Marie’s daily verse: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. MICAH 6:8

DAILY DEVOTION, October 29, 2022

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep

(Romans 12:15).

This verse calls upon us to be sensitive to what others are feeling. All too often we can be critical or insensitive to what others are going through. When others are happy and rejoicing over something in their lives, we are to rejoice with them. Sometimes, when others are rejoicing over a blessing received, jealousy may creep in.  We may think, “Why has God blessed that person and not me?” Just rejoice with them. God will bless you too, but not if jealousy sneaks in.

Also, when others weep, we are to genuinely feel their pain and weep with them. The Germans have a word, “schadenfreude.” It means to feel joy when others are suffering. We may be inclined to think, “They deserve it.” We are never to rejoice when others suffer. We are to weep with them. Psychologists call it “empathy,” identifying with the feelings of others. It means a lot when we are feeling pain or joy to know that others share those feelings with us. When we identify with the feelings of others it is a sign that we do care for them.

Father, help me to be sensitive to what others are going through. Deliver me from insensitive criticism or feeling joyful when others suffer. I want to express the love of Jesus into the lives of others, whether they are weeping or rejoicing. In His name I pray, Amen. 

Marie’s Daily Verse: Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.(Psalms 62:5 NLT).

DAILY DEVOTION, October 25, 2022

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. (Romans 1:21-22).

Paul is speaking about those who deny God. Paul states in Romans Chapter 1 that the reality of God is plainly seen in the things He has made. Yet, many deny God. Others live as though God did not exist. He then describes what happens when God is denied. People cannot think straight, their hearts are darkened, and they think they are wise, but they are fools.

When I look at our world Paul’s words certainly ring true. Philosophers, scientists, and politicians who want no part of God come up with weird ideas. Evolution is one strange idea about the origin of the universe and life. And look at those countries that officially want God out of government. When that happens, the people are governed by fools who claim to be wise. Philosophers who deny God write strange and difficult-to-understand books. I have tried to read some of them. I find the Christian-biblical worldview is understandable and makes sense.

Don’t let ungodly fools govern your thinking. You will end up becoming as they are!

Father, keep me grounded in Your Word, which brings me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  Thank You, especially that Your Word has led me to Jesus, my Savior. Guard my mind against the foolishness that comes from those who deny You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Matthew 6:14: 

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive yours.

DAILY DEVOTION, October 24, 2022

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2).

We live in two worlds. We live on earth with all the problems and responsibilities that fill our lives. But there is another world, a heavenly world that is above. Our life on earth is brief. Heaven is forever. Paul admonishes us to pay more attention to the eternal than to the temporal. Jesus said the same thing when He told us to lay up treasures in heaven. It’s really a no-brainer. We live on earth for a brief time. Heaven (and hell) are forever.

Of course, we must take care of business while we are on earth. But our main focus must be on heaven. What does that mean? It means that we must focus on things that have eternal value. The church of Jesus Christ has eternal value. Also, such things as prayer, Bible reading and study, giving, keeping the commandments of Jesus, and sharing your faith . . . are a few things that have eternal value. If they are crowded out because we are completely involved in earthly things, we are cheating ourselves. Why spend all your time on earthly things that will soon pass away?

Father, I pray my life will not be consumed by the things of this earth. The only things that have permanent value are things done for You in the name of Your Son. I don’t want to waste my life on trivial matters that have no lasting value. So please guide me by Your word and Spirit to set my mind on the things above. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name (Psalm 103:1).

                           DAILY DEVOTION, October 22, 2022

Keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Jude 1:21). 

The admonition to keep yourselves in the love of God implies that we can remove ourselves from the love of God. The Greek word for “keep” is “Tareo.” It means to guard, to retain, to obey. It is the act of guarding a person or idea so that escape is impossible. We are to hold on to the love of God for dear life! We entered the love of God when we trusted in Jesus.  We exit the love of God when faith ceases. Jude wants us to hold on to God’s love so firmly that escape is impossible. When we begin to doubt that God loves us, we are on thin ice. 

After being told to hold tightly to God’s love, we are then admonished to be patient.  We are to wait patiently for eternal life. That is a gift given to us by the mercy of God revealed in the death of Jesus. Living as Jesus’ disciple can be difficult. It is essential to understand this reality. Thus, we are admonished to hold on to our faith and love tenaciously and to be patient as we wait for God to bring His program to a final reality. Are we up to the challenge? 

Father in heaven, I want to be a faithful disciple. I want to remain in Your love. I want to be a patient Christian as I wait for eternal life. I know that with Your help, I can be faithful. Thank You for Your love. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen. 

Marie’s daily verse: 2 Corinthians 1:3: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

DAILY DEVOTION, October 18, 2022

Give, and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will men give unto you. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured unto to you (Luke 6:38).

Tithing is God’s method of maturing us and making us more like Christ. Selfishness and covetousness are two of the root problems of mankind. We need to learn how to rid ourselves of these faith-killing problems. Selfishness drives us farther and farther away from God.

As we give to the cause of Christ, the more we give the more we receive from God. It is one way we can practically test the truth of God’s Word. We learn in Malachi 3:10 that God promises to pour out His incredible blessings on those who tithe. God says “Test me.” Have you ever tested God? He invites you to put Him to the test in Malachi 3. He invites you to tithe. Have you ever done that?

I have read of people who tried tithing (10% to God) for a year and never looked back. They learned that God passed the test and poured out His blessings on them. Those who will trust in the Lord will find that He indeed will “open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it.” God’s challenge to give generously is a test of faith. What do we love more, gold or God?  We need to knock the “L” out of gold and trust in God!

Father, You have promised that as I give generously You will give back to me in abundance. Help me to trust in Your promise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.