He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Philippians 2:8 HCSB

Like you and me, Jesus learned to obey as a child. Unlike you and me, however, Jesus didn’t part ways with obedience when the cost became unbearable. Think back to a time the pressure to give in to sin pushed you beyond your willingness to persevere. Jesus never once let temptation overtake him—not when he was tired, not when he was thirsty, not when he was hungry. If he loved you enough to obey even to the point of a brutal death on a cross, do you love him enough to follow him even as the personal cost goes up?🚦

#Obey #Obedience #CountTheCost #Temptation #PersonalCost #TheCross #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

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“‘Do not make the land unclean where you live and where I reside; for I, Yahweh, reside among the Israelites…’Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.”

‭‭Numbers 35:34, 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Just as Christ rephrased the Ten Commandments so as not to nullify them in the minds of his followers, Paul references keeping clean the place where God resides, as if we might be tempted to brush something off as part of “the old covenant.” And, like Christ did, the apostle makes the instruction much more personal and meaningful to us today by letting us know that everywhere we go, the Holy Spirit goes, the church goes.

Everyone of us who knows Christ has the Holy Spirit living inside. We do not have to go to a specific place to experience his presence; we can commune with him on an ongoing basis. This also means wherever we go, “where two or more are gathered” in agreement, this is church! Keep the church, your heart, clean and pure to bring glory to God. 🚦

#Sanctuary #Clean #TempleOfGod #DwellingPlace #Church #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

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“When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭30:2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Your word matters. Whether or not you say, “I promise,” shake hands or sign a contract, keeping or not keeping your verbal agreement speaks volumes about who you are. Not only do people expect you and me to do what we say we will do, but God expects this, as well. Whether the obligation is a monetary debt, a commitment at a job, a marital vow or a private agreement with God, you must not break your word. Keeping your promise will bring glory to God and His kingdom.🚦

#oath #Promise #Agreement #KeepYourWord #Vow #Commitment #Obligation #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

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“In the Lord I take refuge. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭11:1a, 7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Psalmist indicates he has taken refuge in the Lord and continues to take refuge in Him because he has seen how Yahweh protects the pure in heart. The enemy plots against those who chase after Jesus, trying to catch us unaware and trick our hearts into believing lies and distortions of truth. Satan knows that if he can get to our hearts he can destroy our very foundation of Spirit-filled living. This is why we must remain in an attitude of prayer and shelter in Him who loves justice. We see Him when we abide in Him.🚦

#Refuge #Shelter #Justice #Safety #AbideInHim #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

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“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 HCSB

Saying goodbye to a loved one who leaves this world through tragedy is especially difficult. Who knew the last phone call would be the very last phone call? Grieve, brothers and sisters in the Lord, but do not grieve as one who does not know the hope of Jesus Christ. Mourn, but be comforted with His rod and staff. Remain in Him. And, one day, joy will peak through again.❤️🚦

#Grieve #Grief #Mourn #Death #Funeral #Tragedy #Child #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“But I trust in You, Lord; I say, “You are my God.””

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31:14‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“But” is a powerful word. It indicates the psalmist had a choice to either trust and follow God or to not. David was the target of gossip and ridicule from adversaries and neighbors alike. He was rejected by people he once called friends. “But” in the midst of the hellish firestorm David chose God. He consciously chose to trust God to be who He said He was and to follow Him. Where are you placing your trust today? 🚦

#But #Choice #Trust #TrustInTheLord #YouAreMyGod #FollowHim #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:8-9‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“If there is a God why does He let bad things happen?” Humans are forever trying to project their narratives of how things should be onto the omnipotent Creator. God answers back to tell us our thinking is far more simplistic than His and that we cannot begin to fathom His thinking and His way of doing things. Stop trying so hard, and rest in Him instead. Change your way of thinking by focusing on every good and perfect gift from God. Your life will be transformed.

“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬🚦

#MyThoughtsAreNotYourThoughts #YourWaysAreNotMyWays #MyWaysAreHigherThanYourWays #MyThoughtsAreHigherThanYourThoughts#TransformedThinking #WhatsoeverThingsAreLovely #Philippians48 #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Do not be afraid of him for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land.…’”

Numbers 21:34 NIV

Are you at a crossroad, in one direction facing a tough battle which you, on your own by human standards, are ill-equipped to fight, while the other road is an easy, familiar travel? God often calls us to the journey that doesn’t seem to make sense in our finite understanding. He gives us choice to obey or not obey when He directs us to these challenges. These are the roads that force us to depend on Him so that He is glorified in and through us. Choosing to say “Yes” to the hard things is a step out in faith and can feel scary, but the victory and reward for obedience are only for the faithful.🚦

#LessonsFromTheOT #Obedience #Victory #CrossRoads #TheBattleBelongsToTheLord #HeIsStrongWhenWeAreWeak #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionalsPhotos

“Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Moses sent twelve spies to check out the land of Kaddish-Barnea, a land God already promised to the Israelites. Ten returned with a report that the Israelites would be devoured if they went up against these giants. Only two said, “we can surely do this.” Faith.

The Lord will give you everything you need to conquer the seemingly impossible challenges you face today if you will seek Him and move forward in faith WITH HIM.🚦

#Faith #WithoutFaith #WithFaith #MoveForwardInFaith #WithHim #ConquerTheGiants #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.”

Numbers 20:12 HCSB

Empathy for Moses and Aaron tells me those crumbling, whining Israelites had gotten on Moses’ last nerve. He’d had it! Instead of speaking to the rock, as God instructed, Moses struck the rock, and water came gushing out.

It seems harsh to punish someone so severely for an angry outburst, given the whole picture. What you and I might see as an “angry outburst”, God saw as willful disobedience and lack of trust in His provision. The miracle of the water coming from the rock was then overshadowed by Moses’ anger, taking away from God’s display of His own holiness. For that God withheld the promised land.

This morning pause with me to look intently at decisions you have made or are facing now. You cannot change past disobedience and the consequences endured, but you can change course NOW, even in the midst of wandering in a barren desert, to seek to follow Him in faith.🚦

#Disobedience #LackOfFaith #Rebellion #WatersOfMeribah #Angur #AngryOutburst #WillfulDisobedience #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals