Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – June 8, 2024
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” —Revelation 14:12
God has a remnant of surrendered, obedient, commandment-keeping saints who pray daily for the anointing and guidance of the Holy Spirit. They live a Christ-centered, sacrificial life, diligently praying, and studying the Scriptures. They also have “the faith of Jesus. “The faith of Jesus” refers to Christ’s Righteousness and His love for the world.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10). We choose to have the Mind of Christ by renouncing sin and refusing to give in to our desires. The Righteousness of Christ includes loving God, loving others, and loving ourselves. Pray to see others through the loving and compassionate eyes of Christ who died for all. “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Although our lives are filled with various temptations, we do not have to sin. Striving to be a saint on earth allows Christ to fulfill His Role in our spiritual transformation (Philippians 1:6). With a made-up mind, we choose to be part of the remnant who the apostle John saw standing on the Sea of Glass. With our cooperation, the Holy Spirit and the angels work 24/7 to transform our minds and characters.
“The character of Christ is an infinitely perfect character, and He must be lifted up, He must be brought prominently into view, for He is the power, the might, the sanctification and righteousness of all who believe in Him.”—Manuscript 27, 1889.
The Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23] is the Righteous Attribute of Christ and evidence that our characters are changing. From the willingness to follow Christ, the righteous receive many promises: The Holy Spirit’s guidance, courage for their daily journey, empowerment to overcome temptation, strength to persevere in character-molding trials and mental and emotional healing [these conditions impede spiritual growth].
“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” —Isaiah 58:11
To be led by the Holy Spirit is the reward for a lifestyle of worshiping God through faithful obedience. The “Beginning of Sorrows” [Jesus described in Matthew 24], and Perilous Times [2 Timothy 3] are right now. In times like these, we desperately need Jesus. Our salvation calls for a steadfast rejection of sin and lifting up the Name of Jesus! Tell yourself every day, “I am going to heaven!”
God’s remnant saints are not fearful nor overconfident, their faith and trust is in Christ who promises victory even through times of persecution. Brothers and Sisters, we are nearing Home! Yes! We are nearing Home! Amen.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3
Lord God, Thank You for Your unfailing loving-kindness. Teach us how to love. We ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this Sabbath Holy Day. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – June 6, 2024
“This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” —Psalm 118:24
Have we embraced today with joy and gratitude? We received the mercies of a new day to rejoice and proclaim God’s faithfulness. Praising God with a grateful heart is spontaneous when we believe we are loved by Christ and He abides in our hearts. Focusing on the given day results in a mindset of praise, peace, joy, and happiness.
The worldview of planning for the future has affected many Christian believers. Jesus forewarned us never to let tomorrow consume our thoughts. Thinking about a day that is not promised steals our blessings of joy and peace for the given day. In the Scriptures, Jesus redirects our focus to the given day: “Give us this day our daily bread” and “Take no thought for tomorrow” which teaches us to appreciate the abundant mercies of today.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” —Matthew 6:33-34
A recent survey revealed that 80% of individuals aged 50 years and under are worried about the future and how they will bring their plans to fruition. We rarely find psychologists and sociologists in agreement with Biblical principles—do not think about tomorrow. Both disciplines agree that focusing on the future is counterproductive because the individual has imaginary thoughts that reveal problematic thought processes.
“So when they came together, they asked Him, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ Jesus replied, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.’ ” —Acts 1:6-7
Even after Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples focused on deliverance from Roman oppression. From the onset of following Christ, they envisioned Jesus overthrowing the government and ruling with Him as He sat on an earthly throne. The better life the disciples hoped for is only promised when Jesus comes with our reward of immortality. Focusing on the future should be limited to the joy and preparation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
“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 were created to depend on God. Trusting in God requires a giant leap of faith and the commitment to surrender fully to His will. If we pray without ceasing when all is well, prayer is our immediate response to things gone wrong. Including God in the little things creates the mindset and habit of total dependency on God. Living with divine peace is the most wonderful blessing of our Christian experience.
