Highway in the Wilderness

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 18)

This plan provides a good balance between Old Testament readings and New Testament Readings because it guides you through the New Testament twice as you read through the Old Testament once. To allow time for reflection, it follows a two-year plan.

Every week I will post the readings for that week and add the daily devotionals as time permits. If you wish to print a copy of the plan without the devotions, you can find copies of it in pdf format at the link below. I like to print and use them as bookmarks in my Bible.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

April 30 (Read: Ex. 5 & 6)

“Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?’” (Ex. 5:22 NAS)

God rarely does things the way we expect Him to. What is our response when He appears to have failed us? Either we question whether we heard correctly, or we begin to doubt that God will do what we asked for. Many of God’s promises are conditional on obedience and faith, so our shortcomings could be a problem. What I have come to understand, however, is that even with our weaknesses, God is merciful and faithful. What we need is faith and patience to see His promises fulfilled (Heb. 6:12). With faith, we may immediately receive an impression in our heart that we have received the answer from God, but it may not be manifested right away. In those situations, I remind myself that Daniel fasted and prayed for three weeks before the angel Gabriel appeared to him with the answer. God had sent the answer as soon as Daniel began to pray, but the principality over Persia opposed Gabriel (Dan. 10:3,12,13). Daniel’s experience should help us understand that the enemy still attempts to prevent the answer to our prayers from reaching us. Sometimes we must continue to fast and pray so that the enemy can be defeated. At other times, we only need to wait patiently until the rearranging of some circumstances are completed. We should not be surprised, either, if our circumstances get more challenging after we pray. This is simply evidence that the enemy is threatened because God is answering our prayers.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for placing me in Christ, where all the promises of God are “yes”. Angels ascend and descend as messengers on my behalf because I am a member of the body of Christ, the house of God. Help me, Father, to receive all that is needed for life and godliness, through patience and faith in Your promises. You are always faithful to watch over Your word to perform it. (2Cor. 1:20; Gen. 28:12; 2Pe. 1:3,4; Jer. 1:12)

May 1 (Read: Ex. 7, 8 & 9)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 2 (Read: Ex. 10, 11 & 12)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 3 (Read: Ex. 13, 14 & 15)

“And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” (Ex. 13:21 NAS).

We know that God lives in the hearts of believers. This is what we call His “abiding presence”. There is also what we call God’s “manifested presence”. Because God is present, we can open our hearts to Him, and He will manifest Himself to us (Jn. 14:21-23). For the Israelites, God manifested His presence through angels. An angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush (Acts 7:30). The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire involved the work of an angel (Ex. 14:19). In the New Covenant, we have something far greater than angels; God manifested His presence through His Son (Heb. 1:1-4). After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to live in us. As believers, we have the “abiding presence” of the Spirit, but we can also experience the “manifested presence” of the Holy Spirit. Too many Christians are satisfied with just knowing that they have been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). There is so much more that God wants to do among us through His Spirit. In the early church, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit was not limited to the apostles. “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8). The Scriptures instruct us to “pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts” (1Cor. 14:1). As we do this, let us also remember that angels are minister of God (Heb. 1:7). As lovers of God, we should expect God to manifest His presence to us, both through the gifts of the Spirit (1Cor. 12:7) and through the ministry of angels (Rev. 22:9).

Father, You are the same God Who delivered the sons of Israel from Egypt through the ministry of angels. You also anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Thank You for sending me the same Holy Spirit. I yield my spirit, soul and body to You, Holy Spirit, that God’s grace may be manifested through my life. Thank You also, Father, that You send angels on assignments to work with me to extend Your kingdom upon this earth. (Acts 10:38)

May 4 (Read: Ex. 16, 17 & 18)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 5 (Read: Ex. 19, 20 & 21)

“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Ex. 19:5,6 NAS)

Jesus told His disciples that His food was to do the will of the Father (Jn. 4:34). We also are fulfilled by being about our Father’s business (Lu. 2:49). Each of us has a calling; we are to complete the works that “God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10). Some of these are specific, but most are general in nature. Every believer has a priestly ministry. We can stand in the gap for others, asking for God’s mercy because of the blood of Jesus (Ez. 22:30). We can also offer spiritual sacrifices. This includes offering praise and thanksgiving to God, and sharing our possessions with others (Heb. 13:15,16). The first sacrifice we should give is the surrender of our own life to serve Him (Rom. 12:1,2). We are set apart, sanctified for His use (2Tim. 2:20,21). By faith, we serve one another in love (Gal. 5:6,13). It is only as we obey God in a general way that we will be directed by the Spirit to serve in more specific ways.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for anointing me with Your Holy Spirit to serve as a royal priest. Your presence in me enables me to offer spiritual sacrifice to our Father. I continue to offer myself as a living sacrifice, to love God and my neighbour, which is my reasonable act of worship. Thank You for Your help, Holy Spirit, to serve with the gift of grace that God has given me. Help me to be sensitive to Your promptings, as You also lead me to minister grace to others in specific ways. (Acts 1:8; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 12:1,2; 1Pe. 4:10,11).

