Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

Sinless v. Sin Less

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/14

I feel like Paul sometimes who wrote that the things he wants to do, he doesn’t do and the things he doesn’t want to do, he does. And he added, “O, wretched man that I am!” That’s the problem…the whole human thing means that we are, well, human. We aren’t God and will never be God, but we are supposed to strive to be as perfect as we can, with every day being a new beginning for us. There would be no need for I John 1:9 if there were no sin, right? Thus, I am one of those imperfect Christians, under construction by the Holy Spirit and praying each day that I will sin less. I am made righteous before God, but I am not sinless and don’t think I will be until I reach my eternal destination. I hope this post makes sense because I feel as though I am rambling. Perhaps that is because I don’t totally understand the scriptures that say to “be perfect” and then to “confess your sins one to another.” I think it’s a work in progress. Jesus finished His work when He died on the cross, but my work on myself, to become more like Him, started the day I accepted Him as Savior and will continue until the day I did. My hope is in Him who helps me to sin less and love more!

Live with Eternity in Mind

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/13

I am an obsessive planner. I plan what will be for dinner as soon as I get up every morning. I plan my lunch as I eat breakfast. I have always been a planner, thus the success I enjoyed as a teacher. Sometimes plans don’t work out, and what I am not is a good “punter.” I don’t like to fall back and punt and change my plans. Flexibility is not a strength in me, but I do try, especially when God is working on that skill in me. I am happy that I don’t have to have a plan B on the back burner for eternity. There is one plan…live for Jesus and spend eternity with Him. That is the only plan that really matters. So, choices are made based on whether they fit into the big plan of living for Jesus. Daily life can be a challenge, with a lot of choices, but if I always keep the goal in mind, I will succeed in God’s plan for me. And that’s my one big plan!

In the Family of God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/12

This devotional really tugged at my heartstrings and my memories. When I was a child and afraid of the dark, I called for my “daddy” and he always came, sang a little song and hugged me, telling me that he would be in the other room and I didn’t need to be afraid. Focusing on God keeps us from focusing on the fear. In reverse, focusing on fear takes our focus off of God where it should be. Whenever I am afraid, of a new medical diagnosis or changes in my life, I try really hard to focus on God. I tell myself that I have lived over fifty years with God as my Father and He hasn’t failed me yet!

The Power to Say No

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/11

As Christians, we are still tempted and need to call on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us turn away from sin and say “no.” How often do we just give in because it is our natural way of acting or reacting? Our testimony would be so much greater if people saw us tempted and also saw us say no to sin and yes to God. That’s what life is…a series of saying “yes” to God and His ways and no to our natural inclination to sin, to fulfill our own appetites and desires for things that please us but that don’t necessarily please God. The next time you are tempted, whether it’s to watch a movie or lose your temper or show pride, whatever the temptation looks like in your life, take time to pray and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to turn away from the bad choices and towards the good ones.

Jesus is the Word

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Establishing that Jesus is infinite and eternal because He is God just as much as the Father is God, the Bible gives us a firm foundation for our faith. Starting in Genesis and ending in Revelation, the Bible is God’s plan, unfolding for mankind. God sees and He saw. God created and said it was good. God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity that make up the truth on which our faith is built. “In the beginning”…before there was anything that we know today, there was the Word and that Word was Jesus, destined to be our Savior and our Lord forever. Worship Him and let Him know how much you appreciate Him, even if you are like me and don’t totally understand the Trinity. He says He is the Word and that is good enough for me!

The Best Word

One of the most powerful verses in Scripture is found in John’s gospel:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As you keep reading, it becomes abundantly clear that the author, inspired by the Holy Spirit, identifies Jesus Christ as the “Word.”

From the first sentence in the Bible, we learn that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Now, John explains, “In the beginning was the Word…” And not only was Jesus there in the beginning, but “the Word was with God…” And not only was the Word with God, but “the Word was God.”

So if Jesus has existed from the beginning, if He was with God, and if He was God, then that makes Him much more than a good person, a moral teacher, or even a prophet. 

