OCTOBER 6 2012. GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 6, 2012.
PROVERB:
A wise child accepts a parents discipline, a mocker refuses to listen. Proverbs 13:1.
PROMISE:
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. Revelation 3:19.
PRAISE:
Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping, for You, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver. Psalm 66: 8-10.
October 7, 2012
Hell: October 5, 2012
OCTOBER 5 2012. TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012.
HELL
DEFINITION:
The place of punishment of the wicked after death; the abode of evil and condemned spirits; any place or state of torment or misery.
SCRIPTURE:
The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17
"Then He will say to those on the left hand, depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:41.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The verse above from Psalms says that the wicked shall be sent to Hell. It is most important for us to tell you that if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord then we can say with total confidence that you are on the way to Hell. Hell is not fictional. Hell is a real place for real people who reject the only true God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Making no decision about Jesus is saying no to Jesus and an eternity in heaven. God's Holy Word, the Bible, makes this very clear. John 3:36 states, "Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life, and whosoever rejects the Son will not see life." There are no alternatives available.
PLEASE LET US EMPHASIZE - UNLESS YOU KNOW JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR YOU ARE HEADED FOR HELL! There is no compromise and the decision is yours and yours alone.
In Acts 1:25 we are told that hell is the sinner's own place of torment. After Judas betrayed Jesus and saw that Jesus was condemned to die (Matthew 27:3), he was remorseful. He returned to the chief priests and elders and tried to make restitution. The scripture says that after he threw down the 30 pieces of silver, he received for betraying Jesus, at the feet of the chief Priest, Judas went out and hanged himself. As a result of his own transgression, Judas went to "his own place." Judas had chosen to team up with Satan (Luke 22:3) and turned against Jesus, so he deserved his own place in hell with Satan.
In the verse above from Matthew we see that hell is an eternal place that God prepared for Satan and his angels. They are anti-God and have no choice but to go to hell. We have a choice. We can choose Satan's prepared hell or the heaven which God has prepared for those who believe in Him.
The day before Jesus died on the cross He said to His eleven disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled, I go to prepare a place for you." That place that He is preparing for us is in His "Fathers house," which is heaven. The choice we have is either hell, which is prepared for Satan, his angels and those who follow him, or Heaven, the place in God's house that Jesus has prepared for those who follow Him.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction (death in hell) and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, (heaven) and only a few find it." Jesus is the only way to heaven.
You have a choice either to follow the many on the broad way that leads to eternal hell or you can join the few and follow Jesus on the narrow road that leads to eternal life in heaven.
When people are angry with someone we often hear the words "Go to hell." People do not think how awful that statement is. Hell is a place of eternal fire, a place of darkness and a place of torment. In Matthew 13:50 we are told that those that are in hell will weep and gnash their teeth. People gnash their teeth when they are in pain. Hell is eternal and when one is once there, there is no escape.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Thank You for preparing a place in heaven for me. Thank You for sending Your Son to this earth to pay the penalty for my sins. And thank You that Jesus is in heaven and preparing a place for me for eternity. Give me a new dedication to serve you and use every opportunity to tell others that Jesus loves them.
HELL
DEFINITION:
The place of punishment of the wicked after death; the abode of evil and condemned spirits; any place or state of torment or misery.
SCRIPTURE:
The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17
"Then He will say to those on the left hand, depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:41.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The verse above from Psalms says that the wicked shall be sent to Hell. It is most important for us to tell you that if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord then we can say with total confidence that you are on the way to Hell. Hell is not fictional. Hell is a real place for real people who reject the only true God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Making no decision about Jesus is saying no to Jesus and an eternity in heaven. God's Holy Word, the Bible, makes this very clear. John 3:36 states, "Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life, and whosoever rejects the Son will not see life." There are no alternatives available.
PLEASE LET US EMPHASIZE - UNLESS YOU KNOW JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR YOU ARE HEADED FOR HELL! There is no compromise and the decision is yours and yours alone.
In Acts 1:25 we are told that hell is the sinner's own place of torment. After Judas betrayed Jesus and saw that Jesus was condemned to die (Matthew 27:3), he was remorseful. He returned to the chief priests and elders and tried to make restitution. The scripture says that after he threw down the 30 pieces of silver, he received for betraying Jesus, at the feet of the chief Priest, Judas went out and hanged himself. As a result of his own transgression, Judas went to "his own place." Judas had chosen to team up with Satan (Luke 22:3) and turned against Jesus, so he deserved his own place in hell with Satan.
In the verse above from Matthew we see that hell is an eternal place that God prepared for Satan and his angels. They are anti-God and have no choice but to go to hell. We have a choice. We can choose Satan's prepared hell or the heaven which God has prepared for those who believe in Him.
The day before Jesus died on the cross He said to His eleven disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled, I go to prepare a place for you." That place that He is preparing for us is in His "Fathers house," which is heaven. The choice we have is either hell, which is prepared for Satan, his angels and those who follow him, or Heaven, the place in God's house that Jesus has prepared for those who follow Him.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction (death in hell) and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, (heaven) and only a few find it." Jesus is the only way to heaven.
You have a choice either to follow the many on the broad way that leads to eternal hell or you can join the few and follow Jesus on the narrow road that leads to eternal life in heaven.
When people are angry with someone we often hear the words "Go to hell." People do not think how awful that statement is. Hell is a place of eternal fire, a place of darkness and a place of torment. In Matthew 13:50 we are told that those that are in hell will weep and gnash their teeth. People gnash their teeth when they are in pain. Hell is eternal and when one is once there, there is no escape.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Thank You for preparing a place in heaven for me. Thank You for sending Your Son to this earth to pay the penalty for my sins. And thank You that Jesus is in heaven and preparing a place for me for eternity. Give me a new dedication to serve you and use every opportunity to tell others that Jesus loves them.
Heaven: October 4, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 4, 2012.
HEAVEN
DEFINITION:
The abode of God, the angels and the spirits of the righteous after death; the place or state of existence of the blessed after the mortal life.
SCRIPTURE:
This is what the Lord says: "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine." Isaiah 66:1-2.
"For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent Me, not to do My own will." John 6:38
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right side. Mark 16:19
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
What do you think about when you hear someone refer to the word "heaven?" We look forward to going to heaven soon where we will see Jesus face to face. Won't it be wonderful to sing praises unto God by the hour with the angels? We do not have good singing voices now so we are very excited to know that God will give us beautiful voices so we can praise Him. Have you considered standing before God knowing that He is God? What an awesome feeling that will be.
We will also see again our parents, members of our family and friends who have gone on before us. What a meeting that will be. And do you realize that there will be no more sickness, no more persecution, no more sadness and no more earthly cares.
These verses from the Bible that we have listed above cover three major thoughts we would like to share with you. First, the verse from Isaiah reminds us that God created the heaven and the earth and the entire universe which are His dwelling places. Secondly, the verse from John reminds us that Jesus came down to earth from heaven to do the will of God. And finally, the verse in Mark reminds us that Jesus ascended back into heaven when His work on earth was done to prepare for us a home in heaven.
Heaven, we know, is a place. In John 14:2 Jesus tells us that "In My Father's house are many mansions -- I go to prepare a place for you." Heaven is as real of a place as the place where you live. It is called a city whose maker and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10). In I Kings 8:23 we are told that heaven is above the earth. In Matthew 5:16 we are told that it is the place where God the Father dwells. Yes, we can be certain that heaven is a place. Isn't this exciting to know?
Not only is Heaven a place but it is a special place prepared for the "saints" of God. A "saint" is one who by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has been spiritually born into the family of God. As members of the family of God, the apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:2, to "Set your minds on things above (heaven), not on things on earth." Faith in Jesus as our Savior changes our focus and our priorities away from temporal things on earth to heavenly things that are everlasting.
Our home on earth is only our temporary home. And for us that know the Lord, heaven is our eternal home. What a glorious place we as believers in Jesus have to look forward to. Are you ready? Have you accepted Jesus into your heart?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Thank You dear Lord for the "blessed hope" that we have as believers that we will spend an eternity with You in heaven. Help me to communicate to my family and friends that the things we have on this earth are totally worthless when compared to spending an eternity with You. Keep my focus on heavenly things and not on the temporal things of this world.
HEAVEN
DEFINITION:
The abode of God, the angels and the spirits of the righteous after death; the place or state of existence of the blessed after the mortal life.
SCRIPTURE:
This is what the Lord says: "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine." Isaiah 66:1-2.
"For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent Me, not to do My own will." John 6:38
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right side. Mark 16:19
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
What do you think about when you hear someone refer to the word "heaven?" We look forward to going to heaven soon where we will see Jesus face to face. Won't it be wonderful to sing praises unto God by the hour with the angels? We do not have good singing voices now so we are very excited to know that God will give us beautiful voices so we can praise Him. Have you considered standing before God knowing that He is God? What an awesome feeling that will be.
We will also see again our parents, members of our family and friends who have gone on before us. What a meeting that will be. And do you realize that there will be no more sickness, no more persecution, no more sadness and no more earthly cares.
These verses from the Bible that we have listed above cover three major thoughts we would like to share with you. First, the verse from Isaiah reminds us that God created the heaven and the earth and the entire universe which are His dwelling places. Secondly, the verse from John reminds us that Jesus came down to earth from heaven to do the will of God. And finally, the verse in Mark reminds us that Jesus ascended back into heaven when His work on earth was done to prepare for us a home in heaven.
Heaven, we know, is a place. In John 14:2 Jesus tells us that "In My Father's house are many mansions -- I go to prepare a place for you." Heaven is as real of a place as the place where you live. It is called a city whose maker and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10). In I Kings 8:23 we are told that heaven is above the earth. In Matthew 5:16 we are told that it is the place where God the Father dwells. Yes, we can be certain that heaven is a place. Isn't this exciting to know?
Not only is Heaven a place but it is a special place prepared for the "saints" of God. A "saint" is one who by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has been spiritually born into the family of God. As members of the family of God, the apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:2, to "Set your minds on things above (heaven), not on things on earth." Faith in Jesus as our Savior changes our focus and our priorities away from temporal things on earth to heavenly things that are everlasting.
Our home on earth is only our temporary home. And for us that know the Lord, heaven is our eternal home. What a glorious place we as believers in Jesus have to look forward to. Are you ready? Have you accepted Jesus into your heart?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Thank You dear Lord for the "blessed hope" that we have as believers that we will spend an eternity with You in heaven. Help me to communicate to my family and friends that the things we have on this earth are totally worthless when compared to spending an eternity with You. Keep my focus on heavenly things and not on the temporal things of this world.
Satan: October 3, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3, 2012.
SATAN
DEFINITION:
The chief evil spirit; the devil.
SCRIPTURE:
Thus says the Lord God: "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering -- you were the anointed cherub, I established you, you were on the holy mountain of God, you were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, til iniquity was found in you." Ezekiel 28:11-15
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We encourage you to read carefully this devotional. Our prayer for you is that these few thoughts will alert you to the actions of Satan and that they will help you not to be tempted to fall into the grasp of Satan. We all need to be aware of his influence on the world we live in and the influence he can have on our lives and the lives of our family, even as believers in Jesus.
Satan is the chief evil spirit in the world. He is known to most people as the devil. Many people have a mental picture of Satan as an ugly creature with horns, a pitch fork and in a red suit. Don’t be deceived. Satan is attractive and was perfect until iniquity was discovered in him. In talking about the origin of Satan, the scriptures indicate he was the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
In II Corinthians, Paul writes that, “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Although Ezekiel was writing about the evil king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28: 11-15, it is a likely description of Satan.
Satan fell from his original exalted position when he decided to put his self-will above God's perfect will. Five times in Isaiah 14:12-15 Satan said "I WILL."
• I will ascend into heaven.
• I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
• I will sit on the mount of the congregation at the utmost heights of the sacred garden.
• I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
• I will be like the Most High.
Satan had become puffed up with pride and wanted to exalt himself above God. Satan's prideful self-will became his downfall. When Satan was cast out of heaven he became "prince (ruler) of this world." Satan fell from what God had given him, all because he wanted his will to be above God's will.
Satan began his evil work of deception in the garden of Eden, God's perfect garden and in God’s perfect people, Adam and Eve. He continues to "seek whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8) and will continue until he is cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10) You need to be aware of some of Satan's work:
• He snares the unbeliever and takes him captive to do his work. (II Timothy 2:26)
• He entices man to commit evil. (I Thessalonians 3:5)
• He has the power of death. (Hebrews 2:14)
• He motivates professing believers to betray Christ. (John 13:2)
• He inspires believers to lie to God. (Acts 5:1-11)
• He enters into people and causes them to do his will. (John 13:21-27)
• He has the power to steal the Word of God from the hearts of those who hear the Word of God, but do not understand it. (Matthew 13:19)
• He blinds the minds of unbelievers to keep them from being saved. (II Corinthians 4:4)
• He will work through the Antichrist in the great tribulation. (II Thessalonians 2:8-12)
Satan is "bad news" but there is "GOOD NEWS". God is greater than Satan. Satan is powerful but God has limited his power. Jesus' resurrection, after He died on the cross, destroyed Satan's power over death. Our faith in God and His Son Jesus, gives us victory over Satan and death. Satan never gives up, so we must be wary of his attempts to entice us away from the Lord and we must stand firm in what we believe.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Give me spiritual understanding as I read Your Word so that I have the strength to stand firm against the devil. Help me to keep my eyes on You and to look to You for direction and wisdom. May my life shine brightly for You and may others see Christ at work in me through my words and deeds.
SATAN
DEFINITION:
The chief evil spirit; the devil.
SCRIPTURE:
Thus says the Lord God: "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering -- you were the anointed cherub, I established you, you were on the holy mountain of God, you were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, til iniquity was found in you." Ezekiel 28:11-15
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We encourage you to read carefully this devotional. Our prayer for you is that these few thoughts will alert you to the actions of Satan and that they will help you not to be tempted to fall into the grasp of Satan. We all need to be aware of his influence on the world we live in and the influence he can have on our lives and the lives of our family, even as believers in Jesus.
Satan is the chief evil spirit in the world. He is known to most people as the devil. Many people have a mental picture of Satan as an ugly creature with horns, a pitch fork and in a red suit. Don’t be deceived. Satan is attractive and was perfect until iniquity was discovered in him. In talking about the origin of Satan, the scriptures indicate he was the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
In II Corinthians, Paul writes that, “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Although Ezekiel was writing about the evil king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28: 11-15, it is a likely description of Satan.
Satan fell from his original exalted position when he decided to put his self-will above God's perfect will. Five times in Isaiah 14:12-15 Satan said "I WILL."
• I will ascend into heaven.
• I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
• I will sit on the mount of the congregation at the utmost heights of the sacred garden.
• I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
• I will be like the Most High.
Satan had become puffed up with pride and wanted to exalt himself above God. Satan's prideful self-will became his downfall. When Satan was cast out of heaven he became "prince (ruler) of this world." Satan fell from what God had given him, all because he wanted his will to be above God's will.
Satan began his evil work of deception in the garden of Eden, God's perfect garden and in God’s perfect people, Adam and Eve. He continues to "seek whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8) and will continue until he is cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10) You need to be aware of some of Satan's work:
• He snares the unbeliever and takes him captive to do his work. (II Timothy 2:26)
• He entices man to commit evil. (I Thessalonians 3:5)
• He has the power of death. (Hebrews 2:14)
• He motivates professing believers to betray Christ. (John 13:2)
• He inspires believers to lie to God. (Acts 5:1-11)
• He enters into people and causes them to do his will. (John 13:21-27)
• He has the power to steal the Word of God from the hearts of those who hear the Word of God, but do not understand it. (Matthew 13:19)
• He blinds the minds of unbelievers to keep them from being saved. (II Corinthians 4:4)
• He will work through the Antichrist in the great tribulation. (II Thessalonians 2:8-12)
Satan is "bad news" but there is "GOOD NEWS". God is greater than Satan. Satan is powerful but God has limited his power. Jesus' resurrection, after He died on the cross, destroyed Satan's power over death. Our faith in God and His Son Jesus, gives us victory over Satan and death. Satan never gives up, so we must be wary of his attempts to entice us away from the Lord and we must stand firm in what we believe.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Give me spiritual understanding as I read Your Word so that I have the strength to stand firm against the devil. Help me to keep my eyes on You and to look to You for direction and wisdom. May my life shine brightly for You and may others see Christ at work in me through my words and deeds.
Repentance: October 2, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 2, 2012.
