11/12 Ro 5:3
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure.
ENDURANCE
Endurance is a very difficulty thing for the human mind to come to grips with. Our society demands that now is when things happen. We pray for growth. Problems are required for us to grow. Rejoice in the midst of your problems not for what you are going through but for what you will become. Help us Father to endure.
11/13 Romans 7:17
But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.
SIN
You and I are sinners. We are always dealing with sin either in a positive or negative way. Jesus saves us from our sin. The key to dealing with sin is to surrender to Christ. In my surrender I develop a consistency in my daily Bible reading and prayer. As I go through my day I am constantly in touch with Christ. Not by proclaiming that I am not in the world but instead putting the daily actions of my life before Jesus. I ask and I respond. By simply stopping and asking I am giving the Holy Spirit opportunity to correct and amend my actions. Walking in Christ is making His Word effective in my life.
11/14 Romans 10:6
But the way of getting right with God through faith says, “You don’t need to go to heaven” (to find Christ and bring him down to help you).
PRESENCE
Jesus is here. He is in the present. He knows my needs and is willing to meet them. Surrender gives Jesus the opportunity to speak with me and guide me each step of my life.
11/15 Romans 12:13
When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.
COMMUNITY
The Christian life is a life that is lived in community. Jesus loves people. As His child we are called to love people. In this day and time it requires that we be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves so that we do only those things that will protect our community. Help when you get the opportunity. When we act like Jesus we will grow in Christ. When we grow in Christ we will act more like Jesus.
11/16 Romans 13:4
The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong.
PEACE
Peace is a critical part of our daily life. It is so important for the spread of Christianity that the Lord ordains governments to maintain peace in society. Look to your own life. Permit Jesus to bring peace into every facet of your life.
11/17 Romans 14:4
Who are you to condemn God’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord’s power will help them do as they should.
CONTROL
It is wrong for any one of us to seek to control another. We are to look to our own lives. The questions we try to ask of others must be asked of ourselves. Am I the kind of person that Jesus wants me to be? How is my prayer life? Is sin in control of any area of my life? What has Jesus equipped me to do and am I doing it? These are indeed questions we need to ask and answer ourselves but not others. When we condemn the Lord’s servant we are condemning ourselves.
11/18 Romans 15:5
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other – each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.
LIFESTYLE
People count with Jesus and they should count with me. The world puts the strong and often heartless as its head. The Christian community calls each one of us to value the other. Service is important and a trait of Christ’s servant. The first will be last. The servant will be first.
11/19 Romans 15:27
They were very glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the wonderful spiritual blessings of the Good News from the Jewish Christians, they feel the least they can do in return is help them financially.
GENEROSITY
You and I are required to give all that we have to Jesus. This means that the tithe, ten percent, is only the beginning. The Christian responds in all situations with generosity. My largess is useful as a blessing for those in need.
11/20 2Co 6:2
For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.
SALVATION
The Holy Spirit calls us to salvation. You and I accepted Jesus as a result of His call of us. When we minister to the lost we are to be sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit. He will often use us as His agent to verbalize the Lord’s call of a lost brother or sister. We can always inquire at the appropriate moment if another is a child of God. When we ask we must remember that it is the Lord’s invitation and not ours.
11/21 Mark 12:30
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
DEVOTION
Too many think of football teams and sports events when the idea of devotion is brought up. In our society people are devoted to things that please them. The Biblical idea of devotion is my striving to please the Lord. I think of Him, obey Him and lay my entire life before Him for His review, direction and strength. My life is His to use not mine to waste.
11/22 Mark 12:33
And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbors as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
DEVOTION
I love because He loves me. I don’t wait for convenient times or lovable people; I simply care for those the Lord has placed me with. Life is never about what I don’t have. Life is about what I give.
11/23 Luke 10:27
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
DEVOTION
I count with Jesus. I am called to take what I am and what I have and give it to others. Time, money, friendship and sacrifice in service to those I am with are a significant part of my devoted Christian life.
11/24 Mt 13:11
Then he explained to them, “You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not.
HEAVEN
Heaven is a real place. Jesus is in charge there. You and I as His family members are headed there. This place is not my home. Clutch the things of this world loosely. When your time of trouble comes it will be easier to make the right decisions.
11/25 Mt 13:19
The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the Good News about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the seed away from their hearts.
KINGDOM
We were bought with a price. His shed blood did for me what I couldn’t do for myself, it paid for my sin. When Satan comes seeking me I can simply reply that I belong to Jesus.
11/26 Mt 13:24
Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.
FAITH
Faith is at once a gift and indistinguishable from an activity. It is what we as children of God do. We live our lives with the full confidence that what Christ has said He will do and that He is here with us this very moment. Jesus is alive. He is alive in me. He is changing, equipping, enabling and using me each day.
11/27 John 18:36
Then Jesus answered, “I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
KINGDOM
Heaven will be a great place. No longer will be live by faith but face to face we will see and hear Him. Now we struggle. In heaven where all things are in His presence we will know in reality the presence of the Lord. This world is passing away. His kingdom is eternal.
11/28 Acts 8:12
But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.
LORD
Jesus is Lord. He is Lord now and forever. He will not leave us nor will He sacrifice us. The Lord Jesus Christ is our king and Lord and Father. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Jesus is alive and He is coming back for you and me.
11/29 Romans 14:17
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
HOLY
I am called to be different from the world. I am called to radically change the way that I make decisions and act. Holiness is simply letting Jesus live through me. I obey Him. Christ is the giver of life and when He is in control of me I have real life.
11/30 1Corinthians 4:20
For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power.
ACTION
What I do is important. The Christian life is not the things I don’t do. It is what I do. I love. I serve. I pray. These are things that Christians do. When I am filled with Jesus my life will be like His.
