Marie’s daily verse:Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers (Ephesians 4:29).

DAILY DEVOTION, August 30, 2024

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1, NIV).

In his wisdom, Paul assures us that, as Christians, we have already been raised with Christ. Our resurrection is not a distant hope but a present reality. He then urges us to set our hearts on things above, implying that while there are things below, they are transient and fleeting. The things above, however, are those that hold lasting spiritual value, providing us with a profound sense of security and a beacon of hope that never wavers.

Suppose you buy a car – – – that pertains to this earthly life. Suppose you witness for Jesus, that pertains to things above. Suppose you wander into Walmart, which relates to this life on earth. If you pray for another person, that pertains to things above. Suppose you eat a meal or drink an expensive coffee from a coffee shop- – – that relates to this life. If you partake of the Lord’s Supper, that refers to things above. Of course, we need to do lots of earthly things. However, we don’t want the things of this world to crowd out our sacred duties. The things we do that pertain to this life have no lasting value. The things we do for God in the name of Jesus have eternal value. Paul wants us to have our hearts set on the things above. It’s a gentle reminder not to neglect the heavenly for the earthly. Don’t spend all your time on things that have no lasting value.

Heavenly Father, thank You for guaranteeing my resurrection. As a person bound for heaven, I pray that I will set my heart on things above where Christ is seated at Your right hand. I pray in His name and for His sake, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails (Proverbs 19:21). 

DAILY DEVOTION, August 29, 2024

Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7).

These words from Isaiah are a profound call to action. They challenge us to seek the Lord, but with a crucial caveat — we cannot seek the Lord while we cling to our wicked ways, such as lying, cheating, or harboring hatred in our hearts. Only when we forsake these bad behaviors can we genuinely seek the Lord. So, as we return to the Lord, what do we find? Does He chastise us for our wicked ways? Does He punish us for our disobedience?

No, we find abundant mercy and pardon when we return to the Lord. His pardon is not hesitant. It is plentiful. We think, of course, of Jesus. He is the one who ultimately provided the plentiful pardon we need. As the magnificent Son of God, His sufferings provided more than enough for us. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sins.

These words of Isaiah should fill our hearts with gratitude toward God. He is not angry with us. His sole desire is to extend to us His boundless mercy and pardon. What does He ask of us? We seek Him, which means actively pursuing a relationship through prayer, reading His Word, living according to His teachings, and turning away from our wicked ways. This means recognizing our sins, repenting, and striving to live a righteous life. When we fulfill our part, we can trust that God will faithfully fulfill His part. Let us always remember that God’s mercy and pardon are not just words but a reality we can experience when we seek Him and turn away from our wicked ways.

Father, I am so thankful You are a God of mercy and pardon. I thank You for allowing me to repent of my sins, trust in Jesus, and find acceptance in Your eternal Kingdom. May Your name be blessed forever in Jesus’ Name, Name.

Marie’s daily verse: 

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:10).

DAILY DEVOTION, August 13, 2024

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:44).

If I were to list the ten most challenging-to-follow passages in the New Testament, Matthew 5:44 would head the list. Love your enemies! Lord Jesus, are you serious? Yes, Jesus is serious. He always speaks the truth. He defines what He means by an “enemy.” Enemies are people who curse you, hate you, use you spitefully, and persecute you. These are the folks we are to love.

What does it mean to “love?” Here, it means to seek God’s blessing on your enemies. You love them because you hope they will turn to Jesus. That will not likely happen if you seek revenge. If you are thinking, “an eye for an eye,” that is the concept Jesus interprets in context.

When we bless our enemies, do good to them, and pray for them, perhaps they will no longer be enemies. If your enemy needs punishment, leave that to God. Loving your enemies may not always turn out how you want, but you are obedient to God, which will always bring us blessings. If you are thinking of an enemy right now, take a moment to pray that God will bless them. Then, sit back and watch God go to work.

I am thinking of one enemy who stabbed me in the back (figuratively!). He is now a dear friend after prayer and the passing of time. It doesn’t always happen that way, but again, those who obey God can’t go wrong.

Father, help me to see that obedience to Jesus is always the right thing to do, even when it seems hard. While following His teaching only sometimes brings about the results I hope for, disobedience has far worse results. Please help me to obey Jesus no matter what. In His name, I pray, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs              (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

DAILY DEVOTION, August 9, 2024

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established (Proverbs 16:3).

Have you ever had your plans fall apart? I certainly have. Numerous plans have been canceled due to sickness or some other issue. Solomon gives us a general principle to follow. When we dedicate our plans and work to the Lord, He will see them come to pass. One of my problems is that I have left the Lord out of some of my plans!

When planning a project, perhaps the first thing we should do is commit it to God. God, with His infinite wisdom and power, is the ultimate guide to see that our plans are realized. Of course, when we commit our plans to the Lord, we want Him to cancel any plans outside His will. The more we commit our ways to the Lord, the more we see His hand helping us. Yes, He may repeal some of our plans, but isn’t that what we desire when we step outside His will?

With all the uncertainties in life, one thing we can count on is God’s faithfulness. You will never go wrong when you submit your plans to Him.

Father, thank You for Your guidance over my life. I humbly ask for Your forgiveness when I make plans that I fail to commit to You. As I commit my ways to You, I believe You will always lead me in harmony with Your desires. Your will be done, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called to His  purpose.

DAILY DEVOTION, August 6, 2024

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret (Proverbs 11:13).

The Book of Proverbs is full of practical wisdom. Here, Solomon speaks of the danger of gossip. We all learn things about other people that should be kept confidential. If we talk behind the back of another, revealing his secrets, we do an evil thing. Gossip may be true or false. Some people justify gossip because they are only telling the truth – – – “X did have an affair.” Even if the tale is accurate, it is unnecessary to whisper to another person. It is far better to pray for the one who has gone astray and to do what you can to help. Made-up stories should never be spread!

Solomon’s wisdom calls us to be not just trustworthy but also reliable. God expects us to keep a secret if we learn something about another. This responsibility is not to be taken lightly. Even in a world where the faults of others are blabbed all over TV, we are called to be reliable and avoid gossip. (Politicians listen up!), Solomon’s words echo this theme repeatedly, reminding us of our commitment to God’s expectations.  

Father, help me guard my tongue. May I refrain from gossiping. I want to be trustworthy. In Christ’s name, Amen.