A Living Sacrifice, Holy and Acceptable to God

Praise and thanks be to God, for His marvelous grace which brought us salvation, through Jesus Christ. He offered up Himself for the sins of the world, by whom those who believe are justified and sanctified.  

Daily walking with the Lord, God's finished work transforms and perfects us, as we yield to the Holy Spirit. 

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11)

Our humble gratitude is exemplified in praise and thanksgiving to God, and the way we conduct ourselves in a sinful world, from which we were called. On the altar of God, we present ourselves daily as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. (See Romans 12:1 & 2)

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

Related Bible Readings:

Romans Chapter 5; Romans Chapter 8; Titus Chapter 2; Ephesians Chapter 4; Philippians 2:1-18; 2 Timothy 3:1-17; Galatians 2:16-21; Hebrews 13:1-21; The Book of James 

Born a King, to Reconcile Us to God

During his questioning of Jesus, the governor Pilate inquired if He was King of the Jews. Jesus in turn asked Pilate if he was speaking for himself about this, or did others tell him this concerning Him (Jesus). As is always the case, the Lord goes to the root and heart of all matters. 

More questions from Pilate ensued and Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."

'Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." ' (John 18:37)

He who made all things is the Lord God Almighty; the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, Ruler of all, the Word made flesh. He is righteous, just, merciful, gracious and true.

Open your heart to the Lord and receive Him today. He will come in and sup with you and you with Him. What a privilege, what a high honor!

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1)

Jesus, the gift to the world that lasts forever! He is the way, the truth and the life. Eat of Him and drink of Him, this Christmas Season and always. Share the blessed good news!

Related Bible Readings regarding the purpose and mission of Christ, His finished work:

The Gospel According to John, Chapter 1, Chapter 3:1-21, Chapter 6:22-71, Jesus' Prayer to the Father for His disciples in John 17:1-26)

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace. -Isaiah 9:6

 

The Old Christmas Story That Never Grows Old in Our Hearts

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5 Wisdom Proverbs For Our Daily Christian Walk

1. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. (Proverbs 19:8)

2. A man's steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way? (Proverbs 20:24)

3. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)

4. A man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5 & 6)

To Be Firmly Established, Trust In The Lord

Related Bible Readings: Psalm 16:8; Isaiah 7:7-8; Isaiah 26:3-4; Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 3:16-21; Jude 1:24 

The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength

Every moment of every day, in every circumstance, we can rejoice in spirit, soul and body; for the joy of the Lord is our strength. So again, I say rejoice!

Related Bible Readings: Nehemiah 8:10; Philippians 4:4

Joy, Real Joy

Our True Treasure of Joy and Rejoicing

Walk with Jesus on land and on water. Have faith; 
be filled with His unspeakable joy!

Joy to the World; Come and Worship Christ the King

A Life of Praise and Worship

David in Psalm 145:3 declared, "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. His son Solomon in 1 Kings 8:27, declared, "But will God indeed dwell on earth Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!"

Reflection:

It is said that this vast earth on which we live can fill the sun about one million times. What a thought! Now consider: there are things created far beyond what man can see or fathom, and the Great God who made them all, is worthy of our praise and worship. He has not made anything His equal. 

A Prayer:

Lord God, we dedicate ourselves to You, the One True God. For we are Your temple in which Your Spirit dwells and Your temple is holy. We humbly bow in Your presence, to praise You and worship You, in spirit and in truth; now and throughout eternity. Amen.

More Than a Conqueror, Possessing the Promises of God Whose Possession We Are

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter:1-9)

After many great conquests by God's people led by Moses and Joshua (conquering entire lands and dispossessing mighty kings, and giving their lands as an inheritance to the children of God,) the Lord still had this to say to Joshua in his old age: "You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed." (Joshua 13:1)

Caleb was forty years old when Moses (at the commandment of God) sent him and eleven others to spy out the land of Canaan. It was a good and fruitful land; the cities were fortified and very large, and giants (descendants of Anak) were there. Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30) The men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." (Numbers 13:31). They considered themselves grasshoppers in their own sight and in the sight of the giants. (Numbers 13:32 & 33)

Caleb at the age of eighty five and still strong, reminded Joshua of the promise Moses made to him concerning an inheritance he was to receive for wholly following the Lord. And so, Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb as an inheritance. (Joshua 14:6-15)

Arise faith and prayer warriors! Experience the power of God and the joy of His salvation from day to day. Take possession of all that Christ has wrought for us. He has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises. (2 Peter 1:3 & 4)

We have an eternal inheritance. Having believed the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13 & 14)

Amen.

Blessings That Cannot Be Reversed

In the scriptures, Balak, king of Moab sent for Balaam, son of Beor to pronounce a curse upon Israel (who had camped in the plains of Moab) because he saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, and Moab became exceedingly afraid of the children of Israel because they were many.

So Balak sent messengers to Balaam to come at once and curse the people. However, when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery. As he set his face toward the wilderness and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes, the Spirit of God came upon Balaam and he bountifully blessed the children of Israel.

Reflection:

Ye blessed of the LORD, rejoice! If God be for you, who can be against you? What He has blessed, no man can curse. Praise His Holy name!

Worthy is the Lamb

Today's Scripture Meditation
Revelation 5:6-14

"And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth.

Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

And they sang a new song, saying:

"You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals;
for You were slain,
and have redeemed us to God by Your
blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people
and nation.
And have made us kings and priests to our
God;
And we shall reign on the earth."

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain 
to receive power and riches and wisdom 
and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" 

And the twenty four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.