May 6 (Read: Ex. 22 & 23)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 17)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

April 23 (Read: Ps. 42, 43 & 44)

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Ps. 42:5 NIV)

There are times in our spiritual walk when it seems that God is far away. Our soul is dry because God seems to have forsaken us (vs. 9). In such times, we should awaken on the inside. “Deep calls to deep at the sound of Thy waterfall.” (Ps. 42:7). From our innermost man, the man of the spirit, we should command our soul to cast off discouragement (2Cor. 4:16). “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him.” Our spirit man is willing to praise God, even if our flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41). We should offer the sacrifice of praise, regardless of how we feel (Heb. 13:15). What may be a sacrifice for our soul, is a pleasure to our spirit man. Stepping out in faith, we can thank God that all things will work for our good because He is bigger than our circumstances. Faith praises God for His faithfulness, even before we see the victory.

Help me, Holy Spirt, to bring my soul under subjection to my spirit man. You are faithful to Your promise, Lord, to never leave me or forsake me. Father, You will make all things work for my good, because I love You and am called according to Your purpose. I choose, therefore, to praise and thank You, regardless of how I feel. (2Cor. 10:5; Heb. 13:5; Rom. 8:28).

April 24 (Read: Ps. 45 & 46)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 25 (Read: Ps. 47, 48 & 49)

“Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” (Ps. 48:2 NAS)

God is establishing a dwelling place for Himself amid His people. What a wonder that is! Paul spoke of it as a mystery that God planned from the beginning of creation. The two (Christ and the church) shall become one flesh. (Eph. 5:31,32). Even when God led the sons of Israel out of Egypt, Moses prophesied about it. “You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, the place, Lord, which You have made as Your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, which Your hands have established.” (Ex. 15:17). Mount Zion is something we are going to (Isa. 35:10) and something we are becoming (1Pe. 2:5). When God creates a new heaven and a new earth, this holy city will reflect the glory of God. There will be no temple in the city, “for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple”. (Rev. 21:22). Since we have such a hope, let us travel the Highway of Holiness to Zion (Isa. 35:8,10). Let us prepare the way of the Lord (Isa. 40:3). Let us ready ourselves for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for choosing me to be in Your Bride. I long to be with You forever in Your heavenly city, the New Jerusalem. Thank You for Your help, Holy Spirit, as I follow the Way of Holiness. The fine linen I will wear at the marriage are the righteous deeds that You are working through me. (Rev. 19:8).

April 26 (Read: Ps. 50 & 51)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 27 (Read: Ps. 52, 53 & 54)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 28 (Read: Ex. 1 & 2)

“But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.” (Ex. 1:12 NAS)

Did affliction cause the sons of Israel to increase in number? If so, can we make a comparison to the growth of the Church? As we read the account in the Book of Exodus, we find that the sons of Israel had grown in numbers even before they were oppressed (vs. 10). This was because of God’s faithfulness to the promise He made to Abraham. Because of their afflictions, the sons of Israel cried out to God for deliverance (Ex. 3:7). Their increase in numbers added to their afflictions, which caused them to cry out even more to God. They needed to increase in numbers so God could accomplish His purposes for them as a nation.

In the Early Church, when the leaders of the Jews persecuted the apostles, the believers cried out to God for more boldness and power, which caused the church to increase (Act 4:29,30). Persecutions after Stephen’s death caused the believers to spread out away from Jerusalem, so in this sense it did cause the church to grow (Acts 8:1). Can growth occur, however, without persecutions? Absolutely! After the conversion of Saul, “the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.” (Acts 9:31). What causes the Church to grow is the fear of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the people crying out to God.

Father, when the Early Church cried out to you for more boldness and power, they were filled once again with the Holy Spirit. They preached with boldness and miracles, and abundant grace was upon them. I open my heart again to Your presence in me, Holy Spirit. Thank You for an abundance of grace. (Acts 4:33; 1Cor. 12:4)

April 29 (Read: Ex. 3 & 4)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 16)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

April 16 (Read: 1Cor. 12, 13 & 14)

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, endures all things.” (1Cor. 13:4-6 NAS)

It is a good practice to regularly meditate on this description of agape love. Not only is it valuable instruction for how we should live, but it is also an excellent description of the nature of God, because God is love (1Jn. 4:16). Try reading this passage as a description of God’s thoughts toward you. He is patient with you. He believes in you. He does not keep a record of the wrong things you have done but He forgives you. He does not seek a relationship with you for selfish reasons; He desires to bless you and to show you kindness. Many of us have formed negative opinions about ourselves through the experiences of life. If we take time to meditate on how God sees us, it will transform how we see ourselves.

