Serving Jesus Christ

Welcome to Saturday, August 28th!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

The Race Is One

Thanks for listening!

Would you mind passing on this podcast link if you know of someone who would benefit from this devotional?

If you desire further information, you may request it from [email protected].

Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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Welcome to Friday, August 27th!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

Doers Of The Word

Thanks for listening!

Would you mind passing on this podcast link if you know of someone who would benefit from this devotional?

If you desire further information, you may request it from [email protected].

Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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Welcome to Thursday, August 26th!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

Weeds

Thanks for listening!

Would you mind passing on this podcast link if you know of someone who would benefit from this devotional?

If you desire further information, you may request it from [email protected].

Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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Welcome to Wednesday, August 25th!

This episode of The 7-Minute Cross Talk Bible Study is titled:

Obedience

For this Bible Study, we are considering the words of this week’s Old Testament Lesson - Deuteronomy 4:1-9.

If you desire further information, it may be requested from [email protected].

If the link to download the worksheet is not present within your podcast feed it may be downloaded at: https://servingjesuschrist.libsyn.com/

Scripture Quotations: New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).

This podcast is a ministry outreach of Our Savior's Lutheran in Argyle, Minnesota - United States.

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In this week's Old Testament Lesson, God is warning the Israelites through Moses of the consequences of disobedience. This new generation should take a lesson from those who disobeyed and paid the consequences.

Think of this in terms of you and me.

As long as we are on this earth, we are to faithfully worship the Lord and live a holy, distinctive life. We are also to consistently bear a strong testimony to all those around us.

It is only as we live in obedience that we bear a strong testimony to the world around us. If we live in partial or full disobedience our neighbors receive a tainted view of the Christian faith.

Welcome to Wednesday, August 25th!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

Decisions

Thanks for listening!

If you desire further information, you may request it from [email protected].

Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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Welcome to Tuesday, August 24th!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

Preparations

Thanks for listening!

If you desire further information, you may request it from [email protected].

Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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Welcome to Monday, August 23rd!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

Why Am I Here?

Thanks for listening!

If you desire further information, you may request it from [email protected].

Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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Welcome to Sunday, August 22nd!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

Where's My Armor?

Thanks for listening!

If you desire further information, you may request it from [email protected].

Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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Why do we need the armor? We need the armor to protect us against our enemy.

1 Peter 5:8 NAS95

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Our enemy, the devil, is likened to a lion with an insatiable appetite. How can we stand against such an enemy?

By putting on the full armor of God.

What do we need to stand firm against?

The schemes of the devil.

To what lengths will the devil go to capture you?

He will do everything he can to deceive and capture you.

Satan will present something to the eyes or ears that is so appealing; the believer is doomed unless he has clothed himself with the whole armor of God.

In this episode of Serving Jesus Christ, Pastor Swanson shares a Sunday message titled,

Where's My Battle Armor?

Most of us harbor the thought that the Christian life should be more trouble-free. . . that we shouldn’t need to worry about any enemies of our soul.

That would be great, wouldn’t it? A day is coming when this will be true, but for now, as human beings living in this fallen world, we must deal with a seriously hungry adversary.

1 Peter 5:8 NAS95

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil,
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

I have noticed that many Christians do not understand the intent and capabilities of their adversary the Devil. It is almost as if they do not believe that the devil is real.

They do not take the time to put on the armor of God.

Throughout this letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul has carefully crafted and established what our position is in Christ. There is no question that the Apostle Paul desired the very best for the believers at Ephesus.

Paul wraps up his letter to the Ephesians by expressing his desire that they, and other Christians, would be successful in their Christian walk. He shares the tools. . . that is, the armor that God has provided.

If you desire further information, it may be obtained at [email protected].

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If the link to download the worksheet is not present within your podcast feed, it may be downloaded at: https://servingjesuschrist.libsyn.com/

Scripture Quotations: New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).

The music "O For A Thousand Tongues" is arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. The music "Take My Life" and "It is Well" was arranged and played by Greg Howlett. Used By Permission.

Welcome to Saturday, August 21st!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

Vigilant and Expectant

Thanks for listening!

If you desire further information, you may request it from [email protected].

Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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Vigilant and Expectant

How often do we think about the Lord's return?

With all of the turmoil in the world, it's not hard to envision the passing of time, that we are undoubtedly living in the end times.

However, too often, we as believers live with an air of complacency. Why is that, do you think? Is it because we hear so much about the Second Coming? Have the things of this world taken precedence?

Have we fallen into the trap of believing that since He has not returned for 2,000 years the odds are against His imminent return?

Vigilant means keeping careful watch, and expectant means showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen.

Are we keeping careful watch? Are we excited about the imminent return of Jesus Christ?

From a human standpoint, Christ has delayed His coming longer than many thought He would. Why might that be? Only God knows, but Scripture does declare that God's purposes must be completely fulfilled and that He is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish.

2 Peter 3:8-10 N5AS9

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  [9]  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  [10]  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Though I mentioned earlier that we are to be vigilant and expectant, this does not mean that we should just sit and wait. We must be constantly focused on the business at hand.

We must not be erratic in our Christian commitment. We must live in the  Word of God and pray with a desire to know Him more and more.

What is the business we are to be focused upon?

It is living out our faith and telling people about Jesus Christ.

If the Lord can return at any moment, like a thief in the night, then the lost are short of time. Since we are entrusted with the message of salvation, we must see the lost and take the message of salvation to them.

We must not fall into the trap that there is always tomorrow to do something for the Kingdom of God. There is always tomorrow to fully devote oneself to living as disciples of Jesus. However, our readiness consists not in just idly staring into Heaven but in actively doing those things that are pleasing to Him.

While watching the news these past several days, seeing the incredible evil in the world, seeing how God's people are being treated, caused me to think His return is imminent.

However, I must not interpret this thought as an excuse to sit and do nothing more. The timing of God's return is up to Him. My task of living for the Lord and sharing the Good News remains.

Let's Pray,

Gracious Heavenly Father,

We look forward to Your return when You gather up all those who have loved You and served You in this lifetime.

Help us to never be so heavenly-minded that we are no earthly good.

We pray for boldness.

In the Name of Jesus,

Amen!