We rejoice because we serve an Omniscient Father. God knows our lives from beginning to end including the routine activities of daily living, and every obstacle, sorrow, disappointment, and temptation we will face. Even when our emotions threaten to override our faith, the Holy Spirit reminds us that God promises to give us victory. Yes, we can rejoice in times of overwhelming perplexities because our confidence is in Jesus who reminds us, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ‘ ” —2 Corinthians 12:9
Suffering is part of the believer’s life, yet, our hope is in Christ who answers our prayers of faith. Christ is our All and All! Our King, Savior, and Heavenly Intercessor gives us comfort and His Divine strength to accomplish our daily tasks, empowers us to overcome temptation, and provides solutions for our challenges, big or small. Great is His Faithfulness!
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” —Revelation 3:20
Daily, Christ knocks on the door of our hearts. Our response determines whether or not we desire God’s Divine Intervention. From Genesis to Revelation, faith, surrender, and obedience are emphasized as the only way to please God and inherit eternal life. Will we yield every day to Christ’s Divine Authority? The refusal to relinquish our will and obey is to reject Christ’s invitation.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 7:21
Historically the Gospel has always been about Christ. Yet in the 21st century, prosperity messages and focus on self-achievements supersede our desire to focus on our relationship with Christ. The promised reward of eternal life appears fictional to those with unconverted hearts. God’s Grace does not relieve us of our duty to commit to an obedient and sacrificial life. Sadly, our earthly lives with all of the accomplishments we place so much emphasis on are temporary and have nothing to do with our salvation.
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” —2 Corinthians 10:5
We must let go of thoughts, plans, and strategies for a better future that conflict with God’s Divine will. Obedience requires sacrifice! By refusing to surrender to God’s will and precepts, we grieve the Holy Spirit. But we do not have to remain outside of the will of God. Our gifts of power, love, and sound mind [self-control] enable us to turn from self-seeking pleasures, repent, and consecrate ourselves to true discipleship. “Then the Holy Spirit will begin the spiritual transformation necessary to be conformed to the image of his Son to receive eternal life.” EGW
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
We were predestined by God to live eternally. Still, we must choose to follow Christ. The converted heart desires to obey God’s will. From our daily prayer of consecration to follow Christ, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s plans. “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine…” —Exodus 19:5
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” —John 10:27
Surrendered believers know obedience reaps many blessings. The Holy Spirit gives us the discernment to recognize God’s Voice and prepares and equips us with the strength and endurance to persevere and stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. Because we are commanded to “Be holy, ” God’s transforming power aligns our desires with His Divine plans and empowers us with the wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
We rejoice because we feel the internal change. Our focus is intentional! We look to Christ who leads us victoriously through our spiritual journey. We are still silver in the fire. The Holy Spirit convicts us by revealing our selfish desires and exposes Satan’s covert warfare designed to make us sin against God. With determination and prayer for Divine power, we receive the spiritual reinforcement to overcome.
As our journey with Christ continues, our faith, courage, and perseverance are strengthened. We remain steadfast because God’s faithfulness and power are experiential. To continue walking with Christ transforms us into courageous soldiers in the Army of God. Our faith is in God whose intervention always brings honor and victory. Yes, we have reason to continually rejoice, all of heaven is involved in our spiritual quest for righteousness!
“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” —Hebrews 11:5
“Enoch walked faithfully with God…” (Genesis 5:24). The life of Enoch is one that we should reflect on. Like us, he lived in times filled with abject wickedness. Yet, he walked with God in obedience. We desperately need the anointing of the Holy Spirit as we prepare for the fulfillment of Revelation prophecies and Jesus’ Second Coming.
“O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!” (Psalm 8:1).
Sanctification, being transformed into the likeness of Christ must occur in the here and now. Turning our lives over to Jesus is the answer to living a holy, sacrificial life as Enoch lived. From our willingness to honor and reverence God, the Holy Spirit molds our characters like clay to resemble, reveal, and reflect the Light of Christ’s Loving Character.
