Month: December 2010

Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires —Galatians 5:24 We seem to easily recognize that as followers of Christ we need to abandon sin. The more difficult truth is that it is not just a question of giving up […]

By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified —Hebrews 10:14 Perfection means completeness. We need forgiveness to be complete, to be what God intended us to be. Forgiveness is the door to the life we are meant to have. Why does […]

Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation . . . —2 Corinthians 7:10   Everyone must have a real encounter with sin, recognizing what it is, not just a “bad thing” but an offense against God. Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon […]

I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth —Genesis 9:13 It is the will of God that human beings should get into a right-standing relationship with Him, and His covenants are […]

We are here for a purpose. To be useful, we need to be set aside for that purpose.  Salvation and sanctification have to do with that setting aside. Satan doesn’t want us to fulfill our purpose; one of his great gambits is to keep us […]

To him who overcomes . . . —Revelation 2:7 As I work on this devotional I am listening to a high school football play off. It’s a war. If we experience life we learn early that much about life is a war, a continuing struggle. […]

My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power . . . —1 Corinthians 2:4 Human wisdom is grounded in experience. That’s why “older and wiser” run together. Generally those who have […]

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect . . . —Philippians 3:12 It is a difficult, but crucial point, to recognize that God doesn’t want to make us perfect — God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself.  What shines forth […]