and starkly, uncompromisingly opposite to lust, hate, emotion, and pleasure – which almost invariably stem from pride. [Note for clarity: when emotion and pleasure are mentioned to stem from pride, it is referring to the emotional pleasure of those who partake of sex outside of God’s condition of marriage because they claim that they were “so in love” that they had to express it in that way.]

  Love is simply the absence of pride resulting in an “others’ oriented” mindset, seated upon Christ and worked out with healthy fear and trembling (which is due to the fact that Love is our true calling).

Side note:

Humility, Contentment, and Affection all stem from this ‘odd’ four letter word – that is, L-O-V-E.

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