Our relationship with Christ grows sweeter by the day when we invite Christ to be the Lord and Sovereign Ruler of our lives. Yes, we can praise and rejoice in the goodness of God because we are in the right standing with God and covered by the Righteousness of Christ! Amen.
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season…” —Psalm 1:1-3
Lord, we commit to serve You for the rest of our lives. Thank You for Your Great love, faithfulness, and mercies. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – June 4, 2024
“The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.…” —Psalm 19:7-8
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ ” —Psalm 27:7-8
Recently, I asked the Holy Spirit to help me understand Agape love. In the stillness of the approaching sunset, the Holy Spirit led me to study verses on the Law—the Testimony in the Psalms. As I reflected deeply on these Scriptures, I felt an overwhelming appreciation for the love of God and His Role as our Heavenly Father.
“The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise.” —Psalm 119:57-58
David was a true worshiper. He knew the Testimonies expressed God’s love for humanity. We exist because of an Agape love so phenomenal that our Heavenly Father gave us His Law to protect us from the destruction of our moral character and guide us on the Path of Righteousness from earth to heaven.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, because everyone born of God overcomes the world.” —1 John 5:3-4
God is Truth and His Law is Truth. Our faith is the catalyst for accepting and obeying God’s Laws without doubting or questioning their validity. We have been deceived into believing that Grace abolished the Law. Obeying the Testimonies of God is our Spiritual Surety to receiving daily victory over temptation and self-gratification and ensures that we hear and obey the Voice of God.
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.” —Psalm 119:2
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul…” Faithful obedience is the response that demonstrates an appreciation of God’s Law and love. Once we grasp the magnitude of God’s love and His purpose for our lives, our worship is intentional—seeking God and doing His will is our priority. “The path of obedience to God is the path of safety and happiness.” Every day God desires to shower down much-needed blessings of spiritual strength, wisdom, and discernment.
Our love and loyalty are the gateway to the Holy Spirit opening our understanding of “great and mighty things that we do not know.” If we say, yes, to God then we receive the spiritual benefits of the gift of Redemption—Divine Help is freely given. From our willingness to surrender, we have the assurance the Holy Spirit will convert our hearts, minds, and characters in preparation for Eternal life.
Even with Divine Help, our spiritual journey is tumultuous, we face spiritual warfare every day. Still, we must stand firm in our conviction to live holy. Thankfully, Christ limits Satan’s attacks, he cannot strive against the righteous continuously. Because our natural eyes cannot perceive the unseen, every believer has a guardian angel whose mission is to protect.
Jesus knows every temptation we face and commands the heavenly messenger angels to fight Satan’s evil angels, protecting us from the perdition of spiritual warfare and physical harm. Satan’s power is greater than ever imagined! Yes, we have angels who fight against spiritual warfare, yet, we must fulfill our role as fighting soldiers who renounce sin—we will always be the target of the enemy.
“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days: and behold, Michael [Jesus]…came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” —Daniel 10:13
In Daniel, chapter 10, the angel sent to reveal the interpretation of Daniel’s dream explains he was delayed in Persia. King Cyrus was appointed by God to give the decree to emancipate the Nation of Israel when their 70 years of captivity came to fruition. “The prince of the kingdom of Persia” is Satan who easily influences unbelievers. Satan’s plan was to convince King Cyrus not to end the Jew’s Babylonian enslavement.
God asks, “…Who then is able to stand against Me? …” —Job 41:10
For 21 days, Satan fought against Christ’s angel over Cyrus’ mind to prevent him from fulfilling God’s command. Michael represents Jesus who came to earth to intervene and stand down Satan’s power over Cyrus’ mind. From this revelation of Scripture, we understand God’s Omnipotence, satanic power, and our role in overcoming sin.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” —Ephesians 6:10-11
The apostle Paul compares our earthly lives to a battle, and it is! Every day, we face spiritual warfare. Satan’s power is evident by the rapid moral decline and the escalation of corruption and natural disasters. Yet, his goal is to gain control of the believer’s mind. The controversy between good and evil is not physical. It is a spiritual battle of the mind. When tempted, whether or not we succumb is the result of a conscious decision to choose right or wrong.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” —Psalm 37:23
The tug of war in our conscience arises when our minds are conflicted—temptation reveals our moral weaknesses. We are not tempted by the things we do not desire. Still, none can be compelled by Satan to sin. If we are not grounded in Christ and live a life guided by the Testimonies then Satan’s minuscule efforts easily make us fall. If we cooperate with the Heavenly agencies then we receive God’s Power to overcome sin.
