Loving Jesus Style

  Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Devotion:             Today’s scripture serves as a powerful vision of what the church is meant to be in the world. Peter, in the verses preceding this, had been highlighting the Nation of Israel's struggle to recognize Jesus and their resistance to worship Him. The contrast between these two worlds is striking. In the centuries since Peter penned these words, the church has often fallen short of this ideal. It's crucial to acknowledge this. The church has strived, too often in its own strength, to live up to these words, and we should strive towards living up to the challenge of this scripture.             How does the church today measure up to these words? The results are varied. However, in the global south, the church is a beacon of hope. It

  Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) 14  “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Devotion: Matthew 5:14-16 is a powerful passage where Jesus calls His followers to be the light of the world. This scripture is part of the Sermon on the Mount, a collection of teachings that encapsulate the core of Jesus' message. Here, Jesus uses the metaphor of light to describe the role and impact of His disciples in the world. "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14, NIV). Light, by its very nature, is meant to be seen. It dispels darkness and reveals what is hidden. When Jesus calls us the light of the world, He is emphasizing that our

  Scripture: Zephaniah 3:17   17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;        he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love;        he will exult over you with loud singing.    Devotion:             In the quiet moments of our lives, we often find ourselves reflecting on our journey—a path marked by both triumphs and stumbles. It’s a journey that winds through valleys of doubt and summits of joy. But woven into every step is the thread of grace—a divine tapestry that not only sustains us but also transforms our brokenness into beauty, giving us hope and inspiration. Grace is not a mere concept; it’s a gift—an extravagant offering from a loving Creator. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Our salvation is not earned; it’s freely given. This truth should humble us and fill

  Scripture: 1 Kings 8:57-58 (ESV) 57  The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, 58  that he may Incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. Devotion: In 1 Kings 8:57-58, we find Solomon at the height of his kingship, having completed the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. The verses read: “May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave or forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees, and laws he gave our ancestors.” These verses encapsulate a profound moment of dedication, a prayer that acknowledges God’s enduring presence and pleads for continued faithfulness. As we meditate on these words, several key themes emerge that can guide our devotion and reflection. First and foremost, Solomon’s prayer begins with recognizing God's steadfast

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Devotion:             In this passage. Paul takes us on a spiritual journey from the depths of sin to a marvelous new life in Christ. Paul writes here a very difficult verse to translate. It is main verb does not occur until verse 5 and its subject until verse 4 in the Greek. In addition, the Greek is one long sentence beginning in verse 1 and going through verse 7. Despi

  Scripture: Revelation 12:10-12 (ESV) 10  And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12  Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath because he knows that his time is short!” Devotion: In the cosmic drama depicted in the book of Revelation, a book of prophecy and divine revelation, we witness a clash of kingdoms—a struggle for souls. Amid this celestial battle, the accuser—Satan—stands before God, relentlessly pointing out our flaws, our failures. Day and night, he accuses us. But in a moment of divine justice, his accusations are silenced. Th