REPENTANCE
DEFINITION:
Deep sorrow; remorse; regret for a past sin, wrong doing or error.
SCRIPTURE:
"He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." Proverbs 28:13
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30
"God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sin to Israel." Acts 5:31
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The dictionary defines repentance as deep sorrow or contrition for a past sin. It is true, repentance requires being sorry. However, true repentance requires more than just feeling sorry, it requires a complete turning away from sin and a determination not to return to or repeat our sinful act.
When we accepted Jesus as our Savior and became believers we needed to repent of our sins. God expects us to repent if we are to become one of His children.
True repentance requires change. Changing the direction of one's life from sin-centeredness and self centeredness to God-centerness. If we are willing to renounce our sin filled way of life and turn to God, he will give us a new direction in life.
Take a moment now and evaluate your life. Is there something you need to repent of? How have you treated God? How about your spouse, children and family? What about at your workplace? Have you been honest and responsible? Have you honored God in all that you have done? Have you treated your neighbors and friends with respect?
We are all born sinners into this world and cannot have God and un-repented sin in our life at the same time. The only way we can have God in our life is to be willing to turn from sin and repent. Repentance opens the door to God's free gift of salvation given by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
True repentance is always coupled with faith. It is impossible to have saving faith and not to be repentant. Faith without repentance is the ultimate of hypocrisy and repentance without faith is futile. When you asked Jesus to come into your heart, by faith, you asked for forgiveness of your past sins. This was repentance.
Repentance is not merely sorrow for something done. It is not penance and it is not a reformation which is a change brought about by our own efforts for self-glorification. Repentance is an intellectual, emotional and spiritual change in one’s life. The prodigal son had first a change of mind, then a change of heart and then a change of will. That is when repentance came into his life.
We have many examples given us in the scriptures where repentance was preached. John the Baptist preached repentance. Jesus preached repentance. Peter and Paul preached repentance.
Repentance is so important to God that He commands "all men everywhere to repent."(Acts 17:30) Jesus said the lost were to repent. Paul said that the back sliders were to repent. In Revelation the local churches are told to repent. Jesus said in Luke 13:3: "But unless you repent you too will perish." There are severe consequences for those unwilling to repent.
The proof of repentance in your life is threefold: Turning from sin; turning to God and then seeking to do what the Lord leads you to do.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Speak to my heart today that I may repent from my sinful ways. Help me to make the necessary changes in my life that will show others that I have truly repented of my sins so that they will see that Christ has made a difference in my life. Help me to repent of those things that are in my life that come between me and You, my God. Give me leadership with my family to guide them so that together we live a God honoring life in all that we do.
REPENTANCE
DEFINITION:
Deep sorrow; remorse; regret for a past sin, wrong doing or error.
SCRIPTURE:
"He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." Proverbs 28:13
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30
"God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sin to Israel." Acts 5:31
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The dictionary defines repentance as deep sorrow or contrition for a past sin. It is true, repentance requires being sorry. However, true repentance requires more than just feeling sorry, it requires a complete turning away from sin and a determination not to return to or repeat our sinful act.
When we accepted Jesus as our Savior and became believers we needed to repent of our sins. God expects us to repent if we are to become one of His children.
True repentance requires change. Changing the direction of one's life from sin-centeredness and self centeredness to God-centerness. If we are willing to renounce our sin filled way of life and turn to God, he will give us a new direction in life.
Take a moment now and evaluate your life. Is there something you need to repent of? How have you treated God? How about your spouse, children and family? What about at your workplace? Have you been honest and responsible? Have you honored God in all that you have done? Have you treated your neighbors and friends with respect?
We are all born sinners into this world and cannot have God and un-repented sin in our life at the same time. The only way we can have God in our life is to be willing to turn from sin and repent. Repentance opens the door to God's free gift of salvation given by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
True repentance is always coupled with faith. It is impossible to have saving faith and not to be repentant. Faith without repentance is the ultimate of hypocrisy and repentance without faith is futile. When you asked Jesus to come into your heart, by faith, you asked for forgiveness of your past sins. This was repentance.
Repentance is not merely sorrow for something done. It is not penance and it is not a reformation which is a change brought about by our own efforts for self-glorification. Repentance is an intellectual, emotional and spiritual change in one’s life. The prodigal son had first a change of mind, then a change of heart and then a change of will. That is when repentance came into his life.
