You Can’t Afford the Gift of God

Scripture: Acts 8:18-22

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Commentary: The Savior is God’s gift to us

As with Simon, are you not right with God? Are you praying for things and living a life focused on yourself? When people see others doing well in their lives, they wish the same for themselves.

We want without having to do anything for it. Simon was willing to pay for something he had already had. We have the Holy Spirit in us. We have to pray and study God’s Word. When we live the life God has for us, we will receive the Holy Spirit for it is a gift from God to us.

As Peter told Simon, money and earthly possessions will perish, but our Lord Jesus Christ is forever. This is the gift we have if we repent and believe in Christ as our Savior.

Learn a lesson from Simon and do what Peter told him. Pray to the Lord and live the life God intended for you. When you live for Jesus Christ, you begin to truly live.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Acts Chapter 8

Bless the Lord For the Gifts He Gives You

Scripture: Psalms 103: 1-8

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thy iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Commentary: Bless the Lord who forgives, heals, redeems and loves you

What a mighty God we serve. He is a God of mercy, kindness, love, and forgiveness. Think about your life. What have you accomplished by giving yourself to God? Bless the Lord!

David’s praise focused on God’s glorious deeds. Do not complain about life, look at what God has done for you. This chapter gives us plenty for which to praise God. He forgives our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from death, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies our desires, and gives righteousness and justice.

We receive all of this without deserving any of them. No matter how difficult your life’s journey, you can always count your blessings. God will always be here for us.

Where would we be without Him?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 103

Woe to Leaders Who Scatter God’s Flock

Scripture: Jeremiah 23: 1-2

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

Scripture Commentary: False prophets scatter and destroy

Leaders are responsible for those entrusted to their care. How does a nation become corrupt? False prophets have, do, and will play a large role is misguiding innocent people. We like to hear what makes us feel comfortable; whether it is the truth or not.

A person like Jeremiah will have a message from God that will be unpopular among many people because it shows how corrupt we are. Whether we speak from a pulpit, teach in a class, or share with friends, we are entrusted with accurately communicating and living out God’s word.

True prophets and false prophets are as different as straw and grain. Straw is useless for food and cannot compare to the nourishing value of grain. False prophets may appear to speak God’s message, but they do not live according to God’s principles. They will water down God’s message in order to make it more palatable, often subtly encouraging their listeners to disobey God. These false prophets tend to be arrogant and self serving.

As you share God’s Word people will look at you and see God in you. Unless it has changed you, why should they listen to your godless talk?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Jeremiah Chapter 23

Love Comes From God Because God Is Love

Scripture: 1 John 4: 7-12

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Commentary: God is love – He is the source of love

Everyone believes that love is important, but love is usually thought of as a feeling. In reality, love is a choice and an action. God is the source of our love: God is love. He loved us enough to sacrifice his Son for us.

Jesus is our example of what it means to love; everything he did in life and death was supremely loving. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to love. He lives in our hearts and makes us more like Christ.

God’s love always involves a choice and action. All love should be like his. How well do you display your love for God in the choices you make and the actions you take? Can you look in the mirror and say to yourself, “I love everything you do?”

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 John Chapter 4

Not Everyone Has a Relationship with God. What About You?

Scripture: Matthew 7: 21-23

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Scripture Commentary: Not everyone will enter the kingdom of heaven

People often talk more about themselves than about how Jesus took on their sins and restored them. Not everyone wants to do what is right – they’d rather talk the talk than walk the walk.

Jesus is more concerned with our walk than our talk. He wants us to do right, not just say the right words.

Your house will withstand the storms of life if you do what is right instead of just talking about it. Beliefs and actions aren’t separable. Jesus exposed those people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with him. Many people think if they are “good” and say religious things, they will be rewarded with eternal life.

Faith in Christ is what will count at judgement. On “that day” only our relationship with Christ and our acceptance of him as Savior will matter.

The final day of reckoning is when God will settle all accounts and reward faith to those who truly deserve it.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Matthew Chapter 7

Repent and Let God Clean Your Spirit

Scripture: Ezekiel 36: 25-27

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them.

