Joy of the Cross

Joy of the Cross

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 1-3

Joy set before him he endured the cross? These words caught my attention and I wondered how can there be any joy in the cross. What was that joy?

Jesus faced the cross and he chose to endure the cross for us. Why?

Would we be willing to do that for someone? So many questions, many more than can be voiced here. When we realize that Faith is a gift from God through His Grace we can come to understand that the only way we could be made holy is through Jesus blood that he shed on the cross. He died and rose so that we could be seen as Holy when we choose to accept the gift of faith.

The Joy that Jesus had after the cross was us, you and me. We are His Joy. I am his Joy because I choose to accept the gift of Faith that comes from Him. You are his Joy when you choose to accept the gift of Faith that comes from Him.

Prayer

Lord thank you for the gift of Faith and for showing us the Joy of the cross. Help us to faithful obedient servants. Amen

Will you Pray with us?

Mankind throughout the world throughout our current situation

All Law enforcement and emergency response personnel 

For all military personal serving our country and their families 

Those in Leadership positions throughout the world

 

This devotional was written by Cindy, one of our followers, if you would like to have one of your devotionals featured please email it to us today!

The Rewards of Wisdom

The Rewards of Wisdom

The first nine chapters of Proverbs are filled with verses that speak about the rewards of wisdom, especially in connection to blessing, enduring wealth and riches, honor, long life and success. Perhaps you think that such verses are referring to spiritual blessing and riches in heaven - that these are reserved for heaven. But when we are in heaven, we won’t need such things as wealth or long life. These things proceed from heaven for sure, but if you don’t have a true revelation of God’s purpose for your life on earth, you won’t appreciate why the rewards of blessing are necessary while you’re here.

On the other hand, Scripture consistently contrasts the themes of being content with enough with God’s desire to bring abundant blessing to you. How is that supposed to work? Are these ideas contradictory? Look at what Paul understood about blessing in his letter to the Corinthians:

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)

Paul gives us a concise picture of the relationship between sufficiency and abundance. Both are for the believer, and both have a purpose in the believer’s life. The Amplified Bible draws more detail from the same verse,

"And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]." 2 Corinthians 9:8 (AMP)

Do you think that scriptural ‘sufficiency’ means simply having enough to manage by God’s grace? Paul makes it clear that this sufficiency is God’s favor and blessing by His grace, so that no matter what, we won’t require help or support; and this sufficiency becomes an overflow of abundance for every good work. Nothing is overlooked and nobody misses out. That’s how these two themes – contentment and abundance – work beautifully together. It is the difference between posture and position; how I sit and where I sit. How do I sit? Content. Where do I sit? Blessed.

So, what does that mean for you and me? It means that while we are content, we understand that our lives have a greater purpose and that our overflow and abundance enable us to spread the Gospel further afield than our own sphere. It means we position ourselves to give and contribute to every good work of the Kingdom of God. When you care about calling, you don’t have a problem with the idea of God blessing you because you understand that the blessing is also to enable you to fulfill His purposes in your life.

"[God] who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began." 2 Timothy 1:9 (NKJV)

God has saved you for purpose, called you for purpose, graced you for your purpose! This is why every believer in Christ needs to get a revelation of wisdom and believe to see wisdom fulfilled so that the fruit of wisdom that the Bible consistently teaches becomes a reality in your life. 

PRAYER:

Thank you, Father, that I have the chance to live with Your wisdom and Your Word applied practically to my life, inside and outside the church. Thank you that the rewards of godly wisdom are a life of contentment and generosity. In Your wisdom, you have both saved me and called me to live by grace according to Your purpose. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Will you Pray with us?

Mankind throughout the world throughout our current situation

All Law enforcement and emergency response personnel 

For all military personal serving our country and their families 

Those in Leadership positions throughout the world

Good Judgment

Good Judgment

Looking back on my life, I realize how important God’s grace has been across all my endeavors and challenges. I also recognize the role of endurance, determination, initiative and making right choices. That doesn’t mean I haven’t made mistakes or some bad decisions along the way. Nevertheless, the consistent pursuit of godly wisdom and good judgment, overshadowed with God’s grace, has enabled me as an individual and our church overall, to accomplish things so far beyond what I could have imagined all those years ago.

Think about the part godly wisdom, or the lack of it, has played in your life so far. How has this affected your financial decisions? Your relationships? Your career and achievements? If you are young and have big dreams, don’t underestimate the importance of seeking godly wisdom and good judgment in framing and building your life, choice by choice, through highs and lows, to see your plans come to pass over time.

"10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.  11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. 12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." Proverbs 9:10-12 (NLT)

God will freely give His wisdom to you without reproach if you ask Him for it (see James 1:5). Proverbs says wisdom will permeate every area of your life. If you could see the path ahead and the fruit of wisdom, then wouldn’t you want every area of your life permeated with wisdom?

"It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen. Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you." Proverbs 9:11-12 (MSG)

If you will listen to ‘Lady Wisdom’, your life will deepen and over time, improve and ‘ripen’. That doesn’t mean you won’t have challenges or opposition, but it does mean you have the promise of ongoing victory over them.

God wants to open doors and make a way in your life and that includes understanding how to exercise good judgment. However, if you don’t apply wisdom principles such as obedience to God, humility and waiting for His timing, your path forward will meet impasses. 

"I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment."  Proverbs 8:12 (NLT)

Wisdom means trusting God and allowing good judgment to make a way for you.

PRAYER:
Lord, You say that if anyone lacks wisdom all they have to do is ask You for it and You will give it. Help me to understand the importance of good judgment in my life and to develop humility and patience and a desire to please You.

Will you Pray with us?

Mankind throughout the world for our current situation

All Law enforcement and emergency response personnel 

For all military personal serving our country and their families 

Those in Leadership positions throughout the world

The Wisdom of Obedience

The Wisdom of Obedience 

As you read through the Bible, the role of obedience and disobedience in determining the blessing of God, becomes more and more obvious. It began with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When they were obedient, they lived in blessing and peace. When they were disobedient, they brought a curse upon themselves and the earth, forfeiting the blessing God gave them. It continued through their sons, Cain and Abel, one was obedient and the other disobedient and that played out accordingly. On to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose obedience brought promise to Israel, but when there was disobedience, there were unwanted consequences. And when Joseph put God first, despite the most challenging circumstances, great prosperity came to Israel despite a time of famine. 

Throughout the Bible, the principle remains that obedience to God attracts blessing while disobedience brings about trouble and suffering. Without fail, we see the fortunes of Israel rise and fall in line with the obedience or disobedience of its rulers. 

The lesson is clear. If we want to live with God’s blessing, we need His wisdom to teach us the difference between obedience and disobedience – what pleases God and what displeases Him.

At its root, obedience is a trust issue. Obedience is evidence that you trust God. If you don’t trust God, you will struggle to obey Him. A lack of trust is a lack of wisdom. And wisdom is what will make a way for you.

"Who among you fears the Lord?Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God." Isaiah 50:10 (NKJV)

Despite Samuel’s pleas, Saul disobeyed God by overstepping his bounds; consequently, Samuel advised Saul that obedience is more important than sacrifice (see 1 Samuel 15:22). Sacrifice is saying no to yourself. Obedience is saying yes to God. The thing is, we can make sacrifices without God being involved at all. That’s not to say that sacrifice is wrong, but rather that obedience is better. God is looking for your obedience.

Many Christians baulk at the idea of obedience, seeing it as an outdated Old Testament principle under the Law. Yet Jesus exemplified obedience to His Father, and in so doing, made a way for us to live under a New Covenant of grace. However, nowhere in the Bible will you find God approving disobedience to Him. Saying yes to Jesus’ invitation to accept His Lordship for our lives is the doorway to a life of victory and the path of wisdom through a life of obedience and submission to Him.

PRAYER:
Lord, You are absolutely trustworthy, and when I struggle to trust You, it is because I don’t see You as You truly are. Forgive me and help me to renew my mind through Your Word; to see You in spirit and in truth so I can always confidently say YES to You.