The Official Blog of North Metro Church

[northmetrochurch]

No Fear

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: 1 John 4:18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

We have all felt fear, and age is seemingly without authority over this. Some fear is earthly. We fear loneliness. We fear for our safety. We even fear for our futures. These are natural fears.

But seemingly more natural is the fear of God - an all powerful, all present God.

But the Lord is also gracious, merciful and full of perfect love:  “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

His love is perfect and without limitation, and if we have true faith, we do not fear the judgment of the Lord, for we know our sins have been paid for by Christ’s death on the cross.

John explains it in this verse:  “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love” (1 John 4:18).

Leading a life on our own leads to sin and death, “but letting the spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (Romans 8:6b).

The Lord blesses those who trust in him with his spirit, and in that spirit is strength. Paul tells that “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

[northmetrochurch]

Born Again Identity

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: 1 Peter 1: 3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

Peter writes his letter to the Jewish and Gentile Christians who were experiencing persecution for their faith. It is a letter of encouragement to comfort and help them find hope in the gift of eternal life and to challenge them to continue living holy lives.

Peter shows us the ultimate gift in these words: “caused to be born again.” Peter tells the believers that Salvation is through God’s mercy, grace, and sovereignty, for He miraculously gave sinners new life (caused to be born again). He connects this new life born again to “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Our first birth brought us into sin and sorrow, but our second birth (born again) brings us into purity and joy for all of eternity.

While Peter’s words were written to the believers in Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey, his words still apply to our lives today.

The hope Peter refers to over and over in this letter is the unshakeable hope that each and every Christ follower still clings to today; we are united with Christ through His death, burial and resurrection, which give us a future resurrection in Christ, eternity with our Savior.

Just as the Christians in Peter’s day, the same is true of Christians today; we look forward to an inheritance in the Promised Land. While their promised land was Canaan, ours will be an inheritance that is imperishable, one that will never fade away or decay; it will be unstained by sin (Numbers 32:19).

Be encouraged and walk in what God has already done for you!

[northmetrochurch]

Heaven on Earth

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Romans 6:5-7 If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

In this passage, Paul gives his thoughts about our very own death, resurrection, and victory over sin. He tells us that if we identify ourselves with Jesus by surrendering our entire lives to Him, and through baptism, we identify ourselves with His death on the cross for us.

Just as Jesus was resurrected from the dead, we too are resurrected into a new life with Christ. When we unite with Him in a resurrection life, it becomes a never ending adventure for us on earth and is not fully complete until we are joined with Jesus in heaven.

That means we should be experiencing a more heavenly life here on earth.

Every single day we could be and should be experiencing God’s power in every area of our lives. We could and should know His purpose; we should recognize His presence, by hearing His voice; and we should see His perspective, by observing ourselves and others in the way that He views us.

All of this allows for a greater glory to be revealed in and through us.

When we understand that our old self has been crucified, and we now have a new life, then we understand that we have new capabilities that we did not have before.

We have a new heart: a new ability to be led by the Spirit, a new ability to call on Jesus, not from a distance, but from close by His side, and a new ability to choose better.

Be reminded of the grace and full acceptance Jesus Christ has given you.

There is no one to please or fear but God, and He is already pleased with you.

Motivation to do anything else will naturally come from love and not from a legalistic, perfectionist, heretical mind.

Realize that God is good. His will is good.

Spend some time bowing the knees and heart: Your Word will be the guide of my life. I want to arrange my life, my priorities, and my relationships around whatever you say. I'm surrendered and available for you today.

[northmetrochurch]

An Amazing Gift

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: 2 Corinthians 5: 20b-21 We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As Christ followers, reconciliation between people is of upmost importance. This is mainly because everyone at some point in his life will need the forgiveness that each side requires to truly be reconciled.

But what happens when we offend the God of the Universe, who never owes us an apology, or a right to reconcile to Him?

Paul tells us that, although we found ourselves in this position, God came through just as He always has. He took all of our offenses against Him, placed them on the only person fit to be a sacrifice on our behalf, and that in turn allowed us to be reconciled to Him eternally.

