Your Daily Crossroad

God’s Love For You and I

Posted on Oct 23, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: God's Love, John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Focusing on the way God loves us in this verse, seems an infinitely more profound way of communicating the depth of His love. We must consider the reality that in order to redeem mankind, who had made themselves God’s enemies, his very Son was required as substitute. That’s like a parent giving his or her only child’s life to save the lives of soldiers from an invading enemy nation, intent on destruction.

When our eyes are opened to that kind of unfathomable love, it should stir something in us. God’s love for us is deeper than words, it was spoken through selfless action and is further communicated through His adoption of us. (Ephesians 1:5). The beautiful gift of our salvation is a story wrought with absolute love.

Through the sacrifice made upon the cross we are reconciled back to our rightful place as sons and daughters of God; and this place is one that cannot be taken from us. (Romans 8: 38-39). Our place of dependence here is as God’s dearly beloved children.

In light of your dependence as children of God, you are invited to trust in the Father’s intense love and affection for you. Take time today to rest in the truth of the love that was shown to us all through the sacrifice of Jesus.

This devotion blessed me. As a parent myself I don’t know if I could willingly do as today’s devotion depicts, sacrifice my only child’s life to save the lives of soldiers from an invading enemy nation, intent on destruction. Wow! What a thought provoking visual. What love! Remember this today, God loves you more in a moment than anyone could in a lifetime. There is no pit so deep that that God’s Love is not deeper still.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Galatians 6:2

Oct '19

Speaking Of Faith in Action

Posted on Oct 22, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: Faith, John 5

Oct '19

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. (John 5:5-9)

Picture this scene: An old man is lying beside the healing pools of Bethesda. He had been sick and paralyzed for 38 years. Jesus walks by and says to him, “Do you wish to get well?” Now come on, could there be a more obvious question than this? Everyday, people have been carrying him on his mat, laying him by the pool, and hoping for healing. Then Jesus comes up and asks if he wants to get well. Why in the world would He ask a question like that?

Jesus asks this question because He knew that for 38 years this man had been totally dependent on others. He lived a life of dependency. And if he is healed, then he’s going to have to start showing initiative and taking personal responsibility for himself. And that’s why Jesus asks him, “Do you want to get well?” Jesus had the power to completely transform this man’s life.

You see, Jesus was highlighting an interesting facet of human nature: dependency on anything is incredibly addictive. So, how does this man answer Jesus’ question? With classic victimization mindset, he blames someone else for the fact that he is still unwell. “I can’t get well, because I have no one to help me into the pool,” the man says (My Paraphrase John 5: 7). Because of his disability, he’s blaming others and seeing himself as a victim. Jesus said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

Let’s break down what’s happening:

“Stand up.” — It took a lot of faith for that man who’s been trapped in that paralyzed body to stand up, but the man stood up.
“Pick up your mat.” — The man had to take responsibility for himself; he couldn’t depend on others carrying him anymore. The man picked up his mat.
“Walk.” — In other words, it was a command for this man to leave his former life where he had been totally dependent on others. So, what happened? The man began to walk!

That man left his old life, where he had been so incapacitated for all those years, to live a new life, all thanks to the supernatural healing power of Jesus.

Are you caught in the trap of dependency? Look to Jesus. Through faith, He will give you the power to change your life — whether you are supernaturally healed or not.

What a powerful devotion. I pray it touches someone’s life is such a way you realize today that as this devotion says, He will give you the power to change your life.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Proverbs 15:23

Oct '19

Zechariah: A Faith Example

Posted on Oct 21, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: Luke 1:13, Zechariah

Oct '19

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. (Luke 1:13)

When faithful men of the Bible are spoken of, Zechariah is not a name often mentioned. He is only mentioned in the Gospel of Luke because he is the father of the great John the Baptist, the fore runner of the Messiah, Jesus. While there aren’t books written about him or any other mentions in the Bible, he is someone we can look to as an example of faithfulness.

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were old in age and did not have children (Luke 1:7). In that day, being childless usually brought sorrow to the family and shame from those around them (Luke 1:25). Outsiders would often think there was sin in the lives of the couple, and that childlessness was the means by which God is punishing them. During this though, Zechariah chose to remain faithful to God in his work as a priest and in his prayers for a child of his own.

Zechariah could have easily stopped praying, became bitter, and stopped working for the God who was not providing a child for him. However, this is not how Zechariah’s story ends. We know that God did in fact answer his prayers and blessed him with a son, John the Baptist.

We can be encouraged that God hears our prayers and answers them in His timing for a greater blessing than we could have ever imagined.

Let us remember to recall the story of God’s faithfulness to Zechariah at moments in our lives when we are tempted to give up on God.

This devotion blessed me. I pray you are encouraged to never give up on God, He will never give up on you. Stay the course and keep believing. You may be tired, discouraged and frustrated, but don’t give up, God is faithful. Trust in His timing. Kick the devil in the teeth and don’t give up.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Psalm 40:8

Oct '19

Walking by Faith

Posted on Oct 18, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: Colossians 2, Faith, Walk

Oct '19

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:5-7)

Christians generally associate faith with their salvation experience, and rightly so. By believing in Christ, we enter into a relationship with Him. But that’s not the end—after that initial decision comes a lifetime of walking with Him.

Since the word walk is used to describe behavior and conduct, we may mistakenly conclude that after salvation, the Christian life is all about performance. But today’s verses clearly state that we walk with Christ in the same way we received Him—by faith. This means we place our trust in Him for every circumstance of life. To help us understand this, Paul uses some phrases in verse 7 that describe how confidence in God grows:

“Having been firmly rooted”—At the moment of salvation, believers are planted in Christ. As we anchor ourselves in the Lord, our roots grow deep, drawing spiritual nourishment from Him.

“Being built up in Him”—Through obedience, the believer’s life is built on the foundation of the Savior. God wants us to choose precious and valuable building materials that will last into eternity (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

“Established in your faith”—As we begin to understand more about the Lord and how He operates, our trust in Him increases. Then we experience stability, even in the winds of adversity.

In our goal-oriented society, it’s easy to forget that walking in Christ is a process. While on earth, we never “arrive” but are slowly transformed along the way. As we trust the Lord, our hearts will overflow with gratitude for all His blessings and the stability He offers in every circumstance.

I was encouraged by this devotion. I think as Christians we can be so overwhelmed by trying to “arrive” that we loose site of the true purpose of salvation and what God truly wants for us. Realize today that you are slowly transforming and it’s okay to go slow, He is with you every step of your journey helping you along the way. I realize we are our own worse critic, but today rest in knowing He offers true stability in every circumstance. One day we will stand before Him and I pray you hear, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. It will be in that moment in eternity that we have truly arrived. Until then, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and find the beauty in walking with Him each and every day. Walk by faith!

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Psalm 27:14

Crossroad Fellowship

Your Daily Crossroad

God’s Love For You and I

Speaking Of Faith in Action

Zechariah: A Faith Example

Walking by Faith