Devotions

“But Pharaoh also called the wise men and sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.”

Exodus 7:11

The world is always trying to duplicate God, trying to out do Him! The world is full of all kinds of shiny objects, that unfortunately attract us and distract us from the LORD! Don’t fall into the enemy’s trap of living longer, stronger and happier, only in the LORD can we truly have these things!

“For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.”

Exodus 7:12

The world wants us to think we can build, buy and obtain knowledge to achieve happiness. Realize, we can only build on the Rock of His salvation, we can’t buy what He has already paid for and the only thing we need to know is how much He loves us!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16

No matter what has happened in our past remember it’s behind us and the LORD got us through! Let’s look forward towards the LORD and see what He is going to do! Remember, like Aaron’s rod (which represented the LORD) ate up all the duplicates, the fakes! We have the LORD who is the real deal!

Have a blessed day looking forward towards Him!

Shana Tova (Happy New Year)

“And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.”

Exodus 6:5

The LORD hears us, and He will appear at the right time! The problem we have is we can get so caught up in our situations that we tend to forget that!

“Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.”

Exodus 6:6

What we need to realize, is the LORD promises HE WILL rescue us from our burdens, what we need to do is call out to Him and watch how He is going to work it all out!

“In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.”

Psalm 86:7

Today, call on Him, know that He will answer and He will rid us of our burdens and the things that bind us up!

Have a blessed day knowing He will appear in His perfect timing!

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”

Matthew 23:1-3

This is one of the last sermons that Jesus gave, and it’s not about salvation, but a warning! We need to be careful of following people who give instruction, but don’t do it. We need to be careful of doing the same!

“For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”

Matthew 23:4

We need to be careful of loading burdens upon people, also be careful of following people who lay burdens on us! Jesus had no home or income. He wasn’t wealthy! Jesus was basically in the same boat as His followers! I’m not saying we all need to be in poverty, in debt, unhealthy, rich, have a big house and healthy. Instead we need to be relatable to the people we witness to!

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 5:15

If we look around us we can see that there are many people hurting, lost and looking for direction. Let’s be relatable to people! Don’t make salvation hard, when it is simple!

“For WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.”

Romans 10:13 also Joel 2:32

Let’s not make salvation hard, don’t lay heavy burdens on people, the LORD didn’t lay one on you that you can’t bear. Lord help us to be sympathetic and relatable today!

May the LORD bless you and direct you throughout the day!

“Again, he sent out servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen, and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.”

Matthew 22:4-5

Are we too busy for the LORD? This I believe is a good question for all of us. Are our jobs, businesses, recreation and our families more important than the LORD?

“You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.”

Deuteronomy 10:20

Do we let life and all its trappings get in the way of serving the LORD? Do we say things like: I’m too busy, I don’t have enough time or I have too much to do. We all need to make time to spend with the LORD, He made time for us!

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.”

Psalm 63:1

No matter what is happening in our lives, we need to put the LORD first in everything! He needs to be first in our families, our jobs and our social life! Don’t use busy as an excuse to not spend time with the LORD! Have a blessed day seeking the LORD and encouraging those around us to do the same.

Shabbat Shalom.

“And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.”

Exodus 5:2

The world reacts to the LORD no differently today, no fear of Him, no desire to know or seek Him either! The Pharaohs of today will try to do the same to us. They will ty to get us to not follow God and deny that He is real! We need to be watching and being aware of what is going on around us!

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the LORD who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”

2 Peter 2:1

We need to be careful, prayerful and mindful of the things going on around us! The enemy desires us to question God in everything! Understand, during the four hundred years Israel was in Egypt they went from highly respected living in the choicest of land to slaves of Pharaoh! This is how being in bondage works: the more we compromise, the more we become slaves and then we are questioning the LORD in everything!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Today, we are all bombarded with lies from the enemy, lies of doubt and unbelief! My prayer for all of us today is to encourage each other in the LORD. Call or message someone today, tell them God loves you and has a perfect plan for you! Understand, even if you are going through some rough waters, so are people around you! Have a blessed day shin ing the encouraging light of the LORD in someone else’s life today!