Opening our Hearts, Minds, and Souls, to the Holy Spirit

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Accepting the Holy Spirit

As post ascension Christians we have received a gift from God that the world can never have. Jesus told his disciples that He would ask God to give us a helper, and God responded. Our gift is the Holy Spirit, and He resides in us us from the moment we first believe, and will abide in us forever. So abiding within us we have God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit... but do we open ourselves up equally to their presence each day? Do we invite each of them to come to the forefront in power, love, help, and comfort? Have we accepted the Holy Spirit within us just as we have accepted God, and Jesus Christ, or have we relegated Him to some minor role in our faith?

The Sweet and Wise Words of Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Kind Words

How do we go about speaking to those who don’t know Jesus, or to one another in times of disagreement? What tone is set by our words as we reveal heavenly truths, or attempt to open the eyes of others to our way of thinking, or to faith in Christ? Gracious words reveal the divine grace within us; they are mighty indeed, and bear witness to the health and love within us. The grace in our words wins souls, and refreshes our own soul as we worship.

Jesus, and the life I now live

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Living the Life of Christ

Our proclamation of faith, no matter what form we deliver it in, could not be any stronger than the Apostle Paul’s. In the first sentence of Galatians 2:20 he gives a powerful testimony as to his faith, and the gospel. Can we make the same set of claims he did; saying that we have been crucified with Christ, that we no longer live as we once did, and that we now live again in Jesus Christ? I hope so because This is the gospel message in short... but there is more!

The great lie of Satan, and the ultimate truth in Christ

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , A Sin too Great

Many who would otherwise come to know the Lord are made by Satan to believe a lie; they are convinced that their sins are too great to be forgiven. Then, in the clutches of that falsehood they hide from God, and refuse the mercy and grace He offers them through Jesus Christ. They may have lived a life of ever increasing sin, but that can all be undone in a moment’s encounter with Jesus... a single occurrence of faith... the instant when we realize, and trust in the fact, that the increase of God’s grace knows no bounds, and conquers all sin.

Are we sandals for the faithful, or dust shaken to the ground?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional , Right Minded Faithfulness

Do we attend church on the Sabboth out of a sense of duty, and go to other church functions to be entertained, or to socialize with friends? Church, like all of our faith, should be much more than a pastime, or a religious country club, it should be where we go for spiritual sustenance, and to gain strength through our study and fellowship with other believers. Yet even though many begin their church life to learn about, and worship God and Jesus Christ, over time they fall into the trap of routine behavior, and socializing. What is the direction our motivation is moving in today?

The Power of “IN” when I say Christ Lives “IN” Me

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Abiding In Christ

Is it enough to say that Jesus was crucified FOR us, or is the true height of our redemption that by our believing in Him He came to live IN us? If we think that Christ was sent to live, die on the cross, and be resurrected, to defeat sin and death FOR us alone, then we have missed the most amazing part of His mission... which is to live IN us, and to transform us. By living IN us He changes who we are, and paves the way for God to come back into us as well.

Waiting on God, and the Silent Lessons

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Waiting in Silence

When we call upon the Lord in our times of hardship or trouble do we have the faith, trust, and the courage to wait on Him? Can we sit perfectly still in His shadow, like a rabbit frozen beneath a bush as the hounds approach, or does our fear mount within us until we flinch and run, renewing the chase once more? Trusting in God, and His promises, should give us the courage to wait on Him, but is our hope in Him strong enough?

The Answer to the World’s Problems... God’s Perfect Love

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional , Perfect Love

God is love and he loves us perfectly. When we accept this fact then we can understand our true relationship with Him, and He will reside in the deepest recesses of our heart and soul. How can we say we know God if we don’t know His love, and how can we say that we are created in His image, and not have His love within us? To believe in God is to believe in love... who is it that abides in us today?

Our Urgent Days of Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional , Urgent Faith

We read the scripture and pause on words like peace, rest, walk, and eternity, partially because these make us feel relaxed in our hectic lives, but in reality our faith, and witnessing to others is urgent. Jesus is returning, and when He does the time for decisions and action will be over... instantly! Do you want to be caught between prayers, waiting for a better time to profess your faith, or having lost a soul by putting off a gospel conversation until it was too late?

Worshiping God in the world of the blind

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Blinded by Sin

For those of us who have come to see even a glimmer of the glory of God through Jesus, we find it inconceivable how someone could not worship Him, and yet so many refuse His call. How is this possible, and how could they be so blind to the truth that is God’s glory? They have become blinded by the gods in the world which they have concocted for themselves... how rampant runs human selfishness that men will lose their soul for a few bobbles of earthly wealth and pleasure.

The Whats and Whys that lead us to Faith and Holiness

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Worship and Faith

Do we desire to be more intelligent, wise, and in control of our lives than we ever dreamed possible? If so the secret to accomplishing this is in studying, and meditating on the Word of God, and specifically on the commandments He and Jesus give us. In doing this we find new depth in the simplest sounding precepts, and sweetness rather than drudgery in obeying them. Then by using the fruit of our meditation in worship, we find that it wears smooth the rough and cutting sharpness of the hardest and most edgy commandments, and lifts our faith to new heights.

God’s Word, and Our Prayer - Blessing atop Blessing

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Word

Where do we keep God’s Word? Do we keep it in our bedroom next to our bed to read at night? Is it beside that place where we sit to rest so that in the quiet times we can contemplate it? Scripture tells us to keep God’s Word with us always, to bind it to our fingers as if it were our works, and to copy it onto our heart as a scribe might. The Word of God is meant to be with us always.

God confronts our sin, and the enemy within us

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Transformation and Liberty

Where would we be without God’s amazing love, and mercy towards us? We would be lost to ourselves, and all of the anarchy, hatred, and violence that flows from us. We like to think that we are intrinsically good, but our actions indicate otherwise; we are sinful creatures who yield to sin and chaos. Without the incredible love towards us that prompted God to send his Son Jesus to die for our sins at the hands of this human chaos, and hatred, we would truly be lost. He redeems us and transforms us day by day with His love, mercy, and grace.

Blind the eyes of the Sinner; Open the eyes of the Righteous

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional , Forgiving Big Sins

We are all sinners; you, me, all of us, but God sent His Son Jesus to cure this disease in us... to overcome the sin that plagues us. Yet you respond to me by saying: “You don’t understand, I have done terrible things, my sins are black as coal, I am unforgivable.” Well my friend, I am glad to hear you say that because it tells me that you realize the tragic power of sin in your life, but trust me when I say that you are not the worst of us, and even if you were, Jesus is greater than the sin in you. Every sinner has echoed your words... even the Apostle Paul.

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