05 Wednesday Feb 2014
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In today’s reading, Paul recounts the ministry he had with the church in Thessalonica. Paul was intentional about his recollection to show the believers the importance of all he had done for them. As an example to us, we must be intentional about how we serve others. This does not happen on its own.
04 Tuesday Feb 2014
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Today we begin the first book of Thessalonians, which was a letter to the church in Thessalonica. While this church was very young in their faith, they were making great progress. As a young church they also needed to continue the maturing process in their faith. In turn, this letter is important to all believers because it shows the importance of growing in spiritual maturity. While maturity does not make us any more “saved” than an immature believer, it does allow us to be closer and more intimate with God as we grow closer to Him. Think of a child’s relationship with their parent. As the child grows up, so does the level of trust and depth in the relationship; the same applies to our relationship with God. The more mature I become in my faith, the more my relationship grows with God.
04 Tuesday Feb 2014
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My apologies for missing yesterday. It doesn’t happen very often, but yesterday was just one of those days. Today there will be two posts to catch up.
Today we read Acts 18. The biggest thing that stood out to me was discipleship and how one person poured into another and in turn they poured into someone else. Paul spent time with Aquila and Priscilla, who in turn spent time with Apollos. This is how true spiritual growth and learning really happens. We should always spend time learning from more mature believers than ourselves and teaching others who are younger in the faith. We are not expected to know it all, but we are expected to be available to be led by the Holy Spirit for the benefit of others.
01 Saturday Feb 2014
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God is never far away from us. He is always near enough so we can seek Him. Acts 17:27 says, God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. God does not force Himself on anyone. He wants a relationship with us, but He also wants us to want one with Him as well. God is patient and loving and is willing to wait for us to be ready. We must remember that a life in relationship with God is much more rewarding than a life without Him. So, why wait?
31 Friday Jan 2014
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Doing the right thing never gets old. While the rewards may not always be seen right away, they are always built into the act of goodness. Galatians 6:9 says, Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. No matter what the outcome, we must never get tired of doing what is right and good to please God by serving others. Our reward may not be realized in this lifetime, but it will come.
30 Thursday Jan 2014
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One of my favorite passages of the Bible is Galatians 5:22-24, 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by listening to the Holy Spirit and feel His presence in our lives, only good can come out of it. God wants us to experience all the good things in life. Not that we won’t experience difficulty, but what come out of our lives in all circumstances reflect the goodness of God.
29 Wednesday Jan 2014
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One of the most powerful passages in scripture is Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. When Christ died on the cross for us and we accepted His gift of salvation, we were no longer slaves to the law and working to be good in His eyes. We must never take this truth for granted.
28 Tuesday Jan 2014
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I always love reading Galatians 3:28 because Jesus is the great equalizer, There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. When Jesus came as a sacrifice for our sins He also made us all equal heirs. Why is this so hard for so many believers to understand? I will leave this passage up to each of you for interpretation, but to me it is clear what Paul is trying to say. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
27 Monday Jan 2014
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One of the key tenets of our faith is that through Christ and Christ alone we are saved. Galatians 2:20-21 says it as clear as anywhere in the Bible, 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” If we could do anything by our own power, then Christ died on the cross for nothing.
25 Saturday Jan 2014
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Today we begin the book of Galatians. This book was written by Paul and is meant to refute teachings to the Galatian gentiles that they must follow Jewish law in order to be saved, calling all believers to faith and freedom in Christ. Galatians 1:10 says, Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Paul would not have gone through all he had if he simply wanted to please men. Life was easier when Paul lived for the approval of Jewish leaders and did not have to face their persecution. When we seek God’s approval we must be prepared to face the disapproval of man. We see it today even in the way other believer sometimes disapprove of each other. Our obedience to Christ is not meant to be understood by anyone else but Him. Our reward comes from God and not by the approval of men.
Daily Devotion 