A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton
God Speaks:
Psalm 32:1-2 King James Version (KJV)
32 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain
Listen to God Speak & Obey:
I’m glad that God chose David to be in the lineage of Jesus coming into the world. He was a man who in his past committed adultery and covered it up with murder. David found redemption and so can you and me.
Today I want you to look for the way out of whatever you are covering up in your life that you would let it go and give it to God. The problem goes back to the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve failed the obedience test, and so have we.
Today’s devotional will be longer because I am going to be sharing just one serving of encouragement weekly, but I’m using a larger bowl. Taste and see that the Lord is good. I will be distributing a fresh bowl of encouragement every Friday.
Let me encourage you with the thought that God knows your weaknesses and that we can’t live with total obedience even in perfect conditions. God loves us so much that He made us in His image, and that includes having choices. But, when the first man and woman failed the faith and obedience test, God provided a covering.
Let me remind you that we have the freedom to choose, but we can’t select the consequences of our decisions.
Romans 6:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God provided the covering for the sins of the first Adam. However, that was just a sign of what was to come in the fullness of time.
Genesis 3:21 King James Version (KJV)
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Notice what the Bible says about Adam and Jesus. In Adam, all died, but in Christ, all have the opportunity to choose everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 15:22 King James Version (KJV)
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
The Old Testament:
Isaiah 9:6-7 King James Version (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
The thing I cherish about the Bible is that God keeps all of His promises. God is able and willing; He is God all by Himself.
The New Testament:
John 3:16-18 King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, thank You for loving us so dearly that You paid the supreme price of love by giving Your only son to pay the blood sacrifice for our sin.
Father, thank You for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
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