Acts 20:16 “For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.” I highlighted three words in our verse for today for a reason. Every believer should constantly keep before them the clarity and comfort of the truth that God is sovereign. Yet at the same time we must understand that the will of God does not take place “automatically”. We have to make choices. We all need to choose to plan (determine), engage with passion (hasted), and to be flexible (possible). Questions to face: What is your plan to accomplish God’s will? Are you investing your energies in accomplishing the plan? Are you willing for God to take your plans and your passions and do with them what He pleases? Decisions to make: Today, let us make a plan to do God’s will. Let us not become lackadaisical but passionate about the most seemingly trivial part of that plan. While taking our hands off the steering wheel and allowing God to lead step by step.

John 1:6 - 8 “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light” The time gap between the last prophet of God in the Old Testament and the first in the New (John the Baptist) was 400 years. From generation to generation the Jews had to wait upon God to work everything out so that at the right time Jesus would come. John’s birth and ministry were a crucial part of God‘s plan in taking that next step. Have you ever had to wait upon God in silence? Waiting to hear when you face times of waiting for God to supply a need, give direction or to work out the unworkable. If this is where you find yourself this Christmas let me encourage you to do what the Jews had to do. Stay with what you know God has told you and wait for Him to take the next step. Don’t run ahead of God, don’t take matters into your own hands, nor give up in despair. God will meet your need by His power, through His grace and in His time. Let us quiet our souls in the midst of our needs with the ultimate assurance of God’s promise to always do what is right at the right time!

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. “The Christian life is tough!” This statement is proven true throughout the pages of scripture and within the realities that all of us, as believers, face day by day. While there are many reasons for this truth, our response should follow the simple pattern of our verse for today. We all need to be strengthened (confirming) in our walk with God, encouraged (exhorting) in are relationship with God’s word, and realistic (must) in our understanding of life. Let us today seek to meet these needs in the lives of our fellow belivers while at the same time being open to others ministering to us.

I Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Two key words in our text today are the words “In” and “For”. The word “IN” gives us the parameter of our expression of thankfulness. The word means “among”. The idea is that among all our experiences in life giving of thanks is to be a constant. The word “FOR” gives us the reason for our gratitude. It is the will of God. This week let’s keep our Thanksgiving real. Let us accept the pain or sadness that often accompanies our lot in life. Let us accept that many times we do not understand all that God is up to in our lives. Yet at the same time let us give thanks to the God that, in love, is at work in every area and at every moment in our lives to accomplish His will. To God be the glory!

Matthew 26:75 “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Peter had experienced the greatness of God’s grace and the sweetness of His presence. Yet when faced with the pressure of the lost world around him he bailed out! His denial of the Lord was clear, energetic and consistent. What would our answer be if the question was, “In denying our Lord, how much are we like Peter?” Are we denying Christ by adapting to the pressure of the world to conform? Are we denying Christ by abandoning God’s call to live rightly in the midst of a wicked world? Today, let us avoid the pain and grief that denying Christ brings. Let us kindly but clearly identify ourselves with Christ by the words we use, the choices we make and the actions we take.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that
we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

This is election week in the US and a good time to think through our relationship to
human authority.

The Christians in Paul's day lived under human authority that, as a rule, had no place for God.  Not completely unlike the conditions many Christians live under today.

What was, what is, a Christian to do?

We know from other scriptures that it is right for believers to fulfill their civic duties and participate in the political system. Christians should vote.  Believers should seek to influence their country for God as they engage in the politics of the day as God leads them. (Matthew 22; Romans 13)

Yet the one responsibility every Christian has, not only to civil authority, but to all authority in life is to pray.

Pray for those in authority over us regardless of their political leanings, religious leanings or personal conduct.

Let us this week add to our prayer list those whom God has placed in authority over our lives. Not only in the political world, but in other areas of our lives such as work, school, etc.

Remember, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. James 5:16b

Matthew 18:21-22 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

We know that when we forgive others we do not negate their responsibility in the sin. In addition we know that forgiveness is always an act of grace that requires a choice on the part of the one granting the forgiveness.

In light of all of this Peter asks a common question, “How many times?” Jesus then responds with a universal answer “As many as it takes!”

Stop trying to justify an unforgiving spirit.  Stop keeping a list of the offenses of others.

Questions for today:
1. How many times have you needed to be forgiven yourself?
2. How many times has Christ forgiven you?

Let us not excuse, ignore or in any way justify sin in others and certainly not in ourselves.
Yet let us respond with the grace of a forgiven heart.

Let us respond like Christ responded to us! (Ephesians 4:32)

1 Peter 2:20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

We all, from time to time, suffer from the wrong we do. That's life!

Yet there are times when in doing and for doing right we suffer.

At those moments we must, with extreme caution, examine our response.

We are called  to patiently endure. Not to quit God's calling or course for our lives.

Today let’s  anticipate  that suffering is the expected companion of a righteous life.

In doing so let us commit to continue doing what is right and responding with a Christ-like heart.

