Archive | December 2020

My Joy

Dec16

Remember me, O Lord , in Your favor toward Your people; Visit me with Your salvation, That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance.        Psalms 106:4‭-‬5 NASB

This is my heart’s desire. God, I believe, is calling me to serve His inheritance, His people. There is no greater joy for me than to see God’s people experience Him, to know the joy of their salvation, the peace of God in the midst of turmoil, to know the hope of prosperity in His chosen ones (eternally walking with Him). I glory in His inheritance (His people).

🌹 When people truly experience Him they make a difference in a lost world.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Church – Keeping the Unity

Dec15

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.     Ephesians 4:15‭-‬16 NASB

Jesus must be made the head of the body, the Church, for unity to be accomplished. He places each part (person) of the body in the church and He “causes the growth for the building up of itself in love”. We individually must surrender to the Lordship of Christ and be obedient to His commands (the Word of God, Bible).

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25 NASB

Neighbor: members of the church and accountable for and to one another.

be angry, and yet do not sin ; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:26‭-‬27 NASB

Remember that the devil is seeking whom he may devour and if he can destroy a church he will. Let us not give him the opportunity.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29‭ NASB

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 4:31 NASB

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.  Ephesians 4:32 NASB

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 NASB

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.    Ephesians 3:15‭-‬19 NASB

🌹O the blessings, the “riches of His glory”, “strengthened with power through His Holy Spirit”, the dwelling of Christ in the heart! By this and our obedience we comprehend with all the saints the abounding, overflowing, tremendous love of God and are filled to the fullness of God.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Church – Equipped

Dec14

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  Ephesians 4:11‭-‬13 NASB

God has a plan. Every child of His He has given gifts for the edification and equipping of His Church, the body of Christ; to attain the unity of the faith by the knowledge of Jesus; growing into the fullness of Christ in us.

Unity. One mind, one body, one purpose.

One mind, the mind of Christ:

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.    1 Corinthians 2:16 NASB

One body: The body of Christ.

One purpose:

We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.     Colossians 1:28 NASB

🌹How is God using you?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Church – Body of Christ

Dec11

In yesterday’s devotion we read how a Christian is a new creation. We have put on the new self, the image of Jesus.

What does that look like in relation to the Church, the body of Christ?

Well, we, a part of the body should. . .

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2‭-‬3 NASB

Be diligent (earnest, persistent, painstaking) to preserve the unity of the Spirit. How? In the bond of peace which means every part of the body (each person) must be humble, gentle, patient, tolerant in love.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.      Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NASB

As a Christian we have the Spirit abiding in us so we have the capability to display the fruit of His Spirit particularly to the body of Christ.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.      Ephesians 4:4‭-‬6 NASB

God is the church. Jesus is Lord of His church. The Spirit unites us into one body under the Lordship of Christ and we are one with God who is over all, through all and in all.

🌹Are you united in faith with a body of believers? The body of Christ?!

God, I pray for your church. Unite your church into one body under the Lordship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Pour out Your Spirit on Your body of true believers to be diligent in preserving unity in Your church by the fruit of Your Spirit being displayed toward one another. In godly love may Your church be known by their love for You displayed in loving one another.

In Jesus name, amen.

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Church – Christian

Dec10

if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:21‭-‬24 NASB

Lord, as a Christian, one called by You unto salvation and a new life; help me daily to lay aside my old self which is corrupted with sin and be renewed in the spirit of my mind, putting on the new self, Your likeness which is Your righteousness, holiness and truth.

In Jesus name, amen.

If you have heard Him and been taught in Him:

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13 NASB

Rid yourself of the old self:

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.        Colossians 3:8 NASB. (See also: James 1:21, 1 Peter 2:1)

knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;   Romans 6:6 NASB

Put on the new self:

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:14 NASB

Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.   Romans 6:4 NASB

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB

and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-Colossians 3:10 NASB

🌹Have you “indeed” “heard Him” and “been taught in Him”?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Dark to Light

Dec9

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:8‭-‬10 NASB

Praise God for His glorious Light!! Because of Jesus we do not have to walk in darkness. If we are walking in darkness it is by choice. When you believed on the Son of God you entered into His eternal light.

Has God changed your life? Walking as children of the Light, Jesus Christ, we produce fruit which is goodness, righteousness and truth. No excuses. Are you walking in the Light?

Find what is pleasing to God through His word, the Bible. The result? Walking in the Light and producing fruit.

🌹but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.    1 John 1:7 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Gratitude

Dec8

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6‭-‬7 NASB

How is your gratitude meter?

The best gift we could ever want has been given to those who believe that Jesus is God, died for the sins of humanity to open the door of reconciliation with God the Father, rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father.

As if that wasn’t enough, those who believe are gifted with God’s own Holy Spirit to abide in them. Can you fathom that? The Almighty God, Creator of all, the King of kings, Lord of lords, residing in mortal man? Wow!

We are not left alone to navigate this world. We have the indwelling of God Himself that we may walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and being built up and established in our faith until the day we are called home to see Jesus face to face.

Take God’s instruction, His word and grow in your faith. Praise God for opening your eyes to His wonderful salvation and thank Him for His abundant gift of Himself.

🌹Hoping your gratitude is overflowing so that others desire to know why.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Walking

Dec8

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.   Ephesians 5:15‭-‬17 NASB

How do we walk wisely?

By walking according to His word.

and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:2 NASB

How do we make the most of our time?

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.       Colossians 4:5‭-‬6 NASB

Spend time in prayer.

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18‭-‬20 NASB

How do we know the will of God?

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.    Romans 12:2 NASB

By prayer.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:9‭-‬10 NASB

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; 1 Thessalonians 4:3a NASB

🌹How is your walk?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Affliction

Dec4

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.    Psalms 34:19‭, ‬21‭-‬22 NASB

We, as Christians, are not exempt from affliction. That is something that I think we forget. Jesus did not promise us a perfect, carefree life when He became our Savior and Lord (King, ruler over us).

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”    John 16:33 NASB

This life is our battleground. Fighting for salvation of family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and every person we encounter in this life. We are fighting to sustain a relationship with our God. This world is not our home but the battlefield on the way.

With each affliction, we need to ask ourselves, “What can I learn through this experience? What is God teaching me through this and how can I learn from it for my growth in the Lord and the benefit of others?”

🌹 And the ultimate question to ask ourselves is “Am I taking refuge in Him”?

I recommend reading Acts 27 noticing the difference between Paul, who knows the Lord Jesus, and others on the ship. Reactions to the situations by both parties.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Kingdom Growth

Dec3

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18 NASB

Jesus, my Savior, the sacrificial Lamb:

I come before you today on behalf of ________. Lord, I ask that You would open the eyes of ________ so that he/she may turn from darkness to light. Jesus, You are the Light! Turn him/her from the dominion of Satan to Yourself, O God, that he/she may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those whom You have sanctified by faith in Yourself.

Hear my prayer, Lord God, for Your namesake, Your glory and Your kingdom growth. Amen

🌹 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:35 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon