All tagged Transformed

Jesus Christ, the Treasure in our Field... and our Life

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Our Treasure, Christ

Is Jesus Christ like a treasure that you have discovered in your life, and did you give up everything else you once valued so that in overwhelming joy you could abide with Him? No? Well, once you have uncovered Jesus, and witnessed the value of His righteousness, holiness, and grace, there is nothing you own that you wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice for Him. Perhaps you have merely discovered the locked chest, but have never opened it to see the actual treasure inside, and then covered it back up. Are you afraid of what opening that chest will awaken in you, or of what it will require of you?

Rejected by the World, and failing while carrying our Cross

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , The World, Our Faith

As Christians, are we surprised to be looked down upon, slighted, and rejected by the world? Does it upset us that, because of our faith, we are not liked, or revered by those around us, even our families, and those who we once called our friends? Yet we knew this would happen when we were called by Him to come. We knew this would be our burden, and also knew it would make us acceptable in the eyes of God. We are living stones meant to construct a spiritual house... not for worldly habitation, but in service to God our Father.

Praising God for the Darkness while seeking His Good Light

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , praise , Always

When do we bless the Lord? Are we only meant to bless, and praise Him, in the righteous times, or for the holy things in our life? How about the everyday routine things that most of us don’t consider worthy, and which don’t appear to be good or bad? I assume your answer is “yes“ in all of these things? So how about the sin that we find in our lives, the evil that comes against us, suffering, torment, and all forms of tribulation? Do you still answer “yes”? Well you should.

Defeating Temptation, Sin, and Death through Transformation

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Sin, Temptation, Transformed

Do we think that we can flirt with the coals of temptation and not be burnt, or draw Close to the flicker of sin and not erupt into flames ourselves? Are we on the verge of such occurrences today? Are we speaking about someone negatively, calling it a correction, or warning, when in fact it is bitterness and hatred? Surely our words, and actions, will rub against us like a rasp, and we will find ourselves bleeding, or worn away.

Morality, and Works, are they enough to Overcome the World, and your Tribulation in it?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Overcoming our nature

Are we lost, and attempting to overcome the worldly nature that has taken hold of us? Do we think that by doing certain works, or behaving in a moral manner, that we can draw ourselves out from the vile nature of the world, which is sin? Well, there is only one way we can overcome the world, and that is by believing, and having faith, in Jesus Christ... the Son of God.

Baking the Bread, and Shining the Light of Faith; are we True Saints?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, The Gospel

Are we advocates for God and Jesus Christ by reflecting God’s glory, or do our words and actions turn people away from a waiting faith by presenting it in an unfavorable manner? Perhaps we cover the Lord’s light altogether in an attempt to horde it for ourselves? God and the Gospel of Jesus are meant to be like a sweet aroma to the hungry, and an enticing light that beckons every ship in peril to enter God’s safe harbor. How do we bake our bread, how do we man the lighthouse?

Who Are We? Are We “Fair Weather” Friends of Jesus?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, True, Christianity, Friendship

Are we true and resilient Christians, or does our faith require great care, and a very specific set of conditions in which to flourish?  Are we like a reed that must have constant water for it to survive, or a barrel cactus that stores the water of infrequent rains within itself, and endures long periods of drought? There are many who are fragile, and whimsical, in their faith, but those who are hearty serve God faithfully, even in the worst of times. 

Wearing the Uniform of Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Recognizing Jesus

What are you wearing today? I am not talking so much about your physical attire, but your spiritual clothing. There are a couple of wonderful verses of scripture regarding how we should dress once we have accepted Jesus as our savior, but do we put on those clothes every day, or do we keep our old uniform of sin and worldliness in our closet... only wearing our faith when it suits us?

Steadfast Love and Obedience in our Transformation by Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Transformation, Obedience

When we have come to love Jesus the last thing we should want to do is be separated from others of like mind. When we love our Lord, and come to behave as he does, then we must put on our old clothes, and hide our faces if we are to blend in once again with those we used to associate with. Do you desire to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ, or do you simply love Jesus on some occasions, and retreat to your old life at other times?

Not a Stone Left Standing, not a Sin Overlooked

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Redemption, Transformation

How complete must the destruction of our sins be when we accept Jesus as our savior, and God as our One True God? Do we throw down most of them but allow a few to linger on in our lives? When we step back from the work of faith in us do we still see some stones standing one atop another? Are there remnants of our past life there? Until we have completely torn down the sinful stones of our old life we can’t be rebuilt.

More than Dreaming of a Risen Christ

Richard Forbes
Jesus is Risen, Transformed, Daily Devotion, Christian, Belief, Faith

It is Easter morning, and the tomb is empty, but do you believe that our redeemer lives? This sounds like a ridiculous question to be asking a believer, but it might surprise you to know how many men and women proclaim faith by saying the right things regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but don’t live as if they believe them. They say He lives, but live as if He were dead. Job truly believed, and lived his life as if he did, but the apostles had to be convinced that Jesus had risen... which are you?

Baptized, Born Again, and the many Mysteries of God in becoming Christian

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Faith, Baptism, Confession

You say you are a Christian, but are you really? Have you taken the name of Jesus without having been born again? What a mysterious happening this is when we confess openly our faith in Jesus Christ, and go down in the waters of baptism. The joy and change that rushes over us leaves no doubt that our journey has begun, and that we are no longer dancing around the monicker of Christian, but have indeed become one. Are you still flirting with the flame of faith, or have you entered entirely into it... has it burned up the old you, and replaced it with the smoke and incense of a new and glorious person? Have you entered into the great mystery of faith?