4-12-2025 Devotion

 We have been looking at striving for personal holiness. From Jonathan Edwards' resolutions we find some guidance to achieve this type of holy walk. We have learned that we are to do all for the glory of God and put away all sin. This may involve a fight against inner corruption. One segment of American Christianity has a gnostic base; by this I refer to those that believe that their spirit is good because it has been renewed but their flesh is corrupt. The thinking goes that they can do whatever in the flesh that they want because God understands that it is just their flesh. This type of thinking is dangerous and un-Biblical. 

 

Edwards understood this and the following resolution explains the importance of fighting: "Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be. (Resolution 56)." This means that we are to fight when our corruption seeks to sin. We are to fight the way an athlete might struggle in a wrestling match. Edwards exhorts to fight even if you fail. Never give up; never back down; and never forget that you are to be striving for holiness, i.e. being separated to God in every aspect of your life.

 

Today, remember to fight against anything that would tempt you to sin. Walk in love and resist the devil. Watch and pray to avoid temptation. This is a battle that you can win with God's help. Seek Him today for His grace to make this victory a way of life for you.

4-12-2025 Devotion

 We have been looking at striving for personal holiness. Jonathan Edwards' resolutions provide guidance to achieve this objective. The first section has focused on doing all for the glory of God. The second section of resolutions emphasize putting away all sin. You can either have God or sin, but you can't have both. Think about a fork in the road; one fork is the way of holiness with Jesus Christ and the other path is paved with the world and sin. You have a choice; but you can't do both. The true child of God will choose the holiness path and follow Christ. That is to be our destiny and desire.

 

Edwards stated the following: "Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722. (Resolution 37)." This resolution will cause us to keep a close watch over our actions by daily considering which path we are on. Should we see that we have left the path of holiness in some way, we are to go back to where we made the error, repent and head down the highway of holiness. This daily review would prevent us from traveling too far down the wrong path.

 

Today, examine your walk. Which path are you on? Do you need to repent? Is all well with your soul? Wherever you are today, look honestly at your life to make sure that you are on the right path. Make sure you are on the highway of holiness with Jesus!

4-10-2025 Devotion

 We are looking at striving for personal holiness. Hebrews 12:14 says: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord...." Yesterday we looked at one of Jonathan Edwards' resolutions that focused on doing all for the glory of God. We should want every part of our lives to be fully consecrated to God and bringing Him glory by how we live.

 

A second resolution by Edwards that focused on the glory of God was: "Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it. (Resolution 4). We are to promote the glory of God and further, not to allow behavior in our presence that does not glorify God if we can. We are to speak against behavior that brings a reproach to the gospel. Have you ever known someone who professed to be a Christian, yet they practiced sin and thought they were spiritually OK? It can be very difficult and a challenge to approach someone who is in sin and confront them. However, we only have two choices: confront or depart. If we are going to confront, it should be done after much prayer. The confrontation must be for the person's own good as opposed to revenge or arrogance. The approach must be in love; and that love on your part brings glory to God. Understand that when you walk in love, you are bringing glory to God. 

 

Today be aware of your bringing glory to God by what you do, what you don't do, and by what you allow or don't allow. You have many ways to demonstrate God's glory today. So walk in love knowing that God is blessed by your striving for holiness. 

4-9-2025 Devotion

 We are going to spend some time focusing on personal holiness. Hebrews 12:14 says: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord...." The word "follow" means to strive or pursue with vigor. Holiness is something that we are to be grasping and reaching for. Now some have taken holiness and reduced it down to a set of rules that involve how you dress and what electronics you have, i.e. television, movies or Internet. Holiness is so much more than man made rules; it is being separated to God in every aspect of our lives. We want to make sure that every part of our life is set apart to Him. When we do that, we are pursuing holiness.

 

Jonathan Edwards was a great preacher and theologian in the 1700's in America. Many consider him to be the best theologian born on American soil. He developed 70 resolutions to keep him striving for holiness. Over the next several days we will be looking at some of those resolutions. I have divided them into 6 categories. The first section is whatever you do, do it for the Glory of God. 1 Corinthian 10:31 says: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Edwards' resolution number 1 said: "Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever. 

Edwards wanted every part of his life to bring glory to God. How does your life bring glory to God? Does it bring glory to God? As we strive for personal holiness, let us commit to do all for His glory. Now we have a part to play in this striving; however, never forget that it is His grace that makes it possible. Today, thank Him for His grace and reach with all your might for holiness, i.e. a separated life that brings glory to the One who saved you!!

4-8-2025 Devotion

 Yesterday we looked at Romans 8:37, which says: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We saw that a conqueror was one that had gained the victory through Jesus Christ. But the verse says "we are more than conquerors." What does it mean to be more than something? The Preachers Sermon and Outline Bible explains it as follows: "No matter the circumstances and their severity, Christ will carry us through all, strengthening and encouraging us. We cannot lose, no matter the severity of the situation. Christ loves us and is going to look after and take care of us. The believer can rest assured, Christ protects him from the severest circumstances...."

Being more than a conqueror means that you can't lose. Think about an athletic event that the outcome was predetermined. If the outcome is determined then you know what is going to happen in the end. The same is true for us; the outcome has been determined. You can't lose with Jesus Christ. Nothing will be able to separate you from His powerful hand to hold you tight in the midst of troubles. He is the reason you can't lose and not any effort or merit from yourself. That is comforting news because if it depended on you, you might mess it up and lose. But you can't mess it up if you just follow Him!

 

Today know that you have victory because Jesus Christ won the victory for the Father and you are the beneficiary. Enjoy that victory by thanking the Father for loving you enough to send Jesus to die for your sins; thank Jesus for dying for you; and, thank the Holy Spirit for making Him real in your heart and granting you faith and repentance. You have much to be grateful for today. Let it show!

4-7-2025 Devotion

 We have seen that God is on the side of the believer (Romans 8:31). Since He is on our side, we are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37 states: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? The phrase "more than conquerors" is in the present tense and indicative mood. This means that Paul is describing a continuous statement of fact. We are in fact "more than conquerors." Do you feel like a conqueror? If you don't, that is OK because your feelings are irrelevant. Like in a court room, if evidence is ruled irrelevant, it means that it will not be considered because it has no bearing on the issue before the court. In the same way, your feelings about being a conqueror are irrelevant because you are already a conqueror.

 

Albert Barnes New Testament Commentary explains: "We gain the victory. That is, they have not power to, subdue us; to alienate our love and confi- dence; to produce apostasy. We are the victors, not they. Our faith is not destroyed; our love is not diminished; our hope is not blasted. But it is not simple victory; it is not mere life, and continuance of what we had before; it is more than simple triumph; it augments our faith, increases our strength, expands our love to Christ. The word used here is a strong, emphatic expression, such as the apostle Paul often employs, (comp. 2Co 4:17) and which is used with great force and appropriateness here."
 

Today, regardless of how you feel, you are a conqueror in Jesus Christ. You have the victory because He has already won the victory for you. Disregard your feelings and focus on Christ's victory until it becomes real to you. Christ has in fact won the victory and you are a beneficiary! 

Encore presentation: Understanding the Spirit Filled Life

 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ebnn7-1740d7d