All tagged gift

Getting Back on the Horse of Our Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Increasing in Faith

As I thought about how we sometimes come face to face with our doubts, or suffer from a dwindling faith, I looked back on my own life as a Christian and could see how I had experienced moments like this too. Then I would come to the point where I realized that moving about and doing works doesn’t insure that I am devoted to my faith in God and Jesus. Over the years I have watched as people professed their faith, began frantically working in the church, and for church causes, then suddenly disappeared from the pews. They had missed the most important part of their conversion... that we can't earn it... it is a gift, and a free gift at that.

How God Rewards Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Rewards and Prayer

As I read a devotional one morning, and I contemplated its theme... “God Rewards”. It caused me to take pause, and think about the ways that statement was true, and to compare it to the many ways that this broad statement was not. On this particular morning E.M. Bounds had written the words "Faith believes that God rewards.", and although that is true, it is not unconditionally true. Some tie this way of thinking to a religion of prosperity, but this is a deadly trap.

Teaching, Helping, Perfecting... The Artist of our Salvation

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, The Gift of Salvation

Are we working hard to do all of those things that Jesus spoke of during His Sermon on the Mount? If so, how is that working out for us? Are we going at it alone, or are we leaning on Jesus for our success, and salvation? Sometimes we get tripped up by His simplest sounding instruction, and most certainly we fail if we continue to struggle along by ourselves. But, in Him we are able to succeed, for in God all things are possible.

Pouring Out the Blood of Christ

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Gift of Blood

What does the church do with the fruit of great sacrifices that have been made for it? Does it horde them like provisions in its larder? Does it consume them itself like a fine wine? Or, perhaps it distributes them among the needy and deserving? This greater question that I have asked about the church begs each of us to answer similar questions of ourselves... what do I do with the fruit I receive from the sacrifice of the martyrs, and of Jesus? What do I do with the blood offering of Christ, and the suffering of so many others? There are certain things that people give you, or blessings that God lavishes upon you that are just too great to accept unto yourself. Let's look in scripture at a bible story that serves as an example...

Prayers with No Answer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Unanswered Prayer

Are we prepared to pray? By that I mean, are we prepared to pray and receive the blessing that we are speaking with God about? So often we come to the Lord unprepared; living one life and praying as if we lived another. I was reading Oswald Chambers and he spoke a truth that cuts us deep; it answers in part the question of "why is my prayer not answered?" Let’s listen to what he has to say…

Marriage; is it a Flaming Desire, or Ash?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Becoming One

Two individuals enter into a wedding ceremony, but God’s intention is that our vows begin the process of our becoming one flesh as our life together begins. This is a beautiful mystery, and it is fraught with hardship and challenge. Many think it occurs suddenly during the physical consummation of our union, but are we ready for the deeper spiritual joining that takes a lifetime to produce in us? Are we ready for the consuming fire of God that purifies and completes a marriage? Are we prepared to endure the fire and become one ash in the palm of God?

Our Greatest Gem, the Treasure of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Greatest Treasure

Are we placing our focus on the eternal, or are we concentrating our efforts on those things that are fleeting, and that will fall away? Is our pride today in the possessions of this world, at the demise of our very soul that lives forever? This is the thought on which I ask that we dwell today. I am seeking to redirect my own attention towards God, the most important focus of life; and my faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Will you join me in this quest and contemplation?

From Whence Does My Help Come

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Possible With God

How do we judge what we are contributing to the kingdom of God? Are we looking at our efforts, or the Lord’s? This is our topic for the day. When God calls us to perform His will, how do we go about determining if we will accept His calling? Do we look at our own skills and determine if it is possible for us, and then reject those things that we feel are beyond our ability? Or, perhaps we look at Jesus and say to ourselves "He could do all those things because He was the Son of God" and thus justify our silence when God calls out our weak and miserable name? Well, we should not look at our own strengths and weaknesses, but to the promises and power of God who calls us, and can do all things.

Breathing, Acting, and sometimes suffering in the Love of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Love

When the love of God has been given us as a gift of the Spirit it is never a burden, but a joy to wake up to every morning, and a pleasure that fills our entire day. We are told to keep His commandments, and to obey the commandments of Jesus, but neither of these are unpleasant, nor difficult, if our heart is in the right place. In this way His love takes control of our every breath and action, and we are renewed by it with every new dawn. Our dread is overcome, and we are never alone.

The Wreath of Spiritual Victory, Ours for all Ages

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , For All Ages

The riches of grace that have been bestowed on us reach much further than the moment we first believe, or at the instant of our judgement when God pronounces us worthy in Christ. When we win an earthly race we receive a reward, but it is for that moment alone, and it fades over time, however, when we are victorious over sin through Christ, and presented with the grace of God, it is meant to bring us His unlimited gift of riches Forevermore.