A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Bible Reading Plan - www.Bible-Reading.com; The Story, Chapter 5, You Version Bible app, days 29 through 35. In my younger days I thought Leviticus a really boring book of the Bible. I’ll have to admit, it’s still not my favorite, but I’ve come to appreciate its rules and regulations a lot more as I’ve come to understand the bigger picture of God’s Story and His plan for us. You see, the big picture of God’s story is His incredible desire to live face to face with us. But there is this problem we created. We brought sin into the world. We broke that relationship with Him and He has been working to get it back. But God cannot live where there is sin. So His Story tells us how He is working through history to exact His plan to bring us back into that perfect relationship that existed in the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve chose to disobey Him. An interesting concept we need to understand about having an intimate relationship with God, though, is this. If expect to get along with God, we must be able to get along with each other. My kids hated time out growing up. They knew the rules of the house and when they broke them, that was often where they ended up...timeout. Sitting on the sidelines instead of participating in whatever was going on around them. But my wife and I wanted to have a relatively peaceful home. In fact, I’m not sure my kids ever heard me holler at them. That doesn’t mean I’m the best parent in the world. I was absent a lot because of military service. So much of their good character is my wife’s fault. But she and I decided early that we would enforce the rules and from a very early age, they learned there were consequences for breaking the rules. Kids need fences. They need to know what the limits are and they need to know those limits are firm. When the boundaries change every day, they get confused. They will test those limits and push them as far as you will let them. Never learning there are consequences for disobedience until one day it is too late and the consequences are much greater than either the child or the parent ever expected. The same is true for adults, though. We need boundaries, too. We need rules as surely as our children do if we expect to live in community with other people. And that’s why God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai those centuries ago. The last six of the commandments are not unique. Many cultures had those same rules imposed on their people. It’s how communities ensured people got along with each other. Respect your parents, don’t murder, steal, lie, commit adultery, or covet the things someone else owns. These six commands keep us in check with those that live around us. The first four commandments were unique to this new nation God was building through His chosen people led by Moses. Keep God first, don’t make any idols or images, honor and respect His name, and set aside a day each week to remember and worship Him. These four rules keep our vertical relationship in perspective. The last four keep our horizontal relationships right. But we grouse at the commandments. Why do we need rules? Why can’t I do my own thing? Well, we want rules for everyone but me. That’s the thing. In our selfishness, the very core of sin, we want something that holds everyone else in check but don’t want to be bound by those same expectations. And that’s the problem. We don’t want anyone speeding past our yard when the kids are playing, but we don’t want that ticket when we are guilty of the same crime. After all, I’m in complete control of my car at all times, right? I know what I’m doing, right? Wrong. God gave us the commandments so we could get along with each other. They model the relationship that exists within the trinity. The Father, Son, and Spirit have existed eternally living within these boundaries and know that we can only get along when we observe these same boundaries. So God sets limits on our behavior to help us live in community with each other so that He might restore our community with Him. He wants so desperately to return to those walks in the garden with us. The rules also told Moses how to build a place for God to stay. He wanted to be right in the middle of this new nation, so Moses constructed a tabernacle, a big tent, for God. If you read about the layout of the camp, the tabernacle was right in the middle of those three million people. Three tribes on the north, three tribes on the east, three tribes on the south, and three tribes on west with the tabernacle smack dab in the middle of the camp. That was where God wanted to be in regard to His new nation. But the tabernacle also had to be built to perfect specifications. Special wood, special materials, special utensils, special dimensions. Even special people doing the work and handling everything associated with His new house. In fact, the priests could not even go inside because of their sin. God is a holy God. He cannot tolerate sin and will not live in the presence of sin. So when His house was built, not even the priests could go inside when He was present. Sin was a problem. God gave Moses instructions on how to allow the priest to come into His special sacred spot once a year. He gave him a way for atonement for his sins and the sins of the people. A perfect lamb was sacrificed and its blood shed in atonement for sin. God pointed toward this act back in the Garden of Eden when He killed some animals and took their skins to make clothing for Adam and Eve. These rules for atonement, shedding the blood of an innocent animal point to something bigger coming when He sacrifices His own son for us. But it tells us the innocent pay for our sin. That’s pretty bad. Adam’s offspring, us, pay the consequences of Adam’s disobedience. Do you ever think your sins might be hidden? Guess again, the innocent pay for your sins. Your spouse, your children, your neighbors. The innocent pay for your disobedience. And oh, by the way, you pay for the disobedience of someone else! You see we are all in this together. We have to learn to get along. God gave us those rules for a reason. He wants desperately to live among us and walk with us in His garden. But until we can get along with each other, we can never get along with Him. Jesus said it in answer to the question, “What is the greatest commandment?” “Love your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself.” If we can’t love our neighbor who we can see. If we can’t live with each other? How can we expect to live with a holy God? Why did God give us the Ten Commandments? To show us how the trinity lives and how we should live in community. They prepare us in the furtherance of His bigger picture to live with us again in His perfect dwelling place. You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more about The Story and our part in it. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Bible Reading Plan - www.Bible-Reading.com; The Story, Chapter 4; You Version Bible app, days 22 through 28 We continue our journey through the story examining another of the stories that almost everyone has heard. In fact, almost everyone can tell you the book that contains the story. It’s found in the book of Exodus, an interesting compound Greek word that means “the way out.” Today I want us to focus on the hero of the story as we have focused on the unlikely heroes in the first weeks of our study. Adam and Eve were unlikely heroes because of their disobedience. Abraham was an unlikely hero, picked by God to be the father of the nation of Israel through which all the nations of the world would be blessed. Joseph, a slave and prison, who God chose to become the second in command of the mighty nation of Egypt. All unlikely heroes. People you and I would never choose if we were God. But then we are not God. He chooses people whose hearts are in the right place, not who necessarily have it all together. So it is with today’s story. Who would choose Moses as the savior of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt? Yes, he was miraculously saved from Pharaoh’s destruction of the male children born to the slaves as they continued to increase in population. Yes, he was raised in Pharaoh’s palace as a young man. But Moses was a murderer. Moses had a price on his head. Moses couldn’t speak well and many scholars think he might have suffered from some sort of speech impediment and had difficulty being understood. Moses was an outlaw living in the wilderness making sure no one recognized him, tending sheep, just to stay alive. What did Moses have that would make him the hero of the story? Why would God choose him to be the leader of the nation and call him to face Pharaoh to pronounce His judgment on Egypt to free His chosen people from their centuries of slavery? Why would God ask someone with a speech impediment to be His spokesman? This just doesn’t make sense, does it? But there he was, tending his father-in-law’s sheep, when God spoke to him from a blazing bush that wasn’t consumed by the fire. Bizarre! We would see Moses as much more a hindrance than a help. But God saw something else. He saw a man committed to Him. He saw a man He could use as an instrument of His grace and mercy. He saw a man through whom He could demonstrate His justice and His redemption because He saw Moses’ heart. Was Moses perfect? No. Not by a long shot. We already said he was a murderer. He was a coward, running into the desert when confronted by his countrymen. He even did things after God called him as Israel’s leader that kept him out of the promised land. Remember the story of Moses striking the rock to get water out of it instead of doing what God said and speaking to the rock? That might not sound like a big deal to you, but to God that was disobedience to His command. That’s pretty serious, don’t you think? That was just like Adam and Eve disobeying God in the Garden of Eden when God said don’t eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They didn’t do what God said. God told Moses, “Speak to the rock and get water out of it.” Moses didn’t do what God said and his punishment, like Adam and Eve’s was banishment from the promised lan. Moses wasn’t perfect. He had his struggles and his faults just like you and I. But he knew to whom he could go when he did wrong. Unlike Adam and Eve, he didn’t hide, but rather he confessed and laid himself before God in repentance. He opened himself to the God of the universe and kept that intimate relationship between His God and himself. And that’s why God used him in such a miraculous way. There were still consequences for Moses’ disobedience. We still have consequences for our sin. We pay a price for the wrongs we commit. God sometimes removes the consequences, but most often does not in the physical world we live in. We suffer and struggle in this broken world because we live in a world filled with sin. But when we follow Him and obey His teachings, we experience far fewer of the negative consequences that come with wrong actions. Right living brings good consequences. Wrong living brings bad consequences. It just makes sense. This week, if you follow the reading in “The Story”, chapter 4 or the smartphone app You Version reading plan Engaging God’s Story days 23 through 29, you will see just how God uses this unlikely hero as an instrument for the salvation of His people. It’s pretty exciting stuff. The readings also remind me that God can use the most unlikely people, even you and me, to carry out the most incredible events. He might not use you to change the world like He did with Moses, but then again He might. Moses was 80 when he stood before the burning bush. Abraham was 100 when Isaac, the promised son was born. God doesn’t pay attention to age or bank accounts or social status or race or nationality or any of the things we might think are important in being a hero or world changer. God pays attention to hearts. He wants people who are devoted to Him. And when He finds that person, He can use him or her to do what others think impossible. We’ve already seen that in the characters we’ve explored just in these few days of reading God’s Story. But hold on. There is a lot more ahead. God has a plan and it is unfolding just as He expects. You can be part of moving His plan forward or you can futilely try to push against it. It’s your choice which side you choose. But He is God and will not and can not fail because He is God and we are not. No matter how hard we might try to push against His will, His plan, He wins...every time. So which side will you choose? Yours or His? It’s really not hard to make the smart choice, so why do so many choose the wrong one? Which one do you choose? You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more about The Story and our part in it. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Bible Reading Plan - www.Bible-Reading.com I’m back and happy to be sharing with you again after a brief interlude with work and family. My church, San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene, begins a new series September 11 called The Story. Some of you may be familiar with The Story and may have even been through its 31 week study. In our church, through this series, every class and every sermon, and we hope every family and person will focus on The Story. So in keeping with the theme of my church, I will be sharing devotionals aligned with next Sunday’s sermon and small group discussions. So today we start at the beginning of life as we know it found in Genesis chapters 1-8. I won’t get into discussions about whether we live on a young earth or an old earth. I won’t try to give you any scientific information on how all of this came into being. I won’t argue points about the size and scope of the universe or debate the physical properties and mathematical equations that explain the delicate balance of how life can exist at only this spot in our solar system. But I will tell you that every civilization, every religion tells the story of creation. And our Bible begins it this way: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” At the end of those verses that outline the order of creation beginning with God’s spoken word to separate light from darkness, each creative act carries the same pronouncement. “God looked at His handiwork and said ‘It is good.” The earth He created, the living things that populate it, plants and animals and even man are all celebrated as good. God created them, so how could they be otherwise? There is another important verse near the beginning of that creation narrative that helps us understand what the Bible, The Story, is really all about. It is found in Genesis 3:8, “Then the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking in the garden. It was the coolest time of the day.” We will get to the rest of that verse in a moment, but it’s important to recognize what God is doing here. He desired to be with Adam and Eve. He also desires to be with us. It was God’s routine to meet with those first inhabitants of the earth and He walked with them in the garden each day. You see, God’s greatest desire, His greatest passion, the thing He longs for is a relationship with the men and women He creates. You’ll find that the rest of The Story, from that first verse in Genesis until the closing verse in Revelation lays out for us God’s passion to have an intimate relationship with each of us. God walked with Adam and Eve. They saw Him face to face. He communed with them as they cared for this creation He put into place. It was perfect when He designed it. In the beginning, there was no pain, no heartache, no tears, no death, no evil. The garden was the place God came to meet with the highest of His creation. But in that third chapter of Genesis we find that Adam and Eve chose to disregard God’s instructions. They made the choice to disobey. And their act brought evil and death and the destruction to God’s good work. We brought pain and heartache and tears and death and evil into the world by our choosing. Ever since that first act of disobedience, we have lived out the last of Genesis 3:8, “The the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking in the garden. It wa the coolest time of the day. They hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Adam and Eve could no longer face the perfect, holy God when their hearts were filled with disobedience and evil. So they hid. They covered their nakedness with fig leaves. They tried to get away from the One who desired to be with them. The rest of The Story, God’s Story, tells of His pursuit of us. We are still His creation and He still longs to walk with us. God from this point on put a plan in place to redeem us. He wants us back. But He is still a holy God and will not tolerate evil. He made us this promise, though. One day He said He will recreate the earth. He will destroy this one and put in its place a new heaven and new earth. The new one will be better than this one because Satan will be banished. There will once again be no tears, no pain, no death, no evil. And we will once again see God face to face in that perfect recreated garden. From the fall through the rest of The Story, God makes a way for those who follow Him. We see it in Adam and Eve’s children, Cain and Abel. God gave Cain a way of escape from the punishment of other men by putting His mark upon Him. God took Enoch to be with Him without experiencing the pain of death as an example of His love and grace. God rescued mankind from total destruction through Noah, a righteous man who followed God in all He did. Throughout His Story, we will see God and work trying to redeem us from the death we brought on ourselves. But throughout The Story, we will also see that it is always our choice. We choose the path we take. We choose obedience or disobedience. We choose to remain trapped in the heartache and evil that come as a result of the fall. Or we choose to accept His plan of redemption and follow Him. The first garden, the Garden of Eden was perfect. We destroyed it with our evil choices. Through the centuries to this very day, we continue to destroy God’s creation by our choosing to disobey. But for those who choose to listen to and believe His Story, those who trust in Him and follow His leading, there will be a new heaven and new earth. Better than the Garden of Eden. He promised it in His Story and God never breaks a promise. There are five movements in The Story: the story of the garden, the story of Israel, the story of Jesus, the story of the Church, and the story of the new garden. We heard today an excerpt about the story of the garden. Join me again next week as we continue our journey through the five movements of the Bible, The Story, God’s plan to redeem us and have that intimate relationship He had with Adam and Eve walking through the Garden. You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more about The Story and our part in it. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. As much as we might think we can, we cannot go wherever we want. Moses learned that a long time ago. Scripture Leviticus 16:2 Go, talk to Aaron, and warn him that he cannot go whenever he wants... Devotional I hope you don’t mind, but I’m using another warfighter story today since I’m still deep into a training exercise for a medical command this week. I think it will illustrate my point pretty clearly, though. We have the units operating on a linear battlefield at the moment. When combat units fight side by side in that fashion, they have what are called lines of coordination that determine exactly where their left and right boundaries are so they reduce the risk of firing into friendly forces. That boundary is usually an easily recognizeable feature like a road or river or some other terrain feature that won’t change despite the intensity of the battle. And one of the units, not both, will own the feature, the road, river, or whatever it might be. So units don’t go into each others territory without prior coordination. One unit’s soldiers don’t cross the line without coordinating with their adjacent unit first. The reason is easily understood. If you cross the boundary without coordination, you might get shot by friendly force. Not a good thing for anyone. So units warn their soldiers where they cannot go. Don’t cross this road. Don’t cross this river. Don’t go over this hill. Stay out of the adjacent unit’s area. You can’t go wherever you want! It’s true in our everyday life. We find barriers on the road. One way signs, road blocks, locked doors. Physical barriers that keep us out of places that unless we have the proper authority, we cannot enter those places. I can pretty much guarantee that most if not everyone who hears this has never personally seen the gold in sitting in Fort Knox. We cannot go there. We cannot go wherever we want. If we tried, we would be turned away. If we tried by using force, we would be met with equal or greater force and be turned away. I can assure you that you cannot get to the gold in Fort Knox. It is protected from intrusion and theft and you cannot go there. You cannot see it. You cannot go wherever you want. There are some severe consequences for overstepping your bounds if you cross physical barriers that are there to restrict your movement. Another example are the barriers our law enforcement personnel put in place during flash floods. Some people are foolish enough to think the barriers don’t apply to them and find themselves caught in the torrent of water grasping on whatever they can when their car is washed off the road. The near death experience and $2500 fine helps remind them you cannot go wherever you want. All of these examples talk about physical space, but what about our behavior? What about our spiritual lives? What about pushing past the fence that God puts in place to keep us from suffering the consequences of sinful behavior. His laws keep us in line. His laws are much like telling our kids not to put their hand in the flame. Don’t go there, you’ll get burned. God tells us, don’t do these things. There are consequences you don’t want to pay if you cross these boundaries. You cannot go wherever you want. If we would just listen to Him. If we would just pay attention to the warning signs He puts in our path and then refuse to go around them, our journey of life would progress so much better. We would find ourselves with so much more joy and find our priorities ordered properly in the things we face every day. We understand in our daily lives we cannot go wherever we want. It’s important we apply that same understanding to our behavior and our spiritual lives. Otherwise there are consequences we do not want to pay. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God." Bible Reading Plan - www.Bible-Reading.com  

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. How hard do you try when problems seem insurmountable? (Luke 19:1-5) Scripture Luke 19:1-5 Jesus enters Jericho and seems only to be passing through. Living in Jericho is a man named Zaccheus. He’s the head tax collector and is very rich. He is also very short. He wants to see Jesus as He passes through the center of town, but he can’t get a glimpse because the crowd blocks his view. So he runs ahead of the crowd and climbs up into a sycamore tree so he can see Jesus when He passes beneath him. Jesus comes along and looks up into the tree, and there He sees Zaccheus. Jesus: Zaccheus, hurry down from that tree because I need to stay at your house tonight. Devotional For the last week, I’ve been assisting in the training of Army medical brigade headquarters. These units provide direction for the medical formations on the battlefield to provide treatment for the sick, injured, and wounded within the area the Army operates. They tell those medical units, like hospitals, evacuation units with helicopters and ambulances, dental units, behavioral health units, preventive medicine teams, and a host of other medical capability where and when to move within the battlespace to ensure our service men and women are afforded the best care possible in sometimes pretty horrible conditions. Armies move pretty quickly on the battlefield. Hospitals can’t move so fast. It takes lots of people and trucks to tear down, move, and set up one of those 250 bed hospitals on the battlefield and their may be two or three or five of those that must be within range of the front line of troops to ensure trauma care is available in a timely manner. I mention those simple parameters to address the problem these medical brigades must address in the training scenarios we give them. We ask them to support an army that will fight across six or seven hundred miles in two or three weeks. The helicopters can only fly 2 ½ hours, so that’s less than one hour each way to pick up and return casualties from the front. That’s about 100 miles. These commanders face what seems to be an insurmountable problem. How do you treat patients across a six hundred mile battlefield following a combat force when it takes days to move and set up a hospital? So now we turn to the story of Zaccheus. He faced what seemed to be an insurmountable problem. Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus. He had heard about this man from Nazareth who did no wrong. A man who challenged the authority of the temple leaders. A man who feared nothing and no one. A man who worked miracles. A man who was said to even control nature, calming storms with His words. Zaccheus wanted to see this man. But Zaccheus was short in stature. He couldn’t see above the crowd. It was like a ten year old standing behind adults trying to see the parade. He wanted to see what was happening, but the crowd was too thick. Hundreds of others also wanted to get a view of this miracle worker and Zaccheus found himself pushed aside by the crowd. He was a tax collector. No one cared about giving him room. Everyone hated him. He worked for the Romans. He deserved to stand in the back. But Zaccheus would not be stopped. He would not let the people’s dislike for him keep him from seeing Jesus. Zaccheus would not give up this opportunity to catch a glimpse of this man everyone was talking about. He would find a way to see the one who changed the life of everyone who met Him. Zaccheus would find a way. So he ran ahead, climbed a tree, and waited anxiously for the Master to walk by. Jesus did an amazing thing. He invited Himself to Zaccheus house for dinner. The onlookers were astounded. First, that Jesus was bold enough to break the rules of protocol and invite Himself for dinner. And second, and most egregious, He invited Himself to a tax collector’s house. Zaccheus was creative, persistent, and would not accept defeat in doing something important for a future that would help others. Remember after meeting Jesus he promised to restore anything he took wrongly fourfold and to give half his wealth to the poor. Back to my training sessions this week. The medical commands would find it easy to give up on this insurmountable problem. It’s hard to find solutions to this almost impossible scenario. But lives are at stake. They must find a solution or American soldiers will die because of their failure to find a solution. They will be creative. They will be persistent. They will not accept defeat in doing something so important to the future of others. How about you? What problem are you facing that seems insurmountable but makes a difference in the lives of those around you? What mountain looms before you that you need to climb, go around, tunnel through, or something to better the lives of someone? Zaccheus didn’t quit. These medical brigade will not quit. How about you? God can give you a creative mind to help you find solutions if you stick with it and keep at the task ensuring a better future for others. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God." Bible Reading Plan - http://www.Bible-Reading.com  

A devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. It takes time and effort to perfect a skill. Should we expect anything different with our Christian walk? Then why do so many Christians think they can just get by with wearing His name? Scripture - Bible Reading Plan - http://www.Bible-Reading.com (week 28) Colossians 1:10; 22-23;2:6-8 May their lives be a credit to You, Lord; and what’s more, may they continue to delight You by doing every good work and growing in the true knowledge that comes from being close to You. ...but now He has reconciled you in His body—in His flesh through His death—so that He can present you to God holy, blameless, and totally free of imperfection 23 as long as you stay planted in the faith. So don’t venture away from what you have heard and taken to heart: the living hope of the good news that has been announced to all creation under heaven and has captured me, Paul, as its servant. Now that you have welcomed the Anointed One, Jesus the Lord, into your lives, continue to journey with Him and allow Him to shape your lives. 7 Let your roots grow down deeply in Him, and let Him build you up on a firm foundation. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always spill over with thankfulness. 8 Make sure no predator makes you his prey through some misleading philosophy and empty deception based on traditions fabricated by mere mortals. These are sourced in the elementary principles originating in this world and not in the Anointed One (so don’t let their talks capture you). Devotional When I was a kid, pre-teen, as a matter of fact, I took piano lessons. It was the thing to do for a lot of kids and it was a good way to learn music and, quite frankly, music teaches kids to strive toward perfection. You see, it’s pretty easy to know when you aren’t playing something correctly when you hit a wrong note. Our ears are tuned to hear things in certain harmonies and when notes are played out of harmony with everyone else, we know it. We hear those off color notes in a piece of music or a band or an orchestra and no one has to tell us. Well, I took lessons for two or three years and learned to play all those songs in those first half dozen or so beginner books, but that’s about as far as it goes. Needless to say, I didn’t learn to play well. I could read all the notes. I knew what all the marks on the score meant. I understood what the timing was supposed to be when played well, but my fingers never did what the composer intended when those black and white shapes were placed on those lines years earlier. On the other hand, I have a cousin who studied piano for many years and became a very accomplished pianist. He majored in keyboard in school and could play just about anything you put in front of him. He could play any type of music and accompany other musicians as they performed instrumentally or vocally. He was very good. But you know what? He started out the same way I did. Those first two or three years were brutal for his parents. Lots of practice with missed notes, obvious disharmony in the notes he played, mistakes galore. It’s the way things work. We cannot expect to be accomplished musicians without years of focused practice on the instrument we want to perfect. We cannot expect to just piddle around a few times with a piano or guitar or trumpet and expect to play like those we hear in some orchestra like the Philadelphia Harmonic Orchestra. No, we would be foolish to think we could do such a thing. I’m not a golfer, but I know from those who play the game, that the same is true of that sport or any other. Granted, some people are certainly more athletic than others. Some have an aptitude for certain sports and are fitted to such things much more so than others, but still they require practice. For instance, we would not expect a person four feet two inches tall to make it into the National Basketball League no matter how well he might shoot from the foul line. He just couldn’t compete against the seven footers on the court. But neither can all seven-footers play basketball. Frankly, most of the very tall people I know are a just a little uncoordinated because they’ve had to deal with their size in a world not made to fit them. So golf, baseball, basketball, pick a sport, pick a vocation, pick a hobby. To be good at it, takes time and effort and practice. I think the verses today tell us that about being followers of Christ. Listen to what Paul tells us in his letter to the church in Colossi: May their lives be a credit to You, Lord; and what’s more, may they continue to delight You by doing every good work and growing in the true knowledge that comes from being close to You. ...but now He has reconciled you in His body—in His flesh through His death—so that He can present you to God holy, blameless, and totally free of imperfection 23 as long as you stay planted in the faith. So don’t venture away from what you have heard and taken to heart: the living hope of the good news that has been announced to all creation under heaven and has captured me, Paul, as its servant. Now that you have welcomed the Anointed One, Jesus the Lord, into your lives, continue to journey with Him and allow Him to shape your lives. 7 Let your roots grow down deeply in Him, and let Him build you up on a firm foundation. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always spill over with thankfulness. 8 Make sure no predator makes you his prey through some misleading philosophy and empty deception based on traditions fabricated by mere mortals. These are sourced in the elementary principles originating in this world and not in the Anointed One (so don’t let their talks capture you). Paul prays about doing every good work and growing in the knowledge that comes from being close to God. That takes time and effort and commitment. He says Jesus reconciled us to present us blameless … as long as we stay planted in the faith. In this present world with it pull on us every day toward the evil one, it means we need to stay in the fight, keep up our guard, draw closer to Him. Commit ourselves to Him continuously and consistently. We must work at growing in Him. Paul says in Chapter two, to Let our roots grow down deeply i Him and let Him build us up on a firm foundation. If you’ve ever tried growing something, you know it takes work to till the soil, the plants fertilized, watered and weeded, so that you get the harvest you expect. It takes work to make roots grow deeply. And what about making sure no predator makes you his prey? Have you ever watched a prey try to escape its predator? A rabbit fleeing a fox? Or a mouse trying to outrun a hawk? Talk about work! This thing about following Christ means we must work hard at the task. We can’t expect to ask Him to forgive us and then expect everything to be over. To follow Him means we must work at doing so. We must grow in Him and that means picking up a hoe or a pick and shovel and getting through the tough ground so the right seeds can be sown in our life and a harvest reaped in our own soul. So as a Christian, don’t listen to those who might tell you everything will be peaches and cream when you become a follower of Jesus. It won’t. Following Jesus means work. It means commitment. It means suffering with Him. It means taking up our cross. It means giving our all because He gave His all. But is it worth it? Just ask the many who have followed Him and you will discover the joy in their lives that can never be shaken because He lives within them. Don’t expect an easy life, but expect one filled with excitement, joy, and His presence. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today marks the end of my daily format. With retirement and some changes in life events and personal and family priorities, I will change to a weekly format beginning this month. You can expect “A Little Walk with God” to continue, but it will be released each week on Mondays instead of the daily format you have had in the past. Thanks for your continued support and if you like what you hear, share it with your friends and send me a post to let me know what you think about the new format. Scripture John 8:31-32 Jesus (to the new Jewish believers): If you hear My voice and abide in My word, you are truly My disciples; you will know the truth, and that truth will give you freedom. Devotional Independence Day. The day a group of courageous men signed a document that started an experiment in democracy that has endured longer than anyone dreamed. 241 years ago, we declared our independence from the tyrannical rule of the king of England and formed the spark of democratic rule among the 13 colonies which would soon form the United States of America. Those early colonists wanted freedom from British rule. Freedom from laws and taxation and governance in which they had no say or influence. They wanted freedom to rule themselves and set their own direction for the formation of this new land in which they lived and died. They wanted freedom. Little did they know what would happen over the next centuries. Little did they understand that the United States would become the most powerful nation in the world both militarily and economically. Little did they understand the influence the constitution they drafted would impact the world of which they were only beginning to explore at the time. They sought freedom for themselves, their children and their children’s children. But what about today? What do we want? We hear a lot about people wanting freedom, but do we really understand what that means or what we really want? Freedom then and now does not mean the absence of authority or rule over us. Without rule and order and authority we would have utter chaos. Just look at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the lack of rule and order in New Orleans. Without order and authority, freedom means people often fall into animalistic behavior. We are better than that. Freedom does not mean absence of authority and order. We need order and authority to maintain peace and safety in our communities. We need government to ensure those basic necessities of life are taken care of in an orderly fashion for the common good of all of us. We need authority in our lives. Freedom includes authority over us. Always. Jesus says following His teachings lets us know the truth and the truth sets us free. So what does that mean? First, we need to understand that following His teachings means being like Him, being a disciple. That’s what disciples were in His day. Students who set aside their past beliefs and understandings and learned from their teacher. They adopted the teachings of their mentor and became like him in every way. They ate and dressed like him. They began to mimic his language and his thought process. They developed his mannerisms and in as many ways as possible began to be their teacher. They grew up in the image of their teacher, indistinguishable from their master. So Jesus is telling those around Him, be His disciple. Be like Him. Do what He does. Learn His teachings. Follow in His footsteps. When you do these things, you will know the truth. When you know the truth, you will be free. What will you be free from? Questions, the unknown, guilt, the burden of sin, fear, lack of purpose. You see, when you know the truth, suddenly you see the world the way Jesus sees it. You understand the reason we are put here on this earth. You know the peace that comes from knowing God’s forgiveness of your sins and the release of the guilt that plagues us because of our disobedience. You fear God as in recognizing the awesomeness of His mighty power, but you no longer fear God as in being troubled about His wrath for your past. You find freedom, real freedom. But with that freedom, you know who you serve. You are clearly and forever under His authority. You know you must and will follow His teachings. He is your Ruler, your King, your Director, your Guide, your Authority in all things. Yet you are truly free. Why? Because when you follow Him, you know the truth. You know Him and He is truth and you are free in Him. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God." Bible Reading Plan - 2 Kings 1-5  

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture Leviticus 10:1-2 Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron’s sons, took censers and filled them with embers; then they put incense on top of the fire and presented it to the Eternal One. This was a strange and unauthorized fire that the Eternal did not command them. Flames erupted from before the Eternal and burned up Nadab and Abihu. They both died in the presence of the Eternal One. Devotional Many churches frown on drinking alcohol. Most think getting drunk is not a good thing to do. Where does it stem from? Scripture. Stories like this one let us know why it pays to stay sober. Noah was drunk and caused Ham to see Him naked. It let to Ham and the Canaanites being cursed. Judah sleeping with his daughter in law. Samson losing his strength Aaron’s sons losing their lives And on and on, story after story of people losing their inhibitions and common sense under the influence of alcohol and getting themselves in serious trouble God made a profound example of these two priests, Nadab and Abihu New nation New laws Monotheism in a pagan, polytheistic world They had apparently been drinking when they attempted to put incense on the alter. God did not approve of their behavior. His fire killed them instantly. God doesn’t punish immediately too often today Still the same eternally Delays His punishment as a demonstration of His grace and mercy Gives us an opportunity to repent Gives us an opportunity to come to Him for forgiveness and atonement Wrath will come at the time of His choosing His is the same yesterday, today, and forever The punishment we saw with Nadab and Abihu is the kind of punishment any of us could expect for violating God’s laws He is a holy God and doesn’t allow sin in His presence Only through the blood shed by His own son can we find forgiveness for our sins and come into His presence It pays to listen to what God has to say, don’t you think? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God." Bible Reading Plan - Leviticus 10-12  

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. How much do you want to know Jesus? Enough to give up everything to find Him? Scripture Philippians 3:7-11 But whatever I used to count as my greatest accomplishments, I’ve written them off as a loss because of the Anointed One. And more so, I now realize that all I gained and thought was important was nothing but yesterday’s garbage compared to knowing the Anointed Jesus my Lord. For Him I have thrown everything aside—it’s nothing but a pile of waste—so that I may gain Him. When it counts, I want to be found belonging to Him, not clinging to my own righteousness based on law, but actively relying on the faithfulness of the Anointed One. This is true righteousness, supplied by God, acquired by faith. I want to know Him inside and out. I want to experience the power of His resurrection and join in His suffering, shaped by His death, so that I may arrive safely at the resurrection from the dead. Devotional Some people want to be anonymous, but I’m not sure there are few who want absolutely nothing left behind. We all would like to have someone remember at least something we have done. We don’t want to go off into obscurity never leaving any mark at all on the world. Paul recognizes the best mark we can leave, though. Whatever we accomplish write off as a loss. All gain and all accomplishments are like garbage compared to knowing Jesus Throw everything aside to know Him How much do you want to know Him? Is He worth everything to you? Are you willing to give up everything for Him? It’s when we want to know Jesus the way Paul wanted to know Him that we can experience Him the way Paul experienced Him. Inside and out Transformed in our thinking Experiencing daily the resurrection power of that first Easter morning Problem with most of us We hold to tightly to the things in this present age World blinds us to what is important That accomplishment we want others to remember The money or material possessions we accumulate The fame we get so our name is put into some history book We want to become a legend rather than letting God use us as His instrument to do whatever He wants Get to know Him inside and out seeing everything else as garbage in comparison If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God." Bible Reading Plan - Philippians 3-4  

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Trust cannot be underrated at home, in business, or with God. Jesus tells us about it in Luke. Scripture Luke 16:10-12 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? Devotional I know a lot of people who want more Money Property Time Friends I don’t know very many people who want the things that go with ownership of those things Responsibility Maintenance Worry Additional workload But Solomon gave us the proverbs about financial security a long time ago and Jesus reiterates it in these parables. He just talked to those around Him about the shrewd dealings of the world and the way they use their assets judiciously to better their situation Jesus then talks about this principle of trustworthiness Why would anyone entrust you with their assets if you were not trustworthy? They would be foolish The government goes through pretty elaborate processes to grant security clearances to individuals Background checks into criminal records, finances, friends and family They look at business associates and foreign travel They look at your parents’ and siblings histories and anything that might cause you to be untrustworthy with the nation’s secrets If you’re not trustworthy in little things they don’t expect you to be trustworthy with big things And so it goes Do you return extra change you get from a cashier’s mistake? Do you claim questionable things on your taxes? Do you take supplies from your employer? Do you work the time you say you work or spend it on Facebook or other personal activities? Are you trustworthy in the little things of life? Before God can entrust you with the important things of His kingdom, He needs to trust you with the mundane things here. The stuff around us won’t last. If we can’t take of it in a responsible way, how can God trust us with the things that last forever? Check your trustworthiness against His standard and see where you need to improve. Ask Him and He promises He will help. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God." Bible Reading Plan - Luke 15-16  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Taking a little vacation with my wife for a couple of weeks. I'll be back with you on July 1st. Be sure to tune back in for A Little Walk with God. Thanks for listening and join me again at the beginning of July.

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Scripture Psalms 2:2 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” Devotional The Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ In Old Testament times, people were subject to anointing when they were called to the offices of prophet, priest, and king. For example, when Saul became the first king of Israel, Samuel the prophet anointed his head with oil in a ceremonial fashion (1 Sam. 10:1). This religious rite was performed to show that the king of Israel was chosen and endowed by God for the kingship. Likewise, the priests (Ex. 28:41) and prophets (1 Kings 19:16) were anointed at God’s command. In a sense, anyone in the Old Testament who was set apart and consecrated for a servant task was a messiah, for he was one who received an anointing. But the people of Israel looked forward to that promised individual who was to be not merely a messiah but the Messiah, the One who would be supremely set apart and consecrated by God to be their Prophet, Priest, and King. So, at the time Jesus was born, there was a strong sense of anticipation among the Jews, who had been waiting for their Messiah for centuries. In the psalm we read, the psalmist talked about an anointed king, but also talked about the coming Messiah, the One all Israel waited for to act as prophet, priest, and king. The God/Man. Jesus fit the bill Anointed, not with oil by a priest, but set aside and proclaimed by testimony of the Father and the prophets and the miracles He performed to the be long awaited Messiah He didn’t fit the mold many were looking for Political ruler Military victor Someone of wealth and fame He was the One they needed Savior Redeemer God, the Anointed One If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Daniel heard God called the Ancient of Days. How does that help you understand who He is today? Scripture Daniel 7:9 As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. Devotional God, the Ancient of Days, what do you think of when you hear Him refered by that name? White hair Beard Wrinkled face White robe Sandals Seated on a huge throne Looking down with wisdom on all of us So much more than that Ancient of days denotes eternal Creator of all things Creator of time itself Before everything existed Denotes wisdom Knowledge Fatherly compassion Fatherly provision Fatherly protection Infinite power Daniel’s description conjures up a picture of God for us as the Ancient of Days Who do you see when you envision God, the Eternal One, the Ancient of Days? Worship Him today If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. God, the faithful and true witness, the Amen. Scripture Revelation 3:14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. Devotional God, the Amen, the faithful and true witness. The word amen ("So be it; truly") is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. It is found in Jewish, Christian, and some Muslim worship as a concluding word or response to prayers. Common English translations of the word amen include "verily" and "truly". It can also be used colloquially to express strong agreement, as in, for instance, amen to that. Go anywhere that is even slightly religious and you’ll hear the word. AMEN. Not limited to Jews or Christians Almost every religion around the world uses the term or something akin to it. A declaration of affirmation of something someone has said or done Agreement to words spoken or actions taken God calls Himself the Amen We see the word 30 times in the Old Testament; 52 times in the New Testament Jesus uses the word in a way no one else does Jesus uses amen before He speaks affirming what He is about to say, not what someone else has said Only time it’s used this way in all of scripture. Every other time amen is used initially, it is used to affirm someone else’s words Some translations render it, truly I say; in truth I say; verily I say He affirms His own statements, a huge faux pas in Jewish culture unless you are God because then who can test you or fault you He affirms His statements because He can, He is the Amen We hear the word a lot in our churches, to end prayers, after supplications, even in what some might call the “amen corner” of the congregation Do we then go out and live what we have just affirmed, though When we use the word amen and affirm the words spoken and declare with the speaker, “So be it,” do we follow with our action or just mouth the words and let that suffice? God is the Amen, the faithful and true witness What He says, He will do His “So be it!” means something. We can count on Him to carry out His promises Today, you might have an occasion to speak that commonly used word, Amen. God called Himself the Amen. When you use that word, remember you in essence take a vow before Him that you will take action affirming the words just spoken. Worship the Amen today, the faithful and true witness. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Alpha, the name that puts God first in everything. Scripture Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Devotional God calls himself the Alpha and Omega Wikipedia information Alpha (uppercase Α, lowercase α; Greek: Άλφα Álpha) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 1. It was derived from the Phoenician and Hebrew letter aleph - an ox or leader. Letters that arose from alpha include the Latin A and the Cyrillic letter А. In English, the noun "alpha" is used as a synonym for "beginning", or "first" (in a series), reflecting its Greek roots. The letter alpha represents various concepts in physics and chemistry, including alpha radiation, angular acceleration, alpha particles, alpha carbon and strength of electromagnetic interaction (as Fine-structure constant). Alpha also stands for thermal expansion coefficient of a compound in physical chemistry. It is also commonly used in mathematics in algebraic solutions representing quantities such as angles. Furthermore, in mathematics, the letter alpha is used to denote the area underneath a normal curve in statistics to denote significance level when proving null and alternative hypotheses. In zoology, it is used to name the dominant individual in a wolf or dog pack. Why bring up the information from Wikipedia? It gives us more insight into the name of God Think about the name and how the earliest writers described Him and understood Him The letter meant ox or leader, the strongest of their animals, which could plow their toughest fields, pull their heaviest loads, yet came alongside them to help them with those tasks when asked Leader - the one who provides the resources to get tasks done. The one who provides the guidance for which tasks need to be completed in the first place. The one who protects, provides, cares for, and guides those in His charge. First, preeminent, not just the first in a series of events or a line of objects, but first in everything Even as the term has been co-opted in math and science, you see the power and prominence of the name, alpha radiation, the first particles released; the thermal expansion coefficient of a compound, how much energy it releases, the dominant individual in a pack. Alpha - first in all things The God we serve is first. He will accept no other place in our lives Worship Him today Remember to keep Him as Alpha in your life If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. God is called our Advocate, not just our judge. What does that mean for you today. Scripture 1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. Devotional Our Advocate Have you thought much about what it means to have an advocate or especially what it means for God to be your advocate? Definition: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. A person who supports others to make their voices heard, or ideally for them to speak up for themselves. An advocate is a type of professional person in several different legal systems and it is also a commonly used honorific for remarkable lawyers, such as in "Adv. Sir Alberico Gentili". The broad equivalent in many English law-based jurisdictions can be a barrister. However, advocate is also a word to indicate lawyers of superior classification. Why might having God as an advocate be important to us? Throughout the Bible we read about a final judgment based on our actions during our life Those actions hinge on our belief in Jesus, the second person of the triune-Godhead, the Son of God. God incarnate, come to earth to die as the penalty we should pay for our sins If we believe in God, the Son, for forgiveness of our sins, He acts as our Advocate, our lawyer, our defender in the final judgment before God, the Father We are found “Not Guilty” before the law that establishes the judgment for our sins Just like our courts today, we are not found innocent, because we have all sinned, but we are found “Not Guilty” because our penalty has been paid, our punishment has been served, our sentence has been satisfied Our advocate points out the blood spilled on our behalf and the change in verdict that should be applied because of the sentence He served in our stead Jesus, our Advocate, the perfect defender, our lawyer in the final judgment who prepares the brief and wins our pardon because of His actions 2,000 years ago Jesus is the judge but He is also our Advocate When we believe in Him for our salvation we do not lose our case before the judgment seat He finds us not guilty Just imagine Think about God our advocate today as you worship Him If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture Romans 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Devotional Abba, Father. Dad, daddy, pop, papa, what do you call your father informally? When you climbed up in his lap as a kid and looked up into his face, what name did you use to get his attention? That’s what Abba means. Jesus addressed His Father, the Eternal God, the Creator of all things as Abba, Daddy Expresses an intimate relationship between father and son Compassion Nurture Me ntoring Protection Sharing of values Passing on a legacy from generation to generation We are made in the image of God, Jesus is more than the image of God, He is God and calls the Father, Abba He invites us into that kind of intimate relationship and come to know the Father as Abba Know His love and compassion Know His peace and protection Learn of His legacy and loveliness Let Him share His wisdom and pass on the knowledge He wants you to know The Creator will embrace you as a loving father embraces his children As daddy, papa, abba With an intimacy only a perfect father can express to his children No matter what you might be going through today, remember you have a loving Father in heaven who loves you enough to become flesh and blood to rescue you. He loves you enough to wrap you in His strong arms and protect you from whatever you might be facing. He wants you to know Him as Abba, daddy, papa Worship the God of all creation today and get to know Him as Abba. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. El-Olam, the everlasting God. Can we even begin to comprehend what that means? Scripture Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Devotional El-Olam, the everlasting God Here is another one of those concepts we just can’t get our heads around Everlasting, eternal, always We base our concept of time on our lifespan because that’s the only reference we really have That’s what we know We try to imagine multiple generations and may have met our great- or great-great grandparents but even that timespan is difficult for us to comprehend When the Bible talks about the earliest of God’s creation living 900 plus years, many think it a myth and can not understand how it is possible, nor what even a couple of centuries of life would be like Everlasting? No comprehension Even if we could imagine centuries or millennia and think back realistically to the age of the pyramids it doesn’t begin to compare with everlasting The history of man is insignificant in terms of everlasting The history of the planet is insignificant in terms of everlasting The history of everything is insignificant relative to everlasting Divide any amount of years by everlasting and the resulting fraction is so close to zero it might as well be zero. There is no comparison As you begin to think about everlasting, remember our God is everlasting, He has no beginning and He has no end. He is more than everlasting, He is eternal. Now as you let the concept of everlasting begin to overwhelm you, remember than the God we worship was and is and will be forever. A concept we really cannot understand but we can try. He is the God we worship. He is the God with infinite power and knowledge and wisdom and understanding because He has always been and always will be. He alone is eternal. Worship El-Olam today. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. The name for today, El-Shaddai. It can mean God of the mountains or more commonly translated God Almighty. Scripture Genesis 17:1; Psalms 91:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Devotional El-Shaddai, God Almighty. We hear that term a lot. We hear the name so often we probably let it just slip off our tongue without really thinking much about it God Almighty; Almighty God; the all-sufficient one; the one mighty to nourish, satisfy, and supply; Maybe we should stop and consider just exactly what we’re saying when we characterize God with this title Definition: having complete, unlimited power; omnipotent Synonyms: all-powerful, omnipotent, supreme, preeminent So again, what does that mean to you He is able to supply your every need He is able to nourish and satisfy the deep longings of your soul He is able to defeat your enemies in impossible situations He is able to bring hope when things seem hopeless He is able to conquer your greatest fears He is almighty, all-powerful, omnipotent, nothing can overcome Him El-Shaddai spoke the worlds into place He holds the power of the stars in His hands He pushes back the oceans and releases the power of volcanoes He makes grass grow through rock and makes the soft down on a duck’s belly He is God Almighty, the all-sufficient one, the one mighty to nourish, satisfy, and supply your need El-Shaddai put the mountains in place and causes them to crumble in the rain He put the rivers in place and dries them up at his command He heals when there seems to be no cure He forgives and removes the burden of guilt from us If El-Shaddai can do all those things, what are you facing that He cannot help you get through? What problem do you struggle with that He cannot help you conquer? Who is attacking you that you cannot overcome? What temptation are you facing that He cannot provide an exit for you? The answer is simple. He is El-Shaddai, God Almighty. There is nothing beyond His capability because He is almighty, He has complete, unlimited power; omnipotent, supreme, preeminent. He is able If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today the name of God we consider is El-Roi, the strong one who sees. Scripture Genesis 16:13 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.” Devotional El-Roi, the strong one who sees I expect we have all hit that point in our life at one time or another when we think no one care about us. No one sees our plight. No one would notice if we just disappeared from the face of the earth. Drama of the Old Testament Unlike the stories of other heroes Points out the flaws and failures of those we should emulate Abraham, father of the Israelite nation Promised a son who and progeny that would be the spark of a nation that was innumerable At 100 he had no children Sarah gives her maidservant to Abraham in an effort to help God along Common practice for barren women Servant acted as surrogate and their child became the heir of the estate Adopted into the family Hagar became arrogant and took liberties with Sarah she should not have taken Sarah drove Hagar and Ishmael away Hagar, though a servant, lived in luxury and wasn’t prepared to survive in the desert Alone Lost Without hope In despair, resigned to die in the wilderness God, in His strength and power, sees her God does not abandon her as Abraham did God sees her despair and hopelessness God recognizes her need God intervenes and provides water and food for Hagar and Ismael Important aspect of the story God doesn’t take Hagar out of her difficult circumstances He tells her to go back into the situation from which she fled God puts her back under Sarah’s thumb Bt with a promise Ismael will also become a great nation, and he did If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. El-Elyon, the Lord most high, nothing compares to Him. Let’s hear more about His name. Scripture Genesis 14:17-20; Isaiah 14:13-14 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Devotional El-Elyon, the Most High God Elyon, up, high el-Elyon, could be translated, the extremely exalted, sovereign, high, God If there were any other gods, our God would be high above all others, none other would come close El-Elyon, the God so high none other can compare In an age of polytheism Abram recognized and worshiped only El-Elyon Melchizedek, king of Salem, served as a priest and he too recognized only one God, El-Elyon, God Most High They both understood nothing could compare to Creator of all things El-Elyon is the only One worthy of worship The world tries to convince us otherwise From the first deception in the garden of eden Success Fame Wealth Pleasures of life None can take the place of El-Elyon Today remember we worship El-Elyon, God Most High, the Extremely Exalted, Sovereign, Most High God. Nothing compares to Him If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God." /p>

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture Isaiah 6:1-3 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Devotional Jehovah-Sabbaoth, the Lord of Hosts The Lord of armies The Lord Almighty The Lord of a vast multitude Isaiah caught a glimpse of God seated on His throne one day Surrounded by angels of the highest order, servants of God, but even they must cover their eyes as they approach the Holy God John describes the crowd in heaven as thousands of thousands, too numerous to count Jesus mentions He could call ten thousand angels to come at His call to rescue Him, but He didn’t 285 times God is called Jehovah-Sabbaoth, the Lord of Hosts, the Lord of Heavenly Armies God has at His disposal the might to defeat whatever enemies we face Name the problem Physical Relationships Emotional Temptations Spiritual weakness God has the soldiers at His disposal to defeat our enemies God is the Lord of Hosts, seated high and lifted up Picture the victor lifted on the arms of His team carried away by their exuberance That’s the Lord of Hosts, high and lifted up Surrounded by His messengers, commanders, soldiers Ready to support us with His might Today, worship Jehovah-Sabbaoth, the Lord of Hosts If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture Judges 6:24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Devotional Jehovah-Shalom, The Lord is peace The story surrounding this verse is anything but one of peace Midianites raided the Israelites at will Stole their crops, livestock Left them in poverty with just enough to sustain life until the next harvest Gideon threshed grain in a winepress to hide from the raiders God chose him to lead an army against these marauders A war would start that would cost countless lives Gideon built an altar and called God, Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord is peace Seems contradictory Why could Gideon call God, Jehovah-Shalom? Brought peace to his own heart Warrior that came to the winepress wasn’t there to take the grain Didn’t die when he discovered it was an angel Discovered purpose for his life Saw future peace for Israel God had a plan to rescue His people God would defeat their oppressors God would bring peace to His land Can you call God, Jehovah-Shalom? What is causing turmoil in your life? What seems too big to conquer? What enemies seem to stand at the door about to break in? God is bigger. God has a plan. God is almighty and conquers all. Then God brings peace to the troubled heart. He brings victory through impossible situations. God gives peace when peace seems beyond hope Examine your life today. Remember we serve Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord is peace. He can bring peace to you today no matter what you might be facing. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture Exodus 17:15 15 Then Moses constructed an altar and called it, “The Eternal Is My Battle Flag.” Devotional Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord our banner Battle flag Flag banner On my study wall hangs a replica of the colors, the banner, that accompanied my battalion as its commander. In ancient times the banner was the rally point for soldiers Marked the direction they would move on the battlefield in the attack or defense of the line Represented the men, the state, the families for which they fought In a case on the wall is a Texas flag that flew over the Alamo given to me by the Daughters of the Republic Represents all those who fought and died in defense of that mission against the Mexican army of Santa Anna 1846 Started the revolution of those citizens of Texas and the rise of the fledgling Americans to take the territory from the Rio Grande and claim it for the United States I spoke at commemoration of that battle several years ago and the Daughters of the Republic gave me that banner, that flag, as a remembrance of that event In another case on one of my bookcases I have an American flag Presented by the installation commander on the occasion of my retirement Represents the nation I served, the people I served Represents the individual and collective states, the places I’ve lived and worked The moves my family has made and the sacrifices they have made to support me in my career also Another wall has a case that holds the American flag that draped my father-in-law’s casket as he was laid to rest Represents his service to the nation as a veteran in World War II and Korea Honors his service and the sacrifice he made during those conflicts Banners are important remembrances Visible representations of something much greater Yet Jehovah-Nissi is no representation He is our banner Rally point He is the thing for which we fight and die He is the One we look to when the battle is hard and we need inspiration to carry on Today, if it seems the fight is overwhelming and the battle too hard. If it seems the enemy might be winning and you might be overcome, look to Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our banner and know He is there, never wavering, always conquering, always winning. He is our battle cry and our victory If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. What a beautiful name for God. Jehovah-Jirah, the Lord will provide. Do you believe that today? Scripture Genesis 22:13-14 13 Abraham glanced up and saw a ram behind him with its horns caught in the thicket. He went over, dislodged the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 From that day forward, Abraham called that place, “The Eternal One will provide.” Because of this, people still today say, “On the Mount of the Eternal, all will be provided.” Devotional It’s a beautiful story. Abraham is old Isaac, the promised descendant through whom a nation will be built is a teenage God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son on Mount Moriah Load up the caravan with everything necessary for the journey and sacrifice, didn’t tell anyone yet Leaves servants at the base of the mountain Isaac carries the wood Isaac lets his 115 year old father tie him up after he builds the altar, arranges the wood, and crawls onto the altar Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son Lifts the knife and starts to plunge it into his son’s chest An angel grabs his wrist God points Abraham to a ram caught in the brush Spare your son and sacrifice the ram The Lord will provide He provided a substitute for his son He provides a substitute for our punishment He provides a substitute for our penalty of death God provides what we need when we need it Today worship Jehovah-Jirah, the Lord will provide Think of those times in your past God came through at just the right time and provided for you Think of His faithfulness to your needs Know He stands beside you as Jehovah-Jirah today, the Lord will provide Not all our wants, but all our needs, in just the right way and at just the right time If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today we explore the name Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness. What does that name mean to you? Scripture Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior. Devotional Jehovah-Tsidkenu, The Lord our righteousness The Lord who makes everything right (MSG) The Lord makes things right for us (ERV) The Lord our righteousness (KJV) The Eternal is our righteousness (Voice) We try so hard to do what is right, don’t we? There is a problem We can’t do it, we fail We live what Paul talked about in Romans 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 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. 20 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. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? As hard as we try, the sin in us keeps us from being righteous. Not one of us is righteous Jesus is sinless and is our righteousness. God is our righteousness He paid the penalty we should pay as punishment for our sins His blood, shed for us, covers our sin When we accept His sacrifice as our own His righteousness is imparted to us God the Father sees the righteousness of His own blood, His Son’s blood shed on the cross, imparted to us, when we accept His gift of salvation Today, think of what God has done for you as Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness. He makes us right before Him by covering our sins with His own blood so that we may stand before Him blameless, pure, spotless, holy. Worship Him as Jehovah-Tsidkenu today. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today we explore the name Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals. What does that mean to you? Scripture Exodus 15:26 Eternal One: If you will listen closely to My voice—the voice of your God—and do what is right in My eyes, pay attention to My instructions, and keep all of My laws; then I will not bring on you any of the plagues that I did on the Egyptians, for I am the Eternal, your Healer. Devotional Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals Everyone gets sick every once in awhile. Short term illnesses Colds Flu or other viruses Long term diseases like Coronary heart disease Diabetes Hepatitis Deadly diseases Cancer leprosy Some of them we take care of ourselves Some we need a doctor for help We don’t have much of a problem going to providers when something physical is wrong with us Hesitate to go to the source of healing when we have spiritual We are broken people All have sinned No one stays pure because we are flawed We need someone to clean us up, but only God can do that Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals Story after story from the Bible that shows God heals Stories from believers about God’s intervention Personal experience No doubt God heals Today, think about Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals What is it you need healed Physical Mental Emotional Spiritual God is able because God is Jehovah-Rapha If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today we explore God’s name Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord who is present. Scripture Ezekiel 48:35 The total distance around the city will be 6 miles. From that day forward, the name of the city will be The Eternal One Lives There. Devotional It might seem like an unusual verse to talk about God’s name, Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord who is present Ezekiel given a vision of heaven, the home of God, the place He resides on His throne of glory Jehovah lives there Indescribable by those who say they have seen it in near death experiences Music Color People Many talk about the brilliance of the light, but no one talks about the presence of a sun Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord who is present Whenever the Israelites followed Him and called on Him, He was there for them Jesus promised His followers never to leave us or forsake us Promised His spirit to live with us and within us to help us on this journey of life Promised His presence eternally for those who believe He is the Son of the living God and ask forgiveness of their sins. Everywhere, at all times, in every circumstance Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord who is present Today, knowing Jehovah-Shammah is always by your side, How will you live today? How will you act today? How will you demonstrate His love to someone around you today? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today we look at another name of God, Jehovah-Rohi, the Lord, my shepherd. Scripture Psalms 23:1 The Eternal is my shepherd, He cares for me always. Devotional Jehovah-Rohi, the Lord my shepherd. From “Around the Mediterranean with My Bible”: “Shepherding does not change much in Palestine, where wild beasts may descend still upon unsuspecting sheep and suddenly destroy them. The Palestine shepherd lives night and day with his animals. He establishes a degree of intimacy with them that is touching to observe. He calls them all by name and they, knowing his voice and hearing him only, heed. He protects the sheep from thieves and preying animals who would devour them at night, by sleeping in the often makeshift sheepfold and they, sensing his watchfulness, ‘fear no evil.’ He provides pasture and water even in the wilderness and the presence of enemies and they, casting all their anxiety on him, are fed. There is a singular communion between shepherd and his sheep which, after one has visited Palestine and observed it, makes the symbol of the Good Shepherd peculiarly apt and the Twenty-third Psalm strangely moving.” If you’ve ever had an opportunity to watch a shepherd at work, you understand just what a meaningful title Jehovah-Rohi is. Provides food and water Cares for us Protects us from the enemy of our souls When we deserve nothing, He puts a banquet in front of us He never sleeps He never tires He keeps vigilance like no other because He is Jehovah and He is Rohi, the Good Shepherd Writers of the Old Testament called Him Jehovah-Rohi, Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd, Rohi. Explains His love and care Explains another aspect of God’s great character Jehovah-Rohi, the Lord, my Shepherd Today, think of the way God asks as your shepherd Provider Protector Guide Spend some time today worshiping Him as Jehovah-Rohi, the Lord, my Shepherd. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture Exodus 31:13 Eternal One: Speak to the Israelites and tell them, “You must be careful to observe My Sabbaths. For the Sabbath Day serves as a sign between Me and you for all generations, so that you will know I am the Eternal One who has set you apart from all the other nations. Devotional Jehovah-Maccadeshem, the Lord who makes you holy The King James translates this name, the Lord, who sanctifies [sanctifieth] you. NIV and several more modern translations, the Lord, who makes you holy. Easy to Read version, says, the Lord, who makes you his special people. We just read from The Voice, the Eternal One who has set you apart. All have the same meaning, sanctify, set apart for sacred use, special people, holy, separate. The God we serve sets apart from the world He makes us different, special, sacred for His use He sets apart for His special use Today, everyone wants to be unique It’s interesting because everyone who seems to want to be unique looks and acts just alike in the world Hippie movement, Gothic look, whatever fashion the world thinks sets you apart all look and act alike in their attempt to be special Doesn’t bring happiness because those attempts to form into what the world wants doesn’t satisfy, doesn’t fit the purpose for which we are individually created Set apart for God’s purpose God gives unique skills, talents especially designed for the purpose He has for you Created you to fulfill a specific purpose within the scope of His will His will, that all will come to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior Uses people to carry out His will and fulfill His ultimate purpose Sets us apart to accomplish that mission Does He need us? No. Will He use us? Yes, if we let Him. Jehovah - Maccaddeshem, the Lord who sanctifies you, who makes you holy, who sets you apart from the world. He is the God we serve. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today we look at God’s name Jehovah-Yahweh. They are one and the same, the first a Christian transliteration of the latter. Scripture Genesis 2:4 This is the detailed story of the Eternal God’s singular work in creating all that exists. Devotional Yahweh, the name God called Himself when Moses asked who he should tell the Israelite sent Him. Meanings attributed to the name “He Who Makes That Which Has Been Made” “He Brings Into Existence Whatever Exists” other interpretations have been offered by many scholars. Written as a tetragrammaton, four letters YHWH without vowels Reminder to never say His name because of its sacredness Later transliterated to Jehovah by Christians Adonai was the spoken name of God One of the seven names of God that should never be erased We hear the name Jehovah fairly often, Yahweh not as much, but they are the same Transliteration on one to the other beginning in ancient Israel God, the one who makes that which has been made He is the creator of all things If it’s been made, He is the one who brought it into existence We might think we are creative, but Yahweh created the creative mind Nothing exists without Him Today, think about God’s name, Yahweh. What does His creative name mean to you? What has He created for you and in you that you can give thanks and glorify Him for it What has He brought into your life that you recognize come from Him Reexamine your life and see how Yahweh has made possible every good thing in your life He who makes that which has been made; He brings into existence whatever exists Good descriptions of the God we serve He is the one worthy of our worship If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture Malachi 1:6 Eternal One: (to the priests who despise the name of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies) A son respects his father, and a servant fears[b] his master. If I am your Father, then where is My respect from you? And if I am your glorious Master, then where is your fear of Me? From your self-centered oblivion you ask, “How have we despised Your name?” Devotional Most often in the NIV, CEV, King James and other versions, Adonai is translated as “LORD”. The Voice translates it as “glorious Master”. Adonai was spoken when the tetragrammaton YHWH was written. We don’t understand the concept of Lord the way the people of England did when King James authorized the translation of the Vulgate into a language the common man could understand Watch TV shows with lords and ladies Hear about the titles when we hear about Great Britain’s royalty Still don’t realize the power lords held over their subjects The title is believed to have come from an old English word meaning “bread keeper”. Lord refers to someone who has authority, control, or power over others acting like a master, a chief, or a ruler. In feudal system, the landowners that provided protection, work and food for tenant families Adonai is one of the seven names the Hebrews used for God that once written could not be erased. Sacred name of God, Lord of lords, owner of all things creator of all things Everything is His He has authority, control, power over everyone and everything Creation turns at His bidding May not understand the term Lord the way those who translated YHWH did May not feel the weight of lordship the way those in the middle ages did May not understand the power the lord held over His subjects We can understand God has authority, control, power over all things He wants us to recognize who He is as Lord, Adonai If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional exploring the names of God in scripture. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today we start looking at the names of God. He is called a lot of different things in scripture. We will start looking at what His names mean to us today. Scripture Genesis 1:1; Psalms 19:1 In the beginning, God created everything: the heavens above and the earth below. The celestial realms announce God’s glory; the skies testify of His hands’ great work. Devotional The Bible starts with the words we just heard, In the beginning, God created everything. Elohim is an interesting name for God. Hebrews used it as singular, but ‘im’ usually makes the word plural Usually means the God of great power Can mean God of gods, power of powers Hebrews began their basic understanding of God with this word God of gods, supersedes anything or anyone we might try to put in His place Power of powers, Elohim is greater, more powerful than anything or anyone Satan may try to use to defeat us. God is above all In strength In knowledge In wisdom In goodness In grace and mercy In dealing out justice for those who deserve His wrath Before anything was, God was there and created it When we think about the name Elohim, we also see the triune God-head encapsulated in the name The word is plural Singular when referencing God, the creator Recognition that God is more than one, but one, three in one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Those who wrote the words believed in one God, monotheistic society Still used the plural name, inspired by God As you think of this first name used by the Hebrews to describe our God, think of what qualifies Him to carry this name Creator God of gods Power of powers Here before the beginning to put in place all there is, nothing exists apart from His spoken word bringing it into existence Elohim, God of power and might If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. This is better than Christmas...maybe. It depends on who you believe. Scripture Revelation 22:20 The Anointed One: Yes. I am coming soon. Devotional I enjoy watching my grandkids as special days start to approach. Birthdays Christmas Start counting very early Anxious for its arrival We sometimes do the same with Vacations Weekends New jobs Retirement Jesus talks about an event without a date He says He is returning soon His disciples have been looking for that day since He ascended into heaven a few days before Pentecost Some did some things Paul and others warned them against Sold all their belongings Stopped working Sat and waited We’re not to stop everything and just sit in a room and wait We have a task to complete Told us to teach Share the message Make disciples We should be growing in grace and becoming more like Him That takes work and can’t be done by sitting and waiting for His return Also says He will return at a time we don’t expect Only the Father knows the time and day of His return Comes like a thief in the night Promised to return Wants to give us every opportunity to come to Him His delay is not failure to keep His promise Opportunity to see His grace and mercy at work Wants all to come to know Him as Lord He will come Soon is relative when thinking about eternity But He is coming soon to claim His own Be ready If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. People spend a lot of money trying to figure out who they are and what they should be doing. Jesus was pretty clear about His own identity. Scripture Revelation 22:16 Jesus: I, Jesus, have sent My messenger to show you and guide you so that you in turn would share this testimony with the churches. I am the Root and the Descendant of David, the Bright Morning Star. Devotional The self-help industry is huge 2014 estimated $10 Billion business Books Coaches/mentors Programs Across all disciplines Business Health Relationships Mental acumen Spiritual growth We want to know who we are and how to get better because we don’t like the way we are right now Improvement is good Obsession over finding something you are not is not so good There is a place to find help in knowing yourself and the path you should take Jesus gives us the answer to following the right path “I have sent my messenger to show you and guide you Holy Spirit knows what’s best for us and how our lives should progress through the journey of life He was there at the creation, the beginning of all things He will be here at the end, when time stops His task from the Father and Son Teach Guide Convict Convince Comforter Advocate John tells us in His letter the words Jesus spoke about this messenger that will help us through this life. God’s presence with us and in us He is the best helper we can get Better than self-help because we don’t know the path God wants us to take unless we ask and allow Him to guide us Doesn’t tell us what next year will be like or even tomorrow Gives us the next step to take on the journey If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today’s words remind me of the pictures I’ve seen of those high end nightclubs. I’ll tell you how in just a moment. Scripture Revelation 22:14-15 Jesus: Blessed are those who wash their garments. In the end, they have rightful access to the tree of life and will enter the city through its gates. 15 The dogs, the sorcerers, those who commit immoral acts, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception must remain outside the gates for all eternity. Devotional I’ve never been to a club, but if the most popular are anything like depicted on TV shows and some documentaries, they remind me of these words of Jesus. Someone larger than the average NFL linebacker stands at the door A line stretches around the corner filled with people wanting to party The linebacker keeps the number of people inside just below the maximum allowed by the fire marshall Some of the more attractive or that look like special partiers are pulled out of line to enter ahead of the crowd Anyone the linebacker thinks wouldn’t add to the atmosphere of the party inside is barred from entering the door Heaven will be more selective than those nightclubs At the end of time there will be a judgment Those who believe in Jesus will have their names written in the Book of Life, authorization for entry Those not found worthy because of their unrepentant heart, their unforgiven sin will be barred from entry Jesus gives us a short list of the kinds of characters barred The dogs, the sorcerers, those who commit immoral acts, the murderers, the idolaters, all who love and practice deception Jesus has something much better than the NFL linebacker Remember the Garden of Eden Angel blocked the entrance to keep Adam and Eve from returning Pillar of fire blocked the Egyptian army from reaching the Israelites before they reached the Red Sea Jesus has a legion of angels at His disposal to block the unforgiven from the entrance Those who enter will live eternally without evil destroying the kingdom All evil banished All will be finally separated from the broken world in which we live All there will be surrounded by nothing but good No tears, no dying, no evil Only God’s presence, His holiness, His grace If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Everyone likes payday. What will your check look like when Jesus comes? Scripture Revelation 22:12-13 The Anointed One: See, I am coming soon, and I will bring My reward with Me. I will pay back every person according to the deeds he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the First One and the Last One, the beginning and the end. Devotional I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like payday. Gets confusing Retirement comes on one day Part-time work on another Consulting work comes at odd times Never get the days straight and it just appears since most of them are direct deposit into my accounts We like to get paid what we expect to be paid First check was a disappointment Taxes Social security medicare/medicaid contribution Insurance Seemed like other people got more of my check than I did after working for two weeks Tax Freedom Day this year was April 23, the day the average American earned enough to pay his or her taxes Jesus told a parable about some workers in a vineyard who agreed to wages and then thought they had been gypped because they didn’t get more than what they agreed We’re like that sometimes Put in extra effort Come up with more efficient ways to do things and reduce the time required and reduce our hours Want recognition, award, strokes Jesus is coming back We have a payday coming We will receive what we earned Payday based on our deeds Jesus says I used to wonder how our whole past could be recorded for all to see With the advent of video, iPhones, security cameras everywhere, digital storage, I’m not longer surprised that our whole life could be stored somewhere Jesus knows our deeds We’re just now smart enough to think He could really know everything He can play it back for all to see Payday is coming. What will your check look like? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. What does it take to make you happy? Think about that for a second. Scripture Revelation 22:7 The Anointed One: Look now, I am coming soon! The one who remains true to the prophetic words contained in this book will truly be blessed. Devotional What does it take to make you happy? Harvest Ministries says this about the word blessed: So what does it mean to be blessed? The word blessed Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount is from the Greek word makarios, which means to be happy or blissful, but it also means a self-contained happiness. The Greeks called the Island of Cyprus "the happy isle." They believed that because of its geographical location, perfect climate, and fertile soil that anyone who lived on Cyprus had it made in the shade. And the term they associated with the island was makarios. They believed everything you needed to be happy was right there on Cyprus. If only… Lived on Cyprus Lived in the right neighborhood Had more money Had a different job Had a different spouse World says something here can make us happy All these things around us can make us happy They don’t They take time away from us They add responsibility and worry They make us want more because we find they just don’t satisfy Jesus tells us how we can be happy, though. Right here in Revelation 22:7. “The one who remains true to the prophetic words contained in this book will truly be blessed.” Just keep the words in the book What have they said? Follow Him Remain faithful to Him The Greeks thought you could be happy and blissful if you could move to Cyprus.We can't all move to Cyprus, but our happiness is independent of our circumstances. It is self-contained, meaning that regardless of what is happening to us externally, we can be truly happy internally. We can be genuinely blessed as followers of Jesus Christ. So you want to be happy? You want to be blessed? Just follow Jesus. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. They tell us home invasion is on the rise. What have you done to prepare? Scripture Revelation 16:15 A Voice: See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the person who watches and waits, dressed and ready to go, so as not to wander about naked, exposed to disgrace. Devotional I remember the days when people didn’t lock their doors at night. Went on vacation once and forgot to lock the door, but really didn’t worry about it Then started locking the doors when we left but not when we were home Then started locking the doors at night Then started putting gates around our communities Community watch Now alarms systems, cameras, guns under mattresses Prepared for thieves that might try to slip through the gate If we knew thief was coming We’d be ready Doors and windows locked Cameras recording Police at the door Valuables secured Thief wouldn’t have a chance Captured and arrested Thief doesn’t come when we are prepared Comes when least expected Comes when our guard is down Comes at his convenience, not ours Jesus says He will come like a thief in the night Be ready Like the Jews prepared for the first passover Dressed and ready for a journey Shoes on their feet, staff in their hand Everything they need to take packed and ready to go I attended a funeral just this week for a friend He was getting ready to take his wife to the hospital for surgery the next day Instead he had a massive stroke and never regained consciousness We don’t know how long we have We don’t know when our next breath will be our last We may live until Jesus returns to take His bride away We may be victims of a car wreck or some random act of violence or a freak accident or an illness or any number of things The message is we need to be ready If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Wouldn’t it be nice to look into the future and know what was going to happen in the next few days or weeks? Then you could prepare for it and maybe even avoid some of the crises that are headed you way. Well, we do not what happens next if we will pay attention to Jesus’ words. Scripture Rev 4:1 A Voice: Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this. Devotional I like Chinese restaurants Décor Food Fortune cookies Disappointed if they don’t give them to you at the end of the meal Usually don’t say anything worthwhile Always want to see what they say, though We want to know what’s ahead Card readers Palm readers Fortune tellers Horoscopes Astrologers Psychics and mediums $2 billion industry Interesting that not a large percentage of those spending those $2 billion spend much time looking into the book that tells them what the future will really be like Every prophecy laid out in scripture has come true in its time Read through the Old Testament and watch all those prophecies come to pass the prophets gave the kings Red the prophecies about Jesus and see them fulfilled in the New Testament Now Jesus gives this vision to John as he sits in exile on the Isle of Patmos If all the other prophecies have come to pass, why wouldn’t we think the things Jesus tells John in this book will not take place? We want to know the future It’s good to be prepared for contingencies It’s good to know a little of what will happen so we’re not surprised It’s good to know God knows what is happening so we are assured He has everything under control It’s good to know none of the brokenness that continues to fracture this world shakes the Eternal from His throne It’s good to know God will stand with us and live in us to help us through the roughest times of life when we give ourselves to Him We don’t need psychics and mediums, palm readers and fortune cookies to tell us about tomorrow In plain sight for us if we just read God’s word He tells us what to expect and how to prepare for it His book isn’t that long, but making it the volume you go to everyday as your number one self-help book, will certainly change you more than anything else you could do If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Many say the letter to the church at Laodicea describes the church today. What do you think? Scripture Revelation 3:14-22 The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Laodicea. “These are the words of the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation: I know your works. You are neither cold with apathy nor hot with passion. It would be better if you were one or the other, but you are neither. So because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. You claim, ‘I am rich, I have accumulated riches, and I need nothing’; but you do not realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. So here is what I suggest you do: buy true gold from Me (gold refined by fire so that you can be truly rich), white garments (to cover you so that you can keep the shame of your nakedness from showing), and eye ointment (to treat your eyes so that you may see clearly). “Those I love I also correct and discipline. Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back. Now pay attention; I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me. “The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death I will place next to Me on My throne, just as I Myself conquered and took a place of honor with My Father on His throne. “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.” Devotional Remember The story of the King who had no clothes? Tailors fooled him into accepting a fine suit of clothes made from such fine cloth that only the wisest could see it. No one would tell the king they couldn’t see he was naked for fear they would be thought unwise. Finally a child looked up and asked why the king was parading through the street naked and all in the crowd, including the king, recognized he had been duped. That’s what’s happening to many churches today God’s word isn’t true He doesn’t really mean what He says Surely He wouldn’t send anyone to hell for disobeying if He really loved us God doesn’t really care what we do We can always ask forgiveness at the end of life and everything will be okay We have lost the fire and passion of the early church No sacrifice Leftover time Leftover money Leftover worship God takes something other than first place We’re lukewarm in devotion The result - He’ll vomit us out of His mouth and out of His kingdom Lukewarm doesn’t cut it. Think we’re okay But just going through motions What’s your spiritual temperature? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We’ve heard it, opportunity knocks but once. But is it true? I’m glad God doesn’t feel that way. Scripture Revelation 3:7-13 The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia. “These are the words of the holy One, the true One, and the One who possesses the key of David, which opens the possibilities so that no one can shut them. The One who closes all options so that no one can open: “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. I have done this because you have limited strength, yet you have obeyed My word and have not denied My name. Watch, and I will make those of the congregation of Satan—those who call themselves ‘Jews’ but are not because they lie—come before you penitent, falling at your feet. Then they will know how much I have loved you. Because you have obeyed My instructions to endure and be patient, I will protect you from the time of trial which will come upon the whole earth and put everyone in it to the test. I will soon return. Hold tight to what you have so that no one can take away your victor’s wreath. “As for the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will plant that person as a pillar in the temple of My God, and that person will never have to leave the presence of God. Moreover, I will inscribe this person with the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, New Jerusalem—which descends out of heaven from My God—and My own new name. “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.” Devotional We’ve heard the idiom Opportunity knocks but once You only get once chance to achieve what you really want to do Don’t pass up the opportunity when it comes, you might not get another Sometimes it is true Perhaps in financial opportunities Stocks go up and down and if you get in at the right time you make money if you don’t you lose money Businesses come and go and timing is often critical to their success or failure But God comes to us again and again Never gives up on us Keeps calling us to repentance Wants us to join Him in eternity God gives us ample opportunity to say yes to His calling We can still refuse, but God keeps asking us to accept His gift of salvation If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. It’s true that every journey starts with the first step, but if that’s the only step you take, you never get to your destination. The journey will never be complete. Scripture Revelation 3:1-6 The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Sardis. “These are the words of the One who has the seven Spirits of God, the Perfect Spirit, and the One who holds the seven stars: “I know the things you do—you’ve claimed a reputation of life, but you are actually dead. Wake up from your death-sleep, and strengthen what remains of the life you have been given that is in danger of death. I have judged your deeds as far from complete in the sight of My God. Therefore, remember what you have received and heard; it’s time to keep these instructions and turn back from your ways. If you do not wake up from this sleep, I will come in judgment. I will creep up on you like a thief—you will have no way of knowing when I will come. But there are a few in Sardis who don’t have the stain of evil works on their clothes. They will walk alongside Me in white, spotless garments because they have been proven worthy. “The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death will be clothed in white garments, and I will certainly not erase that person’s name from the book of life. I will acknowledge this person’s name before My Father and before His heavenly messengers. “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.” Devotional For a few years I served as the senior medical observer/controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Fancy title. Responsible for helping train medical units prepare to do provide their medical support in regions of conflict Need to be able to perform their medical mission to care for sick and wounded soldiers Also needed to defend themselves against an enemy that didn’t care about the Geneva Conventions Discovered it’s difficult to do either one and extremely difficult to do both at the same time Many units concentrated on one or the other Got overwhelmed with patients and forgot about their vulnerability against an armed force Protected against an enemy but forgot they needed to treat patients at the same time Most often defense is what went by the wayside as they executed their primary mission of patient care Put up what might look like a defense to some Razor wire around the facility, but not enough Guards at various points, but not looking at the right places Checks of vehicles coming in, but not checking well when chaos broke loose with several patients coming in at once Their work started but wasn’t complete It didn’t make the grade That’s what happened in Sardis They started They were excited at the beginning They set to work and looked good It got hard and they stopped before the work was done They let their defenses down The enemy broke in and stole their momentum, their enthusiasm, their life Jesus says, stay faithful, walk beside Him, He’ll acknowledge you before the Father and clothe you in spotless garments of white If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Thyatira gets commendation and condemnation for what they do. How do you measure up in God’s balances? Scripture Revelation 2:18-29 The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Thyatira. “These are the words of the Son of God, the One whose eyes blaze like flames of fire and whose feet gleam like brightly polished bronze: “I know your deeds, love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your labors greatly increase in quality as you travel along this journey. “However, I have this against you: you have tolerated that woman Jezebel, who is a self-anointed prophetess and who misleads My followers to commit immoral sexual acts and to eat food prepared for idol worship. I have provided her enough time to turn away from her indecency, but she refuses to turn from these immoral acts. Watch; I will throw her back into her sickbed with those who committed adultery with her, and I will make them a bed of great affliction if they do not abandon her indiscretions and turn to follow Me. I will punish her by striking her children dead. Through this all the churches will know I am the One who relentlessly explores the mind and heart, and I will deal with each of you as you deserve according to your acts. “I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, those who have not held to the teachings of Jezebel and who remain ignorant of the real meaning of what is called the deep things of Satan, I will not burden you with anything more. Just keep on task, and keep the faith until I return. “And as for those who conquer through faithfulness even unto death and continue to labor with Me until the close of the final curtain, I will give them authority over the nations. And they will rule the nations with an iron scepter, as fragile clay jars are shattered to pieces. As I received this authority from My Father, I will bestow the morning star to the victor. “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.” Devotional Wouldn’t you like to hear the first words Jesus says to the church in Thyatira? I know your deeds Love Faithfulness Service Endurance Labor increases in quality along the journey Sounds like what has happened with improvement in standard of living Technology Agriculture Many things we think of as progress today At what cost Like Thyatira Focus on material things Sexual promiscuity Disregard for teachings of Christ Dabble in teachings of Satan Reward for the faithful; authority over the nations; people will listen to them? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Sex sells they say and so we see it everywhere. It was also a problem in Pergamum. Jesus talked about it and told John to write about it. Scripture Revelation 2:12-17 The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Pergamum. “These are the words of the One with the sharp double-edged sword: “I know your deeds and where you live. It is where Satan, the adversary, has established his throne. You have stayed true to My name, and you did not deny your trust in Me even in the eventful days of My faithful witness, Antipas. He was killed among you in that place where Satan dwells. “However, I have a few matters against you: some who live among you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to set up a stumbling block before the people of Israel. As a result, some among you are eating food prepared for idol worship and committing immoral sexual acts. You have others who are holding firm to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore, change your ways and turn to Me. If you do not, I will quickly come to where you live and will battle them with the sword of My mouth. “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. To the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will feed you with hidden manna and give you a white stone. Upon this stone, a new name is engraved. No one knows this name except for its recipient.” Devotional Where can you go today and not be bombarded by sexual innuendos? Not very many places Advertising Television shows Books Movies Everywhere Sex sells, goes after our most base desires for intimate relationships Problem in Pergamum as Nicolaitans infiltrated the church False teachers who believed promiscuity was okay Temple prostitutes were okay Sexual rituals used in worship Violated the Jewish laws and the teachings of the Apostles handed down from Jesus Some remained true to Jesus’ teaching; some fell away and led other astray Consequences if we do not follow His ways He’ll return with a sword When we follow His ways, He promises hidden manna and a new name If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Are you rich or poor? Do you really know what poverty is? Jesus did, He shares some information with us about poverty and real riches. Scripture Revelation 2:8-11 The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Smyrna. “These are the words of the First and the Last, the One who was dead and returned to life: “I know your deeds and the difficult ordeal you are enduring and your poverty, although you are actually rich. I am aware of the offensive accusations preached by those who call themselves ‘Jews.’ But these people are not the Jews they pretend to be; they are actually the congregation of Satan. In the face of suffering, do not fear. Watch; the devil will throw some of you into prison shortly so that you might be tested, and you will endure great affliction for 10 days. Be faithful throughout your life, until the day you die, and I will give you the victor’s wreath of life. “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death will escape the second death.” Devotional In this country, we are obsessed with wealth. TV show, “Lives of the Rich and Famous” Drive for promotion, salary increases, better jobs Get upset about Social Security or changes in interest rates Looking for quick returns on investments Lotteries everywhere for quick wins We think we understand poverty in this country, but we don’t The poverty guidelines for 2017, $24,600 for family of 4 Average income in the United States $61,248 Average income in Qatar $105,091 Average income in Congo $394 Nine countries less than $1,000 per anum income $35-$100 a month isn’t even enough to survive as evidenced by the malnutrition and high death rate among children in those countries If you are listening to this podcast, you probably have a smartphone or a computer you’re listening on. Luxuries most of the world cannot afford. We are materially very wealthy in this country Probably had breakfast or chose not to, but it was available if you wanted it Probably have more than one television in your home Probably have more than one car in your drive Probably have several pair of shoes and several outfits to choose from as you dress each morning Probably don’t worry about drinking water or water to bath in each day Although you may live in an apartment, you probably don’t share your home with several families in the same apartment We really don’t know poverty in this country Church at Smyrna understood poverty As Christians they couldn’t buy food in the market Lost their jobs Lost their homes Lost their families Lost whatever support systems they had except the church and everyone in the church was under the same pressure They did not know where their next meal would come from To win their material fortune back, all they had to do was renounce their faith Jesus said although they were in poverty, they were really rich Why? They shed the burden of unforgiven sin They had Him in their life They had eternal life What is that worth? It’s priceless If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Remember the seven letters Jesus had John write to the seven churches in Asia Minor? They still have a lot to say to us if we listen. Scripture Revelation 2:1-7 The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Ephesus. “These are the words of the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks and moves among the golden lampstands: “I know your deeds, your tireless labor, and your patient endurance. I know you do not tolerate those who do evil. Furthermore, you have diligently tested those who claim to be emissaries, and you have found that they are not true witnesses. You have correctly found them to be false. I know you are patiently enduring and holding firm on behalf of My name. You have not become faint. “However, I have this against you: you have abandoned your first love. Do you remember what it was like before you fell? It’s time to rethink and change your ways; go back to how you first acted. However, if you do not return, I will come quickly and personally remove your lampstand from its place. But you do have this to your credit: you despise the deeds of the Nicolaitans and how they concede to evil. I also hate what they do. “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. I will allow the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death to eat from the tree of life found in God’s lush paradise.” Devotional The seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor raise lots of questions today about the stability of those churches Only one was left unscathed by Jesus’ remarks All the others were condemned for something they did or failed to do in the course of their daily activities All but one also had at least one redeeming quality The order of the letters might be in the order they might be visited if you took a trip to see all of them on a journey in those days Every letter also points to characteristics Christians today exhibit and should avoid The first letter written to Ephesus Know your deeds Tireless labor Patient endurance Do not tolerate evil, or those who do evil You abandoned your first love Became legalistic in examination of the deeds of others Rethink your ways Remember how you felt when you first received grace and mercy Go back to those days Go back to how you first acted Love each other and share the message Demonstrate the joy of the Lord Don’t fail to mix grace with justice Listen, follow what the spirit proclaims, there is a reward at the end If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Franklin D. Roosevelt is famed with saying, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” But how well do we do that? Scripture Revelation 1:17-20 The One: This is not the time for fear; I am the First and the Last, and I am the living One. I entered the realm of the dead; but see, I am alive now and for all the ages—even ages to come. Amen. I possess the keys to open the prison of death and hades. Now write down all you have seen—all that is and all that will be. Regarding the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the heavenly messengers who preside over the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches themselves. Devotional Fear is rampant in our society Fear of physical harm Terrorists Robbers, murderers, assault Fear of disease Cancer Heart disease Diabetes Communicable diseases Fear of failure Work Relationships Life Fear of death What do we do with fear? Wikipedia - Fear is a feeling induced by perceived danger or threat that occurs in certain types of organisms, which causes a change in metabolic and organ functions and ultimately a change in behavior, such as fleeing, hiding, or freezing from perceived traumatic events. Fear in human beings may occur in response to a specific stimulus occurring in the present, or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to body or life. The fear response arises from the perception of danger leading to confrontation with or escape from/avoiding the threat (also known as the fight-or-flight response), which in extreme cases of fear (horror and terror) can be a freeze response or paralysis. We all experience it as a natural emotion, but Roosevelt tells us we have nothing to fear but fear Jesus tells us now is not the time to fear He has already conquered the thing we fear most - death He holds the keys to the prison of death Follow Him and He can release us from that prison Knowing He holds the keys to the worst that can happen to us We do not need to be afraid Our greatest failure is overcome by the one who holds the solution to our biggest problem - death He takes us through the veil to life everlasting There really is nothing to fear - not even fear Go show a little courage If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. They used to call them diaries, but now they call them journals. Not sure why they changed. Maybe men didn’t like the term. But do you have one? You’d be surprised what you can learn about yourself in one. Scripture Revelation 1:11 A Voice: 11 [I am the Alpha and the Omega, the very beginning and the very end.][b] Make a book of what you see, write it down, and send it to the seven churches [which are in Asia][c]: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Devotional We decided to tell our house a year ago and started packing up things. We didn’t and so started unpacking things. Lots of boxes, too many boxes, some still unpacked A few of them held dozens of 5 x 8 notebooks that house the notes of my experiences for the past decades I use the same notebooks for taking notes for work as I do for journaling Whenever i have a passing thought I don’t want to have to go find another special place, I just write it down Looked back through some of those notebooks and explored my journey from the time I started the process of keeping notes on myself back in 1978 until today Didn’t have time or the energy to read them all Interesting to see some of the changes that occurred Maturity in some areas of life Thoughts about my children Prayer requests and answers to those prayers Changes in direction that I sensed God giving Jesus told John to get a pen and paper and write down what he was about to hear We can’t remember everything The older we get the harder it is to remember Some of the things I found in my notebooks I didn’t remember at all 15 or 20 years later But some were really good bits of information that I wish I had highlighted and kept in practice Jesus didn’t want John to forget what He was about to tell the churches, lessons that would make them better if they would listen Journals will make you better if you will consistently put your thoughts in words Read them occasionally Look at how your journey is progressing Teach yourself Recognize the successes along life’s journey as well as the failures Learn from both Capture the lessons God wants to teach you each day so you can remember them for more than the few minutes they zip through your brain Are you journaling? If not, today is a good day to start If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. It’s not like rotating stock on the shelves. He’s just always there. Scripture Revelation 1:8 Jesus: I am the Alpha and Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. Devotional I was a preacher’s kid growing up. Opened the doors for every service Got there at least 30 minutes before everyone else was expected to arrive Made sure the lights were on, a/c or heating set to the right temperatures, everything ready for the service After the service, last to leave Cleaned up any papers/bulletins laying around, left on the pews, reset the thermostats to save energy, turned off the lights, locked the door First in, last out Became a habit not just for church but for a lot of things Work Meetings Social gatherings Almost anything that had a start and end time associated with it First in and last out became a habit Jesus told John He was the first and last, the alpha and omega A lot different than my puny experience He was around at creation He was there before there was a way to schedule anything because He was around before time started He has been around every moment from then until now without skipping a nanosecond We can’t understand it Limited timeframe of our existence can’t wrap our minds around it He will also be here when time disappears and all we know transforms into a new heaven and earth He will be the omega, the end, the one who is to come His is the one with an existence with no beginning and no end Because of His infinity in what we think of as time, Jesus can know our how to help us in every circumstance we face He is also the Almighty He proved it to Abraham birth of Isaac rescue of Isaac He proved it to Moses and the Israelites plagues exodus promised land Exile He proved it to us new covenant crucifixion resurrection pentecost If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture Acts 18:9-10 The Lord: Do not be afraid, Paul. Speak! Don’t be silent! I am with you, and no one will lay a finger on you to harm you. I have many in this city who are already My people. Devotional Have you ever been in a crowd of people listening to someone spout of something you knew was wrong but noone spoke up? Hitler’s speeches Terrorist rhetoric General wrongdoing/evil action We think we’re the only one in the crowd and are afraid of what the crowd might do to us if we speak up Usually not the only one Usually others in the crowd feel the same way but are also afraid Usually just need someone with the courage to start that chain reaction of good will to stand up against evil Will standing up against evil always put the crowd on your side No Jesus was crucified Paul was martyred Many have lost their everything they owned and some lost their lives for speaking up for Christ But the courage to speak up always has positive consequences Look at what Stephen’s martyrdom sparked Saul an onlooker Many witnesses saw Stephen’s reaction and thousands wanted to know this Jesus he spoke of The same has happened when others throughout history have stood up for Christ Jesus promised His disciples He would never leave the or forsake them He never fails to keep His promises When we invite Him into our lives He is with us and in us He gives us the courage to stand alone in the crowd because we know we are never alone He is with us, empowering us Gives resurrection power to enable us to share His message of forgiveness for the asking Do you feel alone in the crowd? Think again Search your heart You may be the spark that begins a revival fire among those who witness your testimony of God’s grace and mercy in your life If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. How hard is it to believe someone can change their ways? Particularly someone who has been a really bad character? Scripture Acts 9:10-16 The Lord: Ananias. Ananias: Here I am, Lord. The Lord: Get up and go to Straight Boulevard. Go to the house of Judas, and inquire about a man from Tarsus, Saul by name. He is praying to Me at this very instant. He has had a vision—a vision of a man by your name who will come, lay hands on him, and heal his eyesight. Ananias: Lord, I know whom You’re talking about. I’ve heard rumors about this fellow. He’s an evil man and has caused great harm for Your special people in Jerusalem. I’ve heard that he has been authorized by the religious authorities to come here and chain everyone who associates with Your name. The Lord: Yes, but you must go! I have chosen him to be My instrument to bring My name far and wide—to outsiders, to kings, and to the people of Israel as well. I have much to show him, including how much he must suffer for My name. Devotional It’s really hard to put your trust in someone who has lost your trust, isn’t it? Convicts difficulty in getting jobs Embezzlers never trusted Those who have wronged you never brought into the inner circle or even into friendships Always afraid they will repeat their actions and you’ll get hurt again Jesus comes to Ananias and tells him to reach out to Saul of Tarsus Ananias knows Saul’s reputation Knows he has authority to arrest followers and knows their destination after arrest Ananias knows Saul cannot be trusted because of his previous actions Jesus says go and teach him What do you do? You do what Jesus tells you to do! Might be hard for us to believe people can change but.. Think about the change he made in you If he can change you, can’t he change the one you don’t want to trust? Can’t He transform the redeemed? That’s what He told Ananias and that’s what He tells us So you’ve been burned by someone who says they are born again and they proved they were not by their actions Some things to think about God doesn’t expect us to put someone back into their place of greatest temptation, that would be foolish for them and us Don’t send alcoholics into a bar Don’t give embezzlers positions as treasurer Don’t put temptations in front of those who you know succumb to those temptations But use their skills Still, befriend, encourage, teach, help as new members of God’s kingdom If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever been in a conversation where people were gossipping about someone and all of a sudden that person showed up? Awkward! Scripture Acts 9:4-6 The Lord: Saul, Saul, why are you attacking Me? Saul: Lord, who are You? Then he hears these words: The Lord: I am Jesus. I am the One you are attacking. Get up. Enter the city. You will learn there what you are to do. Devotional It happens more often that people want to admit. Sometimes it happens real time - person walks up behind and hears the conversation Sometimes the person walks into the middle of the conversation and everyone gets quiet, they still know something is up Sometimes the word just gets back and they know who said what Relationships are destroyed as much as reputations are destroyed often by untruths That’s what was happening in Paul’s life Persecuting Christians Telling the Jews things about them that were not true Telling stories about Jesus that were not true Spreading lies and rumors that despoiled Jesus’ reputation Jesus stepped behind him one day to interrupt his conversation Saul, why are you attacking Me? What are you saying about Me? What are you doing to My followers? What have you been doing behind My back Why don’t you say these things to My face And you know when we get ourselves caught in those embarrassing situations where we know we’re gossiping and shouldn’t, there are always consequences Paul got caught and was embarrassed by his wrong actions Fortunately did something about it Repented for his wrongdoing Learned of the tasks Jesus had for him to do Carried them out enthusiastically Stopped persecuting and became the persecuted Gained life and lost his Became the most prolific writer in the new testament If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. My daughter calls me a pessimist because I like to plan for contingencies that might happen in the future. But I think we would all like to know a little bit of what will happen next so we can be prepared. Does that make me a pessimist? Scripture John 21:7-8 Jesus: The Father, on His own authority, has determined the ages and epochs of history, but you have not been given this knowledge. Here’s the knowledge you need: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be My witnesses, first here in Jerusalem, then beyond to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the farthest places on earth. Devotional I was putting together some information a few months ago in preparation for things that I hope will never happen to me or my family. Daughter saw me gathering the information “Dad, do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist?” Optimist, I like to think I look on the bright side of things “Then why are you always planning for the worst case?” Good question that made me start thinking about how I approach some of the bigger problems that can confront us in life. Insurance - life and health Shelter Provision for family How to leave a legacy of values for family Not a survivalist, but prepare for disasters Some of the thought process comes from military training Strategic planner during military career Built plans around contingencies “What if” thinking to avoid surprises that shook you to inaction Crossed over to thought process in other things I don’t necessarily see planning for contingencies as pessimism, but… We can go too far and miss life Jesus warned early Christians to perform a task instead of trying to guess when He would return He had a job He wanted them to do If they spent all of their time planning for the contingency of His return, no one would hear the good news of His power to forgive sins Enough that God knows the future and will take care of the ages and epochs of history Enough that God gives us His spirit to enable us to do the work He gives us to do Enough that we can concentrate on the work at hand and not worry about what comes tomorrow, He has those contingencies covered Knowing the future is already determined and taken care of by the Commander of heavenly armies, how does that make you feel about contingency planning? The future is in His hands and He has your best in mind. So are you an optimist or a pessimist about tomorrow? With Him on your side, how can you be anything but an optimist? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Music intro Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever thought it would be better to be in someone else’s shoes? Be careful what you wish for! Music intro You can subscribe to the podcast, send me comments to let me know what you think, and listen to past devotionals at richardagee.com. That's richardagee.com. Music intro Scripture John 21:22 Jesus: If I choose for him to remain till I return, what difference will this make to you? You follow Me! Devotional We sure think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence sometimes, don’t we? Different job Different place Different circumstances Life would be so much better Just look at the life of that guy over there compared to what I’m going through right now Big problem with that thinking We only see what’s on the outside and what his external circumstances allow us to see Never know the struggles, heartaches, difficulties going on behind closed doors We all tend to wear smiles in public when we can and put our best foot forward for those around us Example of promotion in the military Thought it would be nice to be a colonel when I was a lieutenant Set your own calendar Driver to get you places More pay Secretary Best seats in every gathering With every promotion I figured out lieutenant wasn’t so bad As a colonel Eight to ten hours of every day spent in meetings or preparing for one 200-300 emails to answer every day A ream of paper to go through every day My secretary made sure my inbox was emptied and all those papers sent to the right place after I reviewed them; she deconflicted meetings so they didn’t overlap I had a driver so I could read email and talk on the phone while going from one place to another and not waste those precious minutes Best seats? Only because my eyes are getting bad and those seats are the best targets for all the question and answer sessions from the generals As a colonel, I knew a lieutenant’s life was great Jesus reminded Peter and us, What difference does it make to you, just serve where you are and follow me. Music exit If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God." Music exit  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. What was Jesus trying to tell Peter when He ask three times if he loved Him? Did you remember His command each time as well? Scripture John 21:15-19 Jesus: Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these other things? Simon Peter: Yes, Lord. You know that I love You. Jesus: Take care of My lambs. Jesus asked him a second time . . . Jesus: Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Simon Peter: Yes, Lord. You must surely know that I love You. Jesus: Shepherd My sheep. (for the third time) Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Peter was hurt because He asked him the same question a third time, “Do you love Me?” Simon Peter: Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You. Jesus: Look after My sheep. I tell you the truth: when you were younger, you would dress yourself and go wherever you pleased; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and take you to a place you do not want to go. Jesus said all this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After this conversation, Jesus said, Jesus: Follow Me! Devotional A lot has been said about why Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loved Him Three different words to describe love Like something like you like ice cream or a good movie Love like brotherly love Unconditional agape, god-like love Peter denied Jesus three times so Jesus asked Peter three times for each denial Peter needed to reach deep into His core to get past the flippant answer we all give to questions most of the time How are you? Fine How was your vacation? Great What can I do for you? Just looking Do you love me? Of course I do What we often forget is the command Jesus gave Peter that goes along with his declaration Take care of my sheep Shepherd my sheep Look after my sheep Do the hard work of keeping these fledgling followers encouraged during hard times Teach them My ways when the world is trying to drive them another way Give them help when they’re caught in the storms of life Be their shepherd Jesus is telling Peter the same way James tells us in his letter Faith without works is dead Works do not save you But faith without works is not the faith Jesus wants of His followers, either Just ask Peter If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. So is Jesus’ invitation about sharing the haul He help bring about or sharing the breakfast He already prepared or teaching His disciples a lesson or what? Scripture John 21:10-12 Jesus (to disciples): Bring some of the fish you just caught. Simon Peter went back to the boat to unload the fish from the net. He pulled 153 large fish from the net. Despite the number of the fish, the net held without a tear. Jesus: Come, and join Me for breakfast. Devotional Peter heard the man call from the shore to throw his nets on the right side of the boat He wasn’t real sure why that side was any better than the other Did what the man suggested Made one of the biggest hauls of his life - 153 large fish Not sure what constitutes large, but Peter was a fisherman and large would not be something you could hold in the palm of your hand Recognized the command came from Jesus after the fact Jumped in to meet Him Didn’t care what others thought of His actions Didn’t care about the wealth lost in getting to Him Finally felt sorry for his friends and went to help unload the boat Took time to unload 153 large fish plus whatever else was caught in the nets Laid them out in the sand to dry Checked the nets for tears Hung them up to dry to be ready to go out again Professional fishermen Bring some of the fish you caught Share what you have with others Don’t be greedy with what God has allowed you to gain Enjoy the fellowship with others as you give generously Bring some of the fish you caught Breakfast was already roasting on the fire Brought fish, but fish was already cooking Abundance came out of sharing Joy came out of accepting the invitation from Jesus What would have happened if Peter had not paid attention to that man on the beach that day? Tired, hot, sweaty from a long night’s work No fish to show for his toil Would not have met the Master for breakfast Would not have eaten some of the best fish created, just for him God invites us to share out of the abundance He has given us so that He can invite us to experience even more with Him. God’s math doesn’t add up in our sense of thinking But we are not God If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. If you’re going to be around sailing men, you need to know a few nautical terms like bow and stern, port and starboard, and a few others just to get around. One today struck me for the first time in some of Jesus’ final words to His disciples. Scripture John 21:5-6 Jesus: My sons, you haven’t caught any fish, have you? Disciples: No. Jesus: Throw your net on the starboard side of the boat, and your net will find the fish. Devotional I’m not much of a naval guy. But having been on a few ships during my some of deployments, Meetings on a the USNS Comfort and Mercy Meetings on Flagships I needed to know a few nautical terms so as not to embarrass myself in front of my Navy brothers and sisters. Needed to know the difference between port and starboard, bow and stern. Important terms like galley, mess, and head. Both brothers served in the Navy Also wanted to be able to converse with them One a submariner for twenty years One an engineer for six years All our languages are a little difference, but many commonalities Never thought about what Jesus said until I read it again in The Voice “Throw your net on the starboard side of the boat…” The right side of the boat Not the wrong side How many times do we beat our heads against the wall because we are hard at work doing the wrong thing? I’ve been guilty of working hard on the wrong thing Sometimes physical labor Digging the wrong hole in the ground Cutting the wrong board Building the wrong wall Tearing down the wrong structure Sometimes mental Taking the wrong classes Reading the wrong books Watching the wrong programs Listening to the wrong teachers Sometimes spiritual Following the wrong guide Listening to the wrong voice How do we know what the right is? Get into God’s word Listen for His voice Know His voice better than any other Do what He says when He says it Do the right thing! If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture John 20:27-29 Jesus: Reach out and touch Me. See the punctures in My hands; reach out your hand, and put it to My side; leave behind your faithlessness, and believe. Thomas (filled with emotion): You are the one True God and Lord of my life. Jesus: Thomas, you have faith because you have seen Me. Blessed are all those who never see Me and yet they still believe. Devotional My wife gets on to me all the time thinking that I don’t believe her when she tells me something. Mr Right Brain Have to work through the logic of her answer Does it fit the science or math or philosophy or some other discipline I’ve studied? Does it fit into my personal frame of reference? Usually agree with her after I’ve logically gone through it, but while I’m on that mental journey, she thinks I don’t believe her A little frustrating for both of us Can damage a relationship if you don’t understand how the other person processes information Still strains a relationship at times when she just wants me to stop the logic part of my brain and nod my head That’s what the other disciples wanted Thomas to do I think I relate to Thomas The science, math, philosophy, logic of the situation didn’t fit with his experience Needed to work through his logic to make sense of what they were saying He wasn’t there to see what they saw and might have eventually put it together Reviewing Jesus’ miracles Recalling Jesus’ words Listening to the stories from those who saw Him Would have put the logic together and believed but would take time Jesus appeared to cut through the logic and made Himself known immediately Don’t worry about the science or philosophy or experience Just believe Sometimes hard for the right brain people We need to work on that part of our personalities Blessed (happy) are those that believe without seeing, without going through all the logic They won’t be as frustrated It won’t take them as long to get there They won’t have to work through the unexplained to believe They can just take by faith the news they hear from other believers If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God." If you’re on the right brain side of the crowd Let loose a little Just believe You’ll be blessed by it  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever lived or worked in a place that required you to be covered head to toe to protect you from exposure to the elements? Welcome to the world! Scripture John 20:22-23 Jesus: Welcome the Holy Spirit of the living God. You now have the mantle of God’s forgiveness. As you go, you are able to share the life-giving power to forgive sins, or to withhold forgiveness. Devotional Between my freshman and junior year of college, to earn a little money, I worked in a grocery chain warehouse loading their delivery trucks. It was hard work, but I didn’t mind it so much. It kept me in good physical condition pay wasn’t so bad for a young kid Negatives were night work, 7 to whenever trucks were loaded Worked in the freezer I don’t like the cold Born and raised in Tennessee Got some snow and few days, maybe a week at a time below freezing Never liked cold After serving in Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia, hated cold - anything below 60 degrees In the freezer temperatures at zero or just below Dry ice in boxes to keep frozen foods cold during transport dressed from head to toe Thermals Freezer coveralls Gloves Hat Mask Stayed protected from the cold and severe injury When we ask Jesus into our lives He gives us the mantle of God’s forgiveness I think about the covering I had when working in that freezer Covered from head to toe with His Spirit Protected by His forgiveness Guilt and burden of sin cannot get through Free from the internal injury sin because His spirit keeps the fiery darts of Satan away from us We underestimate the power of forgiveness God’s forgiveness to us Our forgiveness of others When He forgives us, we have the power to forgive others His grace and mercy extended to us shows us how to love and how to extend that same grace and mercy to those who wrong us What does forgiveness do? It takes away the barriers that keep us from loving each other It tears down the walls in relationships It stops the negative thinking that builds up about our neighbors It helps us see others as God sees them, their potential as His children It helps us love unconditionally Invite Him into your life and be covered by the mantle of His forgiveness If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and you saw peace signs everywhere. Technology brought the Viet Nam War into our living rooms for the first time in history and we heard the daily body count from across the sea. Everyone longed for peace. Scripture John 20:20-21 Jesus: May each one of you be at peace. As He was speaking, He revealed the wounds in His hands and side. The disciples began to celebrate as it sank in that they were really seeing the Lord. Jesus: I give you the gift of peace. In the same way the Father sent Me, I am now sending you. Devotional What does peace mean to you? There will never be peace between nations. We can’t even have peace within nations as evidenced by our most recent elections here. We often can’t achieve peace in our own households as evidenced by divorce rates climbing toward 60% So what is peace? Definition of peace: 1. freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. 2.freedom from or the cessation of war or violence. Is this what Jesus promised His disciples and us? Freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility? Slander; persecution; martyrdom Where is the peace He promised? If looking for peace in regard to our relation to the world, it will never happen The world hated Him and will hate us Promised trouble in this world and all who follow Him have found trouble if they share His message or live the life He demands of us The world opposes us and tries to turn us to their ways When we don’t they do everything they can to destroy us So what kind of peace did Jesus leave? Inner peace Peace with ourselves and with God Freedom from the guilt that plagues us because of estrangement from God in our wickedness Doesn’t mean we’re murderers or robbers Although, Jesus says hate means murder Coveting, means robbery Robbing God with our tithes and offerings All have sinned against God Failed to honor Him and live the life He wants us to live We know we need His forgiveness He gives assurance of forgiveness and peace What can you give in exchange for that peace? Nothing Nothing in all the world is worth the peace you can have in knowing your sins are forgiven Every follower of Jesus who is really all in for Him knows that His legacy is peace If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Who do you have in your life helping you along the path? We all need certain kinds of people. Jesus’ words today reminded me of that. Scripture John 20:17 Jesus: Mary! Mary Magdalene (turning to Jesus and speaking in Hebrew): Rabboni, my Teacher! Jesus: Mary, you cannot hold Me. I must rise above this world to be with My Father, who is also your Father; My God, who is also your God. Go tell this to all My brothers Devotional We all need three kinds of people in our lives. Mentors Peers People we are mentoring We often try to journey through life on our own God made us with the need for relationships All have different gifts None have enough gifts and talents to make it through life alone God created us with the need to reach out to others Mary came looking for Jesus’ body Came with others to carry out the funerary rituals Knew she couldn’t do it alone When Jesus met her in the garden and she recognized Him for who He was, she called Him teacher He was her mentor, learned from Him We need someone to pull us along - a teacher Go tell this to all My brothers Mary ran to tell the story These brothers were Jesus’ friends while He walked with us His inner circle gave Him strength They were His confidants He knew He was God’s son, but considered them His brothers Reached out to all who came to Him to teach, heal, share the message God’s kingdom is at hand Believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins Jesus is the true son of God He gives freely of His grace and mercy for the asking He just asks us to follow His ways in return So who is your mentor? Who challenges you along your Christian walk? Who are you helping progressing along the journey as a mentor to them? We all need those three kinds of people in our lives. Take inventory and see how you’re doing. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Perfectionists have a hard time determining when they are done with a project. Something always needs a little more work before it’s ready to go public. Not so with the perfect man. Scripture John 19:30 Jesus: It is finished! Devotional I’m not a terrible artist, but I don’t haven’t painted in a while and when I pick up the hobby, I don’t do it very long at a time. I have a problem I start working on a painting and don’t know when to stop Always one more thing I can do better Make one more correction Finally end up with a hodge-podge of corrections that make the whole thing a mess Same with some other hobbies and projects Want everything to be perfect but can never get there Never know when to stop and say this is right, this is done Need it to be just a little better Need one more thing to make it right Want things to be a exactly right but in our flawed state we don’t really know what perfect looks like because we’re not perfect Jesus had a job to do Share the message of God’s love Tell of the reconciliation He wanted with His highest creation Came to pay the penalty for the sins we committed God told us the penalty for sin was blood spilled; death Moses gave the Israelites the laws concerning blood sacrifices to atone for sins Every year sacrifices made Scapegoat took on the sins of the community as representation of their repentance Blood spilled and sacrifice made Jesus came He became the scapegoat for us Penalty for sins committed still death; sacrifice; spilling of blood But the scapegoat was imperfect; had to return every year and do it again Jesus didn’t sin; His was the blood of man, but a perfect, sinless man He intervened as man to God and God to man and sacrificed Himself for our sin The perfect sacrifice spilled His blood to atone for our sins Jesus knew what He came to do He knew what the outcome was to be He took all the punishment and abuse we could dish out With His last breath He lifted His brush from the canvas of humanity’s future It is finish - a perfect plan of salvation If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Wills are really important. Jesus made a will during His last moments on the cross. Listen to what He said. Scripture John 19:26-27 Jesus (to Mary, His mother): Dear woman, this is your son (motioning to the beloved disciple)! (to John, His disciple) This is now your mother. Devotional At age 22, I made my first will. My wife had the original and my parents and in-laws both received copies. Parents and in-laws were a little shocked Why was I making a will at such a young age Army wanted every soldier to have a will because we deploy to a conflict at a moment’s notice Important to let someone know your wishes before you pass away Avoids family fights over the things you leave behind Didn’t have much, but told where all of it went Subsequent wills determined what happened to minor children should both my wife and I die simultaneously or should she precede me in death I wanted to know who was raising my children and that the values they held were similar to mine Jesus didn’t have much that we know of in terms of earthly belongings Mary’s son, but not Joseph’s son May not have been heir to Joseph’s inheritance since he was not his son May not have owned anything more than the clothes on His back Don’t hear of material things Jesus possessed Talks about teaching and preaching accepting what is offered and staying in homes opened to them. Expect that was His practice as well In the room where He at the Passover with His disciples gave them His last will and testament My peace I give you I leave my legacy of peace with you I’m preparing a place for you and I’m coming back On the cross, looks down and sees His mother May have seen her following at the edge of the crowd as He carried His cross May have seen her agony and grief Could not comfort her while the soldiers pushed Him toward Golgotha Did not want to depart without giving Mary what He had for her Gave His last will and testament to her All He could give at that point to keep her from being destitute as a widow in a land that didn’t recognize the importance of women Mary, treat John as your son. John, treat Mary as your mother. Comfort each other in my absence. Draw strength from each other and care for each other Wills are important, even to Jesus. They are about taking care of the ones you love. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Mob rule is a scary thing. It’s easy to get trapped in it. But dangerous when you let it rule you. Scripture John 19:11 Jesus: Any authority you have over Me comes from above, not from your political position. Because of this, the one who handed Me to you is guilty of the greater sin. Devotional I have to admit, on more than one occasion, I’ve just given in to the crowd. I was in charge I knew in my heart what should be done I knew the consequences that would take place if I let the crowd rule and gave in to their demands The crowd was small, my platoon or my staff or the section I was leading at the time They were tired or hungry or wanted to stop or do something I knew wouldn’t have the outcome we needed I gave in to their demand It didn’t turn out well Mission wasn’t accomplished Results were poor All of us embarrassed Pilate was the governor Had the authority to release Jesus Knew what was right Knew the consequences of giving Jesus over to this mob An innocent man would die because of his failure to stand up for what was right Wife even warned him of the failure in justice Pilate listened to the crowd instead of his conscience Gave a glimmer of hope when he offered Barabas in place of Jesus It’s easy to follow the crowd Jesus told us broad the way that leads to destruction, though Easy to follow the crowd that leads to nowhere Harder to follow the narrow path that leads to righteousness Harder to stand for what is right and just and holy Like salmon swimming upstream against the current Everyone else will push against you trying to turn you around But when you know what is right it is worth maintaining the course In the end you will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Say it enough times and it must be true. That’s what some want you to believe. But what is truth? Scripture John 18:33-37 Pilate: Are You the King of the Jews? Jesus: Are you asking Me because you believe this is true, or have others said this about Me? Pilate: I’m not a Jew, am I? Your people, including the chief priests, have arrested You and placed You in my custody. What have You done? Jesus: My kingdom is not recognized in this world. If this were My kingdom, My servants would be fighting for My freedom. But My kingdom is not in this physical realm. Pilate: So You are a king? Jesus: You say that I am king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the cosmos: to demonstrate the power of truth. Everyone who seeks truth hears My voice. Devotional I’m not a salesman for GEICO, but I love some of their commercials. Remember the one with the young lady that believes everything on the Internet must be true, just because it’s on the Internet? She argues with the man next to her and just doesn’t understand that everything on the Internet isn’t necessarily true And then the prince charming she meets on the Internet walks up for their first date He’s not what she expected, either What is truth? Webster defines truth as: The real facts about something : the things that are true Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard. Truth may also often be used in modern contexts to refer to an idea of "truth to self," or authenticity. Humankind has been on a search for truth since Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden because at the moment they ate that forbidden fruit they discovered there was something in the world that was not true. Satan lied to them and we have been faced with this dilemma about what is reality and what is not ever since Pilate wants to know the truth about Jesus We want to know the same thing We want to know about God, scriptures, heaven, and hell We want to know if there is an afterlife and a judgment We want to know if what scriptures say about the endtimes is true of if what the world says is true How do we know what is true and what is not? Take a test drive Read God’s word with an open heart Let Him speak to you through His word Let Him reveal Himself to you His spirit will guide you into all truth and you will know what is real and what is not His truth will set you free If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. It really is true. Best to never entangle yourself, just as Jesus taught us. Scripture John 18:23 Jesus: If I have spoken incorrectly, why don’t you point out the untruths that I speak? Why do you hit Me if what I have said is correct? Devotional Do you remember the game called gossip? As many as are in the crowd, usually a dozen or more, sit in a circle First person whispers something in the ear of the person next to them The message is passed along around the circle See just how accurate the story is at the end of the circle Usually not very accurate Gossip is a game but it’s worse in real life Little fibs that are told to one person or another Can’t remember what’s been told when it isn’t the truth The fib changes from time to time because it was fabricated Get caught in the lie and then reputation suffers as integrity is damaged Jesus faced the high priest in trial Teachings were public Many probably recorded His teachings and took them back to the priests to argue about what He taught Never could win the arguments against what He said Always based in scripture which He knew better than they Challenged their authority because of His knowledge and actions to back up His knowledge Just look at My record Show me where I’ve misspoken Point out the untruths that I’ve told the crowds Give an example of something I’ve taught that is contradictory to the scriptures Give evidence that supports the need for punishment None could be found Even witnesses paid to lie could not hold up to cross examination by the high priest Farce of a trial had to stand some scrutiny for Pilate to execute Jesus Had to have some evidence and some reasonable facsimile of fairness Nothing Jesus had said or taught could be used against Him Everything Jesus said was true and right Everything the prosecutors brought before the priests failed to meet the standards for any punishment, much less death Jesus always shared truth Many didn’t like what He said, but He gave them the truth Today, many do not like what Christians say, but we must share the truth Only the truth can free us from the guilt of sin If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Secrets are something Jesus reached inside others and made known. He didn’t seem to have any Himself. Maybe we should follow suit. Scripture John 18:20-21 Jesus: I have spoken in public where the world can hear, always teaching in the synagogue and in the temple where the Jewish people gather. I have never spoken in secret. So why would you need to interrogate Me? Many have heard Me teach. Why don’t you question them? They know what I have taught. Devotional I’ve taken several oaths in my life. As an Army officer to support and defend the Constitution To my wife In court, to tell the truth In various legal situations attesting to my identity or the truth of some legal document All those oaths are public record or can be I’ve never belonged to one of those secret societies. And I don’t want to. Oaths behind closed doors. Teachings that you must reach certain levels before you are allowed to hear what the next level knows Secrets about beliefs and activities Secrets about loyalties and how deep those loyalties extend That’s what I like about Jesus’ testimony to the high priest Wasn’t trying to be flippant Wasn’t trying to be rude or arrogant Just stating fact Everything He did was in the open for all to see Even His prayers were open enough for His disciples to overhear and record them for us later in the gospels Beware of those religions that hide behind secrets Jesus had no secrets Everything He did, He did in the open for all to hear I think He tells us to do the same We have nothing to hide when we follow His command and His example It’s true many have died because of His teaching, but so did He What did He teach that cost His life? God wants a personal relationship with each of us Only one relationship never ends, think about it Everyone you enter into a relationship with will die or move or things change that change the relationship Every relationship with anything or anyone terrestrial will end Only a relationship with God can last Only He is immortal and relates with our immortal soul If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I love to get advice from other people about what God wants for my life, don’t you? Yeah, right. We do seem to try to meddle sometimes, don’t we. That’s exactly what Jesus called Peter on in the Garden of Gethsemane. Scripture John 18:11 Jesus (to Peter): Put down your sword, and return it to the sheath. Am I to turn away from the cup the Father has given Me to drink? Devotional I know what is best for my adult children, right? I need to give them advice on their career choices, the spouse they choose, the things they do with their money, the places they go...even when they don’t ask. Same with elderly parents Same with neighbors Same with everyone around me I don’t need to take advice from anyone else, but I sure need to give others my advice I even try to give God my advice sometimes In our flawed state, we think we are smarter than God That’s what Peter does with Jesus Attacks Malcus, high priest’s servant Tries to help Jesus escape from the Pharisees and the death penalty they wish to impose Thinks he knows better than Jesus what His path should be Thinks the Messiah must not die, but reign as a military and political leader to free Israel Steps in front of Jesus to protect Him How often do we step in front of God’s plan instead of doing what Jesus did and trust the Father with His perfect knowledge? Can’t mean what He says Can’t mean for us to face the trial He puts in front of us Can’t mean for us to suffer The path must be different So we try to change the path, we step in front of His plan and try to change it Often we pick up implements to challenge the enemy Sword, spear, implements of war to fight He wants us to submit instead Trust that God knows what He’s doing Recognize that He is God and His plan will be ultimately completed the way He intends We can choose to be a part of those plans or not The smart choice is to let Him take the lead and then do what He says If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever played with magnets? The picture of Jesus facing the guards in the garden remind me of those. Scripture John 18:4-8 Jesus: Whom are you looking for? Judas’s Entourage: Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus: I am the One. Judas, the betrayer, stood with the military force. As Jesus spoke “I am the One,” the forces fell back on the ground. Jesus asked them a second time: Jesus: Whom are you searching for? Judas’s Entourage: Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus: I have already said that I am the One. If you are looking for Me, then let these men go free. Devotional I’m sure you remember playing with magnets when you were a kid. In science we learned about the north and south poles of those magnetic fields and how the opposite ends attracted but like ends repelled each other. The stronger the magnet, the harder it was to try to push like ends together There are scientific principles that govern those magnetic fields and explain why they attract and repel each other. Explains why light bends near the earth Explains the aurora borealis Explains parts of electrical currents Explains a lot of what looks like mysteries around our world Might even explain the migration of animals at different seasons of the year or why they can sense dangers faster than we do or can find their way home from great distances Picture that experiment you did with magnets as a kid as you tried to push the north pole of the magnet against its polar like north pair With some effort you might get them to touch As soon as you release pressure they push apart If strong enough, can’t push them together Now picture the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane Guards come to take Jesus Armed with spears, swords, shields, armor Jesus dressed in His tunic and sash and bare hands As they try to approach they are repelled as easily as those magnets trying to approach each other Jesus could not be taken by any force men could put against Him Satan tried His best throughout His life Herod killed all the boys in Bethlehem - Jesus escaped Pharisees plotted to kill Him throughout His whole ministry Tried to stone Him - slipped away Tried to throw Him from a cliff - slipped through the crowd Jesus gave Himself up willingly to the guards that came into the garden Allowed Himself to be taken Allowed Himself to be beaten Allowed Himself to be crucified No one could touch Him unless He let them He loved us enough to let them If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you know what it feels like to long for someone to come home? That’s what Jesus is doing for us. Scripture John 17:24-26 Jesus: Father, I long for the time when those You have given Me can join Me in My place so they may witness My glory, which comes from You. You have loved Me before the foundations of the cosmos were laid. Father, You are just; though this corrupt world order does not know You, I do. These followers know that You have sent Me. I have told them about Your nature; and I will continue to speak of Your name in order that Your love, which was poured out on Me, will be in them. And I will also be in them. Devotional When I was deployed on several occasions during my military career, I heard my wife talk about her longing for my return. I stayed incredibly busy during deployments and didn’t have much time to think about home Also didn’t want to get too distracted because it meant lives if I didn’t do my job well At home, an empty chair An empty space that no one could fill but me Missing sounds and smells and routines that were obvious in my absence With two children, really missed me and longed for me to return We are flawed imperfect creatures because sin and death entered the world Still we long for those we love when they are absent from us Think of how Jesus feels for those He loves Loved enough that He Died for us Loves perfectly Went to build a new home for us Longs for us to be with Him eternally Picture Him standing at the door eagerly waiting for the day He can meet us Only the Father knows when time will end, but Jesus stands at the edge of heaven waiting to greet us He wants us to see Him without the blinders that our flawed nature creates He wants us to know Him without the limitations we have because of our fallen nature He longs to have us join Him in His place where all evil is dispelled and we are always in the light of His glory He longs for us to see the place He has built for us to spend eternity with Him If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Here is a question for you to consider for a few moments: How is crew like our Christian mission? Scripture John 17:16-23 Jesus: Like Me, they are not products of the corrupt world order. Immerse them in the truth, the truth Your voice speaks. In the same way You sent Me into this world, I am sending them. It is entirely for their benefit that I have set Myself apart so that they may be set apart by truth. I am not asking solely for their benefit; this prayer is also for all the believers who will follow them and hear them speak. Father, may they all be one as You are in Me and I am in You; may they be in Us, for by this unity the world will believe that You sent Me. All the glory You have given to Me, I pass on to them. May that glory unify them and make them one as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may be refined so that all will know that You sent Me, and You love them in the same way You love Me. Devotional I have to admit, there are not many Olympic sports that I like to watch. I enjoy the finals of several of them when the final competitors face each other to determine who is the best in some category. Those are usually exciting. Most competitions through the preliminaries are relatively boring to me I’m not much of a sportsman But I like to watch crew Team sport in which rowers compete Consist of 1, 2, 4, 8 person teams plus or minus a coxswain Men’s and women’s competition at collegiate, olympic, and international levels A lot of factors in winning but one of the most important is unity of the team in their strokes Coxswain or one of the rowers sounding as coxswain keeps rhythm so every oar goes into and out of water simultaneously Unity in every stroke breeds success, by their unity in rowing you can almost pick the winner Jesus wants His followers to have that kind of unity when it comes to fulfilling His purpose Doesn’t mean we’re all alike Doesn’t even mean we agree on everything Means we all work toward a common purpose - His To go and make disciples; to share His message; to help others know He came to forgive sins and bring eternal life to all who believe in Him Even prayed for our unity, that we would be one in Him and in the Father just as He is, one purpose, one direction, one most important thing - God How do we have such unity? Let Him consume you with His love Love Him back for what He has done for you If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you ever get confused about who should get the praise or reward for the work you do? We probably all feel that little twinge of jealousy sometimes when someone else gets the glory for our work, but should we? Scripture John 17:1-10 Jesus (lifting His face to the heavens): Father, My time has come. Glorify Your Son, and I will bring You great glory because You have given Me total authority over humanity. I have come bearing the plentiful gifts of God; and all who receive Me will experience everlasting life, a new intimate relationship with You (the one True God) and Jesus the Anointed (the One You have sent). I have glorified You on earth and fulfilled the mission You set before Me. In this moment, Father, fuse Our collective glory and bring Us together as We were before creation existed. You have entrusted Me with these men who have come out of this corrupt world order. I have told them about Your nature and declared Your name to them, and they have held on to Your words and understood that these words, like everything else You have given Me, come from You. It is true that these men You gave Me have received the words that come from You and not only understood them but also believed that You sent Me. I am now making an appeal to You on their behalf. This request is not for the entire world; it is for those whom You have given to Me because they are Yours. Yours and Mine, Mine and Yours, for all that are Mine are Yours. Through them I have been glorified. Devotional As a new officer in the Army, it bothered me when my commander would praise me for the work my platoon did. I had some really good soldiers in my platoon and they provided really great support for the unit in which we served. Medical support for a battalion Dining facility officer with soldiers that won Army competitions for their excellence in foodservice and culinary excellence High scores on inspections and competitions Soldiers did the work, but I got the praise from the commander I always tried to share the praise with my soldiers Shared what the commander said Tried to give them awards and decorations for the work they did Recognized their individual efforts whenever possible But I still often got credit for the team effort Learned over time to accept the praise because I was the leader responsible for whatever success or failure happened I also took the blame for the failure of any soldier in my charge Answered to the commander for DWI, AWOL, other disciplinary problems Described in detail why any particular soldier didn’t mean the training standard and what I was doing to correct it I took and accepted responsibility for good and bad within my unit My leaders taught me to accept both, success and failure, for the actions within my unit because I was their leader, just as my actions and performance reflected on my commander In some small way, I learned a little of what Jesus let His disciples hear as He prayed Their actions would give glory to Him, not them His actions would give glory to the Father We don’t need to seek glory for ourselves, we just need to do the work He gives us to the best of our abilities and let Him receive all the glory We are His soldiers and He is our leader, He deserves all the credit, all the recognition, all the glory we can give Him If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you ever want to just be surrounded by a protective bubble to keep all the evil of the world away from you? Just have some kind of barrier so you never had to worry about any of that stuff creeping in and spoiling the relationship you want with God? Scripture John 17:11-15 Jesus: I will no longer be physically present in this world, but they will remain in this world. As I return to be with You, holy Father, remain with them through Your name, the name You have given Me. May they be one even as We are one. While I was physically present with them, I protected them through Your name. I watched over them closely; and only one was lost, the one the Scriptures said was the son of destruction. Now I am returning to You. I am speaking this prayer here in the created cosmos alongside friends and foes so that in hearing it they might be consumed with joy. I have given them Your word; and the world has despised them because they are not products of the world, in the same way that I am not a product of the corrupt world order. Do not take them out of this world; protect them from the evil one. Devotional Several years ago, I remember a story about a young boy with an immune system so compromised he could not be exposed to any infectious organisms of any kind without risk of flooding his system with that infection and dying. Called “bubble boy” by the press Lived inside a double walled plexiglass ball Filtered air; food and nutrients passed through chambers to him (132) Learned to roll it around to go other places What a horrible life Never get a hug from his parents Never touch a dog or cat Whole existence limited to the space inside that bubble Reach up and touch his bubble; right; left; front; back; nothing but his bubble Jesus doesn’t ask the Father to remove us from this world Doesn’t want us to be like bubble boy Has something better in store for us Wants us to show the world we can overcome, because He overcame Wants us to be in the world but not part of the world Bubble boy had no protection from the viruses and diseases present in the world outside his bubble We have protection from the evil around us Jesus prayer for us and evoked the name of God to dispel evil around us if we will call on Him for help We have His resurrection power at our disposal to live in this present age with all the trouble and evil that surrounds us We can survive here with His help until He returns If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever thought what times of trouble means? If you think back, I believe every generation thinks they lived in times of trouble. But look at where we are today! Scripture John 16:31-33 Jesus: So you believe now? Be aware that a time is coming when you will be scattered like seeds. You will return to your own way, and I will be left alone. But I will not be alone, because the Father will be with Me. I have told you these things so that you will be whole and at peace. In this world, you will be plagued with times of trouble, but you need not fear; I have triumphed over this corrupt world order. Devotional I started with a question, what does times of trouble mean? For disciples: expectation of arrest, abuse, execution For early Christians: separation from families, torture and martyrdom During middle ages: crusades, kings and lords abusing power Industrial revolution: included machinery of war and weapons that killed from great distance; homes broken as men went off to work Early 20th Century: prohibition, roaring twenties, smoky back rooms where more than just illegal drinking happened, rise of the mobs World War I and II atrocities with chemical warfare; introduction of air power and short range missiles, 60’s and 70’s: flower power, drugs, sexual promiscuity 80’s and 90’s: energy crisis, financial crises, double digit inflation, 2000: Y2K, doomsday prophecies, Today: crime, finance, sexual promiscuity, drugs, terrorism, wars, religious jihad Christians are an easy target for the blame We don’t retaliate We don’t apologize We predict things will get worse, not better until Jesus returns We embrace suffering because Jesus embraced suffering World doesn’t understand and so blames us for things that go wrong We are in times of trouble, but… We need not fear Why? With everything that is going on, why shouldn’t we fear? The answer is Jesus has already triumphed over this corrupt world order. What does it mean that Jesus has triumphed? Satan tried his hardest to defeat Him Threw the worst fear possible at Jesus, death Death is a predator with humans as it’s prey Jesus overcame death proving it with His resurrection We don’t need to fear because He has triumphed over the greatest fear we as humans have - death If He has already done that and lives in us, we have at our disposal the power of the resurrection that helps us face the worst Satan can throw at us Will we have trouble? Yes. Do we need to fear that trouble? No. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. You can have an appointment with the creator of the cosmos. All you have to do is call His name and He will make time on His calendar for you. Scripture John 16:23-28 Jesus: When all this transpires, you will finally have the answers you have been seeking. I tell you the truth, anything you ask of the Father in My name, He will give to you. Until this moment, you have not sought after anything in My name. Ask and you will receive so that you will be filled with joy. I have been teaching you all of these truths through stories and metaphors, but the time is coming for Me to speak openly and directly of the Father. The day is coming when you will make a request in My name, but I will not represent you before the Father. You will be heard directly by the Father. The Father loves you because you love Me and know that I come from the Father. I came from the Father into the cosmos, but soon I will leave it and return to the Father. Devotional I’m not sure we understand the implications of Jesus’ words to the disciples most of the time or we would do things a lot differently You will be heard directly by the Father Think about who He is Creator of the cosmos Billions of galaxies, farthest one we can see is 32 billion light years away Each galaxy has billions of stars 960,000 earths in our star, the sun, not even mid-sized, more on the small size If our solar system was the size of the United States, earth would be the size of a quarter God spoke and it came into being God keeps everything running smoothly just for His pleasure Created this earth with just the right amount of air and water and all the elements necessary for life Created you Miracle of birth, life started, you took a breath, an impossibility when you count the odds Think of how insignificant we are in comparison What have you created lately? Anything you created came from ingredients that already existed God made everything out of nothing, He provided the raw materials you might use for your creative bent Yet He calls us to talk with Him and ask for His help, to ask for things that will bring glory to Him He opens His appointment book for us We don’t understand just who He is We become too familiar and fail to stand in awe of the Creator of all things We don’t take advantage of His open invitation to come into His presence Balance between the two. Creator Father Talk with Him today If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Childbirth is filled with emotion. It starts out painfully, but ends with great joy. Scripture John 16:19-22 Jesus: Are you trying to figure out what I mean when I say you will see Me in a little while? I tell you the truth, a time is approaching when you will weep and mourn while the world is celebrating. You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy. In the same way that a woman labors in great pain during childbirth only to forget the intensity of the pain when she holds her child, when I return, your labored grief will also change into a joy that cannot be stolen. Devotional If you’ve never witnessed a childbirth first hand, I have to tell you, it’s an incredible event. My wife is a Registered Nurse and the first several years of her career worked in neonatal care Witnessed a lot of births Cried every time I saw my own children being born Words can’t describe the experience But for my wife Both kids were a month late Don’t let mothers do that today Both were good sized kids over 8 and 10 pounds Pregnancy and especially labor with those two was not fun for her Neither labor was short 36 and 24 hours of intense pain; no C-section An emotional roller coaster, though Pain followed by indescribable joy That’s what the disciples were about to go through Master arrested, tortured, and crucified Buried in a borrowed tomb But then comes Easter That joy cannot be stolen Unlike those Jesus raised from the dead: Widow’s son died again Jairus’ daughter died again Lazarus died again Jesus rose never to die again Easter is just around the corner, but we can celebrate every day He is still alive He lives in us We can celebrate Him when He lives in us If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Insider trading is not a good thing in this country and many other, but when it comes to Jesus’ words to His disciples, insider information is what He promised. Scripture John 16:6-15 Jesus: Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you. Devotional In the stock market there is something that will get you in really big trouble if you’re part of a publicly traded corporation Insider trading is the trading of a public company's stock or other securities (such as bonds or stock options) by individuals with access to nonpublic information about the company. In various countries, some kinds of trading based on insider information is illegal. In trouble even if you give that information to someone else and they benefit from the information Ask Enron executives about insider trading, it doesn’t turn out well for anyone In our Christian walk, though, Jesus gives us some insider trading information all the time His spirit will live in us Spirit of truth Guide you into all truth Speaks only what He hears Will tell you what is to come Does that make us fortunetellers? No Something about knowing the truth Gives insight into how others behave What the future holds because God is a God of truth Enlightens us through His word Know the final outcome of how all this ends when we let Him live in us But we must listen Inside traders don’t profit if they don’t listen to those that know what will happen within the company in the next weeks or months We will not profit if we don’t listen to God’s spirit speaking truth us If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. If you lived shortly after World War II, you’ll remember the war crime tribunal headlines that plastered every paper around the world for months. People thinking they were doing good, tried and convicted for horrendous crimes against their fellow man. But that really wasn’t news. It had gone on long before, is going on today, and will go on until Jesus comes again. Scripture John 16:1-5 Jesus: I am telling you all of this so that you may avoid the offenses that are coming. The time will come when they will kick you out of the synagogue because some believe God desires them to execute you as an act of faithful service. They will do this because they don’t know the Father, or else they would know Me. I’m telling you all this so that when it comes to pass you will remember what you have heard. It was not important for Me to give you this information in the beginning when I was with you. But now, I am going to the One who has sent Me, and none of you ask Me, “Where are You going?” Devotional Because in some armies soldiers follow their leaders blindly without any thought as to the morality or legality of what they do, our Uniform Code of Military Justice has some peculiar articles in it. Carrying out illegal orders is not a defense in a court-martial Commander who tells you to kill prisoners - illegal order Commander and any who carry it out are guilty Following orders is not a defense Temple leaders thought they were doing good when they threw Jesus’ followers out of the temple and synagogues Tried to stop Jesus’ teaching Didn’t matter by what means Even in violation of their own commandments Hate got in the way Christian martyrs have felt the promise throughout the centuries Sometimes we can get blinded by hate if we’re not careful War crimes Atrocities against civilians or prisoners World War I/II Even thinking we are doing things in the name of religion Crusades Jihad Abortion clinic violence Violence against ethnic groups or the LTGB community Violence against anyone that doesn’t agree with us Vengeance is mine says the Lord Tells us it is coming Tells us so we can avoid it But promises trouble, not peace with the world Warns us this is not the place for us, but we must live here until He comes again Be prepared for the worst, give thanks if things turn out better than expected If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We often think we can do things alone, but we’ve all run into things we just can’t handle by ourselves. We need someone to help, an expert, someone with more experience than we have. When it comes to spiritual things, there is really only one who can help us, though. Scripture John 15:26-27 Jesus: I will send a great Helper to you from the Father, one known as the Spirit of truth. He comes from the Father and will point to the truth as it concerns Me. But you will also point others to the truth about My identity, because you have journeyed with Me since this all began. Devotional My grandson is an up and coming engineer. At about four or five built catapults out of paper, duct tape and rubber bands Bows and arrows At six built the titanic out of legos When it came to a tree house he needed help Asked for help, “Papaw, can you build a treehouse for me?” “Can you build an elevator to the treehouse for me?” Got a little over his head although he likes to work with wood and hammers and nails Cute story about grandkids, but we run into the same problem Sometimes our pride gets in the way, though Finances Health Relationships Sometimes we let ourselves get in terrible straits before we seek help Sometimes by the time we let the professionals in we’ve made such a mess, it seems it will be impossible to get out When it comes to spiritual things, there’s a better answer We can never fix what’s wrong We can’t be good enough We can’t pay enough There’s nothing we can do to make things right We’re sinners, every one of us There is a solution The cross Jesus died so we can live Then promised the comforter, His spirit, to come and be with us and in us The question, will we stop and listen to Him when He gently calls Will we pay attention when He says stay out of that place or go to that one Will we stop talking or texting when He tells us to? He’s the expert, He’ll answer our questions. I wasn’t the expert at building a treehouse. It will come down one day. In fact, I’ll tear it down in a few years to make sure no one gets hurt on it. But God’s spirit in us will never let us down. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Stereotypes are awful, but they are everywhere and just part of our nature. The question is whether we let them rule us or do we rule them. We can get over them with some effort. Is it worth the cost? Think about those who pushed through their stereotypes to reach you. Scripture John 15:18-25 Jesus: If you find that the world despises you, remember that before it despised you, it first despised Me. If you were a product of the world order, then it would love you. But you are not a product of the world because I have taken you out of it, and it despises you for that very reason. Don’t forget what I have spoken to you: “a servant is not greater than the master.” If I was mistreated, you should expect nothing less. If they accepted what I have spoken, they will also hear you. Everything they do to you they will do on My account because they do not know the One who has sent Me. If I had not spoken within their hearing, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for ignoring My voice. If someone despises Me, he also despises My Father. 24 If I had not demonstrated things for them that have never been done, they would not be guilty of sin. But the reality is they have stared Me in the face, and they have despised Me and the Father nonetheless. 25 Yet their law, which says, “They despised Me without any cause,”a]">[a] has again been proven true. Devotional The words cliché and stereotype have a good deal in common. Both come from French, both were originally printers’ terms, and both have come to take on somewhat negative meanings in modern use. Their original meanings are essentially synonymous, referring to printing blocks from which numerous prints could be made. In fact, cliché means stereotype in French. Their modern meanings, however, are quite distinct. Cliché is today overwhelmingly encountered in reference to something hackneyed, such as an overly familiar or commonplace phrase, theme, or expression. Stereotype is most frequently now employed to refer to an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic. a plate cast from a printing surface something conforming to a fixed or general pattern; especially : a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment We’re bad about stereotyping people Ethnic groups Political parties Socioeconomic sectors Religious affiliation World views Christians as the cause of the problems in the world order Demand human rights, sometimes go about it the wrong way Tie political agendas to Christian views detracting from gospel message smearing Christian values and worldview of who we should be Fail to meet standards we say we hold then blame others or sin which we cannot help but commit Jesus warns of the stereotype His followers would receive From the political realm - fail to kneel to Caesar means rebelling against the state From the Jewish community - usurp the thought of one God with Jesus coming to live among us as the God/Man; God incarnate - confusion of the triune godhead From the Gentile community - setting standards of living condemning satisfaction of base desires in any way we please; sexual immorality, lying, stealing, injury to others through gossip/slander, idol worship All evils of the world would be blamed on the Christian community - if they would just leave everyone else alone, tolerate everyone else and stop this “Jesus is the only way” teaching Guilt would stop; fighting would stop; pain would stop The stereotyping will not end until time stops Jesus promises the world will continue to despise us and abuse us He promises they will not listen to us if they will not listen to Him He promises they will close their eyes and fail to see He also promises some will come to know Him and be saved from their sins That one who listens and clings to Him is worth the pain and suffering Don’t give up; one more is worth the cost If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture John 15:12-17 Jesus: My commandment to you is this: love others as I have loved you. There is no greater way to love than to give your life for your friends. You celebrate our friendship if you obey this command. I don’t call you servants any longer; servants don’t know what the master is doing, but I have told you everything the Father has said to Me. I call you friends. You did not choose Me. I chose you, and I orchestrated all of this so that you would be sent out and bear great and perpetual fruit. As you do this, anything you ask the Father in My name will be done. This is My command to you: love one another. Devotional Friendship day is August 6th this year. You might not even know we have a friendship day, but there is it. Jesus tells us to celebrate friendship with Him if you obey His command to love one another. That’s one real friendship is all about Love God and love each other as we love ourselves But what is friendship? The history of friendship day is a little shady, a little commercial. Joyce Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards 1930 to sell cards to send to friends Definition of friendship the emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends a relationship between friends a state of mutual trust and support between allied nations Friend a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another person a person who is not an enemy a person who helps or supports something We don’t have many real friends in our society today; we live in isolation in crowded places Go to any restaurant or park or place where groups of people are gathered Watch their interactions Most are tied to their smartphones texting We isolate ourselves from each other without human touch and emotion We can avoid commitment by cutting the phone connection Jesus said no greater love than to give His life for a friend Does that mean death? In His case it did But it might mean life; servanthood; caring enough to be present in times of need Give life when life crashes in around a friend; when they need help or support for something “A friend in need is a friend indeed” as far as Euripides in 424 BC Friendship Day is not the time to celebrate friendship Today is the day Everyday is the day to celebrate friendship Be a friend Give your life to someone in need; serve with love and make a friend Jesus expected nothing in return for His friendship and says we are to be like Him Hard steps to follow but that is the command He give and it starts with love He loves us so we can love others and express genuine friendship to those around us Go celebrate a few months early If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Trades have three kinds of people, laborers, apprentices, and journeymen. Where are you in your walk with Christ? Have you followed Him enough to be an apprentice, or a journeyman? Scripture John 15:9-11 Jesus:  I have loved you as the Father has loved Me. Abide in My love.  Follow My example in obeying the Father’s commandments and receiving His love. If you obey My commandments, you will stay in My love. I want you to know the delight I experience, to find ultimate satisfaction, which is why I am telling you all of this. Devotional When I was a teenager, I worked some with a journeyman mason. Never picked up a brick or stone twice Knew exactly where and how to place each piece Wasted no energy Created beautiful structures His son was his apprentice along with one or two others in his employment Did some jobs on their own Were pretty good at standard brick laying Admitted stonework caused them problems Couldn’t envision how all the pieces would fit together and took them twice as long to complete the job Still the journeyman would let them do some of those smaller stonework jobs   always brought at least one of his apprentices with him to learn when he faced a tough job Employed several laborers I was one of many Brought bricks and mortar to the their sides Ran back and forth for tools or more supplies Got water or rags or whatever they needed to keep them from having to do anything other than execute their skills at placing brick or stone in just the right place Still got to watch and learn and a few of those apprentices had started out as laborers Showed aptitude, attitude, and interest in becoming skilled in the trade Spent a lifetime learning and mastering his trade Journeyman in his late 50’s Apprentices in their late 30’s and 40’s Laborers teens and twenties, a few older but not interested in learning the skill Following Christ is like that Interest Time Mimic the Master’s moves, words, deeds Listen to His instruction Go on the job with Him and allow Him to make correction, sometimes very minute, but will improved the final product Where are you in your path? Laborer, apprentice, or journeyman? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. If you’ve never tried to rid your property of kudzu, you’ve missed an extraordinary experience...not! Jesus’ words, didn’t have to bring back that memory today, but He did. Scripture John 15:5-8 Jesus: I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is like a branch that is tossed out and shrivels up and is later gathered to be tossed into the fire to burn.  If you abide in Me and My voice abides in you, anything you ask will come to pass for you.  Your abundant growth and your faithfulness as My followers will bring glory to the Father. Devotional In 1876, a simple Japanese vine was introduced into the United States at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia as a decorative plant for ground cover. In the 1930’s and 40’s agriculturalists recommended it in dustbowl areas to stop soil erosion. Extremely invasive plant Nodes on the vines stick to anything with any amount of soil or potential source of nutrients Soil Trees Buildings Almost any immobile object Just stand still long enough Removal is difficult Mow close to the ground and scrape out the crown root Burn off the plant then scrape out the crown root Let goats or sheep overgraze to eat the crown root Use herbicides to kill the crown root So why do I talk about kudzu when Jesus talks about being part of the vine or else you will be tossed aside and burned in the fire? Kudzu is everywhere in the southeast, like sin Kudzu tries to invade any field or yard or property that isn’t attended on a regular basis Like sin, until you do something with the crown root, it is likely to come back again and again Kudzu is a nuisance, not a help Removed and burned, destroyed God in us empowers us to make right choices Do we always listen and obey We get better at it as we stay connected to the vine and draw from Him We hear His voice more clearly when we stay connected The closer we stay to Him, the more nodes and roots He removes so we can clear away the plants, the ungodlike characteristics more easily He wants to perfect us each day as we will let Him If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I’m not a gardener as anyone who knows me can attest. But I do know the difference between trimming and pruning. We don’t mind trims, but most of us don’t care for pruning very much. Scripture John 15:1-4 Jesus: I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard.  My Father examines every branch in Me and cuts away those who do not bear fruit. He leaves those bearing fruit and carefully prunes them so that they will bear more fruit;  already you are clean because you have heard My voice.  Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. A branch cannot bear fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, and neither will you if you are not connected to Me. Devotional I don’t have any fruit trees in my yard anymore. I do have several bush and I try to keep them reasonably shaped so I don’t get nastygrams from my Home Owners’ Association. Want to keep them all about the same size and shape Don’t want sprigs poking out everywhere Want them to be need and attractive from the street I trim them occasionally to make them look okay when driving past the house I have never pruned them Took a trip to Disneyland a few years ago Bushes formed in the shape of cartoon characters Takes careful pruning to ensure each branch retains the right amount of foliage and grows in the right direction to form those familiar shapes Pruning takes away what might look like good healthy branches, but they are not contributing to the purpose for which the gardener planted that particular bush Looks good, but the wrong direction, the wrong growth, non-contributor to the cause Fruit trees are like that Orchards filled with trees that are not very tall Produce extraordinary crops Every branch that doesn’t produce fruit is removed It doesn’t contribute to the purpose for which the tree was planted Just soaks up nutrients that the fruit bearing branches could use to produce more and better fruit Jesus wants to do that for us Prunes us Wants to take away everything that doesn’t produce fruit Wants to remove the things that just soak up time and energy with no purpose Wants to transform us into His likeness Doesn’t want to just trim the edges to make us look good from a distance; wants to prune us to make us better, more productive in His kingdom If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Farewells. Sometimes we like them, sometimes we don’t. But there is good and bad with every farewell. Jesus tried to tell His disciples about the good in His. Scripture John 14:28-31 You were listening when I said, “I will go away, but I will also return to be with you.” If you love Me, celebrate the fact that I am going to be with the Father because He is far greater than I am.  I have told you all these things in advance so that your faith will grow as these things come to pass.  I am almost finished speaking to you. The one who rules the world is stepping forward, and he has no part in Me;  but to demonstrate to the cosmos My love for the Father, I will do just as He commands. Stand up. It is time for us to leave this place. Devotional In the military, we had a lot of events we called hail and farewells. In fact, we had them almost every month. Nature of military moves Someone always coming or going to fill spots in the units Welcomed the newcomers, said goodbye to those leaving Sometimes sad to see the old-timers leave Good leaders Contributed to the unit in exceptional ways Good friends Sometimes happy to see them go Just the opposite Poor leaders Tried to climb the ranks on the backs of others Thought only of themselves and not their fellow soldiers Jesus talked about His farewell Good that He was leaving In face, wanted them to celebrate the fact that He was going back to His father Didn’t understand how they could celebrate His departure, especially if it meant the death He predicted In just a few days, though, they would be doing exactly that In a few days, we will not mourn Jesus’ death on the cross, but celebrate His sacrifice In a few days, we will celebrate an empty tomb, His resurrection and power over death and the grave In a few days, we will celebrate His return to the Father, because He proved His promises true then and now In a few days it will be Easter and the Christian community celebrates Jesus’ resurrection in extraordinary ways But we don’t need to wait a few days to celebrate He also promised a Comforter would come to be with us and in us He promised this Comforter would also teach us everything He taught while He walked among us He promised this Comforter would empower us to do what He did and more if we let Him loose in our lives to work for His glory and the glory of the Father What are you waiting for? Go do some celebrating for Jesus’ farewell today! If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. How many guns give you peace? Guns are debated a lot in this country. Is one or two a good number? How about 13 million? Actually, guns have nothing to do with peace or fear. But they are interesting to talk about. Scripture John 14:25-27 Jesus: I have spoken these words while I am here with you. The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you. My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. Devotional As I read Jesus words today, “Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful.” I thought about how fearful our nation remains. We seem to be scared of everything. Sometimes for good reason with all the talk of terrorists and crime rates and road rage and general violence going on everywhere. Last available statistics from the Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive Interesting they put all those things under the same department, things that are all equally deadly to our population 9 million firearms manufactured in the US 2015 3.9 million imported into the US in 2015 13 million brand new firearms floating around the country in the hands of mostly responsible, but some pretty irresponsible people I’m one of those holders of firearms, think I'm responsible Never the gun that kills, but the person that holds it Weapons don’t bring peace Instruments of destruction Provide an easier means of taking life Able to do so without getting as personal as with a club or bare hands Just pull the trigger and with a rifle, may never see their eyes or the expression on their face Comedian on the Internet Wanted to buy a defensive gun for protection Not one of those that killers and robbers use Jesus brings peace Gives gifts unlike the world Promises a legacy of peace Inner peace Will never stop the wars between nations or between fellow human beings until He returns Holy Spirit beings personal peace in the turmoil of life Circumstances don’t dictate our states of mind or emotional distress Jesus gives peace the world cannot understand or receive because the world doesn’t know Him I still like shooting my guns But my peace comes from the legacy Jesus gives, not from the legacy of the wild west If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We hear about love a lot. We think we see it everywhere. Jesus commands that we love. So what is it, anyway? Scripture John 14:23-34 Jesus: Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him. The one who does not love Me ignores My message, which is not from Me, but from the Father who sent Me. Devotional I went to everyone’s favorite source of perfect information to find the answer to the question, “What is love?” The Internet, specifically Wikipedia Love is a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection ("I love my mother") to pleasure ("I loved that meal"). It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment.[1] Love can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another".[2] It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals.[3] Ancient Greeks identified four forms of love: kinship or familiarity (in Greek, storge), friendship (philia), sexual and/or romantic desire (eros), and self-emptying or divine love (agape). Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of romantic love. Non-Western traditions have also distinguished variants or symbioses of these states.[4][5] Love has additional religious or spiritual meaning—notably in Abrahamic religions. This diversity of uses and meanings combined with the complexity of the feelings involved makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, compared to other emotional states. Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts.[6] Love may be understood as a function to keep human beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species.[7 Does that get us any closer to understanding love? Definition of love is like definition of ice cream Must experience it to really understand it and even then do you really understand it? How can you really describe the experience? Yet when we go through the event, when we eat ice cream for the first time, we know we like it and we want more When we experience real love, not the mushy fake lust we see advertised, but real love,we know we like it and we need it and we want more How do we get love? We get it unconditionally from God Most of us get it unconditionally from mothers and fathers who try to be good parents no matter how flawed they are Most of us get love, though sometimes misunderstood and again flawed by the image of what love is from the media and the world in our marriages But the best way to get love? Give love to others - unconditionally What kind of love? - that one that says, “Love can be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another".[2] It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, That’s the love God shows toward us and asks us to give it to others in return Jesus says if we love Him we will obey Him, His commands usually come in the form of helping others, thinking of others more than we think of ourselves. Doing and giving and lifting others to show them real, genuine love in a world that knows so little about real love today Love is the universal language, but so few know how to speak it today. Go out and teach them through your actions If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you heard about the studies done in some of the Romanian orphanages? They’ve been going on for more than 80 years and all say the same thing. We need to be loved. Scripture John 14:18-21 Jesus: I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. Devotional Studies have been going on about attachment and bonding in orphanages since the 30’s and 40’s by psychologists and psychiatrists. Astounding results Both physical and emotional impact of not being held and nurtured as infants 30’s and 40’s studies were on a small scale Same results are being found today on a large scale with more than 100,000 subjects as part of the study More orphans than people to take care of them Same in Jesus’ day War a part of every generation Parents killed in battle or part of collateral damage Parents who cannot care for their children and leave them in the hope someone else will care for them These detached orphans grow up with significant emotional problems They may not have done psychological studies in Jesus’ day, but they knew orphans didn’t fare well Command was to take care of widows and orphans they need help Needed someone to love them Jesus said He wouldn’t leave His disciples or us as orphans He would not let us suffer the pains of detachment He comes to us What constitutes having Him with us and in us? He gave us the formula for freedom from the lack of attachment problem Whoever has His commands and keeps them Whoever loves Him is loved by the Father and by Him Whoever He loves has Him living inside him If He is living in us, we can never be alone He desires relationship with us in the deepest most intimate ways If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever been around someone you should have known but didn’t? Or you were with someone you thought everyone else should know but didn’t? Today’s lesson talks about that problem. Scripture John 14:15-17 Jesus: If you love Me, obey the commandments I have given you. I will ask the Father to send you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will remain constantly with you. The world does not recognize the Spirit of truth, because it does not know the Spirit and is unable to receive Him. But you do know the Spirit because He lives with you, and He will dwell in you. Devotional I do some part-time work training senior medical staffs on the use of some software I was a part of visioning almost two decades ago. At that time, the then future Surgeon General and I were in discussion about what would be useful for commanders to know to better anticipate medical needs on the battlefield. Wrote the medical support plan for Desert Storm Commanded medical units in the field Trained medical units of all sizes Had a pretty good idea of what would help if the right information could be collected Enter more recent technology Higher speed Internet Hardened machines that could handle the rough treatment of field conditions Electronic medical records Processing speeds that could assimilate information rapidly Databases with the power to analyze information on the fly I get to teach and train some of those systems for decision making Retired more than ten years Senior commanders now were captains and majors when I retired Many weren’t in the service when Desert Storm happened and those plans were written Some of their staff weren’t even born They don’t know me or my expertise They don’t know I’ve been where they are or authored the changes to doctrine they are using to support the battlefield Just another contractor to most But to some They’ve read the records They remember the conflicts They’ve seen the documents that supported the doctrine They’ve seen my picture in the halls of the schoolhouse And remember With those, I often have long after hour conversations during those training days as they ask questions about how I came up with the plans, how the training was orchestrated, how the plans were written, how the communications were executed, how the casualties were evacuated and accounted for under such austere conditions. They pick my brain…what little is left. Imagine what we can learn from the spirit of God when we recognize Him! Jesus let His disciples in on the secret and passes it on to us Believe in Him His spirit will live in us We will recognize Him and He will give us incredible knowledge and empower us to become more like Him each day If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture John 14:13-14 Jesus: Whatever you ask for in My name, I will do it so that the Father will get glory from the Son. Let Me say it again: if you ask for anything in My name, I will do it. Devotional When I was growing up, there was a show in which a multimillionaire went around the country and just arbitrarily wrote a check to people for several thousand dollars. Not worth quite as much today, but a lot of money then Never showed the millionaire’s face or mentioned his name Show focused on what the recipients did with the money Some squandered the money on frivolous junk Some spent it on things that seemed like good investments, but only on themselves Some did charitable things for other people Sometimes we read these verses with that kind of thought in mind Santa is coming Get whatever we want Just ask and it will appear All we have to do is tag on His name at the end and it will happen the way we want Twisted view of these verses About His name, not ours About His ministry, not ours About His plans, not ours About His wants, not ours Jesus wants to answer our prayers to bring glory to Him which gives glory to the Father Goes back, then, to what is the Father’s desires and plans for this world Desires that all will know His saving grace and follow Him That all will recognize Him as God and serve Him as God That all will come to a saving relationship with Him That all will worship Him Do our prayers reflect that attitude, that request, that outcome as an end result? He will answer He wants the glory First commandment, He is a jealous God, He will not share our devotion with anyone or anything He alone deserves our worship He wants His name untarnished Ask in His name If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Has anyone ever told you a story that just seemed too incredible to be true? We’ve all heard those before. Put yourself in Philip’s place as he listened to Jesus’ words at that last Passover supper. Scripture John 14:9-12 Jesus (to Philip): I have lived with you all this time, and you still don’t know who I am? If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. How can you keep asking to see the Father? Don’t you believe Me when I say I abide in the Father and the Father dwells in Me? I’m not making this up as I go along. The Father has given Me these truths that I have been speaking to you, and He empowers all My actions. Accept these truths: I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. If you have trouble believing based on My words, believe because of the things I have done. I tell you the truth: whoever believes in Me will be able to do what I have done, but they will do even greater things, because I will return to be with the Father. Devotional My father-in-law was an insurance claims manager for many years. Every once in awhile he would bring home a claim story that just sounded too incredible to be true. Working on the roof Slipped on the shingles Hit the ladder and tool box The tool box hit the chimney and ladder fell back against the chimney No ladder and fell off the roof Ladder broke the chimney Bricks fell on the man’s head Sounds like Wile E. Coyote As Jesus closes His ministry and speaks to His disciples, must have sounded much like that story Going where you can’t go You’ll look for me but you won’t find me Soon you’ll see me again and then you won’t see me I’ll leave but I’ll be with you My Father and I are one If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen My Father How do you put all this together? Hide-and-seek?; you’ll look but you won’t find me; I’ll leave but come back Father and Son twins? This stuff sounds about as crazy as the story of the man fixing his roof But He says, “I’m not making this stuff up as I go along.” My father-in-law had to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man on the roof injuries and discovered they were true When we investigate Jesus’ words by looking into God’s word, we find His words are true. We can believe all He tells us It was hard for the disciples on the other side of the resurrection We have the evidence of an empty tomb to tell us Jesus is who He said He is He and the Father are One He invites us to believe in Him and be empowered to live transformed lives as He makes us more like Him each day If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Why do we argue about the simplest things? If we believe God’s word, then how can we miss the fact that Jesus is the only way to heaven? Scripture John 14:6-7 Jesus: I am the path, the truth, and the energy of life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, you know the Father. Rest assured now; you know Him and have seen Him. Devotional So I think I’ll take a vacation this summer. I’ve always enjoyed Disneyland in California Disneyworld is fun, too, but hot and a lot more walking than in Disneyland Travel plans Train from San Antonio to New York City Hop on a ship and sail to Iceland Catch a plane and fly to London, England Then enjoy Disneyland That should work, right? Doesn’t matter how you get there as long as I’m sincere about going, right? Maybe a little far fetched so let’s try again I really will go to California this time, but I decide that I’m going to go by way of a commercial plane, but I don’t have the money to buy a ticket. Sneak onto the tarmac Climb into the wheel housing Fly non-stop in the wheel housing to California on a 757 Only 3 hour flight from here At 35,000 feet: frozen, no oxygen, dead If I want to see the original Disneyland, I can only go to one place and I must go through the entrance to that magic kingdom in Anaheim, California to see it. No other way to see it No matter how sincere No matter how else I might try I need a ticket and entrance through that front gate or I’ll be thrown out of the park as an intruder If the Bible is true, then Jesus’ words are true also Every time someone tries to disprove something, they find themselves stuck with circular arguments or proofs of scripture on their hands If what God’s word says is true Then Jesus is the only way to the Father He is the entrance and the only entrance Any other way is unacceptable, all other means make you an intruder and like the parable of the master of the wedding feast, those not in the proper garments are thrown into the street We can argue the point all we want We can argue the sun is not really the source of heat for the earth We can argue the earth is really flat instead of round We can argue God is not the creator of life We can argue Jesus is not the only way to heaven Just because we argue those things, does not mean we are right God’s word is true, I want to be on the right side of the argument when He returns Easy as believing in Him If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever been lost in despair? We probably have all had those moments at one time or another. I found myself in one of those spots many years ago and it took God to pull me out. Scripture John 14:1-4 Jesus: Don’t get lost in despair; believe in God, and keep on believing in Me. My Father’s home is designed to accommodate all of you. If there were not room for everyone, I would have told you that. I am going to make arrangements for your arrival. I will be there to greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together. You know where I am going and how to get there. Devotional I’ve told the story before, and you can read the long version in my book “The Dream” which you can find on Amazon if you want to read it. Desert Storm August 1990, Saddam Hussein crossed into Kuwait Medical planner for XVIII Airborne Corps Spent a couple of weeks planning the defense of Saudi Arabian - Kuwaiti border Started planning the offensive campaign in September 24th Infantry Division wanted to move across the desert to the Euphrates River with blitzkrieg speed. Crush anything in their path and move on Planned to move 635 miles as fast as possible - 5 to 10 days Intelligence said Iraq would use chemical weapons since they had used them on their own people, the Kurds, in the NW to quell their revolt With chemical rounds available, estimated 3,000 casualties per day Army had never moved that fast against that formidable a force according to our intelligence Soviet weapons systems Chemical munitions Dug in positions Distances would stretch across 600 miles of desert, too far for helicopters to fly without refueling Medical support for that kind of warfare seemed impossible My responsibility to write the plan to save those 3,000 lives per day Casualty meant died or wounded, most would be wounded and need medical support How do you put the right medical support within reach of the soldiers on the front line when it takes five days to set up a hospital in the field? Platinum 10 minutes; Golden hour; Surgery in two hours Moving 600 miles in five days, no organic vehicles to carry all the equipment required to set up the hospitals, they are stationary once established Shared vehicles moved ammunition, water, food I couldn’t figure it out No precedence in history No current doctrine to support that kind of move without a lot more assets than were available If the estimates were right, thousands would die Despair October 12, 1990 Awoke from a dream Maps of the battlefield showing all the medical unit movements Knew how to support the movement of the corps through their rapid movement Medical units did treat thousands of casualties, but not American Wounded Iraqi soldiers abandoned by their units as they retreated under the pressure of the Allied attack Desert Storm medical support changed Army doctrine in many areas, but especially in the medical support of active combat Dream came from God, convinced of it Don’t get lost in despair, believe in God and keep on believing in Jesus. He comes through at just the right time...always. You can read the whole story in my book, “The Dream” available on Amazon. God truly is an amazing God. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever made a promise you really intended to keep, but them just crumbled under the enormity of the task? I have to admit, I have more times than I’d like to remember, actually. Peter did it, too. Scripture John 13:36-38 Simon Peter: Lord, where are You going? Jesus: Peter, you cannot come with Me now, but later you will join Me. Peter: Why can’t I go now? I’ll give my life for You! Jesus: Will you really give your life for Me? I tell you the truth: you will deny Me three times before the rooster crows. Devotional Have you ever made a promise you really intended to keep, but them just crumbled under the enormity of the task? I have accepted a few tasks that I really wanted to complete Promised a completion date Promised high quality Had to go back and beg for more time or relinquish control of the project completely Just not able to do it Overcommitted Beyond my capability Peter promised to stay with Jesus forever to support Him and protect Him Really wanted to Had every intention of fulfilling His promise Then the soldiers came in the middle of the night Judas betrayed their Master Arrested Jesus to take Him to trial and crucifixion Peter stood for a moment with sword in hand Cut off the high priest’s servant’s ear Jesus put it back and made it new Peter dropped his sword Ran rather than be arrested Peter didn’t want to deny Him Meant every word Meant to stand up to the enemy Meant to stay faithful to the end Couldn’t take the pressure of feeling alone All the other disciples fled, too Peter tried to keep his promise but crumbled under the load Jesus knows our weaknesses, Still He forgives Strengthens Lifts us Calls us to follow Him If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. My grandson had the thrill of his life last week. This year he is finally tall enough to ride “The Rattler”, the big roller coaster at Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. He’s wanted to ride for a long time, but just wasn’t quite tall enough. His plight reminded me of today’s words from Jesus. Scripture John 13:31-35 Jesus: Now the Son of Man will be glorified as God is glorified in Him. If God’s glory is in Him, His glory is also in God. The moment of this astounding glory is imminent. My children, My time here is brief. You will be searching for Me; and as I told the Jews, “You cannot go where I am going.” So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others. Devotional When you were a kid, do you remember those times when your mom or dad or big brother or sister left you behind? “Sorry, you can’t go with me, kid. Not this time. You’re not big enough. You’re not old enough. You’re not ready.” How did you feel? I imagine that’s how the disciples felt when Jesus talked to them about going away. Closest friends. Went everywhere with Him Enjoyed His teachings, His miracles, His company Wanted to protect Him from the crowds and His enemies Wanted to be wherever He was What did they feel Disappointment Rejection Abandonment Fear Anger Confusion We look back and understand Know where He was going Know we can join Him one day Know how to get to the place He went Ask His forgiveness Accept Him as Lord Follow Him each day We can’t go there yet, but one day it will be time and we can be with Him forever If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. How much did it hurt when your friend hurt you by saying or doing something that you didn’t expect. Imagine what it would feel like if they did it and you knew it was going to happen. Scripture John 13:21-27 Jesus was becoming visibly distressed. Jesus: I tell you the truth: one of you will betray Me. The disciples began to stare at one another, wondering who was the unfaithful disciple. One disciple in particular, who was loved by Jesus, reclined next to Him at the table. Peter motioned to the disciple at Jesus’ side. Peter (to the beloved disciple): Find out who the betrayer is. Beloved Disciple (leaning in to Jesus): Lord, who is it? Jesus: I will dip a piece of bread in My cup and give it to the one who will betray Me. He dipped one piece in the cup and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After this occurred, Satan entered into Judas. Jesus (to Judas): Make haste, and do what you are going to do. Devotional We’ve all been hurt by a friend at some time or other or we haven’t lived. It’s the way of relationships in a broken world Misinterpret actions or words See things from our broken past instead of God’s perfect lens even if Christian brothers and sisters Marred by the consequences of past sins and the brokenness of this world Probably never expected the hurt or betrayal, though We expect our relationships to be good We expect encouragement and support from friends We expect our friends never to stab us in the back or give us up to our enemies Now put yourself in Jesus’ place Betrayed by His friend and abandoned by the rest But knew about it ahead of time Inspired the prophets to write about it centuries before He came to earth Lived with the reality every day Had to eat this last meal with His betrayer knowing what would happen next Jesus was becoming visibly distressed! No kidding! Had a human side We all need others to lean on They were about to desert Him and one would betray Him He knew it all and it was coming in just hours His physical, mental, and spiritual agony was about to begin We cannot begin to understand the stress Jesus felt But we can thank Him for His sacrifice We can praise Him for what He did for us We can follow Him when He calls We can love Him because He loves us more than we can know If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever been the victim of betrayal? Have you ever betrayed someone? There are always consequences, you know. Scripture John 13:12-20 Jesus: Do you understand what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and truly, that is who I am. So if your Lord and Teacher washes your feet, then you should wash one another’s feet. I am your example; keep doing what I do. I tell you the truth: a servant is not greater than the master. Those who are sent are not greater than the one who sends them. If you know these things, and if you put them into practice, you will find happiness. I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but let the Hebrew Scripture be fulfilled that says, “The very same man who eats My bread with Me will stab Me in the back.” Assuredly, I tell you these truths before they happen so that when it all transpires, you will believe that I am. I tell you the truth: anyone who accepts the ones I send accepts Me. In turn, the ones who accept Me also accept the One who sent Me. Devotional It’s been a lot of years and I won’t mention any names, but a fellow officer in one of the units to which I was assigned was a good friend...I thought. We often ate lunch together. We shared techniques in leading our units that worked and those that didn’t work so well so we helped each other. Families spent time together after work during our leisure hours. Thought we were good friends One day things changed Had an inspection and some things were missing from his unit Accountable, but consumable Used up in training, but had to account for their use and replace because of alert status His soldiers got lazy and didn’t do the proper paperwork to account for the consumables after one training event and so there was a shortage I was accused of stealing Took less than an hour to show the paper trail to prove no one in my unit took any of his consumables. All mine were accounted for and a trail for when and where each came from Pain came from the betrayal We were friends He knew my character He knew I wouldn’t tolerate such behavior from anyone under my authority Still he accused me to try to cover his soldiers’ failure “The one who ate bread with me, stabbed me in the back.” My friend left the service very soon after that event Nothing of what Jesus felt Judas sat as His feet continually Listened to His teaching Said he believed what the Master taught Said he believed Jesus to be the Son of God Would soon betray Him to the high priest and the Sanhedrin He would die because Judas decided to betray his friend You just don’t know the consequences that will come as a result of betrayal My friend ended his career Judas hung himself Jesus died on a cross Be careful of betraying your friends If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture John 13:7-10 Simon Peter (as Jesus approaches): Lord, are You going to wash my feet? Jesus: Peter, you don’t realize what I am doing, but you will understand later. Peter: You will not wash my feet, now or ever! Jesus: If I don’t wash you, you will have nothing to do with Me. Peter: Then wash me but don’t stop with my feet. Cleanse my hands and head as well. Jesus: Listen, anyone who has bathed is clean all over except for the feet. But I tell you this, not all of you are clean. Devotional Remember the Ridex commercials? Father has everything ready for his daughter’s birthday party Cake Presents Surprise pony Princess castle Septic tank overflows and fills the yard where the party is supposed to take place Terrible job cleaning out an overflowing, broken septic tank Machinery to suck out intact systems, but when they’re broken... We sometimes don’t really understand the full impact of what Jesus was doing that evening as He washed the disciples feet Ancient times Everyone walked Same pathways with camels, donkeys, goats, sheep, horses Have you looked at the street after a parade of horses? Imagine that scene multiplied by daily traffic with no street sweepers No underground sewage system either Chamber pots used during the night were often emptied out the window into the streets in the morning Now think of those foot travelers, which was 80% of the travelers No socks No closed toed shoes Sandals with leather straps holding them in place Imagine what finds its way between the top of those sandals and the bottom of your feet Imagine what finds its way between your toes The lowliest servant or the one deserving the most punishment that day got the duty of washing the guests’ feet None wanted that duty Washing feet meant scraping the animal and human waste off, them scrubbing them clean That’s what those large water pots were for that Jesus turned into wine in Cana, imagine that! I guess it was all organic What a job! But Jesus volunteered to show He was a servant to everyone even though He was King of kings and Lord of lords, Savior of humankind for all who would follow Him Ever feel a little uppity because of what you do for the kingdom? Take a look at what Jesus did in that upper room that evening. He took on the worst task possible to show us how we should act toward those around us. Serve rather that expect to be served. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. What happens when you ignore the boss? You might never see the boss in a large corporation, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore what he says. You job will be on the line if you do. So how does that relate to our spiritual life? Scripture John 12:44-50 Jesus (crying out before the people): Anyone who believes in Me is not placing his faith in Me, but in the One who sent Me here. If one sees Me, he sees the One who sent Me. I am here to bring light in this world, freeing everyone who believes in Me from the darkness that blinds him. If anyone listening to My teachings chooses to ignore them, so be it: I have come to liberate the world, not to judge it. However, those who reject Me and My teachings will be judged: in the last day, My words will be their judge because I am not speaking of My own volition and from My own authority. The Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and speak. I know His command is eternal life, so every word I utter originates in Him. Devotional As I’ve mentioned several times during my podcasts, I served in the Army for thirty years. Armed Forces are part of the Executive Branch of the government under the Constitution Keep the borders of our nation safe and prosecute conflicts directed by the President and approved by Congress President is the Commander-in-Chief, the boss Served under six: Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush Met Rosalynn Carter and George W. Bush, but never met any of the other presidents or their wives before or after they were in office Why bring that up? All of those presidents who a lot of Executive Orders that applied to service members Many of those Executive Orders affected our behavior, what we could or could not do both in battle and in peacetime environments Ignoring or disobeying any of those orders could mean stiff administrative actions, discharge, hefty fines or imprisonment I had to obey all those orders yet I only saw one of those Commanders-in-Chief in person and that was during the Army’s response to Hurricane Katrina and then only long enough for President Bush to shake my hand and say, “Keep up the good work, Colonel Agee.” The same thing he said to several others crowded in that room with him that day. We obey our bosses who we may never see Why is it so hard to obey the God who loves us so much He came to earth in the flesh to live with us? Why is it so hard to listen to what He says and understand His commands are for our good? Why can we not figure out that failing to obey God carries consequences far worse than failing to obey an earthly employer? Time to meditate on just Who we should listen to now isn’t it? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever been in absolute, total darkness. It’s hard to find those spots today, but when you do, they can be pretty scary. Scripture John 12:35-36 Jesus: Light is among you, but very soon it will flicker out. Walk as you have the light, and then the darkness will not surround you. Those who walk in darkness don’t know where they are going. While the light is with you, believe in the light; and you will be reborn as sons and daughters of the light. Devotional Growing up in central Tennessee or central Kentucky, you know about Mammoth Cave. It’s named after the discovery of the Mammoth skeleton found in its caverns deep under the earth. System goes on for miles Popular tourist attraction Beautiful natural sculptures from millennia of stalactite and stalagmite formation Evolution of insects, fish and frogs without sight Every tour stops deep underground to demonstrate real darkness All lights extinguished for a few moments with no light anywhere Shocked by the total absence of light Few places you can go without some light visible Light pollution from cities makes night training difficult for military Observatories find it more difficult to search the stars for the same reason Use to be able to point out many more constellations and clearly see the Milky Way Light floods our skies 24 hours a day because of the man-made devices we employ We despise darkness Darkness means Can’t navigate Can’t avoid hidden danger Can’t distinguish friend or foe visually - sense we rely on the most Fear Many live in spiritual darkness and don’t know how to escape it Swallowed in fear Know there is danger, but don’t know how to avoid it Sense the evil in the darkness but run headlong into it because there is no way to recognize the right path in the darkness Need light to show the way Jesus says He is the light He lights our way He says when we believe in Him, His spirit will live in us and we become sons and daughters of the light, His light will shine in and through us to light the path before us Might not see the whole journey, Might only be the next step But will never be in darkness if Jesus is living in you If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever thought about the key events in history that really changed the world. Stop and see if you can name a few. Scripture John 12:30-32 Jesus: The voice you hear has not spoken for My benefit, but for yours. Now judgment comes upon this world, and everything will change. The tyrant of this world, Satan, will be thrown out. When I am lifted up from the earth, then all of humanity will be drawn to Me. Devotional There are some key events in history that change everything. Think about it The Renaissance Pax Romana Life of Muhammad Reformation World War I World War II Printing Press Berlin Wall American Revolution None compare to what Jesus did for us God spoke to the crowd God gave us a means of escape from the punishment for our sins God gave His life that we might have eternal life Everything changed; we can be changed, too, if we will let Him change us If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I admire farmers for what they do. It seems their work never ends, but I’m also fascinated by the miracle of life and the analogies Jesus uses with growing things as He speaks. Scripture John 12:23-28 Jesus (to Philip and Andrew): The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth: unless a grain of wheat is planted in the ground and dies, it remains a solitary seed. But when it is planted, it produces in death a great harvest. The one who loves this life will lose it, and the one who despises it in this world will have life forevermore. Anyone who serves Me must follow My path; anyone who serves Me will want to be where I am, and he will be honored by the Father. My spirit is low and unsettled. How can I ask the Father to save Me from this hour? This hour is the purpose for which I have come into the world. But what I can say is this: “Father, glorify Your name!” Devotional Jesus’ words got me thinking about wheat production? Learned some facts about growing wheat in OK in make a profit One grain of wheat buried in the ground produces one stalk of wheat The stalk has a head with from 8-15 spikelets Each spikelet holds 2-2.5 grains of wheat Each head has 20-30 grains of wheat Farmers sow 18 - 22 seeds per square foot to produce a profitable crop Need 60 heads per foot for profit Harvest two or three times a year Tells us a few things about wheat you might not know and how it might relate to Jesus’ words The seed must die and be buried before it is can grow again The plant that grows out of the ground looks nothing like the seed from which it came But it produces a lot of seeds that look just like it did before it was buried Produced a lot more of them also, 40, 60, 100 fold Cut several times in the seasons but revives to the suffering makes it come back and produce more Heads are usually bigger the second cutting than the first Jesus talked about the necessity of His burial He came to die and His death would return Him to His place of glory His death would bring glory to the Father and fulfill His own destiny It would also do something for us that we cannot imagine He makes us part of His kingdom We become like Him when we follow Him When we allow Him into our lives and gain new life in Him we become part of that stalk that produces grains of wheat When we feel buried in all the suffering, maybe it is just the harvesting of the wheat we have produced so we can produce more Wheat is a fascinating plant when you walk through the fields and grab a few heads of the ripened grain in your hand Next time you pass a field of wheat or corn or anything growing out there, think of the miracle happening and what God might be wanting to do through you as you become part of the harvest of souls and the means of bringing others into the kingdom as well If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever given someone an extravagant gift and others kind of scolded you about it? We probably all have if you think back through your life. Men can think about that tiny little rock on their fiance’s finger. That’s a lot of money for such a small thing, isn’t it? But is it really extravagant? Jesus got one of those gifts one day and everyone complained. Scripture John 12:7-8 Jesus: Leave her alone. She has observed this custom in anticipation of the day of My burial. The poor are ever present, but I will be leaving. Devotional When young men get down on their knees and ask for a young lady’s hand in marriage, she usually expects a gold or white gold ring with at least one diamond in it, right? It’s just the way of things, or it least it has been for a long time. Diamonds are measured in karats 200 milligrams which is 7/1000’s ounce Perfect cut and highest quality 1 carat diamond is $17,000 Is that extravagant? Ask your fiance Jesus and His disciples were eating with Lazarus at his home in Bethany Martha was working as hostess serving the guests Mary sat at Jesus feet and poured pure nard Comes from a plant grows to about 1 meter (3 ft) in height and has pink, bell-shaped flowers. It is found in the Himalayas in Nepal, China, and India at an altitude of about 9,800 to 16,400 ft. Rhizomes (underground stems) can be crushed and distilled into an intensely aromatic amber-colored essential oil, which is very thick in consistency. Other gospels tell us she broke an alabaster jar to pour out the precious liquid The alabaster stone from which the jar was carved probably came from the quarries of Alabastron in Egypt, the place from which the stone for the sarcophagus for Seti I and many of the canopic jars came Each item on its own cost months or maybe even years of labor wages for their purchase Not just Judas, but several of the disciples who were with Jesus complained about the waste Look at what that money could have bought Look how many people we could have fed Look what we could have done for the poor Look how much ministry we could have done if she had sold that perfume and given the money to us instead of pouring it out on your feet Jesus, scold her! He didn’t Sometimes extravagance is the right thing to do She showed extravagant love through her gift to the One who set her free We give extravagantly to the one we wish to live with for the rest of our lives We think nothing of shelling out those months of pay to put the right ring on our bride’s finger Why should we complain when someone pours out an expression of love for their savior? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you like magic shows? I’m always fascinated by them and like to see if I can catch the magician in some mistake that reveals his secrets. 2,000 years ago, that was no magic show at Lazarus’ tomb, though Scripture John 11:43-44 After these words, He called out in a thunderous voice. Jesus: Lazarus, come out! Then, the man who was dead walked out of his tomb bound from head to toe in a burial shroud. Jesus: Untie him, and let him go. Devotional A couple of months ago, I saw the Illusionists. It’s a group of magicians that do a variety of tricks on stage that really boggle the mind. A couple of the acts were pretty weird, like running sharp objects through his body. I didn’t care so much for that. Escape from a water chamber similar to Houdini’s water chamber, but without the straightjacket One that really fascinated me was a man who just manipulated playing cards. Hidden in pockets Appeared from thin air Thousands of cards We enjoy watching things we can’t figure out Enjoy trying to catch the magician in his tricks Try to find the wires or hidden pockets or figure out the strange technology they used to fool you into thinking something magical has happened Their skills are sometimes incredible 2,000 years ago those around the tomb didn’t see a magic trick No incantation No technology, wires, or mirrors No double to take Lazarus’ place Jesus prayed, thanked His Father for hearing His prayer Called in a loud voice The dead man walked out of the tomb bound from head to toe in a burial shroud Jesus brought life into a dead body Arms bound to sides Legs bound together Enough life to get up, walk out of the tomb wrapped from head to toe, probably hopped out Took away the stench of death, too Untie him, and let him go. Free him from the shroud as I freed him from death No magic, just power over death If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Is silent prayer effective? Yep. Is vocal prayer effective? Yep. Is prayer effective? Yep. When it’s for the right reason. Scripture John 11:39-42 Jesus: Remove the stone. Martha: Lord, he has been dead four days; the stench will be unbearable. Jesus: Remember, I told you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God. They removed the stone, and Jesus lifted His eyes toward heaven. Jesus: Father, I am grateful that You have heard Me. I know that You are always listening, but I proclaim it loudly so that everyone here will believe You have sent Me. Devotional I know people that are scared to death to pray out loud. They are afraid they’ll say the wrong thing. They think someone might think poorly of them because of the words they say. They get their tongues tied and nothing seems to come out right They’re afraid they’ll forget something they really want to say I know others who think you really need to pray out loud to keep focused during prayer It’s too easy to let your mind wander It’s easier to gather your thoughts It helps you articulate your praise to God It helps you focus on others instead of yourself It forces you to think more clearly about what you’re doing Jesus shows us that prayer is effective no matter how we pray as long as it’s for the right reason. “Father, I’m grateful You have heard Me.” But He hasn’t said anything out loud yet. He has obviously prayed, but communicated silently with His Father. “I know You are always listening” “I proclaim it loudly so that everyone here will believe You have sent Me.” His vocal prayer is heard so others will know His specific prayer to the Father for Lazarus’ resurrection What was all of this about? Everything Jesus did was to bring glory to God He stated before He left for Bethany that His delay and actions would bring glory to His Father All His prayer requests sought direction to give the most glory to God His actions aimed glory to God and not Himself Jesus came to Bethany to bring glory to His Father He would raise Lazarus from the dead He would show He was one with the Father since only God had the power to give life He would point all of those action toward one purpose and one cause Bringing glory to His Father If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Sometimes the things people say are just really hard to believe. Can you imagine what it was like for Mary and Martha when Jesus asked them to believe we truly never die? Scripture John 11:23-26 Jesus: Your brother will rise to life. Martha: I know. He will rise again when everyone is resurrected on the last day. Jesus: I am the resurrection and the source of all life; those who believe in Me will live even in death. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die. Do you believe this? Devotional Some people try everything they can to cheat death. Trillion dollar industries Cosmetics Exercise regiments Vitamins Cryonics Imagine when Mary and Martha heard these words for the first time “Believe in Me and live” “All who believe will have life everlasting” Easy until looking death in the face “Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die” “Do you believe this?” Two different major sects among mainstream Jews Pharisees believed in resurrection after death Sadducees believed death was final and there was no resurrection Listened to Jesus and believed what He said, believed there was a judgment and resurrection Couldn’t put together the thought of moving between the two Couldn’t think about His power over death Still the question hung in the air Do you believe everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die? Mary and Martha watched their brother take his last breath They washed his body and wrapped it in linen clothes filled with spices They put their brother in a tomb four days earlier He will never truly die? What do you call what happened? We have 2,000 years of testimony from people who have lived the assurance of Jesus’ message. Still we have trouble believing Yet Mary and Martha voiced the words and took Jesus to the tomb with the expectation of Jesus doing something spectacular for their brother If they could believe that we never truly die when we believe in Him, without having knowledge of His resurrection, don’t you think we should be able to believe If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I’ve heard a lot of reports of people with cancer, heart problems, strokes, all kinds of maladies in the last few weeks and I’ve heard families complain sometimes about the specialist caring for their loved one. Rough bedside manner. No people skills. Don’t seem to care. I’ll let you in on a secret in just a minute. Scripture John 11:14-15 Jesus: Lazarus is dead, and I am grateful for your sakes that I was not there when he died. Now you will see and believe. Gather yourselves, and let’s go to him. Devotional I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but in the medical world, there seems to be an inverse relationship between bedside manner and perfection of subspecialty skills. Brilliant people with exceptional medical knowledge and skill Can diagnose and treat when no one else seems to be able to Knows exactly what to do and wonders why no one else can see the problem Horrible bedside manner Matter of fact No social skill Blunt without emotion or feeling But they’re good, maybe the best Perhaps okay to put up with lack of social skill when they are the best at their craft Jesus sounds a lot like that when He talks to the disciples in this passage. Lazarus is dead For your sakes Grateful I wasn’t there when He died Don’t cry. Let’s go Knowing Jesus is the best at what He does, don’t always expect Him to be all soft and squishy with you Sometimes needs to tell it like it is Sometimes needs to just cut to the chase and let you have the news you need to hear Sometimes needs to have no bedside manner to get your attention so you can heal best Great Physician Physically Mentally Spiritually - only He can save us from our sins He’s the specialist, it’s okay for Him to get rough with us sometimes If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Jesus makes us think about sleep in some ways you might have never thought about sleep before. Some may even think it a little weird. Scripture John 11:9-11 Jesus: There are 12 hours of daylight, correct? If anyone walks in the day, that person does not stumble because he or she sees the light of the world. If anyone walks at night, he will trip and fall because he does not have the light within. (Jesus briefly pauses.) Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, so I will go to awaken him. Devotional I wish I could face the reality of death as easily as Jesus did. Of course, He knows the other side of that curtain and we don’t. He tells us about it. We hear reports of near death experiences from some, but we really don’t know what lies on the other side of the grave until we actually go through that process. I don’t know about you, but I’m not anxious to go through it. Not necessarily afraid of death But not anxious to go through it to face that unknown Lazarus experience help us face that unknown better Just sleeps Waiting to wake up Most wake up on the other side of this life He woke up again on this side Sleep is the time our bodies heal Minds organize the day through dream process Cells work their hardest to repair the damage done through the day Empties themselves of toxins and sends them to the liver and kidneys Body mends and prepares for the next day Jesus looked to the tomb and saw something besides decay and death and finality He saw life and vitality He saw joy and renewal and continued relationship He saw beyond the grief of the moment and looked into the future where He would receive His friends in heaven We all need sleep in this life and Jesus knows we will sleep before we move into the next one He did not call it death because He doesn’t want us to fear it He wants those who believe in Him to recognize it for what it is, transition from one state of life to another When we follow Him we don’t need to fear death It will be like Lazarus experienced and Jesus described “Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, so I will go to awaken him.” If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Why do you ask God for the petitions you raise to Him? Jesus had only one purpose for every request. You know what it was? Scripture John 11:4 Jesus: His sickness will not end in his death but will bring great glory to God. As these events unfold, the Son of God will be exalted. Devotional Wouldn’t it be nice to go into every hospital room and announce these words to every family member of every patient there? Wouldn’t that bring joy to your heart to tell everyone on their deathbed because of cancer or some traumatic injury or heart attack or stroke that they would get up from their bed and have a rich full life? Our world doesn’t work that way very often Sickness often ends in death Graveyards attest to the finality of this life We are all destined to die Even Lazarus went back to a tomb one day Medicine has gotten better Life has been extended Life expectancy reaches toward centennial years A few decades ago, 60 was old Social security set at 65 because government didn’t expect to have to pay very long when it was established. Average life span was 67. Jesus had something else in mind Wanted those around Him to know He had power over death Wasn’t the first time Centurion’s daughter Widow’s son in Cain None had been dead four days Practice was to bury the dead within 24 hours Lazarus would have already begun to decay and smell in the heat of the middle east, even closed away in a cave Shows us anything is possible for God, He is the creator of life He can take it and He can give it He did the same with His own life, yesterday’s words, no one can take it from Him, He willingly gives it up and has the authority to do so But not for show Not as some circus act Why do we ask for the impossible? Do we do it for ourselves Do we ask for our convenience or because of our grief Do we ask so that God will be glorified Jesus’ sole purpose was to glorify His Father and delayed His coming to Mary and Martha so that God would be glorified and for no other reason. He loved them and Lazarus. Didn’t want to see them grieve Didn’t want to see their pain and anguish Wanted to glorify His Father more, though What is your motivation for the petitions you raise to God If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I don’t know if probability was a science in Jesus’ day, but it sure gives us something to think about today. Scripture John 10:34-38 Jesus: You know what is written in the Scriptures. Doesn’t it read, “I said, you are gods”? If the Scriptures called your ancestors (mere mortals) gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scriptures cannot be set aside— what should you call One who is unique, sanctified by and sent from the Father into the world? I have said, “I am God’s Son.” How can you call that blasphemy? By all means, do not believe in Me, if I am not doing the things of the Father. But examine My actions, and you will see that My work is the work of the Father. Regardless of whether you believe in Me—believe the miracles. Then you will know that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father. Devotional I don’t know when you last saw a hundred dollar bill, I don’t see them very often anymore with all the electronic transactions we do now days, but a few decades ago, they were pretty common. The problem with hundred dollar bills a few decades ago, though, they were not common enough that people could tell the real thing from the counterfeit. Good engravers, good parchment, good ink Public could be fooled Bank tellers handled enough they knew the difference quickly Started putting security strips in every denomination $5 and larger beginning in 1990 Tried to thwart counterfeiters Micro-engraving around portraits Green-black ink in numbers seen at different angles Polyester strips with denomination printed on it Counterfeits look real enough, but when put to the test, they fail Jesus told those around Him to put Him to the test Scriptures supported His claims Tasks performed in the name of the Father supported His claims Miracles supported His claims Examine Him the same way you examine a US bill and you’ll see He meets all the requirements Nothing is missing when stacked against all the criteria of who the Messiah is supposed to be and what He is supposed to do What exactly are the odds? Professor of mathematics Peter Stoner gave 600 students a math probability problem that would determine the odds for one person fulfilling eight specific prophecies. (This is not the same as flipping a coin eight times in a row and getting heads each time.) First the students calculated the odds of one person fulfilling all the conditions of one specific prophecy, such as being betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver. Then the students did their best to estimate the odds for all of the eight prophecies combined. The students calculated that the odds against one person fulfilling all eight prophecies are astronomical-one in ten to the 21st power (1021). To illustrate that number, Stoner gave the following example: “First, blanket the entire Earth land mass with silver dollars 120 feet high. Second, specially mark one of those dollars and randomly bury it. Third, ask a person to travel the Earth and select the marked dollar, while blindfolded, from the trillions of other dollars.”¹ Is Jesus who He says He is? That’s the odds of only fulfilling 8 of the sixty He fulfilled, so get your pencil and go figure. I’m convinced! If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Are you ready to let someone follow you around with video cameras to make a real-time movie of your whole life? Believe it or not, it’s already being done. God knows it all. Scripture John 10:32 Jesus: I have performed many beautiful works before you in the name of the Father. Which of these can be judged as an offense that merits My execution? Devotional If you could put any part of your life on a video and let the world see it, what would it be? Would it be some great accomplishment that brought you acclaim? Would it be the day you received some promotion that made you proud? Would it be some special event like your wedding day or the birth of your children? Would it be some kind act you did for someone you love? Or something you did for a complete stranger even? What would you put on that video of your life? Now the opposite question. What would you want to keep off of that video of your life if you could? The hidden sin you don’t want anyone to know about? The unkind words to friends or family because you didn’t get your way or were frustrated or angry at the outcome of some situation? Your reaction because you didn’t get that recognition or promotion you thought you deserved? The time you gave that kind service to someone and received nothing but criticism and harsh words in return? The thing I like about Jesus’ words in this story is that His life was an open book to all who walked with Him and He asks us to be the same. Paul said to imitate his life and you’ll find Jesus because he was imitating Christ. Live a life worthy of imitation Live without worry of exposure No such thing as private and public life anymore, everything is exposed thanks to electronic media Live life openly for others to see Keeps from becoming something we are not Vulnerable but without pride or pretense Show our weakness and causes us to rely on Go and on each other Forces us to trust Him and others more than ever before Jesus lived in such a way He could ask, “Which of these beautiful works I’ve performed at the direction of my Father can be judged as an offense that merits My execution?” The answer is none. We cannot say that until He has forgive us and tossed our sins away. Frankly, we might still suffer consequences for the wrongs we have made against our fellow man, but God will throw those thoughts into the sea never to remember them against us again when we ask repentantly for His forgiveness. We can then, with His help do as He asked the adulteress to do, “Go and avoid the sins that plague you.” Stay away from those temptations. Stay out of the areas that you know will cause you to fall. Keep away from the things that Satan will use against you. Lean on Him for His protection against the evil one. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. So what’s the greatest fear you face? Many say it’s speaking in front of a crowd. I’m not so sure that’s right, though. Scripture John 10:25-30 Jesus: I have told you, and you do not believe. The works I am doing in My Father’s name tell the truth about Me. You do not listen; you lack faith because you are not My sheep. My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me. I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word. Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand. My Father has given the flock to Me, and He is superior to all beings and things. No one is powerful enough to snatch the flock from My Father’s hand. The Father and I are one. Devotional Studies say that people are more afraid of speaking in front of a crowd than they are of dying. Might be true until people actually face death We really don’t know what lies beyond that last breath, that last heartbeat Something inside us tells us there is more than just the few years we have in these mortal bodies We want to have assurances of the next step after we pass from this life to whatever we face next Some want us to think there is nothing beyond this life Our heart tells us that is not true God’s word tells us it’s not true, too If we listen to Him we can find out something about what is next He tells us something of heaven Feast with Him No darkness, God is light We only get there through Him Some don’t want to believe that either Everything people try to disprove turns out to be right in God’s word Why would we think Jesus’ words about the way to God to be any different? Listen to what He has to say Pay attention to the sound of His voice in your heart and do what He says Ignore the other voices that vie for your attention and focus on the words Jesus tells you He is the Good Shepherd and takes care of His sheep. He will do what is best for those under His care. That means us if you have accepted Him as the Lord of your life Death doesn’t have to be the most frightening thing you face. Let speaking in front of a crowd scare you more than anything else. He will walk with us through that shadow that separates us from the next step that takes us into eternity If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Scripture John 10:11-18 Jesus: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep in His care. The hired hand is not like the shepherd caring for His own sheep. When a wolf attacks, snatching and scattering the sheep, he runs for his life, leaving them defenseless. The hired hand runs because he works only for wages and does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me. As the Father knows Me, I know the Father; I will give My life for the sheep. There are many more sheep than you can see here, and I will bring them as well. They will hear My voice, and the flock will be united. One flock. One shepherd. The Father loves Me because I am willing to lay down My life—but I will take it up again. My life cannot be taken away by anybody else; I am giving it of My own free will. My authority allows Me to give My life and to take it again. All this has been commanded by My Father. Devotional These words remind me of the many Congressional Medal of Honor recipients I’ve been privileged to meet. Director for officer training in the Army Medical Department Chief of Staff of Army’s schoolhouse for medics Medal of Honor speakers Stories were usually the same Anyone would have done the same, fought for their fellow soldiers and didn’t think about the danger they were facing Just doing their job Most awards of the Congressional Medal of Honor are presented to family members posthumously. Service member died saving the lives of his or her teammates. Every one I’ve seen suffered severe injury in the course of duty in earning the right to wear the medal All ready to give their life for their team in the face of the enemy Only 3,440 people awarded the medal (19 double awards) of the roughly 57 million who have served throughout America’s 240 year history That’s 0.006% of the people who have served. Not many. Speaks of Paul’s thought that not many are willing to give their life for a friend Jesus gave His life for us while we were still God’s enemies, sinners, living apart from Him in disobedience Many Medal of Honor recipients tell me they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time and just did what their training taught them to do Jesus gave Himself willingly to save us from certain destruction at the hand of Satan So to whom should we pledge our allegiance? Don’t you think He deserves our thanks, our praise, and our devotion? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I don’t know if you’re a fan of Aesop’s Fables, but Jesus’ words today remind me of “The Fox and the Shepherd.” Stick around and find out why. Scripture John 10:7-10 Jesus: I tell you the truth: I am the gate of the sheep. All who approached the sheep before Me came as thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not listen to their voices. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be liberated, will go in and go out, and will find pastures. The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance. Devotional Aesop gave us a lot of pithy little stories to help us remember some life lessons. Most adhere to the same moral codes God asks of us. “The Fox and the Shepherd” reminds me of how Satan stands by ready to pounce. The story goes like this: A wolf hung about near a flock of sheep for a long time, but made no attempt to molest them. The shepherd at first kept a sharp eye on him, for he naturally thought he meant mischief. But as time went by and the wolf showed no inclination to meddle with the flock, he began to look upon him more as a protector than as an enemy; and when one day some errand took him to the city, he felt no uneasiness at leaving the wolf with the sheep. But as soon as his back was turned the wolf attacked them and killed the greater number. When the shepherd returned and saw the havoc he had wrought, he cried, “It serves me right for trusting my flock to a wolf.” Clearly, Jesus isn’t the shepherd in this story He guards us if we let Him But the world want to break in and rob us of everything good and holy When we talk about the wolf being at the door, this is the picture I often see Not a growling, aggressive, ready to kill everything at first sight animal But a patient predator waiting for the right moment Waiting for us to let our guard down so he can enter our lives with the right temptations to cause us to fall As soon as we let our guard down the wolf pounces Looks and acts like a protector, but at the first opportunity, death awaits Jesus reminds us He is the shepherd at the gate and if anyone tries into come into the fold by any means other than through Him, they are a robber and a thief. Satan wants to get his hands on us and destroy us just like the wolf in Aesop’s tale. But Jesus is ever vigilant. God will never leave us or forsake us. We can trust Him as the Good Shepherd to always be on at the gate helping us through this journey, protecting us from the evil one when we let Him. Aesop can teach us a few things, but Jesus can teach us a lot more if we will listen to Him. Try Him out for a while and you’ll see If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We can learn a lot from shepherds. Stick around and I'll tell you about the one I met in Germany. Scripture John 10:1-5 Jesus: I tell you the truth: the man who crawls through the fence of the sheep pen, rather than walking through the gate, is a thief or a vandal. The shepherd walks openly through the entrance. The guard who is posted to protect the sheep opens the gate for the shepherd, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When all the sheep have been gathered, he walks on ahead of them; and they follow him because they know his voice. The sheep would not be willing to follow a stranger; they run because they do not know the voice of a stranger. Devotional While living in Germany, we lived above some vineyards but also had some pretty good pasture land in the back of the house above those vineyards even though we lived in the suburbs of Wurzburg. A few times during our stay there, we had a shepherd visit those fields. Weather beaten and aged Two dogs to help care for the sheep Carried everything he needed on his back and herded the sheep to open fields around the countryside ‘ Build makeshift pens at night with poles and rope Laid his lean to across the entrance Dogs were an important tool for the shepherd Protected the sheep Kept enemy away Kept sheep herded into a common area Listened to every command Obeyed immediately Sheep recognized the shepherd’s voice, too Called and they would gather around him Knew it was time to move on Time to bed down Time of safety or time of danger Animals seem to learn so much faster than people sometimes Jesus calls Himself the good shepherd After watching that shepherd in Germany a few times I learned a lot about how shepherds interact with their sheep Not always gentle, but always loving and with their best interests in mind Not always the easiest path, but the path that will get them to the best pastures in the end Not always the way that seems best to the sheep and He has to push and pull them sometimes with those dogs nipping at their heels until they sometimes bleed, but always taking the best care of them They hear his voice and follow wherever he leads them We could learn a lot from those sheep and the good shepherd If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Guilty! Caught in the act and no defense can free you. Now what do you do? There is no escape, or is there? Scripture John 9:39-41 Jesus: I have entered this world to announce a verdict that changes everything. Now those without sight may begin to see, and those who see may become blind. Some Pharisees (who overheard Jesus): Surely we are not blind, are we? Jesus: If you were blind, you would be without sin. But because you claim you can see, your sin is ever present. Devotional The evidence stacks up. There is no doubt. Any question of innocence has been swept away with the overwhelming reality of what lies before the judge. There is no question of the outcome. You stand at the defendant's table with no defense. Head down, heart pounding, you know what the only verdict can be guilty because you did it. You know you did it and God, the Judge knows you did it. Something amazing happens You’re forgiven Free to live, just follow Me Past is forgotten, files stacked on the bench just disappear What we deserve Punishment for our sin Bible says only adequate punishment for our disobedience is death Separation from Him because He is a holy God and abhors evil All the ills and evil that the world can throw at us because of our selfish desires and ungodly behavior What He gives us when we come to Him with a contrite heart in true repentance Grace - unmerited, undeserved favor with Him Mercy - not what we deserve Forgiveness Sins forgotten - cast into the sea to be remembered no more Loving embrace Adoption into His family When we believe in Him we begin to see the law can only condemn us When we trust in Him for forgiveness of our sins, we experience His grace and mercy Able to feel His spirit invade our life and change our outlook Able to extend His grace and mercy to others Able to introduce Him to others because His love reaches out through us Jesus announces a new verdict that changes everything. Feel the grace and joy that brings when you accept His gift of love into your heart If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Here’s an odd question that you probably shouldn’t know, but should make you think about the welcome your church provides. How many alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes, and adulterers visit your congregation regularly? Scripture John 9:35-37 The religious leaders banished him [the blind man Jesus healed] from their presence. Jesus heard what had happened and sought out the man. Jesus: Do you believe in the Son of Man? Formerly Blind Man: I want to believe, Lord. Who is He? Jesus: You have seen His face with your new eyes, and you are talking to Him now. Devotional In the Sunday School class I’ve been attending the last couple of weeks, we talked about the way the church has done exactly what the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did. Alcoholics Drug addicts Homosexuals We don’t want anything to do with “those” people We don’t want to tarnish our congregation with the wrong kind of people We even take our dislike for anyone that doesn’t agree with us to the streets Protests Facebook Twitter But is God happy with our approach? Jesus ate with tax collectors, prostitutes, thieves, the people the Pharisees and religious leaders wouldn’t come near Why? Until you build a relationship with someone they won’t listen to what you have to say He never condoned their sinful action But He still loved them as one of God’s creations Jesus saw the potential of what God could make them instead of what sin had made them Remember the woman caught in adultery? Who can say they have never sinned? No matter how large or how small, disobedience separates us from God Look at that first act that banished Adam from God’s presence, he ate fruit from a forbidden tree, how horrible is that compared to the sins we think are so much more egregious than something we might do Paul’s list Gluttony Gossip Dissension These separate us from God as surely as murder, kidnapping, rape, homosexuality, or any other law you might bring to mind With that in mind, how should we change our approach personally and as churches to all those Jesus would have befriended? Don’t you think it’s time we welcome them instead of tossing them out? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. It sure is easy to blame someone else for the trouble we face, isn’t it? And it’s really easy to blame God. He’s a good scapegoat, but it usually doesn’t work out when we do. Scripture John 9:3-5 Jesus: Neither. His blindness cannot be explained or traced to any particular person’s sins. He is blind so the deeds of God may be put on display. While it is daytime, we must do the works of the One who sent Me. But when the sun sets and night falls, this work is impossible. Whenever I am in the world, I am the Light of the world. Devotional God came into the garden in the cool of the day. He wanted to talk with Adam after his day’s work was done. A day filled with caring for the creation over which God had given him dominion. Adam tilled the soil, harvested crops, cared for the animals in the garden. Life was really good. Work was satisfying. His companionship with Eve and God and the rest of creation seemed perfect. At least until this day. Sin had entered in Adam broke the perfect relationship he had with God because of his disobedience He felt his guilt and shame God came into the garden and what did his sin cause him to do? Adam and Eve both hid Their bodies from God and each other Sewed fig leaves together Hid behind the vegetation when God came to the garden We all have a tendency to blame someone else for our sin Devil made me do it He tempted me He gave me the fruit Adam even blamed God as do we It’s God’s fault we fail to do what He asks Until we own our faults and failures we cannot find healing from our sins If we confess our sins, He is able Opposing message, if we do not confess our sins, He is not able to forgive us Why? We fail to take ownership of our wrongs We fail to recognize our need for Him We fail to understand just how depraved and hopeless we are without Him Jesus can work in and through us, but only when we are open and honest with Him and others. We must be vulnerable with Him. We must recognize just how much we need His grace, forgiveness, Him. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. What stories do you tell those you want to win to Christ? Are they believable? Sometimes Jesus’ stories weren’t very believable. So what should we do? Scripture John 8:49-58 Jesus: I’m not taken by demons. You dishonor Me, but I give all glory and honor to the Father. But I am not pursuing My own fame. There is only One who pursues and renders justice. I tell you the truth, anyone who hears My voice and keeps My word will never experience death. Jews: We are even more confident now that You are demon-possessed. Just go down the list: Abraham died, the prophets all died. Yet You say, “If you keep My word, you will never taste death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died; remember? Prophets—are any of them still alive? No. Who do You think You are? Jesus: If I were trying to make Myself somebody important, it would be a waste of time. That kind of fame is worth nothing. It is the Father who is behind Me, urging Me on, giving Me praise. You say, “He is our God,” but you are not in relationship with Him. I know Him intimately; even if I said anything other than the truth, I would be a liar, like you. I know Him, and I do as He says. Your father Abraham anticipated the time when I would come, and he celebrated My coming. Jews: You aren’t even 50 years old, yet You have seen and talked with Abraham? Jesus: I tell you the truth; I AM before Abraham was born. Devotional I grew up in the church. I’ve heard these scriptures all my life. I believe them. God’s spirit touches mine and I know they are true because of it. He has proven Himself to me over and over. But imagine hearing these words coming from Jesus for the first time. These men didn’t want to believe Him Uneducated carpenter’s son Doesn’t follow their rules Disrupts the religious order of the day He’s talking about something they cannot comprehend Everyone dies, so His words don’t make sense to them Compares Himself with God Sometimes we forget most of the world today has not heard the story Less that 50% of Americans claim any religious affiliation Christianity pushed into the background and even considered hate speech in some circles Stories are still confusing and unbelievable as they were in Jesus’ day Miracles Resurrection Never die Why do I mention this? Our mission is to go and make disciples Need to know the mindset of those to whom we speak They will sometimes be unaware of the language you speak They may have no concept of the things you take for granted as a believer They may think your stories about Jesus are fantasy and as real as Star Wars They need to hear about the change in your life and see the difference He makes every day for you If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Two languages = bilingual; three languages = trilingual; one language = American Scripture John 8:42-27) Jesus: I come from the one True God, and I’m not here on My own. He sent Me on a mission. If God were your Father, you would know that and would love Me. You don’t even understand what I’m saying. Do you? Why not? It is because You cannot stand to hear My voice. You are just like your true father, the devil; and you spend your time pursuing the things your father loves. He started out as a killer, and he cannot tolerate truth because he is void of anything true. At the core of his character, he is a liar; everything he speaks originates in these lies because he is the father of lies. So when I speak truth, you don’t believe Me. If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me? If you belong to God’s family, then why can’t you hear God speak? The answer is clear; you are not in God’s family. I speak truth, and you don’t believe Me. Can any of you convict Me of sin? Devotional I’ve lived in San Antonio, Texas for almost 18 years. Almost 65% of the population is hispanic so Spanish is a prevalent language in the city and surrounding area. In fact, in many retail stores in the area, you must be bilingual to work there. This isn’t a discussion about whether that is good or bad, right or wrong, just a fact of when and where I live today. Despite living here almost 18 years i don’t speak and understand very little Spanish I hear it everywhere. I see it everywhere, but I just don’t get it. Contrast with my living in Germany for just three years while I was in the service. Lived on the economy, not on a military installation Landlords didn’t speak English Spoke and wrote passable German within a few months and fairly fluent before we left country; primary language for my four year old Thought about those two difference in understanding languages when I read Jesus’ words I wanted to learn German Although it would be helpful, my heart isn’t into learning Spanish I took the time and energy to learn the language and listen to those around me; I asked questions when I didn’t understand I mostly ignore the Spanish I hear around me unless I need to hear something specific from someone who doesn’t speak English; I seldom ask questions about words or phrases Same is true in a sense with spiritual language Do we listen to the language God speaks to us through His words? Love Grace Mercy Or do we ignore it because we’re just not interested in know what He is saying, much the way I treat the Spanish I hear around me So the issue at hand. There are two spiritual languages. One comes from God, who speaks only the truth, the other comes from the father of lies. Listen again to the questions and comments Jesus had for the Jews around Him that day. They are just as applicable to us. I come from the one True God, and I’m not here on My own. He sent Me on a mission. If God were your Father, you would know that and would love Me. You don’t even understand what I’m saying. Do you? Why not? It is because You cannot stand to hear My voice. You are just like your true father, the devil; and you spend your time pursuing the things your father loves. He started out as a killer, and he cannot tolerate truth because he is void of anything true. At the core of his character, he is a liar; everything he speaks originates in these lies because he is the father of lies. So when I speak truth, you don’t believe Me. If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me? If you belong to God’s family, then why can’t you hear God speak? The answer is clear; you are not in God’s family. I speak truth, and you don’t believe Me. Can any of you convict Me of sin? Can you hear His voice and understand His words? If not, you might want to check the language you’re speaking. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you ever flatter anyone? Do you know the highest form of flattery? Let's talk about it. Scripture John 8:39-41 Jesus: If you are truly Abraham’s children, then act like Abraham! From what I see you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that comes from the Father. This is not something Abraham would do, but you are doing what you have learned from your father. Devotional In 1820, Charles Caleb Colton wrote “imitation is the sincerest of flattery.” Although something similar appeared in the biography of Emperor Marcus Antoninus by Jeremy Collier in 1708 when the quoted the Emperor as saying, “you should consider that imitation is the most acceptable part of worship and that the gods had much rather mankind should resemble, than flatter them.” Often told imitate habits of successful people Rise early Plan well ahead Pay attention to detail Anticipate problems and develop contingencies to deal with them Share success but own failure Read broadly Learn something every day Wouldn’t expect to be successful if you did just the opposite Lazy Just let things happen Never thought through ways to recover from failure Push everyone away Blame everyone else for your own mistakes We become very much like the people we imitate, whether we want to believe that or not Business Parenting husband/wife act like father/mother Friendships Spiritual life Who are you watching to pattern your life? Jews said they patterned after Abraham, but just progeny; long dead Watched someone else Greed Pride Selfishness Who do you watch? Who is your example? Accountability to peer Need human mentors Do they try their best to mimic Christ Accept failure Repent Own frailty Lean heavily on God Know what real success means Know priorities in life Song titled “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” Watch Him Anyone between you and Him is closer to Him than you are If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. There are few true monarchies any more. Most are democracies with a monarch as a head of state, like in Great Britain or Monaco. But we are fascinated by their ancestry, who is next in line for the throne, the hidden secrets of the royal family. We love stories about the palace, don’t we? Scripture John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. Devotional Even in America, we get a lot of buzz about Prince William and Kate. They have revitalized the monarchy in Great Britain in the last few years. Every generation of the monarchy, tracing its history back to Egbert of Wessex reign about 800, looks for that first born son to rule as king of the united empire. See the authority used wisely and foolishly Always in the news People are interested in their lives because their lives influence them in a direct way Much more so in the past than today, but still they play an important role in the politics of the nation as the head of state for the country Everyone keeps up with the descendants Who is next in line if something happens to William? What if both he and his brother died at or near the same time? Who is next in line for the throne? What is their character and how will they lead? Not so anxious for Charles to take the throne, but excited for William to lead because of his appeal to the common people. King carries tremendous weight in a monarchy We don’t understand it in our democracy We elect representatives to write and execute our laws on our behalf True monarchies have a king that decides it all. The king rules. He determines who lives and dies and how people progress between those two points of birth and death Generally the kingdom passes down to the heir unless overthrown in battle or he abdicates the throne for personal or political reasons Those listening to Jesus thought they could stand on their pedigree, their ancestry as descendants of Abraham to do as they please just as a prince might extend his rights because of his position to the throne. Jesus stops their argument Commands come from the real King of kings, creator Jesus, His son has power they do not have because they are only human, not divine The question is who is your father? God or Abraham? Heavenly or earthly? Divine or human? Who do you follow? Your choice If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever considered just how many laws we must follow every day? Some are so old and archaic they don’t just border on the ridiculous, they fell off the cliff long ago. Here are a couple to consider: It is illegal to milk another person’s cow. The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home. It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel. Talk about imposing on our freedoms! Scripture John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Devotional In this country, we talk a lot about freedom. But I think sometimes we have a real misconception about what freedom really means. Definition: 1.the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint: He won his freedom after a retrial. 2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc. 3. the power to determine action without restraint. 4. political or national independence. 5. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom. 6. exemption from the presence of anything specified (usually followed by from): freedom from fear. 7. the absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc. We can define it, but can we really live within the scope of these words? Not without infringing on the freedom of someone else except for perhaps the first, at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint All others are illusions if we live in community with others to maintain order and preservation of the community Look at definitions Exemption from external control - establish laws and regulations to govern our behavior for the health and safety of the community Power to determine action without restraint - laws and regulations restrain our actions, cannot do anything we want Political or national independence - no nation is completely independent in today’s society, we are interdependent because of the trade, commerce, migration of people from state to state, negotiate our freedoms to avoid conflict Personal liberty - we talk often about the loss of personal liberties: some speech today puts you in jail - hate speech; loss of religious freedoms; debates about what Second Amendment means; even where you live (codes), how much you can make (taxes), and more Exemption from the presence of anything specified (usually followed by from): freedom from fear - often an emotion that still lingers and we cover with some tools we’ve learned Absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc. - just as with laws and regulations, we will always live under some kind of laws as long as we live Man’s laws are fickle and always changing, difficult to understand and impossible to follow Follow God, His rules have never changed. Believe in Jesus for forgiveness and life. His spirit will live in you to help you live His within the laws He gives, freedom from the oppression and guilt of the laws that burden others. Know the rules Know the spirit of what God wants for your life Know the truth of who God is and what He wants Know freedom because of who you belong to and whose rules you fall under If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. How hard did you work to make your father pleased when you were a kid? I sometimes worked really hard, but often failed miserably. My early days of sitting on the front pews of the church were often accompanied by spanking for my misbehavior when I got home. Not exactly pleasing behavior, I expect. Scripture John 8:28-29 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” Devotional I’m a preacher’s kid. Growing up, my brother and I usually sat on the front seat so my dad could keep an eye on us. Had a problem sitting still Got in trouble almost every service I wanted to please my father, but just had to cut up with my brother instead of paying attention to the service I knew the rules, sit still, be quiet, and listen I could only do that for a little while when I was in elementary school Wanted to please, but got in trouble a lot We’re like that with THE Father We know the rules We know when we are about to break them We know what He wants from us and how He wants us to behave Like little kids that can’t sit still, we can’t please Him sometimes We do our own thing instead of obeying And we get in trouble As I matured, I learned to appreciate what the pastor was saying First my dad Later other pastors I still want to please my earthly father I want to please my heavenly Father more Always present to help me know how to please Him Sometimes have to guess with our earthly fathers We think we know what they want, but we don’t God lives with us and in us to guide us if we will listen to His voice Earthly fathers can’t be with us all the time to help us through life and let us know what they want. God can and does Earthly fathers change their minds and change the rules sometimes God never does, His plan for our salvation has not changed since the beginning of time and Adam’s first sin Do I always please Him? No But He always forgives when I ask in true repentance If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Did your mom ever send your brother or sister to tell you to do something? How did you like it? That just how some people felt when Jesus came around. Scripture John 8:25-26 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”   Devotional My daughter doesn’t do it very often, but every once in awhile, she sends her oldest child to tell her younger ones to do something. “Jonathon, go tell Grayson to put on her shoes so we can go.” Doesn’t do it often because of the backlash Youngest doesn’t like to be told by the oldest Both are her children Grayson feels like an equal Doesn’t want to hear from anyone but her mother Certainly doesn’t think Jonathon should tell her what to do Many of those who heard Jesus looked at Him the same way He’s just a man He’s the same as us Born of a woman, eats and drinks and breathes like us Who does He think He is telling us what to do Just like Jonathon gets yelled at by his sister when he passes on a command from his mother, Jesus wasn’t liked by those with whom He shared the Father’s commands He only passed on what the Father told Him to share His words were those of the Father and His commands were those of the Father Until people believed He truly was the Son of God, He was just another man trying to tell them what to do and they didn’t want to listen anymore than a younger child wants to listen to what an older child passes on from his mother We can begin to see some of the danger involved in the dynamics that played out around Jesus during His time on earth as we put ourselves back in His time and in that place. We can be obstinate and raise the hackles on the back of our neck and refuse to believe the Father spoke through Him. We can refuse to believe Jesus is God incarnate who gave Himself for us. We can refuse to trust Him and so suffer the wrath of the Father because of our disobedience. Or we can be obedient children and understand that God sent His Son, Jesus to tell save us from ourselves. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. What if all this Christianity stuff is just a sham? Some of those early listeners thought it was. Many people today think it is? How do we know it is real? Scripture John 8:21, 23-24 Jesus: Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”   Devotional We in the Christian community sometimes scoff at those outside the Christian community and wonder why others can’t see things the way we do. We just don’t understand why something so clear to us is so foreign to everyone else. But we forget that we live on this side of the cross and we have God’s spirit living in us to guide us and teach us His truth. Perception is real in the mind of those who perceive it How do we know we are right and others are wrong Can we trust what Jesus says is true? What is His word isn’t true and we’re just chasing the wind? Many have raised that argument over the centuries God isn’t real He can’t be seen so how can we know He is there What makes us think there is a divine being interested in our eternal well being? Why should we follow His command and His teachings? Take a look at Jesus’ words and how they fit into history Same story of man’s salvation handed down from the time of the first sin Everything pointed toward Jesus Nothing since the crucifixion and resurrection has refuted His act of salvation God’s word has stood the test of time No other book transcribed and translated through centuries without change like God’s word No other book preserved like God’s word No other book treasured like God’s word Testimony of thousands attest to the truth of what He says What happens if we follow His word as truth and it is not? We treat each other well Communities thrive We live peacefully with other Conscience clear Die happier and more content than most people around the world What happens if we don’t follow His word as truth and it is? We live only for ourselves We are at war with others trying to gain things for ourselves We sin against others and against God We stand in judgment at the end of life We suffer eternal judgment apart from Him It doesn’t take much faith to realize His word is truth Takes much more faith to think it is not and live apart from Him If He is the final judge we need to listen to Him since He will determine our final destiny If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Are you part of an accountability group? Do you have anyone that really knows you and challenges you in your daily journey? How do you find someone like that in your life? One group of men I heard did just that. Scripture John 8:19 Jesus: You don’t know the Father or Me. If you knew Me, then you would also know the Father. Devotional A few days ago I was listening to a vignette about a men’s group that decided they wanted to become accountable to each other. The short video didn’t explain how the men met or tell much about any common interests that brought them together. Might have been a Sunday School Class Might have been a Men’s Bible Study Might have been neighbors at the time Might have been co-workers, but probably not Came several areas of business, some entrepreneurs, some blue collar Made a commitment to met for support and accountability to each other for the next 20 years During those twenty years… One plead guilty to felony charges and spent time in prison Two lost a child One when through rehab for drug and alcohol addiction Three went through divorce All had major crises in life All supported each other and helped them through those crises Seventeen years later They know each other No secrets Nothing off limits in their accountability circle Grow in their spiritual journey together Challenge each other in all areas of life Still committed to life of integrity Jesus said we don’t know Him or the Father Maybe it was because they didn’t spend any time with Him Maybe they thought a superficial relationship would do How are you, what’s happening, good to see you, kind of relationship He wants us to commit like these ten men committed to each other Spend time with Him, get to know Him and make nothing off limits in discussion with Him. He knows anyway. When we spend time with Him we will get to know Him and when we know Him we will know the Father because they are One. How? I don’t need to understand it, I just need to believe it. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. How important is the criteria you use to make decisions, to complete projects, or to make judgments? I hope you said pretty important. If you don’t think so, just listen. Scripture John 8:14-18 Jesus: Even if I am making bold claims about Myself—who I am, what I have come to do—I am speaking the truth. You see, I know where I came from and where I will go when I am done here. You know neither where I come from nor where I will go. You spend your time judging by the wrong criteria, by human standards; but I am not here to judge anyone. If I were to judge, then My judgment would be based on truth; but I would not judge anyone alone. I act in harmony with the One who sent Me. Your law states that if the testimonies of two witnesses agree, their testimony is true. Well, I testify about Myself, and so does the Father who sent Me here. Devotional Have you ever gone through a bunch of papers or files or closets or drawers looking for something only to find out you were looking for the wrong thing. I have to admit, I’ve done that more than once in my lifetime. In fact, I seem to do it a lot more often that I like. What a waste of time, right? Look for the receipt from a particular company only to find out it’s the wrong company Look for an address only to find it’s the wrong person Look for a tool only to find out it’s the wrong tool for the job Justice system is sometimes like that Every crime has a number of elements that must be proven to find a person guilty of that crime. Unless all are proven beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury must find not guilty Doesn’t mean innocent, but doesn’t meet the criteria for guilty verdict We get frustrated or angry at verdicts we think are unjust, but those are the criteria we have established to try to keep innocent people from being incarcerated Jesus’ judgments are perfect Not based on man’s laws Based on God’s perfect love Excludes all evil from the Father’s presence maintains His holiness Perfect judge, perfect accuser, perfect advocate He made the rules We perverted them He judges with grace, mercy, and love We judge with vengeance, revenge, and at best justice Time to follow the perfect One who will judge us at the end of time; He didn’t come to condemn but to save If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. In the 1950s and 60s, just about every boy I knew thought of being an astronaut at one time or anothers. We were in a space race with the Soviet Union and rushed to land a man on the moon. Everyone around me dreamed of being that person. Scripture John 8:12 Jesus: I am the light that shines through the cosmos; if you walk with Me, you will thrive in the nourishing light that gives life and will not know darkness. Devotional As one of my electives as an undergraduate I took astronomy. I got interested in astronomy in Junior High during the height of the space race and our race to the moon. Space and the complexity of the universe fascinated me. I think a great many young men of that time dreamed of screaming away on the back of a Saturn rocket and visiting the stars. Astronomy class tried to take away some of the wonder Explained universe and just happenstance of gravity wells pulling on matter and causing the reactions in the stars and formation of planets Left God out of the equation Never explained how the Big Bang might have occurred in the first place or who created the dense material from which the Big Bang sprang Still awed by the universe Distances are mind-boggling 32 billion light years to the farthest known galaxy (eight minutes and twenty seconds for light to reach us from the sun, 5.3 hours to reach Pluto) Billions of galaxies in the known universe Each galaxy made of millions or billions of stars Many of those stars have planets We are only beginning to discover the real scope of the universe over the last 200 years Think about Jesus 2,000 years ago describing Himself as the light of the cosmos Pierces through the darkness Created all the universe in all its vastness Brings life and sustains it Set in motion all the rules that lets us exist on this tiny world That Man, the God/Man, invites us to walk with Him We will thrive in the nourishing light that gives life We will not know darkness the thing that brings fear to men All we have to do is believe in Him for forgiveness and walk in His ways He will be beside us all the way If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We have a choice to condemn or show grace when someone wrongs us. Which will you do? Scripture John 8:11 Jesus: Well, I do not condemn you either; all I ask is that you go and from now on avoid the sins that plague you. Devotional The doctor asks, “Does it hurt when you move your arm like this?” You reply, “Yes, it does.” His expert treatment. “Then don’t move it that way.” We would think the doctor is a little crazy wouldn’t we? Sometimes he’s right. Humans are the only animal that do things the body isn’t built to do. Try to build safety gadgets instead. Bone structure built to withstand hitting something at the speed you can run Cheetah, dog, elephant, human We wear ride motorcycles at 90 mph and wear helmets and leather jackets for protection Critics dismissed by asking the one without sin to cast the first stone. Caught in the act, witnesses to attest to crime The law said she should be stoned for her adulterous actions But wait, where was the guy? Doesn’t it take two? If she was caught in the act, wasn’t he caught in the act also? Didn’t the law apply to both? Why, yes it did! Jesus wrote in the sand Wouldn’t it be nice to know what He wrote? Maybe a list of everyone’s secret sins Maybe He began to put names to the violations of God’s laws We’ll never know what Jesus wrote in the sand that day, but no one threw a stone Then Jesus taught us something we should all remember He told us He came to extend grace and forgiveness to all those who believed in Him He also told us to show grace and forgiveness to those who wrong us He demonstrated it in more ways that we ever could Jesus gave His life as a demonstration of that grace and forgiveness When I’m quick to judge or condemn others for their actions, maybe I need to stop and remember this scene in the streets of Jerusalem. Jesus didn’t condemn but asked that the woman caught in adultery avoid sinning again. He extend grace and forgiveness to her. I expect He changed her life forever just like He can change mine and yours. All we have to do is ask and then let Him empower us to live the way He wants us to live. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. When is the last time you criticized or made some cutting remark to about someone. Some rules are coming that might help you think twice about that before you do it again. Scripture John 8:7 Jesus: Let the first stone be thrown by the one among you who has not sinned. Devotional In 1976, we still had those white-glove inspections in the Army. As a platoon leader, my platoon sergeant and I would go through the barracks and make inspections of the rooms to make sure everything was clean, neat, and orderly. We’d make sure the soldiers in the barracks had nothing there that wasn’t supposed to be there, like liquor or pets or anything else on the long list of things that soldiers couldn’t have in their rooms at the time. Wall lockers Cleanliness of room Inventory of furnishings and equipment Then I came home Shoes lined up, but next to the door, not in the closet Why is the car so dirty? Can’t find anything in the closet, so disorganized Hard to do those inspections knowing what my house looked like Let the first stone be thrown by the one among you who has not sinned. Hygiene, health of the command Order and discipline within the command Hypocritical How often do we criticize someone for the very thing we are guilty of doing? Psychiatrists and psychologists tell us we are quickest to criticize in the areas where we struggle most in our own lives Can be both hurtful to others, but helpful to us when we recognize when we are about to criticize someone Stop and ask seven questions before saying something critical to someone. I’m plagiarizing from a social media post that has made the circuit a few times, so I can’t tell you the author. Here they are. Do you have the pertinent facts? Does it need to be said? Why do I need to say this? Can I say it in a way that represents Christ? How could I be misunderstood? What motivates me for saying it? Can I wait until tomorrow to say it? After answering all these questions, you’ll probably find that you don’t need to say anything at all. One more thing to consider before we criticize or blame or accuse. Jesus said to all of us, “Let the first stone be cast by the one among you who has not sinned.” Any of us fit that category? I don’t think so. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Water is one of those things none of us can do without. It is one of those basic needs that without it, we die. Food, water, shelter. Those things mean life. Without them we cannot survive. And water is first on the list. A week without water and the body shuts down. Jesus understood the necessity of water, too, but He had a different solution to our needs. Scripture John 7:37-38 Jesus: If any of you is thirsty, come to Me and drink. If you believe in Me, the Hebrew Scriptures say that rivers of living water will flow from within you. Devotional When the rest of the country was suffering an economic downturn a few years ago, Texas was still creating jobs. In fact, when the nation created 300,000 jobs overall one year, Texas created 400,000 within its borders. That means the rest of the country lost 100,000 jobs. What attracts people to Texas? Weather Taxes Corporate laws Texas has one big problem when it comes to business Water Cities are growing faster than the water supply Buying water from other states Research for desalinization and other means of purification of seawater aren’t keeping up with the demand Middle east has similar problems Water seems more scarce than oil Dig deep for wells Often require purification even when found Protect at all costs Jesus promises water than never ends Living water - running water from springs that remain clean and pure Never dries up regardless of weather Quenches thirst unlike some of the water with minerals (salts) in them Not just a little trickle of water, but rivers of living water No pockets of brackish water either Where do you find this kind of water? Come to Jesus Believe in Him For who He is and what He did for you Ask for forgiveness Follow the commands He gives you If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I’ve always liked logic puzzles. Like this one, for instance. There are three boxes. One is labeled "APPLES" another is labeled "ORANGES". The last one is labeled "APPLES AND ORANGES". You know that each is labeled incorrectly. You may ask me to pick one fruit from one box which you choose. How can you label the boxes correctly? Scripture John 7:33-34 Jesus: I am going to be with you for a little while longer; then I will return to the One who sent Me. You will look for Me, but you will not be able to find Me. Where I am, you are unable to come. Devotional If you’re like me, you haven’t heard anything since I gave you the puzzle because you’ve been thinking about how to label those boxes. The answer isn’t too difficult since you know all the labels are wrong. Pick a fruit from the box labelled Apples and Oranges. The box will be full of only one kind of fruit since the label is incorrect. So if you pick an orange, label the box, Oranges. Then you know that the box labelled Apples and Oranges must contain only apples since that label is also wrong. So label that box Apples. Finally, the only box left with the wrong label must have the apples in it, so change the box labelled Oranges to Apples and Oranges. And there’s the answer. Why give you a logic puzzle to start the podcast and associate it with Jesus’ words today? Because I’m sure those who heard His words were just as puzzled as we can get when we hear those logic puzzles I’ll be with you But only for a little while Then I’ll return to the One who sent Me You’ll look for Me, like hide-and-seek You won’t find Me You can’t go where I’m going What does all this mean? The disciples were confused First part was easy Second part not too hard, maybe He was going on a trip by Himself Third got a little more difficult, but not unlike returning to the country that issued His diplomatic credentials Fourth, if they knew where He was going or that He was returning to a specific place, why would they spend time looking for Him Why wouldn’t they be able to find Him, this didn’t make sense Why couldn’t they go to the same place He went, what special pass did He have that they didn’t have? Did they need some special password and how could they get it? We stand on this side of the cross and the answer is easy Like the puzzle at the beginning. If you didn’t think of the answer right away, you probably slapped your forehead and said, “Duh! Why didn’t I think of that!” Looking back, it’s so simple. Looking back in time, Jesus’ words are so simple, too. So are His words, “Follow Me.” So why do we have so much trouble understanding and doing those? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you know the difference between an emissary and an ambassador? Jesus calls us His emissaries and Paul identifies himself as an emissary in most of His letters. So what’s the difference? Scripture John 7:28-29 Jesus (speaking aloud as He teaches on the temple’s porch): You think you know Me and where I have come from, but I have not come here on My own. I have been sent by the One who embodies truth. You do not know Him. I know Him because I came from Him. He has sent Me. Devotional So what is the difference between an ambassador and an emissary? Our government uses both as do most governments. Ambassador is an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country Emissary is a person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative Did you notice the difference? General representative for a country versus a person sent on a special mission Emissary Can act like an ambassador when on a diplomatic mission in a foreign country Always given a specific mission to complete Message to carry Negotiation to broker or attend Expert representative on behalf of sender for meetings or project Carry the authority of the person who sends them Jesus sent the twelve out into towns and villages as His emissaries Specific tasks from Matt 10, Go ... to find and heal the lost sheep of Israel. 7 ..., preach this message: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those who have leprosy. Drive out demons from the possessed. In the verses just before this, Matthew says Jesus endowed them with the power to do these things Jesus gave them the authority and responsibility to carry out the tasks He gave them to do We are His emissaries. He gave each of us the same command Go Make disciples Baptize them Teach them His practices Teach them to follow His commands Gives each of us tools, gifts to accomplish the tasks He gives us to do Didn’t make us ambassadors with no specific thing to do or mission to accomplish; made us emissaries with specific purpose and mission in mind If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. The man walking across the street toward his Harley with the wild looking beard, is wearing leather pants and jacket with metal studs. He has black boots and a red, white and blue rag wrapped around his head. He looks a little rumpled and dirty like he just climbed out from a trash heap. He’s wearing dark wrap around glasses so you can’t see his eyes. What’s your first reaction? Scripture John 7:21-24 Jesus: Listen, all it took was for Me to do one thing, heal a crippled man, and you all were astonished. Don’t you remember how Moses passed down circumcision as a tradition of our ancestors? When you pick up a knife to circumcise on the Sabbath, isn’t that work? If a male is circumcised on the Sabbath to keep the law of Moses intact, how can making one man whole on the Sabbath be a cause for your violent rage? You should not judge by outward appearance. When you judge, search for what is right and just. Devotional The man I described earlier is a friend of mine. He’s a pastor and the scene comes from a picture one of the members of his Christian motorcyclist club took of him when they stopped for a break on a cross country trip one day. They travelled a lot of dusty roads that day and with twenty or so bikes churning up the dust on those back roads, everyone looked like they just came out of a trash heap. Great time riding Worshiping Fellowshipping We have a tendency to stereotype Part of our DNA Quick judgments originally to protect us Lion or rock Friend or foe Welcomed or attacked Carried those early survival requirements into modern society Clothes Hair and makeup Color of skin Religion Nationality Political views Whatever is different causes us to mark others as enemies and resort to fight or flight because of Satan’s lies Jesus warns, “You should not judge by outward appearance. When you judge, search for what is right and just.” How do we do that? First, ask for discernment Second, recognize God made us all Third, recognize Satan has blinded most and they will not judge according to God’s rules but by the world’s Fourth, don’t let others judgment and attitudes keep you from demonstrating God’s love and grace toward them If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. When I was in school, the Krebs Cycle was a lot more theory than fact. Things have changed over the years in science, but not in God’s word. So what does the Krebs Cycle have to do with God’s word? Stay and find out. Scripture John 7:16-19 Jesus: I do not claim ownership of My words; they are a gift from the One who sent Me. If anyone is willing to act according to His purposes and is open to hearing truth, he will know the source of My teaching. Does it come from God or from Me? If a man speaks his own words, constantly quoting himself, he is after adulation. But I chase only after glory for the One who sent Me. My intention is authentic and true. You’ll find no wrong motives in Me. Moses gave you the law, didn’t he? Then how can you blatantly ignore the law and look for an opportunity to murder Me?   Devotional When I took biology in Vanderbilt more than 40 years ago, scientists were just beginning to uncover the secrets of how cells transformed matter into energy to run the various processes of the body. They knew there was this thing called the mitochondrion that took in oxygen and released carbon dioxide and energy enriched adenosine triphosphate but didn’t understand how. My professor at the time had worked with Hans Krebs and would win his own Nobel Prize in Physiology Now, the mechanism has been changed from a theory to a fairly well accepted biochemical process fact among biologists worldwide. Many theories proposed previously All missed some important part in their explanation Brilliant people, but holes in their argument Krebs cycle explained the process and verified by improved electron microscopes Why did the theory become accepted as fact when all the others failed Questions were answered Things fit into place Theory proven by independent sources Has stood the test of time for over 50 years now Curious that we will accept Krebs Cycle as truth which we’ve only recognized for 50 years but don’t recognize God’s truth which has been here since time began Stories handed down since God created Adam and Eve Moses given the law on Mt Sinai and scholars believe gave the Israelites the five books of the law, Genesis through Deuteronomy Centuries of testimony from Israelites and Christian community Evidence all around us Still we won’t believe the truth We won’t listen to those sharing God’s word, but instead listen to those who tell us what we want to hear Time to be convicted by God’s law. Time to hear what He has to say instead of what the world has to say. Time to let the truth guide our lives instead of the lies Satan lays before us. Time to follow the Son, the One God says is the only way to salvation, freedom, and life If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t own a timepiece of some sort. We are bound by time and time is important to us. In fact, sometimes timing is everything. Jesus knew that, too. Scripture John 7:6-8 Jesus: My time has not yet arrived; but for you My brothers, by all means, it is always the right time. You have nothing to worry about because the world doesn’t hate you, but it despises Me because I am always exposing the dark evil in its works. Go on to the feast without Me; I am not going right now because My time is not yet at hand. Devotional Timing is important in almost every aspect of life, did you ever think of that? Planting Harvest Cooking Football plays Construction Training Project execution God understands timing Genesis Separation of light and darkness comes first Separation of water and earth come next Life in the seas comes before life on land Plant life comes before animal life, food chain, herbivores before carnivores Perfect timing for creation and everything in it Jesus’ task to save the world World already began to hate Him because of His message and His fight against evil Satan knew who He was Began working against Him at His birth with no place for Mary to give birth to Him Temptation in the wilderness before He started His ministry Scribes, Pharisees and Sanhedrin for His message Jesus task was not yet complete Needed to train the twelve Needed to ensure the remembered the message Needed to make sure they saw and remembered the evidence of who He was Time wasn’t right for the completion of His task Sometimes we will ask God to come alongside us for something we want to do. Something we even think He has asked us to do, and it will seem like He is absent from the scene. He’s not. If He gives us something to do, He will be in it, but His timing is perfect. Like the secret play or the secret weapon pulled out at just the right moment to win the game. God comes on the scene at just the right time. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Jesus’ words today remind me of a couple of children’s games I’m sure you played as a kid. I hope you played the game well, because it’s important to what you do now. What games are they? You’ll find out in just a minute. Scripture John 6:65-70 Jesus: This is why I have been telling you that no one comes to Me without the Father’s blessing and guidance. After hearing these teachings, many of His disciples walked away and no longer followed Jesus. Jesus (to the twelve): Do you want to walk away too? Simon Peter: Lord, if we were to go, whom would we follow? You speak the words that give everlasting life. We believe and recognize that You are the Holy One sent by God. Jesus: I chose each one of you, the twelve, Myself. But one of you is a devil. Devotional Have you ever played Follow the Leader or Simon Says Follow the leader is a children's game. First a leader or "head of the line" is chosen, then the children all line up behind the leader. The leader then moves around and all the children have to mimic the leader's actions. Any players who fail to follow or do what the leader does are out of the game. When only one person other than the leader remains, that player becomes the leader, and the game begins again with all players joining the line once again. Simon Says (or Simple Simon Says) is a child's game where 1 player takes the role of "Simon" and issues instructions to the other players, which should only be followed if prefaced with the phrase "Simon says", for example, "Simon says, jump in the air". Players are eliminated from the game by either following instructions that are not immediately preceded by the phrase, or by failing to follow an instruction which does include the phrase "Simon says". It is the ability to distinguish between genuine and fake commands that usually matters in the game. Jesus calls us to His side just as He chose the twelve while He walked among us. Certainly following Him is much more important and complex than playing follow the leader or Simon Says Calls us to follow Him Peter says it best, who else would we follow? Anyone else leads us toward death and destruction We can’t follow our own path because if we really look deep inside, we have to admit we don’t know where we’re headed Like the children’s games when we don’t follow Him we find ourselves out of the game of life Spiritual warfare is not a game We don’t have a choice about playing We can follow Jesus and have life We can choose not to follow Jesus and find death and destruction Still our choice, which will you choose If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. There is an interesting test to see where you might be spiritually. In just a moment, I’ll share that test with you. Stick around. Scripture John 6:61-64 Jesus: Has My teaching offended you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascend to return to where He came from? The Spirit brings life. The flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have been teaching you are spirit and life, but some of you do not believe. Devotional I don’t think Jesus would have to even ask that question today. He would make headline news blasted through every media available. Jesus offends another group. They don’t like His message because He says they shouldn’t do something else they want to do. He says we should take care of orphans and widows and elderly and the infirm. How are we doing on that account? Not so well. They are the throwaways of society He says we should help the poor, not seek after great wealth just for the purpose of seeking wealth, we should use our assets to help others. How are we doing on those? Not so well. We believe in getting all we can get for ourselves He says love your neighbor as you love yourself. How are we doing on that? Not so well. We don’t tolerate anyone that doesn’t think, look, or act the way we do. Has my teaching offended you? Difference between being offended and convicted To offend: cause to feel upset, annoyed, or resentful. To convict: to find or prove to be guilty; to convince of error or sinfulness Which do you feel when you hear God’s word? Says a lot about who you want to be in charge of your life, God or you When we realize we can’t do anything about the guilt we carry around because of our disobedience and the depth of our depravity, we are convicted and ready to face the truth of our sinful condition before God. He can do something about it, we can use that conviction and come to Him repentantly and be cleansed from our sin and our guilt can melt away. We can enjoy real life eternally. When we think we can live without God and make our own way through life, we feel upset by God’s word, annoyed that anyone would try to tell us we are wrong, resentful that someone, even God, would try to dictate our behavior or our thoughts. We remain aloof, snub our nose at God, remain unrepentant, and face death, eternal separation from the only one who can give us life. So the question remains, when God speaks are you offended or convicted? You control your emotions. You decide what you will believe. You determine whether you will allow God into your life. Choose the right path. Choose the Spirit and life. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We sometimes forget the advantage we have living on this side of the cross when we read the words of Jesus. We think it would be so easy to believe if we could have seen Him in person and listened to Him speak while He walked the earth. But was it so easy then? Scripture John 6:53-58 Jesus: I tell you the truth; unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not know life. If you eat My flesh and drink My blood, then you will have eternal life and I will raise you up at the end of time. My flesh and blood provide true nourishment. If you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you will abide in Me and I will abide in you. The Father of life who sent Me has given life to Me; and as you eat My flesh, I will give life to you. This is bread that came down from heaven; I am not like the manna that your fathers ate and then died! If you eat this bread, your life will never end. Devotional The words Jesus shares with the crowd that day were hard words for them to accept. The last Passover supper was a long time away. Covenant with His disciples had not yet been announced Death on the cross that explained His sacrifice and symbolism of His flesh and blood was still in the future and unseen by all those around Him How could they understand Why would Jesus give these words that would drive people away from His message of love and forgiveness? Christianity is not an easy life Must count the cost to serve Him More will hate your message than like your message No watered down, easy road, do as you please religion Prepare us for what is to come Message He gives the crowd that day If you consume what the world offers, you die If you consume what He offers, you live Hard to understand sometimes, but that is the mystery of God Beyond our knowing because He is God and we are not In a battle for our lives Satan lies and is the father of lies Listen to God’s truth Trust His word and follow His direction Obey and live If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Cannibalism is one of the most taboo practices throughout the civilized world. We revolt at even the thought of the action. What would you do if Jesus hinted at the practice when He talked to you? That’s just what some of those around Him were thinking one day. Scripture John 6:43-51 Jesus: Stop grumbling under your breaths. If the Father who sent Me does not draw you, then there’s no way you can come to Me. But I will resurrect everyone who does come on the last day. Among the prophets, it’s written, “Everyone will be taught of God.” So everyone who has heard and learned from the Father finds Me. No one has seen the Father, except the One sent from God. He has seen the Father. I am telling you the truth: the one who accepts these things has eternal life. I am the bread that gives life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died as you know. But there is another bread that comes from heaven; if you eat this bread, you will not die. I am the living bread that has come down from heaven to rescue those who eat it. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever. The bread that I will give breathes life into the cosmos. This bread is My flesh. Devotional If you studied much history about the settlement of the west, you’ve heard of the Donner Party. George Donner led 89 pioneers out of Springfield, Illinois in April 1846 on their way to California. They took a new, supposedly shorter route scouted by a guide that led them into some pretty treacherous terrain. The party became trapped in the high Sierra Mountains in late October due to heavy snowfall and the legends of the day continue that the party survived only by resorting to cannibalism. They finally arrived in California the next year. Why bring up the Donner Party? We still remember their means of survival 160 years later. We view cannibalism as a most heinous crime Jeffrey Dahmer, Peter Bryan, Ed Gein (serial killer which inspired the character for Silence of the Lamb Wikipedia 50 reports between April 2000 and August 2016, 28 since 2010 We’re revolted by the thought Imagine the reaction when Jesus gave these words, “Anyone who eats this bread will live forever. The bread that I will give breathes life into the cosmos. This bread is my flesh. Sounded like cannibalism to those who heard His message on the surface Without listening to all He had to say and trusting Him, His message caused revolt The world hated His message when they thought He talked to eating His flesh How would you react? We live on this side of the cross and understand the symbolism Jesus shared with those who heard His words that day. We understand He gave Himself for us and we partake in the remembrance of Jesus’ death through the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, Communion, the Eucharist, whatever name you choose to call that special remembrance of God’s sacrifice for us. Can you understand why the world, without faith, hates us? Can you begin to see why non-believers revolt at the mention of Jesus’ name? Never condoned the practice of cannibalism Must understand He wants us to consume Him, the word, God’s message, the reason for His coming, devour everything He brings to us Become a spiritual cannibal Until we believe that Jesus’ words are true and draw close to Him in faith, we will not enjoy the life eternal He promises. Until we begin to consume Him in every part of our life, we cannot enjoy all He has in store for us. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Today’s words from Jesus made me think of a bizarre episode from Dr. Phil. In just a minute I’ll tell you why. Scripture John 6:32-40 Jesus:  I tell you the truth: Moses did not give you bread from heaven; it is My Father who offers you true bread from heaven.  The bread of God comes down out of heaven and breathes life into the cosmos. Crowd:  Master, we want a boundless supply of this bread. Jesus:  I am the bread that gives life. If you come to My table and eat, you will never go hungry. Believe in Me, and you will never go thirsty.  Here I am standing in front of you, and still you don’t believe.  All that My Father gives to Me comes to Me. I will receive everyone; I will not send away anyone who comes to Me.  And here’s the reason: I have come down from heaven not to pursue My own agenda but to do what He desires. I am here on behalf of the Father who sent Me.  He sent Me to care for all He has given Me so that nothing and no one will perish. In the end, on the last day, He wants everything to be resurrected into new life.  So if you want to know the will of the Father, know this: everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will live eternally; and on the last day, I am the One who will resurrect him. Devotional My wife is a Dr. Phil fan and the other day she was watching one of his programs she captured on our DVR and a young lady’s conversation with him captured my attention. I’m usually reading something whenever Carole listens to Dr. Phil, but when this you lady said she was pregnant and Jesus was the child, I perked up. Six home pregnancy tests Two clinic pregnancy tests Sonogram on television Still didn’t believe the results Knew she was pregnant with Jesus Mental illness causing her to think bloated belly meant pregnancy and could let go of delusion until her belly flattened one night in an institution Dr. Phil sent her to for help. Jesus came to share the truth God wanted us to hear Many followed only for the miracles He performed Many followed out of curiosity to see what He would do next Many liked what He said but fell away when the pressure was on (including His closest disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane) Jesus calls us to believe Not just because of the wonders He performed Not just because of the testimony of others Not just because of the evidence of scripture Exercise faith and allow His spirit to confirm who He is When we exercise enough faith to believe Jesus is the Son of God who came to rescue us from the penalty of sin, death, He forgives our sins and grants us eternal life to be enjoyed with Him in heaven. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you ever get junk mail asking you to double and triple and quadruple your money? All you have to do is invest in the sender’s guaranteed get rich investment scheme and you’re on your way to financial independence. It’s a shame it doesn’t work that way. But Jesus has a better idea. Scripture John 6:26-29 Jesus: I tell you the truth—you are tracking Me down because I fed you, not because you saw signs from God. Don’t spend your life chasing food that spoils and rots. Instead, seek the food that lasts into all the ages and comes from the Son of Man, the One on whom God the Father has placed His seal. Crowd: What do we have to do to accomplish the Father’s works? Jesus: If you want to do God’s work, then believe in the One He sent. Devotional I get these emails several times a day from some money management firms that I somehow managed to get on their list. I’ve tried to get off their list, but so far have been unsuccessful in getting rid of their advice. Best investments Multiply my money Stocks, bonds, commodities Changes every day If I had invested as they told me to I would be independently wealthy by now Schemes remind me of Jesus’ words Get rich quick Chase after things that don’t last Try to satisfy life with the latest fad Doesn’t work In Matthew, seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be given to you as well. Riches? Maybe, probably not earthly riches because it’s easy to get your eyes off God Friends? Absolutely, real friends Joy Peace Contentment Forgiveness Relationships that count and continue eternally Purpose in life, God’s purpose for which He created you Work worth doing, God’s work If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. My kids had a few nightmares when they were little. I would come to their rescue and calm their fears. Jesus calms our fears but in a much greater way. Today we hear one story of how he did it. Scripture John 6:20 Jesus (to the disciples): I am the One. Don’t be afraid. Devotional I remember when my kids were little, they would sometimes have nightmares in the middle of the night. I would hear them cry out and I would go to their room to see what was wrong. Sometimes they would see monsters in the shadows or they would just know that someone was peering in the window just waiting to come in and get them. My presence calmed them My voice let them know they were protected My assurance took away their fear Grandkids spend the night and do the same Same thing happens Simple explanation and presence takes away fear Disciples found themselves alone in a storm Real danger this time Not their imagination Expected to drown in the storm Jesus comes walking calmly to their side His presence calms their fears His voice gives assurance that all will be okay He lets them know He will protect them from the storm We face storms in life He will come and bring assurance to us the same way He did for His disciples We must listen above the wail of the storm We can trust Him to bring calm to the trouble waters in our lives We do not need to be afraid If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. When you find a diamond in the field, it’s not such a thing of beauty. So why does everyone want diamonds in the first place? Scripture John 5:41-47 This kind of glory does not come from mortal men. And I see that you do not possess the love of God. I have pursued you, coming here in My Father’s name, and you have turned Me away. If someone else were to approach you with a different set of credentials, you would welcome him. That’s why it is hard to see how true faith is even possible for you: you are consumed by the approval of other men, longing to look good in their eyes; and yet you disregard the approval of the one true God. Don’t worry that I might bring you up on charges before My Father. Moses is your accuser even though you’ve put your hope in him because if you believed what Moses had to say, then you would believe in Me because he wrote about Me. But if you ignore Moses and the deeper meaning of his writings, then how will you ever believe what I have to say? Devotional I don’t know if you’ve ever been to a diamond mine or any place where you can find raw gems in the ground, but it is a fascinating experience. The first time you go there, you might expect to see something very different that what you will really see Expect to see shiny, glimmering, jewels Really find lots of dirt and a few rare off colored dull pieces of something Might think it is broken, discarded glass Jeweler sees something different Sees potential after polishing and cutting Studies the stone for hours before first cut is made Angles facets just right to capture light throughout the stone and cause it to reflect within itself adding brilliance to the stone Dull misshapen piece of rock becomes a flawless, priceless jewel after much study, careful work, long hours Same way with scripture Might just see a bunch of rules and laws from Moses and the prophets Dos and don’ts we must keep Study, careful work, long hours brings out the beauty and richness of God’s word Helps us capture the inner beauty of what He wants us to know about Him Aim to please men and we’re left with just lumps of dirt, aim to please God but put no effort in it and we have those dull bits of colored rock, give our all to Him and work tirelessly to please Him and we find diamonds in life each day If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever seen a celebrity in a restaurant or out of character and not recognized them at first. What was your reaction? Did you finally wake up and believe it was them or blow it off and miss the chance to meet them? Scripture John 5:36-40 Jesus: There’s another witness standing in My corner who is greater than John or any other man. The mission that brings Me here, and the things I am called to do, demonstrate the authenticity of My calling which comes directly from the Father. In the act of sending Me, the Father has endorsed Me. None of you really knows the Father. You have never heard His voice or seen His profile. His word does not abide in you because you do not believe in the One sent by the Father. Here you are scouring through the Scriptures, hoping that you will find eternal life among a pile of scrolls. What you don’t seem to understand is that the Scriptures point to Me. Here I am with you, and still you reject the truth contained in the law and prophets by refusing to come to Me so that you can have life. Devotional Growing up in Nashville Not uncommon to see country-western singers around town Treated like ordinary people with special talents instead of flocked by camera hounds Often would eat at a restaurant and overhear a fan talking about them Walk up to the table and be unrecognized Sometimes the fan would argue about identity Star gives evidence of identity with information Birth statistics Favorite foods, color, songs Others might agree with identity Fan still skeptical Might even sing to show fan that he is who he says Jesus felt the same way John testified as to His identity Father testified with voice at baptism and descending of the dove Scripture testifies of His identity Still some refuse to believe He is the One sent by the Father, the Messiah When a fan refuses to believe a singer or celebrity is not who they claim to be, they miss out on meeting a popular person; when we refuse to believe Jesus is the Messiah, the savior of the world, we miss out on eternity Maybe we should be a little less skeptical and start listening to the evidence around us If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. A commission is an important document. It gives the holder the authority to act on behalf of the one who issues the commission. How does that affect us as followers of Christ? Scripture John 5:30-35 Jesus: I have not ever acted, and will not in the future act, on My own. I listen to the directions of the One who sent Me and act on these divine instructions. For this reason, My judgment is always fair and never self-serving. I’m committed to pursuing God’s agenda and not My own. If I stand as the lone witness to My true identity, then I can be dismissed as a liar. But if you listen, you will hear another testify about Me, and I know what He says about Me is genuine and true. You sent messengers to John, and he told the truth to everyone who would listen. Still his message about Me originated in heaven, not in mortal man. I am telling you these things for one reason—so that you might be rescued. The voice of John the Baptist, the wandering prophet, is like a light in the darkness; and for a time, you took great joy and pleasure in the light he offered. Devotional In May of 1976, I raised my hand and took an oath of office as an officer in the United States Army accepting a commission issued by Congress. I serve to support and defend the constitution against all enemies I serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States The commission is for life, it doesn’t expire, and remains in effect unless withdrawn by an authority appointed by the President The commission gives the scope and boundaries of my authority as an officer in the United States Army representing the President and the United States as I fulfilled the responsibilities outlined in that document I proudly served on active duty for thirty years and continue to support my country under the authority and responsibility of that commission Jesus had a commission from the Father while He breathed the air we breathe and stood on the dirt on which we stand Came to save that which was lost Came to be light to the world Came to heal and forgive Came to show the Father’s love Came to give a new covenant Came to introduce God’s spirit Gave His followers a commission before He left to ascend to His Father Go Make disciples Teach them Do the things He did Live within the boundaries of the commission He gave How are you doing with the commission God gave you? Are you living up to the terms of the commission He presented to you? Only you and God know the answer, but He will ask the question one day. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever thought about what our world would be like if Adam and Eve had not disobeyed God. What would this place be like if Adam carried out God’s plan from the beginning? Scripture John 5:25-29 Jesus: I tell you the truth: a new day is imminent—in fact, it has arrived—when the voice of the Son of God will penetrate death’s domain, and everyone who hears will live. You see, the Father radiates with life; and He also animates the Son of God with the same life-giving beauty and power to exercise judgment over all of creation. Indeed, the Son of God is also the Son of Man. If this sounds amazing to you, what is even more amazing is that when the time comes, those buried long ago will hear His voice through all the rocks, sod, and soil and step out of decay into resurrection. When this hour arrives, those who did good will be resurrected to life, and those who did evil will be resurrected to judgment. Devotional That phrase in Jesus’ words today, “the Father radiates with life; and He also animates the Son of God with the same life-giving beauty and power to exercise judgment over all of creation”... made me think about those opening questions today. What if Adam had not disobeyed? What would our world be like? What did God really want from humankind? The Father radiates with life Triune Godhead present at creation Created life, not death Death entered the cosmos as a consequence of man’s disobedience, not God’s creative act Intends for us to live, not die The voice of God penetrates even dead, inanimate objects, death’s domain, to restore life Think about how seeds burst from the ground using nutrients from dead and decayed plants and animals Life comes from death by a creative act of the Father Jesus talks about an amazing time to come, though He will return The dead will be resurrected The good to life The evil to judgment God never intended for us to die. That was our doing through disobedience. But God’s plan is to restore those who believe in His restorative plan. Those who will follow Him and worship Him will be restored to life eternally. It’s our choice to believe or not. What’s your choice today? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you fear death? I’ve seen too much death in my lifetime, but I’ve seen those who are incredibly afraid of death and those who accept it as just the passage from life to life with no fear in their countenance at all. What’s the difference in them? Stick around and we’ll talk about it. Scripture John 5:24 Jesus: I tell you the truth: eternal life belongs to those who hear My voice and believe in the One who sent Me. These people have no reason to fear judgment because they have already left death and entered life. Devotional A few years ago I was suffering from some physical symptoms that scared my wife pretty bad. I couldn’t walk more than thirty or forty feet without stopping to suck in all the air around me. I just couldn’t get enough air to satisfy the needs of my body. Check for asthma Check for pulmonary edema or other lung problems Check for cardiac problems Check for neurological problems Found nothing except I couldn’t get enough oxygen Family feared for me Several mechanical problems to be labeled as a disabled veteran Nothing life threatening Now I couldn’t get enough oxygen to pass into my blood to satisfy my body For me, no fear, overwhelming peace Knew the status of my heart Knew my destination Knew the next step if i took my last breath Pain but comfort in pain Eternal life belongs to those who hear My voice and believe in the One who sent Me. These people have no reason to fear judgment because they have already left death and entered life. Did I want to die Too much left to do and see Not anxious to get to the other side But not afraid of death Good feeling to know death is not as frightening an experience as Satan tries to get us to believe. A lot of unknown Watch the faces of believers and non-believers Peace versus fear and anguish Personal experience from what should have been frightening experiences Death approaching is okay when God’s spirit is in you If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. I love to watch children play games. They seldom care about the rules that come in the box. They just make up the rules as they go along and change them to suit themselves if it looks like new rules will benefit them. We’re a lot like that as adults sometimes, too. Perhaps we should consider Jesus words when we apply those rules to life, though.. Scripture John 5:22-23 Jesus: The Father does not exert His power to judge anyone. Instead, He has given the authority as Judge to the Son. So all of creation will honor and worship the Son as they do the Father. If you do not honor the Son, then you dishonor the Father who sent Him. Devotional Children have a tendency to make up their own rules when they play games. Have you ever noticed that? Board games with grandkids Discard the rules quickly Make up rules that will help them win Change the rules in the middle of the game to suit them We try to do that in life Rules are given to us by God in His word We discard them quickly or don’t pay attention to them just like my grandkids with their board games Try to make up our own rules or change God’s rules to suit us Creates a problem Imagine baseball or football game where there is no referee or the referee changes the rules at a whim Create chaos on the field Rules provide order and direction and guidance in games and life In sports the referee is the judge for obedience to the rules In life, we set up courts with judges and juries to determine obedience to our civil laws God gives us some civil laws to live by, but His word is primarily focused on our spiritual well being Relationship with each other Relationship with Him We will be judged based on the spiritual rules He has established and given to us in His word Jesus, His Son, God in the flesh, has been appointed as our judge Since He is our judge, it pays to learn and obey His rules You wouldn’t play college football without reading and understanding the rules, why do we think it’s okay to go through life without doing the same in matters so much more important, things with eternal consequences It’s time we pick up that spiritual manual God has given us. Read it again and again. Get familiar with the things He expects us to do as we journey through this game of life. Then practice those things daily. He is the referee and will be our judge at the end of time. Knowing that, don’t you think it’s time to live by His rules instead of making them up as we go along? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We are amazed at all the things Jesus did during the few years He walked the earth in the flesh. But He said some incredible things about what will happen next. Listen to His words to His disciples and us. Scripture John 5:19-21 Jesus: The truth is that the Son does nothing on His own; all these actions are led by the Father. The Son watches the Father closely and then mimics the work of the Father. The Father loves the Son, so He does not hide His actions. Instead, He shows Him everything, and the things not yet revealed by the Father will dumbfound you. The Father can give life to those who are dead; in the same way, the Son can give the gift of life to those He chooses. Devotional I remember a smoking cessation commercial many years ago that said a lot about kids behavior. Man washing his car Pre-school aged son mimicking with rag and squirt gun Dad takes a break to take a smoke Son picks up the pack from his dad’s shirt pocket and pulls out a cigarette Warning from the surgeon general Children mimic their parents It’s how they learn most of their skills Fishing Camping Tools It’s how they learn good and bad behavior Previous illustration Helping others Kind gestures (Christmas picture) It’s how they learn about relationships It’s how they learn about God Jesus tells us the Father does not hide His actions from His Son, but shows Him everything. Miracles performed are just a taste of what’s in store Healing the sick Feeding the hungry Raising the dead Forgiving sins Giving us His spirit to live in us The things not yet revealed by the Father will dumbfound you. Can you imagine what they might be after all we have seen today? God’s word is still true! I can’t wait to see what is in store for us at the hand of the Father can you? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. “One person sows, and another reaps.” It seems no matter how hard we try, someone else gets the credit and the profit for the work we do. Is that fair? Listen to what Jesus has to say. Scripture John 4:32-38 Jesus: I have food to eat that you know nothing about. Disciples (to one another): Is it possible someone else has brought Him food while we were away? Jesus: I receive My nourishment by serving the will of the Father who sent Me and completing His work. You have heard others say, “Be patient; we have four more months to wait until the crops are ready for the harvest.” I say, take a closer look and you will see that the fields are ripe and ready for the harvest. The harvester is collecting his pay, harvesting fruit ripe for eternal life. So even now, he and the sower are celebrating their fortune. The saying may be old, but it is true: “One person sows, and another reaps.” I sent you to harvest where you have not labored; someone else took the time to plant and cultivate, and you feast on the fruit of their labor.     Devotional It just doesn’t seem fair, does it? You do the work and someone else reaps the benefit. We sometimes feel that way with the companies we work for or the when we purchase big ticket items and think about the profits the companies must be making and in all sorts of situations. But we need to stop and remember Jesus’ words. The saying is old, but it is true. God made it that way One person sows and another reaps is true in more cases than you think and part of being in a community He made us interdependent Each of us have different skills and talents Stop and think about what it means for us today One sows another reaps You drive a car you probably didn’t make You eat food you probably didn’t grow You eat meat you probably didn’t raise You wear clothes you probably didn’t make You sit on chairs and eat at tables you didn’t construct Think of the things you enjoy you had no part in creating One person sowing and another reaping is the nature of life Jesus uses the example to talk about the harvest of people ready to be introduced to the kingdom of God We Satan sneak in feelings of jealousy about someone else’s reaping When we think about the nature of sowing and reaping in everyday life our attitude changes Remember the story of sowing and reaping and be happy you live in community with others so you don’t have to create everything yourself. You can enjoy the efforts of others and they can enjoy your efforts as well. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you remember blue laws? If you’re younger than 50, probably not. We don’t have many if any blue laws around anymore, but maybe we should. Maybe we wouldn’t be in the pickle we’re in today with our worship. Listen and find out why. Scripture John 4:21-26 Jesus: Woman, I tell you that neither is so. Believe this: a new day is coming—in fact, it’s already here—when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshipers. You worship what you don’t know while we worship what we do know, for God’s salvation is coming through the Jews. The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship. Woman: These mysteries will be made clear by He who is promised, the Anointed One. Jesus: The Anointed is speaking to you. I am the One you have been looking for.   Devotional I’m not sure, but I think the largest segment of the population today are the baby boomers. Generations before us, families were larger, but they have now passed on our parents started worrying about population growth, being able to send us to college and provide for all us baby boomer kids in the suburbs, and so our families tended to begin to curb those population swells. The Gen-Xers and Millennials seldom have more than two kids and many have no kids, so the baby boomers are the big chunk in the US anyway. So what’s that got to do with today’s scripture? Greatest Generation and their children Raised with societal norms of Christian standards in this country Church every Sunday Blue laws Nothing open on Sunday Baby Boomers became interested in money Relaxed and abolished blue laws Worship anytime or anywhere Sports took center stage on Sunday afternoon instead of family Christian values were no longer the norm Today No worship tolerated 24 hour operations the norm Christian values viewed as hate speech Cesspool of sex, drugs, and violence everywhere you turn Jesus’ words come back to haunt us today because we have lost our way in worship and following what He wants us to do. It doesn’t matter where or when we worship but...The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship. When we let the world dictate our norms and leave Him out, we run the risk of losing our eternal life If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. I’m sure you’ve heard that saying many times. That old piece of wisdom popped into my head as I read Jesus’ words today. Let me tell you why. Scripture John 4:8-18 Jesus: Would you draw water, and give Me a drink? Woman: I cannot believe that You, a Jew, would associate with me, a Samaritan woman; much less ask me to give You a drink. Jews, you see, have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus: You don’t know the gift of God or who is asking you for a drink of this water from Jacob’s well. Because if you did, you would have asked Him for something greater; and He would have given you the living water. Woman: Sir, You sit by this deep well a thirsty man without a bucket in sight. Where does this living water come from? Are You claiming superiority to our father Jacob who labored long and hard to dig and maintain this well so that he could share clean water with his sons, grandchildren, and cattle? Jesus: Drink this water, and your thirst is quenched only for a moment. You must return to this well again and again. I offer water that will become a wellspring within you that gives life throughout eternity. You will never be thirsty again. Woman: Please, Sir, give me some of this water, so I’ll never be thirsty and never again have to make the trip to this well. Jesus: Then bring your husband to Me. Woman: I do not have a husband. Jesus: Technically you are telling the truth. But you have had five husbands and are currently living with a man you are not married to. Devotional So, you’ve heard the old sage’s wisdom many times in your lifetime, I’m sure. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Simple logic when you think about it Fill his belly once yourself or teach him to fill it every day on his own Too many times we are satisfied with giving someone a fish instead of teaching him to fish Why is it so easy to feed instead of teach? Takes much more time Must invest yourself in the person’s life Must understand their strengths and limitations You must know how to do it in the first place Why would Jesus’ words bring me to these thoughts today? God-sized hole in each of us Easy to try to fill it with worldly pleasure; like giving a person a fish, it doesn’t last Jesus wants us to dig deep into His word Study what He tells us Put it into practice Learning from God how to fill that God-sized hole His way satisfies for eternity If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.   Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you ever take what we know about life in the Spirit for granted? Do you ever even think about life in the Spirit and what it’s all about? Nicodemus got a pretty good lesson one day. We can learn a lot from what Jesus said to him that day. Scripture John 3:10-15 Jesus: Your responsibility is to instruct Israel in matters of faith, but you do not comprehend the necessity of life in the Spirit? I tell you the truth: we speak about the things we know, and we give evidence about the things we have seen, and you choose to reject the truth of our witness. If you do not believe when I talk to you about ordinary, earthly realities, then heavenly realities will certainly elude you. No one has ever journeyed to heaven above except the One who has come down from heaven—the Son of Man, who is of heaven. Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. In the same way, the Son of Man must be lifted up; then all those who believe in Him will experience everlasting life. Devotional Put yourself in Nicodemus place 2,000 years ago. What would you think about the conversation you were having with Jesus? Do you ever take what we know about life in the Spirit for granted? Do you ever even think about life in the Spirit and what it’s all about?His Spirit came to live in us after His departure. Important concept Jesus talked about often in His ministry. The promise He gave His disciples and the power He gave them to live the way He wanted them to live Before Jesus left He talked a lot about what God’s spirit would do for us and in us, so the conversation He begins with Nicodemus is important But Nicodemus, like many, chose to reject the truth Jesus spoke. Responsible to teach faith - a rabbi Didn’t understand the necessity of life in the spirit. We cannot live the life Jesus wants us to live apart from His spirit in us It takes faith and acceptance of His guidance, lordship in our life World doesn’t agree Self made man What’s in it for me What do I gain Selfish motive is the world’s answer Servanthood is Jesus’ goal Nicodemus came to learn and based on later events in his life it appears he learned well the lessons of life in the Spirit. History gives credence to His coming to Christ and being one of the dissenters in His trial and crucifixion. He may have been in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. He learned his lessons The question for you and me, will we learn from the Master? Will we believe the evidence of His words and His actions? Will we believe in Him so we may gain the everlasting life He promises? It’s up to you. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do you remember what it was like being born? I don’t and it’s probably a good thing. But maybe we should remember some of it so we can understand what it’s like to be born again. The Christian life isn’t all fun and games if that’s what you’re looking for. Scripture John 3:3-8 Jesus: I tell you the truth: only someone who experiences birth for a second time can hope to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus: I am a grown man. How can someone be born again when he is old like me? Am I to crawl back into my mother’s womb for a second birth? That’s impossible! Jesus: I tell you the truth, if someone does not experience water and Spirit birth, there’s no chance he will make it into God’s kingdom. Like from like. Whatever is born from flesh is flesh; whatever is born from Spirit is spirit. Don’t be shocked by My words, but I tell you the truth. Even you, an educated and respected man among your people, must be reborn by the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. The wind blows all around us as if it has a will of its own; we feel and hear it, but we do not understand where it has come from or where it will end up. Life in the Spirit is as if it were the wind of God. Devotional Born again. You’ve probably heard that term all your life if you grew up in the church or around Christian people. Those in the Christian community know what it means. Or at least they think they do. Dying to self New life in Christ Reborn into a new way of life with God’s plan and purpose in mind Have you ever thought about how this sounds to someone outside the church? Nicodemus Question wasn’t unreasonable How would you explain this relationship you have with God What is being born again like? Too often we talk just about the happy moment of forgiveness and forget the rest Make people disillusioned when they begin their Christian walk Childbirth is hard for both mother and baby First breath is great, but come out into a cold, brutal world Times of joy when held in mother’s arms Times of fear, aloneness, inability to express thoughts and feelings, unable to communicate So much unknown So much to learn Jesus tells us to weigh the cost Christian life is a hard one Costs everything Misunderstood and hated Unbelievable reward in the end If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Is it our problem when someone forgets or miscalculates or does something that will cause them embarrassment? Jesus asked that questions, and then answered it with actions instead of words. Scripture John 2:4 Jesus: Dear woman, is it our problem they miscalculated when buying wine and inviting guests? My time has not arrived. Devotional So what do you think about Jesus’ conversation with His mother? I would have been slapped silly or told “wait til your father gets home!” Feminists cringe at His language Have a hard time getting past the way Jesus addresses His mother Different day and time Jesus was an adult male in a male dominant society Mary addressed Him in public which was pretty taboo in His culture Gentle but reminded her of the culture, Dear woman! Let’s get past the address between Jesus and Mary and look at the next piece Is it our problem they miscalculated? Is it our problem they ran out of wine? Is it our problem they can’t get their act together? Is it our problem they will embarrass themselves in front of all these guests? Reminiscent of Cain’s question to God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Do I need to be responsible for him? Do I need to bail him out when he’s in trouble? Do I need to be accountable for his actions as well as my own? You might think Jesus brushes her off with His comments to His mother, but she knows Him well. We know the rest of the story First miracle Mary tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do She is confident He will take care of the wine problem She is confident He will keep the host from embarrassment She is confident He will take care of the needs He finds around Him What lessons should we learn from Jesus’ encounter Don’t address your mother the way He did, that was a cultural difference your mother will probably not tolerate, nor should she in this country and this time Like Mary, we should be sensitive to the needs of those around us Like Mary, we should take those issues to Jesus whether we created the problem or not We can help others learn from their miscalculations, but we can also help and keep them from embarrassment, failure or worse Jesus shows us we are our brothers’ keepers Go do something good for someone today If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Do people know you as a truth-teller? How can they tell? And do you know who is looking? Is it just your boss? Your family? Your pastor? Who might be looking that you don’t know about? Scripture John 1:47-51 Jesus: Look closely, and you will see an Israelite who is a truth-teller. Nathanael (overhearing Jesus): How would You know this about me? We have never met. Jesus: I have been watching you before Philip invited you here. Earlier in the day, you were enjoying the shade and fruit of the fig tree. I saw you then. Nathanael: Teacher, You are the One—God’s own Son and Israel’s King. Jesus: Nathanael, if all it takes for you to believe is My telling you I saw you under the fig tree, then what you will see later will astound you. I tell you the truth: before our journey is complete, you will see the heavens standing open while heavenly messengers ascend and descend, swirling around the Son of Man.   Devotional Do people know you as a truth teller? Jesus saw Nathanael from a distance and told those around Him that he was a truth-teller. Announcement sounded like truth-tellers were rare. Something about Nathanael made him different than others around him. Can you tell the difference when you see truthers versus liars? Can they see the difference in you? Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree enjoying its shade and eating its fruit. Truthers enjoy the simple things in life Recognize the beauty of creation in and of itself Find pleasure outside the norms of society, within the norms of nature Watched him interact with others while sitting under the tree Shade at a premium so a gathering place for discussion Others seek out people who speak the truth in love When they need real answers to problems When they need help When they want to know God Others avoid those who are not truth-tellers Flat out liars Half truths Truths that only help themselves and not the asker Speak truth, but in condemnation and judgment Expect Nathanael provided truth from scripture, experience, wisdom freely but with love Can others see you as a truth-teller? Provide wisdom from life experience Provide support from God’s word Share truth with love and grace If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We have developed a real problem today when it comes to building a relationship with God. Our problem is related to McDonald’s, Intel, and the Post Office. Stick around and see why those things cause us problems in our spiritual walk. Scripture Luke 24:41-49 Jesus: Do you have anything here to eat? They hand Him a piece of broiled fish, and He takes it and eats it in front of them. Jesus: I’ve been telling you this all along, that everything written about Me in the Hebrew Scriptures must be fulfilled—everything from the law of Moses to the prophets to the psalms. Then He opens their minds so they can comprehend the meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus: This is what the Scriptures said: that the promised Anointed One should suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, that in His name a radical change of thought and life should be preached, and that in His name the forgiveness of sins should be preached, beginning in Jerusalem and extending to all nations. You have witnessed the fulfillment of these things. So I am sending My Father’s promise to you. Stay in the city until you receive it—until power from heaven comes upon you. Devotional How impatient have you become in this technological age? TR 80 Apple iiC, 128 kb memory Transmissions measured in bytes per second, not megabytes or gigabytes Open programs, get coffee Now complain if more than 15 - 20 second start-up Fast food grew up with McDonald's and Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken No long waits in restaurants Short menus Already mostly cooked Warmed up and served Not very nutritious, not very good, but fast Happy because we don’t wait Complain if it takes five minutes to get food Complain about speed of delivery Used to expect seven days for a letter Ten to fourteen days for a package Now expect not more than two day delivery, even on weekends and holidays Can’t wait that extra day for delivery even though it’s something you probably never had before and don’t really need Need to get over our impatience when it comes to knowing God Stay until Pray until Wait until Until what You are as close to God as you want to be. How long does it take to get as close as you want to be to Him? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever tried to explain something to someone and they just didn’t get it? How did it make you feel? I bet Jesus got pretty frustrated at times, too. Particularly when His time was running out. Scripture Luke 24:25-26 Jesus: Come on, men! Why are you being so foolish? Why are your hearts so sluggish when it comes to believing what the prophets have been saying all along? Didn’t it have to be this way? Didn’t the Anointed One have to experience these sufferings in order to come into His glory?Jesus: Why are you upset? Why are your hearts churning with questions? Look—look at My hands and My feet! See that it’s Me! Come on; touch Me; see for yourselves. A ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you can see that I have! Devotional Sometimes I’m a really terrible teacher. I enjoy teaching most of the time, but occasionally I’ll teach a subject that comes pretty easily to me and I think it should to everyone. I forget that it doesn’t. All of us have things like that, of course. I’ve had people try to teach me how to fix cars. It’s a hopeless cause. Plumbing is the same way I’ve learned to hire others to do some of those things around the house because it’s a lot cheaper than doing it myself When I think something should be crystal clear and it isn’t Try to restate in other ways Try to review in ways to solidify in memory Try to relate to things they know and understand If unsuccessful, patience runs thin End of the story with two men Jesus met on road to Emmaus Talked on the road Knew the news about crucified Galilean Knew rumors of Messiah Jesus kept hinting about the tie in between the prophecies and the Galilean they heard about Connect the dots Are you guys stupid? What have you already said? Wake up! Finally put things together Finally understood Then recognized Jesus for who He was We sometimes think these guys are stupid. Why didn’t they recognize Jesus? Weren’t expecting to see Him Maybe saw Him on the cross, broken and bleeding How different are we? We have all the evidence of who He is, but don’t recognize Him We don’t believe what He says We don’t trust His words Are we stupid or something? Maybe we need to pay more attention to His classes If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. A bet all of us use to play a game when we were little that helped us learn about trust. Jesus showed us how to trust to the very end. Listen to what He said. Scripture Luke 23:46 Jesus (shouting out loudly): Father, I entrust My spirit into Your hands! Devotional I remember playing a game with my dad as a kid that I played with my kids as a dad and I’m sure it’s one that many dad’s have played for centuries. I’d stand on the stairs or porch or couch or something that I knew was as high as the Empire State Building. Dad would hold out his arms, and I would leap into space with full confidence I would not hit the floor. I knew my dad would catch me. My kids knew the same thing. They knew I would catch them every time. You’ve probably played the game Common around the world Meant to build trust in those we love Heard of a few bizarre parents that let their kids fall to the ground to teach the opposite We are built for relationship God created Adam, the first human, for a relationship with Him Created Eve, the second human, for a relationship with both Him and Adam Told the two of them to populate the world and gave them a desire to live in community We break that fellowship and community when we disobey God’s commands for us Jesus came to help us reignite that relationship with God Watch His life from the beginning Announcement of His birth - Spirit came upon Mary, God coming to man At twelve, in the temple doing His Father’s business Continually found alone in prayer Surrounded by others Welcoming children Depending on the Father for everything Any wonder He would announce from the cross - “I entrust My spirit into Your hands What can we learn from Him? If we are to be like Him we must: Build relationship with Him Build relationship with others Trust the Father with everything we have and hope to have In every circumstance, no matter how grim or glorious, entrust our whole self to God If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Did you ever wonder where Jesus and the thief on the cross went when they died that day? Jesus said they were headed to paradise that day. Well then, what is paradise anyway? Scripture Luke 23:43 Jesus: I promise you that this very day you will be with Me in paradise. Devotional Have you thought much about Jesus’ comment to the thief hanging next to Him at Golgotha? Criminal Evil enough for crucifixion Cruelest form of execution Today join Jesus in paradise Paradise Wikipedia - Paradise is the term for a place of timeless harmony. The Abrahamic faiths associate paradise with the Garden of Eden, that is, the perfect state of the world prior to the fall from grace, and the perfect state that will be restored in the World to Come. in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, a land of luxury and fulfillment. Is it heaven? Has the thief already faced judgment and entered into eternity with the triune Godhead around the throne? Does John’s Revelation and other eschatological writings agree with or refute what Jesus says to the thief? Arguments by believers and non-believers alike Does everyone go here awaiting judgment or just believers? Is this like the lobby to heaven where you get the appetizers before dinner? If Jesus talks about a judgment day, then what is paradise? A place between death and heaven? Will good people, but non-believers stay here instead of hell? Is this the opposite of purgatory for those who earn a better place than the flames or eternal separation from God? No one knows this side of heaven. We do know some things. Death is not the final victor, there is something after that - Jesus talks about that There is a heaven and hell - Jesus talks about both There will be a judgment day - Jesus talks about that We determine by our faith and actions now whether we will spend eternity in heaven or hell - Jesus talks about that What is paradise? We don’t really know this side of the curtain we call death. But for believers, whether we are ushered into an anteroom of heaven with Jesus awaiting the judgment that He called paradise when He talked to the thief, or whether we face judgment immediately, or whether time just stops and doesn’t matter anymore once we pace from this life to the next, does it really matter? As long as we are with Him, who cares? We don’t need to be concerned about what paradise is or when it is or what it looks like or if it’s part of heaven or not. Who cares? Just be ready when He comes and you’ll hear Him say, “this very day you will be with Me in paradise.” If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Jesus told the onlookers at His march to Golgotha not to weep for Him but for themselves. How do you grieve and are you ready to avoid the grief that will come at His return? Scripture Luke 23:28-31 Jesus (to the people in the crowd): Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me. Weep instead for yourselves and weep for your children. Days are coming when people will say, “Blessed are the infertile; blessed are the wombs that never bore a child; blessed are the breasts that never nursed an infant.” People will beg the mountains, “Surround us!” They’ll plead with the hills, “Cover us!” For if they treat Me like this when I’m like green unseasoned wood, what will they do to a nation that’s ready to burn like seasoned firewood? Devotional Military travel gives opportunity to observe various cultural differences in the grieving process Native-American Tribes are different Some burial is not important and may not even bury the body but let nature dispose of remains Some bury observing the importance of a circle symbolizing the circle of life Most are not concerned about preserving the body, so embalming is not a concern but mutilation is taboo. Asking for native american to donate organs may be seen as disrespectful Asian-American Very concerned about the body Watertight casket Warm clothing Stoic so might be depressed from internalizing grief Picture or plaque of the deceased along with personal items kept in the home as a memorial or shrine African-American Family and friends gather Might express great emotion Cremation not as readily accepted as in other cultures Sharing meals with loved ones Wear white as symbol of resurrection Integration of church observances Haitian-American Family and friends gather at home of deceased Wear dark clothing to funeral and as sign of mourning Share meals before and after the funeral Express great emotion Hispanic-American Dependence on priest for arrangements Gathering of family and friends Many family and friends participate in procession and in service Family members often make promises in name of deceased Money gifts common to help defray expenses European-American Family and friends comfort family at home of deceased Funeral director or clergy help in arrangements Dark clothing although now more color to mark celebration of the life of the deceased Funerals usually more somber Gather at home of survivors for meal or refreshments after funeral service and interment Lots of forms of grief, Jesus says don’t grieve for Him, but for us. He’s coming back and we need to be ready when He comes. Imagine what that day must be like if those who are left will be asking the mountains to fall on them rather than face the events God has in store for them. We might grieve in different ways, but don’t be caught needing to grieve on that day. It won’t be a pretty sight grieving for yourself. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. When I get blasted with false accusations, my first thought is usually to strike back, argue, retaliate for the wrong done, but Jesus taught us a different way to handle those accusations. Listen to what Jesus did. Scripture Luke 23:3 Jesus: It’s as you say. Devotional Back up to the rest of the story as we look at what Jesus says in this verse. Spent the night and early morning with the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin Beaten, humiliated, questioned until they found an answer they could incriminate Him on, they thought Took Him to Pilate because they couldn’t kill Him Tell Pilate Jesus forbids Jews to pay taxes to Caesar Tell Pilate He claims to be King See the irony in their accusations and actions? At a time when defenders were still asleep Pilate didn’t care about their religion or leading others away from it Would probably encourage anyone to pull populace away from the strict adherence to Jewish tradition; got in the way of obedience to Caesar’s rule Said he forbade paying taxes when Jesus encouraged supporting government responsibility. “Give to Caesar...give to God. Stirring up discontent - only against them Wrongfully accused by the Sanhedrin False witnesses False charges False accusations False testimony to Pilate Lies they knew were lies from the leaders bound by the Ten Commandment. Ninth Commandment - You are not to give false testimony against your neighbor. (Ex 20:16) Didn’t understand what false testimony was Didn’t consider Jesus a neighbor What did Jesus do? Listened Let them speak without recourse Went to the cross for us What do we usually do? Argue Fight back Get even Maybe we should learn from Jesus and keep our mouth shut. Look what a difference it made in the people who watched Him. It might do the same for the people who watch you respond with God’s spirit in you. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Missouri is known as the Show Me state. It is said her residents don’t believe anything they don’t see for themselves. Do you know anyone like that? Are you one of those? Jesus met a few...in court. Scripture Luke 22:67-69 Sanhedrin: If you are the Anointed One whom God promised us, tell us plainly. Jesus: If I give you an answer, you won’t believe it. And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer it. But this I will say to you: from now on, the Son of Man will take His seat at the right hand of the power of God. Sanhedrin: So You are the Son of God, then? Jesus: It’s as you say. Devotional Have you ever met anyone that no matter what you say and no matter what evidence you give, they just won’t believe you? It’s everywhere with almost everyone these days, I think. I know I’ve been guilty at times. Research information Internet .com - selling something .org - raising money for cause .edu - professor’s ideology .gov - well… Written word Peer review - maybe Junk science Fantasy Just to sell books and make names Found out in elections Hard to trust Hard to believe Sanhedrin fell into that category Jesus evidence was clear Prophecy they read and believed Jesus’ birth Jesus’ childhood Jesus’ ministry Jesus’ teaching Jesus’ miracles Still didn’t believe even with evidence in front of them Are we as unbelieving as they are with all the evidence in front of us? 2,000 years of evidence, still people fail to believe What category are you in? Believer or unbeliever? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Does God have a mission for you that might just change the world? Sometimes He gives someone a simple message that does just that. Scripture Luke 22:52-53 Jesus: Do you think I’m some sort of violent criminal? Is that why you came with swords and clubs? I haven’t been hard to find—each day I’ve been in the temple in broad daylight, and you never tried to seize Me there. But this is your time—night—and this is your power—the power of darkness. Devotional In just a few days we will celebrate Martin Luther King Day in the United States. This year it is on January 16th if you don’t have a calendar handy. Through the years there has been some controversy about whether or not we should have a holiday celebrating his birth, but there is a lot of controversy today about celebrating Jesus birth, too. A lot of difference in the two, but there are a few similarities, too. Spiritual leader in the sixties Divided the nation about how we should understand humankind Promoted peace, not violence Understood there would never be an end to violence this side of eternity Life snuffed out because of his preaching Martin Luther Named after great protestant reformer Baptist preacher Decried injustice between blacks and whites in the 50’s and 60’s Became the symbol for peaceful demonstration to demand equality Never wanted violence and consistently condemned those who did Was willing to die for the cause he supported Jesus’ words today remind us He came in peace, too. Preached daily Kingdom of heaven is here Repent and be saved Believe in the Son of God Only act that approached violence was turning the tables over in the temple and driving out the money changers Career was one of healing, forgiveness, salvation Openly shared His mission, given to Him by the Father Was not afraid of death Am I as committed to the mission God has given me? Sharing His Love Forgiveness Mercy Grace Testifying of what he has done for me If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. What is the one thing you hate doing most of all? So why do you do it? Out of a sense of duty, fear, responsibility, love, all of those? We all face those tasks at some point, Jesus taught us how. Scripture Luke 22:40-42 Jesus: Pray for yourselves, that you will not sink into temptation. He distanced Himself from them about a stone’s throw and knelt there, praying. Jesus: Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me. Yet not My will, but Your will, be done. Devotional Jobs you just don’t want to do. Dusting Dishes Yardword Painting We do them most of the time without too much complaint even when we don’t want to Sometimes talk others into doing them Sometimes swap with others Sometimes hire out the work Every once in awhile get tasks that no one can do but us Our responsibility Can’t shirk or put it off Must be done But nothing like what Jesus faced He wanted out of His task About to bear the weight of the world’s sins on His shoulders Pay the penalty required for each of our sins Guiltless but paying anyway Asked if there was any other way to let Him take that alternate way Resolved to do what the Father wanted rather than what He wanted May ask us to do some things we don’t want to do May be unpleasant or difficult Can be sure they will never be as difficult as what Jesus did for us He will help us accomplish whatever He tells us to do He understands our reluctance to do difficult things because He’s been there He also knows the importance of doing what the Father asks, because He’s been there Not my will but Your will, can you say that from your heart If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Ever make a big promises that you didn’t keep? Peter made a whopper of a promise. Jesus caught him in his failure in less than half a day. Remember what that promise was? Scripture Luke 22:31-32 Jesus: Simon, Simon, how Satan has pursued you, that he might make you part of his harvest. But I have prayed for you. I have prayed that your faith will hold firm and that you will recover from your failure and become a source of strength for your brothers here. Peter:Lord, what are You talking about? I’m going all the way to the end with You—to prison, to execution—I’m prepared to do anything for You. Jesus: No, Peter, the truth is that before the rooster crows at dawn, you will have denied that you even know Me, not just once, but three times. Remember when I sent you out with no money, no pack, not even sandals? Did you lack anything? Disciples: Not a thing. Jesus: It’s different now. If you have some savings, take them with you. If you have a pack, fill it and bring it. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one. Here’s the truth: what the Hebrew Scriptures said, “And He was taken as one of the criminals,” must come to fruition in Me. These words must come true. Disciples: Look, Lord, we have two swords here. Jesus: That’s enough.   Devotional Peter is like a lot of us. Think we can stand the test Make promises we can’t keep Crumble under the intense pressure against us Honest with ourselves We’ve done the same Failed to honor Him in the tough times Kept silent when He said to speak Went the path of least resistance Denied Him when the pressure was on Jesus says something important I have prayed for you That you faith will hold firm That you will recover from your failure That you will become a source of strength for your brothers Peter still failed that night and many other times recorded in the New Testament Recognized his failure Repented Learned from his errors Became stronger in his faith each time Finally was executed for his faith Jesus prayer extends to us as He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us That our faith will hold firm That we will recover from any failure That we will become a source of strength for our brothers and sisters If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Have you ever felt like you had some dread disease when you were going through tough times? Did you feel like everyone abandoned you? Jesus had something to say about that. Scripture Luke 22:28-30 You have stood beside Me faithfully through My trials. I give you a kingdom, just as the Father has given Me a kingdom. You will eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will have authority over the twelve tribes of Israel. Devotional I had an interesting experience midway through my military career that taught me a good lesson about being there for people in all kinds of circumstances. 1987 Major’s promotion board - non-select Friends disappeared Didn’t know what to say or do Avoided me like it was contagious Records missing and went to relook, selected, and promoted on time There were a few the called and stood by throughout the ordeal Right or wrong they were with me All knew me and my faith and knew I’d make it through the situation Others watched on the sidelines to see how I would react Made me empathetic toward non-selects the next 18 years of my career Never shied away from them Knew how they felt Knew how to help them through the process if they chose to appeal Some of those have become closest friends Stayed in touch long after retirement if 10 years is a long time Jesus looked around at those twelve around the table and felt the same way Many left because of His preaching Many left because of the ridicule they receive Many left because of the pressure from the religious leaders Promises for those who remain through the trials Best news for me You will eat and drink at My table Eternity with Him 70 or 80 years of enduring what the world dishes out is not so much in terms of eternity, is it? If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. The description Jesus gave the public servants of His day isn’t far from the description we could give the public servants of our day. Stick around and see what He has to say. Scripture Luke 22:25-27 Jesus (interrupting): The authority figures of the outsiders play this game, flexing their muscles in competition for power over one another, masking their quest for domination behind words like “benefactor” or “public servant.” But you must not indulge in this charade. Instead, among you, the greatest must become like the youngest and the leader must become a true servant. Who is greater right here as we eat this meal—those of us who sit at the table, or those who serve us? Doesn’t everyone normally assume those who are served are greater than those who serve? But consider My role among you. I have been with you as a servant. Devotional This past year during our election process we sure saw a lot of that gaming and muscle flexing, didn’t we. All those politicians talking about what good public servants they would be and how well they would serve our interests as citizens. Yet, somehow more than half of those long-term congressmen and women on just $174,000 annual salary becoming millionaires Is that really public service? Talk a lot of how they will help us, but seem to help themselves a lot more than helping us Scandals in their internal banking system Scandals in travel accounts Scandals in abuse of privileges Scandals with congressional aides, pages, and staff We do have examples of real public servants Police responding to crime and getting violent people off the streets Fire department responding to fires Medical personnel in multiple disciplines Counselors in a variety of specialties Even among those real public servants, we find competition Chiefs Hierarchy Department heads Within those organizations the servants do a lot of infighting to get to the top Jesus gives us a different way Greatest will be least, least will be greatest Servants receive the greatest honor He is our example How do we stop the competitive spirit within us and become a true servant? Follow Jesus example Let Him into your heart Die to self let Him be Lord Only then can you really serve as He served If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We use a lot of things to help us remember important events in our lives. Jesus’ words today gives us an important memento to help us do just that. Scripture Luke 22:16-22 Jesus: It has been My deep desire to eat this Passover meal with you before My suffering begins. Know this: I will not eat another Passover meal until its meaning is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. He took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it. Jesus: Take this; share it among yourselves. Know this: I will not drink another sip of wine until the kingdom of God has arrived in fullness. Then He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with them. Jesus: This is My body, My body given for you. Do this to remember Me. And similarly, after the meal had been eaten, He took the cup. Jesus: This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant, made in My blood. But even now, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on this table. As it has been determined, the Son of Man, that firstfruit of a new generation of humanity, must be betrayed, but how pitiful it will be for the person who betrays Him. Devotional Time to think back about last year successes failures goals left undone happy memories sad memories Establish tokens or mementos to remember those events Ticket stubs Photos Souvenir Last Supper is the memento Jesus gave us to always remember the event that established the means for our salvation – His sacrifice on the cross Penalty for sin Eternal death Separation from God Blackness of isolation We all sin Jesus paid that penalty for us Institution of memento to remind us of the price He paid for us; gift He gives In 2017, your church will no doubt participate in the Lord’s Supper, Communion, the Eucharist, whatever name you call this sacrament several times in 2017. Remember why Jesus gave us this memento Remember the suffering He endured for your sins Remember the blood He shed in payment as the penalty you should pay Remember the death He experienced so you can have life eternal with Him It’s not just a ritual we go through, let it truly touch your life each time you share If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. What does it mean to guard your heart? Have you ever thought about that? Let's see what Jesus has to say. Scripture Luke 21:34-36 So be careful. Guard your hearts. They can be made heavy with moral laxity, with drunkenness, with the hassles of daily life. Then the day I’ve been telling you about might catch you unaware and trap you. Because it’s coming—nobody on earth will escape it. So you have to stay alert, praying that you’ll be able to escape the coming trials so you can stand tall in the presence of the Son of Man. Devotional Have you ever thought much about that command from Jesus? Guard your hearts. We aren’t doing very well as a society. Description of what He said makes it heavy Moral laxity Drunkenness Hassles of life Drag by day after day with heavy hearts, what does it mean? Sounds a lot like depression – listless, purposeless, everything hard Anxiety – worry about everything, anything that can go bad will go bad for you Frustration – things never work out the way they should according to your plan Despair – never get there, never succeed, never accomplish your goals Direct result of some of those warnings. Think tolerance of all things would improve society, it hasn’t and it won’t Drunkenness loosens judgment, leads to moral laxity, creates the same problems Nothing good happens after midnight Never lose control of mental faculties unless under a doctors care Rut of daily life underwhelm and make us trudge through life Military know how to guard things. Put barriers in place, physical and electronic, to keep the enemy out Put warriors in place to keep watch on all those barriers to make sure no one and nothing slips through Trains almost daily, even while in combat, to make sure they are ready to face the enemy and repel him Do we know how to guard our hearts against the enemy? Do we even try in these days? Sometimes I’m not sure we do as I look at the state of the world and our society. Back to Jesus warning - Guard your hearts. They can be made heavy with moral laxity, with drunkenness, with the hassles of daily life. Moral laxity – rampant Drunkenness – 20% of all drivers on the road are intoxicated, that means over the legal limits, with drugs or alcohol, but over 65% of all drivers are on the road with a buzz or some sedation from drugs or alcohol. Drunkenness? Here! Hassles of daily life – road rage, gun sales, violence, hatred spring up everywhere criticisms instead of complements petitions instead of praise complaints instead of thanksgiving we live in a pessimistic, hate filled time surrounded by evil How do we guard our hearts? Spend time with God Listen to Him from His word, hymns, devotionals, Pray – a lot Study His word, don’t just read it Keep garbage out Put up barriers to the things Satan would use to fill your mind Be aware of your weaknesses and watch carefully in those areas Did I say pray – a lot By the way – pray – a lot If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. Topic Introduction with headline. Can you tell time without a watch? Jesus tells us how today. Stay tuned to learn how. Scripture Luke 21:29-33 (continuing with a parable) Look over there at that fig tree—and all the trees surrounding it. When the leaves break out of their buds, nobody has to tell you that summer is approaching; it’s obvious to you. It’s the same in the larger scheme of things. When you see all these things happening, you can be confident that the kingdom of God is approaching. I’m telling you the truth: this generation will not pass from the scene before everything I’m telling you has occurred.Heaven and earth will cease to exist before My words ever fail. Devotional Gretchen and Gilley demonstrations of needs Gretchen Paw face for food Turn head to go outside Growl and nip at pants to go to bed Gilley Paws on seat and stretch for food Turn circles to go outside Runs to bed when he wants Don’t need to talk, understand what they need and what’s coming if I don’t take care of their needs. Not good with doorknobs Will eat when they get hungry enough Will relieve themselves at some point wherever they are I pay attention to their signs; if you have animals and toddlers you understand Signs come like clockwork; 7:30, noon, 4:30, 9:00, 10:30 bed Know what time it is by their behavior Just like my example, Jesus used the example of the fig tree to let His hearers know things are about to happen seasons weather illness tragedies He laid out all the signs that would precede End of time Return Taking His bride home Judgment We watch the signs for the things we are interested in, but do we watch for the signs of the truly important things in life Told us He’s coming Told us to watch Told us what to look for We ignore all the indicators Will we be able to watch the signs and know what time it is? 2017 might just be a very interesting year for more reasons than you thought when the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve.

