Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

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?

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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

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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.

The General of My Life

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/4

As the wife of a retired military veteran, I understand rank and the responsibilities that come with it. Jesus’s being the general of my life means that I can let go and just let Him lead me where I need to go in order to be victorious in each battle. He is in charge and carries the heavy responsibility of getting each of us to the end of our race, whole and totally committed to Him. We have to do our part and follow Him daily, listening carefully as He gives us our “marching orders” for the day. Our job is to be so close to Him that we can clearly hear His voice and follow what He is telling us to do. That will lead to our victory in the world, over our flesh and over Satan. Jesus already won His battle and came out of that grave victorious! Now, He is helping us to win ours.

De-clutter

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/3

I have to begin by confessing that I have been known to be one of the world’s worst at de-cluttering, both in my home and in my life. I find a small space for something and put it there, probably forever. The problem with doing that in my life is that I have run out of small spaces. They are not visible like when I place objects around the house, but they are definitely there and keeping me from being my best for God. Recently, I came to the mind-blowing revelation that it’s okay to say “no.” The other person may not like it or understand my choices, but I have to prioritize my time for what makes sense for me. This is nowhere more obvious than in the mountains of books I read, most of which I am reading for the purpose of reviewing for an author or publishing company. I am even learning to say “no” to them, also. If the book is not a good fit for me, the answer is no. If I have too many books to currently read and review, even if I really want to read that book the answer is no. I need the time to meditate and pray and read my Bible. So, if you ask me to do something, it is not because I don’t care about you. It’s because I am setting priorities that God is helping me to establish. My “no” is not a rejection but rather a step in the right direction for me to de-clutter and get my priorities straight.

Your Cheerleaders

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/2

Everyone needs encouragement some days, and most need encouragement every day. This life is hard and we fight the battle every day against our spiritual enemies and those who oppose us here on earth. When I had my stroke, my cheerleaders were my husband and my daughter. They kept telling me that I could do it, even when I was too weary to take the next step. And I knew God was right there with me because, after all, He revived me from the stroke to begin with and set me on that road to recovery. I am not currently suffering from the effects of a stroke, but I am still battling every day, against sin and its consequences and against the enemy of our souls who wants me to give up, surrender to him and be done with it all. You are battling, too, and the same Lord who fought for me is fighting on your side. Not only that, but there is a crowd in Heaven cheering us on. We don’t give up, we don’t give in, we keep fighting for right because the end result is going to be amazing and beyond belief. We will get to join our cheering squad in Heaven…what a glorious day that will be!

The Right Response

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I was the student in school who raised my hand only when I knew my answer was right, and when I answered, I expected an immediate reply from the teacher that I was right. That immediate kudo that I got was my reward for the right answer. When we repent, turning away from our old life and towards a new one with God, we don’t get an immediate oral response from God as our reward. Instead, what we receive is so much better…it’s a peace that I cannot explain, a feeling of relief that a big burden is gone, and a total feeling of acceptance in a way that you have never been accepted before. Your reward is also a promise of a future spent in eternity with your Creator. So, don’t be afraid to raise your hands toward Heaven and confess your sins to God and your belief in His plan of salvation. The reward is eternal; the consequences of not answering His call to repentance are eternity without Him and separation from God forever. That’s a high price to pay just because you won’t raise your hand. You already know your answer is the right one if you are ready to repent. So, don’t wait…today is the day of your salvation and the beginning of a new life with the Lord!

The Beginning of Our Journey

God has been working within history for thousands of years. His redemptive plan has culminated in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. All of God’s promises in the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Jesus. 

The book of Acts, which details the life of the early church, contains many long speeches which cover the historical timeline of God’s redemptive activity. Acts 3 is one of those speeches, given by Peter to a group of Israelites. Peter’s speech not only includes historical details, but also a right response to all of this information.

The right response to hearing about what God has done throughout history is to repent and believe in Jesus. When we learn of all that God has done for us, it’s only fitting that we should turn our lives back to Him.

Repentance is when we recognize the truth and we turn towards it. Usually it involves turning away from our own way of life and turning towards God’s way. Repentance is the beginning of our faith journey.

When we repent, God forgives us. We no longer live according to our past mistakes and offenses. Rather, God gives us a new life that is forgiven of those things.

This is why Peter says that times of refreshing follow repentance. Repentance leads to rebirth. We are made into a new creation. We are empowered to walk in the newness of life with God. After beginning this journey with Jesus, we continue it by the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you haven’t started that journey, begin today by repenting of your sins and turning back to God. He is faithful to forgive you. Pray for Him to guide your life. Continue to read about God’s ways in Scripture so you can grow in your knowledge of Him.