Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – July 23, 2024
We were not created to stand alone, figure it out, or rely on our intuition. Nor do we ever have to suffer from the consequences of misguided decisions. Yes, the life of God’s righteous ones is filled with faith tests, temptations, and tribulations, but we should never feel desperate. Divine Help is God’s Promise! “I will never leave you nor forsake you…” (Hebrews 13:5). “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20).
Pray in faith, thank God for His Divine Love and Intervention, and wait. Time is insignificant to God. While waiting, wait in joyful anticipation for your victorious outcome. Just have faith! While waiting on God, when feeling feeble, anxious, or unsure, pray, open your Bible, and refer to Isaiah 40 for a reminder of who God He is. He is Holy, Holy, Holy! Worship God by Giving Him the Utmost Gift of Reverence: Surrender and Faithful Obedience. Amen.
God Declares His Sovereignty Over this Earth and Its Inhabitants
“To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?” Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” (Verses 18, 21-22)
” ‘To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?’ says the Holy One. “Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things…” (Verses 25-26)
“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.” (Verses 28-31)
Prayer: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Forever and ever. Amen.”
Our Daily Walk with Christ – Today’s Devotional – July 23, 2024
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” —Colossians 2:8
Many years ago, I became severely troubled regarding some of my religious beliefs. The life of Christ demonstrated a loving and compassionate Savior who alleviated the mental, emotional, and physical suffering of everyone who had the faith to believe. Not only was He faithfully dedicated to seeking and saving the lost, but Jesus humbled Himself in obedience to die for us on Calvary’s Cross.
I could not grasp how God, the Father who lovingly gave His only Son would allow the righteous to live a perfect life in the New Heaven and New Earth while at the same time, the wicked suffered in an eternal hell.
“You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.” —Psalm 139:2
I am so thankful that God knows what is hidden deep in our hearts. The Holy Spirit came to my rescue, and I listened to a sermon entitled “No Eternally Burning Hell.” Many Scriptures were given yet the primary focus was on Malachi chapter 4 and Revelation chapter 20.
The Great Day of God: “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.” —Malachi 4:1
In Revelation chapter 20, Verses 1-3: Satan is Bound for 1,000 years; Verses 4-6: The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 years; and Verses 7-10: The Satanic Rebellion Crushed.
“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” —Revelation 20:7-10
“Why did John emphasize the idea of eternal if he didn’t mean it to be taken literally? “…the word ‘eternal’ means that the judgment will be thorough rather than lasting forever.” Some things burn up quickly, but with the day and night description, it doesn’t appear the devil will have an instant death. Yet, he knows his demise and still wreaks havoc on the people of God attempting to take us with him. But, no, no, no, we refuse to travel on his path of destruction!
The book of Jude, verse 7, “as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” In Genesis 19, verse 28, “and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.”
We know that Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding plains were burned and nothing was left. The Bible explains itself. God has predetermined what we need to know to live righteously. Jesus also clarifies in Revelation chapter 21, there will be no eternally burning hell-fire.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” —John 14:26
There are many theological debates among Bible scholars regarding the original language in which the Bible was written and its accurate interpretation. Yet, we must remember the Bible never requires updates. Any new human developed theologies should be excluded from our spiritual belief system. We have all the spiritual knowledge we need in the Bible for our calling and election to be steadfast through Christ.
Perilous times are separating many from God. Every day, we have daily distractions, voices, worldviews, temptations, and an internal battle against our carnal heart, but with unwavering faith, if we take God at His word, rely on the Holy Spirit to give us clarity and dispel any confusion regarding the Scriptures, we will receive the strength to fight the good fight of faith.
Reflection: What are your doctrinal beliefs? Can you validate your present beliefs using the Scriptures?
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” —2 Timothy 2:15
Many of us have not searched the Scriptures to check the credibility of our beliefs. Yes, the Bible contains symbolism, parables, similes, metaphors, analogies, juxtapositions, etc., but the Scriptures [if] studied under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, allows us to receive perfect spiritual wisdom and discernment of God’s Truth.
