Today's Reading: Ps. 117, 119:81-176; 2 John, 3 John
Scripture: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalms 119:105)
Observation: God's word is both a flashlight and a streetlight. Like a flashlight, it will show us where to take our next step no matter how dark the night. As long as we hold tight to this flashlight, the light of His word will reveal our next step no matter how the road twists and turns.
His word is also a streetlight, which gives us the confidence that He lights the entire path of our lives. There will be times when our flashlight goes dim or fails us because we are not reading His word or deliberately ignoring it; however, that does not affect the streetlight. By His grace and mercy, He will keep us on the path He has lighted for all eternity and will draw us back to His Word so that our flashlight may be recharged for our daily step by step walk.
Application: As yet another year draws to a close, I look back on these past 3 years I have followed (some days more faithfully than others) the Divine Mentor Bible Reading plan, reading and journaling each morning. What a life-changer! I have fallen in love with God's Word all over again. I look forward with anticipation and excitement to what I will see in the Word this coming year that I have never seen before- beginning again in Genesis in 6 days!
Prayer: My God, You are truly my daily lamp and my eternal light; however, I confess that prayer is still a weak area in my life. Holy Spirit, in this coming year, give me the same deep desire for an intimate prayer life that I have felt for the study of the Word. Teach me to pray as Jesus prayed. Amen.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
What Did Jesus Pray For Me?
Divine Mentor Reading: John 16-19
Scripture: "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (John 17:20)
Observation: Jesus knew I would one day believe in Him and trust Him with my life. He prayed for me that I would be faithful. He knew from the beginning of time that His Father was my Father. I don't presume to understand how my free will to choose or not choose was involved, but I know that I am His and that is all that matters. He prayed for ME at a time when the agony of death was imminent.
Application: I pray for others. I pray for their health and safety, healing and freedom from physical pain and sickness, and absence of difficulty and stress in their lives. I doubt that is what Jesus prayed for me. He prayed the same thing He prayed for His disciples: "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth."(John 17:15-17)
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving me even before I loved You. You showed Your love for me by praying to Our Father that I would be faithful in this world and would live and grow in the truth of God's Word all my life on this earth. You did not pray that I would be healthy and that my life would be filled with fun and good times. Holy Spirit, please guide me to pray for myself and others like Jesus prayed for me. Amen.
Scripture: "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (John 17:20)
Observation: Jesus knew I would one day believe in Him and trust Him with my life. He prayed for me that I would be faithful. He knew from the beginning of time that His Father was my Father. I don't presume to understand how my free will to choose or not choose was involved, but I know that I am His and that is all that matters. He prayed for ME at a time when the agony of death was imminent.
Application: I pray for others. I pray for their health and safety, healing and freedom from physical pain and sickness, and absence of difficulty and stress in their lives. I doubt that is what Jesus prayed for me. He prayed the same thing He prayed for His disciples: "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth."(John 17:15-17)
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving me even before I loved You. You showed Your love for me by praying to Our Father that I would be faithful in this world and would live and grow in the truth of God's Word all my life on this earth. You did not pray that I would be healthy and that my life would be filled with fun and good times. Holy Spirit, please guide me to pray for myself and others like Jesus prayed for me. Amen.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
What If Love Doesn't Seem Like Love?
Divine Mentor Reading: John 12-14
Scripture: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15 NASB)
Observation: Jesus gave us 2 commandments: Love God and love your neighbor as you love yourself. In 2 Corinthians 12:15, Paul says " I would gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more I love you the less I am loved." Love is not a feeling- it is an action. It may be as easy as taking a meal or making a phone call; however, it may also be as difficult as confronting a believer who is living in sin. Another definition of love: "Doing what is best for you regardless of the cost to me." What if the cost to me is (as it was for Paul and Jesus) rejection, criticism, death? Well, death in my situation might seem a little strong, but what about the death of a relationship?
