Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – December 21, 2024
“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.” —Matthew 9:9, NLT.
When reading this verse, we find evidence of true heart conversion by the Holy Spirit. Matthew, the rogue tax collector did not make a spontaneous decision to accept Christ and leave everything when Jesus said, “Follow me.” Day by day, while sitting at his tax table under the shade of the bountiful tree, Matthew heard countless testimonies of Jesus’ healing the sick and preaching messages of hope and salvation.
Matthew’s decision to follow Jesus occurred long before Jesus approached him. Regardless of his wealth and lavish lifestyle, Matthew got up, left everything, surrendered his heart, mind, soul, and character, and committed to the spiritual process of being transformed by Jesus Christ, the Messiah. For his dedication and commitment to Christ, God honored his obedience by granting Matthew the privilege of writing the first book of the New Testament documenting Jesus’ ministry on earth.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.” —Revelation 3:20
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…” (John 15:16). Jesus tells us, that we did not choose Him, He chose us. If we think of our initial decision to accept Jesus as our Savior, we realize that accepting Christ was a supernatural experience. To bear fruit [Galatians 5:22-23] requires that we abide in Christ through the daily human effort of prayer, surrender, faithful obedience, and study of the Scriptures.
Perhaps, we never understood that we were chosen to follow Christ and have not totally committed to discipleship. God never leaves us without the knowledge we need to come to Him in total surrender. From our desire to fulfill God’s Divine purpose, we strive to obey God’s will and plans for our lives. “Be holy, for I Am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). When we agree to let go of sinful practices and people, the Third Person of the Triune God, the Holy Spirit performs the lifelong transformation of our character and behaviors to reflect the Righteousness of Christ.
Before Christ comes again, through the Holy Spirit, every human being will receive the opportunity to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. Still, we use our God-given free will choice to accept Christ or deny him. If we say yes to Jesus’ invitation then we agree to live a life of surrender and faithful obedience to God’s will by seeking and obeying His precepts and will for our lives.
We were bought with a price, and that price was Jesus’ life. His sacrificial gift on Calvary’s Cross was to offer us an alternative to the price of sin. For the Love, Grace, and Mercies, we receive every day, certainly God deserves our faithful obedience. Today, consecrate yourself and make the covenant to relinquish your will and obey God. In Jesus’ Name, Peace and Blessings!
“This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” —1 John 4:9-10
Lord God, we thank You for choosing us to receive salvation through the gift of Your precious Son, Jesus. We choose to follow Christ and pray for the strength to live consecrated, holy, and acceptable lives. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – December 18, 2024
The Controversy of Good and Evil Produces Daily Internal Conflict and External Opposition: Every Day, Every Believer Faces Conflicts that Threaten Our Relationship with Christ
The Internal Conflict: “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” —Romans 7:18-19
The Apostle Paul, a dedicated disciple, lamented his daily internal battle of choosing good [God’s will] over his evil desires. Our inherent weakness is to use our free will of choice to pursue what we want.
From the moment we awaken, we face the daily test of faith. Will we seek and follow the will of God or pursue our desires? Even after our prayer of surrender, we still face temptations that threaten to overpower a steadfast commitment to God.
The Battle Raging Within: Deep within the human heart, we crave to pursue and fulfill our desires and plans. The world we live in feeds our insatiable urge for self-satisfaction by promoting worldly success as the solution to obtain peace and happiness.
Every day, our senses are bombarded by stimuli and must-know information that our brains gather and store in our memory bank to feed the human desire to possess much more than God has blessed us with. And the internal struggle for self-governance is so strong that we easily disobey God without reservation.
God tells us that the condition of every human heart “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?…” (Jeremiah 17:9). Still, there is a marked difference between an unbeliever and a believer in the decision-making process of bringing their desires to fruition.
“But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don’t know what makes them stumble.” —Proverbs 4:19, CSB
Because the unbeliever’s life choices are always based on self-fulfillment, they strongly rely on their feelings, strategies, prior experience, the predictions and advice of financial strategists, and high-level advisory boards on economic and social affairs.
Although they utilize careful planning and feel their insight includes predicting future outcomes, by trusting their intuition and the influencers, suffering consequences is a normal way of life. Their lives are always filled with chaos, prompting them to seek unproductive ways to purchase false replicas that mimic inner peace.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear [reverence] the Lord and depart from evil.” —Proverbs 3:5-7
Before the believer sins, we contemplate [with deep thoughts] for several days or longer before taking the steps to bring our plans to fruition. When our thoughts clash with God’s thoughts and plans, Divinity responds, and the Holy Spirit alerts us that we are taking a detour from the Path of Righteousness because our plans are outside of God’s will.
The Impact of the Holy Spirit: Not only is our conscience troubled, but we lose our inner peace, and feel as if we are involved in a tug of war that could manifest itself as a change in one’s emotional state—anxiety, the inability to sleep, or an internal restlessness. So the believer can never say, “I didn’t know what I planned to do was against God’s will.” If we ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit then we lose our right standing with God and are no longer traveling on the narrow road with Christ.
For those who strive to please God, our lives always involve the civil war of internal conflict. The Struggle is Real! [Instagram Reel]: As the young woman adamantly expressed her love for God, there was a sharp left turn as she spoke with strong conviction about her reasons for not trusting God with her life, “I need to be in control of my life, I cannot wait for things to work out without my input…”
The story appeared to have a predictable end, but suddenly her self-confidence melted into tears streaming down her face, and the quality of her voice changed. The next spoken words revealed a voice quivering with emotion, “What am I saying? How can I not trust God who has rescued me from bad situations and is still taking care of me?”
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16, NIV
In our times of greatest conflict over the inability to fully surrender to God, Christ intervenes by allowing the Holy Spirit to touch our conscience and make us aware of God’s love versus our heart’s misguided feelings. This spiritual experience is often referred to as “An Invitation to Come to Jesus.”
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 1:19
A New Heart and Spirit: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances…” —Ezekiel 36:26-27
The External Controversy: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” —Ephesians 6:12
Satan, the “Roaring Lion” is the fallen angel Lucifer who God created as the highest covering cherub to be in His presence. Cast down to earth for his rebellion against God, Satan’s angelic intelligence still supersedes human intelligence. The Fall of humanity in Genesis 3 is our reminder of Satan’s superior intellectual powers over the human mind.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…’ ” —2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV
Jesus reminds us that He is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory! Satan can present temptation but he cannot coerce us to sin against God. We pray for Divine Help, and Jesus responds by giving us His Strength through the Holy Spirit to overcome the external opposition of satanic temptations.
“For God has not given you the spirit of fear but of love power and a sound mind self-control” (1 Timothy 1:7). Yes, we have received spiritual gifts, but from Eve’s encounter with the serpent [whom Satan used to deceive her], we have Biblical evidence that without Christ, we are powerless to overcome temptation and obey God using human effort alone.
“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” —John 8:29
Can you imagine living a life of total obedience to God? Much prayer is required to gain victory over ourselves and the tempter. Obedience is our highest worship to God. Christ gave His life to save us from our battle against sin. If we desire eternal life then striving to live holy is within our reach. When tempted, we pray for and receive Jesus’ spiritual empowerment and exert self-control to overcome the enemy’s strategy to separate us from God.
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” —Psalm 37:23-24
We do not have to fall victim to the entrapments of sin nor can circumstances overcome us when we abide in Christ. Prayer and Bible study keep us grounded in Jesus who promises to give us direction in every aspect of our journey. We are loved by God, the Father who utilizes the heavenly angels to also protect us from the evil one. But not even God will interfere with our free will of choice.
God is the Giver of all good gifts and the Sustainer of our lives. Reflect deeply on your privilege of being a recipient of God’s love, grace, and mercies. Humanity is the only living creation that Christ died for and needs to be covered with His Righteousness to live victoriously.
“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” —Isaiah 65:24
Christ’s spiritual provisions include His Divine Strength to overcome our natural tendency to follow our heart’s desires. With consecration, prayer, and fasting, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey the will of God. Under God’s protection, our prayer for help is answered before we say, Amen. And for His love, faithfulness, and protection against internal conflict and external opposition, with gratitude, we shout, Hallelujah and Amen!
Lord God, we pray for the strength to stand down our desires that prevail against Your will. We ask for the blessing of wisdom, and discernment to recognize Satan’s strategic temptations, and pray for Your intervention when facing internal conflict and external opposition. We desire to live holy, acceptable, and obedient lives because we love You. In Jesus’ Loving and Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – December 17, 2024
In Colossians, Chapter 1, verses 9-14, the Apostle Paul expresses his prayer for the members of the Colossae Church. The members faced many challenges including “The pressure to conform to the religious beliefs and practices of their Jewish and pagan neighbors and false teachers who defamed the deity of Christ. Still, Paul persevered in his declaration that Jesus alone is Supreme and Sufficient.”
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” —Ephesians 6:18, NIV
The spiritually uplifting and beautiful prayer reminds us to redirect our focus from ourselves to praying for other [suffering] believers globally. By praying for our brothers and sisters, we grow in love and compassion and receive much-needed blessings from God. In the turbulence of these perilous times, every believer desperately needs the Divine blessings of an increase in faith, along with peace, joy, wisdom, and Jesus’ strength.
We may never meet the people, we are praying for in our present lives, but still lifting others in prayer before the Throne of Grace is a plea for God to intercede and a catalyst for our spiritual growth. Not only does Intercessory prayer change our perception [we begin to see life through spiritual eyes], but it also invites the Holy Spirit to transform our naturally selfish hearts into a Christ-like heart filled with the Fruit of the Spirit.
“You pray for me, I pray for you, and watch God change things.”
Lord God, we pray for every believer throughout this world to receive the blessing of Your gift of inner peace as they face external opposition from wars, as well as civil, political, and social unrest. We ask for an increase of faith and spiritual strength in the Christian Global Community, especially for those who are suffering from persecution because they accepted you as their personal Savior. Help us to look outside of ourselves and faithfully trust You when facing personal hardships, the dilemmas of unforeseen change, fears, and grief. Jesus, we desperately need Your Divine Strength to keep persevering until You come again. We thank You and ask this prayer of Intercession in the Merciful Name of Jesus, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – December 13, 2024
Pray, Have Faith, and Wait On God
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:28-31
God not only sustains our lives, but He also promises to work out every aspect of opposition and spiritual warfare. For two weeks, I prayed for God to resolve an issue with my property manager who became my enemy because I stood for the truth regarding a legal violation of the company’s lease agreement. God’s intervention never ceases to be less than phenomenal. Last week, she was given a promotion that required the identification and correction of the company’s infractions for two properties which resulted in a radical change in her perspective. Yesterday, we had a very cordial conversation. Praise God from whom all blessings are given!
“Be still, and know that I am God…” —Psalm 46:10
Trust God with your life. Who else can take care of us and resolve the impossible? God’s timing is not our timing. We pray and wait. During the waiting season, our faith is tested. Will we remain steadfast by patiently waiting for His promises to come to fruition? If we serve God with faithful obedience then a victorious outcome is promised. God always brings glory and honor to His Holy Name. Sabbath Peace and Blessings! Amen.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” —Jeremiah 32:27
Lord God, we desperately need Your help. We ask You to strengthen our faith as we wait for Your perfect resolution. Thank You for working out our challenges. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – December 8, 2024
“And the Lord said to Joshua: See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do for six days. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets…All the people shall shout with a great shout, then the wall of the city will fall down flat.” —Joshua 6:2-5
“According to historical records, the wall of Jericho was approximately 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) high and 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) wide at the base. It was a stone wall surrounding an ancient settlement, with a notable stone tower inside that reached a height of 8.5 meters (28 feet).” It was considered impenetrable, but God used shouting voices to cause the Wall to crumble like a sand castle on the beach.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart [have courage], because I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33, NLT
Jesus warned us that our lives would be filled with hardships and opposition. Every day we fight against the spiritual warfare of temptation but even the routine activities of life can bring unforeseen problems. Some issues are easily resolved and some have a Domino effect. Pray for help whether the challenge is big or insignificant.
