The Ever Present Nature of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Omnipresence of God

God is with us always, and Jesus says He is with us “till the end of the age.” Can we comprehend the magnitude of this? Is the idea of omnipresence even something we are capable of fully understanding? When Jesus says that He abides in us, and we in Him, do we realize the extent to which He is with us? Do we grasp the fact that He is also telling us that we are with Him? In life, and even in death He is with us, and we are with Him. In believing we realize that we are never without His presence… even in death.

Where does our strength come from?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Strength

We serve the Lord and want to be a powerhouse of faith in doing so. As we go about our day praising Him, worshipping Him, witnessing to others, and living out our lives doing the will of God, how do we see ourselves? Do we fancy ourselves to be a mighty David, a brilliant Joseph, a tortured Paul, or maybe even a rock like Peter? Whoever we imagine ourselves to be as we follow Jesus, it requires great strength. Sometimes our strength must be physical, but more often it is in humility, leadership, preaching, teaching, endurance, or any of a variety of other gifts, but it is always in love, and faith. So, are we strong enough on our own? The answer is always, always, “NO!” But if that is true then are we lost? Is there an unseen well from which we can take a big drink of strength each day?

Removing Stress and finding Rest as Christmas Approaches

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Rest in Christ

As Christmas Day approaches, and what should be a time of great joy, and restful peace draws near, let’s put down our daily burdens, and ask ourselves how long has it has been since we have taken a true rest on the Sabbath? Just as we say that the Sabbath is a day of rest, and yet continue to work during it, so it is with Advent. In a time when we should be at peace in the anticipation and contemplation of the birth of Christ, we are busily rushing about preparing for parties, decorating our homes, and stressing in shopping malls as we buy gifts. Have we lost the peaceful serenity of the shepherds in the pasture?

Conquering our Separation with Love and Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Division

The law, and the covenant of Abraham are fulfilled in Christ, and for us only faith in God and Jesus Christ, founded in love, identifies us as God’s children. We have no mark, nor altering of our flesh, that sets us apart from one another, because in Christ all men, Jew and Gentile alike, are made one by our faith, and by God’s love that has been instilled in us. Are we loving God, Jesus Christ, and one another, as we should, and has our undying faith in God, and His Son, made us righteous… even holy?

Are we the Servants, Stewards, and Slaves, of Jesus and our Father God?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Servant , Steward, Slave

As Christians we are meant to be the servants of Jesus Christ, and moreover, the stewards of the mysteries of God, but what does this mean? Well, a servant is not a slave, but is someone who performs duties for another, while a slave is the property of his master. Given this definition, we are to perform tasks for Jesus as His willing servant. A steward, on the other hand, is not simply a waiter who takes orders and brings food to the table, but is one who maintains the stores, provides meals for others, and takes care of them… quite often while they are traveling. As we look at our lives of faith do we see the ways in which we are serving others as Jesus would have us do, and are we functioning as stewards of God to those who are traveling the way of faith towards Him?

The Love of Women, the Strength of Men, and the Design of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Our Love, Man’s Strength

God is love, and there is no love greater, but if there is a gold standard of love within the human race, it is the love of women. God suited them for this role, and when we compare our human love, the love of a parent, friend, or sibling, it is typically to the overall love of women. We see this in scripture in the words of David after Jonathon has been killed, and in our secular writing, poetry, and song throughout the ages.

Resisting Temptation as Christians

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Resisting Temptation

As Christians we are not immune to temptation, and though we resolve in our spirits, and minds, that we will follow Jesus, our bodies are still made of dust… a substance of the world. In this way our flesh is weak, and it is only by the faithfulness of God that we are helped to resist the powerful temptation of sin, and provided escape from it. This is not to say that we are destined to be lost, but that we would most certainly be so without the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the grace of God. Our bodies are not unlike others of the world, so a Christian is tempted just as the unbelievers, yet we have hope, redemption, forgiveness, and look forward to a glorified body. In these promises we are spiritually strengthened, armed, and transformed. Are we prepared to stand against temptation when it comes?