When the Holy Spirit is involved in studying the Bible, He imparts wisdom and discernment even to young children. Studies have proven that children who study the Scriptures have wisdom beyond their age and excel in their studies. It is their genuine faith and trust that acts as a catalyst to receive imparted knowledge and wisdom from the Holy Spirit that would confound a professor who holds a Ph.D.
” ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and [inaccessible] mighty things, which you do not know.’ ” —Jeremiah 33:3
We are forever Bible students. Believers never reach a summit of Scriptural knowledge. Before we open our Bible, with humility, we ask for and rely on the Divine Wisdom of the Holy Spirit to discern the Scriptures. If you have never asked the Holy Spirit to reveal any false doctrines that are in your belief systems then you should because they are stumbling blocks to knowing and practicing God’s Truth in your daily life.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding…” —Proverbs 2:6
We cannot receive spiritual growth and transformation based on erroneous beliefs and doctrines. Pray for understanding! Once we know the Truth, then we must take another step, letting go of traditional or learned beliefs that are not in agreement with the Scriptures.
Be prepared, Truth always results in separation from others! No, they will not understand. Yet, our salvation and reward of eternal life require total acceptance of Biblical Truth and dependency on God. Every day pray and invite the Holy Spirit into your personal worship, you will receive deeper and deeper spiritual insight into the word of God that will produce spiritual growth and transformation.
As long as we remain a student of the Holy Spirit, we will know why we believe what we believe. Every day, we receive a greater measure of spiritual wisdom because we have faithfully called on the Lord and He has kept His promise by revealing to us great and mighty things. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to anoint us with the power, presence, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Reveal your precious Words of Truth and empower us to discard all other fallacies. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – July 19, 2024
“Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: ‘Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.’ ” —Exodus 1:22, NIV
The story of Moses’ life is proof of God’s Divine Love and Sovereign Power. Despite the obstacles of oppression, enslavement, and Pharoah’s decree to put all of the Israelites’ newborn sons to death, no human defiance or satanic power can stop God’s Divine plans from coming to fruition.
The Giant Leap of Faith—Making Courageous Decisions
“Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.” —Exodus 2:1-4
Moses’ mother and young sister demonstrated great faith and courage by hiding him for three months and then taking the baby [God’s chosen one] to initiate God’s Divine plan for Moses’ life. “Ancient Egypt was rich in natural resources, including the Nile River, which provided fertile land and a major route for travel and communication.” God intervened by not allowing the river’s natural current to dislodge the small basket from the reeds on the bank nor did other travelers notice the basket or hear the baby’s cries.
God’s Plan is Revealed
“Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. ‘This is one of the Hebrew babies,’ she said. Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?’ ‘Yes, go,’ she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.’ So the woman took the baby and nursed him.” —Exodus 2:5-9, NIV
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11
How is it possible for us not to trust God? Not only did God spare Moses from a certain death, but Moses’ mother was paid by Pharoah’s daughter to nurse and care for her own son. As the story progresses, Moses is returned to Pharoah’s daughter, raised in the palace, and enjoys the status of a prince.
Although his life was overflowing with tangible wealth and princely power, Moses embraced his mother’s teachings of the One and Only God and his Hebrew heritage. As he grew into manhood, Moses faced the test of every Christian, to choose God or the world’s wealth and status.
“One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand” (Exodus 2:11-12, NIV).
“The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, ‘Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?’ The man said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Then Moses was afraid and thought, ‘What I did must have become known.’ ” —Exodus 2:13-14
God proclaims that everything done in secret will eventually be revealed. Moses’s decision to take another person’s life was revealed, exposing him as a murderer. The ancient Egyptians valued the sanctity of life unless self-defense was proven and accepted by the judges, the punishment for murder was the death penalty.