Application: What should I do when the most loving thing to do will be interpreted as the most unloving? What should I do as a believer when a friend needs to hear the truth of God's Word, even though this friend will probably reject it and me? What if someone believes she is a child of God destined for Heaven, but God says her " lifestyle choice " is contrary to His Word? The road of love is not always a smooth one.
Prayer: Jesus, I don't like rejection. I don't like conversations that make others ( and me) uncomfortable. I like for the family dinner table to be light and fun. I need your Holy Spirit to guide me and convict me as I interact with family and others during this Christmas week.
Scripture: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15 NASB)
Observation: Jesus gave us 2 commandments: Love God and love your neighbor as you love yourself. In 2 Corinthians 12:15, Paul says " I would gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more I love you the less I am loved." Love is not a feeling- it is an action. It may be as easy as taking a meal or making a phone call; however, it may also be as difficult as confronting a believer who is living in sin. Another definition of love: "Doing what is best for you regardless of the cost to me." What if the cost to me is (as it was for Paul and Jesus) rejection, criticism, death? Well, death in my situation might seem a little strong, but what about the death of a relationship?
Application: What should I do when the most loving thing to do will be interpreted as the most unloving? What should I do as a believer when a friend needs to hear the truth of God's Word, even though this friend will probably reject it and me? What if someone believes she is a child of God destined for Heaven, but God says her " lifestyle choice " is contrary to His Word? The road of love is not always a smooth one.
Prayer: Jesus, I don't like rejection. I don't like conversations that make others ( and me) uncomfortable. I like for the family dinner table to be light and fun. I need your Holy Spirit to guide me and convict me as I interact with family and others during this Christmas week.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Only Trust Him
Today's Divine Mentor Reading: John 5,6
Scripture: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24 )
Observation: This verse reminds me of the chorus of an old, traditional hymn: " Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now. He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now." To believe is to trust God with everything you value--- to give all you know of yourself to all you know of God. From that point in your life, for the first time in your life, you are truly alive and will live forever. You belong to God.
Application: How could anything in my life be more important than this?
Prayer: Thank you, Holy Spirit, for drawing me to Jesus as a nine year old girl and for the life of joy I have known since then. Remind me today, God, that " nothing I desire compares with You."
Scripture: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24 )
Observation: This verse reminds me of the chorus of an old, traditional hymn: " Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now. He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now." To believe is to trust God with everything you value--- to give all you know of yourself to all you know of God. From that point in your life, for the first time in your life, you are truly alive and will live forever. You belong to God.
Application: How could anything in my life be more important than this?
Prayer: Thank you, Holy Spirit, for drawing me to Jesus as a nine year old girl and for the life of joy I have known since then. Remind me today, God, that " nothing I desire compares with You."
A Follower of Christ Must Follow
Today’s Scriptures (Wednesday, December 18, 2013)
John 2, 3 and 4
John 3:30
“He must increase, but I must decrease”
This is John the Baptist expressing his role in people being
born again and believers in Jesus Christ.
Since being born again myself I have been struggling with
not harassing people with the word of God.
I know the joy He has brought into my life and I want others around me
to feel and know His love. I remember
Pastor Merritt talking about being disciples and that it is our job to
introduce people to Jesus and what He has to offer but it is not our job to
build the relationship. This verse spoke
volumes to me concerning this subject. I now get it – it is my job to spread the word, then it is my job to step out of
the way and allow Jesus to do His work.
Lord, I pray that you allow me to remember that it is you
that must increase and that I must decrease. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
What Happened To The Other Guy?
2 Peter 1-3; John 1
Scripture: John 1:40 "One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. "
Observation: John the Baptist, having recently baptized Jesus, saw Him on the road and said " There goes the Son of God." According to this verse, two of John's followers took John at his word and followed Jesus. One was Andrew, but who was the other? Was it one of the eventual 12 and, if so, why does John ( the author) not name him? Where did he get his information? If Andrew told him, did he mention the other by name and did John choose not to include it? Does it really matter? It does, if this one heard and simply walked away.