“I considered my ways and turned my steps to Your testimonies.…” —Psalm 119:59
The Law of God guides our thoughts and behaviors to align with the Righteousness of Christ, still, we must choose to obey. Sanctification is the daily process of being restored into the image of Christ and is orchestrated by the power of the Holy Spirit. Daily we cooperate with Divinity in the transformation of our characters. Loving and obeying God’s Law, loving others, and possessing the Fruit of the Spirit, are must-haves to receive our Crown of Life.
Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me.…” —Psalm 119:97-98, BSB
To understand Agape love requires hearts that reciprocate God’s love. Our sacrificial offering of self-denial is love for God. To perceive life through natural eyes is to choose destruction. Spiritual wisdom empowers us to discern life through God’s eyes. Our pursuit of Christ’s Righteousness must be relentless. In Christ’s name, our love propels us to stand for God despite the circumstances.
Understanding the plan of Salvation and the purpose of the Testimonies motivates us to give our all to Christ through surrender and faithful obedience. Human effort and Divine Intervention are required to save our souls. God is faithful and we must vow to also be faithful.
When we think of God’s love and goodness our only possible response is to whisper prayers of surrender and sing praises of gratitude for Jesus’ Amazing Love and His Righteous Precepts. Thank You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” —Revelation 3:21, NIV
Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – May 31, 2024
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” —Matthew 5:43-44
“…Love your neighbor as yourself.” —Matthew 22:39
“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings…” —Acts 17:26
“The projected world population on Jan. 1, 2024, is 8,019,876,189…”
Christ has given the command to love everyone including our enemies. We cannot obey Christ’s command and love everyone without immense love and loyalty to God, a converted and transformed heart, and a spirit of forgiveness. Our love for God is reflected by how we perceive and treat others. Who is my neighbor? Everyone. Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes.
You will never meet anyone for whom Christ did not die on Calvary’s cross.
Jesus died for the 8,019,876,189 currently alive on this planet and everyone who has ever lived and will live on this Earth. We only have one opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify and transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ—in our earthly lives. That Great Day is coming! Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself! Have a blessed Sabbath!
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 21, 2024
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” —Lamentations 3:22-23
Because God is Sovereign and Faithful, we rejoice in our challenges and sorrows as well as in peaceful times. We entrust our lives to be led by Christ because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.” —Lamentations 3:25-26
We can rejoice because we are living a Christ-centered, Faith-Based life [through surrender and obedience] continually striving for holiness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord; Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.” —Lamentations 3:40-41
We can rejoice because we search God’s Holy Scriptures to use as a Righteous Standard to measure our hearts, our motives, our love relationship with Christ, and our love for others. We rejoice because our hearts are open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and we repent of the sins of thinking our own thoughts which is the source of all transgressions against God.
“If you love Me keep my commandments.” —John 14:15. “If you love me, obey my commands, and my commands are not burdensome…” —1 John 5:1-5
We can rejoice because our hearts are converted by the love and redeeming power of Jesus Christ. Our love for Christ is demonstrated through obedience to the Ten Commandments and His Righteous Principles. Yes, we love as Christ loves by loving God and placing Him above all. We rejoice because we love others despite their background or status.
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” —Revelation 14:12
We can rejoice because we strive to be like Christ, our Perfect, Righteous Role Model who obeyed the Commandments in His earthly life and lived a life of humility and surrender to God, the Father. The faith of Jesus is His Righteousness which we also pursue, not in our own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Every day we present ourselves before the Throne of Grace to seek God’s will and to receive Christ’s blessing of His strength to live holy. From our pleas for Divine Help, the Holy Spirit imparts Christ’s Divine strength. We are empowered to renounce sin and receive the wisdom and discernment to perceive sin for what it really is—spiritual death.
