Little Right Wrong - Daily Devotion

Into All the WorldOnly the gospel provides the hope every human being needs, and our lives should proclaim it.

Paul described the church as “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). The truth it guards, however, cannot stay within its four walls but must be proclaimed to an unbelieving world. Jesus considered this so important that His last words to the apostles were, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).
Do you understand how important it is that we obey this command? Many institutions do the important work of feeding the hungry and helping the needy. But the church has the additional, unique calling to share the gospel of Christ. It is the single most important message anyone can hear—God uses the good news of salvation to rescue people from eternal condemnation and transfer them into His kingdom.
The gospel is relevant to every age, need, and season of life. It contains simple truths that the youngest or most uneducated can understand, and it’s superior to all other philosophies and religions. Our message is absolutely sure, with eternal truths that need no correction or alteration. What’s more, it reveals the only path that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you examine the message that your life and words proclaim. Only the gospel of Christ saves.

We can trust God to answer with what is best, even when it's not what we requested.

1 John 5:14-15Prayer is the Christian’s most powerful God-given means for effecting change. Yet we’re often unsure whether the Lord will answer our appeals. Today’s verses assure us that He hears and grants our petitions when they’re in accordance with His will. But knowing God’s will can seem perplexing—we aren’t always sure whether our requests fit that condition. Here’s what we do know: Anything that God commands us in the Scriptures is His will. This includes everything pertaining to our sanctification, holiness, and spiritual growth (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). And there are other attitudes and behaviors God forbids in His Word. For example, we can’t expect Him to answer any request motivated by pride, jealousy, selfish ambition, or sinful desires (James 4:3-5). As for insignificant matters (like what to wear or eat) or issues of conscience, such things are left to our discretion (Romans 14:1-23). But what about petitions that don’t fit these categories? When we’re uncertain whether our request is according to God’s will, we must submit it Him, release our grip on the outcome we want, and trust the Lord to answer rightly. Remember, our confidence is not in the answer we want, but in the God whose knowledge, wisdom, and power are perfect, infinite, and eternal.

1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

The word Lord should not be used carelessly. It’s unacceptable to speak of Jesus as Lord in our conversations and prayers but then to contradict the claim by defying His will and His Word. A lot of believers probably think that statement doesn’t apply to them. But we should all realize resistance can be subtle—perhaps by qualifying our obedience with conditions like “I’ll follow the Lord if ...” or “I want to do what is right, but ...”

When Jesus is identified as Lord in the Scriptures, it signifies that He is the sovereign ruler over life and all creation. When we assert that He’s our Lord, we’re claiming that He is our Savior and Master, which means we submit to Him in all things. If we attest to this verbally but don’t actually do what Jesus says, then are we really serving Him?

None of us can obey Christ perfectly, but once we’re born again, submitting to Him should be our heart’s desire and our practice. After all, He purchased us with His precious blood and now rules over us for our good. So, though we may struggle at times, our lives should be characterized by obedience to our Lord because we are His.

Luke 6:46-49
New International Version
The Wise and Foolish Builders
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

When we know the Lord and realize how much He has done for us, we can't help but love and praise Him!

Psalm 145:1-21

The Lord described David as a man after His own heart, who would do all His will (Acts 13:22). What does that look like? How can we know whether this characterizes us?

The answer is found in David’s psalms. The Lord was the priority of his life and the object of his trust and worship. His love for God overflowed in his words of praise. In fact, this description applies to anyone whose heart resembles the Lord’s.

In Psalm 63:3, David said, “Because Your favor is better than life, my lips will praise you.” Is this how you feel toward the Lord? Do you love Him with the same unashamed enthusiasm David exhibited? Of course, some people are more prone to fervent displays of worship than others, but our hearts should all be motivated by the same kind of love and devotion.

The Lord is worthy of praise. He is our King, our Protector, and our refuge. What’s more, He saved us from condemnation and eternal death! Since God deserves to receive praise offerings from His people, let’s give Him the glory that is rightly His.

Human logic may be attractive, but only God’s truth has the power to change hearts permanently.

Every church needs believers who are gifted to teach. In his letter to Titus, the apostle Paul urges teachers to “proclaim the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). When the Word of God is taught with accuracy, people are transformed by what they hear and behave accordingly.

That’s why it’s essential for pastors and teachers to be led by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, not by their own ideas. Human reasoning may seem appealing, but it has no power to permanently change lives for the better. Only Scripture taught accurately can do that...

Since God is faithful to equip us, we don't have to fear difficulties in our path.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6

Take Heed To Your Spirit

As believers, we should develop the habit of speaking words that uplift and edify others.

Also today... a little market chat, look into cryptocurrency and gold and silver.