365 Days of Praise
The Sower of God’s Seed
“Jesus went out of the house” (Matthew 13:1). Maybe He just wanted to get some fresh air. Maybe He wanted to gaze at the sky and worship His Father. Maybe He went out so people would see Him by the sea, and come to Him to hear Him speak. That’s what happened in Matthew 13.
First a few people saw Him. I imagine the people excitedly telling one another “Go get the neighbors and tell them Jesus is teaching!” Word spread and as Jesus spoke a large crowd gathered. This is what He told them. “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as He sowed, some seeds fell beside the road and….” (Matthew 13:3-4). It’s too long of a story to tell here, but you can read it in Matthew 13.
Here’s the point: Jesus sowed seeds of eternal truth among people. Whether it bore fruit depended on the person’s heart. The Sower stills sow seed through His Word and even His still quiet voice that speaks to our hearts. Have we received His seed?
Lord Jesus, SOWER OF GOD’S SEED, prepare our hearts daily to hear and act on Your Word so we bear much fruit that glorifies You.
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What’s Your Take On This?
I’d love your thoughts on Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 6:13-16. He says, “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, …that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time.”
What are your thoughts on his charge to Timothy? The reason I ask is that some people say Christians are free of the Law and commandments because we live in a period of grace. I agree we live by God’s grace, but what about the charge to “keep the commandment without stain or reproach”? Could it be that although we’re saved by grace, God expects us to act like His children?
Paul’s next words reflect his amazement, honor, and worship of the resurrected Jesus Christ. “He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion!”
Paul’s words and Paul’s life bring praise to Jesus. Should not our lives and words also bring glory to Jesus as Paul’s did?
Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed and only SOVEREIGN, we worship You. May our lives and words bring You praise.
Do you want to learn more about living by God’s divine nature? Grab a copy of Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature – 2 Peter Bible Study. It’s a 4-week, verse-by-verse study of 2 Peter that is sure to bless and encourage you as well as help strengthen your walk with the Lord. The study includes videos and podcasts, which can be accessed under “Bible Studies” on the homepage.
We’d Better Get this Right
As I read through God’s Word, I am amazed at not only the ways the Father, Son, and Spirit are revealed but also through whom the revelation is made. In Mark 14:61, the high priest asked Jesus if He was the Son of the Blessed One. However, in Luke 8:28, it was a demon who acknowledged Jesus as Son of the Most High God.
“Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, ‘What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me’” (Luke 8:28).
A demon recognized Jesus as the Son of the Most High God. His statement is true. There are numerous gods, which by the way, is why God commands us, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). But there is one ultimate Most High God and Jesus is His Son. It’s important we get this right. The demons do.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the all-powerful, holy SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD. Forgive us when we treat You casually and don’t honor You as we should. Quicken our hearts and minds to worship and honor You above anyone or anything.
In John 1:29, Jesus is revealed through John the Baptist, who acknowledged Him as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” To watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 1, click HERE. To listen to her teaching, click HERE.
Just You Wait and See
Things aren’t always as they appear. Just wait and see. For instance, Jesus had no earthly possessions, wasn’t married, and when arrested, His friends abandoned Him. He was lied about, mocked, and beaten almost to death.
Mark 14:61 records the high priest questioning Jesus prior to crucifying Him, “‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’” How incongruous. Blessed? Yet Jesus was and is the Son of the Blessed One.
So when we think about our lives or circumstances and they don’t appear as us being the “blessed child of God,” remember that is who we are. Things aren’t always as they seem. Just wait and see.
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Christ, SON OF THE BLESSED ONE, and for our being Your blessed children.
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Today, and always, we remember with gratefulness our loved ones, friends, and the many we will never know until heaven, who sacrificed their lives for our nation on 9/11. Today, we also remember with utmost gratitude the Lord Jesus who sacrificed His life for our souls. We must never forget either sacrifice.
Lost and Found
Have you ever been lost? Perhaps you took a wrong turn on a road and didn’t know how to get to your desired destination. As bad as that is, what’s worse is to be spiritually lost which is how Jesus describes us prior to salvation. As a matter of fact, we were so lost that there was no one who could help except Jesus.