Artist’s Rendition of Jesus’ Second Coming
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” —Revelation 22:14
“And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.” —Revelation 15:2
We can rejoice because we envision ourselves living with Christ forever in the New Heaven and New Earth! Hallelujah! Amen!
Lord God, we pray for ourselves that we will prepare today for Your soon coming and stay prepared. We bow to Your Sovereignty as our Lord, Savior, and King and ask for Your strength to be poured out as we persevere in Your Name to live righteously. In Jesus’ Matchless Name, we pray. Amen.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” —1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
“And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them…” —Jeremiah 45:5
When studying the Creation Story, we have evidence that God loves abundance and beauty. “Scientists estimate that there are about 8.7 million animal species on Earth, with 2.2 million of those being marine. However, only about 1.2 million species have been identified and described, mostly insects.” God is still giving humanity an abundance and desires that we develop and nurture a spirit of contentment.
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” —Micah 6:8
Develop a spirit of contentment—Be content with what you have. Our character matters to God. If we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we will develop a character overflowing with love, justice, mercy, and humility, and focus on the needs of others instead of our desires. Remember, God never withholds what is good and necessary for us to enjoy a fruitful life.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” —James 1:17
Lord, we pray for a revival in our souls to prepare for Your soon coming. In Your Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 16, 2024
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18
The grateful heart continuously reflects on God’s loving character: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). God’s loving promises and daily mercies are the catalysts to thank Him daily with a renewed covenant to live righteously and serve Him with a surrendered, obedient, and grateful heart.
We Are the Recipients of Every Good and Perfect Gift
God’s love and gift of His Son, Jesus, and Jesus’ willingness to rescue us from the wages of sin through the perfect Plan of Redemption, cover us with His Righteousness, and restore our characters through the process of Sanctification is much more than we deserve. Because human effort can never achieve righteousness, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to teach and empower us in our earthly journey.
“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
The gift of the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Comforter is responsible for our spiritual transformation [which requires our cooperation]. He is the Giver of wisdom and discernment of the Holy Scriptures, teaches us how to live holy, opens our eyes to recognize temptations, and to perceive sin as treacherous. The Holy Spirit also convicts us of our disobedience.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” —Jeremiah 17:9
“For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” —Romans 7:19-20
Throughout the Epistles, the apostle Paul expressed immense gratitude for Jesus’ sacrificial offering, yet, he also shares his continuous struggle with sin. Born into sin and shaped by iniquity, we fight inner turmoil and external warfare all day long. It is easier to sin than to live righteously. Because we can never fight sin without the Holy Spirit, we should never minimize the devastating impact of sin.
“Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.” —Psalm 37:4
We love God and express gratitude for His goodness through our praise and worship, still, we fall. For the faithful believer, it’s usually something we perceive as insignificant that causes us to fall. Thank You, Jesus, for Your great sacrifice! God’s grace and mercies are beyond our comprehension. Yes, we sinned, but Divinity acts immediately, the Holy Spirit uses His convicting power to reveal our transgressions.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 1:9
Yes, we are sinners saved by grace, but God’s grace is a privilege. Although we repent, sin mars our character, and as a result, our spiritual struggle escalates. With humility, we fall to our knees and utter David’s prayer of repentance, “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).
“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning…whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God…” —1 John 3:6, 10
The grateful heart cherishes Jesus’ blood sacrifice. How do we view sin? When we reflect deeply on Satan’s never-ending deceptions and how the wicked one has impacted our lives, we should desire and prepare for eternal life with zeal. Praying for the Holy Spirit to open our eyes allows us to perceive sin for what it really is—the loss of eternal life and experiencing the fate of the second and final death.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Our praise of Thank You, Jesus! for the Plan of Redemption must extend beyond spoken words, our gratitude is demonstrated by striving to live holy.