God revealed His great love and mercy by allowing Moses to escape for his life. Even in his wrongdoing, God did not forsake Moses who fled to Midian, married, and lived with his wife and father-in-law. While Moses was enjoying his new life, the Israelites remained enslaved and severely oppressed under the rule of a new Pharaoh.
God Calls Moses: “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’ ‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’ “The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering..’ ” —Exodus 3:5-7
God Reveals Moses’ Commission: “And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” —Exodus 3:9-10
Moses’ Insolent Response to God: “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ ” —Exodus 3:11
God’s Promise of Protection and Source of Strength: “And God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.’ ” —Exodus 3:12
Moses’ Character Flaw: Moses’ inability to control his anger propelled him to kill the Egyptian. Sadly his anger would surface again—in an emotional outburst, he broke the original stones on which God wrote the Ten Commandments. Moses allowed himself to become agitated due to the Israelite’s incessant complaining. Many years later, another temperamental episode prevented him from receiving the reward of entering Caanan, the Promised Land.
In anger to the people’s complaints of not having water, Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to the rock. The people who God loved and emancipated still disobeyed by participating in Egyptian pagan worship. Because God worked miracles through Moses, the Israelites regarded Moses as a god instead of giving reverence to the True and Living God. God’s command for Moses to speak to the rock had a spiritual purpose, to reveal God’s Sovereign power to the Nation of Israel.
“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3). With hearts filled with gratitude, we thank God that His love and mercies still extend to fallen humanity despite our character flaws and continuous disobedience. Christ is still knocking on the door of our hearts to send us to witness and complete the work on this earth.
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”—Matthew 22:14
Christ appointed and anointed twelve disciples to be apostles, yet, there are six times in the Scriptures that Jesus chose Peter, James, and John to go with Him to various places including the Mount of Transfiguration: “After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light…” (Matthew 17:1-2).
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” —John 15:16
Are you one of the Chosen? Has the Holy Spirit spoken to you and revealed that Christ has chosen you to do a great work for God? Yes, deep within your heart, you cannot deny it, you have heard Christ’s call saying “Follow Me.” God has set you apart as His disciple to exalt Him and to witness His saving power of salvation. But your love and loyalty to God wavers because of the familiar ties to family and friends, your church membership, or your current lifestyle choices.
“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’ ” — Luke 9:23
To take up our cross daily and to follow Christ is to surrender oneself every day in faithful obedience. Our sacrificial offering of love, loyalty, faithful surrender, and obedience is required of us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The commitment to give the rest of our lives in service to God is the life of all chosen disciples of Christ. What is the one thing [belief, tradition, habit, or person] preventing you from wholly surrendering to God?
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…” —Philippians 3:8
As the apostle Paul testifies, the one chosen for a definitive ministry will suffer many earthly losses. To align ourselves with God’s goal to give us eternal life, we must give up our desires and dreams for God’s service. Daily we approach God in prayer with the humility and obedience of a child to hear His will and perfect plans to guide us in our ministry to others. A life of sacrificial self-denial is one of continual testing of our faith, love, and loyalty.
“We need a spirit of love and of true dependence upon God. When we have implicit faith in Him who is Truth, we shall realize that worry and anxiety are unnecessary.” Sharing the Vision, EGW
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” —Matthew 24:12-14, NKJV
Christ is no respecter of persons, His loving call to accept Him as our personal Savior is poured out to all humanity. After we say yes, to Christ, our responsibility is to witness in our communities, share our testimonies, and help those in need. To demonstrate the love, compassion, and saving power of Jesus Christ is the responsibility of every Christian believer.
Still, as the Apostles Peter, James, John, and Paul were set apart for assigned ministries, the chosen few were selected to walk side by side with Christ to prepare them and receive strength for a heavier burden in their earthly lives. As we study the books of the Bible written by Paul, Peter, James, and John [the Revelator], we are reminded that our lives are not our own when we agree to fulfill our Christ-appointed ministry.
To The Chosen, you can’t run from it, you can’t hide from it, you were anointed and appointed before the foundation of this world! Choose the Eternal! Amen.
Lord God, we ask You to reveal Your will and plans. We know that You have chosen us and like Jonah, many of us have run from our spiritual assignments. We ask for the anointing of wisdom and spiritual discernment from the Holy Spirit. Speak to us that we can serve You faithfully in humility and obedience. In Jesus’ Worthy and Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – July 17, 2024
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
I can come to Jesus just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am. The process of sanctification is lifelong. Every day the Holy Spirit empowers us to obey the will of God and receive spiritual growth and transformation.
“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” (Ezekiel 36:26).
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father! Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. …in the evening, at midnight…coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’ ” Mark 13:32-33, 36-37
Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – July 13, 2024
“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit…” —Luke 6:43-44
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5). As followers of Christ, we are given a great responsibility, to work out our salvation with reverence to God and trembling [to do our best in serving God]. The Apostle Paul tells us to examine and test ourselves because obedience is the spiritual qualifier needed to abide in Christ.
The Offering of Isaac: “On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ‘Stay here with the donkey,’ Abraham told his servants. ‘The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.’ ” —Genesis 22:4-5
Obedience is our only acceptable sacrificial worship to God. Anything less is not fulfilling the commandment to love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Our spiritual journey requires continuous testing of our faith. Abraham did not share God’s command to sacrifice their only son with Sarah, his wife. Certainly, a mother who was childless until she was 90 would have interfered with a mother’s love to rescue and save Isaac, her only son.
“When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him again and said, ‘I am God All-Powerful. If you obey me and always do right, I will keep my solemn promise to you and give you more descendants than can be counted.’ ” —Genesis 17:1-2, CEV
“Abraham, from now on your wife’s name will be Sarah instead of Sarai. I will bless her, and you will have a son by her. She will become the mother of nations, and some of her descendants will even be kings…But your son Isaac will be born about this time next year, and the promise I am making to you and your family will be for him and his descendants forever.” —Genesis 17:15-16, 21
Father Abraham remembered God’s promise and faithfully followed God’s instructions without doubting, his steadfast faith was demonstrated by telling the servants, “and then we will return to you.” Our Omniscient God knew that he could trust His servant in this command and Abraham knew he could trust God to keep His promise of countless descendants through Isaac.
Where do we stand in our tests of obedience that only flow from converted hearts filled with love and loyalty to God?
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” —Jeremiah 29:11
Many Christians believe in God but do not trust God. And God also deems compromising believers as untrustworthy. Faith and Scriptural knowledge reinforce our belief in God’s Sovereign Omnipotence. Yes, we know He can fulfill His promises, yet, we lack the mature faith to believe that God is willing to abundantly bless us. So we use the world’s standards and compromise our relationship with Christ by pursuing our desires.
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.’ ” —Revelation 3:17
Two consequences happen when we disobey God by not following His plans with the promise of an expected end: We live a life of missing out on God’s greatest blessings [Who can compete with God?], and we lose our reward of God giving us “an expected end” of Eternal life. A life of compromise not only takes its toll on our desire to be holy, but we cannot strive for righteousness without Divine strength. Day by day, we also lose our joyful anticipation for the Second Coming of Jesus.
“The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” —Isaiah 43:21
We were created to worship God. Yes, we have the free will to obey or disobey, but we must not console ourselves that all is well when we fail to surrender in obedience. We cannot follow our feelings and dreams, bring them to fruition, and worship God in Spirit and Truth. True religion suffers devastating consequences when disobedience takes control of our minds.
From our failure to obey God, we turn our inherent faith toward worshiping ourselves. Not only do we lose sight of God and righteous living, but our lifestyles reflect erroneous beliefs, and the practices of self-gratification replace the pursuit of God’s Righteous Standards as commanded in the Holy Scriptures.
