Devotions

“When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt.”

Genesis 47:29 NKJB

Here we see Jacob (Israel) realize He is going to die and move on to be with the LORD after he has been living in Egypt seventeen years. What he realizes is that Egypt

(the world) looks attractive and doesn’t want his family to stay. He wants to be buried in the promised land Israel, so his kids will follow!

“Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him; because all things of the world-the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life-are not from the Father but from the world. And the world is passing away, along with its desires. But whoever does God’s will remains forever.”

1 John 2:15-17 CJB

Now it takes 400+ years for the children of Israel to get to the promised land and it may take 10, 20, 30 or more years for us. But, our focus needs to be the LORD and His kingdom not the world and its messes!

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1 NKJB

Yes, we have to walk in the world, but we don’t have to take part in it! As believers we need to be living for the LORD, walking in His ways and desiring to reflect His love, so people around us can get a glimpse of the promised land! This will also keep us focused on the LORD! Have a blessed day looking for the LORD!

“Some Pharisees came and tried to trap HIM BY ASKING, Is it permitted for a man to divorce his wife on any ground whatever?”

Matthew 19:3 CJB

The Pharisees here aren’t trying to ask a question to get an answer, but are asking to see what they can get away with! They knew the LORD said: what God has joined together let no man separate! Don’t look to the word of God to justify or get out of things, but look to the word so we can do life God’s way!

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

Psalm 119:11 NKJB

Spend time in the word of the LORD, taking in what He says, you’ll find it’s harder to sin! If we are spending time in His word to justify what we are doing or looking for loopholes, we will always fall into sin!

“If you love Me, you will keep My commands; and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another comforting Counselor like ME, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever.”

John 14:15-16 CJB

Today, let us really dig into the word of the LORD and do what He says. It will always save us from many disasters! Have a blessed day just clinging to the LORD!

“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to the man by whom the offense comes!”

Matthew 18:7

We all can see that the world around us is offensive on so many levels, just look around, we can see and hear it everywhere! Jesus is saying the offensive, abusive and vulgarity must come. It’s part of the godless world around us, but we don’t need to get involved or be the creator of the offense!

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

James 1:2

We will all fall or walk into various situations (trials); it happens! What we need to do is walk right back out of them and run to the LORD! Don’t get caught up in life’s drama.

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. But the people answered him not a word.”

1 Kings 18:21

The same question goes for us today, do we choose to follow the LORD or follow the world? Don’t get caught up in the offensive drama of life, but instead get caught up in the joy giving life of the LORD! Have a blessed day!

Shabbat Shalom.

“My home will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Ezekiel 37:27 CJB

This is so encouraging to me, because we all have bad days! Then we read a verse like this and realize we are going to dwell with the creator of the universe. Why? Because He loves us!

“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.”

Deuteronomy 7:7 NKJB

The LORD loves us not for what we give or who we are, He loves us because that is who He is, “LOVE.”

“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

Today, no matter how good or bad things may seem, know this: the LORD loves you, and we are going to dwell with Him soon.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

John 14:1-2

Be encouraged today, knowing that we are going to dwell with the LORD soon. Know this also no matter what we may be going through today the LORD is right there beside you! Have a blessed day knowing the LORD loves you!

“Then Joseph said to the people, Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.”

Genesis 47:23

Looking at this verse, I can see Jesus clearly! We live in the world (Egypt) Jesus purchases us for God, and we get to sow His seed (the Gospel).

“For you were brought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Corinthians 6:20

The world around us is in a spiritual famine (in desperate need of Jesus) and the LORD has given us the seeds of the gospel to sow! No matter what is going on around us: health issues, financial issues and relational issues, we still get to sow seeds and reflect the love of the LORD!

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Today, here is what we get to do: share the good news of salvation and reflect the light of the LORD! The LORD paid a heavy price for us, so let’s glorify Him today everywhere and anywhere! Have a blessed day in Him!