Tag Archive for: Devotional

Eternal End Zone

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…for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity. (Proverbs 24:16)

I’ve been hearing many stories lately of people who have been stumbling.  This verse reminds me that it doesn’t matter how many times you stumble or how many times you fall down…  What matters is how many times you get back up again?  If you fall down 5 times, get back up 6.  If you fall 9 times, get back up 10.  Never let anything keep you down!

I’m kind of looking at this like a football game.  How many guys have fumbled the ball?  The answer is too many to count.  Does the team kick the player while he’s down?  Do they argue over why he fumbled the ball?  Do they talk about how bad he screwed up?  No, they go on with the game.  They are a team and the only way they can win the game is together.  We as Christians are part of a bigger team.  God’s team.  We all fumble the ball once in a while.  We all stumble and fall.  It’s okay, we can and should be able to count on each other.  Stay in the game.  Keep your eyes on the end zone!  Do not let the enemy defeat you or keep you down!  One fumble never lost a game!

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Hit a Home Run

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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:1)

I know I’m a running a little late to celebrate the World Series, but it’s never too late to use a Baseball analogy.  Especially knowing that baseball is one of America’s favorite pass times.  It’s the place we sing, “Take me out to the Ball Game…”  We ask for peanuts, we cheer with the crowd for our favorite team, we do the wave in the stands, we love the hot dogs, and we just enjoy the game!  Well, what if we lived our life for God like we go out and watch a Baseball game.  What if we went out to celebrate the game?  What if we even got involved in the game?  Maybe it’s time to go hit a home run for Jesus!

God’s Vantage Point

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For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

This passage of Scripture tends to make a lot of sense to me.  I don’t have to dig too deep or look into it too heavily to understand it.  I’ve lived it!  I’ve seen that God’s thoughts are much different than my own.  His ways are certainly much different than my ways!  I’m very grateful for this most days.  Yes, I did say most days.  I have days where I do not understand what God is doing or why we differ so much on how things should be done.  I guess sometimes I just want to be clued in!  Can you identify with that thought?

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A Call to Completeness

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Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

This verse can be quite intimidating, if you do not know the meaning of the word “perfect”.  I mean how many people do you know that have achieved perfection on this earth.  Yikes, I have to say I haven’t found any and I myself have quite a few imperfections.  That’s why it is so important to look into what the word perfect means.  What is the context of this verse?  What is Jesus calling us to when He calls us to a life of perfection?  Well, let’s take a look into the Greek meaning of the word “perfect”.

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Wrestling Match

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For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

In the last few weeks, I have received a few questions regarding the above verse so I think it’s time to explore what this verse means for our lives.  What is this struggle that we face in life?  And how do we fight against it?

1.  Find Strength in God

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”  ~Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

This passage of Scripture is Paul’s final instruction to the church in Ephesus.  The church in Ephesus was pretty messed up.  They were doing all kinds of things that were ungodly.  Paul knew that they would not be ready for the day of battle, if he did not prepare them because their minds were preoccupied by ungodly matters.  So Paul let’s them know it’s time to take a stand in God’s strength.  Our strength for the daily battles that ensue us come from the Lord alone, He is the one who has the power to fight all that we face.  His power is sufficient to win every spiritual battle against the enemy.  Remember what the Lord said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

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