Loving Jesus Style

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17 (NIV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Devotion: Paul begins with a confession that is both courageous and contagious: “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” He is writing to believers in Rome — the center of power, culture, and influence — yet he declares without hesitation that the gospel is the true power in the world. Not Rome’s armies. Not its emperors. Not its philosophies. The gospel alone “is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” Paul wants the church to stand tall in a world that often misunderstands or dismisses the message of Christ. To live righteously begins with this same confidence. We do not shrink back from the gospel because it...

Scripture: Isaiah 40:9 (NIV) You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” Devotion: Isaiah speaks to God’s people with urgency and hope: “You who bring good news… lift up your voice with a shout.” The message is clear — good news is not meant to be whispered. It is meant to be carried boldly, proclaimed confidently, and shared joyfully. God’s people are not passive recipients of hope; they are active messengers of it. The prophet calls them to “go up on a high mountain.” In ancient times, the higher the place, the farther the message could travel. Isaiah is telling God’s people to take every opportunity, every platform, every moment to make the good news known. The gospel is not a private treasure; it is a public announcement. It is meant to be seen, heard, and declared. Then Isaiah adds, “Lift up your voice… do no...

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Devotion: Paul begins this passage with a simple but staggering command: “Follow God’s example.” The NIV renders it plainly, yet the weight of it is immense. We are called to imitate the character of God — not in power, not in authority, but in love. “As dearly loved children,” Paul says. We imitate God not as servants trying to impress Him, but as children who already belong to Him. Our obedience grows out of identity, not insecurity. Then Paul gives the shape of this imitation: “walk in the way of love.” Love is not an emotion we occasionally feel; it is a path we consistently walk. It is the daily pattern of a life shaped by Christ. Walking in love means choosing compassion when irritation feels easier. It means offering forgiveness when resentment seems justi...

Scripture: Colossians 2:2-3 (NIV) My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Devotions: Paul writes with a shepherd’s heart in these verses. He longs for believers to be strengthened, encouraged, and united — not by shared preferences or personalities, but by the deep, spiritual bond that comes from knowing Christ. “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love,” he says. Encouragement and unity are not optional features of the Christian life; they are essential marks of a community shaped by Jesus. Encouragement in heart is more than emotional comfort. It is the strengthening of the inner life — the confidence that comes from knowing who Christ is and what He has done. A discouraged heart becomes vulnerable to doubt, fear, and division. But a...

  Scripture: 1 John 5:13-15 (NIV) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. Devotion: John writes these words with unmistakable purpose: he wants believers to know they have eternal life. Not hope, not guess, not wonder — know . The gospel is not a vague promise; it is a solid foundation. “These things have I written unto you… that ye may know that you have eternal life.” Assurance is not arrogance; it is the birthright of everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. John’s message is unapologetically clear: eternal life is found in Christ alone, not in good works, not in religious effort, not in moral improvement. It is found in believing the Son of God — trusting His sacrifice, receiving His grace, re...

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Devotion: Paul begins this passage with a word that reaches straight into the heart: “I urge you.” He is not commanding from a distance; he is urging with tenderness. And his appeal rests on one foundation — “the mercies of God.” Everything he asks of us flows from what God has already done. We do not offer ourselves to earn mercy; we offer ourselves because we have received it. To be a “living sacrifice” is to place our whole selves — body, mind, desires, plans, habits — on the altar of God’s will. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were placed on the altar and consumed. But Paul call...