Also, if we meditate on this passage as a description of God’s nature, it will also transform our relationship with Him. We should not allow past relationships with our earthly parents, siblings, or friends influence our relationship with God. If we truly have come to know and believe the love that God has for us, we will have no difficulty in trusting Him (1Jn. 4:16).

Thank You, Father, for loving me as a loving Father should. Forgive me for not trusting You with all my heart. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving me as a true Brother, for paying the price for my salvation. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being my true Friend, remaining with me even if You know everything about me. Help me, Lord, to love You the way You have loved me.

April 17 (Read: 1Cor. 15 & 16)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 18 (Read: 2Cor. 1, 2 & 3)

“Not that we are competent to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2Cor. 3:5,6 NIV)

Each believer has received grace from God to serve as His minister. We do not all have the same gifts and ministries, but we all have a special function in Christ. “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1Pe. 4:10). When we are called upon to serve, it is important to place our confidence in God Who has made us competent to minister. We must not think too highly of ourselves but recognize, with sound judgment, that God has placed each of us in the Body with a special function, which we fulfill by faith (Rom. 12:3).

When we first attempt to minister, we do not see ourselves as competent. Then, as we walk out in faith, we begin to see the Spirit working through us. Our ability to administer His grace grows as we continue to trust Him. After a measure of success, however, it is easy to fall into pride. God will resist us if we get proud, but He will continue to release His grace through us if we walk in humility (Jas. 4:7). We must always remind ourselves that we are not competent in ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

Thank You, Father, for placing me in Christ with a special gift of grace that fits my natural personality and talents. I am fearfully and wonderfully made! As an act of worship, I yield my spirit, soul, and body to You as a living and holy sacrifice. You have made me competent to minister. (1Cor. 12:18; Ps. 139:14; Rom. 12:1).

April 19 (Read: 2Cor. 4, 5 & 6)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 20 (Read: 2Cor. 7, 8 & 9)

“As it is written, ‘He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness abides forever.’” (2Cor. 9:9 NAS)

As restoration occurs in the Church, God is bringing back to the awareness of believers some forgotten revelations of truth. Too often, immature Christians will receive these principles with selfish motives. As a result, the message is rejected because of how it is applied. This is the case with teachings on faith and prosperity. Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, addresses one of these issues. While encouraging the believers to complete what they had determined to do in giving, he asked that it be a “bountiful gift, not affected by covetousness” (2Cor. 9:5). How often have we heard people encouraged to give finances so they could receive more finances? Is this not covetousness? Paul tells us the correct way to receive the promises of God for prosperity. He relates giving to sowing and reaping in righteousness. Giving as an act of righteousness will yield a harvest of righteousness. It will result in producing thanksgiving to God (vs. 10 & 11). There is nothing wrong with believing that God will bless us with seed for sowing and for our needs. What is important is that we pursue righteousness, not the things of this world. “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” (2Cor. 9:10). If we have sufficient finances, we will have enough for every good deed (vs. 8).

Father, Your Word says that the man who fears You is blessed and his righteousness endures because he is gracious. Thank You for blessing me with abundance so I can have enough for every good work. My success is not measured by an abundance of riches, but by an abundance of good deeds. I choose to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. (Ps. 112; Matt. 6:33).

April 21 (Read: 2Cor. 10 & 11)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 22 (Read: 2Cor. 12 & 13)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 15)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

April 9 (Read: 2Thess. 1,2 & 3)

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.” (2Thess. 1:3 NAS)

Paul praised the Thessalonians for their faith and love. Both are very important for believers. What matters in Christ is faith working by love (Gal. 5:6). Love is what makes faith fruitful. But what if we have little or no faith? Can we effectively walk in love without faith? Our human ability to love is quite limited. If we want to walk in God’s kind of love, we need the help of the Holy Spirit, which we obtain through faith. I get concerned about the condition of the Church when I see how little we exercise real faith. We talk about it, but when it comes to prayer, what we do mostly is hope, not believe. If we find it difficult to obey God’s commandment to love, maybe the area to focus on is faith. Jesus expressed His concern for the condition of faith in the last days after telling a parable about a persistent widow. He asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Lu. 18:8). The need for persistence in prayer is to overcome the enemy, who always opposes the answer to our prayers. When Daniel was fasting and praying, it took twenty-one days for the angel to appear with the answer, even though God had sent it on the first day. The angel was opposed by the principalities and powers of the air. (Dan. 10:12,13). The measure of faith we have all been given must be enlarged in us (Rom. 12:3). The way to enlarge faith is to use it. We can ask in faith, without doubting, if we consider the goodness of God because He “gives to all men generously and without reproach.” (Jas. 1:5).

Help me, Lord, to grow in faith. Through Your precious and magnificent promises, You have already granted me everything I need for life and godliness. Help me to receive these through faith and patience. (2Pe. 1:3,4; Heb. 6:12).

