This is a serious thing to ponder but remember the mustard seed of faith....
The Father put that in us and it is because of that we came to Him in the first place. So with that we can know without always seeing.... or understanding.
Isn't the Father wonderful!!!
Love & prayers,
Judy
Reading: John 6:66
DEPARTED
To me one of the saddest incidents in the Bible is when some of the disciples went back to their old life and followed Jesus no more. Here were men that sat under Jesus’ incredible teachings, witnessed His miracles, and under His authority preached the Gospel of the kingdom of heaven. However, they came to a point of testing which caused them to come to a crossroad. The testing had to do with their faith. Jesus’ teaching did not make any sense to their intellectual understanding.
These disciples did not want to follow Jesus unless they could walk according to their own understanding. However, the truths of God can prove to be mysteries that are beyond mere man’s intelligence. This is why we walk by faith in the character of God, and not according to our personal understanding.
Obviously, the disciples were following Christ because of what they witnessed, and not for who He was. Our faith is not based on what we see, but in the unseen, mainly in the work, purpose and plan of God. Even though Jesus could be seen, His disciples had to still believe He was the Promised One, and that His words were true in spite of the challenge and confusion that they brought to their physical ears and personal understanding.
Faith will always be tested. It is not necessarily tested by the unseen, but by what is not understandable to the intellectual or comfort zone. Faith has to do with trusting the character of God when we do not understand a matter.
These disciples were not walking by faith, but by self-serving motives. When their understanding was challenged, they went into unbelief instead of choosing to cling to the Rock.
What are you walking according to? The only true disciple of Jesus must walk by faith in His character, and not by personal understanding.
Prayer: Lord, we praise Your name. We may not understand all of Your ways and words, but we choose to believe You. Amen.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
Friday, December 4, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Great Devotion to Start December
Reading: 1 John 2:13
OVERCOMING
What does it mean to overcome the wicked one? That is what separates the children from the young men and women in the kingdom of God . To understand what it means to overcome the wicked one, we must understand what overcoming entails. It means to conquer, prevail, and get the victory over an enemy or matter (SC, #3528)
As we consider the meaning of this word, it is more than simply subduing an enemy, it points to a complete victory over the influence and power of this enemy in your life. As we consider the implication of being a conqueror, we must remember what the Apostle Paul stated in Romans 8:37: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Jesus made this statement in Matthew 16:18: “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Apostle Paul gives us this perspective in 1 Corinthians 15:54: “So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
As you consider each Scripture, you can see why the Christian life is powerful. Clearly, we are more than conquerors. We have the power and protection that hell will not be able to prevail against. We also will have the victory over the ultimate enemy, death.
To come to terms with this overcoming life, we must understand how to be active in ensuring that victory. As a maturing believer in Christ, you must first of all recognize that victory is outside of any personal strength.
Prayer: Lord, our victory is in You, according to You, and because of You. I concede all to You for Your use and glory. Amen.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
OVERCOMING
What does it mean to overcome the wicked one? That is what separates the children from the young men and women in the kingdom of God . To understand what it means to overcome the wicked one, we must understand what overcoming entails. It means to conquer, prevail, and get the victory over an enemy or matter (SC, #3528)
As we consider the meaning of this word, it is more than simply subduing an enemy, it points to a complete victory over the influence and power of this enemy in your life. As we consider the implication of being a conqueror, we must remember what the Apostle Paul stated in Romans 8:37: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Jesus made this statement in Matthew 16:18: “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Apostle Paul gives us this perspective in 1 Corinthians 15:54: “So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
As you consider each Scripture, you can see why the Christian life is powerful. Clearly, we are more than conquerors. We have the power and protection that hell will not be able to prevail against. We also will have the victory over the ultimate enemy, death.
To come to terms with this overcoming life, we must understand how to be active in ensuring that victory. As a maturing believer in Christ, you must first of all recognize that victory is outside of any personal strength.
Prayer: Lord, our victory is in You, according to You, and because of You. I concede all to You for Your use and glory. Amen.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
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