Step into Your Spiritual Inheritance: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” —1 Peter 2:9
There is no Middle Ground: “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” —Joshua 24:15
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” —Psalm 95:6
Surrender to God’s Sovereignty in love by worshiping our Creator, Lord, and King with love, loyalty, and obedience. Peace and blessings. Happy Sabbath!
Lord God, forgive us for pursuing our inclinations and desires. We confess that we have stopped following You in humble obedience. Restore to us the joy and peace that comes from serving You. In Jesus’ Triumphant Name, we pray, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – July 7, 2024
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” —Hebrews 10:38
Faith is blind. We believe and trust in God under all circumstances and in every situation. Our response to routine challenges, unexpected adversity, and trials is continuous prayer energized by an unwavering belief in the power of God. To live by faith requires active participation in our spiritual growth and character transformation.
How did faith originate? “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3). Faith is an innate gift from God given to everyone.
The character trait of faith is the basis of our love for God and our relationship with Christ. We are responsible for the growth of our measure of faith. One of the greatest challenges we face is the continuous nurturing of our faith. Faith without boundaries requires the redirection of our faith from ourselves to God. Self-reliance develops from the lack of Scriptural knowledge of God’s Sovereign power or the intentional decision to disobey His Divine Commandments and Righteous Precepts.
Self-Reliance: The Worldview of Faith
We also face another hurdle in the faith journey, self-reliance is a learned behavior. Truthfully, the worldview of “you can do whatever you put your mind to do” is taught to us as young children. Although this credo is intended to instill confidence, it poses a spiritual dilemma to living a faith-based life for Christian believers. One of the most powerful videos is one of a Christian mother who taught her 2-year-old to have faith and trust in God. The young child continuously recites 2 Timothy 1:7 to alleviate his fear of sleeping alone in his bedroom. Jesus commands us to possess the steadfast faith of a little child.
Intellectual Knowledge of Faith is Not the Faith that Pleases God
Although it is no longer a spiritual practice among many believers to study the Word of God, those who allow the Holy Spirit to convert their hearts and guide their spiritual journey possess the strongest faith. Faithful Obedience from diligently studying the Bible from cover to cover opens the windows of heaven. Most of the Old Testament stories of faith are deeply ingrained into my memory. As a child, I attended a Bible-based, Christian school, but as I matured it was easy to embrace the worldview of self-reliance promoted as the strongest character trait one can possess.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” —Proverbs 3:5-7
Until 2020, I lived a life of self-reliance. Yes, I have always loved God, but my faith was grounded in my ability to provide for myself. Truly God is love—He will allow the vicissitudes required to turn our focus to Him. Life brought changes that only God’s Divine Power could resolve. It was then that my spiritual eyes were opened—self-reliance is deadly. Trusting in oneself always leaves residual [unrighteous] character traits. Self-reliance changes the brain’s neural grooves and results in a contentious state of mind with God which opposes God’s Divine Sovereignty, His will, and plans.
Job Contends with God: The LORD Reveals His Omnipotence
Job’s Spiritual Status: “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ ” (Job 1:8). Job’s faith was severely tested through skin lesions, the loss of his children, and material acquisitions. “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).
“But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God” (Job 13:3). As time passed, and his tribulations continued, Job became discouraged and contentious. He desired to present His situation to God. Prolonged adversity is the ultimate test of faith. There are only two responses to the trials and tribulations designed to test and build our faith—we trust God or do not trust Him.
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said ‘who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the Earth…?’ ” —Job 38:1-2, 4, 12-13
We are commanded, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…” Yes, Job was blameless, even God proclaims that Job lived a sinless life [Job chapter 1]. Throughout the ages, the human heart remains the same. In adversity, we often lose sight of God’s Love. Job knew he was obedient, yet, he convinced himself that he did not deserve to suffer for an extended and unknown time for his faith to be tested. His friends were critical, always suggesting his secret sins caused the adversity.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…” —1 Peter 5:6
Time is fleeting. Over 4,000 years have passed since Job lived, sadly, we are so spiritually distanced from God that He cannot proclaim we are blameless, nor do we fear (reverence) or serve God with the steadfast love and faithful obedience He rightfully deserves. We cannot afford to be ritualistic churchgoers with hearts filled with disobedience which places us in a controversial battle against God.
