Daily devotion

Taking Advantage

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Taking advantage of an opportunity sometimes goes down the wrong staircase. What begins as a bright possibility sometimes steps down to focusing on our own goals and forgetting people around us. From there sadly it is not such a giant leap to gently manipulating friends to get what we want. But Jesus, who had the closest friendship with the very highest friend, never once pulled strings for His own advantage. Instead He humbled Himself and yielded His life for us.

We will never find freedom to be who He has called us to be till we cease looking to get ahead and simply serve those he sends us to. Remembering all that He gave up to come to our rescue how can we do less for Him?

God of Kindness

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 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant. 1 Corinthians 13:4

“You promised to take them on a picnic!” my grandfather boomed with his deep ship’s captain voice. “You must be kind and you have to keep your promises!” About a year after Nancy and I married we stayed for a few months with my grandparents while I was unemployed. I not only adored my grandparents but I asked to go there because my they were the only ones I knew would welcome us without question. So Nancy and I, along with our two month old son went there until I could get a job and save money for an apartment.

I was stunned to hear the anger and disappointment in my grandfather’s voice. What hurt the most was knowing that he was absolutely right. As a new husband and father I got the part about working hard, and being willing to sacrifice, but what I missed somewhere along the way was learning to be kind.

“I’m sorry!” I blurted out to my grandfather. “Don’t just tell me, tell them.” He answered lowering his voice just a bit. Then as he turned and began to leave  he stopped and added “Remember that a gentleman is always kind.”

Some fruits of the Spirit, like joy and peace can be enjoyed in solitude but for patience and kindness we need other people. Kindness is not just about me, it is remembering to keep my promises and get packed for the picnic today!

The Mountain of the Lord

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And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. Genesis 22:14 KJV

People often say that God will provide all our needs, or if they are really trying to be spiritual they may say, He is “Jehova Jireh”.  In this part of story of Abraham and Isaac, God made a very strange request. He told Abraham to take his son (and God reminded him that it was his only son) and to sacrifice him on the top of a mountain. Wow! What a terrible thing to even imagine! But rather than hesitate, argue with God or try to find some way out, Abraham simply began to walk to the mountain where God told him to go. When Abraham got to the top he made a stone altar, tied up his son and was ready to do as he was commanded when God sent an angel to say “Stop!” Then God showed Abraham a ram with his horns tangled in a thicket and that was when God provided.

So ask yourself this morning; “Where is God sending me to go and what is He asking me to give?” Following God may seem scary; but our biggest adventure and our greatest opportunity begins when we obey Him. There at the top of the mountain of the Lord, He has sent us to is where God becomes our very own Jehova Jireh!

Imported from phone 786