Devo # 17 -Christ Rules

As we continue the Ephesians 4:1-6 passage. We have stopped for several days on "One Faith". This is the last devotional on this subject, as we use the InterVarsity basis of faith.

The eighth statement of our basis of faith reads in part. "We believe in the victorious reign and future return of Jesus Christ who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemd into eternal life. "

The last devotional dealt with the second part, Christ's judgement of all people.

Today, we will look at the victorious reign and future return of Jesus Christ. Phillipians 2:9-10 plainly declares Jesus as Lord and king over everything!

⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Isaiah 9:6 which talks about the future reign of Jesus: "for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Prayers: Jesus, you are my Lord and King. It is my honor to serve you. In your name O Lord. Amen.

Devo # 16 Get Ready! Christ Is Coming Back Again!

Today's Scripture:

^"1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all."( Ephesians 4:1-6 - NLT)

Today is the last devotional on " One Faith" as found in Ephesians 4:5 above: I have been using the InterVaristy Basis of Faith, to illustrate the components of our Faith. The final component as mentioned in this document is:

"We believe in the victorious reign and future personal return of Jesus Christ who will judge all people with Justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life."

Jesus says in Matthew 5: 32-38 and 41:

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: ³²And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: ³³And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: ³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ^{..... 41}Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Prayer: Lord, you are the Rigtheous Judge who will judge every person on the earth. Thank that you are also a God who is full of love and mercy, offering your son as a ransom for my sins. Thank you for my salvation. Help me to live a life that is worthy of my calling! Give me the courage to tell my unsaved friends about your terrific offer of salvation! I do not want them to suffer eternal condemnation but eternal joy with me!

In Jesus Name! Amen!

Welcome to Fred's Daily Devotional!

Greetings Friends!

I am using this forum to post a summary of my personal daily devotionals. These are scriptures that I am meditating on daily along with a brief reflecton and a prayer. My hope is that these devotionals will encourage you to regularly spend time with the Lord in Prayer, Bible reading and Meditation on a daily basis. Developing a daily devotional is probably the most important discipline that a Christian can develop.

May we all long to spend time with the Lord like david and find the benefits that David found in Psalms 119:11-16

¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
¹² I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.
¹³ I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us.
¹⁴ I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.
¹⁵ I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.
¹⁶ I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

Lord, let my friend find the joy of daily spending time in your presence through daily bible meditation, relfection and prayer. May their love and obedience toward you row deeper and deeper with each passing day. May people see the presence of God in our lives as we become more like him.

In Jesus Name, Amen!

Devo # 15: The Unity of All Believers!

Good Morning!

For some time now, we have been sharing our devotionals from Ephesians 4:1-6.

¹ "Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all."

We have paused for a while on "One Faith" using the InterVarsity Basis of Faith to elaborate on the components of our Faith.

The sixth plank of the InterVarsity Basis of Faith is:

"We believe in the unity of all believers in Jesus Chrits, manifest in worshipping and witnessing churches, making disciples throughout the world. "

Our passage above illustrates this perfectly:

"Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." (Ephesians 4:3-6, NLT)

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the many diverse members of that make up the body of Christ. Help me to do everything in my power to maintain unity in your body. Help us together to tell others about your love for them shown through Jesus Christ sacrifice. Help us together to train people up in the things of God so that they will be esablished in he faith to your glory! In Jesus Name! Amen!

Freds Devo # 14 "One Faith: The Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit

Today's devotional is focused on the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity.

The Fifth InterVarsity doctrinal statement says: "

We believe in the indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit who gives to all believers a new life and a new calling to obedient service. "

John 14:16:

" ¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

¹⁷Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. ¹⁸I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you....

^{26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."}

Prayer: Lord, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit, my comforter, teacher and counselor. Help me not to quench the Holy Spirit today but yield to what the spirit wants to say and do in my life.

Devo # 13: "Jesus:The Only Way to Salvation"

"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all."( Ephesians 4:1-6, NLT)

Good Morning Beloved Brothers and Sisters!

As we continue to discuss "One Faith" in Ephesians 4:5, we are taking the time to list what we believe in as Christians, using the the InterVarsity basis of faith or donctrinal statement. This is simply a summary of what born again believers around the world believe in.

We have already talked about the fact that we believe in God, the bible and man's alienation from God due to sin. Today we will talk about Salvation through Jesus alone.

The fourth statement of the InterVarsity statement of faith states:

"We believe in Justification by God/s grace to all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation."

Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us that "God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions." Verse 8 and 9 makes it plain, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast!"

Prayer: Lord, when I was dead in my sins, you made me alive in Christ. There was nothing that I could do to save myself! Nothing! Thank you for saving me by your precious grace! Lord even my faith came from you! Thank you for giving me the good sense to use my faith by trusting in you for my salvation. Help me to never stop trusting you-no matter what pressures of challenges come my way!. In Jesus Name! Amen!

Devo #12 One Faith: We Believe in Jesus Christ

Fred's Devo #12: One Faith: "Jesus Christ, Fully Human and Fully Divine"

As we continue on the topic of one faith, from Ephesians 4: 5, the fourth plank of the InterVarsity basis of faith is:

"We believe in Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example who assumed the

judgement due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the deand and ascended as Savior

and Lord."

Phillipians 2:6-11 (NLT) makes it plain:

6"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."

Prayer: Jesus thank you for humbling yourself in order to come to earth in the form of a man to save me!

Help me to follow your example and walk a life obedience and Christian humility.

In Jesus Name, Amen.