Sin

March 26th – Psalm 15:1

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Psalm 15:1

If the list of requirements to dwell with God forever sound impossible, it’s because it’s supposed to be. For we can’t truly realize our need for Jesus until we understand how far we have fallen short of God’s holiness. Christ is the only one who can cleanse us and prepare us to dwell in His house forever. And thankfully, we have the blessing of receiving His gift of pardon. All we must do is confess our sins and repent. What does it mean to repent? It means to turn aside from our wickedness and sin. Walking away from the things the flesh desires and walking with Jesus. Because in all the world there was only One whose walk was utterly blameless. Only One who always did what was righteous. That person was the Lord Jesus Christ. And when we abide in Him and in His strength, we can find victory in our lives.  No matter what life throws at us, we will never be shaken and can have confidence that one day we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

March 26th – Psalm 15:1 Read More »

March 13th – 1 Corinthians 10:13

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

1 Corinthians 10:13

Evangelist Billy Sunday once said, “Temptation is the devil looking through the keyhole. Yielding is opening the door and inviting him in.” Temptations are everywhere, and not even the strongest Christian is immune to their pull. But thankfully we have the blessing of knowing that God will never let Satan tempt us beyond our ability to resist. And by turning to Him when we are at our weakest, we can resist any enticement. Through prayer we can ask God for strength and wisdom. By studying His Word we can gain God’s insight to help us overcome. And through the mighty power of His Spirit living inside of us, we can discern right from wrong. We serve a God who knows firsthand the temptation of sin. So when when Satan is enchanting us to wickedness, by turning to God and fellow believers we can turn aside from sin. And we can be victorious, living a life that is pleasing to God.

March 13th – 1 Corinthians 10:13 Read More »

March 6th – Psalm 106:6

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Psalm 106:6

Comedian Flip Wilson was famous for always using the phrase, “The Devil made me do it!” And he isn’t the first. After eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, Eve too tried to lay the blame squarely at the feet of Satan. But that excuse didn’t work for her, and it won’t work for us either. Now that’s not to say the Devil isn’t responsible for tempting us to disobey God. But we alone are ultimately responsible for the choices we make. And there will be times God allows us to face the consequences of our disobedience. But when we come before Him in true sorrow for our sins, our Father will never turn us away. For the Lord generously gives us the blessing of His forgiveness and restoration to those who acknowledge their disobedience, repent from their wickedness and seek His forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

March 6th – Psalm 106:6 Read More »

February 14th – 1 John 4:10

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

1 John 4:10

Many are the attributes of our most high God. He is good, merciful, faithful, wise, and all powerful; just to name a few. But above of else, God is love. And if there could be doubt, read 1 John 4. For in this little chapter love is mentioned over 25 times, and lies the very heart of the Gospel. God doesn’t love us because we are good, special, worthy, or deserving in any way. He loves us because He is love. And it is out of that amazing, unmerited love, that He sent His only Son Jesus to pay the sin debt that we owe. All He asks in return is that we open our hearts to Him and receive His free gift of love and grace. That’s it. No strings attached, conditions to meet, or standards to reach. God loves us, and no matter how dirty, broken, or sinful we are, He wants to call us His own. God wants to pick up us, dust off the dirt, wipe away our tears, replace our sorrow with joy, and make us royalty in His kingdom forever.

February 14th – 1 John 4:10 Read More »

February 8th – 1 Peter 4:8

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

1 Peter 4:8

The one thing Peter wanted Christians to know above all else, was the importance of loving one another. Not because loving others earns God’s forgiveness. For we know that our sins are paid for through the blood of Christ. And forgiveness for sin comes only through trusting in Him. Instead it means that all, even Christians, are sinners who fail and need forgiveness daily. And by remembering the grace shown to us, we can love each when hurt, forgive each other when wronged, and build each other up when we fall. Because love makes it possible for us to be, “hospitable to one another without complaint”, and to use our God given gifts and talents to serve one another. All with the goal of leading others to the Lord, so “in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pet. 4:11) And as the days grow darker, our love needs to shine all the brighter.

