JMD Devotional 260 Ephesians 5:15-17 Thoughtful Walk

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.

A big misconception is that planning is unspiritual. God gave us the mental faculty to order our steps, to make plans, to set a course. We are only admonished not to do these things disconnected from His Holy Spirit and influence. We also should not be disconnected from other believers and the Church; so much more good can be accomplished in concert with others; and we tend to keep each other on track and motivated. God distributes knowledge and spiritual gifts; relying on others is a true test of humility and in the faith that God is in control (not us). How we do things is as important as what we do; our attitude matters and it is influenced in a marvelous way: by music! Songs set the tempo, stir our hearts, lift our spirits, and get us in step with each other. In Old Testament times, the choir went before the army!

Vs 18-21 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, at all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Dear God,
I want to know Your will for my life. I know in part; that Jesus gave His life to establish the Church, and I am to contribute to Your Kingdom’s growth and well-being. I have a Gospel to share; that is only credible if I live the new life that I profess. Integrate me deeply into Your Kingdom, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, empower me through my connection with You and all believers, to do Your will. Give us all the mind of Christ. May heavenly melodies spur us to love and to good works.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 259 Ephesians 5:25 Esteeming Others

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

You sacrifice the life you want for the welfare of your spouse, that is commitment.
You then learn to love the life of sacrifice, following Christ, that is contentment.

Vs 1-3 recap: THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people).

How you value or devalue others is a telling barometer of your spiritual condition. An imitator of God esteems others unconditionally (self is out of the picture). People are of immeasurable worth! If we find ourselves resenting them for getting in our way, or for the demands that their being places upon us, we are under the influence of the spirit of this fallen world, and not of God. Pornography is wrong for a thousand reasons; but consider these: you devalue another human being, created in the image of God, and reduce them to a play-thing to serve your lusts. Each centerfold was someone’s daughter or son, in rebellion, on the wrong path. The person you pass that solicits a double take is not to be considered a sex object; but a potential sister or brother in Christ. Charity, the purest form of Christianity, elevates the lowliest individuals and affirms their worth. Esteeming others does not end there; but should reach into every encounter. You cannot be esteeming another when you contribute to their moral failure!

Dear God,
You have called us to be living sacrifices; oh, how we resist. Only when our affection for wretched things is burned off can we appreciate the bounty of Your Holy Spirit. I confess not valuing others as I should; of hating people for getting in my way: forgive me of my sins! Transform my heart and life through Your holy influence; help me to ‘imitate’ You and Your ways, empowered by Your Holy Spirit. Help me to sacrifice my self-importance for the welfare of others, and to cherish my spouse above all.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 258 Ephesians 5:8-14 Enterprises of Darkness

For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light]. For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him]. Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret. But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light. Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.

Planning for my retirement is a tough challenge for me. I compare mutual funds and make choices on my 401K based on very vague information. When it comes to a company’s professed performance and their actual profitability, I have little insight. But each of us has first-hand experience with the two greatest enterprises of Light and Darkness. We have seen the contrast of the two global options. The Enterprises of Darkness function via deceit. They take women seeking excitement and glamour as raw materials and crank out crack-addicted prostitutes. Everything they process has a similar end. No manufactured outcome of this enterprise conforms to its specification and promise. Even though all the lives it touches are ultimately ruined and the dividends paid out are mere illusion; there is no shortage of eager investors. God does not “squash us” for making these poor investments; our own sins punish us. Insanity has been characterized as doing the same things again and again and expecting different results. With the evidence at hand; does it not make sense to divert all of one’s investments into the Enterprises of the Light?

Dear God,
I do not want to be gray any longer. Please give me new robes that are brighter than an arc lamp!
Help me to be pure in heart, so I can see You. My impurity has turned everything I see dark; the way of darkness leads to nothing but ashes. Light me up from within, cultivate an appetite for truth and righteousness; make me truly into a Child of God. Help me to consider well how my actions affect everyone around me; and how my attitude functions like a dimmer switch. May the combined glow of Your people become incredibly brilliant. For Your glory.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 257 Ephesians 5:5-10 Unholy Circus

For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]--for he [in effect] is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience.
So do not associate or be sharers with them. For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].
For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life. And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].

