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Providing you Daily Devotional and Enhance your Christian life with Words Of God

05/28/2024

The right balance
28 MAY 2024

‘Full of grace and truth.’
John 1:14 NKJV

Some of us major in grace but neglect confronting people with the truth lest we offend them. Others of us major in truth but fail to show God’s grace to people. But Jesus was ‘full of grace and truth’, and that’s the balance you must strive for!

A man with little interest in spiritual matters related casually to the Christian who lived next door. They talked over the back fence, borrowed each other’s tools, and stuff like that. Then sadly the nonbeliever’s wife was stricken with cancer and died. Here is part of a letter he wrote afterwards:

‘I was in total despair. I went through the funeral preparations and the service like I was in a trance. After the service, I went to the path along the river and walked all night. But I didn’t walk alone. My neighbour – afraid for me, I guess – stayed with me all night. He didn’t speak; he didn’t even walk beside me. He just followed me. When the sun finally came up over the river, he came over and said, “Let’s go get some breakfast.” I go to church now. My neighbour’s church. A religion that can produce the kind of caring my neighbour showed me is something I want to find out more about. I want to love and be loved like that for the rest of my life.’

Any farmer will tell you that before you sow your seed, you must prepare the ground. ‘Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them’ (Romans 12:9 NLT). When you treat people with grace, they will open their hearts and minds to the truth you want to share with them.

1 Kings 21-22, Acts 7:44-60

05/27/2024

Are you a true friend?
27 MAY 2024

‘A friend loveth at all times.’
Proverbs 17:17 KJV

Two men were travelling down the road together when a bear appeared out of nowhere. Before the bear could spot them, one guy ran for a tree at the side of the road, climbed into its branches, and hid. The other man, who wasn’t as nimble as his tree-climbing companion, threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead.

The bear came up, sniffed all around him, and appeared to whisper something in his ear. The man had always heard that bears won’t touch a dead body, so he lay perfectly still and held his breath. Sure enough, the bear took him for a co**se and left.

When the coast was clear, the man in the tree came down. Curious, he asked his companion what the bear had whispered when it put its mouth directly to his ear. His friend replied, ‘He told me never to travel with a friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger!’

It’s easy to be friends with someone who is successful, has it all together, and is riding the crest of the wave. But what about when that person falls, or fails, or loses their connection to Christ, or deliberately disconnects and causes all kinds of ugly consequences? The Bible says, ‘A friend loveth at all times.’ When you’re ‘up’, they’re not envious, and when you’re ‘down’, they’re not condescending. They’re compassionate and considerate whether or not you are. American writer Elbert Hubbard said, ‘Your friend is the man [or woman] who knows all about you and still loves you.’ If you have a friend like that, treasure them and tell them often how much you appreciate them.

1 Kings 19-20, Acts 7:23-43

05/26/2024

Don’t strike back
26 MAY 2024

‘Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do.’
Romans 12:18 MSG

The Bible says, ‘Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV). You say, ‘But what they did to me was unfair, unkind, and unwarranted.’ Exactly – and God feels the same way about some of the things you have done!

Any attempt to avenge a wrong is a violation of God’s Word. That includes bad-mouthing them, giving them the silent treatment, making sarcastic remarks, refusing to help them, and resorting to physical violence or verbal attacks. If you were hurt by someone at work, it includes taking company resources without authorisation, applying workplace rules more stringently to the offending employee than others, and deliberately slowing your pace to frustrate them. If you were hurt by your spouse, it includes brooding, making them walk on eggshells, and withholding your love and affection.

Paul writes: ‘Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath…Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it”’ (Romans 12:14, 17-19 MSG). Repaying evil for evil won’t bring you satisfaction.

Besides, have you considered that the person who hurt you may have genuinely changed? What if God continued to hold your transgressions over your head? Retaliation just destroys your peace of mind because you know it displeases God. Today pray: ‘Father, I release any desire to get even. I want to walk in your peace, extend your grace, and allow you to avenge all wrongs done against me. Amen.’ (So be it!)

Luke 9:37-62, Psalms 54-56

05/23/2024

Stand on God’s Word (4)
23 MAY 2024

‘He has invited you into partnership with…Jesus.’
1 Corinthians 1:9 NLT

When you feel inadequate for the job. Have you been given a job you don’t feel qualified to do? No problem – it’s an opportunity for God to show Himself strong on your behalf (see 2 Chronicles 16:9).

Fix your mind on your all-powerful, always-present, loving heavenly Father. ‘Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken’ (Psalm 55:22 NIV). Instead of fearing the challenge, start feeding your faith. ‘Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’ (Romans 10:17 NKJV).

Spend more time in prayer and move closer to Jesus: ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit’ (John 15:7-8 NIV).

Instead of giving in to fear, stand on God’s Word: ‘Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise…the weak things of the world to shame the strong…the lowly things of this world…the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him’ (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV).

‘To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…be glory…forever’ (Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV). You are right; on your own, you’re not up to the task. But with God on your side, you’re more than equal to the challenge!

1 Kings 12-13, Acts 5:21-42

05/21/2024

Stand on God’s Word (2)
21 MAY 2024

‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.’
James 1:5 NIV

When you need to pass a difficult test or exam. The fear of failing can cause your brain to freeze just when you need your thoughts to flow freely. When you know you have done your best to study the material and prepare yourself, trust God with the outcome and stand on His Word:

‘Trust in the Lord…do good…and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself…in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust…in Him, and He shall bring it to pass’ (Psalm 37:3-5 NKJV).

‘Call to Me…I will answer…and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV).

‘He shall call upon Me, and I will answer…I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him’ (Psalm 91:15 NKJV).

‘The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name…will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you’ (John 14:26 NKJV).

‘Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight’ (1 John 3:22 NKJV).

Don’t be afraid; God will go with you when it’s time to take that test or exam. Long before you prayed, He was already preparing your heart and mind: ‘Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear’ (Isaiah 65:24 NKJV). So square your shoulders and walk into that exam room knowing God is with you!

1 Kings 8-9, Acts 4:23-37

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