3/1/02 1 John 2:9
If anyone says, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.
God decides how I should live. The Lord has said that a clear test for me to know how I am living is the way I feel about other Christians. Hate destroys me. Hate separates me. When I hate others I must change. I cannot hate others and walk with the Lord.
3/2/02 Matthew 4:4
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.’ ”
My actions are a product of my spiritual condition. If I want to act like Jesus I must submit myself to His control. It is important for me to be a serious reader of the Word of God. The Word of God is my tutor. His living Word enables me to grow. His Word corrects, directs and encourages my spiritual condition. The war is raging. I choose whether or not I will survive.
3/3/02 Matthew 6:25
“So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing?
I must develop and mature the gifts and skills that the Lord gave me. I do not have to waste a lot of time worrying about the things I cannot change. Worry sidetracks my joy. Worry sets aside my ability to care for and help others. Tomorrow is coming but it always gets here today.
3/4/02 Matthew 6:27
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.
Worry is deceitful. I have discovered that generally the things I worry about are things I cannot change. If I cannot change those things then I will with the Lord’s help not worry about them. Lord help me to receive your joy.
3/5/02 Matthew 7:14
But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.
Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Anyone can receive Jesus. But the only way to have a relationship with the Father is through Christ.
3/6/02 Luke 9:24
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.
I must do the next right thing. I must be about my Father’s business right now. The future is uncertain. I am not promised a second chance to share the Gospel.
3/7/02 Luke 10:25
One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?”
Eternal life is a gift I receive from God. When I receive this gift it changes the way I see others and myself. As a child of God I am called to be a servant to my fellowman. I am to be a tool that the Lord can use to take care of His children.
3/8/02 Luke 11:36
If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you.”
I cannot fool you. If I act like Jesus it simply means I am filled to overflowing with Christ. If I act like the world, I may have the right lingo but the wrong spirit controls me.
3/9/02 Luke 12:15
Then he said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.”
I am a product of my desires. If I desire to be like Jesus I will grow in His likeness. The more I become like Jesus the more freedom I will experience in life. If my desire is focused on me I will always be a slave to what I don’t have.
3/10/02 Luke 12:22
Then turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear.
I am equipped to live a successful life. My benchmark is not what others have or what others do. I am to be busy developing my gifts and skills. The Lord wants only good for me. If I live for Him I will get the things I need to live a fulfilled life.
3/11/02 Luke 12:23
For life consists of far more than food and clothing.
Life is often very difficult. Jesus strengthens me. Life is destructive. Jesus heals me. Life is evil. Jesus forgives me. Life is done. Jesus gives me eternal life. Jesus can deal with, fix, and overcome anything.
3/12/02 Mark 3:4
Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.
Jesus loves people. He died for me that I might live. He died for you too. Choose the Lord.
3/13/02 Mark 4:18-19
The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced.
I am alive today. I have twenty-four hours. The only time I can read God’s Word is now. The only time I can pray is now. If I do not learn to develop my relationship with the Lord now I’ll always be waiting until tomorrow. I must never put off until tomorrow what I can do for the Lord today.
3/14/02 John 1:4
Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.
When I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin and save me He did. He helps me to change. He enables me to be what I have always wanted to be. He puts me in control of my life. No longer am I a runaway train out of control. He equips me to deal with me.
3/15/02 John 3:6
Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.
Jesus died for my sin. He delivered me from bondage to a Godless life. He sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in me. I am a child of God, birthed into His kingdom. I will have live eternally with the Lord.
3/16/02 Luke 6:19
Everyone was trying to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and they were all cured.
The power of the Lord Jesus Christ is available for me. His healing is effective and is always as the Father directs. Jesus gives me restoration in my spirit. He renews my awareness of His presence. He never leaves me alone. He always does what is in my best interest. God is good all the time.
3/17/02 John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
God’s love reaches out to me. It is always effective to meet the need that I have. It is powerful. It is enabling. I will never be without His power once I come into the His family. His deliverance is more powerful than any other created thing. He is able to save me for eternity.
3/18/02 John 3:36
And all who believe in God’s Son have eternal life. Those who don’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them.”
I have redemption in Jesus. There is no other way to the Father. It is a gift from my creator. I can come to Him in Christ or I will not have a relationship with Him. Our sovereign God has spoken in Jesus. Jesus is the Way.
3/19/02 John 4:14
But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
My soul hungers and thirsts for spiritual food and water. The living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible, will satisfy my soul. Jesus will never forsake me. Jesus will always help me to deal with my life.
3/20/01 Matthew 9:18
As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt down before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand upon her.”
I have tried Jesus. He has met my every need. When the day is dark and life is difficult I always turn to Him. He is there. He will help me. I can count on Jesus.
3/21/02 Matthew 10:39
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.
I can serve the Lord. He has a plan for my life. I am valuable to Him. God loves people most of all. He wants me to serve those He loves.
3/22/02 Matthew 11:4-5
Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him about what you have heard and seen-the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.
God loves me. He loves me without reservation. He knows all about me including every thought I have ever had. He still loves me. He came looking for me and I gave my heart to Him. What a miracle. Our Lord is the only God and there is no other.
3/23/02 Matthew13:22
The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced.
Faith is a stretch. Faith separates believers from non-believers. I choose to believe. The world doesn’t want me to believe. My choice to believe or not to believe will determine the direction of my faith. God is faithful and will never leave me. Tragically too many choose the world and not the Father.
3/24/02 Matthew 14:1-2
When Herod Antipas heard about Jesus, he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist come back to life again! That is why he can do such miracles.”
Antipas wanted power. He didn’t care how he got it. He consistently made the wrong choice. It is important for me to make good choices. I must do the right thing. When I see that I have done the wrong thing I must fix it. Wrong choices result in a wasted life.
3/25/02 Matthew 16:25
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.
I didn’t give up much. I had a troubled life and I was my own best friend. I was always scheming to get ahead. It didn’t matter what I had it was never enough. Morality was usually what was demanded by the situation. Then I surrendered to Jesus. He became my best friend. His friendship changed me. I was no longer alone. I could stop the scheming. I learned that I was able to do the next right thing. What I had became enough and peace became a reality.
3/26/02 Matthew 19:16
Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life?”
Why do I always count the good things and overlook the bad habits? It seems that it is my human nature to want to do just enough to be classified as good. The truth as Jesus stated is that if I become good on the inside what I do will always be good. The things I do reflect the condition of my heart. Good does good, bad does bad.
God is good all the time.
3/27/02 Matthew 19:17
“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “Only God is good. But to answer your question, you can receive eternal life if you keep the commandments.”
I cannot survive without Jesus. The law shows clearly that I am not able to do good. Sin is always lurking at the door of my heart. But, Jesus redeemed me and made me whole. He is constantly remaking me and forgiving me for my sin. In Christ I have eternal life.
3/28/02 Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life.
My life is too often focused on things. Like the rich young ruler I plead what must I do. Jesus says obedience is the first step. When I am facing the impossible situation Jesus will intervene. He provides peace and guidance. His hand blesses me with the right solution. Can I ignore God and live for the moment? Of course I can. But that kind of life quickly disappears. Eternal life begins now.
3/29/02 Matthew 20:28
For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”
A Godly life focuses on the interests of the Lord. I will suffer greatly as I follow Jesus because the pull of the world is so persistent. Doing the right thing doesn’t come easily. Self-interest, creature comforts and just plain old evil are always at hand attempting to persuade me to come their way. A Christ like life involves personal commitment, and a willingness to set aside the perks the world offers.
3/30/02 Matthew 21:32
For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.
I am a sinner cleansed by the blood of Christ. His sacrifice paid for my sin and reconciled me with the Father. I don’t deserve, I can’t earn it nor can I decide how I will come to the Father. Salvation is a gift from God that is available only through Jesus. The rich and well placed have a hard time bending the knee to God.
3/31/02 Matthew 25:46
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
There is a hell. Those that refuse to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be its occupants. God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ requires that I accept Jesus as Lord of my life. When Christ is Lord, heaven is my home.