What is the difference between a circus and a nature preserve? In a circus, the animals are on display as ‘freaks’, they are enticed and trained to behave in unnatural ways for the amusement of an audience, they are captives, imprisoned by masters apparently more concerned with exploiting them than for their actual welfare. Satan runs the biggest ‘circus’ known as the World of the Human Race. We are baited and captured, enticed and coerced into behavior that is not really natural from God’s perspective and design. I am certain that there is a certain ‘pride’ in seeing how small of a ‘hook’ can be used to make a monkey out of a man, to humiliate and debase the pinnacle of the created order, to spite and mock God’s image in the flesh. The evil Ring Master knows how to use fear to control; and how to distort the truth so that doing foolish things seems reasonable. When you see a man throw his whole life away for a sexual escapade an unholy audience cheers! This circus has no love for the human soul; no love at all for anything. The only move for our welfare is to escape the ‘circus’ and recover our true nature and sanctuary under the Lord of Nature. We can have but one ruler, be it an idol or the Lord. Only the Lord will love us back!

Dear God,
When I am clear-headed, serving You is a no-brainer! But I ask for Your special help for the many times that I am not thinking clearly, when I am deceived, when temptation looks so appealing. Help me to love You and to hate sin; to feel the same way about sin as You do. Sin has robbed You of Your children, and has robbed us of our dignity and position and our very lives. Help us to see past the baited traps of this world, to play the movie forward to the bad eventual outcome of rebellion. May we fear You and live in genuine freedom.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 256 Ephesians 5:1-4 What Spirit do You Have?

THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people). Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].

There is a story in Luke in which Jesus and His disciples were not welcomed by a Samaritan village because it was known that they were on their way to Jerusalem (a rival center of worship). How they react to this ‘bump in the road’ is telling.
Luke 9:54-56 (NIV) When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them, even as Elijah did?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them. And he said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." And they went to another village.

What manner of spirit do we have when we put others down? When we are negative and critical, insulting and off-color? Whose spirit is in control when we are bitter and sarcastic? How the world functions like a pack of wolves, seizing upon any weakness and asserting their status in the pecking order. Mankind follows suit by making sport of other’s physical imperfections and clumsiness and virtually any shortcoming. But none of this is born of God’s Holy Spirit!

Dear God,
Wiring my jaw shut would not be enough to solve my problem of sinful speech because it is in my heart. Please heal and forgive me for all of the critical, hateful, negative and insulting things I have said. Drive out those other ‘spirits’ and influences that are contrary to Your Holy Spirit. Rule me. May every impulse and inclination of my Spirit, Soul and Body be made subject to my Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to be a dispenser of grace, truth and righteousness; not the froward (stubbornly disobedient and contrary) fare of this world. May I be about building others up and speaking encouraging and healing things to their souls; knowing that all words are heard and are recorded in Heaven.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 255 Ephesians 4:26,27 Loosing Containment

When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].

Proverbs 29:22,23 (NIV) An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Proverbs 21:19 (NIV) Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

Proverbs 22:24,25 (KJV) Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

When radio broadcast was first invented, the art of radio reception had a lot of catching up to do. Amplifiers did not have much gain. An early and short-lived remedy was the super regenerative receiver, which fed a portion of the output of the amplifier back to its input for another pass of amplification. Anyone who has held a microphone too close to a speaker knows the result of too much feedback; it howls like a son of a gun! The chief problem was that amplifying the same signal over and over again also amplified the noise and distortion. Anger works in much the same way in our minds. We fixate on an offense, and keep bringing it up from our stomach again and again to chew on it some more. Our magnification of a wrong becomes totally out of proportion to all of what is right around us. Unbridled, anger chases every loved one away from us; destroying our relationships. It is fueled by our selfish pride and shame.

