Devotional on Romans 13:1...Saturday

2/22/14

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, 
for there is no authority except that which God has established. 
The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Romans 13:1

At the very least, Paul derived this from the example of Christ, who submitted to wicked and corrupt officials and authorities. Jesus had every right to rebel. He was completely innocent and had done nothing wrong—nothing of which He was accused had been part of His conduct. However, He had every intention of doing the right thing, and He carried through with it.

The true Christian consciously chooses to suffer evil rather than do evil because it would be wrong to do anything other than what Christ did. He set the example. He is the archetype; He is the One who goes before. The Christian is not a masochist, but by faith, he takes steps to prevent war. He does this because he recognizes that two wrongs do not make a right. Just because someone abuses authority does not give him the right from God to fail to submit to it. This is why there is never any real thought to war. Somebody gets into power and abuses his authority, and those who are under him react carnally and retaliate to get back at the one in authority—and the cycle never ends!

Will there ever be peace? There will be peace when people submit to God, and that means submitting to His way. If everybody would submit to God's way, war would stop overnight—that would be the end! But men will not submit to God. 

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God.
It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.

Romans 8:7

 A major principle we are to learn in this life is to submit under duress, under abuse—when the pressure is on and the desire to retaliate is strongest. We have to learn not to justify our retaliation by saying, "He made me do it—the Devil made me do it!" All the ways of man are right in his own eyes.

There is a path

 before each person that seems right,

    but it ends in death.

 (Proverbs 14:12).

Here is a song for today. When we are on the road and put it in drive we need to follow what Jesus did and where He went.

Feeling the Moments...Friday

2/21/14

I am a nervous person.  One constant in my life as long as I can remember is always being nervous or worrying.  I am realizing that this is the reason for my life long headaches.  Well, I have always pretty much known that, but, I am finally facing the issue and working on correcting it.  The biggest part of helping me correct this issue is being aware of the problem and changing my behaviors.  Slowing myself down enough to realize that I don’t have to be tense all the time, and when I catch myself being tense I stop to relax my shoulders, breathe and stretch my poor neck.  Oh, and most importantly I thank God for making me aware of my tense muscles once again.  For as stubborn as I am and stuck in my ways, I am going to allow Him to break me of them. 
 

For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. 

Deuteronomy 31:27

(NIV)

There have been some amazing additional benefits of slowing myself down, such as taking in God’s beautiful creations. Even though it is a challenge to change my behavior, I absolutely love it when I pause long enough to see the green grass on the hills, the different shapes of the moon as it glows in the sky at night, as I walk in my neighborhood. I love the peacefulness of the little pond, with the ducks and other water fowl that have made their home there.  One of my absolute favorite creations is trees. I have always loved see the different shapes, with leaves, without leaves, the springtime blossoms,  looking in awe as I see the trees along the coast that have been shaped by the winds of their life on the edge of the land.  The ocean and the seashore….I am the closest to God when I am sitting on the beach, my very favorite place ever.  I realize during these times that they are moments that God has created for us to treasure whilst we are here on earth.  These tiny little scenes of beauty cause us to be still and know, if only for that very moment, that we were created to witness what God made possible for all of us.

 

 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

(NIV) 

 

An absolutely wonderful byproduct of my being still and seeing God’s wonderment is the fact that I now do it intentionally throughout my days.  I want to feel the beauty and see the love of this life God has created in me. Yes, my old tense habits are hard to break, but the reward makes it easier and more refreshing with every passing day, with the result of that being a less frequent need to remind myself to relax and be still, as I am now craving those moments of pure pleasure in my heart, as well as the satisfaction I feel knowing that I am pleasing my Lord and Savior by sharing my joy with the world I am living in.  I am so grateful for the life that God has given me!

The Spirit of God has made me;

    the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

 Job 33:4

(NIV)

Written by

Kelly Dobyns

Here us a song for today sung by Chris Tomlin..."Indescribable"

"Grace"...Part 2 of 3...Thursday

Part 1 of this series was posted last Thursday

        You can scroll down through last weeks devotionals to it if you would like to reread it.

************************************

2/20/14

                       Part 2 of 3

"Grace"

"How to Access 

the Grace of God"

Through the knowledge of Jesus

II Peter 1:2-4

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

The grace of God is the strength of God in your weakness.  

God says let the weak say I am strong.  Why, because His grace is our strength in our life.

2Cor 12:9-10 AMP

 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may^]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

 So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).

Grace is you having all sufficiency in all things. 

2Cor 9:8 AMP

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need^]be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

Grace is God's power to testify and to do miracles. 

Preach/teach the right message and you will see signs and wonders.

Acts 14:3 AMP

So [Paul and Barnabas] stayed on there for a long time, speaking freely and fearlessly and boldly in the Lord, Who continued to bear testimony to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be performed by their hands.

Grace labors abundantly.

Grace does not make you passive.  Grace motivates you to do things in the Kingdom of God.

1Cor 15:10 AMP

But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me.

Grace gives.

2Cor 8:7 NLT

Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

Grace of God brings salvation to all people.

 
Titus 2:11-12 NLT

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.  And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,

Grace teaches us how to live.

Written by

Kathryn Hanson

Here is a song for today sung by Matt Redman

The Highest of Highest...Wednesday

2/19/14

It is incredibly amazing to me that we have a High Priest that is higher than anyone on the face of this earth! Jesus never sinned, although He was tempted, but He died because of our sins. Because of that, Jesus was worthy to take our place in judgment. He was able to take on the calling as our "High Priest."

He has come down from the heavens for us and was worthy, willing and able to save us from our sin. He paid a hefty price for our freedom from death, and I totally honor Him and am thankful He is my "High Priest."

His written word says….

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who

has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our confession. 

For we do not have a High Priest

who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,

but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus is forever our High Priest, and in that I rejoice greatly!!

In His Great Name… 

Sandy Billingham

Here is a song for today's devotional..."Holy of Holies" (with Lyrics)