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. * In Luke 21:20-28, Jesus said, "Here’s how you will know that the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple is imminent: Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies. When that happens, there’s only one thing to do: if you’re in Judea, flee to the mountains; and if you’re inside the city, escape; and if you’re outside the city, stay there—don’t enter— because the time has come for the promised judgment to fall. How sad it will be for all the pregnant women, for all the nursing mothers in those days! All the land of Israel and all her people will feel the distress, the anger, falling on them like rain. The sword will cut some down, the outsider nations will take others captive, and this holy city, this Jerusalem, will be trampled upon by the outsiders until their times are fulfilled. * There will be earth-shattering events—the heavens themselves will seem to be shaken with signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. And across the earth the outsider nations will feel powerless and terrified in the face of a roaring flood of fear and foreboding, crashing like tidal waves upon them. “What’s happening to the world?” people will wonder. The cosmic order will be destabilized. And then, at that point, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and blazing glory. So when the troubles begin, don’t be afraid. Look up—raise your head high, because the truth is that your liberation is fast approaching. * Devotional * Jesus could see what would happen to Jerusalem forty years away. * Roman siege * destruction of temple * killing of innocents * Jerusalem destroyed * Gives warning to His disciples to avoid the city to save their lives * Gives warning about the end of times, too * Son of Man returning in a cloud with power and blazing glory * heavens shaken * signs in celestial bodies * overwhelming sense of fear and foreboding * Signs point to the end of time * Liberation is coming fast * Don’t be afraid * Hold heads high * Victory is near * Look around * signs are everywhere * fear and foreboding seem to cloud the thinking of the whole world * Syria * ISIS * terrorists * US election * Son of Man’s return is on the horizon * Hold your head up, don’t be afraid, He’s coming soon

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. * In Luke 21:18–19 Jesus said: But whatever happens, not a single hair of your heads will be harmed. By enduring all of these things, you will find not loss but gain—not death but authentic life. * Promise of no * persecution * beating * imprisonment * execution * More - gain instead of loss; authentic life instead of death * Never more than today * Middle east * Africa * Russia * China * India * Even in United States beginnings of rights removed, persecution evident, followers hated * All the same problems as everyone else plus persecution * What does Jesus mean? Contradiction? * We take out of context * Forget what comes before and after these verses * Want to use part of a discourse to our benefit * Like to twist promises to suit our wants * What does Jesus mean? * Verses in the middle of end times discourse * Signs * Events * Interlude to comfort disciples * Picture scene * Jesus sees fear * Calms with promise of what happens for His followers during the end times * Put verses back into context * We have nothing to worry about * Still hated by the world * Still face persecution until He comes * Still suffer as followers * Notice He says “if we endure all these things”, means we go through them * Then we enjoy the promises He gives * Jesus comes again * Returns victoriously * Today’s words from Jesus: * Encouragement that the end brings relief from the evil of this world * …life everlasting * …indescribable joy * …eternal praise and worship of the King of kings in His presence * Disciples needed that interlude of encouragement * We need it today, too.

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 21:6-17 devotional summary We are seeing strange weather patterns, odd tides, jet streams, creating unusual weather. We see droughts lasting longer and flooding in 500 year flood plains. All the signs are there. He could come at any time and not do disservice to any of the prophecies about His return. What does all of that mean? Be ready. I’m releasing this podcast on the last day of 2016. It could be the last day. We might never see 2017. It could happen. I’m hopeful that God will give the church a chance to introduce Him to more people so that His kingdom will grow. I’m hopeful that in this new year Christians will recognize how short time is and take a stand for God. That we will really stand out as followers of Jesus the Messiah. I’m hopeful that the persecutions around the world will be such that those that sully the name of Christ by carrying His name but have no relationship with Him will stop identifying themselves as Christians so that the real bride of Christ can be recognized as the spiritual warriors they really are. I’m hopeful that real revival will break out and people will understand their broken condition and fall to their knees and seek mercy and forgiveness from the living God who created them and longs to save them from their sins. I’m hopeful for a lot of things in this coming year. But it all starts with me. Am I willing to be that person who, like the psalmist, falls to my knees and asks God to inspect my heart to see if there is any unclean thing in me. And whatever He might find, remove it at whatever cost so that there is nothing between me and my Savior. Are you willing to be that same kind of person this coming year? If all of us who claim Christ as our Savior will do the same, imagine what a year 2017 can be. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 27-28 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 21:3-4 devotional summary What does it mean to give all you have to God? Does He expect us to turn all our cash over to Him and go home with nothing in our pocket? Not necessarily, but sometimes He might. Does He expect us to live in poverty, not knowing where our next meal will come from? Not necessarily, but sometimes He might. Does God expect us to be so poor we live on the streets at the mercy of the weather and the other street people we meet there? Not necessarily, but sometimes He might. That sounds pretty non-committal, doesn’t it? The point is, we must be willing to give everything we have to God. Recognize the fact that it all belongs to Him and we are only stewards of the things He lets us use from time to time. So how does He want you to use the things He gives you? For your own benefit and pleasure or for His plans and purposes? Using assets for His plans and purposes doesn’t usually mean you will be penniless and poverty stricken. Using assets for His plans and purposes doesn’t usually mean you will not enjoy life and have comforts that others enjoy. But those things won’t be what drives you. You’ll find that if God decides He wants them, you don’t have any problem giving them up to Him when you remember they are not yours to start with. They all belong to Him and we are just borrowers. Things are on loan to us while we are here to be used for Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Revelation 18-22 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 20:46-47 devotional summary Is there hypocrisy in my church? Unfortunately, I would have to say yes, there is. I can see it in the lives of some of the members. Is there hypocrisy in your church? If I were a gambler, I would bet a paycheck there are. And I would bet another paycheck that I’m not wrong in that assessment. Our churches are full of hypocrites. But that’s okay. Look who Jesus was talking to. He was addressing the scribes and Pharisees. The scholars who knew scripture better than anyone else. The leaders of the faith. They attended services faithfully. They participated in all the rituals faithfully. They gave their tithe and more faithfully. Yet Jesus called them hypocrites. Did that stop Jesus from going to the temple to worship? Certainly not. Did it stop Him from participating in those same rituals? Absolutely not. He did them faithfully, understanding fully the reason behind those rituals. Did it stop Jesus from continuing to study God’s word and using it to support His messages to the crowds that followed Him? We see that most of His preaching took text from the ancient writings of the law given to Moses and the prophets and the writings that existed worship places of the Jews. Jesus recognized the hypocrites wherever He went, but He still preached to them, healed them, ministered to them, invited them to follow Him. He never stopped them from being around Him to hear and witness the kingdom of God in their midsts. Jesus knew the only way to reach a hypocrite was to allow them to join into genuine, intimate worship. Until they see the difference between their fake religion and real righteousness, they will continue to fall prey to Satan’s lies. But when they draw near and listen, they have the opportunity to hear the message, make amends, repent of their hypocrisy and find their way back to God and His kingdom living. Just stay in God’s word. You can pick them out. And when you do, be very careful that you don’t fall into the same traps they fell into. Stay rooted in the word. The whole thing, not just your favorite chapters and verses. The hypocrites will see your walk and maybe find a new way, a better way, the way of the cross. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Song of Songs 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 20:34-38 devotional summary Is God dead? No. He is very much alive and taking care of things every day. I expect those around Jesus were wondering the same thing in their day as the Romans invaded their land and took anything they wanted from them. I expect as they saw the crucifixions dotting the countryside and cruelty of their oppressors they sometimes wondered if God died somewhere along the way. He certainly wasn’t doing much to free them from the tyrannical leaders that held rule over them since the exile, it seemed. Jesus saw, as He walked with us that many around Him said the words they believed in God, but acted as if He didn’t exist. Today we do the same. We ignore Him when He calls. We ignore His word. We fail to worship Him. We go about our business assuming we don’t need Him anymore. Satan has convinced us we can do everything ourselves and don’t need to depend on the creator for anything. But we are wrong. Imagine a world without God. A world without His moral guidance. A world without His laws of physics and gravity and science. A world without love. A world without hope. That’s what we would face if God did not exist. We cannot manufacture those things. Those come from God and if He is dead, so are those. Yet they still exist, which means He does too. We can’t create a blade of grass, or a calf, or a fish. We can’t create a bird from an egg or make water spring from the earth to make creeks and rivers and lakes and oceans. We think we can do lots of things, and think we are really important. We act like we are the most important thing in the world, but we’re only a distant second. God is still alive and well. He demonstrates His presence daily if we will just look around and see His handiwork. Is God dead? Absolutely not. Take some time to prove it for yourself. It’s not hard to figure it out. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Esther 1-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 20:23-25 devotional summary So what should we do about the mess we’ve made with the governments we live under? We are about to start a new year in a few days and an opportunity to start a new season, with a new president in this country, whether you voted for him or against him. We will have a new congress with new senators and new representatives, whether you voted for them or against them. But the interesting thing is that you just happened to be born into this particular country at this particular time with these particular leaders and we can do one of two things. We can pray for them and ask God to help them make godly decisions and guide our country toward revival using each of us who claim to be followers of Christ as the instruments of revival fire. Or we can belly-ache about the conditions and how unfair the system is and how the side we’re not on politically just doesn’t understand and how gullible they are to the untruths the media spews our way. (By the way, that works whether you are Democrat or Republican or Independent.) As for me, I feel privileged to live in this particular country and have prayed for my presidents whether they have been the party of my choice or not. Whether I have agreed with them or not. Whether I voted for them or desired for them to take that seat of power or not. Because it really isn’t up to me or you or the 120 million people who voted as to who will sit in what some think of as the seat of power. It’s not for us to give to them. It’s not for them to take or earn or buy. God puts into those positions the people He wants into those positions. Sometimes He even lets us have what we deserve. Ouch! Scary thought, huh! Make it a point, whatever your political persuasion the rest of this year and the next to pray for our leaders. They need it. We need them to know as Christians we lift them each day in prayer in a positive way. That, more than anything else you do this year, will make a difference in our political system and our nation. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Esther 1-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 20:9-17 devotional summary I like the way my late father-in-law raised his kids. Many times they would go to the store with him when they were growing up. He would sometimes wait until he was out of the store or in his car before he checked to see if he got the right change. Of course, back in those days, the cash registers didn’t tell you how much change you were getting, you figured it out. You had to actually do addition and subtraction. But if he got even two cents too much change, he would go back to the cashier and return the money with the explanation to his girls that he would rather spend the extra time to give the money back than spend eternity in hell. He was not going to steal from the store. His integrity in the small things bled over into the big things of life also. He was an incredible man of integrity and he passed that trait on to his children. Honesty is probably the most important characteristic each of them looked for in a spouse as they were beginning to date. I suppose I met the test with my wife of 40 years. We don’t see that kind of integrity much anymore. Our political leaders certainly don’t show it and demonstrated by their recent campaigning. Our bosses often don’t show it in the way they operate their businesses with the bottom line being the most important thing about the business. Even close friends often lose that spot because they just fail to be honest with us in some of the important issues of life. But honesty and integrity are critical to God. It’s one of those commandments He told us not to break, remember? Stealing. Lying. Murder. Coveting. Adultery. They all rank right up there and they all start with the thought, “I want what I want and I don’t care about anyone else.” Don’t be like those tenants. Try a little integrity. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 29-31 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 19: 40-44 devotional summary “How I wish you knew today what would bring peace!” There is only one thing that brings peace to each individual heart of humankind. We must each understand we are sinners, far from the holy state in which God wants us to live and our sins hurt both our fellowman and God. Then we must be truly sorry for our sins. Not just sorry we got caught, but sorry for the commission of those sins. Sorry we brought pain and suffering to God and others. Sorry we failed to obey God’s commands to live the way He instructed. Sorry we failed to please God. Then we must humble ourselves and ask forgiveness in true repentance. True repentance means asking with the full intent of living differently. Working diligently with God’s help to avoid the sins we committed in the past and stay obedient to His commands and His spirit’s promptings, we intend to follow His footsteps wherever they might lead. Finally, we let Him be the Lord of our life. It’s easy to say those words and we think we understand that word, Lord. But we borrow it from medieval days to describe the relationship God wants with us. The Lord is owner of everything, we are just managers. The Lord directs and guides our actions, we obediently carry them out. The Lord teaches and corrects us, we listen and learn from that instruction and correction. The Lord sometimes gives us projects to complete expecting us to use the assets He entrusted to us, we invest all our energy to do the best we can to carry out those projects to completion. The Lord expects complete and total loyalty from all His subjects, we give it because He has the power of life and death in His hands. On this Christmas Day, Jesus still cries out, “How I wish you knew today what would bring peace!” Do you have His peace? You can. He gives it to all who ask. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 3 John see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 19:12-27 devotional summary Since He left, however, we have not gotten better in our sensibilities toward solving the social problems of the planet. We still build thick walls between us. Whether nationally, racially, economically, just pick any trait and if there is a difference between any group of people, we’ll use it to build a wall so we don’t have to associate with “those” people. That’s not what God planned for us when He created us. That has been our doing. And in the process, as God has tried to teach us with His word and His example, our selfish desires have so gotten in the way, that the world has learned to despise Him. Even those who follow His example are despised. Just take a look at the increase in martyrdom since He left. More and more Christians are killed because of following Him every year. It wasn’t just ISIS when they came on the scene. Christians have died at the hand of evil men since Jesus departed 2000 years ago for claiming Him as Lord. Society despised Jesus so much, they even try to blot out His name. We can’t even celebrate Christmas in public anymore. Now it’s the holiday season instead of Christmas. Strange how we lose the name of the very person for whom the holiday came to be in the first place, isn’t it? How does it happen? Because we want our way. We don’t want anyone, even God, telling us how to live. We can choose to follow Him or not, though. We don’t get to choose the consequences of that decision, but we can choose to follow Him or not. Be forewarned, if you follow God, the rest of the world will despise you, just like the Master that left on a long journey 2,000 years ago. He’s coming back, though, and will ask for a reckoning of what He has entrusted to us. Choose well. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 25-26 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 19:5-10 devotional summary Jesus showed us by example how best to spread the good news. He went to the homes of those who needed to hear it most. He went to the people who needed Him. He didn’t wait for them to come to Him. He didn’t expect them to approach Him, He traveled the countryside and went to them. The crowds gathered around Him, but those crowds came from the nearby villages, not from half way across the country. The crowds were locals that sought Him out when He came to their town. We in the church are sometimes afraid, or maybe, like the Pharisees, too proud or pious, to associate with the notorious sinners. But how else will they hear that Jesus loves them just as much as He loved us when He offered us the chance to have our sins forgiven and an opportunity to attain eternal life with Him. How else will they come to know Him as Savior unless friends carry the message to them. So the questions for us today: Do you know any notorious sinners? Have you made friends with them? Have you share the good news of God’s love with them? If not, what are you waiting for? Jesus showed us how with Zaccheus as a great example for us. You might help win a Zaccheus today if you try. Let’s get at it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Revelations 12-17 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 18:31-33 devotional summary And guess who will get the trophy! Me. You guys can join in on the fun later, but I’ll get the trophy and all those guys that thought they won because they scored so heavily on Friday will just stand there with their mouths open. They won’t believe they lost the game, but that’s the way it goes. They didn’t write the rules. The owner of all the teams writes the rules and if you don’t play by his rules, you can’t win. He doesn’t care about scores, he cares about how you play. And since I did everything he asked me to do, I win. Period. End of conversation. Well, it’s not a super bowl. And it’s not a game. But I hope you get the point. God gave us the rules a long time before any of us were born and He’s watching. He’s the one that determines who wins in the end. In fact, the winner has already been declared. Doesn’t it make sense to be on that team? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Song of Songs 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 18:19-30 devotional summary Why would Jesus give us great wealth and put us at great risk of losing our soul forever? Can a rich person make it into the kingdom? Yes. Nothing is impossible for God, but Jesus points out that it is hard. It is improbable. Why? Because the rich look to themselves for everything instead of looking to God. Food is bought, not sought from God. Shelter is bought, not sought earnestly in prayer. Work is provided to others, not sought for themselves. Health is paid for through the wisest physicians and best medicines, not petitioned in prayer. The rich too often think themselves self-reliant instead of relying on God, the real source of all things. So why would God put us in that position? Why would He purposely challenge us in a name it or claim it religion if He knows most will succumb to the temptations wealth brings and loose their salvation because of it? No. God will give us something better. He’ll give us Himself and He’ll give us eternal life with Him. What could be better than that? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 146-148 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 18:16-17 devotional summary So Jesus looked around at the children in the crowd and told the adults, including us, we need to receive the kingdom the way they do. We need to see God as really big. Bigger than any problem we might face. Bigger than any task He gives us. Bigger than anything we can imagine. He is God, so don’t put Him in a box and limit Him in any way. Come to Him with enthusiasm and energy. He will help you with the energy part, but you need to bring the enthusiasm. And why wouldn’t we? He is our Creator and lets us come into His presence without destroying us! He welcomes us into His house. Can you imagine that? No ruler on earth does that for everyone, but the Creator of the universe does. So show some enthusiasm when you come to the kingdom. Then, like a child, don’t be afraid to ask those questions. God isn’t afraid of them. He doesn’t shy away from our questions. He wants us to learn about Him and to know Him intimately. How else can we do that if we don’t ask questions? He’ll answer. When you come to God as a child, I can guarantee an adventure! And I can guarantee joy. There might be some sorrow and pain and struggle along with it, but their will be joy because God lets us participate in His kingdom. What else could we want? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Esther 1-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 18:10-14 devotional summary If ISIS showed up at my church’s doorstep this Sunday, I’m not sure how many of those in my congregation would stick around to lose their head for Christ. A lot say they would, but when the knives come out and blood starts flowing, I’m not so sure about those Christians in name only any more. I expect there would be some mass exodus out the back doors if the choice was denounce your faith or lose your life. I expect it’s the same in your church. You probably don’t want to hear that or admit that, but I’m afraid it’s true today. We like the sound of the words, but we don’t want to make the sacrifice necessary to really be like Jesus. So now that I’ve bashed all of our churches, all our denominations, what do we do? Where should we go? If all the churches are full of hypocrites, should we stop going and start another church? No. Jesus didn’t stop going to the temple because there hypocrites and sinners there. He just worshiped the way He knew the Father wanted Him to worship. Like that man who prayed humbly and recognized his broken state. Our churches are full of sinners and hypocrites and that is a great thing. Where else can they hear the message that God loves them and has a better way of life for them? Go, worship, be an example to others of how to live like Jesus. But to do that, you must live like Him. And to do that, it takes a lot of soul searching and letting Him have complete control of your life. Something that’s not always easy in a world that tells us we are the number one and can do anything we set our mind on. Well, let’s get real, I will never be number one and neither will you. God will always hold that place whether you give it to Him or not. And you can not do anything you set your mind to. Only God can do that because He is God and we are not. Now, any questions? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 29-31 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 18:2-8 devotional summary I think our cities today are in much the same place Sodom and Gomorrah were. We abuse physically, emotionally, and spiritually those that come to our cities. We laugh at those who contend that Jesus is the only way to heaven. We push aside those that dare to tell us how to act and speak and love our fellowman. We think those that really follow God’s rules a little on the insane side. Surely God doesn’t expect us to follow those archaic laws in this modern era. Things have changed. He can’t expect us to worship Him like Abraham and David and Daniel. That was Old Testament stuff. We have been enlightened in this age, right? Not so fast. We haven’t changed. We have the same DNA. We have the same basic desires as our ancient ancestors. We need food and shelter just like they did. We want to be loved and we want to love just like our forefathers. We have this spiritual makeup that craves to worship something whether we want to recognize it or not. Oh, we have new toys and disguised idols rather than gold and silver images of some deity, but if you watch our behavior, we have raised a lot of things as our gods today. Jobs, houses, sports, money, leisure, even our families tend to get our worship instead of our Creator. We set things up as gods and worship them as surely as those in ancient times bowed to those wood and gold and silver icons. So Jesus question today is as critical as it was 2,000 years ago because God will come as He did in the days of Noah and Lot. “When the Son of Man comes, will He still find anyone who has faith?” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 3 John see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 17:22-37 devotional summary Jesus return will happen in an instant, He says. You won’t be able to climb down off the ladder if you’re working off the ground. You won’t be able to make it to the house if you’re out working in the yard. You won’t have time to go anywhere or do anything because His coming will happen faster than you can blink. As fast as the speed of light, He will come, take His own, and be gone. it will all be over. Judgment will come. Your standing with God will be fixed at that point and He will judge you for what you believe now, not that day. Everyone will believe on that day. Everyone will bow before Him on that day. Everyone will acknowledge that He is God and Lord and Master on that day. But if you don’t believe before that time, it will be too late. Like in the days of Noah or the days of Lot, normal was evil. Normal opposed God’s laws. Normal tried to substitute things other than God to satisfy a spiritual need only He can satisfy. Normal then sounds a lot like our normal today. We live in a dangerous time. Not from the threat of the evil around us, but because if your heart is not right with God, there might not be much time to make it right. The flood came without warning. People wanted in the ark then, but God had shut the door. Fire and sulfur fell from the sky and there was no where to run. We don’t know what it will be like when God comes again, but it will be fast and violent and there will be no escape for those He does not take with Him. Get ready now. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 25-26 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 17:20-21 devotional summary Why do I talk about all these political constructs? To tell you that none of these mean anything to God. He doesn’t care if we live in a republic, a democracy, a dictatorship, a theocracy, or chaos. He doesn’t care what kind of government surrounds us because all of them here on earth are poor substitutes for the kingdom He first envisioned for us and the one that awaits those who recognize Him as king. His kingdom has no physical boundaries. You won’t find the kingdom of God outlined on any map. You can’t find it listed on any legends or indices. You can’t drive to it or sail to it or fly to it. You can’t put the kingdom of God on your vacation list or find any pamphlets telling you about real estate for sale there. Jesus warns against anyone trying to tell you where it is. Because if they tell you, they are lying to you. Because no one knows the kingdom’s physical location. It has no physical location because it is everywhere. It is here. It is where God is. And Jesus said where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there with them. So there is the kingdom of God. He also said He lives in us, so there is the kingdom of God. Where is it? Here, in me and in you. It’s all around us, shaping us, convicting and convincing us, guiding us, making us into the people God wants us to become. The flag of God’s kingdom? There isn’t one except the banner that says Jesus is Lord. The national anthem? Maybe the Hallelujah Chorus. The pledge of allegiance? How about, I surrender all? God’s kingdom is very different than anything on earth because it isn’t physically here on earth. It is where God is, but then He is everywhere. Unbounded by space and time. Now go figure out the dimensions of His kingdom and try to point to its borders. Not possible, is it? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Revelation 12-17 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 17:17-19 devotional summary And then there is salvation. Can you think of what God did for you and not be thankful? When things begin to get tough here, just think about what’s ahead. We are promised an eternity with Jesus if we have let Him into our hearts. He died for just that purpose. He gave Himself so we can live with Him forever. He came to pay the penalty for our sins so they might be forgiven and our guilt might be swept away. If that doesn’t make you thankful, then what will? We no longer carry the sins that keep us from God’s presence. They are removed and cast away as far as the east is from the west. I like the way David said that in the Psalms. I’m not sure David understood the north and south poles and the fact that when you got to the north pole you could go no farther north. From that point you can only go south. And from the south pole you can only travel north. But when you travel east or when you travel west, you just keep on going like the Energizer bunny. You never stop, there is no end. And that’s just how far God casts away our sins when He forgives us. Paul told us to be thankful. Jesus told us to be thankful. Science tells us the benefits of being thankful. Have you figured out yet that giving thanks, being grateful for even the little things is good for your health. So turn up that thanks meter and improve your health today. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Song of Songs 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 17:7-10 devotional summary We might get a glimpse of what Jesus was talking about if you think about going to your favorite restaurant instead. You’ve sat down at a booth and can see the hot line from the kitchen. The waiter brings you a glass of water and a menu. He takes your order, but then sits down at the table across from you and begins to eat his lunch. In a few minutes the chef puts your food on the hot line under the lights to keep it warm and signals your waiter that your food is ready. But instead of getting your food, he keeps eating, pulls out his smartphone and reads a few messages. He sends a few texts and then goes and gets a piece of pie for dessert. All the while, your food is getting either nice and soggy or overdone under the warming lights. Would you tell the waiter he was doing a good job? Would you leave him a generous tip? Would you ask specifically for his table the next time you come because he has become your favorite waiter? No, of course not. If you haven’t already said some choice words to the young man, you’ll probably want to see the manager on the way out and give him your opinion of his worthless wait staff. You might even ask for a refund on your meal since you had to watch it ruin under the warming lights while your waiter enjoyed himself eating on your time. The waiter should have served you first, right? Customers first in the customer service world, right? Pay attention to those who are paying your salary, right? The waiter obviously didn’t get the memo on what his duties and responsibilities were. He should have been happy to have a customer sitting at one of his tables. It meant money was coming into the restaurant. It meant he would get paid for doing his job and if he did it well, he would probably get a tip from his customers. Besides, he took the job. If he didn’t want to wait tables and serve people, he shouldn’t have taken the job in the first place. But he did and now he was shirking his responsibilities. It’s a good thing he wasn’t a slave. He’d be beaten or sold or just killed. As a waiter, if this was a normal pattern, I expect he won’t be a waiter very long. He’ll probably find himself on the outside of that restaurant pretty soon. But if he wants to keep his job, he’d better shape up. So what about our responsibilities as Christians? We have duties and responsibilities God gave us when He commissioned us to go make disciples. Should we complain about it? Take a lesson from the slaves and the waiter. If you don’t like what He asks you to do, remember who He is and who you are. That should put things in perspective pretty quickly. It’s time to serve, you can eat later. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 143-145 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus SCRIPTURE devotional summary Some people tell me they just don’t have enough faith, but everyone has faith. We just don’t put it in the right thing. We have faith the sun will come up. We have faith the earth will still be spinning tomorrow. We have faith our car will start (usually). We have faith the lights will work when we flip the switch. We have faith we will get a paycheck from our employer. We have faith the government will still be in place tomorrow. We have a lot of faith. Except for the first two about the sun coming up and the earth spinning, a lot of people around the world may not have much faith in those things. But in the United States we do. Why? Because we have experience that has shown us these things are true. But quite frankly, it’s not our experience, but the experience of thousands of others that stand together to help us have faith that these things will be true for us tomorrow. The same is true for our faith in God. Countless have gone before us and experienced God’s goodness. They have watched Him perform miracles for His children. They have seen His faithfulness and know that He cares for us. Thousands can testify to His love and His hand at work in their lives in so many ways that can only be explained as the hand of God. That empiracle knowledge should give us confidence that translates into faith. We can believe that God will work on our behalf when we exercise faith in Him. Faith is really that simple. It’s just a question of what we put our faith in. I’d rather put my faith in God than my car. He is certainly more reliable than my car. And my lights go out every once in a while in a storm. God never does. He’s always there in the storms of life. He never quits. He never rests. He listens to our prayers and cares for us as His dear children because we are. Faith in Him is what He requires. Just believe. That’s all. From the deepest part of your heart believe He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. Believe He is God. Creator. Savior. Redeemer. Believe He came and lived with us for a time in an earthly body and died on a cross for your sins and mine. Believe He rose from the dead to demonstrate His power over death and the grave. Believe Jesus, God’s Son, lives forever, one with the Father and Spirit, interceding for us. Believe. Trust Him with your life. Thousands and thousands have gone before you trusting Him and believing in Him. Their testimonies join together and give us confidence that God will not fail us either. So just believe. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Nehemiah 10-13 see the whole year's plan here  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 17:1-4 devotional summary So what does Jesus mean when He tells us not to tempt others? How can we live life in such a way that we don’t lead others astray or become a stumbling block for them as they journey through life. I think it’s a simple answer but not always an easy path. The answer is live like Jesus. But the only way to do that is to let Him be in total control of your life. And that’s not always easy. He will have you going places and doing things that are against your nature. He will put you in situations where you are uncomfortable. He will put words in your mind that He wants you to share that you would rather not come out of your mouth because you don’t not what will happen when you speak them. When you let Jesus rule your life and do what He asks you to do, you don’t need to worry about making anyone stumble. You don’t need to worry about being anyone else’s tempter. Just live like Jesus. Simple answer, tall order until He become the absolute Lord of you life. Try Him on for size. You’ll see for yourself. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 26-28 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 16:19-31 devotional summary Every time I read this story, I’m reminded of those soldiers I visited on the burn wards at Fort Sam Houston. And I think about how horrible hell must be. To continually exist in a place of fire and brimstone as Jesus describes it, always burning but never being consumed by it. Always experiencing that agony with no hope of the pain ever stopping. And in hell, there are no drugs to ease the pain, no narcotics to allow even the shortest, restless sleep from the intense agony. Then I think about the rich man’s request. Just the amount of water that can be held on the tip of Lazarus’ fingertip to cool his tongue. Have you ever tried to quench you thirst with the amount of water that you can hold on the tip of your finger? It’s not much water. If you stick your whole finger in a glass of water you’ll only get about two or three drops of water off the end when you pull it out. But that was the rich man’s request. He was in such agony, such torment, he would be happy with just the amount of water that would fall from Lazarus’ fingertip. I don’t know about you, but I never want to go to a place like that. Was the scene real? It seems to me that the parables Jesus gave the crowds were more often based in reality than not. They seemed to be scenes He had witnessed and then shared with those around Him. These were not Aesop’s fables with animals living out morals to be learned. Jesus’ parables always had truths in them that could easily be seen in every day life. So had Jesus witnessed just this kind of scene before He came to earth in human form? In His glorified form, had the Son of God witnessed the rich man plead for Abraham to send one of God’s children across the divide with just a few drops of water to cool His tongue? There is always more truth in Jesus’ parables than not. I don’t want to find out, do you? I think that means we need to be generous with the things God entrusts into our care. Think about it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 John see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 16:15-18 devotional summary Many want to take that first sentence and stop. They want to conveniently forget the rest of the paragraph. But Jesus didn’t stop talking after the first sentence. The role of the law and prophets changed, but they didn’t go away. Before John the Baptist came to herald the coming of Christ and the kingdom of God to earth, the law and prophets set the boundaries of behavior and condemned the actions of men and women in community. It told us how to live together in society and what God’s standards for living were. The law and prophets pointed out the evil in us. But their role changed when Christ came on the scene. When He died for us and His spirit came to live in us when we let Him, His laws are written on our heart. It’s a law of love. Remember what He told the scribe who asked about the greatest commandment? Love God and love your neighbor, every other commandment rests on these two as their foundation. But we can’t love the way He wants us to love until He lives in us and we let Him control our lives. When He does, He writes His laws on our hearts. His laws don’t go away. They transform us. His rules don’t disappear, they become an integral part of who we are because He becomes an integral part of us. All of the don’t do this and don’t do that kind of evil rules of living get turned around to do this and do that kind of good because you love God and love others the way He loves. The world gets turned upside down because you begin to see the way He sees. He lives in you and you become part of Him just as He is part of you. The rules didn’t change, you do. The guidance doesn’t change, you do. The taboos don’t change, you do. The things that He says will destroy your life don’t change, you just don’t desire them any more. God transforms our thinking because He wants to live in a temple - us - that remains pure and clean and holy. So He changes us. He wants us to be that vessel. Is adultery still wrong? Yes. Is homosexuality still wrong? Yes. Is theft still wrong? Yes. Is lying and cheating and stealing and desecrating the Sabbath and disrespect for you parents and murder and breaking all the other commandments still wrong? Yes. These things hurt not just the one committing the sin, but they hurt the community in which they are committed. Just look around at the state of our society and it’s not hard to see that thinking it’s okay to throw out the commandments is okay has led to total decay across our land. God’s laws will not go away before the stars in the sky or the earth beneath your feet disappear. It might be worth while to brush up on them. There will be a test at the end. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 23-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 16:1-13 devotional summary Jesus’ advice and the world’s advice are rather contradictory to each other, aren’t they? But who should we listen to? If God made the world and He will be the final judge of our actions at the end of time, doesn’t it make sense to pay attention to His rules instead of the world’s rules? Doesn’t it make sense to take God’s advice since He’s the one we will face someday? Even if you don’t believe there is a heaven and hell, being generous and kind doesn’t do any harm to you or anyone else. And if you are right, you have done good things for others all your life. You have been good and kind and generous and helped others along life’s path. But if you’re wrong and you fail to give to others, hoard everything you make, push aside others and fail to help others along life’s path, what will you say to God when you face Him at the judgment? If you don’t believe, you still might not make it across the threshold into heaven, but I’m not God, thank goodness, and I don’t know how He will judge at the end of time. Perhaps ignorance of Him will be weighed against good things you have done or failure to do those good things. Perhaps generosity and kindness will have something to do with the intensity of punishment received. I have to tell you I don’t know how all that will work. The Bible doesn’t tell us. But one thing for sure, Jesus’ words about the use of money point us again and again to using it to help others not ourselves. Being generous and helpful and kind with the assets God entrusts to us. So we’d best get on with those duties, don’t you think. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Revelation 7-11 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 15:25-32 devotional summary Green with envy. That’s where we find ourselves sometimes. But why? Aren’t we already in the church enjoying the fellowship of other believers? Don’t we have the assurance of our eternal rest as we follow God’s commands and stay in His will? Can’t we rejoice in seeing one more added to the kingdom? And isn’t it our job to teach others the practices we have been taught as Christians so that they stay grounded in the truth of God’s word? Did those practices include being jealous of the pastor’s time? Did those practices Jesus taught include wanting to quit because we don’t get the attention we think we deserve because of the work we do for the kingdom? Yeah, it gets tough to read the last part of this parable, sometimes. It can be pretty convicting if you pay attention to the actions of the older brother. Not someone we should emulate, but too often we follow in his footsteps instead of Jesus’. But there is a solution to the older son’s problem just as there was a solution to the younger son’s. The father embraced his youngest son and welcomed him home. He had a few strong words for his older son but still reminded him that he was welcome to join the party. All he had to do was accept the invitation. It’s funny, though, we never find out if the older son goes to the party or not. We know the father wants him to come, but we don’t know if he shows. Why is that? Because the son has to make his own choice. The father can’t choose for him. It’s the same with us. The Father invites us to His party, but we much choose whether we will attend. We have to play by His rules to get there. We have to celebrate the return of our lost brothers and sisters. We have to rejoice every time one more person comes to know Him as Lord of their life. We have to understand our position. We are all His children. No one is more important than another and every time one more joins the family we all celebrate the new birth. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Song of Songs 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 15:11-24 devotional summary But the Father wants us back. He welcomes us when we come to Him as the young man did, knowing our brokenness and ready to give ourselves fully to Him in servanthood. The father restored his son to his position of honor and sonship. He restored him to his home and laid out a banquet for him. He put new robes on his back and rings on his fingers. He treated the young man as a son because he was. The young man made mistakes. He squandered his inheritance. But he came back to his father. That’s all God asks of us. Come to our senses and then come back to Him. But we first need to come back to our senses. We need to quit listening to the lies the world screams at us and understand that selfishness is where every sin begins. I want what I want instead of what God wants. And so it begins. Every broken commandment, every lie, every grab of property, riches, relationships for the purpose of gain. Every sin starts with a focus on me instead of focusing on the creator. We don’t have to settle on the pods the pigs eat, we can eat from the banquet table of the king. We don’t have to wear the rags of guilt, we can be clothed in a raiment of righteousness. We can be everything God wants us to be when we come back to Him and let Him take charge of our lives. When we don’t, when we think we know how to run our lives better than God, we end up just like the younger son in the story. When we understand the Father knows us better than we know ourselves and always has our best in mind, we can follow His commands and know He will do incredible things in our lives. We will spend eternity at home with Him. What could be better than that? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 140-142 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 15:3-10 devotional summary I think Jesus wants us to pattern our lives after His. His great commission was to teach others His practices. If you look at one of the reasons the temple leaders condemned Him, it was because He associated with sinners. He ate with prostitutes and tax collectors. He talked with people the Pharisees and scribes felt were below their status and should be avoided. So if that was jesus’ practice, isn’t that what we should be doing? That doesn’t mean we take up their habits. He never did. He never sinned, remember. He kept Himself pure in an evil world. But He associated with the lowest of the low so He could share with them the message of hope He brought to the world. Jesus didn’t care what social status someone had or the crimes they committed or what other people thought about them. He just shared the message of redemption. He shared forgiveness. And with ever person who accepted His message, heaven erupted in joyous praise. So why have we forgotten that message? Why do we let little meaningless things get in the way of showing God’s love to those who need it most? Instead, we have a tendency to first complain, criticize, and condemn. The world needs more love and laughter. We need more Christians to extend the hand of friendship to those who do not know Christ. How else can we share the message? We certainly can’t expect sinners to listen to a message filled with hate and condemnation, can we? That generates a fight for flight response. We don’t want that. We want them to know our Jesus. Only a friend can share that message. Jesus knew that. That’s why He ate with and talked with and worked with those that needed Him most. So today as you go about your daily routine, who in the circle of people you meet do you need to reach out to improve your relationship? Who needs to become more than just someone you see and change into someone that needs a friend, you? Who do you know that needs to know your Jesus? The only way you can introduce Him is to get to the point in your relationship that he or she will trust you enough to know you genuinely care about their eternity. Only friends do that. Does that compromise your purity? It didn’t for Jesus. He didn’t change His behavior. He just made friends wherever He went. It’s one of His practices we need to improve upon. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Nehemiah 5-9 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 14:34-35 devotional summary Jesus’ hearer were much more familiar with salt that loses its flavor that we are. Our store bought salt seldom loses flavor. The packaging we use protects it from the elements and we don’t worry much about losing flavor before it’s gone. But Jesus told us not to miss His deeper meaning in His words. So what does that mean? I think as Christians He expects us to season the world. We should be out and about in the world and seen in such a way as to add His grace and mercy to the world. We should stand out the same way salt stands out as a flavoring in food. When you salt food, you know it. When a Christian walks into a room, you should know it. Not because we announce it. There are too many today that announce they are Christians but are not and that just gives Jesus a bad name. But others should see our actions, hear our words, experience our love toward others and know we are Christians. When Christ lives in us we should not be able to hide it any more than you can hide the flavor of salt in food. The world should miss our presence when we are not around. They should recognize the absence of the fruit of the spirit they see in us when we are not around. Our presence at work or school or in line at the grocery store should make a difference in the world as much as salt makes a difference in the taste of food. So, has your life lost its intense seasoning in the world? Only God’s spirit in you can bring it back. Let Him put a little salt back into your life. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 23-25 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 14:31-33 devotional summary All that work in the Army reminds me every day of the war we fight in the spiritual world. There is a cost to serving in God’s Army. There will be battles fought when the odds seem insurmountable and losses will be heavy. Sometimes it may even appear as if we’ve lost the battle. But remember that wars are not about one battle. They are campaigns in which a series of battles lead to an ultimate conclusion with victory by one side. I hope you are on the winning side. In the end there will only be one victor and God’s word has already announced who that will be. There is really no sense in wasting time fighting against Him. He’s already won. Future history is already recorded if that makes any sense. Every promise God makes happens and He promised victory for those that follow Him. So what are you waiting for? Go tell someone about the wonder of God’s love. Yes it will cost a lot, everything you have and everything you will ever have. But is it worth the cost? You bet it is. Stay on the winning side. It’s worth it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 John 4-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 14:26-30 devotional summary In the end, when time finally comes to a close and the last tick of the clock has sounded, you will discover the cost has been infinitesimally small compared to the reward you receive. Despite the sorrow you might experience here, there will also be indescribable joy. An inner peace that can only be explained by the presence of God Himself living inside you. You will find that God really does meet your needs. Not your wants, but your needs. We often get our wants and our needs confused in our materialistic world, but God never does. He knows what you need and provides it at just the right time when we stay in the center of His will. God also gives you opportunities to serve others as you serve Him. He puts you in places and situations at just the right time to share what He is doing in your life so that you can introduce Him to others in a way that allows His spirit to stir their hearts and so allow them to come to know His saving grace as you do. Are the costs worth the prize at the end? Absolutely. But don’t be surprised by the cost of being a Christian. It will never be an easy life. God never told anyone who stayed in His will that He would make life easy for them. But He always promised it would be worth it. And it is. Trust Him. He never breaks His promises. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 21-22 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 14:16-24 devotional summary The host understands people have things to do and he would not have been angry had those guests sent their regrets when the invitations came out. The problem was their broken promise. They promised to come. Their RSVP said yes. But they made excuses and didn’t show. It’s the broken promise that made the host angry. The same is true today when those simple invitations go out. Be polite. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. You can say no, but say something. Then keep your promise. I know, there are lots of other things you could say about this parable that Jesus gave us. Those who heard it understood some of those subtle innuendos, too. They knew Jesus was talking about them and that He referred to their coming absence from God’s banquet table if they didn’t change their ways. But just for a moment, think about the easy thing to see about the story Jesus tells. Be polite. Answer those RSVPs that come this time of year. Then keep the promises you make. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Revelation 1-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 14:12-14 devotional summary Doing good doesn’t have to cost you anything. Maybe you know a young mother that needs some respite from her kids. Or an elderly person that just needs some company. Maybe some volunteer house cleaning for someone that is getting over an illness or a loss. How about some handyman work? What kind of skills do you have that you can just give to someone who needs it. I think God gives us talents and skills and experiences to help each other, not necessarily just for personal gain. Sure, we can earn a reasonable living with the skills He has given us, but He has also given us those gifts to share with others so they can understand the love of God given freely to those around us. After all, He gives us His grace freely. He shed His blood for us and forgives us when we ask. Why wouldn’t we give ourselves in service to others since He has done so much for us. So now the only thing left to do is keep your eyes open today for the opportunity to do some random act of kindness for someone today expecting nothing in return. Just do something good. You’ll enjoy it, I promise. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ecclesiastes 11-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 14:8-11 devotional summary And besides, He’s right. If you sit at the head table and someone more important comes in, someone gets bumped. That’s just the way it is. Protocol puts the ranking people at the table. If you happen to be at the end of the table, guess what? You’re either sitting by the kitchen door or on the floor. All the other spaces are full and you get left out. That’s certainly no fun. So the right answer? Remember that we all put our pants on the same way. The round tables in the middle really do have more fun at parties and banquets than the head table. Don’t ever envy those guys sitting up there that get their food first. I’ve been there too often and it’s not a good place to be. Trust me. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 137-139 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 14:3-5 devotional summary We have opportunities every day to reach out and show God’s love to others. You don’t have to adopt someone or take someone on as a full time project to show God’s love, but He might ask you to. All of us can smile and give a warm touch. All of us can be kind instead of rude. All of us can share the fruit of the spirit where we go. Whether at home, in the office, or on the freeway, there are opportunities to let God’s love shine through you today. Don’t miss those opportunities. You never know when that special moment is the one that God uses to touch the heart of one of His children and transforms them by the power of His spirit. What a marvelous gift that would be if you could be part of rescuing a lost soul instead of a lost pet. Helping a wayward soul find their way into the kingdom instead of helping a dog find its way into a house. What a difference it would make if instead of spending all that time and energy and effort saving animals, we would spend that same time and energy and effort introducing people to the One who can save their soul. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against helping animals. I have two dogs myself, one of which is a rescued dog. But lets make sure we keep people and animals in the right perspective this Christmas season. Let those ASPCA commercials tug at your heart strings, but let them remind you of the many people who need rescuing at this time of year. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Nehemiah 1-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 13:32-35 devotional summary Jesus said we could have the same boldness when we talk about the kingdom of God, though. He said if we will allow His Spirit to inhabit us and give Him control of our lives, He will give us the words to say when we face kings and authorities and are dragged into court on account of Him. We don’t need to be afraid of the times. It will get tougher for Christians in the coming years. The Bible predicts it. But we don’t need to cower or fear. Jesus promised He will never leave us or forsake us. He will be with us to the very end. So like Jesus in those days of political and religious turmoil, don’t be afraid of unrest that goes on around you. There will always be political and religious upheaval as long as people fail to follow God. That’s just the way it is. We live in an evil world that will continue to create chaos and turmoil until Jesus returns. But don’t worry, it won’t be much longer. All the signs are coming together. As Galatians says, “…when the set time had fully come…”. He’ll come back to get us. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 20-22 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 13:24-30 devotional summary But then and now, entrance into the kingdom of God has never been about pedigree. God doesn’t care who gave birth to you. He doesn’t care about your lineage. Then and now, God doesn’t care what church you belong to. These were temple goers. They partook in all the right rituals. They brought their sacrifices and put money in the offering plates. They sang their songs and prayed their prayers. These were not bad people, but for God, these men and women had become the outsiders looking in. Why? Because they failed to build a relationship with God. They failed to understand He gave His Son out of love for them. They failed to understand the very heart of the message God wanted them to share with the world. The message that the kingdom of God is near and all the commandments can be boiled down to two, love God and love your neighbor. Just do those two things. But in their selfishness, they couldn’t. They couldn’t give up their selfish desires. So which side of the glass will you be on? Will you sit at the banquet table or be staring through the glass on the outside looking in? Only you and God know the answer to that question. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 John 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 13:18-21 devotional summary Or the kingdom is like yeast when we let God work through us. He places us in a community to do His will in that community and like yeast, the good things we do for others spreads throughout the community. Others see us and watch the transformation in our lives because of His spirit in us. They hear the message He has for them and His resurrection power changes them, too. The good news spreads throughout the community and cannot be stopped just as yeast spreads throughout the dough when it is kneaded. And what does the yeast do to the dough? It makes the dough double or triple or quadruple in size, just as the good news causes God’s kingdom to expand exponentially through those that hear it. Today Jesus might use one of those room fresheners you plug into the wall as an illustration. The odor starts at the wall when you plug it in, but soon the smell reaches every corner of the room. Or maybe he would like the kingdom to the foam insulation that goes in the walls of new homes. A five gallon canister of liquid is shot into the space between the walls of the house and that small five gallon canister is enough as it expands to fill all the outer walls of an average house with foam. Whatever example Jesus or you might use to explain the growth of God’s kingdom, it still in part depends on one Christian, transformed by the power of God’s spirit in you, sharing the good news of what He has done with another person. Then that person sharing with one more and so on until the kingdom continues to grow at an exponential rate. Are you doing your part to grow the kingdom? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 19-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 13:15-16 devotional summary And too often in the church today, we are much like those political candidates. Instead of providing the answers to those who come to us in need of forgiveness for their sins, we only point out the darkness in their heart. We know the answers they seek. We know that Jesus can heal their brokenness and clean up their lives. But instead of providing the solutions to the problems they face, we only point out the ugliness we see. We only point out the past mistakes and dredge up every mistake we can find. We look hard to find the weakness and failure and sin when what we should see in others is what God sees…His image, potential, His creation, a child ready for adoption into His family and His kingdom. Will we ever learn to see with Jesus’ eyes? We can. All we need to do is give ourselves to Him. Let Him be Master and Savior and Lord. When we do, we see things, and particularly people, in a whole new way. Try on those new eyes and see how different things can look. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Malachi see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 13:6-9 devotional summary We forget that some people just aren’t ready to accept what we have to teach them or tell them and need time to think things through. Few parents today know that a hundred years ago, formal education, reading, writing, math, didn’t start until kids were 8 or 9 years old. The thought was their brains weren’t ready for them to sit in a class all day and absorb the information. A kid’s role in life was to play, learn to get along with other people, begin to form their basis for moral and ethical values through their interaction with other kids and adults. Their job was to play, not go to school. So maybe those kids that don’t get it in first and second grade today aren’t slow or behind or learning disabled. Maybe they are right on target and we just miss the boat in how we try to educate our kids. We need to give them another chance and remember that we are not all alike. And maybe that son or daughter that you’ve been praying for or that neighbor that you know needs God or that co-worker that seems so abrasive just needs a little more nurturing in God’s love to have that eureka moment when it all comes together and suddenly the lights come on. In our instant gratification world, we want everything to happen right now. That’s not how things usually work in nature. Often it’s not how God works things out for us in our spiritual journey, either. So when you have that urgent prayer need, that loved one that really needs God and you’ve been praying your heart out for them. Don’t give up. Remember the story of the fig tree and the caretaker. Give it a little longer with extra effort and extra care and see what happens. You never know what God will do in that time. You might be surprised at the results. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ecclesiastes 9-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 13:2-5 devotional summary Face it. Bad things happen to us occasionally. We can’t get away from it. Expect it. And it comes just because we breathe air on this side of dirt. If you take that first breath out of your mother’s womb, you will have bad things happen to you. It’s a fact of life and you just can’t get away. Maybe it’s like James Dobson once said, it’s to keep us from getting too comfortable here and help us remember there is a better place awaiting us. If we never had problems here, we might not long for heaven the way we do. So maybe it’s okay for bad things to happen just because. But Jesus also indicates that sometimes bad things do happen as a result of our wrong doing. That wasn’t true for those Galileans who were killed or the victims of the tower wall that fell in Siloam, but He warns those listening to Him that they better changed their ways or bad things will happen to them soon. He says the walls of Jerusalem will come crashing down on them if they don’t change. Those are interesting words considering in forty years the Romans will destroy Jerusalem and the temple and the whole city will be reduced to rubble. I wonder how many of those in that crowd were caught under the falling stones as catapults and battering rams smashed the walls. Some of them didn’t change their ways. We know that from their behavior toward Jesus at the mock trial, calling for His crucifixion, mocking Him on the cross. So some of the bad things that happen to us are a result of our wrong doing. Either natural consequences of our bad behavior, like the health problems that come from drug addiction, abuse of alcohol, and a host of other illicit behaviors. Or punishment from God for our disobedience to Him like He did with the Israelites and sent a plague among the community. The bottom line for any individual is that you know your heart. Is there any unconfessed sin there? If so, ask God to forgive it and thank Him for His forgiveness. Then recognize that all of us will suffer in this world. Accept the suffering as identifying with our Lord. He suffered and died for us and was sinless. If He suffered and did no wrong, then we have nothing to complain about when we suffer for the wrong we do. Bad things will happen to us. Use them to remember Jesus faced bad things, too. He faced them so we can enjoy good things for all eternity. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 134-136 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:58-59 devotional summary When we do the right thing, we will seldom find ourselves on the wrong side of the law or sitting in the defendant’s seat in court. We will seldom find ourselves facing a judge for doing things that run against the civil laws of the land. Most people will be surprised at our kindness and love for others, but we will seldom be dragged into court for kindness, gentleness, goodness, self-control, those fruit of the spirit that grows in the spirit-filled believer. What should we be dragged into court for? Going to church and declaring Jesus as Lord. With the state of the world moving in the direction it is moving, it might not be long before that happens. But if it does, if we are dragged before authorities for declaring that Jesus is the Son of the living God. If we face prosecution for declaring that only by believing that Jesus died for our sins can we gain eternal life and forgiveness for our sins. If we face punishment for our faith. Then Jesus says God spirit will put the words we need in our mouth so we do not need to worry about what to say or what to do when we face the judge. Whatever else someone might call us into court for account we should be careful. Do the right thing. Obey the laws of the land. Be a good citizen while on this journey of life. Build good relationships so that others can know you are a child of God and a citizen of another kingdom. Then proclaim your citizenship and how to get your name on those immigration papers found in the book of life. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezra 6-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:54-57 devotional summary I’m afraid we don’t pay attention to end time signs for the same reason the scribes and Pharisees and the crowds around Jesus didn’t pay attention. We are so caught up in our own lives and our own wants and desires we don’t look for what God wants in our lives. We don’t look expectantly for His return. He tells us to watch for Him like a guard would a thief he knew was coming at a certain hour of the night. But instead, we do our own thing. We try to satisfy our desires and pleasures our own way. We forget that God put us here for a purpose and it isn’t our purpose, it’s His. He created us with His purpose in mind. He made us to do His work, not ours. We inherited this selfish bent from Adam and it hasn’t stopped since. We still want what we want instead of what God wants for us. Until we begin to look for Him and His purpose for the world, we will not see the signs for what they are. We will let Satan blind us to the truth and be unable to see that God has something better for us. I’ve used the illustration before, but it is appropriate. The signs are hidden in plain view, like the objects in the hidden picture on the old “Highlights” magazines. Satan has blinded us with his lies, but once God becomes Lord of your life, you see the truth and those objects in the picture, the signs of the times, appear as clear as day. Once you know the truth, those hidden objects are no longer hidden, they are visible and you can’t unsee them. Every time you look at that picture, the objects are right there in the open. That’s how it is with the signs of the times around us. It’s time to open our eyes. See what is happening. Be ready for Jesus’ coming. Warn those around us of His impending return. Give everyone we know the opportunity to know Jesus as Savior. The signs are there to see. What will we do about them? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 16-19 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:49-53 devotional summary Paul was still a tent maker and earned a living everyday wherever he went making tents and earning a few coins so he and his companions could eat. I expect Luke, who accompanied him took care of the sick and accepted some small donations every once in a while so he could help with the expenses of the group that followed along with Paul on his journeys. Paul did that manual labor that we don’t here much about because that was just his occupation to put food on the table and care for the physical needs of those that traveled with him. Paul’s vocation was introducing people to the Jesus he met on the road to Damascus. Peter did the same. I can imagine Peter going to his boats in the morning, bringing in a load of fish to sell in the market, then spending the rest of the day telling people about the change the Master made in his life so he could catch men instead of fish. He could introduce them to his Savior. That’s all we can do, too. But that is what we are called to do. Remember the Great Commission? It doesn’t say go save people. It doesn’t say go evangelize. It says go be witnesses and make disciples. Show them what He has taught you. That means living Christ in front of people every day. Just introduce others to Jesus and He will do the rest. And the best way to introduce Him to others is to live out His spirit in your life all day long every day of your life. That’s what He calls us to do. Just be Him wherever you go. Will the nation and the world still be divided? Yes, until He returns there is little hope for unity. The Bible tells us that, unfortunately. But we still have an opportunity to add just one more to the kingdom of God before He comes. Will that one more be someone you’ve been praying for? Introduce him or her to Jesus through your Christ-mirrored words and actions. That is always the best way for others to come to Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Peter see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:42-48 devotional summary How hard is it to find a lot of information about what Jesus wants from us? It takes another nanosecond of search to figure out the Bible is the book Christians use to guide their faith. And to make it fair to all the other books published in the world, the Bible is never listed as a best seller. I’ve always wondered why it’s not included, because if you do a simple search of published works, you’ll find the Bible tops the lists of titles sold by a wide margin every year. So all it takes to have the knowledge you need to follow Him is to pick up a Bible and read it or go to a website and download the Bible or read it from the web or use an audio app. There are dozens of churches with lots of empty seats every week. Of course, just going to church doesn’t mean you’re following the things Jesus said we must do. So, now how hard is it get the information you need to follow Him? Not very hard. It’s pretty easy, in fact. With our communication abilities today and the knowledge network we brag about, there is no excuse for not knowing about Jesus and what He wants from us. If everything I’ve said in the last few minutes is true, then listen again to Jesus’ warning. “If you are given much, much will be required of you. If much is entrusted to you, much will be expected of you.” Much is entrusted to you whether you use it or not. It’s available. We have no excuse for not using the tools God has given us. None. I don’t think He will accept, “I didn’t read your book.” or “I didn’t hear those sermons.” or “I didn’t know.” as an excuse. There is no reason we can’t know today. It’s all at our fingertips, we just need to pick it up, read it, and follow it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 17-18 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:35-40 devotional summary Urgency. Jesus talks about urgency. But it’s not about gaining material things here. He doesn’t care much about the material things. He knows we need certain things to survive and wants more than that for us. I think He wants us to live above a subsistence level and lets us enjoy some of the comforts of life, but to chase material things just to chase material things is not in His game plan. We are to be caretakers, not owners of the stuff He lets us use. When we forget our position and begin to think we are owners of all the stuff around us, we are in trouble. Remember, we are not citizens of this world. We won’t take any of it with us. It belongs here, but we do not. We are only stewards of the assets God puts in our hands and He wants us to use those assets for His glory and the good of others. So when He returns as the true owner of everything He created, He’ll want to see how we did in the use of His resources. Just like 401Ks, the early you invest His resources in His work, which means making yourself available to Him, the better the return on His investments. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Besides, we don’t know when He might come back. It could be tonight or tomorrow or next week or on Inauguration Day or in another 2,000 years. We just don’t know when Jesus will return to check out what we’ve done in His physical absence. But a day of reckoning is coming and we will all be held to account for how we used His resources. So, are you ready for His return? Have you been investing the assets He has put at your disposal? Not just the material things, but your talents, your experiences, your opportunities? You? He’s coming soon. Be ready. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Zechariah 8-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:31-34 devotional summary Should we vote? Yes. Should we support a candidate? Yes. Should we pray and get involved in things that will make a difference in the welfare of others as we continue on this earthly journey? Yes. We are to be good citizens as long as we are here. But we should not get so bent out of shape when things don’t go the way we think they should. God gives promotion, not men Proverbs tells us. God allows elections to go the way they go. But we are citizens of heaven. We know the final outcome and need not worry about the things of this world. God is still on the throne and none of the actions and activities that happened in the last week caused even a tremble in His throne room. As Christians, we have an opportunity to bring unity to our world. We can show the world that all the craziness that is happening around our nation and our world is just that - craziness. This rampant fear and mourning and protest and pandering and maneuvering going on is just insane. God is still in charge despite what anyone else might think. As Christians we have an opportunity to get that message out and bring peace to those who are wallowing in this insanity. God is still in charge. Not Trump, Not Clinton, Not Obama, Not Congress. No one but God. The question is whether we put our trust and treasure in Him so we have something that will last or will we be like the crazies in the street and just let everything go up in smoke. It’s time we show what it means to have our hearts in heaven and let the rest of the nation see what peace looks and feels like. So, are there still any Christians out there that can show the rest of the nation God’s way of peace and joy at the end of the day? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ecclesiastes 7-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:22-30 devotional summary See, we get so hung up on fashion, cars, houses, just stuff, that we forget that God will take care of all that if we trust Him with ourselves. He never lets us down. We just have to get our eyes on the right prize. That doesn’t mean we can be frivolous and expect God to provide. I think He wants us to be good stewards of the things He provides including finances. Jesus talks about money five times as much as He talks about prayer. But He does so because we can become so enamored by the things of the world we can lose sight of what’s really important and it isn’t money. It isn’t stuff. The important thing is Him. Focus on Him. Be disciplined in your approach to life. Read Proverbs and let the principles of life that Solomon and the Wise men who wrote those principles laid out for us soak into your life and live by them. If you do, you’ll find that life works so much better. You’ll find that you don’t need to worry about the stuff that most people worry about every day because you’ll know God will put the important things in place for you. You can focus on what’s really important and that is worshiping and serving Him and working through His plan for your life in service to those around you. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 131-133 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:14-21 devotional summary I hope you’ve never been part of those inheritance squabbles. I’ve seen a few in my lifetime. I think my family on both side through several links are smart enough and genteel enough not to get into those kinds of brutal arguments. But I’ve seen some of those battles. No one comes out well when a wealthy or even a not so wealthy family member dies and siblings or children and grandchildren start fighting over who should receive what portions of the estate. People come out of the woodwork demanding their part. Court battles erupt and there is anything but respect for the deceased’s last will and testament, especially if a large portion is given to a charity. It seems people just don’t want to work for their money anymore. Jesus addressed the man who wanted arbitration about an inheritance, but that wasn’t the case for the wealthy person in Jesus’ parable. The subject of the parable was a man who earned his fortune through hard work, but then decided it was time to retire early. He built his estate and accumulated more than he could ever spend. He was ready to sit back and enjoy the good life. That sounds just like the pitch all our financial planners give us, doesn’t it? Start saving your money at a young age. Set aside all you can as soon as you can. Then by the time you’re 55, you’ll have enough to retire and do what you want. You can quit working and travel the world. Put your money in the right stocks and watch them grow at enormous rates and then just sit back with your toes in the sand and do nothing but enjoy the fruits of your short life of labor. Doesn’t that sound good? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezra 1-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:8-12 devotional summary We can expect the world, at least as long as Satan is loose in it, to do what it can to disrupt the church. To stand in its way of evangelism. To persecute it and try to persuade believers that God’s way is not the way to find peace and joy. We can expect Satan to continue his lies to extend to us in as many ways as he can to try to get us away from God and win us over to his side. He does not want the church to triumph. But we know the church will triumph because Jesus has already won the war. His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave demonstrated once and for all His victory over Satan and evil. Satan just doesn’t realize it yet. Satan thinks he still has a chance. He doesn’t. The battle’s been won. Jesus is the victor. Until Satan figures it out at the end, though, expect to be called into court, ridiculed, persecuted, even executed. We can expect to feel the brunt of Satan’s schemes because he just doesn’t like Jesus’ followers. With the power of God’s spirit in us, we stand against him and he can’t stand it. Despite his best efforts, he can’t win and he hates to lose. So he does his best to try and try and try again. But God will give us the words to say in court. He will give us the grace sufficient to withstand the suffering of persecution. He will help us through the valley of the shadow of death. God will be with us through the end of this life and usher us into eternity with Him when we side with Him. The church will prevail. God promised and His promises are true. So don’t worry about the trifle things the world may throw your way. God is still in charge. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 13-15 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:4-7 devotional summary The thing to fear are those who would tell us that God’s word doesn’t need to be followed. The thing to fear are those who lead us to certain destruction by lulling us into thinking God doesn’t care about what we believe or that a God of love would not let anyone be doomed to an eternity without Him. The problem with that thinking is that God isn’t the one doing the dooming. He isn’t the one sending us there. God isn’t the one who make the choice about our eternal destiny. God takes His hands off of that decision. He lifts His omnipotence in that one area and gives that choice to each of us. We decide if we will spend eternity in heaven or hell. We decide if we will follow Him or not. We decide if we will face eternal reward or eternal punishment. God is love. That’s why He made a way for us to be with Him forever. But He also expects us to choose His way. If we choose not to follow Him, He has told us the consequences. There is no doubt about the outcome. We are empowered to choose the path. So now what do we do? Should we fear the paltry issues the media seems to throw in our faces to raise their ratings and get us to watch their newscasts? Should we shed crocodile tears over the meaningless headline that won’t last another week before something else hits the news and takes its place? Should we fear these false Armageddons that society tells are happening all around us that might disrupt our personal comfort and pleasures? I think it’s time we pull out the rule book of the One who will be our final judge, the One who checks our actions against our stated beliefs and looks into our hearts to see how it all matches up. I think it’s time we figure out He’s the One we need to start paying attention to and live up to His expectations. If we choose not to, then it’s time to really be in fear. Then it’s time to check the sky and see if this is the day He comes to take out His vengeance on those who fail to follow Him. What should we fear in these days? Only God. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Peter 4-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 12:1-3 devotional summary I’ve seen some incredible things happen with technology in my 62 years of life. Sixty years ago, going to the moon was just a dream. Now we’ve been there and most of the people alive today, were born after the historic even when John Armstrong set foot on that dusty surface. Going to the moon is ancient history for our children, after all, that was almost fifty years ago! Our school aged kids have never known a world without smart phones or remote controls or televisions with that little white dot in the middle of the screen when you turned it off. They don’t know how a record player or 8-track works and might have never seen one. They don’t know a world without calculators or computers. They’ve never seen a slide-rule and certainly wouldn’t know how to use one if you gave it to them. Even 9/11 happened before our high-school freshmen were born. So, knowing the advancement of technology in just my life, is it hard to think that God can display my life or yours for everyone to see? Pretty simple, isn’t it. Not even a magic trick anymore, is it? Jesus says everything we do in public or private will be revealed one day. It pays to remember and let God be your guide all the time. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 15-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:46-52 devotional summary I mentioned Jesus earlier words, “A kingdom divided against itself will collapse.” So what will we do in the coming days? As Christians we can teach our brothers and sisters to act like Christ rather than the scribes He speaks to in the words we heard today. We can stand in the way and build those barriers. We can continue to criticize the other side and talk about how terrible the other party is and how corrupt the opposition has become. We can complain about how poorly run the government will be because of the divide and how nothing will get done. Or we can do something remarkable as Christians. We can lift every newly elected official in prayer. We can send them messages of encouragement and stand behind them as our leaders regardless of their party affiliation. We can determine that together we can bring unity to our land, not a party member, but as an American. We can forget about color and gender and race and socioeconomic standing. We can begin to show the love of God to all the people who live in our neighborhood and show them what really matters is belonging to the Kingdom of God and nothing more. Did your candidate win? It doesn’t matter because God allowed Mr. Trump to win the Electoral College vote. Never forget that! God allowed the 45th President of the United States to have never held a public office, never served in the Armed Forces, never been a government employee. God allowed the election to turn the way it did. This has not surprised Him. So what do we do now? “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” See, we have not elected the right candidate in a long time. It’s time we get down to business, quit complaining, quit acting like the scribes and Pharisees, humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, and pray folks. Our nation needs it, our leaders need it, we need it, I need it. It’s time. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - SCRIPTURE see the whole year's plan here  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:42-44 devotional summary The Pharisees tried to look prim and proper and keep all those external appearances up for everyone who could watch them. They didn’t know Jesus could see into the recesses of their spirit. But He could. He could open their Fibber’s closet door and watch the cascade of junk come tumbling out onto the floor. He could see all the things they tried to hide from everyone else. He knew their heart and wouldn’t let them keep their facade. Jesus does the same with each of us. We might keep up appearances for a long time with those who see us occasionally or even see us a lot. But Jesus sees through us. He knows us intimately. He knows all our hidden secrets and opens the doors even we have forgotten about to reveal the things we need Him to sweep out of our lives. And He always comes with a bright light and a broom. He’s ready to clean out all those cobwebs and dirty corners. But He won’t go where He is not invited. Until we invite Him in to do His work in our lives, He remains on the outside and just knocks at the door asking to come in. Only when we open the door of our hearts and lives will He enter to do His work. So what will it be for you? Will you continue to let Fibber McGee’s closet be the description of your life with all the junk that needs cleaned out? Or will you let the One who can purify your life from the inside out take charge and become the Lord of your life. All you have to do is open the door and let Him in. What do you say? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ecclesiastes 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:39-41 devotional summary So what would Jesus say to us if He came to visit? Do our services and our institutions look like we have OCD? Do we get so wrapped up in the routine activities that just have to be done in just the right order and just the right way that we forget why we come to church in the first place? Do we forget that what God wants from us is our worship and that when we gather for fellowship it isn’t the ritual that’s important but the relationships we build with people that supersedes everything else? It’s not what we eat or what we drink or how we wash our hands or how we set the table or whether the silverware matches the plates or the napkins match the tablecloth. None of that matters if we love people and care about the relationship we are building. The Pharisees took their rituals to an extreme to try to assuage their spiritual conscience. It didn’t do any good. They still didn’t meet God’s standard because what God wanted was their devotion and love for each other. They could give neither as long as they were so focused on getting the ritual right. It’s the same with us. Until we get it right and love God and each other, we, like the Pharisees, will try to substitute our rituals, our activities, for the right stuff. Like Jesus says, “Guys, get it right!” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 128-130 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:33-36 devotional summary It’s a shame we can’t figure out spiritual maladies the way we do physical maladies. Satan has clouded our vision so we walk through this world with cataracts if we let him. But Jesus wants to be that ophthalmologist that performs the needed surgery on our eyes so we can see clearly once more. He wants to remove those diseased lens so we can see the way God meant the world to be, not the way we have perverted it through our sinful ways. He can correct our vision so we can see the way we should, we can see through His eyes of love and recognize those who need the same vision correction He gives us. Then we can introduce them to the physician who can help their spiritual vision, too. Walking around blindly today is dangerous. There are too many pitfalls and dangers to just strike out without sight. Even the physically blind today go through months of training or use support animals to help them through the perpetual night. But the spiritually blind, talk about dangerous. Our eternal destiny is at stake. Satan tries to make us believe that God is too kind to let any of us go to hell. He’s going to save us all, Satan tells us. God is love, after all, right? But it’s one of Satan’s lies. You see, God doesn’t send us to hell. We send ourselves there. God is love. He made a way of escape for us, but we must take it. The means of salvation is there, but it is still our choice. Ted Bundy’s mother loved him, but it didn’t keep him from choosing to become a serial killer. We make our own choices. I choose to spend eternity with God or with Satan. It is my choice. I choose to let Jesus open my eyes to His light and follow Him. How about you? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Chronicles 33-36 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:29-32 devotional summary There are dozens of translations of the Bible. Pick one or two or three. Read them all. If you don’t like the way one translates the Hebrew and Greek language, read another. What you’ll find is that they all say about the same thing. Unless you can find one that has perverted the language, you’ll see that dozens carry the same message, the same language, the same warnings and admonitions. The truth hasn’t changed, no matter how much people want it to. Yes, there are some things that we know are cultural in God’s word. But the flavor of God’s word speaks to us through the ages despite the culture or time or political theories you hold. God’s truth is still viable for every generation and if we follow His word, we find peace with Him now and throughout eternity. He will be the one to judge us at the end of time. We should read His instruction manual and do what it says. We will be judged by that book. Regardless of whether we want to set up some other method of measurement, He gave us the rules to follow. Don’t you think it makes sense to follow the manual He gives instead of something someone else made up? It certainly does to me. Moses told the Israelites to meditate on God’s law day and night. When you get up in the morning and when you go to bed at night. When you sit down and when you stand up. Meditate on it all the time. We don’t do that. Apparently neither did most of them or they wouldn’t have fallen as far from the path as they did. Everybody wants a sign. Everybody wants proof. What we really need is to read God’s word. When you do, that will be proof enough. Trust me. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 10-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:24-26 devotional summary What do we learn from these three verses that Luke records for us? First, there are demonic spirits in the world. Satan has the ability to infill us with His demonic spirits if we let him. Second, Satan’s demons can be removed from our lives. Third, Jesus’ words tell us that we need to replace those evil spirits with God’s Spirit in us. Fourth, Jesus tells us that if we don’t fill our lives with His spirit, we are in danger of falling further from Him than we were before He drove out the sin and evil the first time. These words from Jesus give us ample warning about the way Satan works in our lives. We need to be careful to fill our lives with God or risk the dangerous consequences Jesus describes. Don’t take the chance. Let God fill that hole in your life. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Peter 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:21-23 devotional summary Rahab made a decision when the spies came to see her that she lived on the wrong side and wanted to be on Joshua’s side, on Jehovah’s side. So she told those two spies everything she knew about Jericho. She hid them on her roof and protected them from the soldiers that came to her house to find them. She gave the spies the information they needed to get back to their own people on the other side of the Jordan and share their information with Joshua. Rahab got on the side of the man she knew was stronger and would win the final battle. Jesus asks the same question with His metaphor. “When a man of power with his full array of weapons guards his own palace, everything inside is secure. But when a new man who is stronger and better armed attacks the palace, the old ruler will be overcome, his weapons and trusted defenses will be removed, and his treasures will be plundered.” He is that stronger man. Satan wants you to think he is. He wants you to think maybe you are and that you can stand up to everything the world throws at you by yourself, but you can’t. You need God to stand against the tide of evil that we face every day. So Jesus still asks the same question He asked those gathered around Him that day 2,000 years ago. Whose side are you on? Are you working for Him or against Him? Those are your only choices and depending on which side you’re on will make a huge difference as to whether you survive the fall of the wall of Jericho so to speak. Make sure you make the right choice. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 13-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:17-20 devotional summary So can we judge the behavior of others? Yes and we should these days. Satan is trying his best to use that “don’t judge” phrase to trap us into all sorts of tolerance for evil. Stop! Judge others for their evil behavior. But also let God shine His light on your own and become Lord of your life by being obedient to Him. Only then do we have any chance of finding unity of any kind in this world. Remember what Jesus called us to as His disciples? If your answer was unity, you got it right. That doesn’t mean we’ll all be Democrats or Republicans or Green Party or any party. It means we’ll be children of God and get along even in this crazy mixed up ridiculous election year. All that said, don’t forget to pray for all of the candidates because someone will win each seat up for election and lead us for the next several years. Each of them need God as their God whether they know it or not. According to His word, many will use their own wisdom instead of His, unfortunately. He’s coming to take us home where we will be unified. But if we call ourselves Christians here, we better be getting along. It’s one of those qualities He expects in us. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Haggai see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:11-13 devotional summary Jesus uses this example of a father giving good gifts to his children because usually, even in the corrupted world we live in, most fathers are not like those in the news headlines. Most will not purposely harm their children. We don’t love the way God loves and we don’t love unconditionally the way God wants us to and the way He helps us love if we let Him, but most of us don’t purposely hurt our children. We do it because of the sin that we let reign in our hearts instead of letting God reign there. That’s point Satan has used to blind us. We think everything is okay because we give gifts to our children and try to buy their love with material things, when what we need is to show genuine, unconditional love to them. God’s kind of love. Love that reaches beyond affection and into the realm of sacrificial giving of self for their good. It means giving up some of the things we want for the good of those we love. God did. He gave His best, His Son, for our good. So Jesus reminds us that we can understand even in all the corruption we see in this world: Look, all of you are flawed in so many ways, yet in spite of all your faults, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to all who ask! Have you asked Him? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ecclesiastes 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:9-10 devotional summary Jesus told us to ask and keep on asking. He told us to seek and keep on seeking. He told us to knock and keep on knocking. How long are we supposed to keep up those efforts? Until our prayers are answered. Sometimes God does say no, but so often in our Google search, instant answer world, if He doesn’t give us what we asked for within ten minutes of our prayer, we assume the answer is no when God hasn’t answered yet. Sometimes God takes His time answering and we don’t like that much, but God’s time is perfect. Sometimes He does say no, but sometimes, He says yes, but on His timeline, not ours. Remember time means nothing to God. He existed before time began and that wristwatch you wear means nothing to Him. His days are not measured in minutes and hours and days. His time expands across eternity and just can’t be measured in any way. So if God waits a day or a week or a month or a year to answer your prayer, what’s that to Him in terms of time? It means nothing to Him, only to us. He still cares, but sometimes He uses that space that that we measure by the ticking of the clock to help us get to know Him and ourselves a little better. Sometimes He lets us mature and understand His ways a little more before He gives us what we ask for our lets us find what we are looking for or opens that door we’re knocking on. However, the promise is still true. God does answer our prayers. Keep on asking, and you will receive. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you. All who keep asking will receive, all who keep seeking will find, and doors will open to those who keep knocking. Jesus made that promise to His disciples and if you belong to Him, you are one of His disciples. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 125-127 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:5-8 devotional summary So what does all of that have to do with Jesus’ words today? Two things. First, we should recognize sometimes we don’t understand His words the same way those He spoke to originally did. They lived that middle eastern hospitality every day. They would have taken the story a little more to heart than we do because sometimes travelers did get stuck on the road later than expected and just dropped in unexpectedly, but their rules of hospitality said you took them in and fed them. The neighbor had to get some bread from somewhere and hoped his friend would provide it. We don’t understand it as well as they did, but we can put ourselves in their culture and understand the parable better. One of the lessons learned from this and many other stories Jesus tells reminds us we can experience His lessons better when we know more about the culture of those to whom Jesus spoke. It isn’t hard to find out what it was like for the people in first century Judea, but you do need to study a little. Isn’t it worth a little study to get more out of God’s word? I certainly think so. Second, the simple message of the parable is two fold. The man could never have gotten the three loaves of bread in the middle of the night unless he went next door and asked in the first place. So first, we need to ask God for what we need. He knows what we need, but we need to ask so that we know it is God who provides. It helps us remember that God is the one who gives us what we need day by day. Second, we need to be persistent in our asking when we are asking for something. Sometimes we figure out the thing we are asking for is not in our best interest when we keep on asking and God doesn’t answer the way we want Him to. Sometimes God needs us to mature our thinking about an issue and delays an answer so that we can be better prepared when the answer comes. Sometimes God is working on solutions behind the scenes and wants to work His miracles through other means that what we might think is the most obvious way to answer our prayer. In all these instances, He asks us to be persistent in our asking. So now, go out and do some study about the culture of Jesus day. Read His parables again and learn the lessons even better than you did before. You’ll be glad you did. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Chronicles 29-32 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 11:2-4 devotional summary So there we have it. A simple pattern to follow in prayer. Acknowledge who God is. Ask what He wants done. Ask for help with your concerns and needs. Ask for His forgiveness for any wrongs. Ask for protection. How much time do you spend in each of those five sections Jesus introduced? It’s up to you. Jesus gave His disciples a very short example and sometimes you may have only a few minutes to share with your Father in heaven. Sometimes you might have a lot to talk about in one or more sections. Sometimes you might even spend hours discussing with God who He is to you and why He matters so much in your life. Maybe He overwhelms you in that very first section of your prayer and you just spend your whole devotion time stuck there sometimes. Maybe you find some problems overwhelming your life some days and those “give us what we need for tomorrow” words remind you God will help you through those troubles, but you need to spend some time there for His assurance and to help settle your mind in the middle of the crisis you’re facing. Maybe you’re facing some terrible temptations that are bringing you to the verge of falling and you need His strength to help you find a way out. You need God to give you a flashing exit sign. You just can’t seem to see the doors quick enough and need something to help you find your way out. You need His protection and seek it with all your heart. A simple but powerful pattern Jesus gave us. Now go out and use it to touch the throne room of heaven as you pray today. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 7-9 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 10:41-42 devotional summary I’m trying to leave room in my calendar for God to work. I try to remember that everything is secondary to His schedule. Like the Good Samaritan that disrupted his plans and spent at least a day and a night tending to a stranger injured on the road, I want to be ready to give up my schedule to the best God has instead of the good I might have planned. So what about you? Have you let your life get so cluttered with details that you don’t have time to let God intervene with His schedule? Have you planned every moment and hold on to those moments with such tenacity that God can’t get in no matter how hard He tries? That’s what Martha did and she was scolded when she tried to get Mary to stop listening to Jesus and help her with all those preparations. Sometimes we just need to remember God cares more about our relationship with Him than He does the glitter and glamor and ritual and preparation we seem to do to get ready to meet Him. He just wants us to sit at His feet and listen. Don’t let all the other stuff become distractors from listening to His voice. Even when we do good things we can sacrifice the best if we’re not careful. So how do we know we are doing the best and not just the good? Stay in His word. Pray often. Listen for His spirit’s prompting and then obey that still small voice that speaks to you. Become sensitive to His voice and obey when you hear Him call. Don’t let anything become more important than His words in your ear. When you listen to Him and obey His call, you won’t be sorry. You’ll discover incredible truth and do incredible things in His name. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - James 4-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 10:30-37 devotional summary We have some great arguments with ourselves to keep from doing the right thing for people. I’m not saying we should give money to every homeless person on the street. I believe it is better to teach a person to fish than to give them a fish and that gets hard when we live in a society that loves to focus on giving material things instead of getting our hands dirty really helping people solve the real issues in their lives. Is it hard? Absolutely. Does it take time and effort? More than you can imagine. Just look at what the Samaritan did. It would have taken him 30 seconds to pass by the bruised and broken man. The Bible doesn’t tell us how long he spent with the man, but I’ve tended to some folks who were broken up pretty badly and helped get them ready for transport to a hospital for better care. Just to get them ready to transport so they don’t receive further injuries while moving means you have to assess the injuries and see what must be fixed immediately to keep them from dying. You have to make sure they have a clear airway. You have to stop the bleeding. You must gently stabilize broken bones. You must find a way to move them since they can’t move under their own power. And that movement has to be such that they don’t sustain more injuries. The Samaritan did all those things knowing the bandits who did this might still be in the area. Then took the man to an inn, cared for him through the night, and paid the bill for the innkeeper to care for him until he was well enough to leave. Was the Samaritan just looking for something to do? I don’t think so. I expect there were people at the end of his journey worried that night when he didn’t show up. I expect he lost some business that day because he helped someone in need. Was it worth it? Ask Jesus? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 11-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 10:26-28 devotional summary If we love God, we will do nothing that would cause Him harm or pain or displeasure. We would obey Him in every respect. We would worship Him for who He is and give Him our whole self to do with us whatever He chooses. We would never say no to one of His instructions to us if we really love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And what about loving our neighbor? Wouldn’t we do everything we could to advance our neighbor if we loved him? Wouldn’t we always say kind words about him? Wouldn’t we help whenever we could? Wouldn’t we be a listening ear and a helping hand when she needed one? Wouldn’t we be the very best friend we could be if we really loved our neighbor with God’s unconditional love? Wouldn’t we share the story of God’s salvation to our neighbor is our neighbor isn’t a Christian so that he would know God’s grace and saving mercy so that he would not find himself facing judgment without hope? If we really loved our neighbor wouldn’t we do everything we could to introduce her to the Savior so she could know the peace and joy that comes from serving Him? Isn’t that what love is all about? Isn’t love about giving it away and not about trying to get it from others? At least that’s what Jesus seemed to teach us about God’s love. Yep, the words of the song are right when you talk about the right kind of unconditional agape love that God can put in our hearts. All you need is love. Love is all you need. Sometimes it’s a little hard to find these days, but you can share it. You can plant the seeds of God’s love around you and who knows, you might grow a bumper crop in the neighborhood where you live. Give it a try. It certainly won’t hurt anyone to love them. And it might make a huge difference in their eternity. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Zephaniah see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 10:21-24 devotional summary If you listen to children, they will also tell you some pretty incredible things about God. They will tell you about His love and about trust and grace and forgiveness. They will show you many of His characteristics before we teach them how to cover up the better qualities He help them display as children. We can learn to laugh from them. We can learn to cry from children. We can learn to care about other people. We can even love them for no reason except they are people. God hides His mysteries from the wise and intellectuals and reveals them to little children. Be careful that you don’t discard those children next door or down the street or in your house. God might be wanting to teach you His mysteries through them. If you think you are wise, you can bet He won’t entrust His wisdom to you. So keep your eyes on those kids out there. You might just learn something about the wisdom of the heaven from them. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ecclesiastes 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 10:18-20 devotional summary Because Jesus came and lived with us, died for us, and rose from the dead, we can be forgiven. We can be assured He has power over sin and death and the grave. We can know that when He forgives our sins and casts them as far as the east is from the west, never to be remembered against us again, our sins really are forgiven. He really does bring us into His kingdom as His children. He adopts us into His family and gives us so much more than we deserve. We deserve death as the penalty for our disobedience. We deserve eternal separation from God since we acted as His enemies. But instead He gives us opportunities to find repentance and forgiveness. He gives us the opportunity to find acceptance in His love and grace. He lets us make the choice to worship Him and make Him our God and Lord of life. He give us the opportunity to right the wrongs we have committed against Him and He makes us new. He transforms us into the person He created us to be in the first place. We can still marvel at the miracles He performs for us and around us. We can still be awed by the wonder we see in this world as we see His handiwork in creation and in His answers to prayer on our behalf. But spend some time thinking about the real miracle that takes place when His Spirit comes to us and convicts us of our sin and draws us to Him. Then the miracle that continues when we seek Him with a repentant heart and ask for His forgiveness. And the even greater miracle that comes when in His mercy He forgives us and wipes away our sins. And the incredible miracle that occurs when He writes our name in His book of life that allows us to know we will join Him in heaven through all eternity when this present age comes to a close. What a God we serve, that He would allow us to join Him for eternity just for the asking. Now that is a miracle to behold. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 122-124 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 10:10-16 devotional summary There is a passage in Ezekiel Chapter 3 that I’m often reminded of when I’m prompted by God to speak to someone. God is speaking to Ezekiel and says, “If I send this message to a wicked person—“You will die”—but then you fail to warn him or help him to reconsider his wickedness so that he may not die, then he will die as a result of his evil deeds. It will be your fault for not warning him. His blood will be on your hands. But if you do forewarn a wicked person and give him My message, and yet he does not change his wicked thoughts and actions, then he will die as a result of his evil deeds. But you will have saved your own life by doing what I directed.” At the judgment, I don’t want to stand before God with anyone else’s blood on my hands. I want to make it to heaven and I want to bring others with me. I want to give those around me an opportunity to meet the One who can restore them to a right relationship with God just as He did for me. I want to let others know they do not have to bow down to the tyranny of sin, but can be freed by the powerful blood shed for them on the cross one day long ago on the hill called Golgotha. I want them to know they can have the same testimony I have and millions of others have had throughout the ages. Jesus saves me from my sins. He set me free through His shed blood. He lives today in my soul. He is the Lord of my life. I can’t make the decision whether you will accept my words as true. I can’t make the decision whether you will ask Jesus to forgive you of your past. I can’t decide for you if Jesus will be the Lord of your life and your reason for living. I wish I could. But it’s not a decision I can make. Each of us must decide for ourselves. We must come to the conclusion personally that we want Jesus to reign in our life and them let Him do so. No one can do that for you except you. But it is a decision you will never regret if you decide to let Him rule your life. He is God, after all. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Chronicles 25-28 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 10:2-9 devotional summary Who will go? Who will dare to just talk to their neighbor or a friend or a co-worker or a teacher or anyone about the God who saves? What does it cost to just share your testimony about the change God made in your life? It might cost little or it might cost a lot, but the point is, it is our mission. Jesus commands us to go make disciples. To be His witnesses at home and abroad. He commands us to be those harvesters and tell others about the plan God has for His children. Jesus says go out without any concern for what you’ll eat or where you’ll sleep or what you’ll wear. I think He says just go share your testimony. That tells me that sometimes we will share our testimony at home where we already have the food we need and a bed to sleep in. It tells me it doesn’t matter what we wear when we share His message. We might be dressed up to go out for dinner or we might be in our workout clothes at the gym or we might be in filthy jeans and a t-shirt cutting the grass. But wherever we are and whenever we have a chance we should be ready and willing to take every opportunity to share our testimony to someone who needs to hear it. Remember, 50% of the people in the United States claim to have no religious affiliation. That means if you do, there is a good chance the person you are talking to might not. You have an opportunity to do something really incredible by just telling someone your story. You might make them understand that God is real and wants to bring all of us into His kingdom if we will just turn to Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 4-6 see the whole year's plan here  

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 10:2-9 devotional summary Who will go? Who will dare to just talk to their neighbor or a friend or a co-worker or a teacher or anyone about the God who saves? What does it cost to just share your testimony about the change God made in your life? It might cost little or it might cost a lot, but the point is, it is our mission. Jesus commands us to go make disciples. To be His witnesses at home and abroad. He commands us to be those harvesters and tell others about the plan God has for His children. Jesus says go out without any concern for what you’ll eat or where you’ll sleep or what you’ll wear. I think He says just go share your testimony. That tells me that sometimes we will share our testimony at home where we already have the food we need and a bed to sleep in. It tells me it doesn’t matter what we wear when we share His message. We might be dressed up to go out for dinner or we might be in our workout clothes at the gym or we might be in filthy jeans and a t-shirt cutting the grass. But wherever we are and whenever we have a chance we should be ready and willing to take every opportunity to share our testimony to someone who needs to hear it. Remember, 50% of the people in the United States claim to have no religious affiliation. That means if you do, there is a good chance the person you are talking to might not. You have an opportunity to do something really incredible by just telling someone your story. You might make them understand that God is real and wants to bring all of us into His kingdom if we will just turn to Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 4-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 9:58-62 devotional summary We can’t let the things of this world distract us if we expect to carry out God’s work the way He wants us to, even good things. Because the good things will keep us from the best things God has for us. So Jesus uses these examples to show us we must keep focused on the work at hand. Stay in the zone. Don’t lose sight of the goal. So what is it God has asked you to do? Are you doing it? Are you focused fully on His work? Have you let things around you distract you from what God would have you do? Have you taken your eyes off the goal? Have you let good things distract you from the better things for the best things God has in store for you? Jesus says put those things aside. Follow Him with such intense focus that all those things disappear from view. Put those things aside so that the only voice you hear and the only face you see are His. When you do, you will be amaze at what you accomplish for Him. How do you get in the zone with Him? Just listen to His voice and follow His directions, He’ll help you stay there if you let Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - James 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 9:55-56 devotional summary God wanted to use His chosen people as His emissaries to the rest of the world to spread His message of salvation. When they failed, He came to share the message Himself. When His people still didn’t listen, God sent messengers like Paul and Barnabas and Peter to evangelize the Gentiles to spread the good news that God could and would lift the guilt of sin from our shoulders if we would but repent and ask His Son, Jesus for forgiveness, through the washing of His the blood He shed for us on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. James and John didn’t understand. Too many of us today don’t understand, either. We act just like James and John pushing anyone that’s not like us, that’s not part of our team away. Hey, they don’t belong to our church or our denomination, so they can’t be part of the kingdom or God’s work. Hey, they don’t have the same color of skin, so they aren’t welcome in my church. Hey, they don’t speak the same language I speak, I don’t know what they’re saying behind my back, so they can’t come around here. They might be plotting some sinister threat against us. They come from one of those countries on the terrorist watch list. How do we know they aren’t here to gather information and kill us all? We can’t let them in. You see, we can get just as bad as those rabid sports fans or as bad as James and John if we’re not careful. Jesus wants everyone to find Him. But how will they find Him if you and I don’t tell them? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 9-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 9:26-27 devotional summary Do we stand for Jesus or not? Do we accept our faith in Jesus as the only way to reach heaven and please the Father or not? Do we stand with Him when the rest of the world stands against Him or not? It is always our choice, but these words from Jesus should make us consider carefully the consequences of not standing for Him now. If we are ashamed of Him now, He will be ashamed of us when we stand before Him at the judgment. What will that mean for us? If He regrets He knows us, what does that mean for us in eternity? I must admit, I don’t know the answer to that question. But I also don’t want to be on the wrong side finding out what it means through personal experience. I don’t want Jesus to be ashamed of me when I see Him in His glory. Paul says the indignities and suffering we endure now is not even worth noting compared to the glory we will receive when we come into His presence on the other side of the veil of death. Are you ready for this? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Habakkuk see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 9:23-25 devotional summary Jesus tells us be willing to suffer for the zoe He gives us. Don’t sacrifice your new zoe in Him for some temporal pleasure your bios might feel. Real life, zoe, is found in Him and that life goes on forever. Our physical frame dies, but our life goes on. And when we discipline our physical life, our bios to do what He tells us, to reach the goals He sets for us, we gain real life, zoe, the purpose He designed for us. But the reverse is also true. If we sacrifice the purpose for which God created us for the simple pleasures of this physical frame, we lose the real life, the real purpose and joy God intends for us. And His purpose and joy last for eternity, not just the few years we remain in these bodies of clay. So what must we do to take up our cross and follow Him? I think if we focus on the second part, we will understand the first part. When we follow Him, we will find the cross we must bear. When we follow His commands, we will discover the world will not like what we do and we will suffer at the hands of those who do not wish the message of God spread to a world in desperate need of hearing it. It’s not hard now days to find crosses, but it is hard to find the path Jeus would have us follow. There are many false prophets that will tell you what you want to hear instead of the truth in God’s word. Listen to Jesus. Read God’s word. Read for yourself the truth He gives us in the book that has survived every attempt to snuff it out. You’ll know the truth and the world will give you a cross if you follow it’s path. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 31 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 9:3-5 devotional summary The message for us today is to recognize that God gives us jobs to do. He doesn’t expect us to sit idle in our pews and just listen to sermons every week and feel good about what the preacher tells us. He doesn’t expect us to just enjoy the music we hear on Sunday or when we happen to turn on a religious radio station. God has jobs He wants us to do. If you listen for Him, you’ll hear Him and He will give you a mission to further His plans to expand His kingdom. He will put you in the path of individuals that need to hear your story and know that God is good and can free them from the bondage of sin just as He freed you from the bondage of sin. The world will think you foolish in the undertaking of God’s plan. But the world is blinded by Satan’s lies. Remember God created this place and makes everything work. While the world listens to Satan’s lies about what won’t work, God makes it happen. Just listen to Him. Follow His directions. Do what He says. You’ll find that His instructions turn out well every time. After all, He wrote the book. He does the impossible. He is God. How can we fail if we follow in His path? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 120-121 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 8:39 devotional summary Jesus first said go to Jerusalem, hometown, where you live, the street you call home. Witness there. Jesus knew there were plenty of people all around you that needed to hear the good news. You don’t have to go to a foreign country to find people who don’t know Christ. If I were a betting man, I would bet a month’s pay you have members of your family that have not given their life fully to Christ. Disciple them. I would be a year’s pay you have someone on your block that has not heard God will forgive them of their sins if they will confess and in repentance ask for His forgiveness. I know there are hundreds, or thousands within a one mile radius of where you live, depending on whether you live in the country or the city, that are not citizens of the kingdom of God and are at this point eternally lost unless someone shares with them the nature of God and His desire to bring everyone into His kingdom if they will repent. Who will tell them? Do you expect a missionary from some other country to come to your neighborhood that must learn our language and culture to convey God’s message of salvation to them? Do you expect another church to send out invitations to Christ to the people in your neighborhood? Do you expect your neighbors to just happen by the church you attend and give their lives to Jesus because you attend your church? Those might sound like crazy questions, but that’s the way we act most of the time, isn’t it? The Garasean Jesus freed from the control of that army of demons wanted to go with Him to help share the message that God’s kingdom had arrived in the person of Jesus. But Jesus gave him a mission. Go home and tell those you meet in your village the story of what happened to you. That’s what Jesus asks of each of us, too. Go home and tell the story of what Jesus has done for you. Simple mission. Now go and do it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Chronicles 21-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 8:16-18 devotional summary How often have you groped around in the dark for something and then with the flick of a switch, you turn on the light and there the item is right in front of you. I do it all the time. Unfortunately, I’m one of those that need a CPAP or BiPAP when I sleep at night because I have a tendency to stop breathing periodically. But I often put the contraption on in the dark since it’s really easy to operate and I’ve been using it for over ten years. The problem is that it does have a few parts that fit together and if one of those parts happen to slip off, many times I can’t find it in the dark no matter how hard I try. But as soon as I turn the lamp on the nightstand on, I can instantly see that part that lies just beyond my pitiful attempts to find it without that light. Light brings out the hidden things. The same is true of our lives. Just look at the vitriol that pours out during this political campaign. Look at the candidates’ hidden lives that are coming out in the media on both sides of the aisle. Those evils each have committed are being flashed through the news, twitter, Facebook, and every other electronic media available. Little about their lives over their entire lifetime is being hidden from public view. Even all those alleged sexual assaults from the Republican candidate and the email trail that is shows the selling of favors to our enemies on the part of our Democratic candidate while Secretary of State. Nothing is hidden. But think of what the final judgment will be like. Not even our thoughts will be hidden on that day. God will expose every act and every thought for the whole world to see. The only question after that display is whether all those acts of disobedience have been forgiven through your repentant prayer. How about it? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Deuteronomy 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 8:5-15 devotional summary Why would I mention that even believers must take heed to this story? It’s because we never quit learning. God never leaves us as we are because we never attain the perfection He wants us to attain in this life. Remember we live in damaged bodies. We inherited these afflicted frames through the sin scarred world in which we live. So there is a lot of work to be done to help us become more like Christ. Studies tell us it takes 10,000 of focused practice to become an expert in any field. But to have complete mastery over that same field take much more than that 10,000 hours. There’s a difference between being an expert and having complete mastery over something. God wants us to have mastery by giving Him complete mastery. The problem is we have remnants of that Adamic nature that plagues us as long as we live in these bodies of clay. So as God gives you instruction, will you be like the hard packed path and not listen to Him at all? Or like the rocky and thorny soil and let your wishes over ride His so that His new truth for your life doesn’t take root and help you become more like Him? Or will you let your life always be like the rich, moist, fertile soil so that whatever God shares with you will germinate, grow, and return a harvest a hundred fold in your life? The good news is you get to choose the type soil you let your life consist of. You’re the farmer of your heart. How about doing a little tilling today? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Hebrews 11-13 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 7:44-50 devotional summary Simon, who thought himself better than the sinner cleaned by the power of Jesus’ forgiveness, still looked down on the woman because he couldn’t see what Jesus saw. Simon was repulsed by the woman, Jesus loved her as one of God’s children. Simon was disgusted with her presence, Jesus welcomed her. Simon chastised Jesus for letting this prostitute come near Him, Jesus elevated her action into the annals of history. What a difference in the way God sees us and the way others see us! Aren’t you glad God doesn’t pass judgment on us the way the rest of humanity does? But maybe we should be taking lessons from Jesus, too. Maybe we should take care when we are quick to judge those around us and label them with all sorts of names. Usually those labels are given just so we can justify our own less than honorable actions. We look down on others so we can help ourselves think we are somehow better than those around us. We are not. We still far so short of God’s standard and need His forgiveness. What will I do when I get to heaven? I think I will probably fall face down at Jesus feet and sob like a baby, thanking Him for His forgiveness for the first few millennia. After that, I might find enough voice to begin singing His praises. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 7-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 7:40-41 devotional summary So now that we have some parameters about debt and where we stand on what the future looks like for us financially, what do you think about Jesus’ words? How would you like the government to suddenly tell you that you don’t have to pay your part of that $17 trillion? Of course in government, the problem is that someone else has to pay it or the lender has to tell us the debt is forgiven, neither of which is a good idea or likely to happen. But what if? How would you feel for all debts to be paid? Everything you owe forgiven? What about the penalty for your sins? I recently read through Leviticus again. That book of the Old Testament is pretty scary. It gives the punishments God laid out for unintentional violations of His commands. God assumed in His dealings with His chosen people that they would follow Him, so the punishments prescribed and the offerings administered were to atone for those wrongs that someone unintentionally committed. If you’ll examine those Old Testament scriptures, you’ll find that those who intentionally violated God’s laws were put to death. But now Jesus comes on the scene. Forgiveness is available. When we ask in repentance, He forgives. Remember repentance means turning away from the old life and turning toward Him, though. It means living His way, not ours. But when we ask the debt we owe because of our sins goes away. It is paid in full, forgiven by the only One able to do so. Now how do you feel? If He has forgiven that debt for you, you should feel the joy only He can give. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Nahum see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 7:31-35 devotional summary Jesus ate with the tax collectors and thieves and rabble of the cities because they needed to hear God’s message of forgiveness. They knew they were far from God and they couldn’t go into the temple and the synagogues because they weren’t accepted there. How were they to find God if they couldn’t get to the altar and hear His message? The religious leaders would have nothing to do with them because they were sinners. They were obviously lost and they were without help from the holy people. So they were without hope…until Jesus came along. Jesus ate with them. Drank with them. Sang with them. And Jesus gave them a message of hope and forgiveness. One the Pharisees and religious leaders knew was contained in the pages of the scrolls they memorized, but they would never dirty their hands to share it with ‘those people’. But Jesus did. He shared the message God sent to the world. The message of atonement, forgiveness, cleansing from the guilt of sin. These sinners soaked up the message the Pharisees and religious leaders hoarded within the walls of their sanctuaries and refused to share outside the confines of their collective pious gathering. Is it any wonder Jesus was welcomed by the crowd from the other side of the tracks so often? Is it any wonder He feasted with the tax collectors and prostitutes and obvious sinners? They longed to hear the message the priests refused to share outside the confines of their ‘club of the uber pious’. They needed to hear that they could be freed from the guilt that weighed heavily on their souls. They needed to hear they could be forgiven of the wrongs they committed and weren’t doomed forever with no way to make restitution to man or God. They needed to find a way back into God’s kingdom. But they couldn’t find a way…until Jesus became their friend and shared the joy of knowing sins can be forgiven for the asking. The chains of sin can be broken for the asking. The slavery to Satan can be redeemed by the blood of the spotless One when we accept His atonement for our sins. We can be made free once again when we live for Him instead of living for ourselves. We can find freedom in Him. But how will those who don’t darken the door of our churches and synagogues and temples knows that message unless we befriend them and tell them? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 29-30 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 7:24-28 devotional summary Did John fully understand the message He shared with those around him? I’m not sure he did. I stand on this side of the cross’ history. You and I have knowledge John and Jesus’ disciples didn’t have when they received the message John shared. I share the message of repentance and Jesus’ forgiveness often. I try to share it with you in this podcast every day. But do I fully understand the message I share? Not on this side of eternity’s curtain. There is so much I will not understand about how the triune Godhead works, yet I still believe it is true. I do not understand how Jesus’ blood, shed 2,000 years ago, acts as the payment for the sins I commit today, yet I believe it does when I ask for his forgiveness because I feel the burden of guilt lifted from my heart. I do not understand how God can extend His grace to me when I was His enemy, yet I know He did because I feel His presence in my life every day. There is so much about the message I will not understand until I can sit as Jesus’ feet and ask Him about it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe His message isn’t true. I know His message is true. I’ve seen His hand at work. I’ve felt His presence in my own life and watched Him work His miracles in the lives of others. I know He is God and forgives sins when we ask. I know He can help us live the lives He purposed us to live when we give Him authority over us. I know He can make us greater than we can ever be without Him. What made John so great? He shared the message unfaltering to a world who needed to hear it desperately. Can Jesus make you great as well? You bet He can. Just share what He has done for you. That’s the message we are to share with others. He commands us to be His witnesses. So go ahead and start today. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 119 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 7:22-23 devotional summary Jesus asks us to look at the evidence. Read His word. Let Him forgive your sins. Let Him act in your life and see how He acts in the world around you. Recognize His handiwork around you and weigh the evidence of what you see. Your heart will tell you the truth about Him. You can try to cover it up and say He is not divine. That’s what the Muslim religion does. They recognize Jesus as a great prophet who said good things and could perform great miracles, but they don’t recognize Him as divine, the son of God. Many of those around Jesus didn’t accept Him for who He was. They saw the miracles, but didn’t believe. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and other church leaders didn’t accept Him as Lord. They looked at the evidence, but didn’t put it together. It’s all there. We must just exercise the faith necessary to know it to be true. How much faith does it take? As much as it takes to believe your light will come on when you turn on the light switch. As much as it takes to believe the car will start when you turn the key. A much as it takes to believe the sun will rise in the eastern sky in the morning. Just that much faith and you can know that Jesus is the Son of the living God. When you know Him as Lord, you will be blessed beyond anything you can imagine. Not in this world, perhaps because this world doesn’t know Him or understand Him. But there is coming a day when everyone will bow to Him and those who live for Him now will continue to rejoice with Him forever. So look around at the evidence. Do you know Jesus is the long awaited Messiah? It just takes a little faith to be sure. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Chronicles 16-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 7:13-14 devotional summary So how should we live knowing that God wants life for us and not death? How should we approach every day if we understand that God intended death never to be part of what we experience, yet we face it every day just the same? Is God unjust because death is here even though He didn’t want it to be? Should we blame God for the predicament we’re in having to face death? Certainly, we can’t blame God for something that is our fault. We brought sin into the picture. It is our self-centeredness that is at the heart of every sin. We want what we want instead of what God wants and that’s the beginning of every sin. So when God tells us what the outcome will be when we don’t make Him first in our life, can we blame Him for the result when we don’t put Him first? I don’t think so. He tells us the rules and even shows great mercy and grace and forgiveness when we ask. And the question of how should we live? That depends on whether He is Lord of your life. If God is not Lord of your life, death is real and continues. The cessation of this physical life means eternal separation from God and eternal punishment for the sins you’ve committed. Real death begins. If He is, death holds no power over you. You have the assurance that the cessation of heartbeats and breath just passes you from this physical world into the presence of God, but life goes on. It is in a different place, a different body, a different environment that we cannot yet understand, but life continues with God eternally. We cannot understand or imagine what it will be like. But life continues. Jesus knew what the Father intended and showed us by raising the young man to life again. His hope is that all of us will choose life, which means choosing Him as Lord. It’s the best way to live both now and forever. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Numbers 33-36 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:46-49 devotional summary there is only One who teaches from a foundation that is absolutely rock solid. In fact, He made the rock He stands on. He is the foundation. He is the singular point from which everything else begins and ends. So when we build our character, our faith, our purpose, our very being on Him, we get it right. We can stand through the toughest storms life can throw at us, know that we will not just survive the storm, but come through it victoriously. Some of the Florida and Georgia coast builders who put their names on their creations will lose a ton of money and their reputations as a result of the storm crushing the buildings they said would stand the stress of the winds and waves. Those who put their trust in those false credentials will find their houses in rubble or with roofs torn off and the contents spread over miles of territory. In building homes and other structures in hurricane prone areas, it pays to do your homework on the builder and know their reputation before the first shovel goes into the ground and the first form for the foundation is erected. For building your character, it is equally important to know the reputation of your teacher. To know the one who give you instruction has the credentials to lead you down the path you need to go for a sound and secure future, not just for the few years you have in this physical space and time, but for eternity. My teacher inspired the book that has been the best seller in almost every language for centuries. I hope you’ve adopted Him as your instructor, too. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Hebrews 8-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:43-45 devotional summary Sometimes I think it’s a little unfortunate that most of our kids have never been to a working farm. They don’t understand the nature of life and death as well as past generations. They don’t understand the cycle of life that begins with a tiny seed, goes through the growing season, produces a harvest, and provides seed again for the cycle to begin again. They don’t know the work it takes to put food in the markets where we push our carts around and pick the vegetables and fruit we want to consume. We’ve lost a lot of the wonder of nature because of our urban and suburban lifestyles. So do you want to learn about Jesus’ words and really put them to heart? Go visit an orchard. There is probably one not too far from where you live. Make a day trip of it one weekend and learn about growing fruit. Find out from the grower the process of taking care of those trees and find out the story behind that bushel of fruit he sells. Then with that knowledge in mind, let God the perfect gardener help you produce the best spiritual fruit you can. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:41-42 devotional summary So what do we do about it? How can we stop the cycle that seems almost impossible to stop? First, a good rule to adopt is the one my grandmother taught me that I’m sure you’ve heard before. “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.” That will stop the criticism. Second, let Jesus become Lord of you life. He will begin to show you the things you need to change about you. But He won’t just point them out, He will help you fix them. He will transform you and make you more like Himself. He will help you bear fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He will make you better than you could ever become on your own. Third, when Jesus is Lord of your life, you will begin to see others the way He sees them. Jesus always seemed to see others the way He created them. Remember what God said about everything He made at creation? It’s recorded in Genesis 1. And God saw that it was good. So He finds the good in His creation because He made us and know why He made us. He knows we can be redeemed from the sin infested world in which we live. When He lives in us, we can see others through His eyes and see the good in them. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Micah see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:38-40 devotional summary We can chase false prophets that make us feel good about ourselves. They tell us our sins are just the natural expression of the natural instincts of all animals. We can’t help but do the things we do because we are just a higher order animal, no better than a dolphin or an ape. They tell us that we just had some gene mutate along the way and so we evolved at a more advanced rate than our other animal counterparts. We can learn from them, and never find the truth that God created us to rule over the rest of His creation and be its caretakers. We can ignore the truth of sin as the real problem we must resolve to find real peace and purpose in our lives. But we can learn from those folks if we choose. We can learn from other religions and let them tell us about reincarnations, nirvana, and that god is found in all creation. We can learn from scientists that there is no god, but a mathematical explanation for everything that happens. Just do the math and the science and you’ll figure it out. Only no one has figured it out yet with all our science and all our math, because we tend to leave the piece of the formula “God spoke” out of the equation. But learning from all these other sources will fall short of what you really want to know. Because none of those sources are God. But when you learn at the feet of Jesus, you learn from God Himself. You learn from the Master. What better source to learn all there is to know? Jesus is right, we can not be better than our teacher, we mimick their understanding under their instruction, but what if we learn from the expert among experts? What if we sit at the feet of the One who knows everything and can do the impossible? Isn’t that the right place to learn? Easy answer. Be a student of the right teacher. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 28 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:37-38 devotional summary So how do you measure up to the God/Man, Jesus? He was sinless. That puts all of us way below the standard. You see, every other person is far removed from God because a single sin separates us from Him. He is holy and will not allow sin in His presence. So when measured against the sinless One, we all far short. We all miss the boat. We all deserve the penalty of death. But then God turns to His Son and for those who believe in Him as their redeemer, He finds the sin is gone, forgiven, thrown away as far as the east is from the west never to be remember against us again. How can we judge when we are so far from God except for God’s love? How can we condemn when we are ourselves condemned except for His forgiveness? How can we not forgive others when He has forgiven us so much and allowed us to come into His presence. How can we not give when He has given us so much? When we do those things, Jesus gives us a great promise with it. When we forgive, we will find forgiveness, when we give, we will receive in great measure. In fact, I think of being given in measure like brown sugar. You can either pour sugar in from the package and it kind of falls out in clumps and you get about half a cup when when you really want a cup full. Or you can mash it down as you fill the cup and get two or three times as much in the cup as when you just try to pour the brown sugar in. That’s how God gives back, shaken down, smashed in like brown sugar, filled to over flowing. Sounds like a good way to live, doesn’t it? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 117-118 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:32-36 devotional summary When we think about what Jesus has done for us when we were still His enemies, we can see that Jesus meant what He said when He said to love our enemies and to do good for those that would harm us. Jesus lived by the implications in these verses. He loved those who hated Him. He did good for those who tried to kill Him. He gave expecting nothing in return. In doing so, some who heard His message believed Him and gained eternal life. Some took up the mantel He gave them and shared the message with others and His kingdom is growing. So the question for us is, will we follow Jesus’ example and love those who hate us and still share His message with them? Will we do good for those who would try to harm us and share the message with them? Will we give expecting nothing in return and share the message with a world that needs Jesus more than they know. When we share His message with that attitude and those actions behind it, people will listen. They will find that you live by a different set of rules. You live by kingdom rules instead of world rules. You live by rules that seem upside down from those they live by. Yet they will either be drawn to the message or hate you all the more. That’s the reaction the kingdom message brings. But our mission is to share it. With everyone. So what are you waiting for? Get started.