Application: Many people heard Jesus in person and "followed" Him, but few truly committed their lives to Him. Millions of people will hear about Him this Sunday and/or Tuesday ( Christmas Eve), but few will truly commit to Him as Lord and Savior. Too many will come and, like the one with Andrew, will go away nameless. How do I find them and lead them back to Jesus?
Prayer: Jesus, it is exciting to see the crowds who seek You on Christmas Eve, but it is also heartbreakingly sad. Those of us who know You will experience the joy of Your birth, Your life, and Your resurrection, knowing that we, too, will one day live with You for all eternity; however, MOST will come just to observe, and will leave unchanged-- perhaps to return again on Easter, perhaps not.
Break my heart for these, Dear Lord, that I might seek them out and bring them to You---just as Andrew did with Peter, his brother.
Scripture: John 1:40 "One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. "
Observation: John the Baptist, having recently baptized Jesus, saw Him on the road and said " There goes the Son of God." According to this verse, two of John's followers took John at his word and followed Jesus. One was Andrew, but who was the other? Was it one of the eventual 12 and, if so, why does John ( the author) not name him? Where did he get his information? If Andrew told him, did he mention the other by name and did John choose not to include it? Does it really matter? It does, if this one heard and simply walked away.
Application: Many people heard Jesus in person and "followed" Him, but few truly committed their lives to Him. Millions of people will hear about Him this Sunday and/or Tuesday ( Christmas Eve), but few will truly commit to Him as Lord and Savior. Too many will come and, like the one with Andrew, will go away nameless. How do I find them and lead them back to Jesus?
Prayer: Jesus, it is exciting to see the crowds who seek You on Christmas Eve, but it is also heartbreakingly sad. Those of us who know You will experience the joy of Your birth, Your life, and Your resurrection, knowing that we, too, will one day live with You for all eternity; however, MOST will come just to observe, and will leave unchanged-- perhaps to return again on Easter, perhaps not.
Break my heart for these, Dear Lord, that I might seek them out and bring them to You---just as Andrew did with Peter, his brother.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Divine Mentor- Jesus Knows Best
Romans 5-8
Scripture: Romans 8:27 " Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
Observation: This is an amazing verse which I always overlook on my way to verse 28 ( which I use when trying to make sense out of some painful or frustrating situation). I think I know what I need, so I ask for it and wait for Jesus to take my request to the Father ( after all, He is interceding for me, right?) . Then I wait for God to answer me, and He says yes, no, or wait. Right?
BUT Paul is saying that Jesus bypasses my human mind ( which died with Him anyway at the Cross), knows the Spirit's mind, knows God's will for me, and brings that to the Father--- and that is why Romans 8:28 is true for the believer!
Application: So, why should I pray? Why bring my requests to my Father? Because Jesus did. God wants to hear my heart, which He already knows- and my voice, which He hears before I speak- but even more than that, He wants to hear Jesus in me.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for taking my desires to our Father. Help me grow until my every desire aligns with the desire of Your Spirit which lives in me. Amen.
Scripture: Romans 8:27 " Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
Observation: This is an amazing verse which I always overlook on my way to verse 28 ( which I use when trying to make sense out of some painful or frustrating situation). I think I know what I need, so I ask for it and wait for Jesus to take my request to the Father ( after all, He is interceding for me, right?) . Then I wait for God to answer me, and He says yes, no, or wait. Right?
BUT Paul is saying that Jesus bypasses my human mind ( which died with Him anyway at the Cross), knows the Spirit's mind, knows God's will for me, and brings that to the Father--- and that is why Romans 8:28 is true for the believer!
Application: So, why should I pray? Why bring my requests to my Father? Because Jesus did. God wants to hear my heart, which He already knows- and my voice, which He hears before I speak- but even more than that, He wants to hear Jesus in me.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for taking my desires to our Father. Help me grow until my every desire aligns with the desire of Your Spirit which lives in me. Amen.
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