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Your Last Day (II Peter 3:9)
II Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 1. God's Promise The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; The word slack means to "hesitate, linger, delay." It carries the idea of loitering or loafing. God is not unfaithful concerning His promises. He is not loafing around with nothing to do. Some of the scoffers apparently were saying the delay in Christ’s return was evidence that God made a promise He can’t keep. Peter rebuts by suggesting that instead of the delay being evidence of God’s unfaithfulness, it’s evidence of His mercy. 2. God's Patience …but is longsuffering to us-ward, Longsuffering means to suffer long. In contrast to God’s being slow to keep His promise, Peter asserts that He’s actually “patient with you.” However, God’s patience isn’t without redemptive motive. He’s patient, Peter says, because He’s “not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” 3. God’s Purpose …not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God's desire is to save all. Today is the last day of 2018. An old year is soon to be ousted while a new year is appointed. There will be celebrations all around the world. Beneath all the hype there is an important lesson that we can learn. Think for a minute. What if this really was your last day. Not of the month. Not of the year. What if this was the last day of your life? Each day for Christ ought to be lived as if it were our last. Jesus has told us that He will come as a "thief in the night." We might know the season, but we do not know the exact day. It could be tomorrow at the dawn of a brand-new year or it could be years from now. The time that Jesus comes isn't as important though, as the condition of our hearts when He comes. Many Christians aren't at all ready for the Rapture to take place. They have too many loose ends to tie up. They're waiting to serve God at a later date. Sadly, they will live away from God their whole life. Others, who haven't trusted Christ as their Saviour, are putting off their decision. Sadly, these people will be left behind. Question to Consider: What if this were your last day? Would you be ready? How would you want to be remembered? Prayer: Heavenly Father, my heart is stirred today to pray for my unsaved friends, family, and acquaintances. The Bible has long foretold that a day of judgment is coming, but I’ve never thought about it so deeply as I’ve thought about it today. Father, I want to be open and available for You to use me to share the witness of Jesus with those who are unsaved. I pray this in Jesus’ name! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Lord, Deliver Me from Distractions (Colossians 3:2)
Colossians 3:1-2, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Ever since man fell into sin in the garden (Genesis 3), people have had trouble staying focused. The world we live in today is in an era of unprecedented distraction. Since you’re already reading this on some electronic device, I don’t need to expound. There will always be distractions and opportunities to turn away from what we are supposed to be doing. One of the devil’s most effective tactics is not to get us to sin outright. Instead, he gets us to turn aside from what is truly important and focus on things of little importance. If we are not careful, we can find that we have succeeded to stay busy without getting anything accomplished. Jesus never lost sight of the pivotal purpose for which He came into the world. Every day of His life was spent on things that truly counted. This is the pattern that we should be following day by day. Focus leads to success. When we stay focused on what is important, we can accomplish great things for God. Where we focus our minds and hearts today counts forever. The very essence of what we believe to be true about the world hangs on where we direct our attention. One of the important and practical issues in the Christian life is where and how we set our minds. Regardless of how hard it may seem, you really can control your thoughts. To put it in terms of Colossians 3:2, we set our minds either on “things that are above” or “things that are on earth.” Setting our minds does not mean we only ever think of God and heaven, but it does mean that as we engage in our earthly callings such as our family, at work, in the world — we don’t mentally turn our backs on Him. All of us set our minds on something and you will set it somewhere — or if you leave it alone, it will go somewhere. · What is distracting you from being focused on the Lord? · If there was one change you made to your daily routine or thought life that could help your eyes stay fixed on Jesus, what would it be? Prayer: Father, I confess I’ve allowed myself to be distracted, and I don’t want to be anymore. Please forgive me, give me a clear sense of Your calling on my life. Help me to stay focused and attentive on serving You. Give me the strength and self-control I need to fix my eyes on You, so I can learn what You want me to learn and be who You want me to be. You are worthy of my full attention. I want to hear Your voice. Whatever it takes, Lord, help me to pursue only what You call me to do, and deliver me from distractions. In Jesus’ name, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt taken from the Bible Study page from our website. If you would like to read this article in its entirety, please open the Bible Study link.
