Tag: love

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: December 3, 2014

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Today’s Bible reading is Revelation chapter 2

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

The book of Revelation opens with a message from Jesus to seven churches in Asia Minor. The seven stars that John saw certainly must be the seven pastors. It is a great comfort as a pastor to know that the One who calls and cares for us holds us in His right hand. God gives pastors their ministry assignments, and He will provide what is needed for them to be useful. Pastors serve the church under God’s directives. God gives the message and the messenger to each congregation. John not only saw seven stars, but also he saw seven golden candlesticks. These represent the witness or effectiveness of the the seven churches. Jesus warned the church to repent and return or else He would remove its candlestick. The threat of the church losing its effective witness was the result of the church leaving its first love. Jesus accused them of not loving Him or loving each other the way they once did. When love goes cold in a church it will lose its power and witness.

Prayer: “Dear Father, revive our hearts and renew our love for You and for each other. May we a bright witness for Your glory. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: November 27, 2014

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Today’s Bible reading is 2 John

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

John the beloved, the author of 2 John was a pastor. He loved God’s people and wanted to see them grow. Mainly, as a pastor John was concerned about the walk of God’s children. A good pastor desires to see the church walk in truth. There is so much deception today that it would be easy for a child of God to be led astray. Knowing our Bibles helps us to know Jesus better. The better that we know Jesus the more we will love and obey Him. The more we love Jesus the less we will care about material things. We will care more about spiritual and eternal things, and we will be more concerned about sharing the Gospel. A good pastor not only desires to see God’s children walk in truth, but also he desires to see God’s church walk in love. We must love one another. Jesus said, “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another.” The mark of a great church is that the people love one another.

Prayer: “Dear Father, may Your children walk in truth and love. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: November 24

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Today’s Bible reading is 1 John chapter 3

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

What a great privilege it is to belong to God! We who have been saved are sons and daughters of God. It does not yet appear what we shall be. But God has given us the hope that when Jesus appears we shall be like Him. Since we have this hope, and since Jesus is holy, we must strive for holy living. An unholy life reflects that we do not belong to God. John stated, “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil…” 1 John 3:8 ESV) The evidence that we are saved is that we practice righteousness, and that we possess a love for other believers. Anyone who does not love the fellowship does not know God. Jesus taught us how to love. Jesus laid down His life for us and He is our example. We must be willing to lay down our lives for the brothers. What are you willing to sacrifice, what are you willing to endure for the sake of your church family?

Prayer: “Lord, let us experience a confident hope, and may we demonstrate our relationship to You by the way we live and by the way we love. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: October 3, 2014

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Today’s Bible reading is 2 Timothy chapter 1

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Timothy’s faith had been mightily influenced by his mother and grandmother. Someone said, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” Never underestimate the impact that you may have on a child. Your children and grandchildren, or the children you minister to are learning about God by watching you. Timothy came to faith in Christ as a result of the godly people who were part of his life. Also, Timothy was given a special gift from the Lord. Spiritual gifts must be developed. Paul charged Timothy to “keep ablaze” the gift he had received from the Lord. The word picture is that of stirring embers before they die, so as to produce a blazing flame. God wants us to have burning hearts and develop our spiritual gifts, knowing that we have not been given the spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.

Prayer: “Dear Lord, thank You the godly people You have placed in our lives, and the spiritual gifts You have given. May our hearts be stirred to do Your will. In Jesus name. Amen”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: September 22, 2014

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Today’s Bible reading is 2 Thessalonians chapter 1

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Every person should be thankful for their church family. The Bible gives us reasons to be grateful. In II Thessalonians 1:3-4 It says, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.” (NKJV) First, we give thanks for growing faith. The faith of the Thessalonians was growing exceedingly. Faith is like a muscle, when it is used it grows stronger. Someone said, “A faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted.” God uses trials to grow our faith. Faith also grows as a result of reading God’s Word. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJV) Be thankful for the growing faith of other believers who are part of your church. Secondly, give God thanks for the love of your church family. Paul said that the love of the Thessalonians was “abounding.” The word “abounding” pictures a river overflowing its banks. Think in terms of agriculture and irrigation. Crops are nourished by the overflow. Think about how you and your church family are nourished and blessed by the overflow of love from one another. Praise God for loving churches! Lastly, thank God for believers in the church who are patiently enduring trials for the glory of God! Many around us are going through difficulties, but they are faithfully leaning on the Lord through it all. What a blessing to see people who love Jesus stay strong in their faith even though they are struggling. We should be thankful for their example. After giving God thanks for your church, brag on it to others. The world hears enough bad stuff about churches. They need to hear the good stuff!