Proverbs 17:9 (NIV) He who covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offence.

Dear God,
I am ashamed of how wrong I have been while trying so hard to assert I was ‘right’. I have trampled fragile flowers to make a ‘point’; I have bruised tender souls. Forgive me for being so thick and unyielding. Help me to choose my battles; and to choose not to fight when overlooking an offense is best for everyone. Help me to sheath my sword 99% of the time; and to only use it when You call for it. May I not care whether outsiders think I am weak or not; may there be acceptance, warmth and safety in the hearth of my relationships. I profess that godly reserve is more powerful than man’s anger displayed.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 254 Ephesians 4:21-25 Our Relationship to the Truth

But you did not so learn Christ! Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another.

None of us are as truthful as we think we are, that is, truthful to ourselves and others consciously and subconsciously. To some degree, we are self-deceived and we deceive others. We may fail to answer honestly out of fear of rejection, we may be overly compliant due to our need for affirmation, or shame may cause us to conceal our sins with facades. There was a time when I had a dozen aliases, many secret passwords, and I obsessively scrubbed my computer cache of cookies, because I had something to hide. I was also very self-righteous; and believed I was a cut above everyone else. I led a double life; was impulsive, erratic and unpredictable. I had strayed into darkness and confusion. You will not find the truth within yourself as New Agers assert, because the Truth is in the person of God, Jesus Christ. We cannot reason our way to Him; we must believe that His is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and invite Him into our lives to establish the Rule of Truth. A commitment to the truth acknowledges that sin is inferior to righteousness. Our actions affect everyone around us. The more truthful we are the more consistent, reliable and stable we become. You can always count on the truth. Your relationship to the truth defines your character or lack there of. Never minimize the importance of being true. Godliness cannot exist without this. Mental health correlates directly with our embrace or rejection of the Truth (delusion is the rejection of obvious truth!)

Dear God,
You are the Truth, and Your Word is true from the beginning! Your truth shines the light I need to take my next step; I am ever dependent upon Your illumination. You once had a bright angel; and we all know where His self-illumination sent him; how his pride spoiled his beauty. All that is untrue shall be cast from Your presence: so make me into a man of truth. May righteousness and goodness adorn my soul due to Your extensive work in my life. Do this for Your glory. And help me to gently speak the truth in love to my neighbor as Your Ambassador of Truth.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 253 Ephesians 4:17-24 Impulse-Driven

So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds. Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].

But you did not so learn Christ! Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

We excuse a poor purchase as something we ‘bought on impulse’. Impulsive behavior is spontaneous, not well thought out, random, risky, often foolish and regretted in retrospect. But for many souls their modus operandi is to be running on ‘impulse’. Most of the time we have no idea of what is behind our impulsive behavior; psychoanalysis might bring out something embarrassing, like trauma over potty training, or childhood emotional abandonment or unresolved sibling rivalry. Do we as adults really want to be the puppets of our woundedness? Rather, to live by reason, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, being deliberate in our choices, knowing who we are and what we want to do and following through with that fits the dignity of a Child of God, made in His image. Letting our impulses continue to rule us only adds to our shame. Maturity is fundamentally saying no to our impulses and yes to higher principles. We need to put on this maturity and spiritual attitude daily to live well.

Dear God,
How my flesh resists spiritual disciplines! I know that they are rich with reward; but I want holiness later, not now. Please help me to grow up in Christ, to want what is best. Help us all to examine why we do things contrary to our beliefs; bring healing to our broken past so we can live freely today. May we know who we are and where we are going: reveal Your will for our lives that we may honor it.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 252 Ephesians 4:8 Philosophical Traction

Therefore it is said, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive [He led a train of vanquished foes] and He bestowed gifts on men.
[Reference Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Holy Bible: "He conquered those who had conquered us--such as sin, the devil, and death."]

Brace yourself for painful honesty: most of the time I do not FEEL blessed, free or victorious. I react very poorly to change; and life is full of it. It can be as petty as being resentful over cost-cutting measures taking away flavored coffee creamers at work, or as heavy as having your livelihood outsourced to Malaysia. We all crave a life of consistency and predictability; but reality inevitably throws us some curve balls. There is always the suspicion that we are being tested, and are failing the test. Concerning Job, Satan implied that Job’s good behavior was in return for God’s “setting up a hedge” around him of divine protection; not out of genuine allegiance to righteousness for its own sake. Sunday I sang to Jesus, “You are all I need,” and Monday I am angry and depressed because things are not going well at work. Has my bluff been called?

Jesus did indeed lead the things that keep people in captivity captive; but we must believe in our freedom in the deepest sense to receive this incredible gift. Each day challenges us as we grapple with our attitudes that so often revert to a worldly perspective. We must deliberately change our value system to agree with God’s Word. What does God want out of us in the midst of life’s difficulty? I believe He wants us to be patient, in the midst of trials, and to ultimately be cheerful because our persistence has exercised our faith. A cheerful, godly attitude is a great victory over the World, the flesh and the Devil. We need to really set a premium on that which cannot be taken away by circumstance. Our humble bearing is to be in contrast to how unregenerate people respond, and it thus glorifies God. Faith is the victory that overcomes the World.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Dear God,
Forgive my chronic faithlessness! I can be so grumpy and immature. Help me to insulate my heart from fickle circumstances; that my spirit might be more consistently positive. It does not take much to upset my balance; be my stability and refuge. May Satan have no buttons to push; may my trust be genuine and not a ‘bluff.’ Guide me to maturity in Christ.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 251 Ephesians 3:20,21 God!

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

In our Age of Grace, I think we forget sometimes who and what we are dealing with when it comes to God. In King James English, the word ‘terrible’ was used, to evoke a reverent fear and to acknowledge His power and will to punish and destroy evil. Being ‘glib’ with God does not show respect to 6000 years of His enduring sinful humanity and holding back judgment; nor does it complement hours of personal agony on the Cross. Can we amplify to an infinite power the respect we would show for any Earthly leader and express that to our sovereign Master? Oh, grace is GOOD, and our Heavenly Father desires His children to come close, even to approach His throne with boldness; just do not loose sight of who He is. Like the Rebecca St. James song simply titled “God”, or Rich Mullins’ “Awesome God”, He is the chief thing to be in awe of and to be excited about. All of the great superlatives belong to Him. Godly fanaticism is appropriate!

Dear God,
May I always give You first-class treatment; my utmost devotion, my allegiance, my passion, my first fruits, my reverence, fear and respect. Most of all, may I earnestly love You and cherish Your presence. I want yielding to Your will to become a no-brainer for me; I want to be sold-out to You. Help me to believe BIG and thus do justice to your Word, promises, ability and character. I want the reality of our relationship to show forth in my countenance, attitude and way of living. I want people who do not have You in their lives to be jealous! For Your glory.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 250 Ephesians 3:16-19 Substance of the Spirit

May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

The hardest work I ever did was filling sandbags in anticipation of a hurricane. It would have been easier to fill them with puffed rice; but that would not have kept my house from flooding. Sand is dense and heavy and has the substance to form a reliable barrier to the storm. In a figurative sense, self-reliant people are full of puffed rice. When real trials come they find their own resources hopelessly soggy and without substance. How ironic that God, who is Spirit, has genuine substance when it comes to life and that the material things that lost people rely upon are superficial and totally without ‘spiritual’ substance! Stack all of the social status, wealth, power, popularity, lifestyle and things of any Hollywood Idol against any withered old Saint clinging to her faith on her deathbed, and the Saint has something tangible; and in my book, wins hands down!

Dear God,
Sometimes I need You to refocus my attention on that which is real. May our eyes not be deceived by fantasies without substance; may we not envy retched lost people. Help us to remember how rich we are in Christ; how powerful and victorious we are in Him. The world does not yet know it is defeated; but we know. It cannot touch us at all or pry us out of Your hands. Our worth is measured in the blood of Your Son. May Your saints live well and die well; never alone; resting in You, full of hope and confidence. When You came to live in us, You gave us EVERYTHING!
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 249 Ephesians 3:14,15 Father Model

For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

When I was a kid, I envied Will Robinson of the “Lost-in-Space” show. He lived in a spaceship, he had a great robot friend and he had a laser pistol. But most of all I thought his dad was the greatest. When young Will messed up, his dad took him aside to protect his dignity, he talked with him about the offense to help him understand what he did wrong, and he ended the session of discipline by hugging his son to affirm that their relationship was as strong as ever. He was firm but fair. I love my dad; but he was human. I got backhanded, derided and scolded in public, smacked on impulse without explanation. I spent most of my childhood afraid of the man; our friendship did not begin until I was in High school. I have caught myself many times repeating his errors and using his same criticisms. It is easy to recognize fatherhood gone wrong; because our Father’s thumbprint is on His creation; God is the ultimate father. In recovery, almost every addicted person I met shared a common dysfunction called ,”the Father Wound.” Forgiving Dad for being as human and as fallible as I was hard, but necessary for my healing. I now appreciate my dad for the elements of fatherhood that he got right, for his sacrifice and dedication to our family. I have tried many times to connect on a deeper level with him; but I had to accept that there are some things he just will not ever get. Nevertheless, I am weaned from needing anything further from Him in favor of finding my solace on the lap of my Heavenly Father.

Dear God,
You are my Dad indeed! Forgive me for hiding from You in fear of harsh reprisals. My actions implied that You were less than a good dad; a reflection of this sin-cursed world rather than the model and source of all that is true and good and noble. Thank You for being patient with me, and for gently teaching me how to live and think and how to be. Abba Father, I NEED YOU. Remind me that I am not an orphan, nor abandoned. You are not distant and aloof; You are not critical and harsh. God is gracious and abundant in mercy, the Protector of the weak and humble, the Friend of sinners. My soul cries out to You. Father me!
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 248 Ephesians 3:4-6,9-12 The Big Picture

4-6 When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. [This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit. [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel).

Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus. [The purpose is] that through the church the complicated ("manifold"), many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere. This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord, In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).

Note that we are the recipients of God’s grace, not the ‘audience’, which are heavenly beings. If it was all about us, then God could have made things very simple indeed; but spirits exist that exceed our sense of propriety, justice, integrity, righteousness; Heaven has accountants and auditors who miss no detail. The salvation of humanity, in part, is a statement to a spiritual jury, and mankind is on trial for the Fall, and God is on trial (in a sense) for making creatures that could sin. The salvation that reconciles everything and satisfies all of the ‘buts…’ and ‘what-ifs’ had to be entirely comprehensive: it had to address the organic consequences of sin, the legal ramifications, the military ‘court marshal’, the family breach, the aftermath of chaos and misery, the personal betrayal. It required an advocate, a sacrifice, substitution, reconciliation, rebirth, adoption, regeneration and a new paradigm. No wonder Christianity and the Church is complicated! It is exactly what it HAS to be to satisfy the Heavenly Administration.

Dear God,
I confess the tendency to take short-cuts and overlook consequences; but You always act in perfect righteousness. Thank You for being proactive and initiating my salvation! I praise You for outwitting mankind’s chief critic and destroyer by making the ultimate sacrifice Yourself. I can see that the challenge was not just to defeat the Devil, but to satisfy the Spirits of Righteousness and Integrity and Justice. You are so Moral; and Your Love for humanity is so great. It is all too much to fathom. May I gratefully receive the cup of Your salvation and encourage others to drink deeply of it as well.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 247 Ephesians 2:8-10 Harmony of Faith and Works

For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

I was raised with an over-emphasis of ‘salvation by faith---not by works.’ So much blind zeal was put into the separation of faith and works that ‘works’ became a dirty word, and my faith became overly cerebral. But we were saved to do good works. What I do and how I live is an expression of my faith; my works reveal what I really believe, not just what I profess. It is an expression of faith to do good for the sake of goodness alone. No hidden agenda, no ulterior motive, just random acts of kindness to others; because it pleases God and it reflects His nature. In every sense of the word, “good works.”

Dear God,
Help me to overcome evil with good, because that is Your Way. Incline my heart to do what is right for righteousness’ sake. May my faith extend past my brain to my fingers, and to my feet, and may it flow from my lips and be a part of all that I am. May I not live in contradiction to what I believe anymore. Make me a faithful witness.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 246 Ephesians 2:4,5 Most Passionate

But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).

I once went down a path of intense rebellion. Bitter over believing I had always sacrificed for others for nothing; feeling taken for granted, driven by my own lust for excitement and craving for attention, to have a sense of being special to someone else; all this sent me down a path that very nearly destroyed everything good in my life. I was blind to the truth. I was in fact sacrificing for the most worthy people on the planet; my family. I was not insignificant; my role was vital. I had the earnest, intense, loving devotion of an Almighty God; but I had lost the sense of that personal relationship. I was addicted to most powerful drugs: sex and fantasy; and it would take something much more powerful to break its hold upon my life. After years of white-knuckling and sheer will power I was through with false living; and I thought my rebellion was leading me to authenticity; but it was a mirage. At the point of decision, where life and death, holiness and debasement were face-to-face with me; I had to believe something that seemed impossible, another ‘fantasy’, a ‘fairy tale’ in which God loved me more than any other human being ever could; that He would come to live in me in a way more intimate than the sex I craved; that Jesus was so passionate for my soul that He suffered greatly to secure it for Himself. I had to believe that this was not just a creed, or a long-distance relationship, or a one-sided affair: either God was setting up home in me in earnest, bringing His life into my veins or we would have nothing further to do with each other. Praise God I let Him conquer me!

Dear God,
I was lost and blind, poor and bleeding when You came and had mercy on me. I had to take by faith that Your love was THE LOVE for which my soul craved; and that You would give it to me without measure. May my love for You be as intense and unwavering; may my passion for God be without parallel. Thank You for believing our relationship could work when there was no practical evidence on my side that it would succeed. You sacrificed so much for this long-shot!
I am so blessed to be Your’s. Thank You for satisfying my longing.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 245 Ephesians 2:1-3 Repugnant People

AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins
In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. But God…

There are some people who are repugnant to me from a mile away. They revel in debauchery, they twist the truth, they cherish perverseness and evil calling it ‘their good’. They reek of all that is false and superficial. They pursue trivial things. They use others, and turn on their ‘friends’ when it suits them. They are selfish and uncharitable. When I start to contemplate their faults, I need to remind myself that I am really sensitive to what I hate most about myself. God didn’t choose me because I was good or noble or because I possessed any virtue; I was DEAD in my trespasses and sins. A reject, a rebel, repugnant, fuel for fire and food for worms. I was in cahoots with the DEVIL. I looked human; but sometimes functioned like a beast. I hurt a lot of people. We cannot afford to forget where we came from or we will loose compassion for the lost.

Dear God,
You could have written me off and washed Your hands of me and been well justified in sending me to Hell; but I praise and thank You that You chose to extend outrageous grace and mercy to this sinner. Without You, I am a man of utter depravity. Help me to consciously live as a man redeemed and forgiven by grace so I extend that grace to others. Help me to see past their sin to Your latent image. Help me to see what they could be in Christ. I do not have the right to ‘write off’ anybody. May I not forget that all of my good qualities are imperfect reflections of You. When I see someone stumble may I remember; but for the grace of God go I.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 244 Proverbs 2:4-8 Elusive Prize

If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.

