Loving Jesus Style

Scripture: Matthew 5:9 (NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Devotion: Peace is something everyone claims to want, but hardly anyone is willing to do any work to obtain it. Peace is also greatly misunderstood. Most people, when they think of peace (if they think of it at all), think that it is merely the absence of conflict. Peace is really the presence of reconciliation. Jesus’ words above describe what a true Christian should be and do. By living in this way, Jesus’ people become children of their heavenly Father and change the world around them by their mere presence. To most of the world, peacemaking seems like a passive activity. The more passive, the better their thinking goes. But Jesus is not blessing peace-lovers or peace-wishers with these words, but rather peacemakers—the kind of people who pursue not just the absence of conflict but true reconciliation among differing parties. This reconciliation is achieved by bridging divide...

  Scripture: Romans 10:8-9 NIV But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Devotion: In this brief passage, Paul shows the gospel's power and simplicity. Salvation is not some otherworldly out-of-body experience; it is grounded in the reality of confession and faith. Paul intends for all of us to know how to be saved and pleads with us to take Christ up on His offer of free grace by simply believing and confessing Him as Lord of our lives. Paul wants us to have full confidence in the gospel message he proclaims here. Paul claims that the word of salvation is very near to each one of us. What does this mean? It means that ...

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Devotion: In the book of Matthew, Jesus extends a profound invitation to those who are weary and burdened: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." This passage is a soothing balm for the soul, offering hope and comfort to those overwhelmed by life's trials and tribulations. Jesus calls us to come to Him with our burdens, promising rest and relief. This is not merely physical rest but a deep spiritual repose that rejuvenates our innermost being. The invitation to take His yoke and learn from Him speaks to the transformative power of following Christ. Hi...

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...