We are Privileged: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.” —Psalm 8:3-5
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” —1 Corinthians 6:20
We are not our own. It is time for us to separate ourselves by going into our secret closets and experiencing a hallelujah, intimate daily worship with Christ. Our faith is demonstrated in daily surrender to our Majestic and Loving Savior and King. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV).
Do you struggle with bowing to God in humility and obedience? Yes, every Christian believer struggles with the daily choice of the carnal desire for self-governance or to place our faith and trust in God. Active faith invites the Holy Spirit to shower us with Jesus’ Divine strength to overcome our inclinations.
“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
Christ’s earthly life is our guide for living a victorious life. Practicing Jesus’ creeds of continuous prayer and self-denial are the weapons that enable us to stand against the disobedience of self-reliance. Our Journey with Jesus requires much faith and prayer to strengthen our heart-to-heart relationship with Him.
Faithful obedience brings the heavenly blessings of Christ’s power and wisdom to overcome our never-ending internal battles and external warfare. Although God desires for us to live righteously, He gave us free will of choice and cannot prevent us from choosing to sin. The converted heart prays and waits for God’s guidance.
“…Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 18:3
Little children possess honest hearts filled with steadfast love, humility, faith, and obedience. These character traits are the requisites for the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts and to receive eternal life. From our surrender and faithful obedience, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the Divine strength and wisdom to enter the Narrow Gate and walk this earthly life on the Narrow Path of Righteousness with Jesus.
Human effort and Divine Intervention are needed to prepare us for our reward of immortality in the New Heaven and New Earth with Jesus Christ. Every day with surrender and faith-driven obedience, we proclaim, “I am going to heaven!”
Prayer: Lord God, we admit our faith has been weak and wavering. We need Your strength to make it in this Journey of Life. We ask for the Holy Spirit’s anointing, power, and presence as we renew our commitment to serve You in faithful obedience. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – June 30, 2024
Investment: “the action or process of investing money for profit or material result.” Asking most individuals to share their viewpoints on investing and almost all will give similar answers by focusing on the financial arena. Our world revolves around generating profits from ever-increasing corporate and personal investment portfolios.
Investment: (Definition #2): “an act of devoting time, effort, or energy to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result.” Two appropriate definitions of investing, although both have expectations of gaining, financial investments involve risks including total loss beyond the investor’s control.
Yes, God knew there would be a great human loss from Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience, but still, He chose to create us. Jesus clarifies that He would have died even if only one human being was saved [Luke 15]. The creation of humanity and the gift of Jesus for our redemption was a Spiritual Package revealing God’s Greatest Investment!
Although legions of angels—heavenly messengers exist in a perfect, sinless atmosphere of love and Jesus Christ is their Commander, angels do not have free will of choice, they hear and fulfill their duties with faithful obedience which was Lucifer’s complaint. Once cast out, his mission remains to defame God’s Character and to turn us against our Loving, Heavenly Father.
God’s Investment: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image…’ “…Then God blessed them…” —Genesis 1:24, 28
Christ’s Investment: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” —Genesis 2:7
We can only imagine the awestruck angels who watched Jesus lovingly bend down, pick up dust [clay, mud] into His hands creating Adam in His image, and breathing life into his body. Anyone who has witnessed the birth of a baby and anxiously waits for its first breath and cries understands God’s Divine love and power. What a great heavenly celebration on the day of Adam’s creation!
