Tag: witness

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: September 18, 2014

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is I Thessalonians chapter 4

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

Paul taught the Thessalonians to live in a way that pleases God. In order to please God we must accept God’s Word as authoritative in our life. Secondly, we must affirm God’s will to abstain from all sexual sin. God’s will is for you and I to be holy. Paul said, “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.” (I Thessalonians 4:3-5 NLT) There is a strong warning against sexual sins in the Bible, including sexual sins involving someone else’s spouse. Paul said, “The Lord avenges all such sins.” (I Thessalonians 4:6b) Thirdly, our lives are pleasing to the Lord when we acquire God’s wisdom. To sum up what Paul was saying in verse eleven, “Live a quiet life, mind your own business, and work so that you will not need to depend on others. By living this way Paul claimed that our lives would be a witness to non believers.

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, may our lives be pleasing to You, Your Word is our authority, we seek to follow Your will and abstain from sin. Give us wisdom to live quiet and peaceable lives, for Your glory. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. Mcpheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Acts chapter 11

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

Jesus is building a church. He said, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus not only formed the church but He fills it. He promised His followers that after His ascension He would send another Comforter. At Pentecost Jesus fulfilled that promise and the Holy Spirit came. The Spirit of God is advancing the Gospel and the church that Jesus formed and filled is now flourishing! The church at Jerusalem spread the Gospel to Antioch and there the grace of God fell upon them and many people were saved. Missions is at the heart of God and heaven is happy when people get saved! There is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. Whatever rejoices the heart of God should also thrill the hearts of God’s people. Our greatest joy should be to witness to others about our Savior Jesus Christ. Non believers mocked the new converts in Antioch by calling them Christians. Originally the title “Christian” was a term of criticism. God’s church was known to the world as “Jesus people”. May we preach so much Gospel and live such Gospel that the world will know us Jesus people!

Prayer: “Father, give us hearts that burn to share the Gospel, may our greatest joy be to see others come to faith in Jesus. Lead us to someone today that we can witness of Your saving power. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Acts chapter 10

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

Cornelius was a Gentile who came to know the Lord as the Spirit brought a Gospel witness into his home. In Acts 1:8 Jesus told His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit and they would be witnesses unto Him. In Acts 10:39 Peter said, “And we are witnesses of all things which He did…” and in Acts 10:42 he said, “And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.” The disciples became witnesses just like Jesus said. Basically, Peter witnessed about Jesus to Cornelius and the Spirit of God fell on them as He did the believers at Pentecost. Non Jews are accepted into the family of God the same as Jews. God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to Him. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone! Rejoice in the Gospel of grace today that is going out to every nation and the forgiveness of sin that is available to all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ!

Prayer: “Lord, we rejoice in Your grace that You forgive sin and give Your Spirit to those who place their trust in Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 12

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

One of my professors, Dr. John Mark Terry formerly served as a Southern Baptist missionary in the Philippines. Dr. Terry told us about a church in the Philippines that had enscribed on the pulpit the words, “Sirs, we would see Jesus.” In John chapter 12 some men approached the disciples and made a simple request, “Sirs, we would see Jesus.” We want to see Jesus should be the longing of every child of God. God must be the one true desire of our heart. The Great Commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. It is sad that many people approach God with a half hearted commitment. They give God the crumbs from their life. God deserves more than our left overs! He deserves our very best and He deserves first place in our lives. Loving God and bringing Him glory should be the supreme goal of our life! The best way to bring Him glory is to obey His Word and live pure lives, and seek to win the lost. God commissioned His church to win the lost. Jesus was a soul-winner and if we are like Him we will be soul-winners as well. Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you to be fishers of men.” If we are following we will be fishing. Witnessing to others about Jesus brings Him great glory!

Prayer: “Father in heaven, we long to see Jesus and we long that others will see Jesus in us. Make us more like Jesus and give us an opportunity today to share Christ with someone who needs to hear about Him.”

Randy J. McPheron