April 10 (Read: Gal. 1,2 & 3)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 11 (Read: Gal. 4, 5 & 6)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 12 (Read: 1Cor. 1,2 & 3)

“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1Cor. 2:2 NAS)

The focus of Paul’s preaching was to see Christ formed in believers. He was not looking for numbers; he was looking for Christ in them. Before we can see the resurrected life of Christ manifested through us, we need to identify with His death. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (Jn. 12:24). When we are born again spiritually, we are baptized into Christ by the Spirit to become united with Him in His death and His resurrection (1Cor. 12:13). “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3). This is a spiritual truth that will transform our soul, if we believe. “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him…Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:8,11). As we stand on this truth by faith, the Spirit helps us to put to death everything that belongs to the old life (Rom. 8:13). We willingly accept that living the crucified life will bring some suffering, knowing that those who suffer with Him will be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17). Because of all He has done for us, we offer to Him our body as a living sacrifice and submit to the renewing of our mind (Rom. 12:1,2). The life of Christ is manifested through us as we continue to live crucified to this world (2Cor. 4:10). Let us now declare in faith this familiar verse:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longe I who live, but Christ live in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.” (Gal. 2:20).

April 13 (Read: 1Cor. 4,5 & 6)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 14 (Read: 1Cor. 8 & 9)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 15 (Read: 1Cor. 10 & 11)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 14)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

April 2 (Read: Prov. 6)

“For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life.” (Prov. 6:23 NAS)

If accepting correction is such an important aspect of our walk with the Lord, what happens if we resist it? It is quite normal for natural people to resist correction, but we cannot be spiritual if we do this. The simplest way to recognize how we respond to correction from the Lord is to examine how we react to correction from people. Even though the enemy works through people to defeat us, the Lord also works through people to edify us. We must be able to discern between the two, holding fast to what is good, and rejecting what is evil. If we can do this effectively, our reaction is healthy. If, on the other hand, we react negatively to most correction, then there is something in our soul that must be transformed. The root of this type of problem is pride, but what makes it a stronghold in us? One common reason is a tendency to punish ourselves for wrong behaviour. Noone likes punishment, so if we punish ourselves before accepting forgiveness, we will resist correction. This is something that needed to change in my own thinking. The Lord taught me to accept His forgiveness and His discipline rather than my own punishment. When we punish ourselves, we act as our own judge instead of letting God be our judge. Paul said, “I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.” (1Cor. 4:4). Whatever the reason might be for resisting correction, it is imperative that we tear down this stronghold in our lives.

Father, in view of Your great mercy, I present my body to You as a living sacrifice. I choose to reject the world’s way of thinking and commit to being transformed by the renewing of my mind according to Your truth. Help me, Lord, to accept Your correction as a way of life.

April 3 (Read: Prov. 7)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 4 (Read: Prov. 8)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 5 (Read: Prov. 9)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 6 (Read: Prov. 10)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 7 (Read: 1Thess. 1,2 & 3)

“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thess. 1:2,3 NIV)

Those who bear fruit for the Kingdom are those who receive the word with a good and honest heart and hold fast to it with perseverance (Lu. 8:15). When the seed of the word is mixed with faith, it becomes fruitful (Heb. 4:2). The Apostle Paul was emphatic that salvation is by faith but he also was taught that salvation should produce good works (Eph. 2:8-10). James, the brother of the Lord, summarized it as “faith without works is dead”. When God created man, He placed him in the garden of Eden to “cultivate it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). From the very beginning, we were given responsibility to watch over God’s creation. Christ came to restore us to our original state of function and fellowship with God. It is a work produced by faith because we accomplish it by grace, which is only obtained by faith (Rom. 5:2). It is a labor of love because God is love and we have become partakers of His divine nature (2Pe. 1:4). We must be careful, in these last days, to not be “tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.” (Eph. 4:14). The schemes the enemy uses to hinder our walk are always made to look like the truth, but they possess slight variations that, if believed, will lead us into more serious errors. We must not be fooled into believing that good works do not matter because we are in grace. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap…So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:7,10).

Thank You, Father, that I have been appointed to bear fruit. Your sacrifice, Lord Jesus, has made a way for me to have fellowship with the Father. I have been justified by faith and I now have access by faith to this grace which enables me to live in Christ. (Jn. 15;16; Rom. 5:1,2)

April 8 (Read: 1Thess. 4 & 5)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 13)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

March 26 (Read: Job 26, 27 & 28)

“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12 NAS)

As we continue to read the book of Job, we find that Job had a lot of questions for God. His friends were not pleased with Job’s complaints so they tried to defend God by accusing Job of having brought these troubles upon himself through sin. Job defended his integrity and rebuked his friends for their lack of wisdom. He went on to explain how true wisdom can be found. After God established the heavens and the earth, He said to man, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28 NAS). Job had discovered this wisdom. God Himself had said of Job that he was a God-fearing man, who turned away from evil (Job 1:8; 2:3). Would God say the same about us? How much have we learned to hate evil? “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate.” (Prov. 8:13). Have we forsaken the ways of this world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1Jn. 2:16)? Are we totally convinced that sin produces death, regardless of its false promises to feed and protect us? Are we committed to walk in love without any hindrance of sin (Gal. 5:7)? There is a very simple way to know if this is true of us. We must ask ourselves: how well do I respond to correction? If we resist correction, we still operate in self-protection, which is simply the pride of life. “He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.” (Prov. 15:32).

