Your Daily Crossroad
05
Sep '18
Genuine Faith
05
Sep '18
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (James 1:2-3)
Jesus was very popular early on in His ministry, especially after performing His most popular miracle to date: the feeding of the five thousand. Now we’re talking—a guy who gives us free lunch! This is awesome! The crowds swelled. Huge multitudes followed Him. So Jesus turned to them and challenged them, and the result was that many turned away. They weren’t following Jesus for the right reasons.
Some people say they are Christians, but then, when a little hardship comes their way, they say they don’t believe anymore. They claim to have lost their faith. Their faith was worthless in that case, because the faith that can’t be tested is the faith that can’t be trusted.
If you were to tell me that you’ve lost your faith because of a hardship or difficulty, then I would tell you that I’m glad you lost that faith—because it wasn’t real faith at all. If you have real faith in God, then it won’t be weakened by calamity; it will be strengthened by it. If you have real faith, then it will grow through hardship. That is what the Bible teaches.
Tragedy, hardship, and trials don’t produce faith as much as they reveal it. If your faith is really in Jesus, then you will get through the storms of life. If you tell me that you turned away from God because of something that happened in your life, then my question is do you even have faith? Maybe it’s time to get some.
Jesus thinned out the ranks of His so-called followers. Gideon did the same when God called him into battle against the Midianites. Why? Because God can do more with three hundred committed people than with ten thousand halfhearted people. And He is still looking for committed people today.
When I first read this devotion it struck a cord in my spirit and I felt this message needed to be shared. I was honestly hesitant to share it despite the truth behind it but it’s our responsibility as children of God to share the truth in love. How committed are you, do you have real faith? If you have real faith, then it will grow through hardship.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 17:24
04
Sep '18
Admit Your Fears
04
Sep '18
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. (Psalm 56:3)
Is it hard for you to admit that you are afraid or fearful of something? Think of the circumstances and people that occupy your mind during the day. Are your thoughts filled with peace or fear? It is difficult to admit as Christians that we are fearful. For some reason we believe that the presence of fear disqualifies the strength of our faith. But it is foolish to believe that Christians are not fearful. Every stage we enter in our walk with the Lord has to shake our faith in order for us to understand the seriousness of the choices at hand. I love the Word of God, the Lord allows us to be honest about our fears and then helps us work through them as we learn from the examples of others as described in His Word.
When reading Psalm 56, we learn that David wrote this Psalm. From what we know about David, we know a boy who could slay a lion and a bear to protect his sheep. Then we know him as a man who was a mighty warrior and wise king. And yet, God allows us to see into this man’s heart and we find that David was a lot like us, struggling with fears at times. But what makes David, “a man after God’s own heart,” was that he knew what to do about his fears. Those fears did not separate him from the Lord or hinder his faith. David had faith amidst the fears. How?
First, David made a conscious effort in prayer to admit to God that he was fearful. As believers, we often tend to not include the Lord in our fears, knowing that we shouldn’t be “fearing” anything but Him. Not David, he understood that the Lord sees and knows all things about us. We can’t hide from the Lord, so why pretend He doesn’t know how we are feeling?
Next, David confidently told the Lord that he chose to trust in Him about those fearful things. So now, think of those things again that are fear inducing in your life. Talk to the Lord about them. Tell Him everything you are thinking. Now, tell the Lord that you choose to trust Him with those very things. You might have to tell Him over and over, but in time, you will train yourself to be like David…a man after God’s own heart.
I was so uplifted and encouraged by today’s devotion. So often I feel we try to internalize our fears and hide them from everyone around us but we don’t have to hide from God. He said in His word, before He formed me, He knew me. It’s okay to fear, it’s what you do with those fears that matter most. Take them to The Lord in prayer. Admit your fears to God, He will never stop loving you or caring for you. He will take your hand and walk you to other side of your fears, victoriously. I am reminded of a saying and I want to leave you with it to ponder, during your trials and testings, when you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Timothy 1:13-14
31
Aug '18
Why Kindness Matters
31
Aug '18
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-6)
Have you ever spent time with someone who’s unpleasant to be around because they’re always complaining and finding fault in everything … even when life seems to be rainbows and butterflies? Sometimes it’s difficult to be around people like that.
