Your Daily Crossroad
The Last Will Be First
Recently I was among the last in line to board a large passenger jet with unassigned seating. I located a middle seat beside the wing, but the only spot for my bag was the overhead compartment by the very last row. This meant I had to wait for everyone to leave before I could go back and retrieve it.
I laughed as I settled into my seat and a thought occurred to me that seemed to be from the Lord: “It really won’t hurt you to wait. It will actually do you good.” So I resolved to enjoy the extra time, helping other passengers lower their luggage after we landed and assisting a flight attendant with cleaning. By the time I was able to retrieve my bag, I laughed again when someone thought I worked for the airline.
That day’s experience made me ponder Jesus’s words to His disciples: “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).
I waited because I had to, but in Jesus’s “upside down” kingdom, there’s a place of honor for those who voluntarily set themselves aside to attend to others’ needs.
Jesus came into our hurried, me-first world not “to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). We serve Him best by serving others. The lower we bend, the closer we are to Him.
Loving Lord, help me to follow You into the needs of others and serve You there. Amen.
This blessed me when I read it. We are typically always in a hurry, passing up opportunities to be used by God. Today, slow down, stop and remember, you can make a difference. God has a purpose for every “inconvenience” we may face, we just have to be open and willing to serve others despite our inconveniences in the moment. May we remember what was said in today’s devotion, The lower we bend, the closer we are to Him.
Make today beautiful!
Today’s Reading is Mark 9:33-37
The Holy Spirit in You
I recently read. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God and He is a gift from God the Father that allows us to have a relationship with the Lord. The Spirit of God intercedes for us in prayer as He uses words that enter into the throne room of God when we can only moan and groan. He is our Counselor, our Teacher, our Comfort and our Guide. But the most important eternal promise we receive when the Spirit of God is placed in us is the seal of our salvation as we come alive spiritually for eternity. Amazing!
Do you realize the power you have living inside you? That power raised Lazarus from the dead, healed all kinds of diseases and delivered souls from bondage. That same power is found in you through Jesus. Jesus shows us this power through His indwelling peace. When we receive the Spirit of God, we have peace with God, not peace as the world gives, but the peace of God that surpasses understanding. It is peace that “settles” you. No matter where you are or what you are struggling with, God has settled your soul to have peace with Him.
The peace of God is a promise for you today. Claim it, speak it and live in it. Throw off the distractions of illness, financial loss, negative comments, guilt, and self-condemnation. And let the peace of Christ dwell in you richly. Nothing can interfere with the love Christ has for you and the peace that is yours by knowing Him. All these things on earth will pass away, but your security for eternity is fixed. Fix your eyes on Jesus by reading His Word. Get a verse today that you can claim as a promise and live beyond the struggles. Cast your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you.
Make today beautiful!
Today’s Reading is 1 Peter 5:7-11
We’re Never Too Far Gone
When it comes to trusting God, we all have a choice. God’s ultimate heart for each and every person is to embrace His love and forgiveness. That was the entire purpose behind Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection three days later. No matter what we have done or what regrets we carry, when we repent from our sins and cry out for God’s love and forgiveness – we receive it.
That’s what happened when the people of Nineveh turned from their sins and cried out for God’s mercy; the most wicked city at the time was radically redeemed. It’s a story of hope that reflects God’s heart for each and every person. No matter your past, no matter the regrets and shame you carry – God can forgive you. In fact, God is eager to overwhelm you with His grace and mercy if only you’ll acknowledge that you’ve messed up. 1st John chapter 1 says that if we confess our sins and recognize our need for Jesus, we will experience God’s complete purifying forgiveness (My Paraphrase). Nobody is too far from God that they cannot be redeemed and forgiven.
Hey – if the Ninevites could be forgiven, so can that estranged family member, that ex-spouse, or even our nation. All it takes is coming to God with repentant faith and saying, “God, forgive me. I’ve tried doing life my own way, but now I want to walk with you.” If God can forgive Nineveh, He can forgive an ISIS terrorist, a hardened atheist, or simply the person who believes in God but has been living life their own way. Most of all, God can even forgive YOU and me! It’s never too late; you’re never too far gone. Claim God’s love and forgiveness today!
He is faithful! As I’ve read over the past devotions and recalled what God has placed in front of me from day to day, I can’t help but know, He is faithful that promised. You may feel your prayers are not being heard but remember, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands (Isaiah 55:9-12). He is faithful!
Make today beautiful!
Today’s Reading is 1 John 1
Perfect in Suffering
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)
I recently read. The word “suffer” is not a word that brings comfort or peace. When we hear someone is suffering, we feel concern, sympathy and even sadness for that person. The definition for suffering means “to experiencea sensation or impression (usually painful).” The other fact that we as Christians must deal with is that God allows suffering. Nothing on this planet or in the universe happens without God’s approval.
Why does this loving, gracious God allow tragedies that bring such suffering? Why does evil persist, even in homes and families who seek the Lord the most? These and many more questions are asked when we try to make sense of God’s ways. Satan has taken full advantage of these events in our lives; at least he has tried to. Have you ever had thoughts like: “Why should I believe that doing things God’s way brings me any assurance of protection or blessings?” Or, “If God loves me then why is He letting this happen to me?” The same logic applies when we turn those same thoughts to others. People hurt us, so let’s not trust people anymore. Circumstances hurt us, so let’s control everything we possibly can to prevent being hurt (Hurt, by the way, is just another description for suffering.).
The bottom-line answer is that we will never fully understand why God does what He does. We must live as He has told us to live–by faith. We must believe and trust that the Lord has a reason for everything that happens to us. When we dig into His Word and study His teachings, then we will have more peace in those times of confusion and pain. Today’s verse is an example of how we can find peace and hope in times of suffering. We should pray this verse and meditate on it as we are going through those times of suffering. If we can look beyond our pain for the moment and pray to see the bigger picture that God has for us, then we can find hope and even peace in what we are going through. Even in the midst of great tragedies that tempt us to ask God “why,” we can trust that He has a much greater plan than what we see in the short term. The question for us is whether or not we will trust Him or turn from Him.
Take time today to really meditate on the verse above. Take comfort and trust the Lord to “perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you” after you have suffered a while. Only God knows the timing of such things. Pray for the perseverance to endure.
We all need to be reminded of this from time to time. With all the hurt and suffering going on in the world around us and maybe even in our own lives we can’t become discouraged and allow it to over take our hope and joy but we must lift up our heads and remember this scripture. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Trust Him!
Make today beautiful!
Today’s Reading is 1 Peter 5:6-11