What an amazing gift!

Sometimes as Christians, we feel like we are not good enough for God or that God could never possibly forgive some of our sins.

In reality though, He already has!

Through the death and resurrection of His perfect and holy son Jesus Christ, the ball is in our court to accept His invitation of reconciliation and live as the liberated people we were called to be (Galatians 5:13).

[northmetrochurch]

It's Always a Good Morning

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Lamentations 3:21-23 Yet this I call to mind    and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,    for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;    great is your faithfulness.

Jeremiah wrote Lamentations around the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BC.  In this chapter, he tells of his experiences during the siege and how desperate those times were.

In verse twenty one, his tone changes from despair to hopefulness as he writes, “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (21-22).

No matter how desperate the Jews’ circumstances had become, God’s protective hand and great love prevented their calamity from completely destroying them.  Jeremiah reminds us that God is always faithful: “They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

The Apostle Paul declares, “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is” (2 Tim 2:13). God’s faithfulness is “who he is,” and God cannot “deny who he is.”

Like Jeremiah and Paul, this truth allows us to remain hopeful throughout our difficult situations.

We can rely on God’s very nature of faithfulness and draw hope and strength to persevere no matter how difficult our situation becomes.

He will never allow us to be consumed by our circumstances.

Instead, He renews his mercies each morning, and we can rejoice at daybreak. As the Psalmist writes, “Weeping may endure for a night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30: 5b).

[northmetrochurch]

Rejoice. Again, Rejoice.

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice.  Let your self control be known unto all men.  The Lord is at hand.  Be worried for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

“Rejoice”? And even more emphatic; “again I say rejoice”? The question that begs to be answered is how do we rejoice when our world is falling apart? In a broken world of so much pain and suffering, how do we even hold on to our sanity, let alone rejoice? It is hard to grasp that concept, but what are our choices?

We could become depressed and immobilized with our circumstances.  We could turn to destructive and harmful behaviors to numb us to the pain we might be feeling.  We could become angry at God or angry and aggressive toward others who have nothing to do with our situation.

Or, we can listen to Paul who, writing from prison, encouraged the church to depend on the Lord in all things.  He directed that we follow his example and we worry for nothing because God knows what we need before we even ask.  Paul also said to take prayers and petitions to the Lord and to remember the blessings you have received from Him, no matter how small.

Again, rejoice and worry for nothing?  More easily said than done!

When I have witnessed a close friend whose son is in prison, I better understand and follow this directive. When I am walking with a sister in ministry who receives a frightening life-changing diagnosis, I feel the comfort of Paul’s instruction. Hearing the story of a parent whose son tragically lost his life and feeling their pain and anguish, makes me desire the kind of relationship that “rejoicing always” comes from.

In my own life, when I was so afraid of getting in God’s way, I made my requests known to Him and then rejoiced in His leading.

He is our only hope.

It is because of Jesus, who came to take our place on the cross and became the bridge to God and eternity in heaven, that we have that hope.

This hope brings unbelievable peace in the darkest moments; this hope encourages when the road is bleak; and this hope only calls on Him, always relying on and rejoicing in Him.

Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice!      

[northmetrochurch]

Bodies United

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.

This verse is curious as it is sandwiched right smack dab in the middle of a discourse on sexual purity.

There is a lot that can be observed.

It is God’s power that raised Christ in his body from the dead, and it is God’s power that will also raise us.

Within this chapter, Paul spends time discussing the body and what it is used for.  Then he makes it clear how our body is united with Christ and how we should remain sexually pure. But the focus is on Christ’s resurrection and the eventual resurrection of believers.

The verse reminds us that those resurrections are dependent on God’s power.

God’s power in rescuing our bodies from death is very comforting. If God can raise our bodies when we die, what can His power do while we are still alive?

This is a constant reminder that we can truly do nothing apart from God. Conversely, with God, all things are possible.

In an effort to remain sexually pure, remember that like the husband and wife becoming one flesh, the believer (a part of the bride of Christ) and Christ are similarly united, but all of this is only possible through the power of God.

[northmetrochurch]

Can It Be This Simple?