Our Faithful God (II Thessalonians 3:3) II Thessalonians 3:3, But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. In II Thessalonians 3:3 of our text, Paul says, “…the Lord is faithful…” That was what the people in Thessalonica needed to hear, and it is the what you and I need to hear today. These thoughts remind us that our God is The Faithful God. I need to be reminded of that fact from time to time. One example of faithfulness is “Old Faithful” in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. It erupts every 60 minutes to 2 hours. Like Old Faithful, our Heavenly Father is faithful. God will be faithful to you because He is fully committed to you. He will keep every promise He has ever made in His Word! The LORD is faithful in many ways, here are two: 1. He is faithful to forgive. I John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confession simply means being honest with ourselves and with God, and if others are involved, being honest with them too. God is faithful to His promises. 2. He is faithful to forget. Hebrews 8:12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. What comforting Scriptures. God knows everything, but there are some things He has chosen to forget. God will remember our sins no more. When He buries our sin, He chooses not to dig it up and throw it in our face. When we forgive someone, we bury the sin and we relinquish our right to dig it up and remind the person about it. It is important that we learn to forgive like Jesus and love others like He did. Prayer, Father, I can’t help but think of the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” as I think about all You have brought me through. It is true that I have faced many trials and temptations. And as I look back, I see how You protected and strengthened me every time. Thank You for Your personal care for me! Help me to remember these things as new trials and temptations present themselves in the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Strength in Unity (Ephesians 4:1-3)
Ephesians 4:1-3, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Having told us what God expects of us, Paul now moves to tell us how to bring this to pass in our lives. He teaches us in these verses how to walk the worthy walk. He mentions “unity” in Ephesians 4:3, and again in Ephesians 4:13. The word means “agreement.” It simply means that we are to walk together as one in the Lord. Let me just pause here and say that unity is God’s goal for His church. If the Lord is that interested in unity is His church then we should be interested in it as well. The church has no greater testimony than when we are united in Jesus in spite of our differences. By the same rule, there is no greater slander against the cause of Christ than a church family in which the members are at odds with one another. God put in each of us a deep inner need for fellowship. The need for relationship is deeply rooted in all of us. According to Hebrews 10:24-25, Christian fellowship is designed to challenge us to unity and fellowship. God’s plan is that we will exhort one another and encourage one another. God, in His wisdom, didn’t give us everything we needed to follow Him successfully. Instead He chose to give us one another. God fills in the gaps (the areas of need) in the church. Have you ever noticed when God adds someone to the church body, He places them in a position that fills the gap that was needed? Let me illustrate: In some ways, men are like redwood trees. Redwoods grow for millennia—some are two thousand years old. They reach as high as 350 feet. Yet their roots generally run only 6-10 feet below the surface. How do these top-heavy monsters stand the tests of storms and high winds? The reason they are able to is they grow close together (NO GAPS), and they literally intermingle their roots. In essence, they stand strong because they stand together. In today’s world, men often have an independent “go-it-alone” mentality. Yet, like redwoods, we will find it’s easier to stand strong when we “stand together”. Rooted in the Word of God does 4 Things. 1. Roots are unseen: First, the important thing to do is to set aside time in privacy (underground). By doing this we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and grow in Him. 2. Roots are for taking in: Quiet time alone in God’s Word to feed upon it will ensure your spiritual growth. 3. Roots are for storage: As you daily study God’s Word, you’ll find a vast, deep reservoir of Divine hope and strength forming for the rough times ahead. 4. Roots are for support: A deep-rooted Bible study will help you to stand firm against the pressures of life. The routine care for your roots through exposure to God’s Word will cultivate you into a remarkable Christian of endurance.
Prayer, Father in Heaven, I am so thankful that You desired to have a personal relationship with me. I know that it was only possible through the shed blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I desire to have a deeper relationship with You. I understand that the closer I walk with You the stronger my relationship with You and with others will be, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt taken from the Bible Study page from our website. If you would like to read this article in its entirety, please open the Bible Study link.