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” —1 Peter 1:15
With overflowing gratitude, we rejoice in God’s promises to keep us on the straight and narrow Path of Righteousness. Living in perilous times exposes us to the intentional warfare of busyness and distractions designed to divert our attention from God and steal our precious time. Our battle plan includes separating ourselves and praying for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom to see life through spiritual eyes.
With our souls at risk, we desperately need to give God our attention and time through meaningful worship. True worship places us in the presence of God. To enter the presence and power of a Holy God is to experience spiritual transformation and heart conversion. We worship God in Spirit and Truth by possessing a pure heart filled with thanksgiving and ready to do His will. God rewards us with blessings of spiritual renewal and the strength to overcome Satan’s temptations.
“My grace is all you need, for my power is the greatest when you are weak.” —2 Corinthians 12:9
The grateful heart readily admits the wretchedness of inheriting a carnal heart and wholeheartedly believes Jesus’ warning, “…you can do nothing without me.” We live with the conviction that we were bought with a price, and our strength is from Christ, our King, therefore we willingly give ourselves away to Christ to live a life of servitude. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matthew 10:24).
The Promise of Eternal Life: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” —John 14:2
The grateful heart responds with honor and adoration to our Savior and King who is waiting for every living being to choose who they will serve, and “when the gospel is preached to all the world then will the end come.” With heaven ever before us, we must live as one who is forgiven. We are grateful sojourners—just traveling through this earthly life by preparing for eternal life with Christ Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16
The grateful heart is filled with immense love and gratitude because humanity is the benefactor of God’s love, grace, and mercies. We know that our identity is through Christ, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9).
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The grateful heart truly loves and appreciates God’s Divine Gift of His Son. Every day, with humility, we whisper the covenant words, “Lord, not my will but your will be done.” When Jesus is our First Love, our grateful heart reveals itself by following in His footsteps to live a sinless life of total surrender and obedience.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” —Revelation 22:12-14
Daily our resounding proclamation is, “I am going to heaven!” Not only in words but also in deeds, we consecrate ourselves to live holy. From our commitment, the Holy Spirit transforms our characters into a Christ-like character. Our thoughts, spoken words, habits, and lifestyles reflect a life hidden in Christ Jesus. Preparing daily for eternal life results in a life filled with praise and worship. We do not fear because we will receive our reward when Christ comes.
“The righteous are people who have entered into covenant with God by faith and seek to live according to his Word.” Jeane Jones
Lord, we thank You for Your life and Your love. We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our lives that we travel this journey with conviction and courage. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 10, 2024
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16
One powerful way to build your faith and trust in God is to change your response to life-impacting events. Whether facing routine challenges or major hardships, every obstacle is a disruption to our lives. When feeling overwhelmed by the busyness of life or a situation arises that human intervention cannot resolve, how do we respond?
Discussing the presenting challenges with spouses, family, and friends is a natural response, but learned behaviors and habits that promote self-reliance by using our thoughts to develop solutions always decrease our faith and dependency on God. To maintain obedience to God, we must stand down our immediate emotional responses to reach out to others before we pray.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” —Hebrews 11:6, NIV
The defining characteristic of a Christian believer is to live a faith-based life totally dependent on God. We cannot please God by using varied responses according to the given situation. Therefore, we obey Christ’s command by changing our first response from discussing our challenges with others [which promotes worry and minimizes God’s infinite power] to “Let’s pray about this right now!”
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:6-7
Yes, it is a daily struggle to live a life of self-denial by exercising faith over escalating feelings. Even so, with humility, we use our wavering mustard seed faith and place our burdens at Jesus’ feet. Remember God has foreknowledge of every obstacle, trial, and hardship we face.
Depending on God gives us a peace that permeates our minds, bodies, and souls. Our Father always gives us the strength to endure and provides comfort and hope for the given day—take no thought for tomorrow. And in His timing, we receive a victorious outcome that brings glory and honor to His Holy Name.