Our intellect, emotions, physicality, heart, and soul are attached to the great God as the umbilical cord between mother and baby. Jesus, the Master Artist created the Garden of Eden as the first couple’s forever home filled with magnificent beauty. Adam’s first assignment was naming numerous species in the animal kingdom revealing his superior intellect given by Christ.
With the creation of humanity, Christ gifted us the free will to choose whether or not we would honor and worship God through total surrender and obedience. The ability to choose freely has proven that Satan’s character is evil and malicious. God’s love, grace, and mercies are evident by patiently extending Christ’s Second Coming. Every living being chooses their destiny by accepting or rejecting the Plan of Redemption.
Although the beauty of God’s original plan for humanity was marred by Satanic deception, God was prepared, He knew Adam and Eve would fall, therefore, the Plan of Redemption was established before the Creation. Christ’s Investment: Christ would become the Sacrificial Lamb: “…Without the shedding of blood there is no remission [forgiveness] of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).
Christ’s Investment: “Genesis 3:20-24: Jesus sacrificed animals to provide clothing for Adam and Eve after they sinned and were wearing fig leaves. This is the first sacrifice in the Bible.”
Although the loss of their beautiful home and immortality was great, Jesus never left Adam and Eve feeling hopeless. Imagine the grief in Adam and Eve’s hearts every time they sacrificed a lamb from their flock, yet, they knew animal sacrifice foreshadowed the prophecy of the Messiah who would come and save all from sin. And yes, the original couple knew Jesus would come back one day to raise them from their graves and they would receive eternal life.
Christ’s Investment: “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” —Psalm 139:14
From studying the Old Testament and maintaining a dedicated prayer life, King David received wisdom from the Holy Spirit revealing that humanity is God’s greatest investment. David’s response: “…He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will’ ” (Hebrews 13:22).
As we fast forward thousands of years later, many believers are not serving God as David did. God cannot describe us as one “who will do all My will.” Our gratitude can be nothing less than a prayer of daily surrender and faithful obedience. How often do we reflect on Jesus’ sacrificial offering for giving His life to save our souls?
Christ’s Investment: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” —1 Corinthians 6:20
Reflection: Are we investing in ourselves? If our hearts are filled with love and humility, we receive wisdom from the Holy Spirit to live as though we are God’s greatest investment. The human effort of full cooperation with the Holy Spirit allows the conversion of our hearts, only then can we receive the majestic covering of the Righteousness of Christ.
” ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” —1 Corinthians 10:23, 31, NIV
We actively participate in our spiritual growth and transformation by courageously renouncing sin. Our daily battle is won with prayer and the power of God through the Holy Spirit. We do not harm ourselves by embracing worldviews and choosing unhealthy lifestyles including food, relationships, and habits that dishonor our temples. Nor do we cause mental or emotional harm to others by speaking unloving, harsh words. Our characters must reflect the loving, gentle Character of Christ.
“No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:4, NASB). We do not involve ourselves in political agendas, religious debates, or social issues that compromise our righteousness through Christ. We help those in need, follow Jesus, and mind our personal affairs. A sound mind and energy are required to work out our salvation, a full-time effort.
The Bible is our Guidebook to Eternal Life—The Holy Scriptures. When we understand the love, time, dedication, and continuous effort of Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor, we establish uncompromising boundaries. Prayer is our lifeline. Our only acceptable responses to Christ’s investment in freeing us from the enslavement of sin are faithful obedience and striving for Sanctification.
If we understand and appreciate who we belong to and the immense price paid for our freedom from the second death, our response will be a daily covenant of surrender, “to do all of God’s will.” Our thoughts, priorities, social circles, and habits radically change because the Holy Spirit has converted our hearts and we live with the mindset of “I am going to heaven!” Like Job, we proclaim, “I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth” (Job 19:25).
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” —Revelation 4:11
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for Your overflowing love, grace, and mercies. Thank You for investing Your precious life on Calvary’s cross to save our souls. We give You all the honor, glory, and praise as we strive to be people after “Your heart.” In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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