DEVOTIONS

Monday, August 28 – “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Here’s the truth.  We know how this whole thing is going to end.  This world will be consumed by fire and God will make a new heaven and a new earth.  So, all of us are already condemned.  If we do nothing, we know how life will end.  So, God has given us everything that we need in order to escape this ending.  Yet, it’s up to you.  Where God’s patience comes into play is that today you have another chance to be saved from the condemnation that you are currently living under.

Tuesday, August 29 – “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) What is the truth?  Because of the sin in our lives, all of us are condemned.  For God can’t dwell in the presence of sin.  So, life, without the presence of God, equals condemnation to death.  Yet, God has given all of us an escape.  But this escape requires you to make a choice.  For if God forced you to be saved, then there would be no love.  For love is only found in choice.  God wants all to be saved.  But it’s up to each one of us if we will be saved.  And it all starts with knowledge. 

Wednesday, August 30 – “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) This is a parable of Jesus.  A parable is a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle or moral lesson.  What Jesus is teaching us is that once you discover the kingdom of heaven, you will want to be whoever you need to be, in order to keep it.  Notice that the man found the treasure hidden in the field.  Thus, he must have been looking for something.  Are you looking for something?  Well, you just found it.  Now, who are you willing to be in order to keep it? 

Thursday, August 31 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) This is Jesus’ ministry – to seek and to save the lost.  This is really good news because you’re lost.  And Jesus not only saves, Jesus seeks.  Jesus is looking for you.  Jesus knows you by name.  Jesus knows everything about you.  And Jesus still wants to save you!  Jesus is knocking on your door right now.  The question for you is if you will seek back?  Will you seek salvation today or will you simply continue to live as you have always lived?  Are you satisfied living as someone who needs to be saved?  Or are you bold enough to live as someone who has been saved? 

Friday, September 1 – “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” (Luke 4:18) These are the words of the prophet Isaiah, being spoken by Jesus in the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth.  Jesus is announcing to his friends and neighbors that he is the one.  The Messiah of which Isaiah spoke. The people didn’t believe him.  Jesus stood right in front of them, proclaiming the truth of who he was.  And the people didn’t believe him.  Who’s really poor?  Who’s really a prisoner?  Who’s really blind?  And who’s really oppressed?  The one who sees the truth and still doesn’t believe it.      

Saturday, September 2 – “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Who is Jesus’ people?  Imagine that a ship is sinking.  People are jumping overboard, clinging to whatever they can in order to save their lives.  Now imagine that Jesus shows up with an even bigger ship.  A ship that will easily hold every single person who has had to abandon the sinking ship.  Every single person has the same opportunity to be saved, to get on Jesus’ ship.  But only the ones who actually get on Jesus’ ship will actually be saved.  These are Jesus’ people.  Not that Jesus couldn’t save everyone.  But not everyone will make the choice to be saved.