JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Romans 8:5) "Those who live in accordance with the Spirit… have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."
To become the person God wants you to be… you must “set your mind” on the right things.
You say… “If only my circumstances were different.”
But your circumstances don’t determine the quality of your life… how you think about them does.
Poet Frederick Langbridge wrote… “Two men looked out through prison bars… one saw mud… the other saw the stars.”
You’ve heard the story of two men looking at a glass of water.
One see’s it half full… while the other sees it half empty.
Both men were in identical circumstances… and saw the same thing… but their perspectives were entirely different.
One looked for beauty and found it… the other focused on ugliness and found it.
One looks with hopefulness… the other with no hope.
It works like this… your circumstances in life produce certain emotions.
So how do you change your emotional response… when you feel powerless over people and circumstances?
The answer… by changing how you think about them!
Truth is… change always begins in your mind.
The Bible says, “As a man (or woman) thinketh in his (or her) heart… so is he (or she)” (Proverbs 23:7)
The way you think… inevitably reflects the way you live.
So to become the best version of yourself… the person God wants you to be… you need to change your negative thinking… and start thinking great and positive thoughts!
People who live great lives are people who habitually think great thoughts.
Perhaps your thinking… “But I can’t help thinking the way I do.”
Then “let God transform you into that new creature in Christ… by changing the way you think”… you change the way you think by what you feed on… you know the old cliché that says…”garbage in … garbage out”.
That’s why Paul says in (Philippians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
(Romans 12:2) “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”.
God’s Word will help you to think with faith instead of fear… assurance instead of anxiety… and joy instead of negativity.
Once you “set your mind on what the Spirit desires”… (Colossians 3:2) your life will begin to change for the better.
But don’t just take my Word for it… let the word of God prove itself by doing it…
Good day!
(Galatians 2:20) "I have been crucified with Christ."
It’s sad to say but the truth is… we live in a time of “commitment phobia”… a truth that is a stark reality.
It seems that our society has bought into the idea to get as much as we can… while giving back as little as possible.
It’s a fulfillment of the scripture that Paul wrote about to the believers in (2nd Timothy 3:1-5) “Being lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God”.
Jesus said the greatest commandment of all was to love the Lord your God with all your heart… all your mind… and all your soul… and the second commandment is like unto the first… that you should love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31)
We don’t mind being there for others in good times… but bad times are a different story and our lack of commitment is reflected in the statistics.
The marriage rate is down while the divorce rate is up.
Involvement in church and participation in compassionate causes are both down.
We’ve become a society that fears putting itself on the line or being pinned down by responsibility and obligation.
To escape the awkwardness and embarrassment of saying no… we avoid our obligations and responsibilities by simply being elsewhere when we’re needed.
And we’re a “sound bite” generation with attention spans geared to fifteen-second commercials.
We prefer our sermons simple… entertaining… and above all… short! Radical commitment is rare… but whether you like it or not… it’s still what God wants from each of us!
How about commitment to marriage?
God doesn’t see it as a 50/50 arrangement… but one… where both sides give 100 percent.
It’s a sacred covenant made before God… between a man and woman… “for better or worse… for richer or poorer… in sickness and in health… until parted by death.”
The Bible says, “It is better not to make a vow… than to make one and not fulfill it” (Ecclesiastes 5:5)
And it works best when both partners have learned to say like Paul… “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live… but Christ lives in me.”
That’s “radical commitment”… and it’s the way to a great marriage.
It’s also the way to “peaceful relationships” with others around you.
Another truth?
Life is not all about you!
It’s about others around you… and how you can build strong positive relationships with them… so that your life… your presence… can influence their lives for good.
That is “radical living”… that takes “radical faith”… and yes… its something that most in our society don’t seems to like anymore… “radical commitment” to God and to each other!
Good Day!
(Deuteronomy 11:18) "These words...get them deep inside you."
In (James 1:22)… there is a sharp command for those whom like to "read about God and gather spiritual information concerning the things of God.
He says… "be ye doers of the word and not hearers only"!
The only way you will get the word of God deep enough inside you for it to begin to have an effect on your life… is when you start “doing” the word of God.
So what do I mean by “doing” the Word of God
(1) By meditating on it each day.
The Psalmist said, “the way to succeed in life… is by meditating on God’s Word “day and night” (Psalm 1:2).
But you must slow down in order to do it.
Take time to do it.
Have you ever watch a cow chewing it’s cud?
The more it chews… the more it gets out of it.
So when God impresses a thought on you… think about it throughout the day.
Make it your first thought in the morning… and your last thought at night.
Do this for 365 days and you’ll be amazed how you grow spiritually.
(2) By allowing it to "convict you of sin" and cleanse you daily.
The bible says, “How can a young man [or an older one] keep his way pure… by living according to your word” (Psalm 119:9)
"Turn the television off"… and quit listening to the talking heads whom offer their carnal wisdom to the masses.
