Posted in Devotions

Our Living Hope

Our hope is a living, breathing hope in Christ Jesus, who died on the cross, on the third day rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of the Father. We are free by grace to live a real life, reconciled to God as sons and daughters.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

We should not fear death, for death no longer has dominion over us. God has redeemed us with a price. Our lives are His and the penalty of sin does not bind us, but we live a new life in Jesus.

Blessed be God the Father and His Son Jesus. Blessed be His name. Blessed be His purpose. Blessed be His reign upon the earth as it is in Heaven. Blessed be His church and blessed be the hope we have that one day we will rise to life everlasting.

How great is our God to have given us His life through the Holy Spirit. How wonderful He truly is to have given us our living hope through Christ Jesus.

Posted in Devotions

God’s Love Lasts Forever

Though the waves of the ocean beat upon my brow, pressing me to stumble, God’s love lasts forever. Though the darkness surrounds me, wanting to swallow me whole, God’s love lasts forever. Though my heart plunges in sadness for my loss, God’s love lasts forever.

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

Though the mountains crumble around me, burying me in its dirt, God’s love lasts forever. Though the winds hurl me about, tossing me to the ground, God’s love lasts forever. Though my legs give way to my weakness, I will not surrender, for God’s love lasts forever.

God’s love is perfect. God’s love is kind. It never departs when beaten, never flees when surrounded and never withdraws when sorrow wraps me in its cold grip.

God’s love never fails. The mountains will not bury me, the winds will not pitch me, my legs will stand firm, for God’s love lasts forever.

Posted in Devotions

You Are the Great God

God is our Father. He is our king. He created all things, sustains all things and perfects all things through His Son, Jesus. We are His children, loved by Him, protected by Him and nurtured by Him. His heart is in us and we are joyful because of it.

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

(Psalms 145:1-3)

God stretched His hand over the waters and gave life to all the earth. The mountains sprung forth, the rivers gave way and the dust surrendered its firstfruits. The stars sang, glorifying His name: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.

Great is our God. Great is His holy name. Great is all that He made. Great is His countenance. Great is His throne. Great is the government He established. Great is our God and king.

How great is the Lord Almighty? Measure the universe from edge to edge and His power is greater. His love overflows, pouring into His creation, giving birth to His children, who will praise Him night and day. Great is our God. Great is His name. Great He reigns forever and ever.

You are the Great God.

Posted in Devotions

God Is Our Loving Father

In all things, God is our loving Father. He begat us, is nurturing us through the Holy Spirit, and is preparing us for our ultimate purpose. We may sin, we may turn away, but God will never forsake us. He will always be there, loving us through everything we do.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

As we allow God to live through us, love will perpetually flow through us. As God is love, we then will love as He loves. His ways will be our ways and the fruits of His Spirit will be evident in our lives, for our works will manifest His love.

God gave us Christ Jesus as our Savior, our light and our hope. Through Him, we have peace. Through Him, we are whole. Whatever we lack, His spirit lives in us to make us complete.

God is our king, the great Creator, the wonderful Counsellor, perfect in all things, bountiful in all joy and generous in all goodness. His mercy for us will never fail, and His grace will always abound, for God is our loving Father.

Posted in Devotions

God’s Gift to Us

Salvation is a free gift that God has given to all who believe Jesus is His Son. No other truth is as powerful, as perfect and as just as that purposed by the Father for our understanding. We cannot earn salvation. God gives it to us freely.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

What would we gain if our works were a way to enter into the Kingdom of God? God’s mercy would not matter, nor would His forgiveness. Then by what standards would God judge us? If it were so, no one would be worthy of salvation. Thankfully, we have Jesus.

Adam’s sin required a blood offering; for through Adam, all have sinned, but through Christ, all shall live. God’s mercy is so great that He offered His only Son so that we might live. No longer does sin hold us in bondage, for Christ paid the price for us. We are free.

We do not have to be anxious for the day of salvation. God has given eternal life to us without further qualification. His plan includes us raised from the dead. We are His. He has saved us. How joyful a truth it is to know that salvation is God’s gift to us!

Posted in Devotions

Rejoice Always

How wonderful God is to have given us hope through the resurrection. How joyful a truth we have in accepting Jesus as our savior; no greater love had God than for Him to have given His Son as a sacrifice so that we may live.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19)

Rejoice always knowing God will one day vindicate us by raising us from the dead. No longer will death have dominion over our souls; we will live forever. His purpose is true, His plan is sure and His justice is swift. There will be no more tears, and we will one day praise Him forever in His presence.

Rejoice always, giving our Lord the praise He so truly deserves. He made all things, blessed us with his presence and gave us His life so that we might draw breath. His light will never go out and His anointing over us, which He has foreknown since the beginning, will be sure, true and just.

Rejoice always with hands raised, for God is performing a marvelous work. He is making a new creation in us. Through His Spirit, our heart of stone has become a heart of flesh, and His joy lives in us always. Great is our God, for there are no other gods before Him.

Rejoice always.

Posted in Devotions

Forgive Always

When God sacrificed His only Son as payment for all our sins, He was showing just how great His love for us truly is. For as in Adam all are dead, we are now alive through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Unless it is a sin against the Holy Spirit, no sin is too great for God to forgive. For God is faithful in His promises, generous in His love, unwavering in His forgiveness, and kind to all. He provides us peace when everything seems to collapse around us, hope when there is no hope, grace when we need it most and joy when sorrow grips our heart.

In the same way, we ought to forgive others as God has forgiven us. Our lives depend on God’s mercy, so should we be merciful to others as a way to show them who God is and how His nature lives in us through Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Of ourselves, we are as specks in the sand. Had God not called us to Himself, we would be nothing. Our repentance through His Son reconciled us to our Father. He has forgiven us and forever we will be part of His eternal family, whose members of His household no one can remove.

Forgive Always.