Category: Daily Devotionals

The remedy is in one thing! (3/7/2023)

Luke 10:41-42 "The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.” - GNB

The Lord gave a remedy to the many things Martha was troubled about. He referred to what Mary had done as the right thing. She had chosen to sit and listen to Him. It would not be taken away from her. That was stamp of approval of Mary’s approach, and that whoever would want to escape the lure of many things that fill and trouble people’s minds, should do the same.

The reason behind the many things could be competition, to meet genuine human needs, to become like others and conform to the culture around. But the Lord has the best way for each of us. He knows what is best, when it is best, and how to best do it. If we seek His counsel as the one thing, it would streamline all the other things.

Instead of do so many things and fail, why not do the one thing, wait on the Lord, and succeed in all the rest. He is more than willing to guide us in the right fulfilling paths of life. He knows it all. He may not do it or lead us in the way we wish, but if we obey the end result is peace. He never misleads. Do the one thing and live a purposeful enriching life!

Proverbs 3:5-7 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong."

Psalms 27:4 "I have asked the Lord for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the Lord's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness,  and to ask for his guidance."

Shalom children of God

How the Word comes alive (4/6/2023)

Hebrews 4:2 "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]." - KJV

The written word of God is the most universally available book in the world. But even with its availability, few take time to read it. They have all the time for other priorities, but not the word. And even with its reading, few more see the word coming alive and working in their lives, yet it is living and active, powerful beyond measure. Why is this so?

The scripture above gives some reasons. When those who hear don’t mix it with faith, the word will not profit or have effect. The word works by faith in those who believe. It is also by the Holy Spirit Who annoints it to make it sharp and powerful in effect. The apostles preached the word of God under the power of the Spirit and it cut into the hearts of the listeners, deeply convicting them. It is more than experience or head knowledge.

Whether a preacher or listener, the word affects both, being a double edged sword and searching people’s hearts and secrets. The Spirit makes the word come alive, touching real issues of life. This is how true transformation from the word comes. And a person will never be the same again. One reason the preaching becomes dull and the word appears lifeless, is that the preacher has left out the Holy Spirit Who empowers the word to convict and effect change.

Faith and the Holy Spirit make the word of God a powerful dynamite.

Acts 2:37 "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Shalom children of God

Hypocrisy is distasteful! (R) (5/7/2023)

Isaiah 29.13 "The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."

A hypocrite is a person who says one thing, but means another in their hearts. They claim to love, but in their hearts they actually hate. They appear genuine and yet dishonest. What their mouths speak is different from what is in their hearts. That’s how Israel was, singing and worshipping God with their mouths, and yet God saw totally detached hearts. They had settled for rules of men in worshipping God. That was a mismatch.

To God, what matters is what is in the heart, not what the mouth speaks, unless the two match. What is in one’s heart reflects the real character of the person and that’s what God prefers. So many profess and invoke God’s name in their lips, claim to fear Him but their hearts are far from it. No wonder the fruit of their lives shows a different person.

God prefers that we reflect who we really are, and not remain in between. The sharp rebuke to the church in Laodecea shows how distasteful a lukewarm state is to Him. We would rather be hot or cold. God, the searcher of men’s hearts, knows each one of us as we really are before Him. Not everyone who says to Him ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. There are those who claim to love God and yet living their own ways. God calls us to be honest before Him. What would He say of you?

Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-- neither hot nor cold-- I am about to spit you out of my mouth…"

Shalom children of God.

The sad end of hypocrisy! (6/7/2023)

Luke 12:1-3 "…“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs." - NIV

Jesus had just severely rebuked the Pharisees for their religious hypocrisy. What they did was for a physical show of piety but inside their hearts was a different story. They did under the cover of the law, their religious beliefs and traditions. But Jesus saw their true motives. They even plotted to kill Him contrary to the law they claimed to uphold. All of it would be revealed for what it really was; pretense and lies!

Hypocrisy is pretense, hiding true motives and presenting something else. People pretend to be honest and committed to what is true, right and just, but deep within carry different and evil intentions. The talk in secret is different from what is shown publicly. Jesus said all these will be revealed.

Hypocrisy is not sustainable. Its danger is that it brings much shame at the end when its coverings give way. It is deceptive, hollow and leaves those who love it hanging. And they will be cast away. Remember Gehazi!

We may cover up things, lie and succeed with people. But God Who sees all that people think, plan, say and do, in secret and in the open knows the truth even if we use His name to make it appear ‘sacred’. He calls us to walk in truth, love, honesty and in the light with each other. We are warned to be aware and to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. It defiles our true relationship with God. That’s double dealing with God and Satan. Over to you!

Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Shalom children of God.

Personal responsibility in life (7/7/2023)

Romans 14:12 "Every one of us, then, will have to give an account of ourselves to God." - GNB

The overall discussion in this chapter is about passing judgement on others. Each one of us is ultimately and personally accountable to God. It is individual responsibility for whatever we consciously do in this life. The Bible teaches that our works follow us along the way in this life and beyond. They don’t stop here.

Sometimes people hide in the crowd and the system they are operating in to conceal and escape personal responsibility. When caught they apportion blame to those they think were responsible for the messes they were involved in. Some find it very difficult to accept responsibility and to apologise. Sometimes they succeed to divert attention.

To God, everyone bears their responsibility. If every individual lived with the awareness that we shall account to God for all we say or do, it would trigger a change in lifestyle and decisions we make daily. We would first think about the consequences of our actions, whether we shall later regret and be ashamed, or be proud of what we are doing now.

Galatians 6:7-8 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

Shalom children of God

How good is the soil of your heart? (R) (8/7/2023)

Luke 8:11,15 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God…But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."- NIV

Teaching about how people receive the word into their lives, Jesus gave the parable of the sower. As the seed was scattered, it fell in various places; the road, on shallow soil on a rock, among thorns and on good soil. These represent different hearts. The seed of God’s word is being preached to everyone, but the outcome is determined by the state of the individual hearts.

Any ground must be prepared before seed can be sown if a harvest is expected. Likewise, our hearts should be prepared to recieve the word of God if it must transform us and bear fruit. It’s incumbent upon each one, in humility, to consider the state of their hearts before God. The same word sown in different hearts, bears no fruit or plenty of it – depending on the heart preparation and reception.

God leaves us with the choice to allow the word to work or not. He doesn’t force His way into our lives. But once the heart is ready and receptive, the transformative power of the word will be evident and the fruit will be seen. And everyone will enjoy the fruit to their pleasure and God’s glory. Fruit doesn’t lie.

Matthew 12:35 "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."

Shalom children of God.

Sin, sickness and faith (9/7/2023)

Matthew 9:2,6 "Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”… But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”

The man was sick and paralyzed. Four men carried him. In expression of their faith, they broke through the roof and placed the sick man before Jesus. He saw their faith and pronounced forgiveness of sin first, then healed him. Jesus linked the three; faith, forgiveness of sin and healing.

Some of the sicknesses people suffer are effects of sin. Before they can be healed, sin has to be dealt with. Faith in Christ, the One who forgives sins, brings forgiveness of sin and then the healing. That’s what happened in this scenario. But the Pharisees didn’t understand this and accused him of blasphemy.

James emphasised the same when he linked faith, confession of sins and healing. When the Spirit leads that this order is followed for healing to happen, please do. When one only asks for healing and ignores the need to deal with sin which could be attached to the sickness, healing may delay or not happen.

Jesus told the paralyzed man He healed at the pool to sin no more lest a worse thing happens to him (John 5:14). It means his previous condition was linked to sin, which if he went back to, other worse things would happen to him.

James 5:15-16 "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Shalom children of God.

Keeping instep with the Spirit (10/7/2023)

Galatians 5:16-18 "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."

The teaching in this chapter is about the works of the Spirit and the flesh. The two are opposing each other in a continuous battle going on within everyone. Those in Christ are, and should be led by the Holy Spirit. Those not in Christ are fully controlled by their bodily desires and lusts.

The life that pleases and glorifies God is one that is led by, and is in step with the Spirit. That is a life that has overcome the desires of the sinful nature. To keep in step with the Spirit is a continuous process throughout out our lives. This means learning to listen and obeying Him, seeking to know what the Spirit desires, and choosing to reject what He rejects.

To this life of sonship we are called in Christ. In Christ, we are Sons of God. And Paul declares that it is those who are led by the Spirit of God who are truly sons of God. So sonship is defined by living in continuous flow with the Spirit. Therein lies the glorious life the Father has for His own that those outside have mo idea about!

Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Shalom children of God.

We are spirit beings! (12/7/2023)

Genesis 2:7 "Then the Lord God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it; he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live." - GNB

Man was made from soil from the ground. God breathed into his lifeless body and he began to live, as a living soul. That breath was God’s Spirit. What actually makes us alive is the spirit. When the spirit part of man is taken away, what remains is a lifeless body. Without the Spirit, we are dead. Sin brought spiritual death when it separated man from God.

The essential part of our lives is the spirit. That is inherent in every human being. The fall of man from glory shifted focus from the spirit world to the flesh and physical things. Being in step with the Spirit means increasing our sensitivity in the spirit more than the physical environment around us. The spiritual world controls the physical.

The coming of the Holy Spirit was to take us back to where we belonged and operated from the begining. The secularist world view that emphasises materialism is an attempt by the enemy to cut man off from what he truly is to being carnally minded. That brings death, but to be spiritually minded is life. We can best reconnect back to our spirituality by the Holy Spirit. Anything else takes men to the demonic world.

John 6:63 "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life."

Romans 8:6 "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."

Shalom children of God.

Romans 8:5-8 "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."

Paul contrasts the two kinds of life everyone lives: life in the flesh and in the Spirit. Everyone is either controlled by the Spirit or the flesh, driven by bodily desires or Spirit led desires. Each of these have consequences: leading to life or death, pleasing to God or not. Because the two are contrary to each other, the choice of which side to yield to, lies in us.

The life in the flesh cannot please God because it will always lead to things that are hostile to God and don’t honour Him. Those who truly desire to please God will have to keep in step with the Spirit of God Who, in His guidance of the believer, always glorifies God. But one has to cooperate with Him. He enables us overcome the evil desires of the body.

Not only don’t they please God, but those driven by their uncontrolled bodily desires will not inherit God’s kingdom. They are under the direction of Satan, the enemy of God and all unrighteousness. Living by the Spirit guidance is a choice we all have to make continually if we want bring glory and honour to God all our lives.

Galatians 5:19,21 "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; … and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Shalom children of God