John claims that Jesus is fully man and fully God. This seems ridiculous—unless, of course, it’s true.

The truth is, God loved the world so much that He gave up His divine privileges, was born into human skin, and died a criminal’s death—so that the people He loves could have eternal life. He loves you.

Remember: He’s not just another name from history, He’s the very Creator of life.

A Spiritual Walk with a New Nature

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/8

Oh, my! This devotional certainly made me think about how I battle daily and sometimes I don’t win that battle against my flesh. But I keep trying and with the power of the Holy Spirit, I can win each battle, one day at a time. My battle recently has been too much of the worldly things that I enjoy. I started playing games online against family members several years ago. Now it has become almost an obsession, and I need to rein it in so it is fun with my family but not dominating my time. I go online to read my Bible and devotionals, then I listen to my Bible podcast and then I pray and go on with my day. I have found that too much of my time is occupied with entertainment, so I fight that battle daily. I make the excuse that the games are a release from the tension and stress of the news and family issues. But I realize as I write this that I am only fooling myself, and I am not even doing that well. They are also a pleasure, and one that takes away from other things I should and could be doing. So, I am confessing, asking for prayer and also committing to step away from the temptation and move closer to what God wants me to be doing. The war is real…but so is God!

Praise All the Day Long

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As I was reading this devotional this morning, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. I may be up in the morning doing my devotional as the sun is high in the sky. But someone else, on the other side of the world, is doing their praise and prayers to God as they ready themselves for bed. There is not one single hour of the day when someone, somewhere is not praising God. I have long said that I start a conversation with God in the morning and just keep it going all day long. Imagine, if you will, the sounds of praises and prayers going up to God all day long from all of the corners of the earth. That is mind boggling to me, but it is also truth! I look forward to the day when Jesus returns and every knee bows, but I am content today to consider how awesome God is and how worthy to receive praise from His creation throughout the earth, no matter the time of day or the circumstances.

From Dawn to Dusk

Imagine, for a moment, this wonderfully diverse planet we call home. Everything you can imagine from the skies above to the deepest part of the ocean—God created all of it. And God created all of us to worship Him.

From north to south and east to west.
From bustling cities to quiet villages.
From lifeless deserts to life-packed forests.
From the highest mountains to the farthest oceans.

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised!”
Psalm 113:3 NIV

The sun “rises” and “sets” on all of us. All people, all languages, all nations. All skin colors, eye colors, and hair colors. All shapes, sizes, and personalities. Rich and poor. Aching hearts and contagious smiles.

An eclectic mix of people from various parts of the world have always been praising God from generation to generation—and it continues to happen now. And we know it will never stop.

In Revelation 7, John has a vision of a “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,” who is Christ. They are serving and worshiping, all day and night.

God’s people—past, present, and future—are people who worship.

We can worship with our songs.
We can worship with our gifts.
We can worship with our lives.

And one day, when we finally see things clearly, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But today, we don’t have to wait to worship.

When sunlight streams through your windows, you can worship.
When the evening sky turns orange-ish pink, you can worship.
When you’re in a season of waiting, you can worship.
When you’re in a season of receiving, you can worship.
When your heart is breaking, you can worship.
When your heart is full, you can worship.

From dawn to dusk, let the name of the Lord be praised.

Today, think about this verse and consider what compels you to worship God. Then, shift your heart toward Him and don’t forget to worship.