The Suffering Love of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Suffering Love

Jesus suffered for us, not out of obligation, but because He loved us. In this way, as our example in life, death, and honoring God’s grace, He teaches us not to shrink from suffering either. Scripture tells us that Jesus wept on three occasions, and If we love much then we will serve, and suffer, in this same way. Although the pain can be immense, our offering, and willing submission to it makes it fragrant, and brings honor to it. Suffering in love is something to be admired, and even desired on occasion. Do we loved this much? Have we given ourselves in such unbridled love and affection for one another?

Thanksgiving Together… Today

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Remembrances, Joint Prayer , Thanksgiving

As Christians we begin each day by thanking the Lord for His many blessings, but in the United States we celebrate a certain day in which entire families gather together and thank Him as one. We call this Thanksgiving Day, and although the secular join in by having a festive feast together, it began long ago as a holiday of Christian prayer; a time for worship, and thanksgiving, offered up as we thanked Him for His provision, protection, and the abundance of our lives… praying all this in the name of Jesus.

In our Spirit we find hope, and life… do not despair

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Spirit and Truth

It is tempting to think that we can find life, and not only the bare necessities of life like the rise and fall of our breasts, but the rich fullness of life, in the things we are able to physically do each day. In fact our happiness, joy, and the provision of everything that sustains us is spiritual in origin. Through the love of God, the peace of Christ, and the understanding given us by the Holy Spirit, we begin to realize that without the spirit nature of who we are, we are destined to be crushed by life, and doomed to a miserable death… not of the body, but something much deeper… our souls. Jesus hung on the cross with His body dying, but His Spirit remained alive in hope, and faith. His body was suffering even as His Spirit sustained life in Him… until He committed it to God.

Who, or What, do we make our Master?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Jesus our Example

By washing His disciple’s feet Jesus gave us an example of how we are to behave, love, and humble ourselves in service to one another. As He taught this lesson to us, He not only spoken to us about the significance of this specific event, but also about how we are to look at His life in total, and use it as a larger template for our own lives. The question we must each answer for ourselves is this…”Who will serve as the example for my life today; is it Jesus, or some facet of the world?”

God’s Love, and how we are made holy

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Love

The apostle Paul loved the Thessalonian church and encouraged its members to love others just as he and his disciples loved them, but there is more to the love he describes to them than fondness and emotion. Paul says that if they love one another, and others, as he does them, then their hearts will be made blameless, and holy when Jesus returns to claim his Church. So how are we doing in this regard? Are we allowing the Lord to grow us in love, and make us blameless in it for others? Will God see us this way in judgement when Jesus returns to claim His Bride? We ask all of this to ask the larger question… Does our love make us holy?

For persons, people, and nations… return to your faith!

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Return to Faith

If our nation will once again return to God in a bold and powerful way, remorseful, repentant, and professing our love for Him, then He will circumcise our hearts so that we will be able to not only love him minimally, but with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength… even to our children. He does this so that we can love Him as His greatest commandment spoke of, and so that we might have eternal life.

The Glue that binds us in God’s Perfect Will

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Bound in God’s Will

As Christian men and women of faith we have received various gifts and callings from God so that together, as one body, we can bring His perfect will to light in the world. We each are inclined to see our calling as the all in all, but in the whole it must be joined with the calling of all the others to produce the result that God has planned. For this to happen the glue, and the mortar must join them together; this everlasting adhesive being love. Are we ready to join our calling with all the others through the power that binds us… love?

We are not captive to sin!

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Set Free From Sin

You are a Christian, but are there certain sins that you feel are holding you captive? Is your faith suffering because of some stubborn sinful behavior that you just can’t shake loose from? Sometimes we can begin to feel like a sin is holding us hostage, and that there is nothing we can do to escape it, but that is simply untrue because we have been crucified with Jesus, and in Him our sins have been brought to naught. We have been emancipated… set free from the bondage of sin.

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