Are We Ready for Heaven Right Now?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Heaven

There are those who are more concerned about how many will be saved, and who will be allowed to enter the Kingdom of God, than they are about whether they are among that number. The real question remains; will we be prepared in our own faith at the time Jesus returns for the righteous? So, let’s ask ourselves, are we one of those who asks persistently “How many?”, and neglects to strive and ask “Will I be one?” We cannot save ourselves by knowing the number who will enter Heaven, no, only by having striven to know Jesus, and by waiting faithfully on Him, can we be among that number… whatever that happens to be.

Come Now Lord Jesus!

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Second Coming

When Jesus was asked why He ate with sinners and tax collectors he wasted no time in responding that He came to heal the sick, not those who are well, and He said it again in a different way so that He wouldn’t be misunderstood by saying that it was His intention to call sinners to repentance… not the righteous. If we step back from the trees so that we can see the forest we will realize that the first coming was indeed meant to destroy sin, and deal with death, but then we will find too that in His second coming He is returning to claim the righteous… those He has already healed. So if you are a sinner then repent, and if you are a believer then prepare yourself for the day He will return for you.

Unknown Healing and Hidden Blessings

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Unknown Healing

Where are we as a people? We might wake up in the morning with a cough, but by mid-day it has gone. When this occurs we think it only natural, and that our body has healed itself, but in truth we are healed by grace every day despite becoming hardened to faith, and turning away from the ways of God. Our Heavenly Father heals without our knowing, and walks quietly with us, even with the most despicable sinners, as He whispers to our hearts, and loves us in our most undeserving moments. Will we repent? Will we turn to the Lord? Will our hearts be healed, and our feet find the way home, without our knowing?

Can Humility and Meekness become False Gods and idols to us?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Meekness and Humility

When we go through the motions of “playing church”, and yet bring idols into ourselves, the temples of the Spirit, or sit in the pews and challenge God regarding His Word and its truth, then who are we? When we are proud, and our position within the church body becomes a god to us, or the time we spend shouting prayers from the street corner becomes the measure by which we judge others, then who are we? And, when our tithe becomes a threat to Lord our power over others, or hold the righteous who are the true believers, ransom with, then where is the virtue in our faith? If this convicts us today, does it lead us to prostrate ourselves before God and repent?

The hidden(?) sins of our hearts and minds.

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Hearts and Minds

It’s not simply our actions that we need to repent of, but more than that it is what we carry in our hearts that will prompt, or have prompted, us to sin outwardly. These thoughts and longings desperately beg for our penitence and prayerful attention. Holding worldly thoughts in our hearts such as malice, lasciviousness, hatred, jealousy, and the like, leads us to commit our outward sins; they are like the voice of Satan that whispers nonstop day and night to us until at last we act upon them. Our repentance should begin with these dark thoughts that we feel confident no one can see, and are well hidden from God Himself, these are the deeply rooted sins we should dwell on in our prayer closets. Our transformation through Christ must begin with repentance for our innermost thoughts in order that they not manifest themselves boldly, and become the tangible fruit of what we give safe harbor to within us.

Momentary ease and eternal death or momentary suffering and eternal life?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Momentary Suffering

Long before His coming the prophet’s foretold of the Messiah, and yet when He did come to them in Bethlehem, many didn’t repent of their sins nor acknowledge His presence as Emanuel… “God with us”. Now, in this modern age, have we returned once again to that same disbelief, and do we refuse to repent and turn back towards the truth as we should? Much like those who waited long ago for the Messiah to come to them, have we grown weary of waiting and turned our backs on Him too; have we refused to repent of our sins, and no longer acknowledge the presence of God, and His Holy Spirit? If so, we are like one who stands on the mountain, hears the voice of God, then turns to gaze into the valley below. We are missing the restoration that is coming when Jesus returns to resurrect us. Our lack of repentance reveals the lost nature of our souls, and by looking longingly at the easy path downhill rather than the climb ahead of us we deny our redemption and the joy that awaits us in it.

Nations are but Men

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Nations

As believers we worship God, but as citizens we should never worship our government or nation; neither of these are gods, and neither of them has a soul. Nations are made up of a collection of individual people who are either likeminded, ruled by a common system of government, or of common ancestry, but even though God blesses or punishes groups of individual citizens that have joined to constitute a nation He does not punish or reward the abstract thought that we call a nation… only the people who espouse its ideology and pursue it. Are we guilty of raising up our country and government to the level of God? Do we shout out “For God and Country!” as we run into battle against our neighbor or those we consider our enemies, and treat God and country as if they were equals?

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?

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