Divine Nature

Verse:    John 11:41 Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard me.’ - When we call upon the Lord, we can know that He hears our cry. - Our Saviour had complete confidence in His Father. - You can have complete confidence in your Heavenly Father. - You too can say: ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard me.’ PRAYER:  Lord, I look to You and I thank You that You have heard my cry. You will direct my step and You will guide me, You will lead me, and You will take me by my hand. Amen. Have a great weekend.

  Many Christians struggle with the issue of tithing. In some churches giving is over-emphasized. At the same time, many Christians refuse to submit to the biblical exhortations about making offerings to the Lord. Tithing/giving is intended to be a joy and a blessing. Sadly, that is sometimes not the case in the church today. Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the Law in which the Israelites were to give 10 percent of the crops they grew and the livestock they raised to the tabernacle/temple ( Leviticus 27:30 ;  Numbers 18:26 ;  Deuteronomy 14:24 ;  2 Chronicles 31:5 ). In fact, the Old Testament Law required multiple tithes—one for the Levites, one for the use of the temple and the feasts, and one for the poor of the land—which would have pushed the total to around 23.3 percent. Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites in the sacrificial system. After the deat...

Verse:    John 10:42 ‘And many believed in Him...’ - You and I are called to be believers. - Doubt, disbelief and uncertainty should have no place in our lives. - We belong to Him, we are His children and we can trust and believe. - Step away from doubt and fear and choose to believe in Him now! PRAYER:  Lord, I reject all my doubts and fears and I choose to doubt my doubts and to exchange my disbelief for faith, and my hesitation for complete confidence in You. Amen. Have an awesome Thursday.

 In a very practical section of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he encourages his readers to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In the immediate context, he had exhorted them to rejoice always (verse 16) and to pray without ceasing (verse 17). These are recognizable characteristics of a person who is encouraged and growing in his or her faith. The first two are easy enough to understand—being joyful and prayerful are not complex ideas. But Paul’s instruction that the Thessalonian believers should give thanks in everything presents a unique challenge. It is worth noting that Paul doesn’t tell them to give thanks for everything. The preposition used in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is the Greek en, which is best translated by the English preposition in. Paul isn’t telling them they must be thankful for the difficulties they were encountering; instead, he is challenging them to be thankful in any circumstance. Paul recognized that the secret of contentment isn’t found ...

Verse:    John 10:41 ‘John didn’t perform miraculous signs,’ they remarked to one another, ‘but everything he said about this Man (Jesus) has come true.’ - Your life may not be remarkable, but your words can make a difference. - People remembered what John the Baptist had said long after his death. - So speak up about how great God is, tell of His power and His greatness. - Words are like seeds, we plant them and they produce their own harvest. PRAYER:  Lord, may my mouth never be filled with idle words, but may my mouth speak of Your faithfulness and loving-kindness. May I be remembered for reminding people that they can trust and rely on You. Amen. Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Verse:    Ecclesiastes 9:10 ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...’ - We should take advantage of every opportunity the Lord brings across our path. - Even in difficult times, we should not resign ourselves to doing nothing. - There is always another step we can take, another avenue to pursue. - Giving up is not an option, putting one foot in front of the other, is the answer. PRAYER:  Lord, help me to be able to see the opportunities that You bring across my path, help me to see the open doors that You have prepared for me, and give me the courage to move forward with determination. Amen. Have a blessed Tuesday.