Tag: #faithful

Do You Believe God Works?

Text:

Luke 9:37-42 (ESV)

37  On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.

38  And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

39  And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him.

40  And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

41  Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

42  While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

Observation:

In our focal passage for today we are presented with two truths that grip my heart.

The first is that we can’t but God can. We don’t know who the disciples were that could not help the son of the man who made his appeal to Jesus after the disciples of Jesus could not help the child.

But, the second thing that we see from this passage is that nothing is impossible when we put it in the hands of the Lord.

There is something that encourages my heart as I read, and reflect upon this passage. Jesus has provided the way for those of us who are His disciples to be His extended heart and hand in the healing and helping ministry.

There is something that we can do with every problem we face in this world. We can take it to the Lord in prayer. The key is to have faith in God.

Luke 9:41 (ESV)

41  Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, Oh how sweet it is to live in Your presence; to know You, and to know Your power.

Father, we pray that You will never have an occasion to look at us, and say, “O faithless and twisted generation”. Father, I pray that You would grant us the grace gift of sufficient faith in You so that we would be faithful to You all of the days of our life.

Father, make us mighty men and women of faith who have a pray first attitude; a people who are devoted to prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

What Has the Lord Given You? How Are You Using It?

Text:

Matthew 25:14-15 (KJV)

14  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Observation:

The parable of the talents that Jesus told to His disciples has a powerful lesson for God’s children of every age.

The parable has two lessons. First, while Jesus is away the servant is to work faithfully and diligently. Second, while Jesus is away the servant is to know that his work will be greatly rewarded or severely judged.

If you know the story, you know the outcome. If you do not know the story, you can read it in Matthew 25:14-30.

Those of us who are believers have also been given spiritual gifts by God, and He expects of us what He expected of his servants in the parable that Jesus told.

Ephesians 4:7-8 (NLT)

7  However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

8  That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”

How are you using your spiritual gifts? After Jesus finished His work on the cross He went away for a season. However, He is coming again to take His people where He is, and what a day that will be.

God expects HIs people to work faithfully and diligently. He also wants us to know that our work will be greatly rewarded or severely judged. Are you being faithful and fruitful? Will the Father say this about you?

Matthew 3:17 (KJV)

17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name, and give You praise that You are so great and good in all Your works.

Father, I thank you for the gifts You give to Your people, and the blessings You give to those who are faithful and fruitful. Father, I pray that all of Your daughters and sons will hear these words when our work is finished here on earth, “I am well pleased with you”. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Are You Walking Daily With God?

Text:

Genesis 5:21-24 (NLT)

21  When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah.

22  After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters.

23  Enoch lived 365 years,

24  walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.

Observation:

In today’s focal passage we are introduced to a man named Enoch. He was human like all men, but he was different; he was a godly man. His name describes his life; it means dedicated.

There are three things that leaped off the page, and into my heart as I read this passage.

  1. Enoch lived in close fellowship with God.
  2. Enoch walked in close fellowship with God.
  3. One day God took him home to live with Him.

Hebrews 11:5-6 (NLT)

5  It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—”he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

6  And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Prayer:

Father, I look up to the heavens today, and I give praise and thanksgiving to You for You are a great God, and a loving, and good Father.

Father, I ask You to stir up the gift of faith that is within us, and that each of us would become people of faith who walk in close fellowship with You all of the days of our life. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Do You Know the Key to Changing Hearts?

 

Text:

Ruth 3:10-11 (HCSB)

10  Then he said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor.

11  Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

Observation:

We have an example of the power of love demonstrated in our focal passage for today. The Hebrew word is hesed, and is translated as kindness.

This hebrew word is also described this way:

  • Steadfast love
  • Loyal love
  • Undeserved kindness
  • Generosity
  • Faithful

What does this mean to Christ followers today? I believe that it means that we must embrace the truth that love is not a feeling, but an action. Let’s make it our goal to be kind, and to be demonstrations of God’s love, which is underserved kindness, and generosity.

Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB)

10  For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I give my pen and my voice to praying the prayer of David, a man after Your own heart.

Psalm 44:26 (AMP)

26  Rise up! Come to our help, and deliver us for Your mercy’s sake and because of Your steadfast love!

Father, may steadfast love that has been poured into our hearts, by the Holy Spirit that You have given us, flow from us in acts of loving-kindness, and tender mercies. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Who Is Willing To Go The Distance?

 

Text:

Joshua 14:6-11 (HCSB)

6  The descendants of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD promised Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.

7  I was 40 years old when Moses the LORD’s servant sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land, and I brought back an honest report.

8  My brothers who went with me caused the people’s hearts to melt with fear, but I remained loyal to the LORD my God.

9  On that day Moses promised me: ‘The land where you have set foot will be an inheritance for you and your descendants forever, because you have remained loyal to the LORD my God.’

10  “As you see, the LORD has kept me alive ?these? 45 years as He promised, since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old.

11  I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then.

Observation:

Today I am focused on Caleb. What an inspiration, and an encouragement for all of God’s children of the blessing of being faithful to God in the hard times of our journey through this world.

There is a blessing for being faithful to God. For the unbelieving, there is no hope, and because of this, they died in the wilderness. However, for Caleb, he had faith, and he was faithful. He had a living hope, and he lived to enter the promised land.

Numbers 14:24 (HCSB)

24  But since My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me completely, I will bring him into the land where he has gone, and his descendants will inherit it.

Prayer:

Father, I extol You, and give praise, and thanksgiving to You for who You are, and for Your mighty works.

Father, I pray that You will find me to be a faithful servant, and that I will be faithful to the end.

Father, my heart’s desire is to be united with others who are willing to believe in You, and are willing to be faithful to the end; to go with me to the Promised Land. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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What A Friend

 

Text:

Proverbs 17:17 (HCSB)

17  A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.

Observation:

The portion of the verse that is speaking into my heart today is this, “A friend loves at all times; not just in a difficult time”.

Ruth 1:16 (HCSB)

16  But Ruth replied: Do not persuade me to leave you or go back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

What A Friend! We are most like our Savior when we love and care for one another; not just when we are at our best; but, when we are at our worst. We belong to each other, and we need each other.

Proverbs 18:14 (HCSB)

14  A man’s spirit can endure sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?

Friendships have its risks, but it is better to have friends that sometime disappoint you than to be an isolated person without a friend.

Proverbs 18:19 (HCSB)

19  An offended brother is ?harder to reach? than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

Proverbs 18:1 (HCSB)

1  One who isolates himself pursues ?selfish? desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I thank You for providing for us the most wonderful and trusted friend a person could ever have. O how I love Jesus, because He first loved me.

Father, help each of us to be a friend that loves others first, and that loves at all times; not just in a difficult time. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry