Category - Devotionals

11/04               Matthew 1:18-23 

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.  20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 

AFRAID

The Word from Matthew is “Do Not Be Afraid.”  The Lord loves you.  He knows what is going on and His promise to you is do not be afraid because God is with us.  Even in a time when evil is again on the march, we do not have to fear what we are facing for the Lord God Almighty is with us.  DO NOT BE AFRAID.  You are beloved of God!  Jesus is Lord. 

11/03               Matthew 1:17 

All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah. 

WERE

These were real people who lived real lives.  Many of them believed the Lord and believed He was coming.  By faith they knew Him and by faith they believed Him.  Our faith is the same kind of faith:  We believe that Jesus is Lord, that He died for the forgiveness of our sin and was raised from the dead by the Father, was seen by more than 500 and is seated at the right hand of the Father preparing for His return at this very moment.  Come Lord Jesus. 

11/02               Matthew 1:7-16 

Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).  12 After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.  13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor.  14Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. 

YES

Yes is the answer in Christ to every need you have.  Few of the these people from Abraham to Matthan ever saw Jesus but many of them were looking forward to the Messiah’s arrival.  Joseph saw it, believed God and lived it and was used by the Father to raise Jesus.  If you will believe God He can use you too!

11/01               Matthew 1:1-6

1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham : 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram.  4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse.  6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). 

ALL

Note that in this passage some notorious women are listed.  They are part of the lineage from Abraham to Joseph.  God can use anyone that will commit themselves to Him.  He is Lord and is in the business of preparing usable people.  Let the Lord use you and you will be amazed at how He equips you for service.  Praise the Lord. 

10/31          Ephesians 6:23-24 

Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24 May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

PEACE

We need God’s peace and we find it in Jesus.  He will give us His peace, His joy and His power to live a Christian life.  We need the Lord yesterday, today and forever!

Spend time with Jesus.  Care for the hurting.  Take care of widows and orphans. 

10/30          Ephesians 6:21-22 

To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 

CARE

Care for each other.  It’s important that we become better encouragers.  People need to feel value and worth and we can encourage them so that they can develop habit patterns that will give them real value and worth.  Pray for those around you,  those in power over you (government leaders, your boss, team leader, etc.) and especially pray for those who have mistreated you.  Pray for the lost.  Pray.

10/29          Ephesians 6:20 

I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should. 

WATCH

Watch your walk.  Spend time with Jesus.  Walk your talk and if you submit your walk to Jesus He will help you maintain you daily walk.  Without Jesus you will not survive.  He is Lord, Lord of all, Lord!

10/28          Ephesians 6:17-19 

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 

PRAY

We are called to pray for one another.  We are called to pray all the time.  Our prayers are a part of the normal Christian life.  Pray.  Pray persistently.  Pray with passion and fervor.  Pray. 

10/27          Ephesians 6:14-16 

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 

WE

We are in the world but not of the world.  Jesus our Lord seeks to provide us with the know how for engaging in the battles of life.  Stand firm.  Claim His promises.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  He is God’s everything and He loves us. 

10/26          Ephesians 6:10 

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 

POWER

Power comes from God and He offers His power to us so that we can live a Godly life.  By faith we claim this power and by faith we use this power.  Jesus loves you and me and He is offering us the ability to stand in the face of the evil in the world.  Keep your focus on Christ and you will survive and grow in Christ likeness.