Service, the Call, and the Nature of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Serving God’s Call

Have you ever struggled to understand your service to God and others as it compares to the call of God itself? This morning I am contemplating these two wonderful aspects of our faith… faithful service, and God’s calling for us. You might interpret our service as being works so here are two scripture references that together link our faith and works together, one from Paul (Ephesians 2:8-9) and the other from James (James 2:26). These two passages complement each other and explain how they go hand in hand. But let’s explore what this has to do with God calling us.

Are we Busy Seeking, or Patiently Listening, For God’s Call?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Listen for God’s Call

This morning, I was awakened to the fact that I do not make the decision regarding how I will serve the Lord, no, He makes that determination. It is so tempting for us to get out of bed, say our prayers, and then, over breakfast, say cheerfully to ourselves "Let’s see, how will I serve God today!" What we should be doing is asking Him how we can do this, and then listening for His voice as Isaiah did.

Being Alone with Jesus, and God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, One With God and Jesus

Yesterday we thought about being alone with God in times of correction, but today let’s contemplate those times when we find ourselves alone with Jesus out of love, familiarity, and to receive such things as His instruction, direction, or blessing... what do we say or ask of Jesus when we are alone with Him? Well, we can ask anything but especially the hard questions, or those that bare the uncertainties or insecurities that we harbor in our souls.

Choosing God’s Will, and Enduring the Suffering Which Follows

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Suffering in our Calling

I struggled with my devotional reading this morning. The bulk of it dealt with the fact that when we answer God's call in our lives then we, or other people around us, could suffer. Have you ever considered this? Perhaps you are new to the faith and are still of the belief that answering God’s call is all about us and is always an easy choice; that any suffering it involves is ours, and ours alone. This is a false assumption.

Christian Babes, Withstanding the Roaring Lion

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Why Are We Called

Why are we called, and for what reason do we deliver the gospel to the unsaved? As I contemplated my scripture and devotional reading this morning, I recalled Oswald Chambers speaking on this subject with these words:

 

"The first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words "that they may receive remission of sins." When a man fails in personal Christian experience, it is nearly always because he has never received anything." - Oswald Chambers

How Complete is Forgiveness?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Total Forgiveness

My devotional reading this morning was about the intercession of Jesus as it pertains to our forgiveness for sin. It posed these two questions regarding how complete forgiveness is... are we only forgiven our conscious sin? What happens if we sin again? Well, Paul prayed a wonderful prayer that helps us understand the height and depth of our forgiveness of sin through Jesus. He used the words wholly and whole... Let’s read it.

Are We Called to Sacrifice Ourselves?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Sacrificing Ourselves

Today’s topic deals with what is expected of us in regard to our lives. There are some who believe that the ultimate offering of our life is to sacrifice it in death or lay it down in service to God; but that isn't the case. That sacrifice has been made; Jesus was the one perfect offering for the redemption of sin. God loved us enough to do this for us… not for Himself, nor to lead us into death for any other reason. We have been saved once, and for all, by Christ alone.

Are We Imitating Jesus?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Imitating Faith

This morning I read a devotional message written by Oswald Chambers regarding our knowing Jesus, and it dealt with how well, and when, the disciples came to know Him and it begged us to ask the question... do we really know Him? When I had completed my reading and was contemplating my own relationship with Jesus Christ and what I needed to do to know Him better, two words were given to me... imitation and emulation. They sound very similar, and out of ignorance we often use them interchangeably, but they are quite different in meaning.

The “Peter” in Each of Us

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional,

This morning as I read my devotional it struck me that the life of Peter mirrors our own lives in many powerful ways. We are humble before Jesus, yet we boldly speak for Him, we often speak before listening, we have glimpses of strong faith that often fade as we sink while walking on water, and we wrestle with our sinfulness, but there is no similarity more blatantly obvious, nor spiritually disappointing, than when Peter denied Jesus… and when we recognize ourselves in him as he does so. Like Peter we answer the call of Jesus as infants and must mature in our belief and faith. 

Are You Becalmed on a Spiritual Sea?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Space Between Callings

My devotional reading for today had to do with those times between callings and it blessed me by helping me to wait patiently for God's voice. What do we do during these quiet times of our faith, the times between callings and other spiritual experiences? Sailors of tall ships and other sailing vessels call these hours and days when the wind isn't blowing as being "becalmed." When they find themselves sitting motionless, they make busy about the ship preparing for the next leg of their voyage while they wait for a breeze and hopefully a steady wind to fill their sails once more. We should do the same in our spiritual voyages. This is a time to mend the sails in preparation for the coming breeze… not to take up oars ourselves.

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