DEVOTIONS

Monday, April 4 – “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.  When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44) Do you question this man’s decision?  Who among us wouldn’t sell all that we have in order to buy a treasure?  Well, are you ready?  The treasure that you have found is grace, forgiveness, indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and eternal life in heaven.  And you don’t have to sell everything you own in order to buy this treasure.  All you have to do is surrender your life to this truth.  Surrender to being saved by grace through faith in Jesus.  Surrender to the gift that Jesus has given you of a fully restored relationship with God. 

Tuesday, April 5 – “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” (Ephesians 3:16) Here is a prayer for some power today.  Power to make that decision, to make that long overdue call, to have that tough conversation, to take that leap of faith.  Power that can only come from without, from confessing that you can’t do it all on your own.  Power not from you but from the Holy Spirit that’s dwelling in you.  Power that provides the strength you need to do today whatever God is leading you to do.  Power that provides the strength you need to be today whoever God has created you to be.           

Wednesday, April 6 – “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.” (Romans 4:4) God isn’t paying you for your faith in Jesus.  Your faith in Jesus is opening the door to God’s gifts.  Your relationship with God is totally different from your relationship with your job.  Your job pays you because you put in the work.  No work, no pay.  God pays you because of God’s love for you.  No work can merit the payment that God gives you, through faith in Jesus.  You didn’t do anything to deserve it and you can never do anything to earn it.  Your salvation isn’t an obligation that God owes you.  It’s a gift that God freely gives to you.

Thursday, April 7 – “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13) Being a follower of Jesus means that you will suffer in some way, shape or form, because of your faith.  I don’t know what that specifically means for your life.  All I know is that it’s impossible to surrender your life to faith in Jesus and it not cause you to make certain decisions that will bring conflict into your life.  Trouble comes to anyone who makes the decision to be in the world, but not of the world.  Just know that for every suffering that you experience there is greater joy to more than balance it all out.

Friday, April 8 – “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20) Have you ever been in a situation where someone was telling lies about someone you know or something you are a part of and you just sat there and let them talk without any response?  We all know what that’s like.  This is what Paul is praying to overcome in today’s verse.  Today, may you find the courage to speak and act and be the passionate follower of Jesus that God has created and called you to be. Regardless of what anyone else is saying or doing around you. 

Saturday, April 9 – “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” (Hebrews 5:8-9) God didn’t need to come and live with us as Jesus in order to save us.  We needed God to come and live with us as Jesus in order to learn how to be saved.  Through the suffering of Jesus, we all learn what true obedience to God looks like.  Suffering is a natural part of your faith life.  Yet, never forget that suffering is also a matter of perspective.  You have “suffered” many things in order to achieve something that you perceived as greater.  The same is true when it comes to your faith in Jesus.