God’s Got This! (Psalm 34:17-19) Psalm 34:17–19, “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Have you ever felt like nothing in your world was going right? You may have recently experienced the absolute worst day of your life. We all have experienced troubles and know the feeling of having a "crushed spirit." When circumstances are difficult, all too often this affects our attitude towards God and can also inhibit our worship. After all, why should we worship when it seems like life is falling apart at the seams? The Psalmist gives us 3 profound reasons why we can worship the LORD even in the midst of the deepest valleys. 1. We can worship because He hears us. This does not mean He merely hears our cry, but this word implies action. God is so unlike us; when He hears, He acts. And He acts immediately! He does not sit idly by, but intervenes in even the most desperate situation. 2. We can worship in the midst of trials because we know the Lord promises to deliver us. Keep in mind, this word deliver does not mean that He will remove us from our difficulty. Isn’t it true that at times we cry out to the Lord but it seems as though our situation doesn’t change? Do not mistake unchanging circumstances for God’s lack of deliverance. His promise to deliver us is made evident in the way He sustains believers even through the hardest times. 3. Finally, when everything goes wrong, we can worship Him because the Lord is close to us. He is not a distant, uninvolved, uninterested God, but a loving Saviour whose arms reach out to us in the midst of our brokenness. Maybe you are in the midst of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, month, or even year. Maybe you feel that in the midst of a valley, it’s too hard to worship. Take some time today to thank God that He hears our cries, He promises to deliver us, & we can rest assured that He remains close to us even in our darkest moments. “What we do in the crisis always depends on whether we see the difficulties in the light of God, or God in the shadow of the difficulties” G. Campbell Morgan Have you ever experienced a difficulty that inhibits your worship? Which of these three promises do you need to be reminded of; God hears your cry, God promises to deliver you, or God is near to you? PRAYER: Father, thank You for being a personal God who is involved in my life. Thank You for hearing my cries. I want to worship You in the midst of this difficult time. Help me to see that Your promise to deliver me from trouble is Your promise to see me through till the end. Thank You for being near to me, especially when I am hurting the most. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Courage Under Fire (Daniel 3:16-18)
Daniel 3:16-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Two boys entered the dentist's office. One of the boys said, "Doc, will you pull a tooth right this minute?" The dentist replied, "You don't need any gas or Novocain?" The boy said, "Nope! Just one big yank!" The doctor replied, "Sure! That's what I call being brave and courageous. Now show me the tooth you want pulled." The boy turned to his little brother and said, "Come here Jimmy and show the Doc your tooth." We are brave for others but struggle sometimes to have our own courage. These three Hebrews had genuine courage and confidence in the Lord. They knew that their God was able to save them from the fiery furnace. In fact, they were casting themselves upon the Lord to rescue them. But even if the Lord chose not to deliver them, they still could not betray Him. The minds of the three Hebrew men were made up! These men had genuine courage and faith. They would not bend, bow, budge or break. If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything. God wants us to make up our minds to live for Him! We need to make that decision now before we are tested. Trials will come. Our attitude should be that of Job 13:15, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. These three young men faced the ultimate test of their faith. They either had to disobey the Lord or disobey the king. And their decision was a matter of life or death. Their first loyalty belonged to the Lord. They loved and believed in the Lord and knew Him in a very personal way. From the earliest days of childhood all three of these young men had made the Word of God the center of their lives. When our faith is tested, we must continue to trust the Lord. Even if the test is a matter of life or death for us, we are never to deny the Lord. We must entrust the keeping of our souls totally into God’s hands. No matter how strong the temptation or how difficult the trial, God expects us to continue to believe and trust Him. Our faith is not to waver nor collapse, but rather to remain strong. Through faith, we can overcome all the tests and trials of life. We will never know the true strength of our faith until it is tested. Prayer: Father in Heaven, I know strength and help comes from You. Thank You for giving me courage under fire when serving You gets hard. Help me to continue to stand for You in life’s fiery trials. In Jesus name, Amen. Please Share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Greatest Gift Ever Wrapped (Luke 2:1-20)
