10/01/02 Romans 3:21
But Now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight-not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago.
I am a sinner. I cannot fulfill the requirements of the law. Jesus provides forgiveness for me. God came in the flesh that I might be saved. No one is righteous. Jesus is the only way to the Father.
10/02/02 Romans 3:23-24
For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.
Sin is sin. It is deadly and complete. No one can escape it. But God in his infinite wisdom provided a solution for you and me. Christ is the way. In Christ I have forgiveness of my sin and access to the Father. Jesus is God’s everything.
10/03/02 Romans 6:17
But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed.
I want to be like Jesus. I read His Word and remember what He says. When I do this daily I change. When I do things God’s way I become wise. Jesus is the only way and He is my role model.
10/04/02 Hebrews 9:15
For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Jesus saw my failure and grief. He felt my loneliness and confusion. He experienced everything I would go through and did not sin. His perfection was offered up for me on the cross. He died for me and gave me His victory. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
10/05/02 Matthew 20:25-28
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Servant living requires sacrificial giving. Jesus is Lord. I testify to His Lordship by caring for people. Jesus died for people. I am called to represent Him. People count with the Lord. They should count with me.
10/06/02 Matthew 21:18-19
In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs on it, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.
The problem in the church today is the vast number of lost people in positions of power. They have a form of religion but they don’t belong to Jesus. Jesus changes lives and brings in a standard of living that gives first place to the Father and serves people. I will minister and I will be obedient if I belong to Jesus. If I live like the world I don’t belong to Jesus.
10/07/02 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
I am alive in Christ. Everything I do is measured by my new life. Jesus died for me and rose from the grave. He is Lord and there is no other. I love Jesus.
10/08/02 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
I have a new life in Jesus. I may have old memories and bad habits but Jesus has made me new inside. I will grow as I claim this new nature. Bible study, time with Jesus and a change in the things I do will let my new nature come out. Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more.
10/09/02 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
I have been reconciled to God and am at peace with Him. I want to tell everyone about this. It is the most important thing I know. Jesus died for me, paying for my sin and setting me free. God is good, all the time.
10/10/02 Psalm 27:13-14
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.
God will see me through whatever trouble I face. He will not desert me. He is with me as I go through the fiery trial. Today may be troubled but tomorrow I will see the Lord.
10/11/02 Romans 3:19-20
Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God.
Everyone knows they are a sinner. I must take them the Good News. Jesus has paid the price for the forgiveness of their sin.
10/12/02 2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if the earthly tent, which is our house, is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
One day I will be with Jesus. He knows that day and has already built my home in heaven. I am living in Christ’s victory.
10/13/02 2 Corinthians 5:2-4
For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.
I belong to God. When I go home to heaven I will have a perfect body that will never have sickness, disease, or pain. One day I will see Jesus face to face and will see the victory that He has already given me.
10/14/02 2 Corinthians 5:5
Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.
I can endure. What ever I face the Holy Spirit is with me. He points me to Jesus. Jesus is my victory.
10/15/02 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
Life is always a test. The question is will I let the Lord have absolute control of me including the plan of my life? Will I bend my knee to the Lord or choose to go my own way? Time will end. Jesus never ends.
10/16/02 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
If I want to please Jesus I will often have to give up things I want. I am self-centered and quickly adapt to luxuries. Jesus calls me to care for the hurting. I have resources that can help others. When I focus my life on Christ, people are at the heart of my concern.
10/17/02 Matthew 22:35-40
One of them, a lawyer, asked Jesus a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “”YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
I cannot make my wants into a Holy lifestyle. When I obey the Lord I will care for people. I cannot say my life is focused on the Lord if I hate people. Jesus loves people most of all.
10/18/02 Matthew23:8-11
(Jesus said) “ Do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant.”
People need the Lord. I need to tell them about Jesus. They will hear my preaching if they know I love them.
10/19/02 Matthew 23:12
Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
My life is not my own. I belong to Jesus. I am to be about the master’s business. The Lord’s business is to proclaim the Gospel, God has come to man and paid the price for our sin. Good News for a hurting world.
10/20/02 Matthew 24:45-47
Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Obedience is critical. Jesus is not listening to my talk He is blessing my walk. The Lord is here and He loves me.
10/21/02 Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.
There is nothing I do that escapes the Father’s attention. He is guiding my every step. Obedience to the Lord is security. My focus is Jesus. The Lord’s focus is caring for me.
10/22/02 Psalm 32:1-2
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Christ paid the price for forgiveness of my sin. This is an eternal blessing with present benefit. What a joy. What a savior. I want to know Jesus better each day.
10/23/02 2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Satan does blind the eyes of the lost. A lost person needs Jesus. I want to be able to communicate this. I cannot command it. I can only share what Christ has done for me. This requires honesty and transparency. It is a gift that I receive and do not earn. Jesus is Lord.
10/24/02 2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Jesus died for me. His death paid a price I could not pay. He was resurrected from the dead, is seated at the Father’s side and is interceding for me. I asked Him to forgive me of my sin and save me. He did.
10/25/02 Galatians 6:1-2
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Sin is evil, pervasive and always seeking to destroy me. I must live my life with care. Pride always trips a struggling soul.
10/26/02 Galatians 6:3-4
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.
People count with Jesus. If I am to be a good servant people must count with me. If I am always condemning others I cannot serve them.
10/27/02 Galatians 6:14
But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world
Jesus has a plan for my life that includes every part of my life. The power that He gives enables me to live my life. Jesus is God’s everything.
10/28/02 Psalm 27:1-3
The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.
Nothing is impossible with God. Jesus came that I might have life. Christ gives a life of value and worth. I count with God. I am somebody not because of what I do but because of the Lord’s ownership of me. Christ paid for me and He will protect me.
10/29/02 Psalm 27:4
One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple.
I want to know the Lord. God’s grace and mercy equips me, and brings me into His presence. God is good all the time.
10/30/02 Psalm 27:5-6
For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
Trouble will come. It always comes unannounced and at the worst possible time. Jesus will stand with me and see me through any trouble I face. When my heart is focused on Jesus my body can survive and thrive in the bump and grind of life.
10/31/02 Psalm 27:7-9
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation!
Everyday I need Jesus. Every moment I need Jesus. There is nothing I can do that I can accomplish without the Lord Jesus Christ. Pride begins at the point of my self-reliance. Jesus loves me and will be as involved in my life as I let Him.
