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"...love is kind..."
1 Corinthians 13:4, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:

You may have heard this verse many times before, but one translation says that “love looks for a way to be constructive.” In other words, kindness isn’t just about being nice; it’s looking for ways to improve someone else’s life. It’s bringing out the best in others.

When you start your day, don’t just spend time thinking about yourself or how you can make your own life better. Think about ways you can make someone else’s life better, too! Ask yourself, “Who can I encourage today? Who can I build up?” You have something to offer those around you that no one else can give. Someone in your life needs your encouragement. Someone in your life needs to know that you believe in them. We are responsible for how we treat the people He’s placed in our lives. He’s counting on us to bring out the best in our family and friends.

Today, ask the Lord to give you creative ways to encourage those around you. As you sow seeds of encouragement and bring out the best in others, God will send people along your path that will build you up, too. Keep showing kindness so you can move forward into the blessing and freedom He has for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father God, thank You for loving me. Thank You for believing in me and always building me up. I ask that You show me creative ways to encourage and build up the people around me. Help me to be an example of Your love today and always in Jesus’ name. Amen."

[Looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity]....

— Hebrews 12:2 (AMP)

We all have different gifts, but we shouldn’t compare or be jealous of the gifts of others.

I remember hearing one preacher talk of how often he saw Jesus. I had never seen Jesus, so I wondered what was wrong with me.

Another person I knew prayed four hours every morning. I could not find enough to pray about to keep praying for four hours and always ended up bored and sleepy, so I wondered what was wrong with me.

I had no gift to remember large portions of Scripture like someone I knew, who memorized all the Psalms and Proverbs as well as other entire books of the Bible, so I wondered what was wrong with me.

I finally realized that nothing was wrong with me.

Whatever we cannot do, there are many other things we can. Whatever someone else can do, there are also things they cannot. Don’t let Satan deceive you any longer. Don’t compare yourself with anyone in any way, especially not spiritually.

We can see other people’s good examples and be encouraged by them, but they must never become our standard. Even if we learn how to do something from them, we still will not do it exactly the same way.

At some time or another, I think we all fall into the trap of wondering why we are not like others we know or why we don’t have the same experiences they do, but it is a trap—and a dangerous one. We are caught in a snare set by Satan when we enter into spiritual competition and comparison, and we become dissatisfied with what God is giving to us.

We should trust that God will do the best thing for each of us and let Him choose what that is. If we trust God in this way, we can lay aside our fears and insecurities about ourselves.

I am sure we would all like to see into the spiritual realm and have an abundance of supernatural experiences, but getting frustrated if we don’t only steals our peace, and certainly does not produce visions of Jesus.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for making me a special individual with unique gifts and talents. Help me today and every day to be the best me I can be. Help me to also love and appreciate others for their unique gifts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Psalm 44:3
For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.

Many of God's children live with an insecurity complex and can't see themselves as being blessed and highly favored.

You may feel as if you are doing the right thing, working just as hard as everyone around you. Life appears great for your neighbors but is stressful for you. Where is the favor of God upon your life? Has He overlooked you?

I want you to hear this: It is God's desire to bless you with favor that will knock your socks off! He wants to bless you with blessings you cannot contain! So get ready for good things to come your way. Don't let circumstances of your life dictate your attitude. God's favor is for life, and no one around you can steal it unless you willingly give it away. Put a smile on your face and be encouraged that today is a great day to rejoice in Christ your Savior!

Today's Bible Reading

Old Testament

Daniel 8:1-27

New Testament

1 John 2:1-17

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalms 120:1-7

Proverbs 28:25-26

SATURDAY
01
John 8:31-36

Would you consider yourself a free person? The truth is, most people in the world are slaves but don’t even know it. There are no physical chains or slave masters because this form of bondage has to do with the invisible state of the soul.

When Jesus spoke about the power of truth to set people free, the Pharisees objected, claiming they were not enslaved to anyone. But they were deceived, and this is the sad state of many people today. They have no idea that they’re in bondage to sin and that it’s the result of having rejected the truth of God concerning Jesus Christ.