Just because it’s on television or on the internet… doesn't mean that its truth.
His fellow monks used to ask Martin Luther why he spent so much time in the confessional.
After all he lived in a monastery… so what on earth could he have to confess?
Well… Luther was aware of his own "aptitude for self-justification"… and he knew that "God’s Word"… was the only detergent strong enough to get down into the deepest recesses of his thoughts, imaginations, and motives… and bring about true cleansing.
(3) By putting what you learn into practice.
Your Bible knowledge may be a hundred times greater than someone else’s,
But if you’re not a hundred times more loving, patient, joyful, gracious, forgiving, etc… what good is it?
A head full of doctrine and a heart devoid of love… will just turn people away from Christ.
So today get your "theology" off the drawing board… and start putting it into practice.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… people don’t care how much you know… until they know how much you care.
Start letting the word of Christ “dwell” in you (Colossians 3:16)
Before you know it… you’ll be looking at life and living it… in a whole different light and philosophy.
I heard someone say just the other day, “I wish I could have a second chance at life… I’d sure do things different.
Well would you really?
Cause the 2nd chance is right here in front of you today!
“Him whom the Son sets free is free indeed” (John 10:10)
(2nd Corinthians 5:17) “if anyone is in Christ… he is a new creation… old things have passed and all things are become new”!
“Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Luke 4:4)
(Isaiah 43:18) says “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
And (Revelation 21:5) says “behold I make all things new”.
Come on… let God make “all things new in your life” and start enjoying it for a change.
Good Day
(Acts 27:25) "I believe God… that it shall be… even as it was told me."
As a prisoner on his way to Rome to be tried by Nero… Paul went through a devastating storm.
His story teaches us three valuable lessons:
(1) Your disobedience… can cause a storm.
Because the captain wouldn’t heed Paul’s warning… he lost his ship… his cargo… and almost his life.
Your disobedience can cause a storm in your health… your finances… your family… and your career.
God doesn’t preface His commandments by saying... “If you feel like it… do this.”
No… He means what He says… and He intends it for your good… so pay attention!
(2) You’re not alone in the storm.
God is with you… and He’s watching over you.
Paul bore witness of this fact when he told the captain and crew of the doomed ship… “There stood by me this night the angel of God whose I am… and whom I serve… saying… fear not… God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore sirs, be of good cheer… for I believe God” (Acts 27:23-25).
With God on board… there’s not a storm powerful enough to take you under.
(3) When you stand on God’s promises, you have His hope and His control over the circumstances of this world.
"greater things than these shall ye do" after the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (John 14:12-14)
"all things are possible to them that believe" (Mark 9:23)
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea... and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen... it will be done for them... (Mark 11:23)
(4) Paul may have looked like a prisoner…but in reality he had more power than the captain… and he was on that ship by Gods divine will.
Though bound in chains...he was the freest man on the ship.
You see, when you’ve heard clearly from God… you can handle any situation because His Word says… “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper…every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment… thou shalt condemn"... this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17).
Listen my friend!
There is an erroneous teaching out there in Christendom that says… as a Christian believer you won’t have any more problems in life.
That is so far from the truth!
We will face problems trials and storms in life... however His word says for us not to worry because Jesus overcame them all.
Jesus said “in this world you will have trouble but be of good cheer… I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)
The believer in Christ is not exempt from problems and issues.
In fact the bible teaches us that trials come to make us stronger.
“That the trial of your faith… being much more precious than of gold that perishes… though it be tried with fire… might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1st Peter 1:7)
(James 1:2-4) “Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds… because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.... let perseverance finish its work… so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
So let me encourage you today to keep trusting God and He will bring you through this storm!
Folks... following here is a truth that God said and that you can stand on... no matter the storm you are facing or going thru today... God said what He meant and He meant what He said...
(Numbers 19:21-14) “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Good day!
(Galatians 6:2) "Carry each other's burdens, and...you will fulfill the law of Christ."
There are so many hurting people in our world.
Everyone you meet is hiding something… and it’s not because they’re deceptive.
It’s because some wounds are just too personal to talk about.
When you receive a harsh word from your husband… the pain can be too deep to discuss.
Or when your husband hears acid words from you…he’s crushed inside but can’t show it.
So you both go off to lick your wounds and try to avoid comments and questions from others.
Is that where you are today… struggling with something too difficult to talk about?
If so… remember that other people are doing the same!
Often their anger is a symptom of their hurt… and their seeming aloofness is just hiding their fear of being known and perhaps rejected.
Jesus saw the best in people… and He went out of His way to be gracious to them and lift their burdens.
Do you remember how He treated the woman caught in the act of adultery? (John 8:1-11)
No condemnation… no judgment… no words of correction!
Just love… empathy… and compassion in the midst of her pain and turmoil.
