Paul's Devotionals

Bible passages, personal reflections, and other things

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But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NLT)

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In the valley of doubt

Oh my.I don't believe. I can't believe. No matter how hard I want to.

Dark clouds of doubt. Tormenting, lingering voices of horror and fear.

The faith that filled my heart is nowhere to be found.

Heavens made of brass, no matter how much I pray.

Trapped in darkness.

How often have we felt like that in trials and struggles? In my walk with Jesus, those thoughts above have defined times and experiences. And then, the light of God comes crashing into the darkness, purging the gloom that emcompasses like a heavy fog. Oh the joy that I have a Saviour who cares for me, who doesn't give up, but uplifts me when I am down and rescues me in my hour of need.

"Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence" (Isaiah 64:1)

Oh God in Zion. Thank you for hearing the cry of my heart. Thank you for sending Jesus to show us the Father's love and to lead us back to You.

[thingsandschemes]

Words, like nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

Alfred Lord Tennyson (via thingsandschemes)

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"Grace must find expression in life, otherwise it is not grace."

Karl Barth

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Waiting for the promise

Genesis 21:1-7 (English Standard Version) The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Waiting for God's promises. Waiting to see that which He has spoken come to life, be revealed to us, to be received.

To bear children in old age is impossible - but "nothing is impossible for God", and there is no miracle that God has promised to us, impossible for us to receive. The new life of salvation can be birthed in our hearts in our lives of brokeness and separation from God. We are God's children of promise, called out of the world and made alive.

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"Knowledge comes, but Wisdom lingers"

Alfred Lord Tennyson

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To love Him

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15, NASB)

True Christianity is obedience to the Lord Jesus.

And when I see sin in my heart, my life and my actions. I am saddened by my lack of personal holiness. I know I don't measure what to He has for me. But I trust in Him, and I know that I can live the Christian life, empowered and led by the Spirit. What is impossible for me to achieve in my own strength and wisdom is possible with God. And I know I love Him when I'm trying to keep His commandments and asking for help when I fall short.

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Sowing in tears, reaping with joy

Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT) Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Giving is a cost, and can be painful.

Seriously, giving more than a token sum does come at a personal cost, and there is the occasional thought of "What else could I spend that money on?"

But when we see what God does with our giving - in the changed lives of people, we will have joy.

A joy that comes from knowing that its a harvest coming from our "sowing with tears". But I don't have that attitude of sorrow is shifted - I do not resent giving. Because I know that God will take my offering, my sacrifice, and bless it. And it will be used to see people's lives touched in ways I do not know.

God loves a cheerful giver and I can give cheerfully by having a bigger perspective than just the act of sacrifice.

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"Do you ever wonder just what God requires? You think He’s just an errand boy to satisfy your wandering desires”

Bob Dylan – When You Gonna Wake Up

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I believe in Jesus

To be saved is to believe on Jesus for your salvation. To trust in his death and resurrection. To “believe in your heart and confess Him as Lord” (Rom 10:9).

Do you also have to believe in the Trinity? In a literal young earth 6 day creation? In the Virgin Birth? In biblical inerrancy? What if I affirm 3 of the above but am at times unsure of the remaining 1?

It concerns me on a personal level that it seems that so many prominent teachers in the body of Christ do not, and will not, accept me unless I agree with them on a range of doctrines.

I have a spiritual knowledge that Jesus has saved me, I’ve met Him and now I’m forever changed. That is the foundation of my Christian faith - nothing more than that, and nothing less than a personal encounter with God.

<br />I’m just pondering what it actually means to be saved.

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Not made with human hands

Hebrews 11:8-10 (ESV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

I am "looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God" - the new Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Heaven. I haven't yet seen it but I know it will be my home for all eternity. Not made with human hands. But designed and built by God Himself.

I haven't yet obtained what I so ernestly desire, but I will keep my eyes fixed on the prize, pressing onward. Hungry for the presence of God - here and now, in my current situation, in anticipation of the wonderful glory of God that will be manifested throughout the universe at His coming.

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Who is Arminian?

Roger Olson, on defining who is an Arminian:

I consider anyone a fellow Arminian who is an orthodox Protestant Christian (justification by grace alone through faith alone) who believes in: - human inability to initiate a saving relationship with God apart from prevenient grace (whatever they might call that), - corporate election, - prevenient grace (again, whatever they might call it), - universal atonement, - and resistible grace and does not believe God “designed, ordained, or rendered certain” the fall of humanity and all of its consequences.

Yes, that’s a large tent and I invite anyone who fits that profile into/under it — whether they agree with Arminius about other matters or not and whether they call themselves Arminian or not.

(from http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2013/11/18/rogerspeak/)

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Love has no fear

1 John 4:18 (NLT) 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.

His perfect agape love casts out all fear. I have no fear of the righteous punishment for my sin - because Jesus paid it all - He took the full weight of the consequences for my sin upon Himself. Instead of separation, I know enjoy the Father's grace and peace.

1 Peter 1:2 (NLT) God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

Beyond fear of punishment, what should happen when I'm afraid? What can I do except turn to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith? The one who reigns over all, His rule cannot be circumvented or defeated by man regardless of actions and words. I am trusting in Christ for my future, for my life, for everything I need. Throughout it all, in whatever situation, I will trust Him.

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To be one of wisdom's true sons

"I was not satisfied with a faith that brought no fruit, or else fruit of so poor a quality, spiritually, and a religion that had none of the signs spoken of in the scriptures in Mark 16:14-18 and Hebrews 2:11. "I wanted to be one of wisdom's true sons, and like Abraham, a friend of God." - Charles Harrison Mason

Mark 16:14-18 (NLT) Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

Hebrews 2:11 (NLT) So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

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When dawned on us the grace, the love for humankind Of God our Saviour, Then - not for works that in righteousness we wrought, But following the promptings of His own compassion - He saved us, through the baptismal laver of the New Birth, And through the renewal wrought by the Holy Spirit Which He poured forth on us plenteously, Through Jesus the Messiah, our Saviour, That we, made righteous by God's free grace, Might, by hope uplifted, become heirs of life eternal.

(From Titus 3, Arthur S. Way's translation)

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God speaking to Abram:

Genesis 12:3 ESV I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

This was the first recorded encounter that Abram had with God, but I believe that Abram already had a knowledge of God and feared Him.

And all the families of the earth being blessed? Through Abram's linage, Jesus the Messiah came. Abram was renamed by God as Abraham, which means the father of multitudes. His descendants today are countless, physical descendants and also those who place faith in God.

We're blessed today, in this new covenant of grace, that God orchestrated thousands of years ago through the life of Abraham.

Thank you God for Jesus!

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Grace, grace and grace

"God's sovereign grace overcame my sinful rebellion" - John Piper

His grace invaded my heart, He enabled me to believe the Gospel, and to enter into His Kingdom, delivered from the slavery of sin and darkness. And I love Him as His son.