Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 28:25-28
Prov 28:25-28
25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. 26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. 27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. 28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.
John 13:35
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Being a Christian is being a disciple or imitator of Christ. This is why those who followed Jesus in the early days were most often referred to as disciples and those who followed the way. Jesus is the way, the only way to the Father. By his resurrection he has opened the way into the eternal home with God and we are to follow him.
This means that we change who we are from within when we begin to follow him. This is why he said we must be born again. We are renewed by the Holy Spirit, a complete transformation of our nature, when we are baptized into Christ. We are to be partakers of the divine nature, not just “members” of a church. We are to be filled with his love which means that we love in action, not just in words. To love is to be kind. Love is seen in patience. Love is shown when we are not rude or boastful. Love is never jealous or self-seeking but always looks out for the interests of others, even above our own. God is love and we are to be like him!
This is not something we do just once or twice a week when we meet with other believers. Jesus told his disciples that their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the conservative religious leaders, the teachers, the preachers, the elders and they never missed a synagogue assembly. But they had not changed from within, so they were dreadfully lacking in God’s sight!
O Lord God, help me become what you want me to become so that I will do what you want me to do. Give me a pure heart, filled with your love. Keep me from ever being selfish or jealous but to always look out for the good of others and to live in a way that will honor you. I ask you to be with those who are recovering from surgeries and give them healing. Give peace to those who have lost those they love. Be with those who are suffering in so many ways and increase their faith so they will trust in you. Use me to help them. I pray in Jesus’ name.
Robert
