Loving Jesus Style

  Scripture: James 1:22-26 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom , and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Devotion: As followers of Christ , it’s easy to fall into the pattern of simply hearing the Word —listening to sermons, reading Scripture, enjoying worship, and feeling uplifted by the message. Yet James 1:22-26 calls us to a deeper commitment: not just to hear God’s Word, but to live it. The passage warns that if our faith stops at listening, we deceive ourselves. Real transformation begins when we let God’s Word take root in our hearts and guide our actions. True faith is not passive; it require...

  Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV) But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Devotion: In a world that constantly pushes us to seek more—more possessions, more recognition, more achievements—the words of 1 Timothy 6:6-8 offer a refreshing invitation to pause and consider the true source of gain. The apostle Paul reminds us that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” He points out a profound truth: our lives began with nothing, and when our journey here ends, we will take nothing with us. The material things we often strive for are fleeting, but the character we develop and the contentment found in walking with God are of eternal value. Contentment is not complacency or lack of ambition; rather, it is a posture of the heart that trusts God to provide what we truly need. Paul narrows this down to the basics: “But if we have fo...

  An Overview of the Old Testament Prophet and His Message Introduction The Book of Habakkuk is one of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament of the Bible . It is unique among the prophetic books because it focuses on a dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God, rather than direct messages to the people of Israel. Background Habakkuk lived during a time of great turmoil, likely in the late 7th century BCE , when the Babylonian Empire was rising to power. Judah , the southern kingdom of Israel , was experiencing violence, injustice, and corruption. Main Themes and Structure The book is structured around a series of questions and answers between Habakkuk and God: ·          Habakkuk's First Complaint : The prophet questions why God allows evil and injustice to go unpunished in Judah. ·          God's Response: God answers that He will raise the Babylonians ( Chaldeans ) t...

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-7 ( NIV ) "I lift up my eyes to the mountains —where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life." Devotion: Looking in the Right Direction The psalmist begins with a question we've all asked in moments of fear, uncertainty, or desperation: "Where does my help come from?" Notice he doesn't begin with an answer but with honest seeking. He lifts his eyes to the mountains—perhaps looking toward Jerusalem , where the temple stood, or scanning the horizon for approaching danger or deliverance. But the question itself is crucial. In our age of self-reliance and ...

Scripture: Romans 1:2-4 "...the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." Devotion: When Paul introduces the gospel in these verses, he immediately grounds it in history, prophecy, and the person of Jesus Christ. This is no new religion, no innovative philosophy dreamed up by human imagination. The gospel, Paul insists, was promised long ago through God's prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures. A Promise Kept How remarkable that the God who spoke through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the psalmists is the same God who fulfilled every promise in Jesus Christ. The gospel didn't catch God by surprise; it was His plan from the beginning. When we read the Old Testament with eyes opened by Christ, we see Him on every page—in the prom...

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV) I, Paul , as a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Devotion: Ephesians 4:1-6 calls believers to unity and a life that honors God’s calling. Paul, writing from prison , urges us to live "worthy of the calling you have received." This powerful charge isn’t about earning our place in God’s family —instead, it’s about responding in gratitude to the grace we’ve already received. Paul lists practical ways to demonstrate this: humility , gentleness , patience , and bearing with one another in love. These are not qualities we develop in isolation...