Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Samuel 8-9; 1 John 3
Devotional Thought:
Are you as tired of fighting your flesh as I am in fighting mine? It is such a comfort to know that one day we will no longer be in this constant battle. Because God so loved the world, He made a way for us to be reconciled into His family, and one day we will see Him and He will change us into His likeness and we will be perfect. Not just declared perfect through justification by faith, but actually perfect through glorification. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (vs. 2) The born again Christian has no reason to sin. He has been given a new heart, a transformed life, complete forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort, and convict. We have no excuse for living in sin. Christ conquered the devil and the evil works of darkness and had provided grace and mercy to live a life of righteousness. Believers fail, but they ought not get hard hearted and stiff necked and try to protect their sin and justify their disobedience. It is not secret that Christians should not live like the world. The Holy Spirit of God has regenerated them and there is no reason for them to serve sin. John uses the example of anger and continued disobedience, like was evidenced in Cain, as an example of living like an unsaved person. In our physical lives, children tend to look like their parents, and take on many of their habits and mannerisms. The same is true of us as spiritual creatures. We tend to look like our parent and take on His habits and mannerisms. We can say anything, but our works declare how we really feel. If we say we love God, our works and deeds will say the same thing. However, if we say we love God, but our works and deeds say we love someone else, we are a liar. We may have really fooled ourselves and many others; however, we must be honest with our regeneration. If we have truly been regenerated, we will manifest the works of righteousness and demonstrate the character traits of our Heavenly Father. When we love, we show the proper character of Christ. When we hate, we confuse everyone, because this sinfulness should not be part of the Christian’s behavior or make up. May we live the way Christ saved us to live so we are an accurate reflection of who Christ is and what He is truly like.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to live in the victory you have made possible for me through your death and sacrifice and in the regenerating salvation you have given to me.
• Lord, thank you for the Spirit of God who convicts and molds me into your image. Please help me to be sensitive and responsive to His leadership.
• Lord, help me to show the love of Christ to everyone I come into contact with. Please help me to show a right picture of who you are and what you are really like.