I recently got a pet cat, a nice Russian Blue. There is a game we made up together, in which I tie some fishing line on a realistic plastic lizard and she pursues it. About three times a day she will cry and cry (sad sounding meow) until I stop what I’m doing and ‘animate’ the toy. It is no fun for her to play with the lizard alone, and she has the most fun when I zig-zag, dodge and generally make the hunt challenging. (Boy, I fear for any living lizard that crosses her path!) It is a way that we, being very different, have found to interact with each other. God is very different from us; and it is a challenge to find that common ground to interact with Him. He has given us prayer and His Word, but if we do it alone, it can be like that lifeless plastic lizard; it must involve us dynamically with each other. The pursuit is really holiness, applying God’s truth in our lives empowered by His Spirit, acknowledging His presence. Life is the playground, the part that makes it challenging enough to provoke our utmost involvement. God takes pleasure in hiding treasures and blessings and part of the ‘game’ is for us to dig them out and to wrestle with the application at hand. If we are not out of breath then we are not playing hard enough to win. Daily disciplines are good; but not the end. They get you to the playing field; but your heart must be in the game to enjoy it.

Dear God,
Life feels like very serious business, but sometimes I make it too seriously. Rest is so important that You sanctified the Sabbath. You established feasts (parties!) If only we could grasp what depth and richness were bottled up in the ‘abundant life’ You long to give us! Draw us into the game; help us to engage You and each other for righteous, godly living, and joy unspeakable as found only in Your presence. Help me not to retreat from challenges and changes that You have installed to bring out my very best. For Your pleasure I live.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 243 Romans 14:6, 10-16 Not Just Food but Attitude

Vs 6 He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Vs 10-16 Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am convinced (persuaded) as one in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is [forbidden as] essentially unclean (defiled and unholy in itself). But [none the less] it is unclean (defiled and unholy) to anyone who thinks it is unclean. But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died! Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.]

Is food really the core issue here? Could a ‘Church-approved menu’ have solved the problem? Behind these divisive actions are arrogant and prideful thoughts; the insensitivity betrays a deeply rooted selfishness and un-tempered egos. We have a competitive streak, and we flaunt our ‘knowledge’ and ‘superiority’ at the expense of others. It is self-exaltation when the exercise of our ‘liberties’ exceeds our commitment to unity and to the nurturing of our fellow believers. Humility is emphasized in the scriptures because the Church cannot possibly function without it. I have met many a man who professed belief in God and the Bible, yet who had no use for the Church! (For which Christ died!) We forget, it’s all about our Lord and not us; we are not to be autonomous, independent individuals, cut off from the primary fellowship of God’s Kingdom. How can we ‘abide in Christ’ and despise His family?

Dear God,
The cancers of lust, hate and selfishness run deep. I lop off the tops of the weeds, but they quickly grow back from their roots. Changing my behavior is good; but it is only a superficial solution to my sin problem. I have been forgiven, the debt has been paid in full; but I want to be free of its influence, too. Lord, please continue to heal me, to purge out the sin, to make me better. Only as I abide in Christ Jesus can I possibly express true righteousness; ‘yoke me up’, Master. Help me to love the Church as You do, and to put the needs of others first. Make my love genuine.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 242 Romans 14:1-6 Gentle Creed

AS FOR the man who is a weak believer, welcome him [into your fellowship], but not to criticize his opinions or pass judgment on his scruples or perplex him with discussions. One [man's faith permits him to] believe he may eat anything, while a weaker one [limits his] eating to vegetables.
Let not him who eats look down on or despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains criticize and pass judgment on him who eats; for God has accepted and welcomed him.
Who are you to pass judgment on and censure another's household servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master (the Lord) is mighty to support him and make him stand. One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike [sacred]. Let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

I have been in so many church settings that were harsh and overbearing to my spirit. There was so much peer pressure to abandon my own point of view and accept the prevailing twist; as if intellectual suicide and compliance made one righteous and acceptable to God. It has taken a long time to appreciate that God went to a lot of trouble to make each one of us a one-of-a-kind, a unique point of perspective. Churches and relationships split over shades of grey. In our blind zeal to preserve the ‘truth’, we trample God’s garden by adding to the Gospel. For me, it’s OK if you have a different millennial view, if we disagree on what has seven heads and ten horns, even if we disagree on what day to collectively worship or what we are allowed to eat or drink. Personally, I have very strong, well-forged beliefs, so I am conservative with regard to myself; but with regard to other people’s faith, I am liberal, knowing that I only know in part. If we accept and abide by and preserve the same Apostle’s Creed, then in my book we belong to the same Church. This is essential doctrine, the rest is open to interpretation. Be gentle.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

Dear God,
What I believe matters so much I sometimes go overboard and try to control others, to make them believe the same things. I forget how foolish I am; how much ignorance remains; what I debtor I am to the wisdom of others. My way is not the only way, and it is not all about ‘my way’ but Your Way. Help me to share the truth lovingly and gently, and leave persuasion to Your Holy Spirit. My muddy path was long and tortuous; others may have a way that is more direct, and others more circuitous, but as long as it ultimately leads to You, that’s great. I forget that it is You who lead each of us; help me to be gentle with others You are leading. May I not frustrate or confuse them; but do make me an encourager, an advocate of their salvation.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 241 Romans 13:10-14 This Critical Hour

Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law. Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah). The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).

Most of the time we live as if the status quo will never change, that things will always be as they are now; but we should know better. The world is so used to living in the dark that they think the murky grey shadows are light. When the Day Star rises and shines upon the Earth, it will be as if we never saw a sunrise before. God has set a plan in motion, and there will be a consummation of the ages. No matter how long you have lived, you are just that much closer to judgment day. If we are in Christ, we need not fear for ourselves; but there should be concern for the lost. A critical hour is coming, and keeping silent about it is doing harm to one’s neighbor as surely as failing to warn them of a dam breach. Don’t let your friends and loved ones be washed away in ignorance, for want of a godly warning, an earnest plea for their soul!

Dear God,
It is hard to witness to a world that is hostile to the Truth; but give me courage and a compelling message. Many times my awkward efforts seem to have done more harm than good; please give me a winsome countenance and a gentle spirit. Speak through me. Make me aware of opportunities. Keep me from behavior that spoils those opportunities; help me to be consistently Holy. It’s high time, Lord; may Your people stand tall in Christ.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 240 Psalm 145:15-21 Near and Far

The eyes of all wait for You [looking, watching, and expecting] and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor. The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.
The Lord preserves all those who love Him, but all the wicked will He destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy name forever and ever.

Existing in the physical realm, we are limited by the tools of our dimension when we try to describe the spiritual realm; we are as ill-equipped as a flat two-dimensional stick figure trying to describe a 3-D object; so we resort to metaphor. Theology tells us that God is universally present; yet the Bible speaks in terms of His being near or far. Paul said that in Him we ‘live and move and have our being’, and that ‘all things (let’s include atoms) are held together in Christ Jesus.’ Anything that breathes ‘borrows life from Thee. ‘ God is actively keeping all creation animated; even those people who reject Him and deny His existence. As Pharaoh said to Moses, “Who is the Lord that I should serve Him?” He is the God giving you life right now. In that aspect He is intimately near to all. But RELATIONALLY, He is near to very few. Hell is not so much a punishment as it is the reality that there is no life apart from God, and eternal separation from the only source of life is eternal death. Everything physical will fade away, rust, deteriorate or burn: when only the spiritual is left how impoverished some will be. Every choice we make either affirms or denies the significance of God and the spiritual in our lives; everything hinges on that one vital relationship.

Dear God,
Though I often feel lonely, through faith I acknowledge that You are here with me. God is now here. Your name, I AM, says it all. My life thrives when I abide in vital union with You; when my soul is in harmony with Your Holy Spirit; but when I let distraction, confusion or sin draw me away I perish. Help me to be steadfast and consistent, earnestly pursuing Your face. Remind me of the superiority of spiritual life over physical things. May it please You to sustain this life into eternity.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to
my daily devotional, please forward.
jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com
Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:


http://SaintJamesPoetry.blogspot.com

http://recoverydevotional.blogspot.com/

http://jamesezadventures.blogspot.com/