Fred's Devotional # 50 "How to Handle Differences over Disputable Matters

Some things are clearly right and wrong. We know it's wrong to lie, steal, or commit adultery. There are other areas that are not so cut and dry and my depend on where the individual is in their walk with the Lord. Today's passage will give us some guidance in this area. Read it thoughtfully.

1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
2-4For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.

5Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience". Romans 14:1-5, The Message

Fred's Reflections: In matters of how we dress, how we wear our hair, what we eat; these are matters that the individual Christian must decide before the Lord, depending on where they are in their walk with God. The questions they have to ask are these: Does it draw me away from God? Does it offend my brother? Does it bring shame on the name of Christ? Can I glorify Christ while doing this thing? Does it bother my Christian conscience? For example, before I became a Christian I loved soul and R & B music. After I got saved, I had to stop listening to it because it drew me away from Christ and back to thoughts of my previous lifestyle. Today, as an mature Christian, it does not hinder my relationship with God to listen to a James Brown or Marvin Gaye song. On the other hand, If I was riding in my car with a young believer who just gave his life to Christ, I would not turn to an R & B station if I knew this music could draw him away from Christ.

Let's pray: Lord help me to obey you in the things I know to do right. In the grey areas, help me to me to live my life in a way that keeps me close to you, honors Jesus and is sensitive to my brothers and sisters. In Jesus Name! Amen

Fred's Devo # 49: Wake Up! It's Later Than You Think!

"This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires."
Romans 13:11-14, NLT

Jesus will be returning sooner than we think! As Christians we need to wake up from our slumber and slackness and realize how late it is! We need to put off sin and unrighteous living and live as children of the Lord! We only have a limited amount of time to share the gospel with others! We cannot think and live like people in the world if we want to reach them. We have to think, act and live righteously if we are going to have an impact.

Prayer: Lord, where am I asleep? Where have I conformed to this world? Speak to your servant Lord!... Lord , I confess to you that I have been self absorbed and have not thought much about my unsaved neighbor. Help me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Help me to wake up, be alert and get busy with your priorities and purposes for me.

In Jesus Name! Amen

Fred's Daily Devo # 48 " You Can Do No Wrong When You Walk in Love"

-10"Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other.

When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along.

The law code—don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of—finally adds up to this:

Love other people as well as you do yourself.

You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love." Romans 13:8-10

Lord, where am I in relationship to this word today? Am I walking in your love? Where am I failing to walk in love? Help me to grow in your love, for the more I grow in your kind of love, the less I will walk in sin and disobedience.
In Jesus Name! Amen

Fred's Devo # 48 "Respect Those in Authority"

1"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." Romans 13:1-7

Many people hate the idea of submitting to any authority, man's authority or God's authority, the authority of bosses or teachers. There is something in our flesh which rises up and says: You can't tell me what to do! Yet as Christians, we are called to submit to both God's authorities as well as those who rule in the earth. We are to obey traffic laws, pay our taxes and follow rules and regulations set up by our local and national governments. and obey school and work rules. Many of these laws are designed to keep order and allow us to live a quiet and peaceable life. Others seem arbitrary, but yet we are called to obey, even when we don't like them.

Let's pray: Lord I confess to you my natural tendency to rebel and do what I want to do. Help me to honor and respect the authorities that you have placed over me. Help me to understand that they have no power except what you allow them to have. Help me to pray for my leaders and honor them where honor is due. Help me to bring glory to your name by right and honorable living in my community.

In Jesus Name! Amen.

Fred's Devo #47 "Turn From Your Wicked Ways"

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

Yesterday we dealt with "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves"
Today, we deal with "and pray and turn from their wicked ways."

Sin is a hinderance to answered prayer. The scriptures says, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (or answered prayer) Sin can be wilful disobedience to God or things we failed to do. Sometimes it is obvious and apparent at other times it has to be pointed out to us by God or others. That's why it is important for us to daily come before God in prayer, asking him to show you if there is "any way in you"

Prayer of Self Examination: Lord search my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me. Lord help me to have an attitude humility, even as I wait for your answer. ...Yes Lord...Now as I confess my sin, forgive me of my sin and cleanse me of all unrighteousness in Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

Now order my footsteps and direct my paths today. Equip me today as I share the word with your people at Church on tonight. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Fred's Devotional 46 :Humble yourself Before God

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

One of the conditions of answered prayer is for us to be humble and submitted to our awesome God! This scripture talks about three things.

First,we are God's People-Called by His Name. If you have given your life to Jesus, you are one of God's people. As such your allegiance is to him first. That means, we are willing to bring our entire lives into subjection to Jesus.
Second, we are called to humble ourselves before God. Pride comes before a fall. Humility says, I don't know it all, I am not self sufficient,I need your help Lord!

Prayer of Reflection: Lord, where am I walking in pride or self righteousness. Where have I refused to ask for your help?

Prayer of Repentance: Lord forgive me for the times when I have gone about my work day without falling on my knees in prayer to ask for your guidance and direction. Thank you for forgiveness and cleansing according to I John 1:9.

Now help me today, to remember who I belong to and to walk in dependence on you.
In Jesus Mighty Name! Amen.


Tommorrow we will discuss the rest of this verses.

Devo # 45 "When Someone has Done you Dirty"

Someone has clearly done you wrong. They did it deliberately, and they knew what they were doing. You are offended, mad and you feel like getting them straight! In fact, you want revenge! You are so mad, or hurt that you can't think straight or pray right! In fact when you do pray, the only thing that comes out of your mouth is "Lord get'em!" As a Christian, how do you handle a situation like this. The scripture is clear:

7"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[e] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Wow! This teaching goes totally against human nature, yet this is exactly what God has called us to do! God sees the wrong that has been done to us. He is neither blind not deaf. He sees it and he says, let me deal with it. When we begin to take revenge and get even, something dark and ugly begins to happen to our hearts. Bitterness, anger and hurt festers in us like an infected wound and poisons our spiritual bodies.

When we let it go, do what is right and forgive, the anger and poison leaves our soul and we are free to pray for that person and commend him or her to God's hands.

Let's Pray: Lord as difficult as it is sometimes, help me to never hold on to anger and bitterness when I am wronged. Help me to remember to do what is right and leave vengeance to you. In fact Lord, help me to bless those who persecute me and to pray for your mercy upon them. In Jesus Name Amen!