He lifted her up… because with Him every weed is a potential rose!
Today… remember that the people you meet and rub shoulders with… just may be going thru a pain… a heartache… a trial and a test that is just about more than they can handle.
They’re crying tears you don’t see and feeling isolated in ways you can’t imagine.
So instead of adding to their burden… be a burden bearer… try to ease it.
You may be the only healer… that crosses their path today.
And when you help lift their burden… God will lift yours.
The Bible says, “Whatsoever good thing any man doeth… the same shall he receive of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:8).
Today… ask God to show you how to be “a burden bearer”.
Ask God to fill you with empathy… mercy and compassion.
Make this old chorus I grew up with in the church your prayer today.
“O to be His hand extended, reaching out to the oppressed… let me touch Him… let me touch Jesus… so that others may see and be blessed.
Good Day!
(1st Thessalonians 4:18) "There will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words."
In the movie “Heaven Is for Real”… Colton Burpo was only four years old when he miraculously survived a ruptured appendix and emergency appendectomy.
Over the next few months… he talked of his visit to Heaven while that traumatic experience in the hospital and subsequent surgery were taking place.
He described exactly what his parents were doing during the surgery… and told stories of people he had met in heaven… people he had never met on earth or been told about.
He told his mother, “You had a baby die in your tummy… didn’t you?”
His parents had never mentioned the miscarriage… he was too young to process it.
His mother asked, “Who told you I had a baby die in my tummy?”
He replied, “She did Mommy… she said she died in your tummy.”
Then he added, “It’s okay Mommy… She’s okay… God adopted her.”
His mother said, “Don’t you mean Jesus adopted her?” He replied, “No, Mommy… His dad did!”
His mother’s eyes lit up and she asked, “What was her name… what was the little girl’s name?”
Four-year-old Colton said, “She doesn’t have a name… you guys didn’t name her.”
And just before he went out to play Colton said one more thing that he remembered.
He said “Mommy”… “she said she can’t wait for you and Daddy to get to heaven.”
And right now someone… in Heaven is saying the same thing about you… they are looking
forward to the day when God’s family is back together.
And shouldn’t we be doing the same?
The Bible says (1st Thessalonians 4:18) “Then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master… so reassure one another with these words.”
The bible says that when our bodies die… we still live on.
That’s why Paul says “O death where is thy sting… O grave where is thy victory” (1st Corinthians 15:55)
There is a sobering thought… but a truth that we all must face.
One day we will die… but that’s not the end of it.
It is actually “the beginning” of the rest of our lives.
Paul the Apostle writes in (Philippians 1:21) “For to me to live is Christ… and to die is gain.”
Paul also writes in (1st Corinthians 2:9) "the eye has not seen, nor the ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him”.
If you are a believer in Christ… death is not to be feared!
It will be “a new beginning” for all of us whom have placed our trust and our faith in the finished work of Christ.
What a great family reunion it will be.
Good day!
And shouldn’t we be doing the same?
The Bible says (1st Thessalonians 4:18) “Then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master… so reassure one another with these words.”
The bible says that when our bodies die… we still live on.
That’s why Paul says “O death where is thy sting… O grave where is thy victory” (1st Corinthians 15:55)
There is a sobering thought… but a truth that we all must face.
One day we will die… but that’s not the end of it.
It is actually “the beginning” of the rest of our lives.
Paul the Apostle writes in (Philippians 1:21) “For to me to live is Christ… and to die is gain.”
Paul also writes in (1st Corinthians 2:9) "the eye has not seen, nor the ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him”.
If you are a believer in Christ… death is not to be feared!
It will be “a new beginning” for all of us whom have placed our trust and our faith in the finished work of Christ.
What a great family reunion it will be.
Good day!
(Romans 6:1) "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?"
Sin is a problem with and for all of us.
Even the Apostle Paul struggled with it.
In (Romans chapter 7) The Apostle groans “How is it… the things that I don’t want to do, I do… and the things that I want to do… I can’t.”
“For I do not do the good I want to do… but the evil I do not want to do… this I keep on doing.”
“Now if I do what I do not want to do… it is no longer I who do it… but it is sin living in me that does it.”
“So I find this law at work… Although I want to do good… evil is right there with me.”
“For in my inner being I delight in God’s law… but I see another law at work in me waging war against the law of my mind… making me a prisoner of the ‘law of sin’ at work within me.”
“What a wretched man I am!”
“Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”
“But thanks be to God… who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
The truth is folks… that as long as you and I are encased in these fleshly physical bodies… sin is going to be a struggle for us.
Yes sin is a problem… but grace is the answer!
“The grace of God” is something we can all rejoice about and take hope in.
Gods grace has allowed us to still enjoy the comfort… hope and confidence of salvation, redemption and deliverance that He has offered to mankind as a free gift… in spite of sin.
But the Apostle asked the question and then answers it in the same question.
“Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound?
Certainly not!
How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6: 1-2)
Note the words “died to sin.”
As you feed your new nature and starve the old one… it begins to die.
You become less interested in pleasing yourself… and more interested in pleasing God.
The things of the world “grow strangely dim” as you feed your new nature… that is (the nature that God places with in you)… when you invited Him to come into your life.
Paul said… “For the love of Christ compels us” (2nd Corinthians 5:14).
Paul was not compelled by the fear of “losing his salvation” because he sinned… but he was driven by “the need to respond” to God’s grace and do what ever he could to not sin… or to continue in sin… because of Gods love… because of Gods grace that he had experienced.
He said, “The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14)
The Greek word for world is “kosmos” or “worldly order”.
A revelation of God’s grace… caused the “world order” to lose its appeal to Paul… and he… to lose his appeal to and for the world.
When properly understood… “the grace of God” becomes a motivator to and for each of us to strive to overcome sin… to not continue in sin.
It produces within the believer a desire with in each of us to rise above its hold and its grip… or as
Paul calls it… “the mastery of sin over our lives.
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that… denying ungodliness and worldly lusts…(that’s our part)… we should live soberly… righteously… and
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that… denying ungodliness and worldly lusts…(that’s our part)… we should live soberly… righteously… and
godly in the present age,”
“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ… who gave Himself for us… that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people…zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
Victory over sin and its mastery of us comes by way… of the “grace of God”… who will miraculously change us from the inside out as we… “consider ourselves dead to the world”.
As we desire to spend more of our time… our lives… focusing more of our attention on Christ and the Kingdom of God… we find that all of the sudden we wake up one day realizing that our priorities are different… our desires are different… and our tendency to follow after sin has slowly changed.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in (2nd Corinthians 5:17) these words that are the answer to the
“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ… who gave Himself for us… that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people…zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
Victory over sin and its mastery of us comes by way… of the “grace of God”… who will miraculously change us from the inside out as we… “consider ourselves dead to the world”.
As we desire to spend more of our time… our lives… focusing more of our attention on Christ and the Kingdom of God… we find that all of the sudden we wake up one day realizing that our priorities are different… our desires are different… and our tendency to follow after sin has slowly changed.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in (2nd Corinthians 5:17) these words that are the answer to the
sin problem and its hold upon us.
“Therefore… if anyone is in Christ… he is a new creation… old things pass away and behold all
“Therefore… if anyone is in Christ… he is a new creation… old things pass away and behold all
things become new!”
The word “therefore”… refers to the verses prior… (2nd Corinthians 5:14-16) where Paul tells us
The word “therefore”… refers to the verses prior… (2nd Corinthians 5:14-16) where Paul tells us
that “all believers have died with Christ and no longer live for themselves”.
Our lives are no longer worldly… they are now spiritual.
Our “death” is that of “the old sin nature”… which was nailed to the cross with Christ.
It was buried with Him… and just as “He”… (Christ)… was raised up or resurrected by the Father… so are we raised up to “walk in newness of life”. (Romans 6:4).
That new person that was raised up… is what Paul refers to in (2nd Corinthians 5:17) as… “the new creation in Christ”… or being “born again” from above (John 3:16-17)
The Old Hymn of the church says “Grace Grace”… Gods Grace… Grace that is greater than all our sin”
We now have the “assurance of salvation”… “redemption”… eternity in Heaven because of Gods grace.
But there is going to come a day when this “Dispensation of Grace”… will end as Jesus said… “of the time that hour no man knows but only my Father in Heaven”(Mark 13:32)
So let me encourage you today… don’t put it off any longer
Put your faith and trust in Christ and allow Him to begin to do “a work of grace” in your life… so that you can experience the life He talks about… when He said “him whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” (John 10:10)
Good Day!
Our lives are no longer worldly… they are now spiritual.
Our “death” is that of “the old sin nature”… which was nailed to the cross with Christ.
It was buried with Him… and just as “He”… (Christ)… was raised up or resurrected by the Father… so are we raised up to “walk in newness of life”. (Romans 6:4).
That new person that was raised up… is what Paul refers to in (2nd Corinthians 5:17) as… “the new creation in Christ”… or being “born again” from above (John 3:16-17)
The Old Hymn of the church says “Grace Grace”… Gods Grace… Grace that is greater than all our sin”
We now have the “assurance of salvation”… “redemption”… eternity in Heaven because of Gods grace.
But there is going to come a day when this “Dispensation of Grace”… will end as Jesus said… “of the time that hour no man knows but only my Father in Heaven”(Mark 13:32)
So let me encourage you today… don’t put it off any longer
Put your faith and trust in Christ and allow Him to begin to do “a work of grace” in your life… so that you can experience the life He talks about… when He said “him whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” (John 10:10)
Good Day!