One Church, and One Family

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Uniting the Church

In my devotional message yesterday, we discussed being one with Jesus and the fact that this promise is for today and not some future time. We talked about knowing God's will for us and submitting ourselves to Christ. So, to begin our study today let's dig a little deeper and ask ourselves why God would offer all of His children such a precious gift. Today we will discuss this even further, but the simple answer to why God would extend to us the same relationship He knows with Jesus, who was without sin, can be summed up in one sentence, and it’s all about God’s love and our accepting a single belief...

Are We Asking Nothing of Jesus?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, One With Jesus

We should want to live the resurrection life of Jesus. Our greatest desire should be to become one with Him and in Him with God. Is this our hearts desire now... not sometime in the distant future but right now? Are we living this unified life, and if not, are we striving for it every day, and with each breath we take? Does this blur the spiritual line too much for us? Well, let’s think about this today.

Holding our Breath, and Unceasing Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Prayer and Breath

Are we praying continuously and without ceasing? How can we possibly do this with all of the happenings in our lives every day? Yet this is precisely what Jesus is telling us to do and he never asks us to do anything we are incapable of. If we are of the right mind spiritually and are living our lives within the will of God, then we will find that every event we experience in our lives will be performed with Him in our minds. Prayer is communication with Jesus and God, and, in a life which is founded on our faith, this conversation is flowing at all times and in everything we do, say, or think. If our faith is as it should be, we will find that we can't possibly separate ourselves from prayer.

Forgiveness and Fainting Before Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, forgiveness and fainting

God is indescribably great, and we are so utterly lost without His love and grace, but Jesus has an overpowering presence as well, and although we describe Him as humble, and meek, He is also glorious. We realize our faults and shortcomings, and rarely do we compare ourselves with the magnificence of God's glory, or the perfection of Jesus. We don't like to compare ourselves to the perfection that is Jesus nor to the absolute and awesome presence and power of God the Father because that would be presumptuous of us and so farfetched; some would consider it heretical. John fell to the ground as if dead at just the sight of the transfigured Christ, and it was only by the hand of Jesus that he was awakened. When we meet Jesus and stand before God will we be overcome by the mere sight of Him?

Are We Close to Becoming One?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Abiding in God

Is our relationship with God close enough? Are we one with other believers and with Jesus? These are the kinds of thoughts regarding our faith that we should be considering as we go through our days. This is not an easy contemplation but let’s join together this morning as we search for the answers to these questions within ourselves and the community of believers we associate with. Let’s meditate on them throughout our days so that by understanding we will be transformed into the Lord’s image from one degree of glory to another.

What Kind of Seeker Am I?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, I Am Seeking God

What did Jesus mean when He told us to "seek first the kingdom of God?" Some believe He meant to seek Him totally and that all else would miraculously be provided, while others feel He meant that we should seek God first and foremost, but then continue living our old lives guided lawfully by His commandments. Then there are those who believe that this means we should live our lives as we always have and to simply roll and squeeze God into the cracks of life like mortar or caulk. Which type of seeker are you? Do any of these ways describe how you search for Him? In what way do you seek to know our Heavenly Father?

Where is Your Treasure?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Heavenly Treasure

Are we seeking those things which are important in life and if not, how do we change our direction? This is our thought today. We will be contemplating what we actually hold to be most valuable in our lives and then asking ourselves if those things are really as valuable as we believe them to be. Are we placing value on fleeting things at the expense of those which are holy and eternal?

Faith and Just Living like Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Living Our Faith

Do we spend an inordinate amount of time trying to achieve the perfection of Jesus Christ and too little time just living out our daily lives like He did? Are we wrapped up in searching for some hidden meaning in God’s Word at the expense of just living out the obvious things scripture teaches us? Our goal should be to follow Jesus and learn at His feet, but we can't do that unless we are walking with Him and making camp where He makes camp. Are we doing this? Are we reading scripture with the open minds of children?

Ascension and the Promise of Pentecost

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Coming Pentecost

Following Jesus into Transfiguration and on to His Ascension leads us into our study this morning, but beyond that let’s also look forward towards Pentecost. A day that comes Forty nine days, seven sevens, from Easter. Will we, can we, understand what Jesus felt and became during His transfiguration, at prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, or whiles Ascending into heaven? Perhaps not, or at least not yet, but we can certainly feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The promise of "another", a comforter, that is very real to us today.

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