Today’s devotion is an excerpt taken from the Bible Study page from our website. If you would like to read this lesson in its entirety, please open the Bible Study link. Have you ever had problems with finding the right gift for someone? Is there someone on your Christmas shopping list who is hard to shop for? Maybe they are really picky, or they seem to have everything! Many may still be wondering if they found the right gift for their family, friends, and loved ones. Sometimes we try to deceive by the way (size, weight, shape) we wrap a Christmas present! The presentation of Christ to this world was not the way we would have planned it. At first glance, the look of the manger scene may have been deceiving. Why a manger & not a mansion? Christ was content with a manger when He was born, so that we could have a mansion when we die. When you meet the Saviour, it changes you forever. If you really believe in something strong enough, you would really be able to convince others about it. I read recently about a woman who had waited until the last minute to send Christmas cards. She rushed into a store and bought a package of 50 cards without really looking at them. Still in a big hurry, she addressed 49 of the 50 and signed them without reading the message inside. On Christmas Day, when things had quieted down somewhat, she chanced to read the leftover card and finally read the message she had sent to 49 of her friends. Much to her discouragement, it this: "This card is just to say, A little gift is on the way." Suddenly she realized that 49 of her friends were expecting a gift from her-a gift that would never come. Nothing is so important this Christmas season that you cannot make time to worship the Lord. Perhaps you can sympathize with this lady! There is so much to be done this time of year. Presents to be bought, vacation plans to be made, work to finalize, decorations to hang, parties to attend, parties to host, and so many details to oversee. Sometimes the festivities of the season can wear you out. How important is worshiping Christ this season to you? Yes, you have plans and your schedule doesn't allow much downtime, but like the shepherds, God wants you to make time to worship Him for the birth of His Son. Today as we take time to celebrate Christmas with friends and family don't forget to celebrate Christ. What will you give Jesus this Christmas? I want the whole world to know that He died for us. Don’t you? Prayer, Father in Heaven, thank You for giving the greatest gift in Your Son Jesus. May I make time today to share Him with my family, friends, and all who have never heard of Him. In Jesus name, Amen. Please Share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Celebrating and Sharing Christmas? (Matthew 2:10-11)
Matthew 2:10-11, And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. A little boy came home from Sunday School. He was so excited about learning the Christmas story. Especially about the Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. He was so excited that he had to tell his mother. He said, "I learned today in Sunday School all about the first Christmas. In fact, there was no need of Santa Claus. There wasn't a Santa Claus way back then, so these wise men had to deliver the toys”. I learned comparing Santa Claus and the Lord Jesus. ·Santa lives at the North Pole. Jesus lives everywhere. ·Santa rides in a sleigh. Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water. ·Santa comes once a year. Jesus is an ever-present help. ·Santa comes down your chimney. Jesus stands at your door of your heart and knocks. ·Santa fills your stockings with goodies. Jesus supplies all your needs. ·You have to wait in line to see Santa. Jesus is as close as the mention of His name. ·Santa lets you sit in his lap. Jesus holds you in His hands. ·Santa has a belly like a bowl of jelly. Jesus has a heart of love. ·Santa’s little helpers makes new toys. Jesus makes new lives. ·Santa puts gifts under your tree. Jesus became our gift and died on a tree. The night heaven visited the earth, it wasn’t Santa Claus who came to town, it was Jesus Christ. Jesus came 2,000 years ago and the world has never been the same. If “Christmas” is some material thing that you are dying for, then you will probably be disappointed, even if you get it. If, however, you are seeking the Christ of Christmas, you will never be disappointed. The true spirit of Christmas gives Christ His rightful place. Prayer, Father thank You for sending us Your only begotten Son. Your gift was an eternal gift to the entire world. Help me to share the gift of Your Son Jesus to others. Amen. Please Share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Presence of God Calms Our Fears
Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” We have nothing to fear—and yet we do fear. We need an answer for our fears. When you’re suffering, you reach for comfort and hope. You reach for some reason to get up in the morning and fight again. You reach for something that won’t make your suffering the dominant experience that troubles your heart. What gives us comfort is knowing that when we pray to the Lord, He is always near. I can’t think of anything that is more comforting than these words: I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. This promise of His presence is found in the following verses: Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5. The God of the universe, Who created and controls everything, is with us in our suffering, and He will never leave. Nothing comes into our life but what God allows. Sometimes He says, “I will let her go through that. She will draw down upon My strength. Allow it.” God may also say, “No. Don’t allow that. It will overwhelm him. He is not ready.” Nothing comes into your life that God doesn’t already know about. And since He is with you, you don’t have to fear. Often, we want the benefit of claiming “God is with me,” but we spend too little time talking to God who is always with us. Can fear be avoided entirely? Probably not. Remember, God never gave us the spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7).But Scripture gives us a plan that prepares against and responds to fear. Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” God's Word gives us hope when we find ourselves overtaken by fear. Instead of wallowing in it, we can put our trust in Him. We can deliberately turn away from fear and toward the Lord. This affirmation is also found in Isaiah 12:2, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid...” One of the dangers of suffering is that we can fall into God-amnesia, where our suffering overwhelms our knowledge or remembrance of His presence. God is never disgusted by our weakness and He will never turn His back us. He will never leave, and He will never get overwhelmed. He will never grow impatient, He would never be unfaithful. What could be more comforting? Why wait for fears to come before you decide to trust God? Practice trusting Him as a daily exercise. When you do, you may not even notice how many fears you’ll simply walk by, because your attention will be on the One who is not threatened by any fearful thing. Prayer, Father, I confess that sometimes my fears reveal I’m not trusting You as I know I should but trusting in something or someone else instead. Thank you for reminding me just how fragile everything else is compared with You. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank You for never letting me down and always proving Yourself trustworthy. Help me learn to trust You increasingly and banish fears from my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Please Share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Believers Who Had A Burning Heart for God
Luke 24:32a,And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way… After Jesus left Cleopas and his wife, they began to share their thoughts about their time with the risen Saviour. The time they spent with Christ stirred a flame in their souls. They said their hearts "burned" within them. Time spent with Christ changed them. By the way, it will change you, too. Spending time with the LORD will ignite passion in your heart. The question is this, "Do you really want to get to know Him and deepen your walk with God?" The consuming fire of God that burns in their hearts, fanned by the breath-winds of the Holy Spirit, spreads into the hearts of other believers that are challenged and inspired by their dedicated lives. When we look through history, we can read about the lives of great Christians who had burning hearts for God. Ignatius, who was the bishop at the church of Antioch for nearly 40 years in the first century. Antioch was the place where believers were first called Christians. His heart was on fire for the Lord and devoted to Him. Because of his faithfulness to Jesus Christ, he was condemned and thrown to the lions in the Roman Colosseum because he refused to sacrifice to pagan practices. He told the authorities in response to their command, "I would rather die for Christ than rule the whole earth." Why would he say that? He had a burning heart for God. Polycarp, who was the bishop at Smyrna. He was a good friend of Ignatius & the Apostle John. In 155 A.D., during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, persecution broke out against Christians & Polycarp was arrested. He was told to recant his faith in Christ or be burned alive at the stake. His response was, "86 years have I served Him, & He hath done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King who saved me?" Why would he be willing to face the fire? He had a burning heart for God. These two men were pastors, yet, you don't have to be a preacher to be on fire for God. I want to make that very clear. In fact, not all preachers have a burning heart for the Lord. That's sad, but it is true. To some men, the ministry, preaching, & serving God has become a drudgery. They are discouraged, depressed, disillusioned, defeated, & filled with doubt. The fire has been quenched within them. They need prayer and encouragement. When the fire of God burns in the heart and soul of a Christian, then the priorities of the person are dramatically changed from insignificant matters to important ones. God is given His rightful place of being number one in that person's life. When the fire of God blazes in the heart of a Christian, there is no telling what God will do with him or her. That which may seem impossible, can become possible when God's fire bums in his/her heart & they are totally surrendered to Him. Never underestimate what God can do through you if you yield the control of your life to Him and let His Spirit fill you. Prayer: Father my heart has been challenged. As one needs to continue to add wood to a fire to keeps the flames burning, I know I need to spend time with You in prayer and the Scriptures. Help me to be more passionate about my service to You. In Jesus name, Amen. Please Share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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