Greed, Boasting, and Denying God in them.

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Denying God

As believers we are not to boast or to be greedy because those who boast are succumbing to wickedness, and the greedy place themselves beyond God by likewise renouncing Him. When man denies God’s rightful place, and begins to boast of his own possessions, and place in the earth, he becomes wicked in his heart. And, when he becomes greedy the love for his neighbors gives itself over to his desire to increase himself by preying on the weak and defenseless. The greedy are convinced that God does not see their transgressions towards these vulnerable souls, and those who boast pretend He doesn’t exist. Are we one of these wicked creatures, or do we find ourselves to be standing dangerously close to this precipice of self-gratification and enrichment? Are we putting ourselves above God or convincing ourselves that God is not omniscient and does not see our every move, or hear the whispers we seek to keep secret and thoughts we attempt to conceal in our hearts?

New Year, New Life, or Just another Hangover?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , New Year

New Year's Days are like new life, they offer us the opportunity to begin anew, but for this to be realized we must first let go of the old and grasp hold of the new. We must be willing to accept the change and transformation that our new beginning offers us. Yesterday was New Year's Eve, and should have been a time of remembrance, but for so many people it is just an excuse to party, get intoxicated, and revel in the sinful world. However, for Christians, and those seeking Jesus, New Year's Day offers us an opportunity to refocus our attention on the renewal of our faith and living a more righteous life. Which of these describes us? Are we satisfied with recovering from another hangover, or are we ready to accept the positive change that Christ’s transformation offers us?

Our Ebenezer Stone, and Remembering the Past Year?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Easter, God’s Help

It is the final day of the year and a good time to look back on all that God has done for us, and with us, during it. There will be memories of the wonderful moments, disappointments, celebrations, and mourning, but in all of these remembrances, and more, God is evident and has been helping us. This is a time to look at the victories we have experienced together, the rescues we have received, the healing of our hearts, and the comforting of our spirits. Then, let’s set up an Ebenezer stone (stone of help) in our lives as a way of remembering Him for all His help.

How do we pray and do we Pray Always?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Pray Without Ceasing

Prayer is viewed similar to our works when it comes to faithfully pursuing them. We read Revelation 3:16 regarding those who are lukewarm in their works and how we will be spit out of Christ’s mouth if we live in this way, but brothers and sisters many of us are leading lukewarm lives of prayer right now and not thinking a thing about it. Are we convicted by the thought of this?

Giving, Thanking, and Glorifying God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Giving and Thanking

Are we stingy with what God has given us? Do we hold back gifts from those in need, and forget that all we possess is from God? We are to be good stewards of what we have been given, but that doesn’t mean that we are to selfishly horde it, or bury it in the ground as in the parable of the talents. We are to glorify God by giving thanks to Him for His provision, but we should be multiplying our thanks by giving as He directs us, to others so that they too will glorify Him by their thanks.

The Role of God’s Army and the Meek they defend

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Army

As disciples, what is our role in the Garden of Gethsemane? Are we one of the eight who are told to wait outside? Are we one of the three who go further into the garden with Jesus to protect and watch over Him? Or, are we one of the many who are left in the city with no apparent role to play? Whatever our role is, it is important. As Christian soldiers the three with Jesus are front line troops who will be the first into battle, the eight are held in reserve and are there if needed to reinforce the three, and those in the city are the reason why the others go into battle in the first place. Which of these are we? What is our role?

Quiet walks and our gift of peace

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Waking with God

When I was a boy it wasn’t uncommon to see people, and families taking a stroll in the evening. When people would have a problem in their life they wouldn’t go to a psychiatrist, they would take a quiet walk to meditate, think, reason, and if they were Men or women of faith they would discuss these things with God, and Jesus Christ. Somehow over the years we have fallen out of this habit, and come to believe that all our problems are to be addressed by yet more action, not less, and that quiet times of solitude are a waste of time. I invite each of us to ask ourselves a simple question today; “How much time do I spend alone with God, and Jesus, or in meditation versus going about my active life in the world, or even faith?”

Do we rest as we should?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Rest

In our service to the Lord do we ever find ourselves reaching the physical limit of our strength? Do we find ourselves exhausted and our desire to continue on waning? Well, this is not uncommon because there is a natural limit to what our earthly body, including our minds, can sustain before they must rest. When we approach this limit it is no surprise to God, and although He tells us to eat, drink, and rest, our minds often push us on towards our breaking point. Feeling guilty when we rest, or thinking that we have somehow been given superhuman ability by God, pushes us on and we ignore Him. Listen to the angels He sends, and hear Him in our dreams and visions. You are not unlike Elijah, and need to have your strength replenished… the journey is not over yet.

Do We Hide the Treasure of God’s Kingdom?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Treasure

In this world that is parched by sin we once longed to quench our thirst with a refreshing drink of living water. We thirsted for God and Jesus Christ in this wilderness of human suffering that included both our body that had been made like leather in the heat, and our soul that had become hardened like a sponge in a dry land. However, now we have found the well, and know where our help comes from, our help comes from the Lord. We sought, and now walk, refreshed by His grace. From the well of Christ we draw our cool drink, and fill our skins with life… living water. Yet having found Him, do we horde Him, or do we mercifully offer the water of life we have found to others who still thirst?

Our Alone Time with God, and Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Alone Time

There are times when we will feel alone in our faith, and even among our brothers and sister in Christ we will feel this way. In these times we will be separated, and walk alone with God, or Jesus Christ. As we read the Bible stories regarding the great men of God we find that at some point in each of their lives of faith they were separated, and sent into isolation. But, in our time in the desert, on the mountain, in prisons, or banished to Patmos, we are never truly alone. We are with God, and in these seemingly lonely places He has our undivided attention. Do we know what it is like to be alone with God? Even in a crowd of people have we felt isolated from the world, and in such times didn’t He come to us? Hasn’t Jesus met us on the road to Emmaus and walked us through the scripture? Was His presence enough for us?

The Holy Spirit in us, and His Gifts for Us

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Holy Spirit

When we believe in Jesus Christ as our savior, the Son of God, and are then baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift plays an important role in our spiritual lives by giving us such things as scriptural understanding, remembrance, prayer when we don’t have the words, and the various other gifts of the Spirit when we need them to obey and do the will of God. In the upper room, following the ascension of Jesus, the disciples received the Spirit, but they were not the first nor the last that the gospel of Jesus tells us of receiving him. We read first of Elisabeth the mother of John the Baptist, and John in her womb, being filled with the Spirit.

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