Prayer is Our Lifeline: Prayer alleviates tension and stress, prevents worry and discouragement, and creates a habit of dependency on God who always guarantees victory.
“…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you…” —Isaiah 43:1-2
From this promise, God comforts and reminds us that He never expected us to bring down our Walls of Opposition without His help. Our Father God proclaims, “For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6). Do we believe God’s promises are valid? Every obstacle we face was known to God long before we were born. Yet, He is not an intrusive Father, God always waits for us to ask for help.
“Behold I am the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). From studying the Scriptures, we gain an intellectual knowledge of our Heavenly Father’s Righteous Character of love, continuous patience, protection, grace, and mercies. But faith is the spiritual catalyst that allows us to believe that God loves us and that His promises apply to our lives.
“The Omnis of God:” Omnibenevolent: God is Love; Omnipotent: God is All-Powerful; Omniscient: God is All-Knowing; and Omnipresent: God is everywhere!
“I AM THAT I AM…” (Exodus 3:14). God is not who we think He is, God is who He says He is. Yahweh not only reveals His Character but also proclaims His Sovereignty in the Holy Bible. There are mysteries about God that we will never know, but we know enough for us to include Him in every aspect of life and honor and reverence God with faithful obedience.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” —Hebrews 11:6
What is faith? “Faith is believing in the Steadfast love and Sovereign power of God.” Every human being has been gifted with a measure of faith that God desires to grow from weak and wavering to steadfast and powerful. What is our role in the growth and development of our faith? The evidence of true heart conversion is shown through a lifestyle of worship, which includes surrender, obedience, continuous prayer, diligent Bible study, and dependence on God.
God has the ultimate plan for building our faith in Him: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” —1 Peter 4:12
Why so much opposition? Since we do not have the power to increase our faith, God allows the tests and hardships to strengthen our faith and dependence on Him. Every opposition we face is approved by Christ to build our faith in God. Like the child’s father who said to Jesus, “I believe, but help my unbelief,” we must be honest in the self-assessment of our faith.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30
Whether our faith is weak or strong, we can immediately pray a prayer of faith asking God to intervene and in that same prayer we whisper words of gratitude thanking God for already working it out. No circumstance or opposition should prevent us from praying. Jesus tells us to come to Him—Always pray!
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16
We are confident that our prayers for Divine Help are immediately answered by Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor and Triumphant King. Do not rely on your feelings, believe the Scriptures! “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
The secret to remaining faithful is to redirect our focus from the Wall to using our faith to anchor ourselves in Christ, our Redeemer. Jesus is in the Heavenly Sanctuary not only answering our prayers but also praying for us. Never let opposition shake your faith in God. Our Father is Love, we are the focus of His love (John 3:16), and His power is Invincible!
Pray often to remain steadfast while waiting on God. Since God’s timing is never our timing, King David advises us to, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14). While waiting, pray a daily prayer of gratitude thanking God for the victory.
The Struggle is Real, but Victory is God’s Promise! Although we live in an unstable world, one thing is for certain, God’s Divine Intervention always ends in victory! God is not a God of yesteryear, He is still performing miracles in the lives of those who faithfully obey and trust in Him. Our God will never forsake us, He is still knocking down the Walls of Opposition!
Lord God, we believe in Your promises to bring down our walls of opposition. We ask in faith for Your Divine Help, to give us strength, and an increase in faith. In Jesus Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.
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