Father, the Scriptures say that if I need wisdom, I can ask for it, so I ask now in faith. I turn my attention to Your instruction, for wisdom comes from your mouth. Your words are effective for my training and correction. (Jas. 1:5; Prov. 2:6;2Tim. 3:16)

March 27 (Read: Job 29 & 30)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 28 (Read: Job 31 & 32)

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1 NAS)

A covenant is a binding agreement. It is not made lightly because the consequences of breaking it are severe. This is how strong Job’s commitment was to walk with a pure heart. “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” (Matt. 6:22,23). Job was not afraid of having God examine him because he was firmly committed to walking in a manner that pleases God (Job 31:5-7). How do we obtain integrity of character like Job had? By the time I came to Christ, I had allowed my heart to pursue the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The direction of my life changed immediately after believing, but character development took longer. Changing my behavior has been a continual process of transformation through repentance and faith. First, I had to take accountability for my thoughts, words, and actions. In the first few months of my Christian walk, I had to do a great deal of repenting. My need to repent and believe for character transformation has not ended; I am still seeking to grow in the Lord. The difference now is that I am gaining new territory; not always fighting the same battles.

Thank You, Father, for saving delivering me from the dominion of darkness and setting me into the kingdom of Your Son. You have been faithful in transforming me into the image of Christ. I am a partaker of Your divine nature through faith. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your constant help and fellowship. (Col. 1:13; 2Cor. 3:18; 2Pe. 1:4).

March 29 (Read: Job 33 & 34)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 30 (Read: Job 35, 36, & 37)

“Be careful, do not turn to evil; for you have preferred this to affliction.” (Job 36:21 NAS)

Very few of us have experienced anything like the trials of Job, so we must not be too quick to blame him for his troubles. His three religious friends did just that, but Elihu had different advice. God rebuked the first three friends, but He did not rebuke Elihu. The advice he gave to Job can apply to anyone going through suffering. Basically, it says that we should be careful we do not turn to evil because we believe God has let us down. Job did not turn to evil, but what would we have done? There are many who have walked away from the truth because of their trials. Rather than turning to evil, we are told to, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.” (Jas. 1:2). I personally, do not find it easy to rejoice when I face trials. It takes a bit of effort. I must begin first with thanksgiving. “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thess. 5:18). I do not thank God for what the enemy is doing, but I to thank God “in the midst of” the situation. He is bigger than the enemy and can turn all things around for my good (Rom. 8:28). I do this as an act of faith. From this stand, I can pray more effectively, and I can offer praise as a sacrifice. It becomes easier, then, to rejoice because I can overwhelmingly conquer these trials through Him who loves me (Rom. 8:37).

Lord, I know that the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. You are bigger than the enemy; I put my trust in You. Nothing can separate me from Your love. Your grace is the strength I need to endure the trials of faith. Help me rejoice when I encounter the various trials of faith. (1Pe. 5:8; 1Jn. 4:4; Rom. 8:35; 2Cor. 12:9)

March 31 (Read: Job 38 & 39)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 1 (Read: Job 40, 41 & 42)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 12)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

March 19 (Read: Job 7, 8 & 9)

“Why then dost Thou not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity?” (Job 7:21 NAS)

At first, Job’s reaction to the trials that came upon him was good. “In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10). Then he began complaining about his troubles and wondering why God would allow this to happen. Going through trials is never easy and what makes it even more difficult is not knowing why it is happening. Job’s religious friends added to his troubles by telling him he that his sufferings were the result of sin in his life. Job was not against confessing sins when he was aware of them because he trusted in God’s mercy.

The trials became so difficult that he began despairing of life. The Apostle Paul tells us of a time in his life when he also despaired of life. “Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.” (2Cor. 1:8,9). What helped Paul go through that dark time was the testimony of his conscience “that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.” (2Cor. 1:12). It is so important for us to have a good conscience. It will reassure us of God’s work in our lives, even when the enemy attacks us. Here is a promise to help see us through those times of suffering:

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen ad establish you.” (1Pe. 5:8-10).

