Are you hungry?

Most of us really enjoy our mealtimes and snacks, not necessarily in that order.  We enjoy the taste of food yet know food is not only to enjoy or survive but to give us the energy to move and do.  But do we go against this reasoning and starve our spirits? 

JESUS said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD” (Matthew 4:4).

GOD is so kind and again I must bless HIM this morning for giving us HIS Word to speak to us and show us the way when things seem so dark.  Rather than scream out “WHY?” I find peace by going to the Word of GOD.

My family just had another upheaval added to the ongoing ones and are part the increasing number of friends who are experiencing one life shattering event on top of another in their personal families, not to mention the wars, unprecedented disasters, plus supply shortages throughout the world. 

Then peace flooded me as I read this morning:

“Though HE cause grief, HE will have compassion according to the abundance of HIS steadfast love; for HE does not afflict from HIS heart (doesn’t want to afflict) or grieve the children of men” (Lamentations 3:32-33 ESV).

“For whom the LORD loves HE chastens and scourges every son whom HE receives” (Hebrews 12:6).

“Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Hebrews 12:11).

What peace it brings to know GOD is in control in this apparent chaos and that HE is at work. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose” (Romans 8:28).

The purpose GOD is achieving is to cause people to reach out to HIM (Acts 17:27) and to conform every believer into the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) of HIS SON JESUS (Romans 8:29).  So although it hurts at times, I can trust HIS love since HE gave HIS only begotten SON to save us from our sins and reconcile us to HIMSELF.

It brings me such peace to know GOD is in control and will achieve HIS purpose/ a good result for us though all we go through.

Hugs

Sharon

What is a woe?

Since a believer’s sin is paid for (Acts 26:18), why not sin?  It is because of woes…What is a woe? … something very bad.

Isaiah 5:18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity (pride), and sin as it were with a cart rope:

If a believer still wants to play with sin let me remind/ warn you that GOD is faithful to discipline everyone HE accepts through JESUS and no discipline at the moment is fun but grievous/ it’s painful, yes it hurts.  But it will produce righteousness in those exercised thereby (Hebrews 12:5-6, 11).

You see SIN separates us from good, for it separates us from GOD (Isaiah 59:2) and only GOD is good (Mark 10:18) and the source of all good (James 1:17).

Job 28:28.. , the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding

From beginning to end GOD inspired men to write the Scriptures so we could know HIM, the only true GOD.  The Bible tells us about the wonder of JESUS, GOD the SON who chose to lay aside HIS glory and rights and come down to earth and took on a human body to do things for humans which they could not do (Philippians 2:5-8).  In a word, JESUS came to undo the works of the devil and free us from the devil’s control and snare (Ephesians 2:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:25-26).

1 John 3:8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of GOD was manifested, that HE might destroy the works of the devil.

The Bible tells us in Ezekiel 28:14-17 how sin began. Pride rose up in the covering angel-Lucifer because of his beauty and this created being thought he could take GOD’s place (Isaiah 14:12-14) and even convinced 1/3 of the angels to join forces with him.

That is how sin began with us humans as well.  Eve listened to that old serpent- the devil (Revelation 20:2) and believed his lies that GOD was keeping good from her and that she could be like GOD (Genesis 3:4-6). 

The whispers of the evil ones-those fiery darts of devil we are told about in Ephesians 6:10-18 ignite and stir up our old proud sin nature and cause us to sin if we are not careful.

We need to remember 1 Corinthians 4:7 that we are and have nothing (not one thing) except that which GOD has given us and since we were given it we have no reason for pride.

Sin, like its originator, comes not except to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).  Don’t even listen to the enemy’s whispers *that seem like your own thoughts* but take those thoughts to JESUS and HE will give you the proper perspective (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Although telling that little lie, looking at what you should not, or that flirtation that excites may seem innocent enough, it will lead to hurt.

Romans 6:16 Don’t you know that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey (whose voice you listen to), his servants you become to obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

BUT GOD!  For GOD so loved that world that HE gave HIS only begotten Son (the only one who just got a body for JESUS is as eternal as GOD the FATHER John 1:1-3,14) that whosoever believes in HIM (JESUS) will have eternal life (John 3:16).

JESUS paid for our sin and IF we come to GOD through HIM (Hebrews 7:25) we have the right to become the sons of GOD (John 1:12).  2 Peter 1:1-4 shows us the way we develop as children of GOD and becoming more like HIM is to learn about GOD the FATHER and our LORD JESUS CHRIST in HIS word and spending time talking with HIM. 

JESUS said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that precedes out of the mouth of GOD.”

Have you had breakfast today?

Hugs

Sharon

Did you miss a feeding?

We celebrated GOD’s goodness to us yesterday (Thanksgiving) with all that good food and wasn’t it delicious!  Therefore, couldn’t help but stop when I read John 6:57 and asked HOLY SPIRIT- “What did in the world did JESUS mean when HE said we were to FEED on HIM John 5:57?”

Before we can FEED on JESUS 1^st we must hear the WORD of CHRIST and believe it (Romans 10:17, John 3:16).  Then we eat when we go to the WORD of GOD to learn about GOD and JESUS CHRIST and HE speaks to our inner man (John 5:39, 2 Peter 1:1-4) and when we go to HIM to get answers (Hebrews 4:14-16).

But JESUS answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD of GOD’ ” (Luke 4:4).

So, we see GOD’s WORD is as necessary and as nourishing for our inner man as physical food is for our bodies.

In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD(John 1:1)

And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld HIS glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the FATHER, full of grace and truth (John 1:14)

            The WORD is eternal. The WORD is JESUS CHRIST.

For the bread of GOD is HE (JESUS) who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (John 6:33)

            That is why JESUS (the WORD) could say,

As the living FATHER sent ME, and I live because of the FATHER, so he who FEEDS on ME will live (abundantly John 10:10) because HE FEEDS on ME (John 6:57).

We took our 1^st bite when we believed and called on the name of the LORD and were saved (Romans 10:13,17).  We continue to FEED on JESUS through our talking with HIM and HE speaks to our hearts and by reading the WORD of GOD and it becomes alive and fits our situation so that we can live the abundant life HE promises.

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2) one way to do that is to take one of the Bible verses in this devotion and look it up and ask GOD to explain it to you and then you might even memorize it for GOD’s WORD keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11).

For the WORD of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

In simple terms we FEED on JESUS when we look to HIM, talk to HIM and especially when we read the Bible. 

Most likely you have eaten something today and your bodies are digesting it.  But have you made time to FEED on JESUS so that your inner man (that part that never dies) might be nourished and grow in the likeness of JESUS (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 John 3:1-2, 2 Peter 1:4)?

Hope so.

Sharon