In Luke 19:10, Jesus describes Himself as the Son of Man who came to seek and to save the lost. Jesus left heaven’s glory to come and do what no one else could do. Through the virgin birth of Mary by the Holy Spirit, Jesus, the Son of Man, was born to seek and to save our lost souls so we could be reunited with our Heavenly Father. What good news! Is there someone we need to look for as Jesus did; someone with whom we can share the good news?
All praise to You, Lord Jesus, Son of God, SON OF MAN. Thank You for seeking us and saving us. Rouse us to do as You did – to seek the lost in order to share the good news of salvation with them.
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Are We Tolerating What Jesus is Against?
Jesus is the Son of Man who knows what it is to live in human skin. However, what is inside of Him is different from us. His innermost being is holy glowing purity. Revelation 2:18-20a describes the ascended Christ as having eyes like a flame of fire and feet like burnished bronze. Revelation 1:16 describes His face as the sun shining in its strength. Imagine that visual for a minute. Jesus’ face is like the sun shining in its strength.
Following these magnificent otherworldly descriptions of Jesus, we’re told that Jesus, the Son of God, says this, “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first, but I have this against you that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality” (Revelation 2:19-20a).
Yes, Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He is slow to anger, but we must never forget that He is also the Son of God reigning in glory. He sees our deeds and what we tolerate that is against Him. Is there anything we need to repent of before we ask Him for His continued blessings?
So, What’s the Big Deal About Genealogy?
In the last several years, there has been an increase in the number of people wanting to know about their ancestors. However, genealogy has always been important in the Bible. For instance, consider the first verse of the first chapter of the first book of the New Testament, Matthew 1:1. It says, “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Just in case someone might doubt Jesus’ rightful place as heir to King David’s throne, His lineage is recorded for the next twenty-five verses. Yes, Jesus is the Son of God, but He is also the Son of David. Among the many important implications, it is important to recognize that Jesus knows what it is to live in human skin – to need a nap, to feel tears roll down His cheek, and to thirst as He hung on the cross. Jesus’ genealogy is well proved and we will one day see Him sitting on His throne.
SON OF DAVID, we praise You for willingly leaving Your heavenly home to put on flesh and live among us. We love and adore You.
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What Song Are You Singing?
Are you dragging through your day singing the blues? If so, that can change. You see, we have a choice about the music and songs we play in our head as we walk through our day. In Exodus 15:2, Moses tells us the music that empowered his walk.
“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him.”
The word “song” in this verse can mean music or melody. In effect, Moses says, “The Lord is my melody. He’s the music to which I walk through my day.” What music or words play in your head as you go about your day? We can make the choice to tune our hearts to God’s voice and walk through our day singing His praises. Will we?
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being the SONG and melody by which we can walk through our day.
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Are Things Heating Up in Your Life?
Our Heavenly Father has a goal: to cleanse us of sin. Malachi 3:3 says, “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.”
Malachi 3:3 explains that God sits as a smelter, or a refiner, watching over us as the heat of daily life, trials, and sufferings cause impurities to rise to the surface. He wants for us to be increasingly purified so we better reflect Christ.
What happens when sin glaringly rises in life? We have the opportunity to be appalled and confess the sin. Are things heating up in your life? If so, be assured that your Heavenly Father is close to you and watching over you. He hears your prayers and confessions. And, has anyone told you? You are reflecting Him more every day.
Lord, thank You, SMELTER of our mind, spirit, and soul. Purify us so we reflect Your image.
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The Difference in Slow and Fast
Are you hot-tempered or does it take a lot to get you angry? What kind of person would you rather be around – a hot-tempered or patient, loving one? What kind of Heavenly Father do you prefer? One quickly angered by your shortcomings or slow to anger?
If you said you’d rather be in a relationship with a Heavenly Father who is slow to anger and great in love, there’s wonderful news. Psalm 145:8 says, “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.” That’s something to thank and praise God for.
Lord, thank You for being SLOW TO ANGER. We love You and thank You for revealing Yourself to us in the Bible. Each of Your character traits encourages us. Our souls are at peace knowing You are an ever-present help.
The Prayers of My Heart prayer journal is a great place to record your thanks to God for all the ways He is revealed in the Bible. It is also a thoughtful and meaningful gift for someone who is going through a hard time. Share with them the benefit of focusing on who God is and because of who He is, the many ways He can help them.