Now, imagine the kindest person you’ve ever met. What’s the difference? What is it that makes that person so kind?
I bet if we were to take a poll, most of us would want to be more like the person who’s kind. The Bible has quite a bit to say about kindness. Let’s explore some key passages below.
When we think about being kind, our reflection should begin with God Himself. A beautiful passage that shows this is Titus 3:4-6 and Ephesians 2:7-9.
These couple of passages are jam-packed with great things! God’s kindness is the cause of Jesus coming into the world, the cleansing of our hearts by the Holy Spirit and our eternal hope.
Our salvation is not because we’ve done any good works, but it’s because of God’s grace—an expression of God’s kindness.
Throughout the Bible we are commanded and exhorted to be kind (Gal 5:22; Eph 4:32; Col 3:12), even to our enemies (Lk 6:35). The reason for that is because God Himself is kind, even to those who are ungrateful and wicked (Lk 6:36).
Now that we’ve looked at what the Bible says about being kind, let’s consider some steps to help us as we seek to practice kindness in our lives.
1. Take some time this week and reflect on God’s kindness in our lives. Reread the passages we looked at above (Tit 3:4-6; Eph 2:7-9; and Lk 6:35-36).
2. Examine your interactions with people this week and ask yourself: in what ways have I been kind to others? In what ways have I been unkind?
3. Ask God’s Spirit to show you areas in your life where you need to improve on being kind to others, and then ask for help to overcome those areas.
4. List out possible ways that you might be kind to others, and then set some goals for your week on who you might reach out to others with kindness in your life.
5. Pray and ask God to show His kindness through you this week.
May the Lord be with you this week as you seek to be kind to others!
I felt this devotion needed to be shared because we need to be reminded that in a world obsessed with “getting my way,” kindness seeks the good of others, just as Christ set the example before us all throughout the Bible. Let’s take the initiative today and seriously reflect on those five things mentioned above before we start our day. You never know the impact you can and will make in someone’s life just by showing kindness, even when they may not deserve it in that moment. Remember, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Be His hands extended today and every day.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Hebrews 12:1
30
Aug '18
He Knows Us
30
Aug '18
O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (Psalm 139:1-2)
Did God know about me as I drove at night on a 100-mile journey to my village? Given the condition I was in, the answer was not simple. My temperature ran high and my head ached. I prayed, “Lord, I know you are with me, but I’m in pain!”
Tired and weak, I parked by the road near a small village. Ten minutes later, I heard a voice. “Hello! Do you need any help?” It was a man with his companions from the community. Their presence felt good. When they told me the name of their village, Naa mi n’yala (meaning, “The King knows about me!”), I was amazed. I had passed this community dozens of times without stopping. This time, the Lord used its name to remind me that, indeed, He, the King, was with me while I was alone on that road in my ailing condition. Encouraged, I pressed on toward the nearest clinic.
God knows us thoroughly as we go about our everyday chores, at different locations and situations, no matter our condition (Psalm 139:1–4, 7–12). He does not abandon us or forget us; nor is He so busy that He neglects us. Even when we are in trouble or in difficult circumstances—“darkness” and “night” (vv. 11–12)—we are not hidden from His presence. This truth gives us such hope and assurance that we can praise the Lord who has carefully created us and leads us through life (v. 14).
Thank You, Lord, that You always know where I am and how I am doing. You know me inside and out. I’m thankful I can count on You to care. Amen.
When I read this devotion it blessed me so much! No matter what your facing today, remember this, no matter where we are, God knows about us. He sees you.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalms 46:1