Hint: One of the ways to keep our hearts right is to pray for those who treat us wrongly.  This will help keep our hearts from bitterness and our spirit  from anger. 

Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you;”


Have you ever been mistreated, rejected or simply hurt by the actions of others?

How did or how are you responding?

The right response is always from the inside out!

We must make four choices in our response to those who hurt us.

#1 – Choose to love – Love is always a choice.
#2 – Choose to bless – To speak well of someone.
#3 – Choose to “do good” – To act rightly toward others.  
#4 – Choose to pray – Asking God to lead them into the blessedness of His will for their lives.

Note: Praying for those who have hurt you is the most revealing test of your right or wrong response.
You cannot stay hurt or angry at someone you are praying for!


Today, regardless of others' choices, let us choose to do and be right.

Revelation 21:1-4  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Change -  "it is a-comin!"

Today  let us lift up the eyes of our hearts and gaze upon what is coming!

Jesus is coming again.

And when all that surrounds the second coming comes to a close, we will end up in our text for today.

You have to do today what you have to do.

But as you do, be encouraged, be uplifted, be excited.

Not only about what we now have in Christ, but what we will have for eternity!

“Even so come Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Revelation 14:4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.

One of the sweetest descriptions of the Christian life is found in our verse today.

"They follow the Lamb (Christ) wherever He leads."

This should be the goal of every believer at every turn in our lives.

Planned or not.  Desired or not.  

To live with a singular focus to follow our Redeemer where ever He leads. 

Today, let us  keep the eyes of our heart fixed on Him and the ears our mind attentive to His word.

Let's respond as the song writer, "where He leads me I will follow".

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

Why were the followers of Christ “troubled”?

Their life was about to change in ways they could not understand and did not appreciate. Jesus was going to the cross!

The first truth that is used to comfort their hearts is the deity of Christ. Jesus is God!

Jesus is not only the God of the universe He is the God of our individual lives.

In Hebrews 1:1-3 the Bible teaches that Jesus, as God, is our Creator, Sustainer and Savior!

Whenever we are facing changes we wish were not happening, or that we cannot understand, let us run to our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today, let us rest in His wisdom as Creator, His power as Sustainer, and His grace as our Savior!

Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

Everything Jesus says we can trust. He is the “faithful witness”.

This means every word Jesus has given us is worthy of our complete acceptance and submission.

Remember, the words of Jesus are not just the words in red in our Bible.

They are, in fact, the whole of the bible.

If any of us are facing a complex or uncertain situation in our lives today let’s be encouraged to seek God’s guidance through His word.

While it is true you will not find a Bible verse on every specific challenge you might face, you can, and should, allow the bible to be the ultimate foundation of all your thought processes.

This requires time, effort and a disciplined heart.

May the Lord find us faithful in our daily and disciplined relationship with His word.

I John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Have you ever sinned?

There is great news for you (and the rest of us) in our two verses for today.

God the Father sent His son, Jesus, to be both our “Advocate” &“Propitiation”.

Christ as our propitiation removes all our personal guilt before a holy God. This happens
when we first recognize our personal guilt before a Holy God and our inability to
remove that guilt on our own. This realization drives us to the blood of Christ which is
the only and complete sacrifice for sin. Then we call upon Christ to save us, by faith.
(Romans 3:25). “Faith” means to transfer our trust. We transfer our complete
dependence upon Christ’s blood to provide the removal of our guilt for sin and to bring
us into a right and eternal relationship with God. (John 1:12)

Christ as our advocate relates to His ministry in our lives after our salvation when, from
time to time, we do sin. Our sin after salvation does not negate our position as God’s
children but it does interfere with our fellowship with God. Christ comes “along side”
(advocate) to help us see our sin and deal with it.

Today these verses should let all of us to ask two clear questions.
Have I ever trusted Christ as my Savior? If not, today would you call upon Christ? He loves you and desires to remove the guilt of your sin through faith in His death on the cross.
As a believer, are there any sins in your life today that need to be confessed (I John 1:9 - identified, acknowledged, and forsaken)?  Do so today so that your walk with God can be a free and joyous as He desires and you (and I) desperately need.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.”

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 focuses primarily on God being glorified and that His children would be preserved in the midst of a world that does not understand or care.

 “Sanctify” means to be set apart. 

In the context of the prayer Christ is asking that all believers, of all ages to come, be set aside for the glory and purpose of God.

Our verse for today highlights the power and importance of God’s word.

The Word needs to dominate every thought, every choice and every task we endeavor.

Today let us examine our daily, moment by moment, relationship to God’s word.

Are we allowing the truths to penetrate our hearts, alter our minds and direct our paths?

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42-43

Everyone likes to be liked. (at least by someone)

Yet the desire to be accepted by others can become a stumbling block in our walk with God.

As believers we are not called upon to be difficult or irresponsible in our relationship with others.

In fact we are challenged to love and serve those God brings into our lives.