“When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.” —Psalm 91:15
Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor loves us, He patiently waits for us to come to the Throne of Grace, and ask for help. Worship shifts our Focus from our Problems to the Almighty God, the Problem Solver. We ask for Divine Intervention and whisper words of gratitude because our challenges are resolved.
“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). Pray in faith and wait. The wait tests our faith! As the days pass, will we remain steadfast and courageously trust in God’s promise to fight our battles?
Now is the time for us to actively participate in our spiritual growth by abiding in Christ through unceasing prayer. Faith bonds us to Christ. Come what may, our confidence and trust is in God! From our daily commitment to surrender, we have total access to God’s unlimited love and power.
The strength of our relationship with Christ is dependent on our decision to redirect our focus and live a Christ-centered, faith-based life. “Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24, BSB).
Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for being the Great, I AM! In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 7, 2024
Son of God: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16
Son of Man: “On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.” —Isaiah 11:10
I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). While walking on this earth, Jesus declared Himself as the Son of God. Although rejected by most of the Jewish people, Jesus was the Messiah whom Isaiah prophesied “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ ” (Matthew 22:37).
For anyone who is married and in love, they strive to please their spouse. The foundation of all healthy and growing relationships is unselfish love. Our relationship with Christ is also based on unselfish love. From Christ’s blood sacrifice, He proved His overwhelming, selfless love for humanity. Does our relationship with Christ proclaim unselfish love and loyalty for the Son of God?
“Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him” (John 14:15).
In the parent-child relationship, love, respect, and honor are demonstrated through the child’s obedience. As children of God, our daily worship includes the prayer to know, understand, and obey His will. To prevent us from following our thoughts, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we diligently search the Scriptures which God uses first to speak His will to us.
“My people perish because of lack of knowledge.” —Hosea 4:6
To please God is to faithfully obey Him. The Bible is the Voice of God. The Scriptures reveal God’s answers to every life situation. The Bible is our Spiritual Roadmap that converts the heart and keeps us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness leading from earth to heaven.
“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.” —Psalm 119:97-98, 104
The Old Testament proclaims God’s Laws as the highest authority and Righteous Principles to live holy, sacrificial lives. The exciting history of God’s loving Character and Divine Intervention along with countless life stories of rescuing us from sin and restoring us in the fullness of joy and peace remains unchanged.
The New Testament portrays Christ’s earthly life, His Ascension as King, and teaches us how to apply God’s Righteous Principles to practical living. As we gain knowledge, the Holy Spirit converts our hearts, we experience spiritual growth and transformation and learn how to live righteously. But most importantly, we learn to honor Jesus as our Triumphant King.
Christianity is the only religion that accepts Jesus as the Son of God. Yet, there is ambivalence in the minds of many Christians who do not understand Christ’s authority and His role in their lives. Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God, He is also God. The Scriptures substantiate Jesus as God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead.
Jesus Proclaimed Himself as God: “He took the divine name ‘I AM’ for Himself (John 8:58, from Exodus 3:14). He said that the way to the Father is through Him (Matthew 11:27, John 14:1-7). He made Himself equal with God (John 5:18). He proclaimed that whoever saw Him saw the Father (John 14:9).”
According to Bible Theologians and Scholars, Hebrews, chapter 1 is a record of Christ’s Coronation after He ascended to heaven. From this chapter alone, God reveals that Jesus is also God. Not only does God, the Father call Jesus, “God” but He also refers to Him as “Lord.”
“But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions. And: ‘You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.’ ” —Hebrews 1:8-10
God’s Supreme Revelation: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…holding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” —Hebrews 1:1-3
Jesus Authority Over Humanity: “…as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. ” —John 17:2, 5
Our perception of Christ reveals if our study of the Scriptures is selective or nonexistent, we become fixated on Jesus’ atoning sacrifice alone and attempt to achieve righteousness through our works. Because we lack knowledge of His Preeminence, we live a life that dishonors Jesus as God [He is the Second Person of the Triune Godhead] who sits at the Right Hand of God, the Father.