 

February 8th – 1 Peter 4:8 Read More »

January 18th – John 8:11

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

John 8:11

Jesus was teaching in the temple when the scribes and Pharisees threw a woman they had caught in the act of adultery at His feet. Expecting the punishment of death, the crowd waited for Jesus to give His pronouncement. But instead of declaring the women guilty, Jesus did the unthinkable. He forgave her sin and sent her on her way. This woman could easily be you or I. Although our sin may not be adultery, we have all been caught in our sins. James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole Law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” That makes us all alike. For we all have broken God’s Law. And all have sinned. By not condemning this woman, Jesus was showing that we are all in great need of a Savior to reconcile us to God. That Savior is Jesus Christ. And when we receive Him as Lord, although others declare us guilty, through His precious blood He declares us innocent!

January 18th – John 8:11 Read More »

January 7th – Psalm 41:12

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Psalm 41:12

There is a quote that warns, “not everyone you fight is your enemy. And not everyone who helps you is your friend.” Throughout our lives we will experience hurt, betrayal, and disappointment at the hands of others. And in those moments we have a choice to make. Will that pain make us better or bitter? Better is using the hurt to grow closer to the Lord, and softening our hearts to the pain and needs of others. But bitter takes glee in retribution and seeing others misfortune. And it turns a blind eye to the suffering of another because its focus is only on self pity. We all fall short and sin daily against God. Yet from His wonderful love, He extends to us His unmerited grace and mercy. And He calls us to show that same grace and mercy. To repay evil with kindness, curses with blessings, and mistreatment with prayer. (Luke 6:27-28) And most importantly of all, if we see a need to meet that need. The way God meets all of ours.

January 7th – Psalm 41:12 Read More »

November 28th – 1 Timothy 1:15

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

1 Timothy 1:15

I am thankful that God loves a sinner like me 

When it came to Christians, Paul was public enemy number one. No one persecuted God’s people more fanatically than him. Yet even though Paul was intent on destroying God’s church, when he accepted Jesus as his Savior, he received God’s forgiveness and unmerited grace. And so Paul says to all of us, “Look at me. If God is willing to save someone as wretched as myself, He’s willing to save all of those who believe in Him.” Could there be a more amazing truth? No matter who we are or what we’ve done, God wants us!  He wants to be our Father and cover us with His loving grace. We live in a world that fiercely opposes God’s truth. Even so that shouldn’t deter us from sharing the gospel, never giving up, and always fighting the good fight. For God’s Word is true, and “to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Tim 1:17)

November 28th – 1 Timothy 1:15 Read More »

November 22nd – Romans 5:8

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Romans 5:8 

I’m thankful that even though I’m a sinner, Jesus died for me

Romans is my absolute favorite book in the Bible, and chapter 5 is one of the reasons why. To me it sums up the message of the gospel beautifully. Once we were helpless, dead in spirit, and enemies of God. But through the grace and mercy of the Lord, not only can we have peace with our Heavenly Father, we can rejoice in hope. Hope that one day we will spend eternity with Him. Once we lived in darkness, eternally separated by sin from God. But because of His great love, God refused to leave us in that hopeless condition. So He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to provide reconciliation. Now, because of Christ’s death on the Cross, we are declared innocent and righteous before God. And through the blood of the Lamb, we become adopted sons and daughters in God’s family and heirs to His wonderful promises. And all of this is only possible through the amazing love God has for each and every one of us!

November 22nd – Romans 5:8 Read More »

October 10th – Romans 8:1

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Romans 8:1

God’s Promise – “Because of Jesus, you are free from all condemnation.”

One day each of us will stand in the court of God to be judged. But for those Jesus calls His own, no guilty verdict will be found nor penalty to pay. Why? Because once we were in chains, slaves to sin and burdened under the Law of God which we were unable to obey. But out of His great love, Jesus died to free us from that bondage. He became the perfect fulfillment of God’s Law. And His work on the Cross paid full restitution for every past, present, and future sin. As a result of Christ’s sacrifice, we are now reconciled to God and declared innocent. The pull of sin is strong, and we all struggle. Even the apostle Paul wrestled with succumbing to sin. But because Jesus loves us so much, He refuses to leave anyone in their wickedness. And so He offers to all who believe upon Him the chance to have their sins blotted out forever. To stand before God declared righteous, justified, and forgiven!

October 10th – Romans 8:1 Read More »