wisdom for the journey
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 NIV
In a world that rapidly changes around us, isn’t it good to know we have a Savior who is unchanging and will never leave us?
“When the unexpected occurs, our response will either be rooted in a negative or anchored in rest because His unchanging nature and His promises have become our greatest reality.”
Graham Cooke. 🚦
Driving to and from Fayetteville, AR the last two days, with our youngest son and his girlfriend traveling separately, through traffic, road construction, rain and fog, I said countless prayers for our safety as we journeyed in celebration of our oldest son’s college graduation. Many of you have upcoming travel plans, and so I pray, also, for your well-being. May you arrive safely to your destination, and then also as you sojourn the road of life.🚦
“One day, many bad people and men who took taxes on behalf of the government were coming round Jesus. They all wanted to hear what Jesus was saying. The Pharisees and teachers of God’s Law did not like this. ‘This man is friendly with people that do not obey God,’ they said. ‘He even eats with them in their homes.’”
Luke 15:1-2 EASY
That’s right. People who did NOT obey God’s Law were drawn to Jesus’ message of forgiveness and love. Jesus accepted them right where they were, knowing they couldn’t clean themselves up before coming to Him. Jesus Himself washes each of us spiritually when we seek to follow Him. He turns the thieving tax collector into a respectable citizen and the harlot into a righteous woman. If he can do that for them, how much more can He do with you and me when we surrender every part of ourselves to Him? Is there some part of yourself you have been holding back from Him? 🚦
#jesussabes #forgiveness #washedintheblood #stoplightdevotionals #devotionals
““Instead, when you prepare a big meal, you should ask the poor people to come. Ask people that have lost an arm or a leg. Ask people that cannot walk very well, and people that cannot see. Then God will make you happy. Those people cannot pay you for the meal you gave to them. Instead, God will pay you, on the day when he makes good people become alive again.’” Words of Jesus
Luke 14:13-14 EASY
That favorite pew or row at church. Your hangout, workout or shopping buddies. Comfort zones. We all have them and like to travel in their safety. But Jesus challenges us to step outside these safe spaces to follow Him. He calls us to a radical lifestyle of loving extravagantly the least lovable, just as Christ did with us. He ascribes value to those society wants to throw away and seats them at His right hand, treating them (us) like royalty. If we are to be like Jesus, we, too, will need to color outside the lines, part ways with the expected in favor of God’s best. What might you need to change in your day to day life to earnestly model Christ?🚦
#coloroutsidethelines #stepoutofyourcomfortzone #truediversity #devotionals #stoplightdevotionals
“He put his hands on her and immediately she could stand up straight. She praised God.” Luke 13:13 EASY
Jesus healed a handicapped woman! Hallelujah, right? Not to the leader of the meeting who was quite upset That Jesus worked on the Sabbath, a sacred day of rest.
““‘You are wrong,’ the Lord Jesus said to him. ‘You teach one thing but you do something different yourselves. On the day for rest you will undo the rope on your ox or your donkey and take it outside. You then give it water to drink. Is that not true? Now look at this woman. She belongs to the family of Abraham. But a bad spirit from the Devil has made her ill for 18 years. It is like he has tied her up. So it must be right to make her free on our day for rest.’”
Luke 13:15-16 EASY
I wonder how often I have tried to hold back God, dictating how He should bless or provide for me or someone else. I’ve even tried to tell Him the time and type of message He should give me to share with you! How much better when I step back and say, “God, here I am. You already know the need. Show me Your way so that I bring glory to You.” Do you find yourself trying to tell God what you think He should do in a given situation? His way is better. 🚦
“I did not come into the world so that everyone will agree with each other. No, I tell you. I came to put people against one another. From now on, because of me, Five people in a family will be against each other. Two will be against the other three. Three of them will be against the other two.” Words of Jesus
Luke 12:51-52 EASY
Many of us grew up looking at and attempting to re-create a Norman Rockwell Christmas: the family happily gathered around the table, enjoying just being with each other, but reality often looks more like Christmas Vacation, with quirky personalities and calamity abounding.
Jesus doesn’t promise everyone will get along on this earth. Following Christ can mean not only sharp divisions in how we view social, political, and moral issues, but also in how we treat others who may disagree. Apostle Paul offers up sound instruction in these challenging times:
“If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18 HCSB🚦
#normanrockwellchristmas #christmasvacation #merrychristmas #family #stoplightdevotionals #devotionals
“Give us each day our daily bread.”
Luke 11:3 HCSB
When the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years, God provided manna from heaven to feed them each day, allowing them to only take the amount needed for that day. During this 40 year period their clothes never wore out! Before you and I jump to judge them for their complaining when God provided everything they need, we need to turn our vision in word at our own behaviors. How often do you and I complain there’s nothing to eat when we have a refrigerator full of food, yet the good we have is not the food we are craving? How often do we say we have nothing to wear when in fact we do have clothing, but we want something new?
Today, seek Him to fill your void with peace and contentment with what He has already given, and trust He will continue to provide everything you truly need when you need it.🚦
#breadoflife #Heprovides #trustHim #devotionals #stoplightdevotiinals
“The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:41-42 HCSB
Do you find yourself, like many of us, during the holidays wrapped up in the busyness of decorating, cooking, and/or shopping? Christmas Day comes, and you’ve not paused long enough to savor in the revelation of Christ humbling Himself to become flesh for you and me so that we could be made clean before a Holy and righteous God? It’s an enormous thought worthy of stopping in the midst of the rush to reflect on the greatest gift ever given for all time.🚦
#belikeMary #sitatJesusfeet #pause #christmas #devotionals #stoplightsevotionals
The best thing you and I can do at the start of any day is to spend time in God’s Word. When we do this first we slam the door on Satan so he cannot get a foothold on our days. Peace floods the soul, kicking anxiety to the curb. Have you met with Jesus today?🚦
“While He was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the Teacher anymore.” When Jesus heard it, He answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be made well.”…Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But He said, “Stop crying, for she is not dead but asleep.” They started laughing at Him, because they knew she was dead. So He took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up! ” Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then He gave orders that she be given something to eat.”
Luke 8:49-50, 52-55 HCSB
Dead. When they pronounced someone dead they’d been dead 72 hours. No pulse. No breathing. Gone… But Jesus.
Do you know someone who seems so spiritually dead you consider them a lost cause? You could invest the same time in more people and yield greater numbers for the kingdom…right? But Jesus calls us to reach into the hearts of hardened, hurting people with love. Water the soil continuously and till it with life-giving Truth. Let the Giver of Life revive them.🚦
#cpr #spiritualcpr #notreallydead #lovethem #devotionals #stoplightdevotionals.com
Stoplight Devotionals 