March 20 (Read: Job 10, 11 & 12)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 21 (Read: Job 13, 14 & 15)

“O that you would be completely silent, and that would be your wisdom!” (Job 13:5 NAS)

I do not want my advice to be like that of Job’s three friends. Job needed encouragement, not false accusations. How can we avoid making the same mistake? We know that we should listen before we speak, but how we listen is also very important. We must learn to listen and speak from our heart rather than from our head. In speaking of the Messiah, Isaiah said that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, and “He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make decisions by what His ears hear”. (Isa. 11:2,3). We are anointed by the Holy Spirit to counsel with wisdom and understanding. As we observe or listen, we should be attentive to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He will give us understanding and inspire our speech with wisdom. If we allow the Spirit to speak through us, His anointing will be upon the words we speak to give grace (strength) to the hearer. We a competent to minister (counsel) because the Spirit of the Lord rests upon us (2Cor. 3:6).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for anointing me with Your Holy Spirit. You have made me competent to minister Your grace to others. I have ears to hear, and eyes to see by the Spirit. Help me to be a good steward of Your grace, speaking, as it were, the utterances of God. (1Pe. 4:10,11).

March 22 (Read: Job 16, 17 & 18)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 23 (Read: Job 19 & 20)

“And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19:25,26 NAS)

How precious Job’s relationship with God must have been before he encountered this time of suffering. Despite all these trials, he still believes in a Redeemer and a resurrection from the dead. He is concerned, however, for his friends. Rather than persecute him with words, should they not rather comfort him? If they are not careful, they will receive punishment for their actions. Later in the book we discover that to avoid punishment, the Lord advises these three friends to repent and ask Job to pray for them. How do we apply this Bible reading to our own lives? If we, like Job, are going through suffering, we should be strong in our faith, keeping an eternal perspective instead of a temporal one. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Rom. 8:18). If others are suffering, we should have compassion for them. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Rom. 12:15).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. I have put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. I know that when You appear, I shall be like You, because I shall see You as You are. My life is hid with You in God. Help me Lord to walk in a manner worthy of my calling. (1Thess. 5:8; 1Jn. 3:2; Col. 3:3; Eph. 4:1)

March 24 (Read: Job 21 & 22)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 25 (Read: Job 23, 24 & 25)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 11)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

March 12 (Read: Ps. 29, 30 & 31)

“You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of mankind; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.” (Ps. 31:20 NAS)

If we make the Lord our refuge, He will protect us from evil. This does not mean that everyone will be at peace with us. If we seek to please God, we will be persecuted (2Tim. 3:12). To be hid in the secret place of His presence means that despite the persecution, we will be helped by His grace. Peter said, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you.” (1Pe. 4:14). Persecutions come, but their effect is minimized by the presence of God upon us. Even the “strife of tongues” have little effect on us if we are hid in “the secret place of His presence”. I have experienced this countless times. On the other hand, if I take up my own defense instead of making the Lord my refuge, I am not so protected. Likewise, if I judge others, I will also be affected by the judgments of men (Matt. 7:1,2). If I want to abide in the secret place of God’s presence, I must deny myself, bear my cross, and follow Him.

Help me, Lord God, to experience Your grace the way Paul did. When You told him that Your grace was sufficient for him, he was able to delight in persecutions and weaknesses. He understood that even when he was weak in himself, he was strong in You. My desire is to be strong in Your grace. I consider myself dead to this world and alive to God in Christ Jesus. I will not be subject to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, because You have set me free from the law of sin and death. I choose to obey You by grace through faith. (2Cor. 12:9,10; 2Tim. 2:1; Rom. 6:11,17,18; 1Jn. 2:16; Rom. 8:2; Eph. 2:8-10)

March 13 (Read: Ps. 32, 33 & 34)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 14 (Read: Ps. 35 & 36)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 15 (Read: Ps. 37 & 38)

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” (Ps. 37:4,5 NASB)

Before we effectively commit our way to the Lord, we must first delight ourselves in Him. Because we love Him and seek to please Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts. These desires are not just what He places in our hearts to pursue but also desires we may have to enjoy life. He loves us and wants to bless us. When our hearts have been purified through delighting in Him, our desires will not be selfish.

Having then purposed to walk in a manner pleasing to God, we can commit our way to Him. We can trust Him to direct our steps, even when we do not have a clear understanding of the path ahead. We can also commit to Him the plans we make because we seek His kingdom and not the things of this world. As we trust and obey Him, we will not be unstable; our steps will be established by the Lord (vs. 23).

Lord Jesus, as I behold Your glory, I am being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory. You are the Living Word of God. My soul is being purified as I understand and obey the truth of Your word. I commit my way to You and I trust that You direct and establish my steps. (2Cor. 3:18; Jn. 1:14; 1Pe. 1:22).

March 16 (Read: Ps. 39, 40 & 41)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 17 (Read: Job 1, 2 & 3)

“Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10 NAS)

For some people, this verse is difficult to accept. The problem, I believe, is due to its interpretation. We know that the evil which came upon Job was from the devil, but none of it would have happened unless God had granted permission. To explain this according to their traditions, some have said that Job had opened the door to the enemy through his fears. They interpret the phrase “Behold, he is in your power” as meaning “Open your eyes, he has already opened the door to you” but this is not correct. If that was the case, why did the devil not bring sickness to Job the first time?

When Job’s three friends came to comfort him, they began exhorting him to repent because surely these hardships were the result of his sins. This also is incorrect. Consider what God said about Job: “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:8). If God called him blameless, how can we say otherwise?

The important point to note is that God allowed Job’s faith and devotion to be tested. James tells us that the testing of our faith produces endurance (Jas. 1:3), and he mentions Job of someone who was blessed because of his endurance (Jas. 5:11). We know that after his trials, “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.” (Job 42:10). The real issue is that we have trouble understanding why a loving God would allow our faith to be tested. Whatever the reason, we are blessed if we endure.

Thank You, Father, for loving me. I do not always understand why my faith gets tested, but with Your help, I can endure testing. I know that I am blessed because of testing, so I will continue to thank You amid all my circumstances. I will cast all my cares upon You, because You care for me. (1Thess. 5:18; 1Pe. 5:7)

March 18 (Read: Job 4, 5 & 6)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 10)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

March 5 (Read: Acts 15 & 16)

“And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:10 NAS)

What can we learn about guidance from Paul’s Macedonian call? Do we wait for specific instructions before venturing out, or do we trust in Him to lead as we go? There is no single answer that will fit every situation, but there are principles to follow. Paul did not depart for his first missionary journey until he had been set apart and sent out by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-4). By Acts Chapter 15, the command to go preach the gospel had been given and obeyed. When Paul began his second missionary journey, he desired to revisit the established churches. This he did, and then as he attempted to preach in neighbouring lands, the Holy Spirit forbade him. He would eventually go to those lands, but not immediately. God’s guidance has a lot to do with timing. There was an area he was to go to, but the Holy Spirit did not intervene in his travels unless he attempted to go in the wrong direction. It would seem simpler to us if the Lord would just come out and tell us what to do, but He chooses not to do that. It was not until he reached the port city of Troas that he received a vision.

What are some of the principles of guidance? The first principle is motive. We should always be motivated by love which issues from a pure heart (1Tim. 1:5). This is the starting point for walking with God. The second most important principle is faith. We live by faith, not by sight (2Cor. 5:7). The physical means of guidance (sight, sound, feelings) are supplementary. First, we must believe. Too often people have headed out in the way they wanted to go and asked the Lord to go with them. This is presumption, not faith. Paul’s experience shows us that we should go at His command and then trust in His guidance as we go.

Thank You, Father, that I have been given a special function as a member of the body of Christ (Rom. 12: 4; 1Cor. 12:6). I have received an abundance of grace to serve You, Lord. I go forth in obedience to Your command to love. Holy Spirit, You are always instructing and guiding me in the way I should go.

March 6 (Read: Acts 17 & 18)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 7 (Read: Acts 19 & 20)

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32 NAS)

When God sends forth His word, it accomplishes the purpose He intends for it (Isa. 55:11). We must see this regarding our spiritual growth. We do not grow spiritually by our own strength, but by grace. In Christ, we have access to an abundance of grace (Jn. 1:14-16). We can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence to obtain His help in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). Paul commended the Ephesian elders to the word of grace because he understood that this is how God would complete in them the good work He had begun (Phil. 1:6). The word of God is alive and powerful! (Heb. 4:12). When I need grace, I receive God’s word in my heart and trust in its ability to produce fruit. I humbly receive His word as a seed to be planted in the soil of my heart (Matt. 13:23; Jas. 1:21).

For example, if I need peace, I remind myself of His promise to give me peace (Jn. 14:27), and I choose to obey His command to let His peace rule in my heart (Col. 3:15). My spirit being is quite willing to receive God’s grace in this manner, even though my flesh might resist (Matt. 26:41). In the beginning, I may have to speak this to myself many times, but each time I experience His peace. Before long, my soul responds quickly to the promptings of the Spirit and ignores the desires of the flesh. This is the process of the renewing of the mind. With the help of the Spirit, I put to death the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13), and I put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:14).

Thank You, Father, for Your word of grace. I receive Your words to be planted in my heart. I choose to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and to make no provision for the flesh. You, Lord Jesus, are the Living Word, full of grace and truth.

March 8 (Read: Acts 21 & 22)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 9 (Read: Acts 23 & 24)

“And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, ‘Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.’” (Acts 23:1 NAS)

Paul placed a very high value on having a good and blameless conscience. He took this stand before the Jewish Council, and later before Governor Felix (Acts 24:16). Why should this matter so much to Paul if he believed that we are saved by grace and not by works? From his epistles we see that it was because he was convinced that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of ourselves (Rom. 14:12). Those who have believed in Christ for righteousness will be saved, but they will still be judged to determine their reward. (2Cor. 5:10). “If any man’s work which he has built upon it (the church) remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1Cor. 3:14,15). We must not be fooled by the deceptions of false teachers. They use verses like “mercy triumphs over judgment” to say that God is merciful so He will not judge us (Jas. 2:13). “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap…Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” (Gal. 6:7,9)

Repentance is still a requirement of the gospel. Jesus came preaching “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk. 1:15). Our soul is transformed into the character of Christ, when we repent (turn) from the works of the flesh and through faith walk by the Spirit of God (Gal. 5:16).