Yet we must guard our hearts and make sure that no one, not anyone, takes God’s place in our heart and life.

Today, let us express our love for God first by placing Him above everyone and everything in our lives.

John 6:20 “But he saith unto them, It is I: be not afraid.”

The disciples were on the water sailing toward Capernaum.

Jesus had gone into the mountains to avoid the crowd from taking Him by force.

Then came the storm.  Then came Jesus with this powerful summary of an eternal truth.

 “The presence of Christ always dispels the dominance of fear. “

When fear comes our way let us run, rest and rely upon Christ to sustain us.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”

The Word is Christ.

Christ is God.

God made everything.

What do you need today?

Go to Christ with all your burdens and find all you need.

I Timothy 6:1 “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters

worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.”

How do you get along with the “boss”?

In our verse for today we are given two truths that should govern our response to those

in authority over us. 

First, we are told we should honor (or value) those that God has placed in

leadership.  

Second we are told why?  When Christians are disrespectful to human authority it

hurts their testimony and the cause of Christ. (blasphemed)

Today, let us examine our attitude and actions toward those in leadership.

Let us choose to respond respectfully, even if we have to disagree with them, regardless

of how we feel or how others around us are acting.

Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

This past Sunday we learned how to think like Jesus.

Today, as the daily challenges of the week consume our attention, let us take stock of our thought life.

The question we need to daily ask is “Am I thinking like Jesus?”

We learned Sunday that this includes accepting what is true, sacrifice what is needed, and obeying the  specific will of God.

Today, let us bring our thought life into conformity to God’s plan. This is where we discover peace!

Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister”

Not every act of love we do is noticed or even appreciated by others.

In fact sometimes the more we love people the less we are loved ourselves.

Yet today's verse should encourage us.

Every time we express our love for God by serving others God takes note.

He always responds rightly and never forgets.

Today let us not become weary in well doing.

Let us love like Christ loves and be willing to be treated like Christ was treated.  

Let it be enough for us that God sees and is pleased with our expression of love.

Hebrews 4:11 "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."

The first ten verses of Hebrews 4 focus on the seventh day rest of creation and the rest of the promised land in the book of Joshua. 

In verse 11 we are given both the promise of rest and the necessity of faith. They always go together.

Eternal rest is available to all who accept, by faith, the gift of the gospel of Christ.

Daily rest is accessible to all who accept, by faith, the provision of His presence and power.

Stop trying to come up with all the answers and figure out all the outcomes.

Today let us throw ourselves into the arms of God's truth and find the rest we need.

Colossians 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

The world around us and our hearts within us are constantly looking for something more.

While this searching is not always wrong, it is in fact devastating when it comes to our view of Christ.

In Christ we have all we need. Why? We have God Himself.

We are complete in Him. He is all we need in order for life to work.  

Today, let us rest and rejoice in the reality of Christ’s completeness. Let Him fill our hearts with joy, our lives with purpose and our minds with peace

Nehemiah 4:17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

Nehemiah and company were busy fulfilling God’s will by building the wall of Jerusalem.

Yet as the work progressed so did the opposition. 

It got to the point that the workers had to be prepared to defend themselves at a moment’s notice.

They adapted.

Today are you facing obstacles that are seeking to hinder you from doing God’s will?

Confront the problem correctly.

Ask God how to practically respond to the challenge while at the same time keeping your focus on the calling of God.

KEEP ON BUILDING!

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it

is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we

should walk in them.

Grace: God working in our hearts detached completely from anything we do. (Rom.11:6)

Faith: Transferring our trust to the blood of Christ for payment for our sins (Eph. 1:7)

Saved: Brought into an eternal relationship with God as His child the moment we trust

Christ as our Savior (John 3, Romans 3:23-25; 6:23; 10:13)

Workmanship: God is working in the lives of each of His children to produce Christ –like

righteousness in their daily lives (Romans 8:28-29)

Today, let us rejoice in knowing Christ as our Savior. Spending time thanking God for

all He has done and is doing in our lives through His great salvation.

At the same time let us ask the Lord to open doors of opportunity for us to share the

gospel with others. 

II Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

Paul was praying for the Christians at Thessalonica.

He prayed that they would be up to the task of fulfilling God’s will. 

God has designed His will to work out in people’s lives in response to prayer.  

 

Today, let us spend time praying for the will of God to be worked out in our own lives and in the lives of those we care about.  

Prayer changes things.

If we want others or ourselves to stay on the right path – let’s make it a matter of perpetual prayer.

Romans 14:7-8 “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.”

For a Christian the question as to something being right or wrong is just the starting point.

 

The overall reality that should govern our lives is that “We are the Lord’s”.

This means the motivation behind all we are or do should be that we belong to Him.

 

This means His will and purposes must govern ours.  

As we move through today let us cultivate the habit of asking ourselves the question, “What would Jesus be pleased with?” 

Let us allow this thought to mold our thinking, direct our choices and dictate our responses to every event of every day!