11 Sunday Jan 2015
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Sometimes it simply takes a little persistence. This video is pretty funny but it’s worth a look. I hope you enjoy it.
If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.
10 Saturday Jan 2015
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As I read Mark 2:23-24, I thought about modern day Christians in comparison to the Pharisees in the time of Christ, 23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” As I get older and I read and study more about Jesus’ life, I have come to the realization that modern day “Christians” represent more of the life of the Pharisees than Christ Himself. We have become more comfortable holding onto rules and beliefs that have little or nothing to do with the saving grace of Jesus’ sacrifice and more to do with our own attempts to present a righteous life. While living a pure and righteous life is admirable, and is typically a reflection of changes brought by the presence of the Holy Spirit, the truth is it has very little to do with the grace and mercy Jesus provided through His sacrifice on the cross. As believers we must remember to meet people where they are and not require them to be where we think they are supposed to be. This can only come through an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.
09 Friday Jan 2015
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As Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman, he explained the difference in the way the the Jews and Samaritans worshipped and believed. But in the end Jesus made it clear how we would all worship; through the spirit and in truth. In John 4:24 Jesus says, God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. The Holy Spirit helps us in many ways: 1) He prays for us (Romans 8:26), 2) He teaches us the words of Christ (John 14:26), 3) He tells us we are loved (Romans 5:5). We must remember to always rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us as we worship and build our relationship with God.
08 Thursday Jan 2015
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Arguably the most famous verse in the Bible comes from today’s reading, John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. The important part to remember is that eternal life is not an extension of our earthly lives. Eternal life does not have death, sickness, evil, or sin. It is a new life in the presence of our perfect Father with no fear or anxiety about the future. We hang onto these earthly lives because we do not know any better. But what awaits us in eternity is so much greater than any of us can ever imagine.
07 Wednesday Jan 2015
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I love the last verse in today’s reading because it shows Jesus knows all about human nature. John 2:25 says, He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. Jesus did not and does not need man’s approval. He knows that the testimony of man is only as good as the faith they possess. Some of the people in the temple who claimed to believe Him would later be the same ones yelling “crucify him!” Faith and faithfulness must be maintained even when it is not popular to do so.
06 Tuesday Jan 2015
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When Jesus talks about wine and wineskins, He is talking about the Pharisees. Luke 5:38-39 says, 38 “No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ “ As new wine ages it expands and therefore cannot be put into old, rigid wineskins because it will break the skins with the expanding wine. The Pharisees were like the old wineskins who were too rigid to handle the new covenant (new wine). Jesus could not be contained in the old traditions or rules. We must always work hard to stay pliable and follow Christ’s example of what really matters about the New Covenant; loving God and loving others.
05 Monday Jan 2015
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When He was being tempted by the devil, I thought it was interesting how Jesus was offered authority over the kingdoms of the world by the devil. As God’s son, you would think Jesus already had authority over the world. The truth is God has authority over everything, but the devil is given free reign to do what he wants. In this case, Jesus chose to not even acknowledge the devil’s role or abilities. By this example, we are to do the same. Satan only has control over us when we allow him to have that control. Jesus is our Lord and the Holy Spirit lives in us, which takes away any room for the devil to live in us. If we don’t give him room, he cannot take up residence in us.
04 Sunday Jan 2015
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As many people know I lost my hero and my dad to cancer back in 2010. From the moment I realized he had cancer to the day he left this earth, I have had a heart for people and families who have had to deal with this terrible disease. Today, the world has lost another person I have grown to admire over the years. Stuart Scott, one of ESPN’s sportscasters, lost his 7 year battle with cancer. He was an inspiration to so many people. This past summer he was awarded the “Jimmy V Perseverance Award” at the 2014 ESPY Awards. I decided to share his speech here as an inspiration for both believers and non-believers alike in how we are called to live our lives on this earth… to the fullest!
If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.
03 Saturday Jan 2015
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As Jesus is tempted in Matthew 4, we see Jesus’ example to us on how to combat temptation in our lives. Jesus focuses on the necessity rather than the want. He shows the devil there are things we need in this life as opposed to what we want, which is only something we think we need. The most important thing Jesus shows us is that we are to focus on God’s purpose for our lives. If we focus on anything other than fulfilling our purpose, then we are focusing on the wrong thing.
02 Friday Jan 2015
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People tend to like extremes, especially when it comes to Biblical teaching. They either want to say we are commanded to sell everything and give it to the poor and live like John the Baptist, or they believe we should all be rich and prosperous and be good stewards as a reward for our faithfulness to God. In Luke 3, John the Baptist does not tell the tax collector to stop collecting taxes, he tells him to only collect what is owed. And when they soldier asked what he should do, John the Baptist told him to not use his power to extort and accuse people falsely. God calls us to be the best we can be with the gifts He has given us. We are no better or worse than anyone around us. To compare ourselves to others and desire what someone else has is to covet what is not intended for us. Contentment is the key.
Daily Devotion 