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Devotion
- Thread starter ~InHisHands~
- Start date
Luke 15:11 - 32
The parable of the lost son.
We see in this story that sometimes the pain we go through is our own fault. Why? Well, because of sin or just sheer foolishness. The older brother had everything he needed yet, he wanted more. He got more and then squandered it all. When he finally realized he had done wrong he journeyed home (back to Christ). He was going to explain to his father that he had sinned and ask forgiveness but, his father already understood why he came home and was rejoicing the young man's repentance. The younger brother was angered by this welcome for his foolish brother because he didn't understand that the older had finally seen the mistakes he'd made.
We sometimes take the blessings we are given and use them unwisely. We squander our lives or our time away on foolish things. Then we don't understand later why we are in such pain. But, when we finally realize why, and we return to the feet of Jesus to confess and repent...he is there with open arms. He is prepared to accept us before we even utter a word.
Is there something in your life you've squandered that has caused you pain by your own hands?
The parable of the lost son.
We see in this story that sometimes the pain we go through is our own fault. Why? Well, because of sin or just sheer foolishness. The older brother had everything he needed yet, he wanted more. He got more and then squandered it all. When he finally realized he had done wrong he journeyed home (back to Christ). He was going to explain to his father that he had sinned and ask forgiveness but, his father already understood why he came home and was rejoicing the young man's repentance. The younger brother was angered by this welcome for his foolish brother because he didn't understand that the older had finally seen the mistakes he'd made.
We sometimes take the blessings we are given and use them unwisely. We squander our lives or our time away on foolish things. Then we don't understand later why we are in such pain. But, when we finally realize why, and we return to the feet of Jesus to confess and repent...he is there with open arms. He is prepared to accept us before we even utter a word.
Is there something in your life you've squandered that has caused you pain by your own hands?
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I think for myself I mostly squandered away my time and my life on men. I was never motivated to get anything done and I spent all my time seeking the love of men instead of going after the heart of God. I wasted my life in relationships with men that always ended in agony because of my own stupidity. I wasted most of my adult life on these relationships that were not built on Christ. They were built on lust. I would just cry and cry. I couldn't understand why. I do now, though. If I ever do find the love I desire, I will not let it be one that interferes with my new life with Christ. I am also wanting to learn to use my time more wisely. God knows in my heart it is what I want. It's just a matter of getting motivated. I think depression has snuck in and stolen my desire for much of anything anymore. But, I know when I finally came to Jesus, he was there with open arms before I even said a word. He welcomed me home and has been by my side ever since.
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An encouraging word:
And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
Then you will know the LORD.
Hosea 2:20 {NASB}
Jesus wants a place in our hearts. A holy spouse who will love us more than any human mate ever could. He longs to be our everything. And when you stop and think about it...aside from the Father...we are his everything. If I'm going to be chained to something...I would prefer it be the foot of the cross.
And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
Then you will know the LORD.
Hosea 2:20 {NASB}
Jesus wants a place in our hearts. A holy spouse who will love us more than any human mate ever could. He longs to be our everything. And when you stop and think about it...aside from the Father...we are his everything. If I'm going to be chained to something...I would prefer it be the foot of the cross.
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Amen, This is along the lines of what the pastor preached last night. That He would have the throne in our lives and watch what we let in to dethrone Him etc. EXCELLENT message. God is on to something here! Blessings, and thanks for sharing that.
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The words bearing fruit come up a lot in the bible. It means to be productive. It is an important
concept that believers be fruitful. Fruitfulness is the mark that you are a believer. It is an outward
testimony of the work that Jesus Christ is doing on the inside.
The bible tells us this:
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 7:15-20 {NIV}
Many christians believe in Jesus but bear little or no fruit. This causes those around them to doubt
their belief in the Lord. We can not be good witnesses to the Lord if it isn't visable in our lives and in our behaviors. I was very convicted of this over the weekend. And God saw to it I got the message.
The Lord will often test us outwardly to find out who we are on the inside. Just because we are saved doesn't mean we are bearing fruit. Salvation is not reformation. It is transformation. It is a change of heart. It is an "out with the old, in with the new" situation. If we truly have Jesus Christ in our lives then our lives will change.
The reason the bible speaks of pruning the vine is because when a vine is pruned it can bear more
fruit. Therefore Jesus will prune away the dead vines in our lives that are of no use to us or that are not bringing glory to him so that we too can bear more fruit. The more fruit we bear the more pruning gets done.
Also as christians we are to place Jesus first, others second, and ourselves last.
concept that believers be fruitful. Fruitfulness is the mark that you are a believer. It is an outward
testimony of the work that Jesus Christ is doing on the inside.
The bible tells us this:
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 7:15-20 {NIV}
Many christians believe in Jesus but bear little or no fruit. This causes those around them to doubt
their belief in the Lord. We can not be good witnesses to the Lord if it isn't visable in our lives and in our behaviors. I was very convicted of this over the weekend. And God saw to it I got the message.
The Lord will often test us outwardly to find out who we are on the inside. Just because we are saved doesn't mean we are bearing fruit. Salvation is not reformation. It is transformation. It is a change of heart. It is an "out with the old, in with the new" situation. If we truly have Jesus Christ in our lives then our lives will change.
The reason the bible speaks of pruning the vine is because when a vine is pruned it can bear more
fruit. Therefore Jesus will prune away the dead vines in our lives that are of no use to us or that are not bringing glory to him so that we too can bear more fruit. The more fruit we bear the more pruning gets done.
Also as christians we are to place Jesus first, others second, and ourselves last.
1. Jesus
2. Others
3. You
2. Others
3. You
This is how we obtain joy.
Reading in our bible simply isn't enough. We have to come with the mindset that we will obey what is in there. The bible is an instruction book on living and inside of it is a plan of action. When we read the bible we have to observe to do what is in there. One thing that helps us to do this is to make the bible and scripture a part of our daily life. That way it can take over our lives. For every question or every situation we face, God wants us to come to the bible for answers. In
order for us to be truly happy in Jesus we must trust him and obey him.
order for us to be truly happy in Jesus we must trust him and obey him.
This mornings devotional came from the books of John 15 and Joshua 1.
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Verse of the Day
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
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Yeah. I'm ok. Trying to quit smoking so I'm not sure how I feel at the moment. I got up at 9 this morning and haven't had one. I'm using the patches. Plus, I'm going through some other trials and trying to deal with it all. ~Chuckles~ Right now all I can think of is telling God..."You know what? This sucks." ~Grin~
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