We have many examples given us in the scriptures where repentance was preached. John the Baptist preached repentance. Jesus preached repentance. Peter and Paul preached repentance.
Repentance is so important to God that He commands "all men everywhere to repent."(Acts 17:30) Jesus said the lost were to repent. Paul said that the back sliders were to repent. In Revelation the local churches are told to repent. Jesus said in Luke 13:3: "But unless you repent you too will perish." There are severe consequences for those unwilling to repent.
The proof of repentance in your life is threefold: Turning from sin; turning to God and then seeking to do what the Lord leads you to do.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Speak to my heart today that I may repent from my sinful ways. Help me to make the necessary changes in my life that will show others that I have truly repented of my sins so that they will see that Christ has made a difference in my life. Help me to repent of those things that are in my life that come between me and You, my God. Give me leadership with my family to guide them so that together we live a God honoring life in all that we do.
Communication: October 1, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 1, 2012
COMMUNICATION
DEFINITION:
To give or interchange thoughts, feelings, or information by speaking or writing; to express ideas or feelings effectively.
SCRIPTURE:
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Our oldest granddaughter and her husband shared with us some thoughts on communication that we want to share with you in this devotional. Most recently they began to learn the importance of communication in marriage. They both had often found themselves making assumptions about the other person's feelings and opinions, and quickly discovered that assumptions cannot and should not take the place of communication. They realized that part of marriage involved the two of them becoming "one" and without communication, it is impossible to blend two lives into one.
Through changes in plans, differing schedules, and a variety of separate interests, keeping each other informed was essential to harmony within their relationship. Most importantly, they learned the importance of having corresponding ideas about their faith, values, and future dreams and goals. Staying current in their exchange of ideas helped them ensure that they would always work together towards the same ideals.
Communication has been of upmost importance in all areas of their lives. Having learned the value of family from a young age, they had been able to appreciate the worth of a strong family unit and the deep bond of friendship that communication can bring to a marriage. The two-way street of communication was truly a more blissful path than any one-way street.
What they communicated to us is not the norm today among many newly married couples. The key to their healthy marriage begins with their daily communication with God and then between each other. God has blessed them abundantly because they learned as children priorities that honored God and they live today by these same standards. The words of Solomon are so wise. Reckless words are hurtful and will tear a family apart, but thoughtful and honest communication will unite and bring healing.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Help us as spouses and as parents to be strong in the Lord and show courage in communicating the love of our Lord and Savior. May our communication be strengthened daily because of the assurance that You give us that You will never forsake us but will always be with us.
COMMUNICATION
DEFINITION:
To give or interchange thoughts, feelings, or information by speaking or writing; to express ideas or feelings effectively.
SCRIPTURE:
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Our oldest granddaughter and her husband shared with us some thoughts on communication that we want to share with you in this devotional. Most recently they began to learn the importance of communication in marriage. They both had often found themselves making assumptions about the other person's feelings and opinions, and quickly discovered that assumptions cannot and should not take the place of communication. They realized that part of marriage involved the two of them becoming "one" and without communication, it is impossible to blend two lives into one.
Through changes in plans, differing schedules, and a variety of separate interests, keeping each other informed was essential to harmony within their relationship. Most importantly, they learned the importance of having corresponding ideas about their faith, values, and future dreams and goals. Staying current in their exchange of ideas helped them ensure that they would always work together towards the same ideals.
Communication has been of upmost importance in all areas of their lives. Having learned the value of family from a young age, they had been able to appreciate the worth of a strong family unit and the deep bond of friendship that communication can bring to a marriage. The two-way street of communication was truly a more blissful path than any one-way street.
What they communicated to us is not the norm today among many newly married couples. The key to their healthy marriage begins with their daily communication with God and then between each other. God has blessed them abundantly because they learned as children priorities that honored God and they live today by these same standards. The words of Solomon are so wise. Reckless words are hurtful and will tear a family apart, but thoughtful and honest communication will unite and bring healing.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
PRAYER:
Help us as spouses and as parents to be strong in the Lord and show courage in communicating the love of our Lord and Savior. May our communication be strengthened daily because of the assurance that You give us that You will never forsake us but will always be with us.
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