Loving Your Neighbor

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

I hesitated to share my story about my neighbor because it brings back some shocking memories. When we first moved into our little house in the big woods, our neighbor tried to block us every way he could from accessing our home. We had to hire a surveyor and get the county law enforcement involved before we could move in. Then, since we had four acres, I took an extra job teaching a college class at night so I could buy my husband a riding mower. Well, I cannot say for certain that the neighbor vandalized it, but there was gray paint put into the gas tank and the mower was ruined, invalidating its warranty. When the police investigated, they found gray paint in his shed, but that was circumstantial evidence. We tried, we really did. We took bags of candy, baked goods, all kinds of small gifts to let them know we were friendly. After being told that we were trespassing and could be shot for our efforts, we stopped going there. Then, the corker happened. My husband was mowing our front lawn (on his second mower that I got him) when the neighbor attacked him physically. He knocked Harry off the seat of the mower and once he got him on the ground, he beat him up. Now, Harry is not small, but he is twenty years older, in his early 50’s. Anyway, once he finished bruising him up pretty badly, Harry ran into the house and called the police. The neighbor was arrested and charged with assault and battery, and we went to court to testify. Our testimony wasn’t needed…the judge read the abusive neighbor the riot act and put him on warning to ever come near us again. All that being said…he is still our neighbor and I still pray for him and for his wife. When his only daughter died a few years ago, we didn’t feel free to go over and comfort them, but we sent a card and prayed for them. We both figure he has has a hard life to act in such a way, and as a result he resents everyone who is white. Not a problem! Jesus loves everyone, so we pray and wait for God to change his heart. He lives next door to us, but he is not our only neighbor. As the devotional points out, our neighbor is anyone who could use our assistance, which includes our prayers and loving thoughts.

A True Neighbor

Have you ever wondered: “What does God want me to do?”

If you’re looking for a verse that summarizes the commands in both the Old and New Testaments, here’s what Paul wrote to the believers in Galatia…

“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Galatians 5:14 NLT

Paul’s words echo a command Jesus gave when He was asked what the most important commandment was (Matthew 22:37-40). What they’re both essentially saying is: beyond loving God with everything in you, you should love your neighbor as yourself. 

Who is your neighbor? A Jewish expert in religious law once asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) So Jesus told him a story about a man who was beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. Both a priest and a Levite walked by and ignored the man—but it was a Samaritan who sacrificed his time and money to help him heal.

For many reasons, Samaritans were despised by Jews. But that didn’t stop the Samaritan in this story from showing compassion. What Jesus wanted the Jewish expert (and us) to hear is that anyone, anywhere is our neighbor—and everyone is worthy of our sacrificial love.

How do you love yourself? When you have a need of any kind, you work hard to meet it. You don’t have to think about how to treat yourself; it’s just something you do. The care we unconsciously show ourselves is also how we should care for others.

How can you love your neighbor as you love yourself? If someone needs help with their home, job, or children, you can serve joyfully. If a family is struggling financially, you can give generously. If there’s someone in your life who doesn’t have a godly example to look up to, you can step into the gap. 

Being a true neighbor is not always convenient and it will likely cost you, but you can still choose to love them as you love yourself. And when you serve others in this way, you are serving Jesus, too.

Today, take a moment to consider the people around you who could use your help. Then, ask God to reveal how you can love and serve them this week.

Who’s Your Battle Buddy?

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/6

I had to ponder a while when I read this devotional this morning. I am a solo-type person, introverted and quite reticent when called upon to share my feelings. But I do know that I have a small group from our church with whom I can share my struggles and how I am really doing. I don’t have to pretend, answer that I’m okay and move on. I am thankful for each of them, particularly those who call or text to check on my husband and me when they know we are facing some kind of new medical challenge. I would prefer to “go it alone” but we were never meant to be alone in this life. We all need a “battle buddy.” My first choice is my husband who knows me best and loves me in spite of me, but I also need another female who can understand what it’s like to be a female in this upside down world in which feminism is not appreciated. I want to be all that God wants me to be and I need a female battle buddy to stand alongside of me as I stand with her and fight our battles with self-worth and sin together.

Stop Defeating Yourself

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/5

The lies we tell ourselves serve only to keep us from being the best that we can be for God and for each other. We need to take time to be introspective and seriously see ourselves, with all of our faults, and know without a doubt that God loves us just as we are. We need to face the truth about ourselves, that we are sinners saved by grace, and that each decision we make affects ourselves and others. Then, we need to move on with God, standing honestly before Him. He sees us just as we are, and I believe that He wants us to see ourselves as He sees us, flawed but never defeated because we have been forgiven.