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Romans 8:34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Insecurity, fear, uncertainty, and anxiety abound in our world.  Many, at times, may feel insecurity creep into spiritual lives.

Questions and doubts swirl around us. Even believers may ask, “Can it be this simple? “Am I doing enough?” “Have my sins, even though I’ve accepted and acknowledged Jesus Christ as my Savior, been so big that God could never forgive me?”

The God-breathed word of the Bible gives us blessed assurance that we can put insecurity and its destructive mindset in its rightful place – out of our minds and hearts. Jesus is our source of strength and confidence.

Paul teaches that the death of Jesus Christ is our security that He will not condemn. He died to save, and as we embrace his salvation, there is the utmost security that He will not condemn. What He accomplished on the cross is finished and sufficient. Hallelujah!

He rose from the grave for our justification, so that we may be made right with our God (Romans 4:25). He sits at the head of all things, clothed with power, exalted to honor.

The Christian is under the protection of Christ and is secure from being condemned by Him.  He pleads our cause, aids and assists us, and presents our interests before the mercy-seat in the heavens.

We, then, have no reason to be insecure or fearful, nor question our redemption in Christ.

We have the Judge of all, the Author of Eternal Salvation, for our friend. We are safe and secure in His love.

[northmetrochurch]

Your Sins Are Forgiven.

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Luke 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

Have you longed to hear that from Jesus?  Do you have something that you have regretted from your past that you are ashamed of?  Do you have thoughts like I wish I had not responded that way or I wish I could take those words back?  Has your behavior been inappropriate?

Jesus spoke these words to a prostitute.  Her sin was obvious, and she was broken over it.  She realized that she needed saving and forgiveness.

Many of our sins are not as visible.

Bad attitudes, being judgmental, withholding forgiveness or even secret sins often are present in our lives.  In other words, our hearts are corrupted within. These sins will separate us from experiencing the love of God and walking in the freedom that He desires.

When the woman came humbly to Jesus, she demonstrated a repentant and broken heart.  This is called godly sorrow.  She was desperate to be free.  She had let her sin define her.

Jesus, in His great love, used her sin and repentant heart to refine her. When we turn from our sin and humble ourselves, Jesus will do the same for us.  Jesus freed her to walk in the newness of life and love that she had received from Him.

If we miss forgiveness and hold bitterness in our hearts, we have missed the message of the cross. He desires for us to come to Him.  He is waiting.  What He did for her, He wants to do for you.

Come to Jesus as the woman did and hear His words: “Your sins are forgiven.”

[northmetrochurch]

Thank You

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Psalm 16:10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

One of the forefathers of our nation once stated, “…but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

While our federal government has proven Mr. Franklin partially correct, our Savior proves him partially wrong.

The Psalmist discusses two separate characters: one being himself (or his soul) and the other being God’s “Holy one.”

This author understands the beauty of the Gospel yet to come for him. He includes himself in the salvation story, knowing that just as the Father in heaven will not allow His Holy One to decay, He will not abandon the author’s soul to eternal death.

This beauty of the Gospel is the lynchpin of the Christian faith. His Holy One (Christ) has overcome death so that we can likewise overcome death.

Our Savior has partially disproven Mr. Franklin’s axiom.

Since we can rely on Christ and believe that death is not a constant, we need, however, to remember to whom we should devote our lives in thanks of this salvation.

On the similar subject of death and taxes, Jesus says, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21).

As believers, we have the assurance that since God has not allowed his Holy One to undergo decay, we will not be subjected to eternal death. Since we have Him to thank for the fact that death is not a constant, we devote life to Him.

[northmetrochurch]

Can't Keep Us Separated

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Convinced signifies a shift.  Here, Paul deviates briefly, in one of the richest texts of Christian theology, and provides a glimpse into the heart of its author.  Paul knows the pain of rejection.

Before his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul, who was raised in Pharisaic tradition, was a strong opponent to the spread of Christianity.  In the years following his conversion, he, more than any other, is responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

It comes at great cost.

Paul is rejected at nearly every turn.