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him…” (Colossians 1:9-10).
Two characteristics demonstrate Jesus Christ is the Supreme Ruler of our lives: The active desire to be filled with the knowledge of His will and the decision to walk worthy in our earthly journey as His disciples. For us to understand Christ’s Kingly role, we must search the Scriptures, praying for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and discernment, and in submission, we bow and worship our King with faithful obedience.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:10-11
We have a decision to make that is long overdue. Living for Christ: We strive for a sanctified life demonstrated by heartfelt love and the surrender of our will. “Not my will but Your will be done” is our daily prayer [covenant] to faithfully honor God through obedience. From our desire to honor Christ’s Righteous Dominion as our Supreme Ruler, we will receive our reward of the Crown of Life when He comes.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war.” —Revelation 19:11
A Life Lived Against Christ: The decision to fulfill our desires under the banner of Christianity will end in facing Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” as the Judge and Warrior. There is no excuse for a Christian believer to hold the same spiritual status as the unrighteous. We are not thinking clearly.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.” —John 15:5
Jesus the Son of God and Son of Man is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Christ has given us the warning, “…without Me, you can do nothing.” Jesus Christ has full authority over every human being. Without bowing to our Lord, Savior, and King, sadly, our lives will be lived in vain, and we will perform the rituals of Christianity but never receive heart conversion and spiritual transformation.
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble…” —2 Peter 1:10
The worries of life should never be experienced by saints of God. We have hope through Christ! Without Surrender, our minds become unsure and we develop a spirit of insecurity hoping for eternal life. Yet, we must not commit sins of presumption—thinking we will receive eternal life although we place our desires over the will of God. Our salvation and destiny rely on the choices we make every day.
“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’ ” (2 Corinthians 12:9). From living an earthly life as the Son of Man, Jesus experienced the trials and temptations we face. He extends the invitation, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” —Philippians 1:6
When we understand the overwhelming love of Christ who assures us that He will give us the Divine Help to live a sacrificial and surrendered holy life, we will renounce sin. Prepare daily to receive His Divine Strength from inviting Jesus, God, [the Son of God and Son of Man] to be the King and Supreme Ruler of your life.
Prayer: “Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right [steadfast] spirit within Me.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 5, 2024
“Thus says the LORD God to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.’ ” —Ezekiel 37:5
For His love and faithfulness, Christ is worthy to be praised! He is YAHWEH who imparts His sustaining Ruah breath of life to His creations. “Ruah is the wind that parted the waters and created dry land, it is the very breath that God breathed into humans in our creation…” wildwoodgathering.org
“O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, His mercy endures forever.” —Psalm 118:1
To worship God in Spirit and Truth is a command for the righteous to love, honor, and reverence the Most High with faithful obedience. From the moment we open our eyes to the mercies of a new day, our first response is to whisper prayers of praise and gratitude to Jesus, our First Love, and the Sustainer of Life.
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.” —1 Chronicles 29:11
The angels exalt Christ, the Commander of angel armies by lovingly fulfilling their purpose—to serve humanity. We exalt Christ by willingly consecrating our minds, bodies, and souls to fulfill God’s will and plans for the given day. Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom, discernment, and Jesus’ strength to fulfill God’s will.
“Hallelujah! Give praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.” —Psalm 113:1
Obedience to God is our highest worship. A heartfelt covenant of daily surrender rises to the Throne of Grace as praise-filled melodies proclaiming King Jesus is the LORD of our lives. The mercy of a new day is a constant reminder that God is Great and He is Faithful. Never-ending prayers and songs of praise reveal our desire to give Him glory, honor, and gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice.
We are nearing home! Daily surrender is the spiritual catalyst that ignites the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the image of Christ. Life on earth is preparing us for a life of eternal worship to our Triumphant King in the New Heaven and New Earth.
“O LORD, I will praise you…Behold, God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Praise the LORD, call upon his name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Sing to the LORD, For he has done excellent things; This is known in all the Earth.” —Isaiah 12:1-2, 4,5
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