Thank You, Father, for Your great mercy. I have chosen to repent and believe the good news of Jesus Christ. In view of Your great mercy, I present my body as a living sacrifice. I worship You with the spiritual service of obedience. I choose to no longer be conformed to this world system and I submit to the renewing of my mind, that I may prove by action what is Your good, acceptable, and perfect will. (Mk. 1:15; Rom. 12:1,2).

March 10 (Read: Acts 25 & 26)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 11 (Read: Acts 27 & 28)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Week 9)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing

The daily readings for this week are included below.

February 26 (Read: Acts 3 & 4)

“Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19 NAS)

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples received a refreshing from the Lord as the Spirit fell upon them. After the healing of the lame beggar, Peter preached to those marvelling at the miracle, that times of refreshing had not ended on the day of Pentecost. If they would repent and return to the Lord, they would also experience a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. As Peter had earlier preached, “the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” (Acts 2:39). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not meant to be a one-time experience. The promise was for “times”, not “a time”, of refreshing.

After Peter and John returned from having been threatened by the rulers, they gathered in prayer, and “the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31). The manifestation of the Spirit takes many forms. The first time they experienced it, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4). This time they were filled with boldness for preaching with great power and abundance of grace (Acts 4:33). When Paul came to Ephesus and met with a small band of believers, they received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, and “began speaking with tongues and prophesying.” (Acts 19:6). Later, in his epistle to the same church, he counselled them to continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Today, if we repent and believe, we can experience “times of refreshing” as the early church did. We can be filled with boldness for preaching, speak in other tongues, prophesy, perform miracles, and experience abundance of grace. If we draw near to God, we can be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for sending us Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your manifested presence. I yield my spirit, soul, and body for Your use.

February 27 (Read: Acts 5 & 6)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

February 28 (Read: Acts 7)

“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit;” (Acts 7:51 NAS)

The Holy Spirit is a Person. Too often we think of what He does rather than Who He is. We receive power when He comes upon us, but He works through each person individually, according to His will (1Cor. 12:11). All three Persons of the Godhead are one God, but they each have different functions and they have different personalities. He is gentle like a dove (Jn. 1:32) but comes to us as a fire the burns away chaff (Acts 2:3). We must be careful as believers to not resist the Holy Spirit. It is through Him that we have fellowship with the Father and the Son. He is the One Who teaches us by giving us spiritual wisdom and understanding. As our Helper, He communicates to us the words of the Father and the Son. If we reject His presence in our lives, we reject the One Who sent Him.

As I was pondering on how to walk in the Spirit, the Lord reminded me of this verse: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:6). When He moves upon us with a holy passion, we must not quench Him (1Thess. 5:19). We should, instead, allow ourselves to be “fervent” or “aglow” in the Spirit” (Rom. 12:11). If we listen to His still small voice, our ability to hear and discern spiritual things will increase (Isa. 50:4). If we welcome His presence through obedience, we will see an increase of grace in our lives because He is the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for sending the Holy Spirit to be with me. I welcome You, Holy Spirit. Help me to recognize Your presence. I know that You do not speak of Yourself, but You reveal to me the Father and the Son. I love You and thank You for all Your help. You are so patient, merciful, and kind. Help me to discern Your voice and give me the grace I need to obey God’s word. With Your help, I choose to give up my life and to let Christ be my life.

March 1 (Read: Acts 8 & 9)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

March 2 (Read: Acts 10)

“A devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people, and prayed to God continually.” (Acts 10:2 NAS)

Cornellius is an example of a man who believed God and demonstrated his faith with corresponding works. Even an angel of God said of him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God” (vs. 4). What does the experience of Cornellius tell us about salvation? Peter’s account later to the church in Jerusalem sheds a bit more light on what the angel told Cornellius. “He shall speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 11:14). Even Cornellius, with the testimony that he was a devout man who feared God, still had to believe in Jesus Christ. I think of Paul’s sermon to the Athenians, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world.” (Acts 17:30,31). There are a lot of things about the final judgment which I accept as mysteries, but what is not a mystery to me is that everyone, regardless of faith and devotion, should believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. “There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Jesus died for the sins of all mankind, but people must still believe in Him to receive eternal life. (Jn. 3:16). Today is the day of salvation (2Cor. 6:2).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. I am convinced that everyone everywhere should repent and believe in You for salvation. You are so merciful and kind. There is so much that You are preparing in heaven for those who believe in You. I love You and desire to serve You. Please remove from me any lies from the enemy that would make me complacent about being a witness for You. Thank You, Father, that You work in me both the will and to do what pleases You. (Phil. 2:13).

March 3 (Read: Acts 11 & 12)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

March 4 (Read: Acts 13 & 14)

The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.