All in Daily Devotion

The Word of God vs. the Traditions of Man

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Faith, God’s Word, Change

People argue that our faith is evolving, and God is changing to accommodate mankind’s changing nature, but is that true? When we look at God, and view our history with Him, have we ever seen Him change, or evolve? Some use the coming of Jesus to argue their point, but if we look at the Bible we see that Messianic Prophecy begins from almost the moment of Adam’s fall, and invalidates this as an argument for change. We change, but God remains the same... truth is always truth, good always good, light is always light, and so forth.

Law or Grace; How do we choose our Faith?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Choosing, Faith in Jesus

There are two ways in which we can approach faith, we can look at the law as they did in the Old Testament, or we can search all our days for the Lord, and do so with our whole heart through Jesus. Some find it more to their liking to have an absolute list of things they must do without fail, and trusting in themselves, gauge their victory or defeat by it. However, others, knowIng those same things, face their shortcomings, and seek after God each day... covered fresh by Christ’s blood. 

Of Sacrifice, and Being Healed by Love

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Love, Sacrifice, Redemption

Is there anything of yourself that out of love you have given to, or for, another? Is there anything you consider so valuable, or so dear to you, that you wouldn’t consider parting with? We often think that the most precious possession we have is our life, but is that true? Jesus gave up His life for us, and for the love He felt for God. He valued these two so completely that His life was considered less, and thus, at His Father’s request, He gave it in horrific fashion to redeem mankind... even for those who would wound Him. He loved, and He loved something He considered more precious than His own life. 

Fame, Fortune, and Temptation on the Mountain

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Temptation, Satan

Glory, honor, fame, fortune, power, these are all temptations valued highly by man’s carnal self, and their control over us can be spiritually devastating, and even bleed over into our physical wellbeing as well. How far would any of us be willing to go for them, or to resist them? Would we abandon our faith for them? Would we drop down on our knees to someone who could give them to us as if they were a god? How do we face such temptation?

Scripture used as a Weapon against us

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Debating Scripture

Satan is a wily sort, and on occasion he is known to use scripture, God’s own Word,  against us by taking it out of context, or misrepresenting its interpretation. When Jesus came out of the wilderness we saw Satan tempt Him in just this way, and in similar fashion we see this happening today. Scripture is powerful, and the adversaries of faith attempt to string convenient verses together to undermined the truth in God’s Word. Knowing the Word is our defense against such attack. 

Satan Whispers to us in our Safe Places

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Safety, Temple, Temptation

Sometimes we are tempted in places that should be safe. Jesus was tempted in His safe place, on the pinnacle of the temple, the house of God, and we can be tempted in our churches as well. Have you ever had a squabble on Sunday morning with someone at church, and found that you couldn’t sleep at all that night... or did you go home smug in the fact that you had really told that so and so a thing or two?

Resisting the Power of Subtle Temptation and Sin

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Subtle Sin, Temptation

As Christians, we believe that we can identify sin and avoid it, but we aren’t always tempted by obvious sin; many times we are confronted by things that we might be inclined to rationalize , and that are less obvious. There is a fine line between conversation and gossip, or stretching the truth and telling an outright lie. How well do we identify and resist such subtle sins?

Finding Relationship in our Seclusion, Focus in our Fasting

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Hungering, Relationship

Do you ever separate yourself spiritually from your physical life and become immersed in your faith? Fasting is one of those denials of self that when used properly will heighten our spiritual concentration by placing our body under subjugation to God in a very real way. By causing ourselves to suffer in this way we feel a constant reminder to pray and worship... it focuses us heart, soul, mind, and strength, on our God. This is one of the few acts we perform that brings all of these to bear at once.

Walking in the Wilderness with the Spirit

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Wilderness, Walking with God

Sometimes our spirit leads us into a vulnerable place; one in which we find ourselves alone, and being tempted, or tested. We often experience this when God is teaching us, or preparing us for something new; perhaps a calling. It can happen in those times when we are about to be lead into a new ministry... or God is preparing us to be stretched in some way. Have you ever found yourself experiencing a spiritual wilderness? Are you there now, and don’t really know why?

Trusting in God, even when a reasoning person might waver

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Trusting God

Trusting in God is not always easy, especially in the quiet times after our prayers have left our lips, and before His answer has become apparent to us, but in those hard times, Oh how our faith does grow. When we allow our hearts to lean on God’s strength, and we set aside our own reasoning, while depending solely on the understanding His Holy Spirit, we find our relief, and our strength abounds in His presence. 

God’s counsel, and our prayers for His guidance

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Council and Advice

We are headstrong in so many ways, and a great deal of the time we insist on going our own way, or doing our own thing, but God’s desire is that we follow His guidance. By blazing our own trail we come to find ourselves seeking His deliverance from various messes we have created, rather than living a peaceful life, and thanking Him for it. Does this sound familiar? Do you seek God’s good counsel, or take your own path?

Love and Peace; do we really know them?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Love, Peace

The love of Christ, we can only think we know it. When we are saved, and first feel it rushing into us with such an amazing force, we are convinced that this torrential flood must be the fullness of His love, but as we grow in faith we realize that the waters slow, and the river deepens. We then get a sense of the fact that there are seas, and oceans, ahead... and we are overcome by the expanse that is His love for us, and the journey ahead.

Scripture; how do we study it, and what do we gain?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Learning, Understanding Scripture

When we have begun our study of the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God, have we committed ourselves to obeying and following what we find there by loving them deeply, or do we pursue these things as a matter of curiosity? Are we wanting to have a command of scripture, or to allow it to have command over us? Our motivation in learning determines what we gain by it. So how do we search the Word, and sift through the Gospel? Do we simply gain intellectually, or by a motivation founded in love do we gain eternity?

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