Loving Jesus Style

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NLT) But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  17  For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  18  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. Devotion:             Today’s scripture is an encouragement to believers regardless of how we may feel on a particular day. God is working within us to make us more like Jesus. This promise is one which all believers can rejoice in. We all struggle with our sins day by day; however, God does not leave us alone. The Holy Spirit works within us to make us more like Jesus.             But just what is this veil that Paul is writing about in this passage? Paul is referring to th...

Scripture: John 17:11 (ESV) Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. Devotion:             Unity among Christians particularly Christians of different denominations has been a challenging thing to find in these days. Not only do denominations have disputes (sometimes valid, sometimes not so much) between themselves. Which is bad enough on its own. Even denominations are having battles within themselves. Causing very real pain and anguish for God’s people. What can be done about this tragic situation? As always, the answer will be found in obeying Jesus’ command to “follow me.” In the scripture above Jesus prays that his followers would be united even as Jesus as part of the trinity is united with his Father.             Given the facts on the ground in the United States and throughout the western world unit...

Scripture: Mark 12:28-31 (ESV) 28  And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”  29  Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  31  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Devotion:             In the verses prior to today’s passage Jesus had been questioned by the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Each coming as a group to ask about various aspects of the Jewish religion. In today’s scripture however, we have a lone scribe asking a particularly important question. The most important question of all. Which of the many (...

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV)   1            The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.              2            He makes me lie down in green pastures.                         He leads me beside still waters.              3            He restores my soul.                         He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Devotion:             We begin today to look at the familiar words of the 23 rd  psalm. As we c...

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NKJV) 13  Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14  Let all that you do be done with love. Devotion:             The above scripture is short but has powerful meaning for today’s culture. We live in a time where traditional values are disappearing more each and every day. If we are truly watching, we will see the changes that are occurring all around us. The tendency is for us to withdraw from culture. Even to abandon some core beliefs and principles in order to conform to the changing social structures around us. That is not what Paul is calling us to here in these verses.             Rather than withdraw from culture we are called to do three things in this scripture passage. First, we are to watch. We cannot hope to have any effect on our culture if we do not know what is going on in the culture. Watching i...

Scripture: Hebrews 10:32-36 (NLT) 32  Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33  Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34  You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. 35  So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36  Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.   Devotion             The scripture above is a call for believers to be steadfast and courageous in the face of persecution. It is a word of God f...

  Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (ESV)   11  To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,  12  so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.   Devotion:               Today the church and the Christian religion are under attack more than they have been in recent memory. The freedom of religion, which has been a part of this country since the constitution was written, is being challenged in the courts with mixed results. There are college campuses where one cannot speak the name of Jesus without being harassed and silenced. Holding to the traditional teachings of the church is looked upon as regressive and bigoted. Many people who once had faith are now abandoning it as obsolete. What can the...