Freedom comes with believing what God has testified regarding His Son, admitting we are hopeless sinners, and embracing Christ as our Savior. At that point, we are set free from the penalty and dominion of sin. Then, when we finally reach heaven, we’ll also be freed from the very presence of sin, never to be plagued by it again.

As long as we live here on earth, sin will surround us and be something we must contend with. Yet God has given us the way to become progressively free from its power. His solution is the same thing that led us into salvation: the truth. Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32).

The key is to continually fill your mind with God’s Word. As it shapes your emotions and dictates your actions, you’ll gain victory over sinful thoughts, attitudes, and habits.

Bible in One Year: 1 Corinthians 14-16

December 1, 2018
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you (John 15:15 NKJV).

God doesn’t just want servants; He wants friends. He didn’t create mankind so that He could have someone to grovel at His feet with his face in the dirt. No! God wanted friends He could walk and talk with in the cool of the day (see Genesis 3:8).

Through Jesus’ sacrifice, the intimate relationship Adam first shared with God is now available to every believer.

Remaining conscious of your righteousness in Christ gives you boldness before God and makes your fellowship with the Father more intimate.

Righteousness gives you the confidence to come before God and talk to Him as your best friend. When you understand He looks at you as if you are as perfect as Jesus, you will never experience any sense of inferiority. That’s why the Bible says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV).

Only when you understand your righteousness in Christ, and remain mindful of it, can you walk intimately with God as His friend. So, come boldly to the Father today, secure in your righteousness in Christ, and talk to Him face-to-face, as your friend.

Confession: Nothing shall separate me from the love of my heavenly Father, which He has poured out on me through Jesus Christ. Because my righteousness is in Christ, I can go boldly to the throne of grace knowing I am a friend of God.

Author: Jerry Savelle

Romans 4:7–8

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Some people think that if they were more “right” with God, then He would hear their prayers. For example, they sometimes believe that if they had not quarreled with their wives or had those bad thoughts earlier in the day, then God would answer their prayers.

God is not like that. He wants you to know beyond any doubt that you can always come to His throne of grace with boldness and have every confidence that you will receive His mercy and grace (see Hebrews 4:16). You see, because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, you are already right with God. You don’t need to do anything to make yourself more right with God.

In fact, by faith in Jesus, you have received the righteousness of God Himself (see 2 Corinthians 5:21)! And no matter how many mistakes you make, you will never lose that righteousness because in the first place, God gave it to you apart from your works (see Romans 4:5–6). In other words, God did not impute righteousness to you because you were good, but because you believed in Jesus.

Because of what Jesus has done for you at the cross, all your sins—past, present and future—are forgiven. God will by no means ever remember your sins or count them against you (see Hebrews 8:12, 10:17)!

My friend, because Jesus has been punished for your sins, today, God is not counting your sins against you. This means that your sins won’t stop Him from hearing and responding to your prayers. So you can always run into His presence knowing that you can boldly stand in and enjoy His presence and His love.

When you know this truth, it is going to set you free in your relationship with God. You can talk to Him without fear or any sense of condemnation. You can practice His presence and trust that He always hears you. Should something happen at home or at work, you don’t always have to call for your church leaders—you pray and God hears you!

Beloved, you are righteous in Christ and God hears your prayers—all because of Jesus!

A Worshipper's Heart
Todd Dulaney

Be Made Whole || Kris Vallotton || Bethel Church

Running to Win by Kelly Lynnes

Not a Messiah by John MacArthur

Radical Love - Protect This House - Edric Mendoza

God: Your Chief Advisor | Dr. Cindy Trimm | The DNA of Destiny
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The Most Hated Truth by David Wilkerson

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

Most people have never known what divine love is, and as a result, they define it on the basis of their relationships with human beings. They think they know and have experienced the love of God because of the things He’s done for them, such as in salvation, health, deliverance, abundance, and many other blessings they experience.

Well, Jesus dying in our behalf to prove His love for us was an awesome blessing indeed; He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). However, here, He wasn’t referring to divine love, but to human love. When He died for us, He didn’t die as God; He died as a man; that was what made His death in our behalf valid. The love He expressed for us at that point was the love that a man would have for his friends.

Divine love, however, is different. Jesus said in John 14:10, “...I am in the Father, and the Father in me....” He experienced the love of the Father the way no man ever did; He walked in the Father, and the Father walked in Him. That’s the kind of love that resulted after the Cross; that’s the love He brought us into. He invites us to open our eyes, open our understanding and look beyond human love, and embrace His divine love! He saved us with His own love, gave His life for us, so we could experience the Father’s love through fellowship.

The only way you experience the love of God is to be in fellowship with the Father, and that’s what Jesus made possible through the life He gave us; the resurrection brought us into that fellowship; into divine love with the Father. With the resurrection, we came out as new creations; and He gave us the Holy Spirit so we could fellowship with the Father. Now, we can really enjoy the love that’s beyond the Cross. Hallelujah!

Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank you for the revelation of your Word to my spirit on your divine love for me; amazing love, so sweet, so sublime, so divine! Through fellowship with you, studying and meditating on the Scriptures, I experience this immeasurable love in its power; love beyond the Cross, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 2:4-7

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
1 John 2:15-3:1-10 & Ezekiel 45-46

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Revelation 5:1-14 & Joel 1  

Saturday December 1st 2018
Memorise: Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! Numbers 23:10

Read: Revelation 14: 9-13 (KJV)
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Bible in one year: 
Ezekiel 38 – 39,
John 6: 1- 24,

Hymnal: 
Sing Hymn 3

Message:
Today’s Bible text and memo verse reveal the blessings of dying the death 0f the righteous. As long as Jesus tarries, everyone, including Christians, will die. At the point of death, each person will either be in a state of righteousness or unrighteousness. The question you need to answer is which state you will be in when your time comes.

The Holy Spirit has made it clear that there is nothing we can do of our own accord to attain righteousness. In Isaiah 64:6, He said:

”But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness-es are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Who then are the righteous? Paul, in his letter to the Romans, explains that we only become righteous when we submit ourselves to the righteousness of God made available through Jesus Christ. Romans 10:3-4 says:

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”

Beloved, if the Lord calls for your soul today, will your death be that of the righteous? If we look at the other side of what the Spirit is saying in Revelation 14:13, He clearly warns that anyone who does not die in Christ will have everlasting unrest. This will not be our portion in Jesus’ Name

Submitting to the righteousness of God is not just about giving your life to Christ, but rather a continuous journey of submitting to God’s will and living daily for Him. Beloved, can on boldly say that you are living a life that is in total submission to God’s will? Can you say you have a relationship with God where you commune with Him and know what He wants you to do with your life daily? The temple veil that prevented the children of God from having a direct relationship with Him was torn on the day of crucifixion, signifying that everyone can now relate with God personally (Matthew 27:51. Hebrews 4:16). This is the foundation of living a righteous life and the source of assurance that all you are doing is in line with His will for you. I pray that you will have a deeper relationship with God from today.

Prayer Point: Father, please guide me as I begin to deepen my relationship with You, and cause me to hear from You on what You will have me do at every point in time.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Hebrews 2:1

It's happened to all of us. We get a little of the Word of God under our spiritual belts. We have a few victories. Our lives are going great for the first time in years. Then suddenly we slip and it all falls apart. We find ourselves having to start all over again.

That's what happened to the people the book of Hebrews was written to. They made such great spiritual progress that they got to the place where they should have been teachers. Then they slipped back so much, they needed baby food again. (See Hebrews 5:12.)

What caused them to fall so far? They let other things get in the way of their faith. They let the promises of God slip, so they slipped.

That's happened to a multitude of believers in the last several years.

"Well, Brother Copeland," they said, "we're tired of that faith stuff." Or, "We just don't have time to spend that much time in the Word."

They've turned their attention away from the promises of God. It's not that they didn't believe them anymore. It's just that they directed their attention to other things. They let their Word level drop and since low Word level equals low faith level, they soon began suffering defeat in areas where they once had victory.

Don't let that happen to you. When things are going well, don't just ride the tide of God's blessing. Dig deeper into what God has for you. Give more earnest heed to the promises of God. Concentrate on moving ahead, on becoming so strong in the Spirit you can not only get your own needs met, you'll meet others' needs as well!

Remember: Low Word Level = Low Faith Level = Slip.

Don't get so busy enjoying today's victory that tomorrow ends up in defeat. Look into the things you've learned. Give the Word more of your attention—not less. Keep moving from faith to faith. Instead of trying to trip you up, Satan and his bunch will be crying, "Oh no, that faith man is coming after us again!"

Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-12

“There is sin in their homes, and they are polluted to the depths of their souls. But I will call upon the Lord to save me—and he will.”
—Psalm 55:15,16 (TLB)

The broken home has become the number one social problem of America, and could ultimately lead to the destruction of our civilization. Since the basic unit of any society is the home, when the home begins to break, the society is on the way to disintegration. It is a threat to the American way of life. It does not make screaming headlines; but, like termites, it is eating away at the heart and core of the American structure.

It is high time that our so-called experts on marriage, the family, and the home turn to the Bible. We have read newspaper columns and listened to counselors on the radio; psychiatrists have had a land-office business. In it all, the One who performed the first marriage in the Garden of Eden and instituted the union between man and wife has been left out.

Do you have questions about family? Browse these Q&As.

Prayer for the day
I pray, Lord, for the homes in this beloved country. Without Your love and wisdom guiding us, our society will crumble.

Beloved. Did you know, My Child, that it is written, "Healing is the BREAD of the children of God". Oh yes, Dear One. HEALING of body and soul BELONGS to you.

I am the Word and I am your Bread. The Bread come down from heaven. My Bread changes your very DNA. I am your Heavenly Manna, your Sustainer of Life and your HEALTH.

I am the Bread of Presence in your temple, which is your body. You never have to beg for this Bread of Healing for I have given it to you freely. I feed you with My Own Hand. Partake, Beloved, eat from the abundance of My House. The True Bread is My Body; it is WHOLENESS to you. For too long you have been told that sickness and disease, depression and oppression are your portion in life. But I tell you, Blessed One, that when you eat of MY PORTION, HEALTH shall spring forth speedily! I am the Sun of Righteousness with HEALING in My Wings.

I AM YOUR PORTION. I not only provide bread, but I AM the Bread. Do you see this, My Love? You shall eat and be satisfied. You shall NEVER go hungry. The Bridegroom's Body is the Bride's Bread. Know this, Beloved, and let your soul rejoice. For I have fed My Own ABUNDANTLY with the RICHEST of Food and you shall FEAST and you shall LIVE!

PORTION: Strong's Hebrew 2506: share, part, territory, one's possession, inheritance, chosen portion, award (from God)

...Exodus 25:30 "Put the Bread of the Presence on this table to be before Me at all times".
...Psalm 36:8They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights.
...Psalm 63:5 My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.
...Psalm 37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

...Lamentations 3:22The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; 23they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.24“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,therefore I will hope in him.”

...John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

...John 6:57Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58This is the Bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your forefathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this Bread will live forever.”

“A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s wisdom are safe” (Proverbs 28:26 TLB).

We tend to make decisions frivolously, but the Bible gives a simple, workable plan on how to handle things differently. Whether it’s about career, marriage, finances, health, children, or the future, here are three principles from God’s Word for making wise decisions.

Pray for guidance.
Before you do anything else, get God’s perspective on the issue. Proverbs 28:26 says, “A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s wisdom are safe” (TLB).

Have you ever made a foolish decision that you thought was the best thing to do at the time? We all get impressions, but they are just that—impressions.

They are not from God. They are from what you ate last night or just ideas that pop into your mind. You need something greater than simply intuition, gut feeling, or “I think.” You need absolute truth on which to base your decisions. You need God’s guidance, and you get that by praying and asking God for it.

Get the facts.
According to the Department of Labor, 90 percent of all new businesses fail within the first year, and of those that make it, 90 percent fail within the following five years. Why? Those businesses are based on what I call uneducated enthusiasm. They’ve got a great idea, but they don’t get the facts before they make decisions.

There is no contradiction between faith and fact, and it is wise to find out all you can before you make a decision. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:16, “Every prudent man acts with knowledge” (ESV), and in Proverbs 18:13, “What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!” (TLB).

Ask for advice.
Talk to somebody who’s made a similar decision. Talk to friends who know your weaknesses. Learn to ask for advice! Proverbs 24:6 says, “The more advice you get, the more likely you are to win” (GNT).

It is wise to learn from experience, but it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. You don’t have time to learn everything from personal experience. You don’t have time to make all the mistakes in life. Life is too short to learn everything by trial and error. But you can learn from others’ successes, and you can learn from others’ failures.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over

Which of the three steps from today’s devotional are you most likely to skip when making a decision? Why?

What friends in your life know your weaknesses best and are not afraid to tell you?
Think about a big decision you’ve made recently. How did you know your impression was from God and not from you?

"...knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
(James 1:3-4, NKJV)

TODAY'S WORD:

God wants you to be perfect and complete, living in His abundance and lacking nothing on this earth. That may seem like a stretch from where you are today. It may seem far off; but in an instant, things can turn around. God has set up a system of blessing for you, and it starts with His Word. The Bible says that God has given each of us a measure of faith. We all have faith, and it’s up to us to develop it. Romans 10:17 says that faith grows as we read and study His Word. Faith, in turn, produces patience, and when we allow patience to have its perfect work in us, we will lack no good thing.

Today, no matter where you are in the process, the key is to keep moving forward by reading and hearing His Word. His Word is alive. His Word will heal your heart and restore your soul. His Word will produce patience in your life so that you can move forward, being complete and lacking nothing all the days of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father God, thank You for Your Word which lights my path and directs my way. I choose to put You first place. I choose to meditate on Your Word, knowing that You are leading me in Your paths of life in Jesus’ name. Amen!

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

— Psalm 63:1

People who finish well in life are the ones with strong character. As believers, we can be grateful that the Holy Spirit is developing the character in us that we need to do what God calls us to do—we have “staying power.”

Jesus did not quit when His circumstances were rough, and He is our example. The Bible says we are to look away from all that distracts and look to Jesus instead.

I think most of us want to do and be everything God intends for us, and to enjoy it along the way. Great joy comes with finishing the race God has called you to run.

Enjoy the journey and keep your eyes on the prize. One of the greatest testimonies you can have is I’m still here. When you speak those words, you are saying, “I did not quit. I did not give up. I am still here.”

Prayer Starter: Father, I thank You that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I have staying power. I make the decision today to keep going—to never give up. Help me to run my race with perseverance and discover the joy of finishing each task well. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Psalm 43:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.

Never rewrite your theology to accommodate a tragedy you are going through. I often hear people say things like, "Pastor, I can't find a godly man/woman, so marriage isn't for me." WRONG! God says it's not good for man to be alone. It was HIS idea for you to find someone.

Others make statements like, "The world is a madhouse, so I'm not going to have children." Let me again point to the Word of God, the greatest guidebook known to mankind which says that children are a heritage from the Lord. If it's in God's Word, it's for YOU. Start praying today that God will meet your need according to His Word. If you want to get married, have children, find the perfect job or continue pursuing your divine destiny, He is simply waiting for you to ask. Nothing is impossible to those who believe.

When God answers your prayer, don't be upset with Him that your spouse isn't everything you wanted. Remember, YOU are the one who made the final decision there. Start praying for God's will in your life and know that He will direct your path and bring you out to rich fulfillment.