His preaching in Jerusalem angers many, and he has to flee for his life.  In Antioch, many turn against Paul and Barnabas, plot to kill them, and force them to flee.  In Lystra, they stone him.

Following a heated disagreement, Paul and Barnabas separate their ministries.

In Philippi, after Paul casts a demon out of a slave, he is imprisoned, and riots in Thessalonica force him to leave.  At Ephesus local silversmiths, whose business depends on making idols, blame Paul for their loss of business and once again he flees.

Yet in all this, Paul pens perhaps the most encouraging words ever written about our security in God’s love. That is the value of experience in the Christian walk; in these verses, he speaks from his heart and personal testimony.

Paul’s life experiences have convinced him of this truth:  nothing in the earth, nothing in the heavens, no power or anything else can separate us from that love.

[northmetrochurch]

Validated Facts

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 15: 3-5 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:  that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

After his magnificent entrance into Jerusalem, the climatic week for Jesus, leading up to his death, burial, and resurrection, was filled with puppet trials, false accusations, and horrendous beatings and whippings.  Jesus “emptied himself, by taking the form a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).

Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are historical facts as many people observed these events. There is no gospel apart from these facts. Without them, Christianity stands or falls. The Scriptures descriptively document the changed lives of the eyewitnesses to the facts of Easter – Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

Cephas (Peter), who earlier denied even knowing Jesus three times before his resurrection and now having seen the resurrected Jesus, boldly proclaimed the good news of the resurrection, leading 3,000 to Christ at Pentecost.

Ten of the eleven faithful disciples, after his death and burial, scattered and seemed ready to resume their familiar life of fishing; however, after seeing the resurrected Jesus face to face, they would eventually give up their lives as martyrs.  They were convinced He was the Christ, the Son of the living God, and their lives would never be the same.

How freeing to know that our faith is valid!

It is based on the proven facts of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  The risen Jesus intentionally appeared to over 500 people to validate the Scriptures, embolden their faith, and prove he was who he said he was - “The Son of the Living God.”

This Easter, embrace in a fresh way our risen savior, Jesus. He loves you more than you will ever know and willingly gave up his life for you so that you might live each day in freedom from sin, through power in His Spirit, and with hope for a glorious future! Amen!

[northmetrochurch]

Something You Can Count On

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Malachi 3:6 "I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”

The Lord is our rock and foundation.

In the midst of turbulent times of stress and confusion, the one thing that we can always count on is the steadfast nature of the Lord.

He is like the sun, never losing His powerful heat.

If the sun were even a minute distance further away from the Earth, we would all freeze in the unlivable conditions. Its distinct placement deliberately designed for our survival.

Just as the sun sets every day of our lives, it feels, at times, as though the Lord may not always be present. To be closer to God, we must step closer to Him. The truth of the matter is -- just as we are stilled warmed by the sun’s rays even when they are not seen, the Lord’s love for us is unwavering.

Our indwelling corruptive nature is inescapable.

Though we are often put through trials where our love, faith and hope may be tried, we are not consumed by such trials because the Lord’s love does not change. The persecutions of life will not destroy us as long as we continually cling to the resolute nature of the Lord.

At times, the sun may seem as though it has gone as the seasons change.

The seasons of our life are continually changing, but we will not be destroyed by even the stormiest of times. David writes, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2).  

To seek refuge from life, we must run to His sanctuary and cling to His steadfast nature.

[northmetrochurch]

Can You Believe This?

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: John 11: 25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

In John 11, we witness Jesus’ final miracle on earth – the raising of Lazarus from the dead.  After this miracle, events unfold dramatically as word of Lazarus’ resurrection spreads causing crowds to gather as Jesus enters Jerusalem and the authorities to capture Jesus and crucify Him.

In sharp contrast to other miracles where Jesus raised the dead in private and instructed those present to not tell anyone, with Lazarus, He gives a bold and public proclamation about who He is and what life and death means for those who follow Him.

In this story, Martha acknowledges that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ death and that Lazarus would be resurrected and have new life in the distant future as prophesized in scripture (Daniel 12; Isaiah 65, 66).  But Jesus also spoke of the present and of new life available through Him.  

“I am the resurrection” assures us Jesus has the power to overcome death.  Jesus clearly states Lazarus is not sleeping, but dead, in order to show His power over death and also predict His own resurrection.  

“I am the life” assures us of new life through Him in the present. Too often our idea of a real relationship with Christ is something that will come in the future.   However, we do not have to wait. In Christ we are new creatures the moment we truly believe (2 Corinthians 5:17).  

Jesus’ promise of new eternal life with Him begins the moment we find Jesus and follow Him and continues in eternity after our death on earth.

[northmetrochurch]

Running the Course

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Philippians 3: 17, 20a Stick with me, friends.  Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal….We’re citizens of high heavens.

We are watching others around us but also are watched in this world. Does our life reflect Jesus and those who are running hard after Him? Are we mindful of those watching us?

As citizens of heaven, we need to be aware of who we are modeling our lives after. 

This world has many distractions that can lead us away from Christ and keep our minds on earthly things and not on Jesus.

Instead, we must push hard to model our lives after those we see who put Jesus at the center of their lives with solid devotion to Him.

So who is your role model?

We also need to be aware that we are being watched by others in this world around us.

We need to be careful that our lives show that we are different because our citizenship is in heaven and not on this earth.

Our lives should point others to Jesus and how we have allowed Him to change us from the inside out to be more like Him.

The preschool song tells of this:  “Oh be careful little eyes what you see (who we are watching) … Oh be careful little tongue what you say (who is watching us).”

[northmetrochurch]

Don't Stop Talking About Jesus

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy. Whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me-do it-and the God of peace will walk with you.

When Paul wrote these words, he was not sitting on the sea shore in his beach chair and drinking his favorite, cold beverage. Quite the opposite! He was sitting in a cold, wet, dark, moldy jail cell. To make things worse, he was there because he would not stop talking about Jesus.

Things were not going well for Paul, and he had choices to make: to take on a negative mindset or to embrace a positive outlook in the midst of his situation. Paul was in jail physically but not emotionally and spiritually. He chose to think on things that were positive: the good and awesome things God had done for him in his life.

In this most difficult of circumstances, Paul brought glory to God through his actions and words.

What are you facing today?Rejection? The loss of a loved one? Judgment? Unfair treatment? Being passed over for a job promotion? The possibilities of disappointment, hurt, and pain are endless.

Like Paul, we decide how we will respond and face these challenges. It will not be easy.

By remembering all the good things God has done for you, why not choose to face these difficulties in a positive way? Just like He did for Paul, “the God of peace will walk with you.”

[northmetrochurch]

Confessions of Your Mouth

We desire to see 100% of North Metro Church read God’s Word every day. Even if you’re not presently connecting with God daily through reading the Bible, our 31-day Easter devotional may be just the catalyst for you. Written by our own NMC family members, these daily devotions will give you a scripture with a thought for reflection to lead you to Easter.

Today's Verse: Romans 10:9 Because, if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

I am a Georgia Tech fan. Always have been, always will be. That is the way my daddy raised me.  When it came time to apply to college, my options were slim because of the cost of out-of-state tuition. As far as large universities went, it fell between UGA and Georgia Tech. I knew that applying to UGA would be a waste of time because I could never stand at a game and yell “Go Dawgs! Sic ‘em!” I did not believe in my heart the phrase “Dawgs on Top.”

As important as College Football is to many of us, there is something so much larger to believe in and get on board with and that is the Father’s undying love for us.

In Romans, Paul writes that “if you confess with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (10: 9).

How often are we confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord?

Does it come as easily to us as cheering for our favorite team or making our opinion known in a political debate?

Confessing His name is not only an honor, but it has pretty high stakes.

Matthew tells us that everyone who acknowledges Jesus before men will be acknowledged by Jesus before the Father in heaven (10:32).

Take time today to ask God to remind us what we believe in our hearts about Him.

Maybe it has been a while, and your heart needs a refresher on His kindness, love, and mercy. He wants to be near to you, and He loves hearing us confess His name to the world.