Scripture Commentary: Let God make you clean

God is telling us He will make us clean if we come to him and repent. We go through life sinning, but God will forgive us.

God will restore you physically and spiritually. No matter how impure your life is right now, God offers you a fresh start. You can have your sins washed away. Receive a new heart for God, and have his Spirit within you, if you accept Him as your Lord and Savior. If you try to go through life alone, you will fail.

Do not lose all sensitivity to sin. Regain sensitivity by recognizing your sin for what it is. Repent and ask for forgiveness from God. If we do this, the Holy Spirit will guide us, making us responsive and receptive to God’s truth. Be thankful. God’s invitation is open to all of us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 36

Behold, the Day Cometh

Scripture: Malachi 4: 1-2

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Scripture Commentary:

Behold, are you prepared to receive our Lord Jesus Christ today? Malachi closes his messages by pointing to the final day of judgment. For those who are committed to God, judgment day will be a day of joy, the day eternity in God’s presence begins. Those who have ignored God will not like judgment day.

If you have ignored God, you must change your way of living. Turn to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. In asking for mercy you must repent; change your sinful way of living.

Christians must help by being faithful to the love, honor, and respect in teaching others the ways of our Lord. God is our healing warmth. His warmth will never burn out.

Malachi ends the Old Testament by calling us to turn to God and prepare the way for others to serve him as he has served you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Malachi Chapter 4

Rejoice! His Coming Is Promised

Scripture: 2 Peter 3: 3-4

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the father fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus’ return is promised

God is not slow; he is not on our timetable. Scoffers will say that Jesus is never coming back, but that is Satan talking. Jesus is giving us time to repent and turn to him. God gave us a promise – Jesus is coming back for His own.

The Christians who accepted Christ but returned to their sinful way of life have been given a chance to realize their error. Do not be like a person sinking in quicksand who refuses to take the rope thrown to him. Don’t turn away from Christ and refuse the only way to escape eternity in hell.

What would you like to be doing when Christ returns? Are you working for our Lord Jesus Christ? Or are you working for worldly things? We must not sit and wait for Christ to return. We should live with the realization that our time is short. There is work to do in His name.

This world will end, so put your confidence in what is eternal. Do not be bound to this earth’s finite treasures and pursuits.

Are you spending more time piling up possessions? Or are you striving to work for God?

Do the work God has called you to do. His return is promised.

Read the Entire Chapter:
2 Peter Chapter 3

Plead Your Case Before the Mountains

Scripture: Micah 6: 1-3

Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

Commentary: The people built pagan altars in the mountains

God called to the mountains to confirm the people’s guilt. The mountains would serve as excellent witnesses, for it was in the high places that the people had built pagan altars and had sacrificed to false gods.

Can you say God has done something wrong? Can you say you have done no wrong?

God has been patient with you, as he had been patient with the people. He always loves and guides you, providing every opportunity to return to him.

Do not be like the people in Micah’s day. They forgot the covenant and its benefits. They turned away from God. God continued to be kind to these forgetful people, but their memory made them forget his kindness.

Do not forget God’s mercy. Turn to him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Micah Chapter 6

God Has Made It Plain

Scripture: Romans 1: 18-20

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Commentary: God has revealed himself in and through his creation

Does anyone have an excuse for not believing in God? God makes His truth plain.

The Bible answers with an emphatic no. God has revealed what he is like in and through his creation. Every person either accepts or rejects God. Don’t be fooled. We all have an inner sense of what God requires, but many of us choose to ignore it. Our moral standards are always better than our behavior.

Suppressing God’s truth in order to live our own way is no excuse. We know the truth, so we know the consequences. Some will ask how can a loving God send anyone to hell.

Paul says God has revealed himself plainly from creation to all people. We know when we are doing something wrong because that is the Holy Spirit within us. To be in denial of our spirit is to be in denial of God.

God graciously gave us his word and the Holy Spirit within us so that we might fully believe in him and live the life of his love.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 1