Your Daily Crossroad
What Do We Want?
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)
“I went from the horse-and-buggy to a man walking on the moon,” said the elderly man to his granddaughter, who shared this story with me recently. But then he mused, “I never thought it would be so short.”
Life is short, and many of us turn to Jesus because we want to live forever. That’s not bad, but we don’t comprehend what eternal life really is. We tend to crave the wrong things. We long for something better, and we think it’s just ahead. If only I were out of school. If only I had that job. If only I were married. If only I could retire. If only . . . And then one day we catch an echo of our grandfather’s voice as we wonder where the time has flown.
The truth is, we possess eternal life now. The apostle Paul wrote, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). Then he said, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit” (v. 5). In other words, our desires change when we come to Christ. This naturally gives us what we most desire. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (v. 6).
It’s one of life’s great lies that we need to be somewhere else, doing something else, with someone else before we start truly living. When we find our life in Jesus, we exchange regret over life’s brevity for the full enjoyment of life with Him, both now and forever.
Lord, You said You came to give us life to the fullest, but so often we have our own agenda and the wrong goals in mind. Please forgive us, and help us desire what You want. Amen.
As I read this I thought about Travis Culver, he was a Christian Radio Host who had been battling cancer over the past year and he past away yesterday. As I was listening to and reading his testimony he said something that brought me to tears and I knew I had to share it today, he said, “I encourage you not to miss the little miracles along the way, they are like little pebbles in your path and so often we are busy looking everywhere else and not focused on the end result that we miss the little miracles that are right in our path that Jesus puts there every day to brighten our day”. As we go through our day today let’s stop and see the little miracles along the way, placed there by Jesus to brighten our day. We have so much to be grateful for! Please pray for the Culver family. He is survived by his wife and two children. He will be sorely missed.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Romans 8:1-11
Grace: Tomorrow and Today
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4-5)
We often focus on the future grace we will enjoy with the return of Jesus. At the end of many church services we hear of our need to put our faith in Jesus so that we can some day get to heaven where we will receive that grace. Yes, this is correct. But, if we look closely at today’s text, we can clearly see that there was a lot more wrong than right in our lives before we came to faith in Christ.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV)
We followed Satan (a none too popular truth), lived in the passions of our flesh, and behaved as we desired. But, because of God’s love for us we are no longer slaves to self, sin, or Satan! No longer are we “dead in our trespasses”, we are made alive in Him. It is only by God’s grace that we can follow and obey His commandments. No more being carried here and there by the ways of the world, God’s grace has made a way for us while we live here on the earth. Now our deepest desires are to do God’s will and live worshipping Him instead of ourselves.
When I recently read this I thought of this scripture, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God’s grace is not only for the future, but to be experienced in the present. Today let’s experience a peace that passes all understanding by embracing God’s grace. He is faithful, He is the same yesterday, today and forever!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Ephesians 2:4-5
Table Rock
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46-49)
A large, illuminated cross stands erect on Table Rock, a rocky plateau overlooking my hometown. Several homes were built on neighboring land, but recently the owners have been forced to move out due to safety concerns. Despite their close proximity to the firm bedrock of Table Rock, these homes aren’t secure. They have been shifting atop their foundations—nearly three inches every day—causing risk of major water pipes breaking, which would accelerate the sliding.
Jesus compares those who hear and obey His words to those who build their homes on rock (Luke 6:47–48). These homes survive the storms. By contrast, He says homes built without a firm foundation—like people who don’t heed His instruction—cannot weather the torrents.
On many occasions, I’ve been tempted to ignore my conscience when I knew God asked more of me than I had given, thinking my response had been “close enough.” Yet the homes in the shifting foothills nearby have depicted for me that being “close” is nowhere near enough when it comes to obeying Him. To be like those who built their homes on a firm foundation and withstand the storms of life that so often assail us, we must heed the words of our Lord completely.
Help me, Lord, to obey You fully and with my whole heart. Thank You for being my firm foundation. Amen.
God’s Word is the only sure foundation for life.
When I read this I instantly knew of what the writer was speaking of and I have been keeping tabs on the current situation with the homes shifting atop their foundations near Table Rock, but never once had I looked at it from a spiritual perspective. Wow, this blessed me and it caused me to stop and think, how many things in our lives, if we would just slow down and take a moment to reflect could God use to speak to us. If God can use something like Table Rock and the homes shifting atop their foundation to teach us something spiritually, how much more can He teach us in our daily lives if we would just pause and allow Him to speak through any given situation. I would ask today that you take a moment and look around you and find the good in just one situation and I bet you will be able to find more than one good thing, even amidst a terrible situation. What the enemy uses to hurt you, God uses to prosper you.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Luke 6:46-49
A Reason to Sing
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (Psalm 47:6)
Singing changes the brain! Some studies show that when we sing, our bodies release hormones that relieve anxiety and stress. Other research indicates that when a group of people sings together, their heartbeats actually synchronize with each other.
The apostle Paul’s writing encourages the church to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19). And the Bible repeats, “Sing praise” more than fifty times.
In 2 Chronicles 20, we read a story of God’s people demonstrating their trust in God by singing as they marched into battle. Enemies were heading toward the people of Judah. Alarmed, King Jehoshaphat called everyone together. He led the community in intense prayer. They didn’t eat or drink, but only prayed, “Neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” (v. 12). The next day, they set out. They weren’t led by their fiercest warriors, but by their choir. They believed God’s promise that they would be delivered without having to fight at all (v. 17).
While they sang and walked toward the conflict, their enemies fought each other! By the time God’s people reached the battlefield, the fighting had ended. God saved His people as they marched by faith toward the unknown, singing His praises.
God encourages us to praise Him for good reasons. Whether or not we are marching into battle, praising God has power to change our thoughts, our hearts, and our lives.
God, we praise Your everlasting love and faithfulness! You protect and guide us, and we trust You with our lives. Amen.
What are you facing today? When I read this I couldn’t help but think, we must sing His praises, despite what it looks like in front of us. Sing, sing, sing!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Chronicles 20:14-22