Your Daily Crossroad
Free From Falsehood
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (John 7:18)
Every day we hear and we speak many words. We hear words from our families, our coworkers, television, movies and the radio. And as Proverbs rightly explains, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). So our day, while full of words, is more than likely also full of transgression! We are no strangers to lies and it would seem “falsehood” is as inevitable as the sunrise.
As Christians we should learn from Jesus’ words, realizing that we can avoid falsehood by seeking the Father’s glory rather than our own. When we seek our own glory, we succumb to the trap of lying to cover our wrong deeds or mistakes to save ourselves from humiliation and shame. But when we seek his glory it doesn’t matter what people think of us, only what people know of him.
Just like the one who composes the message is worthy of greater praise than the messenger, so is our God infinitely more worthy of praise than we. If we are abiding in Jesus then, we ought to walk as he walked (1 John 2:5-6). If we are indeed of the truth we are to seek the Father’s glory by always honoring him by walking in truth rather than falsehood.
Walk in truth with your words instead of falsehood by seeking the glory of the Father instead of your own glory. Amen!
After reading this I instantly said to myself, let me not walk in my own glory. My prayer today is that this challenges someone somewhere to reflect on there walk with God and how they reflect the Father’s glory, do others see a self centered, lying individual or do they see someone walking in truth seeking His glory? This may seem like a harsh question but it’s truth, we are living in the last days, He will return and when He does will you be found ready? Be honest with yourself, eternity is forever and He wants you to spend eternity with Him.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 John 2:5-6
When You Are Discouraged
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. (Psalms 34:17-19)
Ever get discouraged?
I sure do. In fact I woke up this morning feeling discouraged. It feels like the world is against me, and I’m overcome with feelings of “nobody really likes me.” Sometimes I get discouraged because of my past regrets, and sometimes I get discouraged because God so clearly has not answered my prayers and cries for help, when and the way I want Him to. I get discouraged when I put too much trust in people and expect them to do or say something that I’ve been longing to hear.
Discouragement is a real feeling, and it’s a real tool of the enemy to come against the child of God. If you let it sink in, discouragement will press you down, and it can hinder you from doing what the Lord has called you to do.
What do you do?
Here’s what I do: Find scripture that encourages you in the Lord. Find out what God says about any given situation and then trust His Word. It has power to give life if you let it penetrate your heart. “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Psalms 34:17-19
I pray today that if you are discouraged that Jesus will lift your spirit and whisper truth in your ear. He knows your pains; He cares and he will answer! Amen!
After reading this just this morning I felt I could completely relate to what the writer was saying, who couldn’t. Discouragement is something that unfortunately impacts everyone at some point in there lives but I couldn’t imagine going through this life without The Lord by my side, without The Word to lead and guide me back into His presence when my mind and emotions drift into discouragement. Today, let’s choose to take back what the enemy has tried to steal from you, joy, laughter, love, a genuine smile. Pack up the tools of the enemy and give them back to him, you were never meant to carry the tools of the enemy, he is a liar and the father of all lies, you are loved, you are kind and you are beautiful inside and out. Do not buy what the enemy is trying to sell you. Allow The Lord to deliver you. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.
Have a wonderfully blessed day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalms 34:17-19
Humbled
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
God is big; we are small. God is perfect; we are not. God is all-powerful; we are weak. God is never ending; we have but a few years on the earth he created.
God is beyond us, like the end of the universe is beyond the earth. Trillions of lightyears separate the boundary of limitless space and bright burning stars, yet it all falls under God’s hand. We should be careful to remember this when we speak of Him.
When we talk of God, we should make certain we understand that we can never fully understand Him. Yes, He has revealed Himself to us, but only in part.
When we think of God, we should remember that His “thoughts are not [our] thoughts”, and “neither are [our] ways [His] ways.” There should be a humility in us when we think or speak of God, a deep reverence that knows He is beyond us in every way. This respect, if held rightly, won’t lead us further from God, but closer. It will do so because we will ask with the Psalmist, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:4) There is nothing God gets from us that He can’t get better from Himself, yet, He still loves and pursues us. God is definitely love, and this makes us want to know and be amazed by Him.
Be humbled by the grandeur and selfless love of our God who is beyond our full comprehension. Amen!
When I read this today I felt it needed to be shared. What truth! I am so grateful He is beyond me in every way. There is nothing God gets from me that He can’t get better from Himself, yet, He still loves and pursues me. I am indeed humbled. What a mighty God we serve!! He loves me, He loves you!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Isaiah 55:8-9
A Sports-Card Relationship with God?
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)
When I was a kid I loved collecting sports cards. I had binders full and remember looking up how much money they were worth and then trading them with friends. My favorite thing about the cards was that they had every player’s stats on the back. So I had most of their numbers memorized. However, even though I knew a bunch of stuff about them, did that mean that I actually knew them as people?
Obviously, the answer is no! It would’ve been a total lie if I claimed to know these players on a personal level just because I had a bunch of their stats memorized. However, I think a similar tendency is alive and well in the Church.
So many of us in the Church know a lot of information about God. We know stats. We have verses memorized. We read books. And the list goes on. But how many of us know God beyond knowledge about Him? I love Scripture and wholeheartedly believe it’s critical for Christians to have an intimate understanding of it. However, knowing about God is no substitute for actually knowing Him on a personal level.
In today’s verse, Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” You see, eternal life isn’t simply going to a place called heaven when we die—it’s knowing the Father and Jesus Himself.
True life is found in a personal relationship with the true God. So, are you in a sports-card relationship with God? Do you know about Him? Or do you know Him personally?
If not, pray this prayer with me: God, I know things about you, but I don’t feel like I truly know You. And that’s what I want. I want to know You like Moses did and like the disciples knew Jesus. Holy Spirit, please introduce Yourself to my heart, soul, and mind in a way I’ve never experienced before, so I can lead others into an authentic, intimate relationship with You as well. Amen.
When I read this it challenged me to take time and evaluate my “relationship” with God. How well do I know Him personally, I’ve served Him since I was ten years old and I couldn’t imagine a single day without Him in my life but do I truly serve Him by taking time each and every day to get to know Him or do I rush through my day, check Facebook countless times, maybe even post a comment or pic in hopes that others will get to know me better, hoping they will see my better side while neglecting to take that time to get to know Him better, say a quick prayer and call it good? I’m not picking on Facebook, I’m mentioning just one of many things that tend to have a strong hold on people, you fill in the blank, what consumes so much of your time that it keeps you from an intimate relationship with God? What in your life could you take and replace with getting to know Him better? In the moment when your about to reach for that thing, I challenge you today to stop, take out your bible, pray and talk to Him, get to know Him better than you ever have before. He loves us so much He sent His son to die for you and I. Have you made it a priority to have an intimate relationship with God? Ask yourself that question today and be truly honest. He already knows, it’s up to you and I to choose to change the answer.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading John 17:3, 2 Peter 3:9