Category: faith

faith

Devotional for December 30

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Little church in open country

Holiness Adorns His House Forever

1 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. Psalm 93 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

The Bible tells us that when the world was young, mankind’s thoughts were only of evil. All would have perished had Noah not found favor in the eyes of God. The hour of God’s judgement came and Noah was 75 years in preparing the ark as God commanded. It had one door. God closed the door sealing Noah, his family, and the animals inside. After which, the flood came suddenly wiping the earth clean. Only those in the ark lived. Now we have come full circle. The earth is once again filled to the brim with those who only think of evil constantly. God, in His mercy, has provided another ark to save those who know that judgement is coming. This latter day ark of God given to save all those who will believe is Jesus Christ. Just as non-believers were sweep away suddenly by the flood, so too will the non-believers perish when the last trumpet sounds. The judgement day of the Lord draws near, and only those who are in Christ Jesus will be saved. Jesus is the only door and the only way. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life have the boarding pass for eternal life. Let us press on then to make our calling and election sure by receiving the true freedom that comes from an inward obedience to the word of God in Christ Jesus.

Today’s Question to Consider

Having been saved by faith alone, what are some of the practical ways we make our calling and election sure?

faith

Devotional for December 29

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Open wave with sun in the cone symbolizing the love of God

I Love You, O Lord

1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Psalm 18:1-2, 31-32 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

A life of too much comfort and ease will tarnish the golden years with weakness. Watch yourself as you watch popular entertainment. Beware of the influence of social media. By accident or design, they tend to conform us to ungodly ways of thinking and kindle ungodly desires within us. The popular culture of our day is a tool of the thief that comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. The man-made light coming from big and small screens conditions the mind little by little unless it is diligently guarded against. Anything that dishonors God, or contradicts the word of God as written in the Holy Bible, is to be rejected. Do not be deceived. The pursuit of happiness for its own sake is as vain as a dog chasing its own tail. Life is more than having a good time. A good life is more than what we eat, more than what we do, more than what we wear, more than what we have, more than where we go, and more than where we live. The good life is made possible only by allowing the manifold grace of God to shine forth in our life. Without knowing Jesus Christ, life is just a bubble waiting to burst. Seek to know Him better, because the single most important thing in this life is a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is alive and we can know Him. Thus are we commanded: “Be still and know that I am God.”

Today’s Question to Consider

How do we protect ourselves from the worldliness all around us that would have us forget God?

faith

Devotional for December 28

Bruce Coleman1 Comment
Two men running with eyes focused on God

Our Eyes Look to the Lord Our God

123 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. Psalm 123 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

A bookworm can be made by reading alone, but disciples are best made by following the example of their teacher. Strive to have your life show by every thought and every deed that you are a true disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not the one who knows the most that will be saved, but he who has enough faith to do all the truth he knows that will enter the kingdom of heaven. Let us not grow weary of doing good. We may sow with tears, but we are promised to reap with joy. Look around and know that even though it is sometimes delayed, everyone reaps what they have sowed. This is one of the first principles of the kingdom of God.

Today’s Question to Consider

Why is the Bible important for teachers, students, leaders, and followers?

faith

Devotional for December 27

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Pilgrims in small boat heading to a big Cross in the middle of a lake at sunrise.

It is Good to Tell of His Lovingkindness in the Morning

92 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Psalm 31:1-5 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

Life in Babylon of the last days is hard. Just watch the world news for five minutes and see. Sniffing glue makes stupid; cookie dough makes fat; and the less one moves, the less one will be able to move. We may be in this world, yet by faith we can live in Christ. Christ in us and we in Christ. In the world, but not of the world. From one end of the earth to the other, publish the good news that in Christ there is healing for the brokenhearted, freedom for the captive, recovery of sight for the blind, liberty for the oppressed, and that the favor of the Lord is today available to all. Not because we deserve it. Grace is poured upon us from above only because of the lovingkindness of the Lord. Call on the name of the Lord, and ask for what you need. Why does anyone think it strange that the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth does the impossible? All power and might belongs to God and nothing is too hard for Him. Remember the Lord did no mighty work in Nazareth because their unbelief unplugged them from the power of God. When thinking of God, think big. Think BIGGER! Still, our God is infinitely bigger than the biggest we can think or imagine. 

Today’s Question to Consider

What are some of the ways we can strengthen our belief in God?

faith

Devotional for December 26

Bruce Coleman2 Comments
Praying man

Into Your Hands Lord, I Commit My Spirit

1 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Psalm 31:1-5 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

Everyone does what they believe will make them happy. Most are like the man who sticks his head in the refrigerator looking for something he wants to eat, but he doesn’t really know what will satisfy his desire. He grabs this then that. This is how the majority of us pursue happiness in life, trying this and then that. The reality for each of us is that there simply is no lasting happiness, peace, or satisfaction without Jesus Christ. Knowing the way and walking in the way are both equally important. There is no profit in knowing what is right unless the hands are put forth to do it. The body must be strengthened and health protected. The heart must be guarded by carefully choosing what the mind is fed. The spirit must abide in the True Vine. Life has become so full of distractions each clamoring and competing for our limited attention and focus. The longer our eyes are drawn away from the straight and narrow path, the harder it becomes to walk it.

Today’s Question to Consider

What are some of the chief distractions in the modern world and how can we overcome them?