All in Daily Devotional
Do we include the Lord in all of our plans? Do we consider him in the minutest details of our lives? Is He not only our God in the grand plans of life, but the friend who walks beside us throughout the day, and sits with us in the evenings to talk over the smallest details that have transpired? This is my contemplation today, and I invite you to make it yours.
Today is Independence Day in the United States, and as a citizen of my country I think about the significance of this celebration to me. But what this leads me to is a deeper consideration of the day when I announced my personal independence from all but Jesus Christ... seeking to become a citizen of God’s heavenly realm... a Christian.
We are more than just a sinner in the general sense; we are people who commit very specific sins. It is easy to make the open ended statement "I am a sinner", but God wants to deal with each of us regarding the personal, and specific, sins we have committed. On the day of judgement, as we stand in His presence, we will be shown our individual sins, but will we have already dealt with them, or be ready to answer for each one of them in that faithful moment like Isaiah was?
This morning I am asking myself the same question that the resurrected Jesus asked Peter... “Do you love me?” And, in so doing, I think about what love truly is. Then I measure the depths of my love once more when asked yet again… “Do you love me?” Finally, I explore what Jesus desires of me as He asks one final time... “Do you love me?” Am I committed to worship, obey, and follow what He expects of me when I answer Him? How about with the same type of love He asked Peter if he had?
My devotional reading this morning was titled "Let Us Keep To The Point", and builds on Oswald Chambers' personal challenge of giving "My Utmost for His Highest". It presses the argument that we should yield to God's will always, and in every instance without question. The apostle Paul instructed the Philippians on living in the will of God too as they lived out their lives. He spoke to them of living a life with Jesus and aligning themselves with God's will... without fear of death. Do we do this in our own lives today?
The damage brought by carrying anger or hatred in us for long periods of time is my concentration today. Do we resolve our conflicts and issues quickly, and move to forgive in a timely manner, or do we continue to suffer as we carry that heavy baggage day after day. What does God's Word tell us about this?
I am looking at my life this morning in such a way as to identify those things that are stumbling blocks to my faith. I am asking myself the simple question... "Am I separating myself from those things that stand between God and me?" Is my life focused sufficiently on Him, and cleansed of those encumbrances to my faith?
Being true to the Word of God while dealing gently with those who we come into contact with as we spread the news of Christ's love and sacrifice is of paramount importance. This is our concentration this morning; how to turn the heart of a stubbornly unbelieving individual without losing them in the process.
Are we placing our focus on the eternal, or are we concentrating our efforts on those things that are fleeting, and that will fall away? Is our pride today in the possessions of this world, at the demise of our very soul that lives forever? This is the thought on which I ask that we dwell today. I am seeking to redirect my own attention towards God, the most important focus of life; and my faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Will you join me in this quest and contemplation?
Are we reluctant to claim the grace of God in all aspects of our Christian life? Do we attempt to walk the Christian way but only call on the grace of God when we stumble or face hardship? If so, then we are not trusting in Him, and our prayers are not without ceasing.
How many times have we experienced sorrow in our lives? We would be unable to count them. Sorrow is a fact of life, and the result of caring, loving, and regret. God uses sorrow for His purposes, and we should see His hand there. In our sorrow God teaches us of Himself.
Am I a sinner? Am I attempting to lead a life of innocence, or seeking to be pure? Will God forgive me when I sin against Him? These are the questions we should be asking ourselves as we contemplate sin in our lives, and the world around us.
We suffer in our lives, but no suffering is experienced without God using it for His good purposes. The question becomes this... do we see Him working in our most dire circumstances? If we are attuned to the will of God in our lives we should acknowledge His plan for us, even in our misery... unless, of course, we are blinded to Him by our disbelief.
We fail in some manner almost every day. Yet, it is so hard for us not to judge the actions of those around us, and by doing so, if it were not for the Atonement of Christ, we ourselves would be lost. Seeing, and turning our noses up at sinners is just too natural for us.
There comes a point in our faith when we have given ourselves over to God, and we trust so completely in Christ, that the struggle for righteousness ends, and our faith becomes as natural as taking our next breath. Is this what you seek, or do you fight daily with your nature in an attempt to walk the fine line between your earthly life and heaven... not becoming a resident in either place…attempting to be a double citizen?