MERCY

(READ MATTHEW 9:1-17)

"GO AND LEARN WHAT THIS MEANS:"I DESIRE MERCY,NOT SACRIFICE."(MATTHEW 9:13)

MERCY IS COMPASSION THAT REFRAINS FROM PUNISHING EVEN WHEN JUSTICE DEMANDS IT. GOD DEMONSTRATED MERCY BY ALLOWING HIS SON TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR ALL THE WRONGS COMMITTED BY EVERY PERSON WHO EVER LIVED. BECAUSE JESUS NEVER SINNED, HE IS THE ONLY SACRIFICE WORTHY TO PAY FOR THE WORLD'S OFFENSES. NO OTHER SACRIFICE CAN COMPARE TO JESUS' PERFECT SACRIFICE.

WE SEE THE PHARISEES ACCUSING AND JUDGING PEOPLE WITHOUT ADMITTING THEIR OWN WRONGDOING. THEY WERE TO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY, BUT INSTEAD, THEY WERE HYPOCRITICAL TYRANTS. THEY MADE A BIG SHOW OF GIVING MONEY TO GOD BUT USED THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR PARENTS. THEIR COLD HEARTS WERE FOCUSED ON THE LETTER OF THE LAW. THEY MISSED ITS INTENT. GOD GAVE THE LAW TO POINT HEARTS TOWARD LOVING HIM FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND LOVING OTHERS AS HE HAS LOVED US. JESUS WANTS US TO BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS GOD IS MERCIFUL(LUKE 6:36)

PRAYER SUGGESTION: LORD, HELP ME BE MERCIFUL TO THOSE WHO OFFEND ME, JUST AS YOU ARE MERICIFUL TO ME.

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FROZEN WITH FEAR

read matthew 8:14-34

ANDY WILL NOT TRAVEL BY AIRPLANE BECAUSE OF HIS FEAR OF FLYING. JILL TAKES A SEDATIVE TO DEAL WITH HER FEAR OF THE DENTIST'S DRILL. WHETHER REAL OR IMAGINED, FEAR CAN CONTROL AND UNDERMINE OUR LIVES.

JESUS REBUKED HIS DISCIPLES FOR FEARING THE STORM.

"YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID?"(MATTHEW 8:26)

IF WE BELIEVE GOD IS IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS, THEN WE MUST BELIEVE HE KNOWS WHAT IS COMING INTO OUR LIVES--EVEN THE HARSH THINGS. IF WE TRY TO SHELTER OURSELVES FROM FEAR, WE WILL BE AFRAID TO STEP OURSIDE OF OUR HOMES. EVEN THAT PERCEIVED SAFETY CAN BE THREATENED WITHOUT WARNING BY INTRUDERS SUCH AS FIRE, EARTHQUAKE, TORNADO, OR FLOOD.

OUR SAVIOR WANTS US TO FOLLOW WHERE HE LEADS, WITH HEARTS ON FIRE FOR HIM. HE DOES'NT WANT OUR LIVES FROZEN WITH FEAR. HE TELLS US THERE WILL BE TROUBLE, BUT TO TAKE HEART BECAUSE HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US ALONE. THE ANTIDOTE FOR FEAR IS TO HAVE FAITH IN THE GOD WHO LOVES AND SAVES HIS CHILDREN FROM ETERNAL DEATH.

CHALLENGE FOR TODAY: LIVE IN THE CONFIDENCE OF GOD'S PRESENCE, FREE FROM FEAR.

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THE FATHER'S WILL

READ MATTHEW 7:21-8:13

"NOT EVERYONE....WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN,BUT ONLY HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER"(MATTHEW 7:21)

MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT GOD'S WILL FOR THEIR LIVES. BUT HE DOESN'T WANT IT TO BE COMPLICATED OR SCARY FOR US.

THE FIRST STEP IN DOING THE FATHER'S WILL IS TO BELIEVE THAT HE LOVED US SO MUCH HE SENT HS ONLY SON TO DIE FOR OUR SINS. THE NEXT STEP IS HUMBLY RECEIVING THE GIFT OF SALVATION AVAILABLE ONLY THROUG THE RISEN CHRIST. THEN, HIS WILL IS FOR US TO TURN AWAY FROM A SINFUL LIFESTYLE AND BEGIN ALIFELONG PROCESS OF DEPENDING ON HIM TO HELP US BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS.

OUR FATHER'S WILL IS THAT WE LOVE HIM ENOUGH TO OBEY HIM. WE EXPRESS OUR LOVE BY LEARNING MORE ABOUT HIM, TALKING TO HIM OFTEN, ASKING FOR HIS DIRECTION,PRAISING HIS CHARACTER, EXPRESSING OUR GRATITUDE, AND SERVING HIM AS HE LEADS US TO HELP OTHERS. IT MEANS HONORING HIM BY WHAT WE THINK, SAY AND DO. IT MEAN'S SINCERELY CONFESSING OUR FAILURES TO HIM.

PRAYER  SUGGESTION:   FATHER, HELP ME SEE WHEN I AM STRAYING FROM YOUR WILL AND HELP ME RETURN TO THAT PLACE OF OBEDIENCE.

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OFFER THEM FRUIT

(READ MATTHEW 7:1-20)

"BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM"(MATTHEW 7:20)

GOD GIVES US A MISSION FIELD AMONG UNSAVED FAMILY,FRIENDS,NEIGHBORS,AND ACQUAINTANCES. WE ARE TO BE JESUS' HANDS AND FEET, LOVING AND SERVING HOWEVER THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS. WE ARE TO PRAY THAT GOD WILL PREPARE PEOPLE'S HEARTS TO HEAR THE MESSAE OF SALVATION. WHEN THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY OPENS, WE ARE TO BE READY TO SHARE THAT MESSAGE WITH THEM.

THE UNSAVED AROUND US WILL WATCH AS WE, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US, GIVE WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN, TALK RESPECTFULLY AND ENCOURAGE, AND HAVE A PEACE EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES.

CHILDREN OF GOD SHOULD BE RECOGNIZABLE BY THE WAY THEY TALK AND BY THEIR BEHAVIOR. IF PEOPLE SEE US EZHIBIT ANGER,CRITICISM,STINGINESS,AND UNFRIENDLINESS WHILE WE CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS, THEY WILL NOT BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING CHRIST. THOSE SOUR FRUITS ARE ABUNDANT EVERYWHERE. IT'S WHEN THEY SEE THE GOOD FRUIT JESUS BRINGS ABOUT IN OUR LIVES THAT THEY WILL WANT TO TASTE IT FOR THEMSELVES.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: A LIFE LIVED THROUGH CHRIST WILL BE FRUITFULL.

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WHY WORRY?

READ (MATTHEW 6:19-34)

"WHO OF YOU BY WORRYING CAN ADD A SINGLE HOUR TO HIS LIFE".(MATTHEW 6:27)

WHAT CAN WE DO WHEN LIFE WASHES OVER US WITH WORRIES THAT SEEP INTO OUR MINDS AND BECOME A WHIRLPOOL OF TOUBLES,ROBBING US OF DAYTIME JOY AND NIGHTTIME REST?

1.READ GOD'S WORD TO REMIND US OF HIS LOVE FOR US.

2. TALK TO OUR SAVIOR ABOUT OUR TROUBLES AND ASK FOR HIS WISDOM AND GUIDANCE.

3. REMEMBER HOW HE HAS TAKEN CARE OF US IN THE PAST, WHICH WILL STRENGTHEN OUR DAITH IN THE PRESENT

4.TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INTERCEDE FOR US "WITH GROANS THAT WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS" WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PRAY(ROMANS 8:26)

WE CAN RESPOND TO STRESS BY FILLING OUR HEARTS WITH GOD'S WORD, OURNALING HIS ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS,BELEVING GOD'S MANY PROMISES. HE WHO ESTABLISHES THE OCEAN'S BOUNDARY SETS LIMITS ON OUR TROUBLES SO THEY CANNOT DROWN US.

PRAYER SUGGESTION: LORD, AS I BRING EVERYTHING TO YOU WITH TANKSGIVING, IMMERSE ME IN YOUR PEACE.

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PERFECT PERSPECTIVE

READ MATTHEW 5:31-48

"BE PERFECT,THERFORE,AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT"(matthew 5:48)

JESUS' TEACHINGS CONFLICT WITH THE STANDARDS OF OUR WORLD TODAY. HIS INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING DEVORCE,REVENGE,AND HATING OUR ENIMIES ARE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT WHEN COMPARED TO CURREN THOUGHT. WE GRIT OUR TEETH,LOOK AT THE SITUATION,AND THINK,"NO WAY!" IT'S NOT FAIR. ITS NOT RIGHT."

JESUS' DEATH ON THE CROSS WAS NOT FAIR. BUT BECAUSE HE LOVES EVERYONE--EVEN HIS ENEMIES--ENOUGH TO DIE FOR THEM, WE CAN ALL RECEIVE FORGIVENESS FOR OUR REVELLION TOWARD GOD. HIS SACRIFICE ACCOMPLISHED AN ETERNAL PURPOSE.

THE POWER THAT ENABLED JESUS TO SUBMIT HIMSELF TO CRUCIFIXION,AND RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, IS AVAILABLE TO SUSTAIN US THROUGH EVEY TEST AND TRIAL WE FACE. IT IS A MATTER OF FOCUS. ARE WE LOOKING AT THE SITUATION WITH OUR HUMAN EYES AND EMOTIONS? IF SO, WE NEED TO LIIK TO JESUS AND TRUST HIM. HE WILL WALK WITH US THROUGH OUR DIFFICULTY. IN THATWAY, GOD'S PURPOSES ARE ACCOMPLISHED IN US AND IN OTHERS.

PRAYER SUGGESTION:  HELP ME SEE MY PROBLEMS THROUGH THE LENS OF AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.

DAILY PRAYER EMPHASIS:

            &nb sp;        LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS..

GOD BLESS THIS DEVOTIONAL IS FOR SUNDAY 01-07-07

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READ GENESIS 14:1-16:16

HAGAR WAS RUNNING AWAY. A YOUNG EGYPTIAN WOMEN, SHE WAS MAIDSERVANT OF ABRAM'S WIFE SARAI. BECAUSE SARAI WAS BARREN, SHE GAVE THE GIRL TO HER OWN HUSBAND IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN HEIR. WHEN HAGAR BECAME PREGNANT, SHE BEGAN TO TREAT SARAI WITH CONTEMPT. SARAI RESPONDED BY ABUSING HER, AND HAGAR ESCAPED INTO THE WILDERNESS.

SHE WAS NOT ALONE. THE ANGEL OF THE LORD FOUND HER AT A ROADSIDE SPRING AND ASKED HER WHERE SHE WAS GOING. HAGAR ADMITTED THAT SHE WAS RUNNING AWAY FROM SARAI. INSTEAD OF SYMPATHIZING WITH HER, THE ANGEL TOLD HE TO GO BACK WHERE SHE CAME FROM, AND TO SUBMIT TO SARAI. HOWEVER, HE GAVE HER THE PROMISE OF NUMEROUS DESCENDANTS. THIS VISITATION HAD A LARGE IMPACT ON HAGAR: SHE GAVE THIS NAME TO THE LORD WHO SPOKE TO HER: "YOU ARE THE GOD WHO SEES ME," FOR SHE SAID,"I HAVE NOW SEEN THE ONE WHO SEES ME."(genesis 16:13)

GOD SEES EACH OF US, AND HE KNOWS THE SITUATIONS IN WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES. WE CAN TRUST HIM TO TAKE CARE OF US!

PRAYER SUGGESTION: GOD, YOU SEE ME. YOU ARE WAITING TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE INTO A HOLY PLACE.

DAILY PRAYER EMPHASIS: STATE GOVERNMENT LEADERS

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