Prayer: “Lord, thank You for the faith, love, and faithful endurance of the saints of God You have placed in my life. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: September 10, 2014

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Today’s Bible reading is Colossians chapter 2

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

If there is one word to describe the Apostle Paul it is the word concerned. Paul was concerned for the church at Colossae. He endured intense spiritual agony in their behalf. Paul interceded for them desiring, “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.” (‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ESV) Paul was even concerned for people he did not know or had ever met. His love for them was not stifled because of distance either. Paul said, “For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.” (‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ NLT) Being concerned for others is a spiritual quality. Spiritual concern motivates us to pray. Are you concerned for God’s people around the world and even those you have never met in distant lands? Paul’s love and concern for the Colossians was first that they would be protected from the high pressure of false teaching, and secondly that they would be firmly grounded in Christ and walk in Him. May we be motivated to pray for one another today with the same intensity and concern like Paul had when he prayed for the Colossians, or like Jesus prayed when He agonized at Gethsemane. 

Prayer: “Lord, we pray for churches & Christians here at home and in distant lands to be encouraged & knit together in love, & to know the riches of the fullness of Christ. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is I Corinthians chapter 13

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

“And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13)
The church at Corinth was caught up in spiritual gifts. There is nothing wrong with being excited, but Paul wanted them to have a biblical understanding of gifts and not be out of balance. The Corinthian believers did not lack for spiritual gifts, but they didn’t always exercise them properly. The problems they were experiencing boiled down to one thing; a lack of spiritual maturity. Spiritual growth is dwarfed by a lack of love. What good is it to have gifts, abilities, and privileges but not have love? There are two things that God requires of us above all else. First, we must love God supremely. Second, we must love others. Weirsbe says, “It is love that enriches the gift and that gives it value. Ministry without love cheapens both the minister and those who are touched by it; but ministry with love enriches the whole church.” Loving God and loving others is a key to solving most of the problems facing the church today. This chapter was written to a church struggling with many problems to revolutionize their church. Love is still the key to revival in our families, churches, and communities as well.

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, fill us with Your love, May we experience the fullness of Your Presence. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is I Corinthians chapter 8

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” (I Corinthians 8:9)
People do not care how much we know until they know how much we care. Paul stated it another way, “knowledge makes us feel important, but it is love that strengthens the church.”  Loving God and loving our church family pleases God more than anything else we do. Paul said, “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (I Corinthians 8:3 ESV) The Corinthian believers wrote Paul with a question about meat that had been offered to idols. Some were buying this meat at discounted prices without any violation of their conscience, but other believers were offended. Paul’s concern was that some church members might become a stumblingblock. Paul’s conviction was that if certain foods caused someone else to stumble then don’t eat them! Our fellow believers for which Christ died, are worth more than personal privileges or preferences. When we hurt a fellow believer, we sin against Christ.

Prayer: “Dear Father, forgive us where we have been a stumblingblock, help us to walk in love. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Romans chapter 14

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

“So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
How we treat people is important. People matter to God and they should matter to us. As followers of Jesus Christ walking in the love of God we must be sensitive to how we treat other believers. God’s Word reminds us that as believers we are accountable to God and will one day stand before Him. It is important for mature believers to be patient with younger believers. New believers must respect older, more mature Christians and seek to learn from them. Church is about relationships. At the end of the day we must do everything possible to protect our relationships within the body of Christ. If what we are doing is offensive to other believers then we must be considerate of where they are in their walk with God. People are more important than our plans, programs, and passions. Our first priority in the church must be to love one another. Unity is not optional, it is God’s will. Unity is impossible without the work of the Spirit.

Prayer: “Holy Father, You are the Mighty God and we bless Your name. Help us to live with a consciousness in our relationships that we are accountable and will one day stand before You. Forgive our failures and help us to grow in our love for others. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

 

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Romans chapter 13

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12)
Through love followers of Christ fulfill the Law of God. The Bible says, “Owe no man anything, but to love one another” (Romans 13:8). The two greatest commands in Scripture are first of all “love God” supremely, and second “love your neighbor.” Loving God and loving others will keep us from many sins. In love we can “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14) Love does not injure others or bring about harm to another individual, but instead in love we treat others the way we would treat ourselves. Love isn’t selfish but it is considerate of others. There has never been a better time to start walking in love than right now, “knowing the time, that now it is time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (Romans 13:11).

Prayer: “Dear Father in heaven, may You fill us with Your love, and may we walk in love with a sense of urgency knowing that time is short. And we love someone today by telling them about Jesus Christ. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron