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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1856
Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.
It is easy to list the laws which we need to keep, be them religious or otherwise; but keeping God’s laws takes faith!
We trust, in faith, that Jesus Christ will deliver on His promises. We don’t have to be a Jew or Gentile to have such faith – we need only believe and trust in that belief.
Having faith will not make you a blameless person, but the hope we have is that through our faith we will, one day, be blameless when we face Christ.
That takes faith, because we cannot prove it until that days comes!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1887
Romans 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.
The disciples were quick to point out how the things we do on the outside count for nothing if we are being unjust on the inside; because even the Jews were sinners.
No matter where we come from in life, we know sinners and we can be tempted by them. It does not matter whether we are from the most religious family, we can be tempted!
Think about what you do against God and against His people; then act as if you want to fix things and set things right again!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1904
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
We like to keep up with other people by doing what they are doing, following fashions and allowing others to see something in us which is mainstream!
What Christ taught the disciples was that this all amounts to nothing; just like people wanted to become Jews and follow the Jewish ways, we like to follow on from other groups to make us look righteous in some way.
Christ looks at the heart and not the outward appearance, so nothing we do to show others our faith will amount to anything with Him; but doing some things can encourage others!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1938
John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Christ knows all about this first hand, because He is the one who loved us first and did so much because of that love for us.
He lived the example and wants us to take note of how He lived and how much His love changed the world.
We can change so much around us if we are simply willing to love others as much as He loved us.
Whilst that may not be possible to love everyone that much, try we must!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1985
John 12:47 If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
How many times did people try and tell you about God before you believed what they were saying? I know I spent a few years listening before I took it in and believed what Christ did for me!
And it was this book written by John which changed my mind through the hands of a school friend – I had to be told because I did not understand the words written down!
Just because we get things wrong does not mean Christ is going to jump on us and punish us for what we do wrong; He loves us far too much for that.
But we do have to live with some consequences for the choices we make…
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1834
John 12:43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
Sometimes we play up to the people around us rather than trying to please God; after all, we can see and hear the adoration from the crowd, but we can’t see much from God!
Or at least that is how we look at it – but when we really do listen to God, we will hear the adoration and praise coming from Him in so many other ways.
Listening to God is difficult when the world is shouting in your ears, but take time out and spend it listening to God and you will hear a very different noise – one of love and tenderness.
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1908
John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
If we are doing something wrong, we are probably going to be hiding it in some way from others; maybe with the lights off or something.
What happens when the lights get turned on? What happens when people see what we are doing?
God does not have to turn the lights on to see what we are doing – He knows what we are up to at all times. It is the people around us we are hiding things from and that is all!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1902
Luke 14:24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.
This parable ends with a dire warning to those who choose not to listen to God. Yes, it is a choice not to listen to God!
The Holy Spirit is constantly trying to get through to all of us, and when we ignore Him, there are consequences.
I’m not saying we will miss out of a feast just because we don’t listen, we miss out on what Christ has planned for us in our lives!
God has a best plan for us, and the only way we get to see it is when we listen to Him and obey Him.
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1908
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Just as Isaiah had talked about it so many years before, the people of Corinth were being reminded this was now coming to pass and the gospel living was now.
We can hold on to this same promise, because when we do accept Christ into our lives, our lives do change into something quite different.
No longer are we weighed down by the sins and repercussions of those wrong-doings, but are free to live with Christ and make a good life with Him.
It is our lives we can change – with Christ’s help!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1912
Isaiah 65:22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.
When Isaiah was telling of the good times ahead, he was not just saying how good life could be when we all believe in Christ, but also reminding us we live for a short time on earth.
When we build up things, work for a living and generally try to get things right for our life, we are doing so for our life span.
Yes, we need to think about the future and our children’s futures, but that is still within our lifespan.
Live now with Christ and enjoy your life with Him. Encourage others to join you all the way!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1723
Deuteronomy 28:3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
We don’t have to be from a particular class, race, or whatever in society in order to be blessed by God.
Yes, God has a special heart for the poor and needy, but that includes all walks of like from all around the world!
Don’t exclude someone just because they are different; include everyone and allow God to work with them all – He loves us all the same!
Be inclusive and stop trying to belong to the exclusive Christian club!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1814
Mark 10:16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Even though the disciples had thought the children were doing wrong by clambering to see Jesus, He made a great statement by laying his hands on them and blessing them!
We have opinions which make us see certain circumstances as troublesome when God sees the opposite; we need to trust Him more and ask for His constant guidance as we walk through our lives.
We see stumbling blocks because something is different; God sees new opportunities because things are different!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1802
Luke 18:16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
This moment when Jesus tells the disciples to allow the children to come to Him because they are the ones who will listen how He wants them to listen – openly!
As we grow up, we carry more and more baggage with us in the form of opinions we build up. Those are often counter productive to Christ and His ways.
God wants us to be able to come to Him with all innocence and with an open heart and mind, willing to listen and obey without question!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1936
Mark 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Almost every chef will tell you to add a pinch of salt to various things to add a bit of flavour; but it can be used for a whole lot more.
Salt is used to dry and preserve foods, to keep germs from corrupting those foods.
We need God in our lives for the same reason, to protect and preserve us against the corruption surrounding us.
Without God, corruption comes in and corrupts everything very quickly!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1800
Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Some people seem to think Christians should never say anything unless it is meek, quiet and unconfrontational!
Jesus’ example was certainly different to that at times and this verse hints at why.
Whilst we should always show grace and mercy, having a bit of saltiness will make people stop and listen to what we have to say.
Be polite – but be heard!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1945
Deuteronomy 6:7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
When is the best time to tell people about God? Always!
Does that sound scary? Well it probably would be if you were thinking about going out and doing it once a week or something; but when you make it a part of your life it becomes exactly that.
Being a Christian should mean living the life of a Christian at all times; openly showing people you are a Christian.
People, especially family and friends, notice when you act differently to other people and they will want to know why…
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1854
Psalm 145:4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.
One of the most important parts of being a Christian is probably to tell your family about God.
Does that sound scary? Does it sound hard? Do you have family who are against Christ?
Focus on who comes after you – your children or those in your family who are younger than you; they may well be the ones who are more willing to listen first!
But don’t sit there and not tell anybody about your Awesome God!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1854
Psalm 145:12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
Why should we say good things about our God? How else are people going to hear about God unless we talk about him?
We get to know of all the good things about God as we grow up with Him in our lives; that good news needs to be spread to other people so they will be encouraged to find out more for themselves.
There is no end to the good God has done for us all, so there should be no end to the good things we can tell others about God!
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1915
Job 36:24 Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.
Even though Elihu was placing the blame for what happened in Job’s court, he did say some good things too.
The people around us may not say the things we want to hear, but we should listen to what they say and discern what is right and wrong.
But, as ambassadors for God, we should always aim to spread the truth alone because it is what people will hear.
Support what God says through your actions and your words together.
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- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 1906
Psalm 8:3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
It does not take a rocket scientist to see the beauty and splendour of the universe; in fact, they may take far too an objective view on things!
David did stop and look at the world around him at times, and when he did, he knew God was behind this great design!
Stop for a moment are really look at what is around you. Look further and see what is there. Look out to the stars and imagine what is out there.
This is what God has created for us to live within…