Today's Bible Reading

Old Testament

Daniel 7:1-28

New Testament

1 John 1:1-10

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalms 119:156-176

Proverbs 28:23-24

FRIDAY
30
Psalm 81:8-14

Does the heavenly Father still speak to His children? It’s a question that may be on your mind right now. We all have this need to know the Lord is still communicating with us. We crave the certainty that He hears us—and answers.

In today’s reading, we get a clear picture of God’s heart: He yearns for Israel to listen to Him. Think about that. Here’s the almighty Creator of the universe, pleading with His chosen people to hear His voice. It doesn’t make sense, does it? Why on earth would the Israelites turn a deaf ear to their sustaining, omnipotent heavenly Father?

However, God’s message is sent to inattentive ears. He says, “O Israel, if you would listen to Me! ... But My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel did not obey Me” (Psalm 81:8, Psalm 81:11).

Thousands of years later, I’m certain that same question still rings through heaven. We can practically hear the Lord saying, “Oh, church, if only you would listen to Me. But My church did not listen to My voice. Oh, that My church would listen to Me!”

Have you ever sensed God saying the same thing to you personally? We all can fall out of touch with Him at times. That happens when we put ourselves in one corner and restrict the Lord to someplace “over there” and out of the way. Then we seem to lose track of His voice in our life. And yet, though we may not hear Him, He is still talking.

Quiet your spirit today. Open God’s Word and invite Him to speak to you anew. And then listen.

Bible in One Year: 1 Corinthians 11-13

November 30, 2018
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).

God created you with a unique personality. He gave you specific gifts and interests. His intention is that you express and live out everything He created you to be. However, to do this it is necessary that you first find out who you are in Christ.

Believers who are living out who they are in Christ will have certain things in common. They will walk in love, be extremely positive, and walk by faith.

However, not every believer was created to express Christ in them in exactly the same way. God never wanted us to be clones of anyone else. Take a look at your fingerprints; no one on the face of this earth has fingerprints like yours.

God made you a unique individual according to His plan and purpose. He carefully established your personality, talents, and interests. He gave you an assignment to pursue that would suit you perfectly and be fulfilling.

Only when you learn to walk in Him will you fully express the fullness of all that God has imparted to you, just as these heroes of the Bible did:

In Him, Joseph was an excellent administrator and national leader
In Him, Deborah received revelation that affected the destiny of a nation
In Him, Solomon was extremely wise and extremely rich
In Him, Abraham was a friend of God and a model father
In Him, Gideon was a mighty man of valor
When you learn to walk in Him, you will discover and fully express the fullness of all God has invested into you.

Confession: I am a child of God. In Him I walk by faith, knowing that I am His workmanship and I will accomplish the good works He has prepared for me.

Author: Jerry Savelle

Deuteronomy 28:4

“Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

Would you want to buy a chair that Jesus made? I would, even if it cost US$1,000 because it would be of superb quality. Whatever Jesus did, He did it with perfect excellence.

And because Christ is in you, the things which you produce will be of exceptional quality too. That includes your children, who will be champions. Deuteronomy 28:4 says, “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.”

God was using terms that the Israelites understood since they were farmers and shepherds. Today, “your ground” is the place of your work. This means that “the produce” of your work shall be of excellent quality.

That is not all. God promises that quantity will always follow quality because Deuteronomy 28:11 says that the Lord will “grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body,” which means that you will have plenty of children, “in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground,” which means that your business will flourish and you will be a leading producer in the area of your specialty.

My friend, your excellence and plenty do not come by your efforts. They come by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who paid for you to have divine provision—“though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Jesus was made destitute of all material things at the cross. He had nothing! As He hung on the cross, He watched the Roman soldiers gamble for His robe. His last possession on earth was gambled away. He became poor, so that you could be blessed with the excellent and the plenty!

Don Moen - I Offer My Life | Praise & Worship Music