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:27-31 devotional summary What would you like someone to do for you today? Would you like someone to take you to lunch? Then find that person who is your enemy and take them to lunch. That’s what Jesus is telling this crowd and us to do. Would you like someone to get you a new shirt or blouse? Pick out one that you really like, wrap it up and give it to that co-worker that really gets on your nerves every day. That’s what Jesus is telling this crowd and us to do. Would you like someone to listen to your complaints without interruption? Go to the person who drives you crazy with all their complaints and just listen to them. Don’t interrupt, take notes, let them know you really care about their issues. See where you might help ease their burden because of your past experiences. That’s what Jesus is telling this crowd and us to do. Is this an easy task? By no means. It takes Jesus living in us to accomplish what He tells us to do here. But what a difference it will make in your piece of the world when you start operating with His rules instead of the world’s. Everyone around you will think you’re crazy. But they thought He was too. Even His brothers and sisters came to get Him because they thought He lost His mind. So what will you today for someone? Think of the kindness you wish others would show you; then find one of those folks that border on the hate list and do it for them. That’s the kingdom way. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Numbers 29-32 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:24-26 devotional summary Jesus also tells us to beware of the praise of men. When we seek the approval of those whose values are driven by the world instead of seeking God’s approval, we are in grave danger. The world’s values are upside down. Satan is the father of lies and traps us with his lies. He betrays us and pulls us into his schemes by luring us with the physical things of this world and through the false praise of others. When we get trapped into seeking the praise of others, we are in danger of losing our way on the narrow path that Jesus urges us to follow. We live in a minefield on this planet called earth. It’s values tell us to be comfortable, satisfy your deepest desires, find happiness wherever you can, gain the praise of others. But when we pursue those values, we pursue them in opposition to the will and obedience of our heavenly Father. It is far better to suffer a short time here than to suffer eternally, don’t you think? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Hebrews 5-7 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:22-23 devotional summary If we follow Christ, we will do what He says and His command to all of us is to share His message, to be His witnesses where we are. And as soon as we share His message, we will be hated for doing so. Why? Because we ask people to change if they expect to escape eternal punishment. We tell them the only way they can find eternal rest, eternal reward, the only way to please God is to change and not just be good, but to give themselves to God, to obey Him. The self-centered nature we inherited through the seed of humankind rears its ugly head and says I want to be in charge of me. Until we let go of me, we will see Christians as the enemy. We will label Christians as haters of everyone else. We will exclude them because they make us uncomfortable with the truth of God’s word. We will call them evil even though deep in our heart we know they are not. We will try to crush them because we refuse to follow the narrow path God lays out for us. But when we accept Him, when we follow Him, when we obey Him, we will experience all those things Jesus promised on that hillside, but in the end, we will join Him in eternity. The short time of suffering we experience here will seem as nothing compared to the eternity we will get to spend with Him. Is it worth it? You bet it is. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:20-21 devotional summary I always find it interesting to compare the various stories and sermons in the different gospels. We now come to the famous Sermon on the Mount as Luke records it, and particularly the first section known as the Beatitudes. Matthew and Mark record these first verses in a much more spiritual context as they share that those who are poor in spirit are blessed and those who hunger after righteousness will be filled. But Luke leaves out the object of those longings in his gospel. Luke, the physician thinks about the physical aspects of those Jesus addressed that day. The poor did not fare well in Luke’s day. They labored hard for little. The poor were considered lesser beings than even slaves. Slaves belonged to their masters and were well fed, clothed, housed. Good mastered took good care of their slaves. But the poor, that was another matter. They didn’t have enough to afford adequate shelter from the heat and cold so suffered injury because of it. They didn’t have enough clothing to keep it clean and in good repair to protect them from the elements during the day. They didn’t have enough to eat and so malnutrition was always just around the corner. Sickness took a harder toll on the poor because they didn’t have the means to care for themselves or their family. Life was hard for the poor. Luke recorded the words that those who suffer in poverty in this world won’t carry that burden into the next if they follow God’s commands. They will have the riches of heaven at their disposal. No one will be able to call them poor. In fact, if you think you are poor now, but you are a child of God, you are anything but poor. The kingdom of God belongs to you. Can you imagine what that means? No, you really can’t. It’s really beyond anything we can imagine. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jonah see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 6:9-10 devotional summary Did Jesus break the Sabbath? Not so sure He did. Paul and the writer of Hebrews say Jesus was sinless. If that’s so, then His actions on the Sabbath certainly did’t constitute sin. And if His actions on that Sabbath day were in violation of the fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath holy, then it would have been a sin, right? So what the Pharisees saw as wrong in their perverted sense of what it meant to keep the Sabbath and what God intended for us in keeping the Sabbath are obviously in opposition to each other. So which pattern should we follow? The rules and regulations that burden us and make us look pious to those around us or those that Jesus showed us, doing good for others? I think the answer is clear. Does that mean we should go out and work to make a living on the Sabbath? There are some that must work on the day that some hold as the Sabbath. Firefighters, police, healthcare workers, and a host of others don’t have a choice as they provide essential services to our community. But many of us do have a choice and should set aside a regular day to stop and remember God and recover from our routine labor. Jesus said it best, the Sabbath was made for us, not the other way around. It was made as a time for us to not just consider God and His love, but to demonstrate it to a world that needs it so much. Is it right to do good on the Sabbath or harm? It’s a pretty easy answer. Go do some good for someone today and everyday. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 26-27 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 5:34-39 devotional summary We get really comfortable with old things, don’t we? We keep that old, worn out pair of shoes because they feel so good. We hang on to that thread bare pair of jeans because they have shaped themselves to our bodies over time and we just can’t part with them. Or that recliner that doesn’t look so good anymore, but it sure fits well when you sit in it after a long day. All the cushions are broken in just right and you can nap in it so well. You can’t let it go no matter how rugged it looks now. We do it with our health, too. The lab tests tell us we need to change our eating habits to avoid diabetes or heart disease in the future, but do we change? No. We are too comfortable with our old eating patterns and just keep eating the same stuff, refusing to exercise, doing the same bad things we did before. We know a healthier life style would be better for us, but we’re comfortable with what we know, so we just don’t change. Sometimes we do the same thing with old habits in our religious life. That’s the problem Jesus addressed with the Pharisees that day in Galilee. We get comfortable with the way things have always been and just don’t want to change whether the change is for our good or not. We do the same things. Read the same words, sing the same songs, go through the same rituals, and we let them slip by us because they’re comfortable. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 114-116 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 5:31-32 devotional summary Jesus showed us what we should do, then He did something none of us would probably do if we were God. He entrusted His message to us. He told us to go share His message throughout the world. Can you believe that? God put the message of salvation into the hands of sinners who have felt the touch of His redemptive grace. We were His enemies, but He still gave us the mission of sharing the message that will give people hope and a future. So who do we take that message to? Do we hold it in our churches and cathedrals? Jesus didn’t. We are to take it to work with us. We’re to take it to school and the grocery. We’re to take it to our neighbors. We’re to take it to the gas station and our mechanic. We’re to take it everywhere we go and we’re to take the message of God’s grace and forgiveness to those who need it most. Do you remember who needs it most? Everyone. We’re all sinners. Some of us are saved by His grace, if we have asked for His forgiveness. But we all need His message. So share the hope and grace He gives to someone you meet today. Don’t invite them to church to hear the message, share it with them where you find them. It will make such a difference in how they hear it from you. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Chronicles 6-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 5:22-24 devotional summary Jesus wanted others to know He never lied and had the power to do what He said He could do, though. So He did something others could see, not just hear about. Like my building the pergola, so others could see it when they sit on the porch instead of me just talking about it, Jesus healed the paralytic so the Pharisees knew He could do what He said He could do. He did what seemed impossible. He healed a man who could not help himself, physically or spiritually. So, like Jesus, when you forgive, do so in a way that others can experience and know you’ve forgiven. Let them see the truth of what you say and not just hear the words. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Numbers 25-28 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 5:10 devotional summary He says, “Don’t be afraid. I want to restore your relationship with Me. I want to bring you back home. I want to put your life back on track. Don’t be afraid. Come close. I have good news for you and for everyone who will listen. You don’t have to stay estranged from Me. You don’t have to stay mired in your sin. You don’t have to be separated from Me. You can be cleansed. You can be made whole again. You can have your sins forgiven.” We are so afraid of what other people might think if we go to an altar to ask God to forgive us of our sins. We’re afraid someone might think we are a sinner! Well, guess what? All of us are. None of us escape that title. So the question is really whether you will let someone else’s thought about you destine you to an eternity separated from God or whether you will use some common sense and fall on your face before a forgiving God and beg Him for cleansing from your sin. It is ironic the response we have when God wants so desperately to bring us back into His kingdom. He created us to worship Him. He created us for a relationship with Him. He even came to live with us in human flesh to show us how much He longs to restore that relationship with us. And when He came, He told Simon and us the same message. “Don’t be afraid. I have a message for you and I want you to give that same message to the rest of the world.” So will you trust Him like Simon did and do what He says? Or will you continue to do like Adam and hide from Him. As always, it’s your choice. Make the smart one, choose to stop hiding and live for Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Hebrews 1-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 5:4 devotional summary You see, it takes a while to really get to know someone. We learn more about our husband or wife each day. We move deeper in love as we get to know each other. I’m afraid most of our divorce problems today are because we don’t appreciate what it means to move deeper into a relationship. We want to stay on the surface. We want to keep that shallow infatuation that brought us together and don’t want to spend the time or effort to really get to understand each other beyond that. That’s one of the reasons divorce is so rampant. But Jesus invites us to move deeper with Him, too. Get closer, learn more about Him, get to know His habits and idiosyncrasies. He wants us to really know Him. It’s the only way we can really figure out what He wants us to do and what He wants us to be. He has a purpose for each of us and we can find it when we move into deeper water with Him. You never know what you’ll catch when you do. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Acts 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 4:43 devotional summary When I was growing up, we had tent revivals, camp meetings, Vacation Bible School, teen camp, childrens camp, all kinds of things that could get you a spiritual high. Remember those? Sometimes those announced two week tent revivals would really get going and suddenly we figure out we didn’t want them to stop, so we go for another week or two. People would run the aisles, pray at the altars, talk about the services during the day at work or at the grocery store. Every night the tent would be full. There would be lots of music and the sermon seldom lasted less than an hour. But no one left. I’m afraid I haven’t seen one of those kind of revivals in a long time. We get too busy with life and now if we can get people to go to a weekend gathering, it’s like pulling teeth. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen hanky wavers and aisle runners, too. We’re afraid of what someone might think if we let our emotions get out of hand if God really blesses us in a service, I guess. It’s just not done. We’re too formal and we might scare away the visitors if they came to our churches and saw something like that, right? I’m not sure what started me down that path except thinking about the circuit Jesus made as He taught and preached and healed. He never stayed in one place very long because He had a mission to complete. He also had to make sure His schedule put Him in Jerusalem three times a year for the feasts Moses told the Israelites to observe at the temple - Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. So Jesus had an agenda from His Father and it wasn’t to stay in one spot. He didn’t expect people to come to Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Obadiah see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 4:23-27 devotional summary And what it tells me is that God cares about the outsiders. The Jews are His chosen people. They are set aside for His special purposes, but He hasn’t forgotten the rest of us. He still loves us and cares for us. In fact, He cares for us so much, that during those two incredibly savage famines that swept through the countries surrounding Israel, Elijah and Elisha ministered to people outside their own culture and faith. God directed them to two women in foreign countries that were considered unclean by the Jews. These two men listened to God and determined even the outcasts needed God and His sovereign power in their daily lives. And that means He cares for us. We are outcasts, outsiders, enemies, yet God still pours out His love and makes it known through His Son, Jesus, that He cares for us immensely. In fact, He cares so much, that He gave His only Son to die on the cross for our sins. All we have to do is believe in Him as the Son of God. Believe in Him for the forgiveness of your sins. Believe in Him for the guidance He will give you each day as you allow Him to live in your life and teach you His ways. We don’t have to be outsiders anymore. Jesus made a way for us to join the party. Today's Bible reading plan: Proverbs 25 Read it in a year - SCRIPTURE see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 4:12 devotional summary A verse or two taken out of the context of the whole Bible can let you do just about anything you want to do. There is justification in God’s word for all kinds of things. There are stories of violence, murder, vengeance, sex, adultery, theft, embezzlement. Pick a vice or crime or just about any sin you want to commit and it has been done and is recorded in God’s word. Just pick a few of the verses around that sin and you can figure out how to justify whatever you want to do. But that’s not God’s will. So what is God’s will? What does the Book really tell us? It’s the story of God’s plan for our redemption. It’s His will that everyone would come to Him for the forgiveness of sin and follow His commands. It’s His will that all would recognize that He is the one and only true God and would worship Him as such. It’s His will that we would love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbors and we love ourselves. That’s the message of the Bible. It’s pretty simple. Sometimes not so easy to do, but pretty simple to remember. Just love. That’s it. Jesus showed us how. He didn’t let Satan distract Him from that simple mission or the simple message His Father gave Him to deliver to the rest of the world. Satan tried his best, but it didn’t work. Why? Because Jesus understood the message of the Book. He wasn’t about to let Satan use one little piece of it to persuade Him to do something that contradicted the message of the whole Book. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 111-113 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 4:8 devotional summary Our problem is two-fold. First, we don’t look for those ways of escape. We don’t look for the exit signs. We don’t try to get away from the temptation or do things to keep from getting into those situations in the first place. We too often just let Satan beat on us with those same temptations and think we can stand there and take it for as long as he can dish it out. We can’t. Remember, Satan knows which buttons to push. He knows our weak spots and those are the ones he will go after. But sometimes, we just can’t find an exit, or there isn’t one. There wasn’t an exit for Jesus in the desert that day. He was there. Satan was right there in front of Him. Satan was doing his best to push Jesus’ buttons and get Him to take a shortcut, skip over the tough parts of His Father’s journey for Him, take the easy road to success. Jesus saw that He couldn’t leave that desert place quite yet, so He did the next best thing. Did you get it? He rebuked Satan with those very precious words that we just don’t use enough, “Get out of My face, Satan!” So what do you think would happen if the next time you faced a really tough temptation you did what Jesus did and yelled, “Get out of my face, Satan!” I bet if you’re not alone, you’ll get some pretty strange looks, for one. But I also bet that whatever is going on around you will take a quick stutter step and give you an opportunity to get out of there pretty fast. It’s amazing what happens when you call a spade a spade. People don’t like the truth sometimes and when you’re in the middle of something you know is wrong and call it what it is, it’s amazing how many others you will help by lending them your strength and keeping them from going down that path, too. Jesus teaches a great lesson for us, today. When the tempter comes, get ready with your response, “Get out of my face, Satan!” With Jesus on your side, he will. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Chronicles 1-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Luke 4:4 devotional summary How do we find real life? By doing what God says in His word. You say, “but that’s too much. How can we follow all the rules God gives us in scripture. How can we even know what He said. There is so much there.” I’d beg to differ with you, though. Most Bibles are about 1500 pages and most of those pages are not rules, but stories of God’s redemptive love. Have you ever read the tax code? I think the last version is about 20,000 pages. You’re expect to follow that and it’s just one part of our law. Then there are all the other laws and codes and bills and regulations you obey everyday. We don’t seem to have a problem keeping those and they constitute a whole library full of text. So why do we think it is so hard to keep God’s laws? There really aren’t that many and Jesus sums them all up in two commands. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as you love yourself. So if we can just keep those two rules in mind and do those two, Jesus says we’ve done all the rest because all the rest are based on those two. So what will it be as we look toward the beginning of another season of new zombie programs hitting the airways. Are we going to be part of that crowd and go around pretending to live like zombies do but without any real life? Or are we going to follow the words that come out of the mouth of God? Once again, we get to make the choice. For me, I never did like those zombie shows. I’ll take real life every time. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Numbers 21-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 2:49 devotional summary No doubt Jesus was in trouble for the worry He caused. No doubt He didn’t get to run ahead or play with His friends on the rest of the journey home. I expect if they could have done so without raising too many eyebrows, they would have put a lasso around Him and kept Him tied to one of them. So the lesson in these scriptures is not to run away from your parents. That’s not a good thing. Even for Jesus, that was not a good thing. He probably got some fairly hefty punishment for the scare He caused and His failure to leave with the family, even though He was doing something very good at the time. He really needed to tell His parents what He was doing before He scared them to death. But the other thing we learn from today’s words is that scripture was important to Jesus from a very early age. Remember we closed the book of Mark talking about just how important scripture was to Jesus. We talked about the fact that many of His last words on the cross came from Old Testament Psalms. How was He able to recite those verses under such extreme duress? Because from the age of twelve, whenever you couldn’t find Jesus, just look in the temple or the synagogue or with a group of rabbis or scribes. You’d find Him learning scripture. You find Him reading the ancient texts, learning the prayers of David and Isaiah and Daniel and Moses. Jesus was a student of His Father’s words as handed down through the writers of our Old Testament. He used them often in His preaching and teaching, in His confrontations with Satan and his minions, in His times of greatest joy and deepest sorrow, and even on the cross. If scripture was so important to Jesus, the perfect Son of God, don’t you think it should be important to those of us who are so imperfect? Pick it and read it today and every day. It will do you good. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Philemon see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 16:15-18 devotional summary Through the centuries, God has, on occasion, used His miraculous power to let His children overcome such sure means of physical death. He intervened many times for many people to demonstrate His mighty power and bring glory to His name. Because He is God, He can circumvent the normal processes of this world and do things we cannot imagine. As Jesus said, anything is possible for God. So He can make the bite of a deadly snake nothing more than a sting. He can change the effects of a deadly poison to a sweet tasting nectar as easily as He changed the water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Anything is possible for Him. And sometimes He does those things for His children. So why don’t we get together over the sick, lay hands on them, and ask for His healing? Is it because we don’t believe? Why don’t we share the message of the good news with all creation? Are we afraid? Of what? If He can change the nature of snake venom and poison, why should we be afraid to share the message? Who should we fear? Jesus told us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Do we really believe? We might say we do, but if we really believe, we be doing what He said to do. Not just make disciples, but going about boldly, without fear, healing the sick, casting out demons, not worrying about poisons, or snakes, or anything else Satan might throw at us to try to distract us from the mission Jesus sent us out to do. Spread the word, Jesus died that we might live. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - John 19-21 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 15:34 devotional summary Could Jesus’ words on the cross be a reminder to us of the importance of scripture and prayer in the face of life’s greatest challenges? Certainly, these few hours were Jesus’ most the stressful and challenging of His short life. And throughout those hours, the majority of His words can be traced back to the scriptures He knew so well. Is this, too, the beginning of a song, only the beginning of which was recorded by the gospel writers, but within Jesus’ heart and soul, soared to His father as a song of praise and worship even in those dark hours? Could it be that He was teaching us even in these last hours of His life that God’s word remains our best source of strength in times of trouble? Jesus used it; shouldn’t we? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Amos 5-9 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 14:62 devotional summary That will be a great day for some. It will be a tragic day for many. Jesus said the road to heaven is narrow and few find it. For those that find that road, it will be a great day. Seeing Jesus return in the clouds will mark the day He gathers us together to join Him in heaven forever. For those who refuse to believe in Him for His saving grace, for those who refuse to follow Him and obey Him, that day will be a horrible day. That crowd will realize too late that Jesus meant what He said. They, too, will see Him coming in the clouds, but for them, He will come as the avenger of His church. He will come to avenge His name and pour out His wrath on the disobedient. For them, it will be a day they will with they had never been born. Those gathered in the courtroom that day heard Jesus’ prophecy as blasphemy. We, on this side of the cross, who believe what He said and trust in Him, know His words are true and know His words are far from blasphemy, but a promise to all who follow His teachings. He will come again, just as He said. Right now He sits on the throne with the Father. He leans in close so He doesn’t miss a word. He awaits the message from His father, “Go get your bride.” With the mention of those words from the Father, Jesus will climb onto those clouds and descend from heaven to get us. His words to the Sanhedrin will come true. He will come to take us away. What a spectacular day that will be. One day, we will see Him sitting at the right hand of the Father, in the place of honor and power and coming in the clouds of heaven. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 23-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 14:48-49 devotional summary Light dispels darkness. Light isn’t the absence of darkness, but rather darkness is the absence of light. Have you ever thought about that? Just the tiniest spark of light dispels the dark. And Jesus is so much more than a spark. He is the light of creation. He is brighter than the noonday sun. He illuminates our every action. He uncovers our heart. Nothing stays hidden when He is around. So when the guards come in the middle of the night, their purpose is clear to Him. The wickedness in their heart is clear to Him. Their fall from God’s law is crystal clear to Him. He sees it all, because His light shines on them and they cannot hide. Neither can we. We can attempt to cover our actions by participating in behaviors under the cover of darkness or behind closed doors or in places we think are secret, but they are not so secret. God knows everything. He knows our actions. He knows our thoughts. He knows our heart. He sees us in the light and in the dark. And what we think we hide from Him, He still sees. There is no where to hide. His light shines through the darkest places in our lives to show us where we stand in relation to Him. So He poses the question to us that He posed to those who met Him in the garden. We can come to Him in the temple and the synagogues and the market places and meet Him in the daylight or we can be like those guards and try to sneak in to overtake Him in the garden. Only one problem with trying to overtake Him. As John describes the scene, when they tried to take Him, the guard fell to the ground. He cannot be taken, He gave Himself up to them. He gives Himself up to us too. Will you meet Him in the light or in the dark? It’s your choice. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 108-110 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 14:37-38 devotional summary There’s that combination of how to remain true to Christ again. The way to keep out of trouble in a wicked, sin-filled world. What is the secret? Stay awake and alert to the wiles of the enemy, number one. And number two, pray. Those two things, more than any other will keep you from falling into the traps Satan has set for you. Why is that so? Why would that be true and why would Jesus give that admonition to Peter and to us? A couple of days ago, we talked about the importance of staying awake on guard duty in the military. Falling asleep while on guard during a time of war, carries a maximum penalty of death in the United States Armed Services. If convicted, a court-martial can sentence you to the death penalty for falling asleep! The same is true in our spiritual lives. If we fall asleep on the job, we can face eternal death. If we fail to keep watch and stay alert to the schemes of Satan we can fall prey to that “roaring lion” that roams the earth seeking whom he might devour. Then there is prayer. I’ve mentioned before that the founders of most of the prominent denominations that exist today spent hours on their knees every day. They understood the importance of prayer in their lives. John Wesley, for instance, remarked that he started the day with two hours of prayer and if he had a particularly busy day ahead, he would begin with four hours of prayer. Otherwise, he could never get through his agenda. That meant rising early, very early, to meet with God and start the day. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Chronicles 25-29 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 14:36 devotional summary If anything is possible for God, why doesn’t He intervene for us in those darkest times of life? Why does He let these terrible things happen to His children? Why do His believers get sick and die? Why do loved ones we pray for pass away earlier than we expect? Why are children taken away from us before their time? Why do we suffer so much, if anything is possible for God? Why didn’t He answer Jesus’ prayer and relieve Him of the suffering He was about to endure? All good questions. Some would be bold enough to tell you it’s because of sin in our lives. I will tell you that is not so. Remember the blind man Jesus healed? The people who sinned to cause the malady, the blind man or his parents? Jesus answered, neither. He was blind to show God’s power and glory. As odd as it seems at the time, sometimes, the suffering we endure demonstrate God’s power and grace and glory in our lives. It might not make sense to you as you go through the pain of the circumstances you face, but often those who watch you struggle through those rough times see you lean on and trust in God to comfort you and find His grace through your strength in Him. I don’t think God causes the suffering, but He will certainly use the suffering for His glory when we let Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Numbers 17-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 14:22-25 devotional summary John writes in Revelation about Jesus coming to retrieve His bride, the church. And when He does He takes His bride home to the new kingdom of God. He describes the great wedding feast at which the believers join in the great wedding reception. There is no marrying in heaven, but we will all be wed to Jesus, that intimate relationship most like a marriage than anything else that could describe it here on earth. And at that feast Jesus will lift His goblet or glass or cup or whatever container holds the best wine that has ever existed and raise a toast welcoming His bride to His home. Then for the first time since the supper which announced the new covenant with those who followed His teachings He will drink from the fruit of the vine. He is waiting for us to join Him before He drinks again. He is waiting for His bride and the wedding feast so He can fulfill the vow He made to His disciples that night. Can you imagine what a glorious feast that will be when we join Him in enjoying a draught from creation’s fruit once again. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Titus see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 14:18-21 devotional summary All of the disciples, without exception, after walking with Jesus for three years and listening to His voice, knew that deep within every person, we have the capacity to choose to betray Him. Adam and Eve were sinless when they chose to turn against God, remember? But we are born with the seed of sin embedded in us. God’s word says it is passed down to us through Adam’s race. We cannot escape it. We have all sinned. And so we all carry within us the capacity to betray Him. Judas is the one who sold the plan to identify Jesus to the guards in the garden. Peter took one swipe and a guard and then fled. The rest of the disciples just fled in terror. No one stood by His side when those horrible events of that night began to unfold. All of His disciples had the capacity to betray Him and they did. They left Him to endure His fate alone. We think of Judas as the betrayer, the one who sold Jesus to His enemies, but didn’t they all betray His friendship that night? Didn’t they all desert Him and leave Him to face His pain alone in the garden? Didn’t every one of them forget their promise to stand by Him to the end? The difference between the rest of the disciples and Judas? Eleven repented. Judas hung himself. When you think about it, we have each betrayed Jesus, too? Which path will you take? I hope it’s the path to repentance. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - John 16-18 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 14:14-15 devotional summary And this was a special meal. This was the Passover. The day that marked the beginning of the nation of Israel. The day that celebrated the breaking of the bonds of their slavery from Egypt. This day of celebration began by remembering the sorrow of the Egyptians and the mighty hand of God that protected them in the midst of His awesome avenging power meted out all around them. They heard the wailing through the night and were forced out of the country before daybreak. This was the event they remembered with this meal. The story was told year after year so the children would never forget and so the adults would never forget either. What stories do we tell our children so they never forget the hand of God in our lives? What celebrations do we perform to commemorate God’s faithfulness to us? What special events do we remember so we never forget to thank God for His protection and watch care over us in both the good and bad times of life? It’s an important question, because if we don’t tell our children how God has helped us through the tough times of life, how will they know He’s the one who does? How will they ever learn to lean on Him? Two disciples worked all day to make preparations so the disciples could remember their past. What do you to remember yours? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Amos 1-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 13:28-37 devotional summary Whenever I read these words of Jesus, I’m glad I spent time in the Army. It reminds me just how important His words really are. Just as for the guard on the perimeter in a time of war, these words mean life or death for us. Jesus tells us to stay away and keep our eyes open. Be alert for the signs He has given His disciples heralding His coming. Know that He will return to end all our struggles one day and He has given us clues as to when that will happen. We don’t know exactly when, but it will happen and we must be ready. My good friend Gery discovered time ended sooner than he wanted just a few weeks ago. A routine medical procedure turned into a nightmare for his family as he fell into the 1% that had adverse outcomes from the procedure. He died that evening after the medical team worked feverishly all day trying everything they knew to do to save him. He didn’t expect to see Jesus that day. He expected to retire soon and spend a lot more years with his wife of 44 years, his children, and his grandchildren. But Gery had also been alert and watching for Jesus’ coming. He was ready and although alert as his passing drew near, he was at peace knowing he would soon be in the hands of his Lord. See, we never know when the end will come. Jesus may call an end to time for all of us today or He might call one of us home individually. The rest of us will grieve for a time, but we will all be together again if we stay awake and stay alert for His coming. His command is a matter of life and death. Stay awake. No sleeping on guard duty. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 22 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 13:14-27 devotional summary Jesus is returning. He’s coming back and when He does, something dreadful will happen to those who have pointed the finger at the wrong people. Those non-believers will feel the wrath of God. Jesus says there will be suffering like no one has seen since the beginning of the world. When He begins to defend His children. Think about that for just a minute. No suffering like that since the beginning of the world. Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Not as bad as this. The Nazi annihilation of the Jews. Not as bad as this. The hurricanes like Andrew, Katrina, and Ike. Don’t hold a candle to the suffering God will pour out. Sodom and Gomorrah. Nope, not like the suffering that’s coming. Even the flood in Noah’s day will pale in comparison to the suffering the world will endure at the end of time. Jesus gives us warning. We’ve read the words many times. They are available for anyone to read and hear in almost every language now. No one has an excuse. The time is ripe for His coming. All the signs are playing out before our eyes. I don’t want anyone to miss their opportunity for salvation, but many are asleep and just pretend it isn’t going to happen. But Jesus said, “Be alert and remember how I have warned you.” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 105-107 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 13:5-14 devotional summary Lots of books tell us about the end times. Lots of authors write thousands of pages telling us what it will be like and when it will come. What we should expect, what to look for, who the anti-Christ is, what the political climate will be, how we can recognize just when all these things will happen. I don’t know how many times “the day” has been predicted during my 62 years of life. But I don’t think He has come yet. There’s still a lot of His saints still here and it’s been a lot longer than the seven years of tribulation that would have happened if He had already come. If those predictions were true, we’d be in the 1,000 years of peace. I don’t see any peace around the world, so I guess all those prophets must have missed it. So we don’t need to worry about any of those things. We just need to be ready. Jesus is coming again. He tells us all the things that will happen so we know the time is getting close. It gives us hope. It helps us realize it won’t be much longer. The birth pangs show that the labor is almost over. A new heaven and earth are about to come into existence. We don’t need to worry, just be ready. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Chronicles 20-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 13:2 devotional summary Jesus knows the difficulty all of us have because of the influence we grow up with. He grew up in the middle of it, too. He heard those same stories from the businessmen and merchants and builders. He heard the same stories from the priests and neighbors and all those people who took stock in material things instead of heavenly things. He knows how easy it is to get our eyes off of the heavenly and get awed by the size and splendor of the things men build. But they are just things. They have no permanence. Just think about the seven wonders of the world. Only one of the seven remains, the pyramids in Egypt. But even those have been looted and are crumbling into the sands of the desert. All the others are gone. The same will happen to all the material things we think we last forever. They won’t. Nothing will last except our eternal soul and the things we store up for ourselves in heaven. And what are those things? The good things we do for other people and the praise we give to God. That’s it. No more. Everything else will be gone. Jesus reminded His disciples and us of the transitory nature of all the marvels the world throws at us to tempt us. As beautiful and magnificent as even the temple, the house of God, it would soon come crashing down. Be awed by the right things. That’s nothing the world has to offer. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Numbers 13-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 12:43-44 devotional summary Jesus admires the woman and her gift. Not so much those who want the fanfare for their “generosity”. He says they have already had their reward, the praise of men. But what is that worth? I’d much rather have the favor of God. When we do things to please men, we lose because we can never please everyone. And the next time, they will expect more anyway. But when we do things to please God, He knows our heart. He knows the motive behind the action. He doesn’t care about the size of the act, but about the heart behind the act. But remember He does know the heart behind the act. God will be thrilled when He gets “C+” work from His “C” student. But don’t expect Him to get very excited when He gets that same “C+” work from His “B” student. He expects us to give Him our all, to work hard for Him, to commit everything to Him. After all, He is God and He deserves it. Don’t sound your trumpet, just do it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Timothy 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 12:38-40 devotional summary How am I supposed to watch Jesus and be like Him? It’s really an easy answer again. He left His word with us. His spirit inspired men to pen His instructions and those letters, those scriptures, have passed down through the generations. There are more and older copies of the Old and New Testaments than any other ancient book. And remarkably, well, not so remarkable, God did it, the oldest manuscripts all the way to the most modern all say the same thing. The scribes who copied and preserved God’s word were so meticulous in their work that manuscripts from 500 years apart in production are identical in content. So just read His word. See what He has to say. Read the stories of His life as recorded in the gospels. Observe how He treated people, how He taught and shared the message of God’s love and hope for all who would listen. Watch how He dealt with sin as He forgave those who came to Him. He never condoned their behavior, but He forgave them and built relationships with them. Then read the letters from His Apostles and disciples to the earliest churches. Read the instructions Paul gave his proteges. Listen to the words again and again until they become part of you. Follow Jesus’ example in thought, word, and deed. That’s how you emulate Him. Just read what He has to say and then do it. Then carry on a conversation with Him every day, several times a day. Get in the habit of asking Him the direction He wants you to take. If you truly want to follow Him, He will guide you. God has a funny way of getting involved in our lives when we ask. He’s a good Father. He’ll give you advice. Just ask. So who do we follow, Jesus and that’s good enough for anyone. In fact He’s the only one to follow. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - John 13-15 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 12:29-34 devotional summary Jesus didn’t declare the scribe okay with God, but instead said, the kingdom is closer than you think. You see, Jesus had been preaching around the countryside and His message was that the kingdom of God is at hand. He also said He was the light of the world. He also said no one comes to the Father in heaven except by way of Him. Jesus had gone about the countryside preaching, teaching, healing, and most important, forgiving people of their sins when they asked Him. The scribe, it seems, has not asked for forgiveness. Real love asks forgiveness from those we hurt, whether intentionally or unintentionally. When we love, we don’t want to wrong others. That doesn’t mean we don’t discipline, that would be cruel and negligent, but we don’t harm. And everyone hurts God. We all sin. We all cause Him pain. We all fail to live up to the standard He sets. We all need to ask forgiveness for our sins of commission and ommission. The kingdom of heaven was close, but one thing was still needed. A repentant heart seeking forgiveness from the God of the universe. So where do you stand relative to this question? Do you love God and your neighbor? Do you really love them with God’s unconditional love? If so, the kingdom of God is close. Have you asked Jesus to forgive you? He died on the cross for my sins and yours. But our sins are not forgiven until we come to Him in repentance and ask. The kingdom of God is closer than you think. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Joel see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 12:24-27 devotional summary No marriage in heaven? This year my wife and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. That’s a pretty big deal in today’s society. In a current culture where 50% of church goers divorce, sadly, sticking around with the same marriage partner for 40 years is becoming a rarity. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’ve kind of gotten use to having her around. I’m not sure I could get use to not having her around. She’s pretty special to me. So when I get to statements like this from Jesus, my eyebrows turn up a little. Does that mean Carole and I will be separated in heaven? Does that mean we won’t know each other or spend eternity together? Does that mean our marriage will be null and void when we both walk through the pearly gates? No. No. And sort of. We won’t be husband and wife in heaven. Marital relationships will not mean anything after the resurrection. Why? There is really a simple reason. We, the church, believers, followers of Christ, are referred to as the bride of Christ. We will be collectively and individually in an intimate relationship with Christ. Notice I didn’t say sexual relationship. I said an intimate relationship. John says when we see Him we will know Him and be like Him and see Him like He really is. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 20-21 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 11:29-33 devotional summary So what do you say to those who want to start one of those stupid arguments with you? What do you do when the ones who think they are so super intelligent start spouting numbers and theories and scientific mumbo-jumbo to tell you there is no God and you must be crazy to believe that stuff. First, pray for them. They need it. Second, if you feel you really must argue a point (which you don’t, by the way, Jesus didn’t), ask where everything came from originally? Then just keep pushing back, and where did that come from? And where did that come from? And where did that come from? Finally, you’ll probably get them to talk about the Big Bang. Everything started from a spark at the center of the universe. Ok. And where did that Big Bang come from? The Bible says, God spoke. Any better explanation? Squinty eyes, tight lips, gritting teeth. Argument over. Spectators on the sideline laugh at the smart guy. Third, and this is the one I like best, don’t argue. Just remind them. One of us is wrong. If I’m wrong, no harm done. We’ll both die and there is no judgment, no accountability for our actions, no heaven or hell. We’ll both rot in a grave and turn to dust. If you’re wrong, there’s a pretty terrible price to pay for snubbing your nose at the God you say doesn’t exist. Spectators on the sideline get deadly quiet. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 102-104 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 11:22-26 devotional summary Sometimes Jesus’ words are just hard, aren’t they? Sometimes I just want to overlook the things He says and pretend He really didn’t mean them. Like these last words. “…if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you. If you don’t forgive others, don’t expect God’s forgiveness.” I would just as soon not hear those words. I would like Jesus to just forget to tell us that and tell us that God will just forgive us and forget the rest. Unfortunately, He didn’t. He said it. He made it pretty clear. If you don’t forgive others, don’t expect forgiveness from God. He gave us a few illustrations to make it clear. The story of the king that forgave the servant who owed him 500 years wages and then the servant failed to forgive a fellow servant a few day’s wages. Remember what happened to him? He and his family were thrown into jail until he could pay it all back. That meant forever. Jesus meant what He said. Forgiveness is why He came to earth. That’s why He put on human flesh and spent thirty years walking beside us suffering the same things we suffer. That’s why He worked and toiled and preached and taught. That’s why He took on the Pharisees and the scribes to help us understand what God really wants us to know about having a relationship with Him. That’s why Jesus took all the ridicule from the religious leaders. That’s why He endured the cross. It was all about forgiveness. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Chronicles 15-19 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 11:17 devotional summary How about that house of prayer business? How much time does your church spend in prayer? Most churches I’ve attended lately have a thirty to maybe sixty second opening prayer and a pastoral prayer that lasts about two or three minutes and a closing prayer that will last another thirty seconds to a minute. If the leaders are long winded, you might hear a whole five minutes of prayer in a two hour service. Wow! So much for being a house of prayer. We live in a pretty sad world. So most of our churches stay locked most of the time because of the fear of burglary. My denomination used to have a Prayer and Fasting meeting every Wednesday night for missions. That prayer and fasting changed to a bible study many years ago because people just couldn’t pray that long and now not very many churches meet at all on Wednesday night. Schedules are just too busy with work, the kids sports practices, homework, pick any distraction you want, it doesn’t matter. Any distraction that keeps you from praying will work. Just don’t pray. That’s the important thing for Satan. If you go back and look at the habits of the founding fathers of most of the fundamental denominations in existence today, you’ll find they spent several hours a day in prayer. Not bedtime or dinner time prayers, but hours before the day began. Hours during the day. Hours before they went to sleep. They spent a large percentage of their day in prayer. Yet they still found the time to preach, write books, visit their congregation, travel around the world in ships and on horseback. They labored every day in an environment that required hard labor to survive. And still they prayed. So what’s our excuse? Too busy? With what? What’s more important than talking with the creator of the universe? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Numbers 9-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 11:14 devotional summary I think Jesus is telling us appearance doesn’t count. You can look good and sound good, but that’s not what He’s looking for in a life of faith. You can go to the right places and sing the right songs, but so what? You can pray long flowery prayers and even serve on church boards and teach Sunday School classes, but all those outward appearances don’t amount to anything in His book. Jesus looks beneath the covers. He looks past the leaves and looks for the fruit. What am I talking about? Paul lists some of the fruit Jesus expects us to grow in Galatians chapter five. Remember those? Unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He expects to see those attributes blossoming in our lives. He expects to see more than just outward tapestry and habit. He wants to see our character transform as He takes control of our lives. When He does, when He is Lord of our lives, you can’t help but see the fruit bloom. He guides us into areas that make that fruit evident to others around us. He puts us into situations that stretch us and fertilizes those parts of our lives so that our circumstance let Him transform our thinking into His thinking. He changes our character and let us bear His fruit. And what happens if we don’t? Just a word, and the fig tree withered where it stood. I don’t want to hear those words from Jesus when He comes, do you? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Timothy 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 11:2-3 devotional summary Sometimes it would be nice to know more of the details, but we can surmise that the disciples who went to carry out Jesus directions did so with the confidence that it would happen just like He said it would. Or maybe not. Maybe Jesus sent a couple of His disciples that still had some doubts about who He was and what He could do. Maybe He sent a couple of His disciples to see that He had abilities that could not be explained by ordinary means. That He really was the Son of God. We don’t know how all of the events and actions surrounding this little colt transpired. We don’t know how much trouble these disciples had getting an unbroken colt back to Jesus. It’s not always easy to lead a colt that has never been ridden. They sometimes don’t want to be led anywhere. We don’t know if it decided to stay where it was or whether it followed meekly or whether they pulled and dragged and pleaded with the animal to get it from the owner’s house to the crowd where Jesus waited. We do know Jesus was about to ride an unridden colt into a city crowded with people. Now that is really brave. No one rides and unbroken colt into a crowd! Someone is about to get hurt. What does all this mean for us? Jesus will sometimes give us some crazy sounding tasks to do for Him. They may sound ridiculous to us and almost impossible to carry out. But Jesus makes a way. I’m not sure those disciples knew they could make it happen when they went into the village, but Jesus did. And when He gives us a task to do, He make it possible for us to complete it. No matter how hard it may seem, He make the impossible possible. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - John 10-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus SCRIPTURE devotional summary I think more than anything else, Bartimaeus wanted to see Jesus Himself. Here stood the Son of the living God. Here was the one who could do what no other person could do. Here was One who some said could make new eyes out of dirt, make the lame walk, raise the dead to life, make the deaf hear and mute talk. Here was God incarnate. Bartimaeus wanted to see God. So what about you? What do you want when you come to Jesus in prayer? Have you thought about it? Do you really know what you want when He asks, “What do you want of Me?” Has it occurred to you that He wants to grant your request? It is worth some time thinking about that question. What do you really want from God? When we ask in Jesus name, in alignment with His will, He says He will give it to us. But first we have to ask ourselves the question and then answer it, “What do you want from Me?” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Hosea 8-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 10:42-45 devotional summary As Christians in the work force, we need to remember Jesus’ words. Whoever would be great among you must be a servant of all. Remember that the further up the ladder of what the world calls success you might progress, the more important to serve those others might say are beneath you. They are not. They are the ones you hold up so the missions can be completed. They are the ones you lift with your encouragement, your enthusiasm, your resources, so their job can be done and your objectives achieved. You are their servant to make sure they have what they need to do the job you asked them to do. From Jesus’ perspective, the ones the world thinks are great are not so great. He measures people from the perspective of God. No one measures up. So if you think you are climbing high and about to reach the pinacle of success, just think about where you are compared to God. He owns it all. How much gold has yet to be mined on this planet? How much more is out there in the rest of the universe? How do you measure God’s net value? How many diamonds does God own? What is the value of His real estate? Get the picture? When we compare ourselves to God, no matter how great we might think we are, we are nothing. Yet He loves us enough to come and live alongside us for a while, die for our sins, and give Himself to us to guide us in His truth every day. We are nothing compared to God, but important enough to Him that He gave His very best for us. Just imagine! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 19 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 10:36-40 devotional summary Jesus promised His followers we would suffer in this world. But He also promised He has already overcome the world. He made this place and all that is in it. He has dominion over everything here. One day, all of creation, all of us, every person created will bow before Him and acknowledge that He is God and worthy to be praised. But until then, if we follow Him, expect to be immerse in the same baptism of hatred, suffering, persecution, that Jesus faced. When you expect to face the worst and He allows you to escape from some of the persecution and suffering His Apostles and our early church followers endured, we can stop and praise Him for His protection and comfort. But remember, the church thrives under persecution. It grows exponentially as people see how God’s children face the transition from this life to the next, all the while with a heart full of forgiveness for those that act without understanding the nature of the evil they commit at the bequest of Satan. Do any of us want to face the kind of suffering Jesus faced? No. And none of us will face that kind of suffering. We may die for our faith. We may lose everything for Jesus. We may carry our own cross and walk beside Him in carrying His message to a lost world. But He carried all our sins on His shoulders. We will never suffer the way Jesus did. We can rejoice that He set us free from the worst Satan has to offer. Death didn’t hold Him and He’s promised a resurrection for us, too, if we will follow Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 99-101 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 10:33-34 devotional summary You know when Jesus spoke these words, I expect His last words didn’t even register with His disciples until Mark was recalling the conversation. I expect they were so numbed by His prediction of the abuse He would take from the religious leaders and His impending death, they probably didn’t even hear Him say He would rise again on the third day. I expect it was only later they remembered His words as they just couldn’t believe they were marching toward Jerusalem to His certain death and perhaps their own. Was this really happening? Could they continue to follow Him? Were they dedicated enough to follow Him to the cross as He said they must do if they were truly His disciples? Did He have to talk so much about death and the cross and giving up your life for Him? I’m glad we get to hear these words from this side of the cross. I’m glad we can look back over the centuries and remember the promise He made that on the third day He would rise again. I’m glad we can know the outcome of that awful, wonderful, terrible, glorious week. I don’t know for sure if I could have heard those words like the disciples did and followed Him to Jerusalem. But I’m glad they did. I’m glad Mark recorded His teachings for us. I’m glad they stayed true to Him so we can have the story today and know that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and what He said He would do happened. I’m glad He rose again and lives forever so we can live forever, too. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Chronicles 10-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 10:29-31 devotional summary If you listen to God’s word, you know there is something after this seventy or eighty year lifespan during which we occupy this piece of dirt. You know the things we accumulate here are temporary but there is something beyond. God’s word talks about it. He tells us about a new heaven and a new earth that’s coming. If you listen to God’s word, you know the treasures stored here will disappeared, but treasures stored in heaven last forever. Is the sacrifice worth it? Absolutely. Besides, God is God! He deserves our worship. He is God, He demands it. He is God. Nothing and no one else comes in a close second to Him as worthy of praise and glory and honor and majesty and power. Is it worth following Him? Absolutely. We owe Him everything we have and everything we are. He created us and allows us to enjoy everything we have. He enables us to breathe and exist within the span of years we have here and then on into eternity. Jesus made a bold promise that many only want to remember only half. They want to remember only the good parts. They want to forget the promise of persecution, of the hatred the world will level against us, of misunderstanding and disapproval by the world if we choose to follow Him. But if we will listen to Him and follow Him, the rest of His promise is also true. In the world to come, we will have eternal life. Isn’t that worth it all? Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Numbers 5-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 10:14-15 devotional summary How much do we stifle our children by trying to mold them into something the world says they should be? How much do we crush their spirit by trying to make them into what we want them to be? I’m not saying we should let our kids just run wild and always do what they want and live carefree without discipline and always do what they want. That would be irresponsible and negligent as a parent. But God made each of us different and we forget that children are inquisitive by nature. We should encourage that curiosity and help them learn and absorb all of the beauty of God’s creation around them. We should teach them self discipline. We should teach them about God’s love and His will for all humankind. We should help them explore His goodness, grace, and mercy. We should emulate children in their trust and love and acceptance of all people. Don’t get in the way of the children. The kingdom of God is all about them, their behavior, their curiosity, their innocence, their love and acceptance. Jesus says, get out of their way and instead follow their example. So go find a two year old and learn from him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Hosea 1-7 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 10:3-12 devotional summary God allows divorce just like He allows sickness and disease and sin and death. Does He want those things in the earth? Absolutely not! But He allows them because we choose not to abide by His law. We fail to follow Him and so suffer the consequences that come with it. Our society is suffering the consequences of forgetting what Jesus said in these few verses. We have taken marriage vows lightly. We jump into marriage without taking seriously the responsibilities and commitments that come along with the vows we took. We let Satan lure us into thinking relationships don’t matter. And so we see the rise of divorce and the dissolution of families. Our children and their children pay the price. Those broken homes permeate our society and result in the broken lives that just continue the cycle of disruption in the home, the school, the workplace, everywhere you look. Divorce affects everyone. It have never been God’s plan. We need to turn this ship around in our society and make marriage the important institution God intended it to be once again. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 17-18 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 9:49-50 devotional summary Jesus told His disciples, those who followed His teachings, they were the salt of the earth. They seasoned their environment. They made the world good. They made it a place that was no longer mundane, distasteful, unattractive, blah. As the salt of the earth, we are to be that universal ingredient in God’s creation that acts as that spice everyone wants. We are to be that seasoning that causes people to be like my wife, something you just can’t get enough of. Someone you want around you all the time and in every situation. As I write these words I’m reminded of my very good friend who passes away unexpectedly a few days ago. He was that kind of person. He was the salt of the earth. Loved by everyone, a friend to everyone. He called himself just a package car driver as a UPS driver for 43 years, but in that time, his life touched thousands of people with his humor, compassion, and genuine love for people. You were his friend whether you wanted to be or not. Gery understood what it meant to be salt and he sprinkled the seasoning of God’s love everywhere he went. Salt within us. Seasoning to sprinkle on those we meet and make their lives just a little better because we touched them in a way that made their day just a little brighter or a little richer or brought just a little more joy into their life because we were there. That’s what Jesus is talking about. Just a UPS package car driver? No, Gery was Jesus to those he met every day. And on a rainy Monday morning in the middle of the workday, there was standing room only at his memorial celebration as friends and family paid tribute to his life, remembering the impact this package car driver made on the community he served. So what does that tribute and Jesus words mean for you and me? Just a package car driver? No. Just a clerk? No. Just a nurse or a doctor or a soldier or a CEO? No. We are not just a…name what ever you might do as an occupation. If you are like Gery, and do what Jesus tells you to do, you are Jesus to everyone you meet every single day. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 96-98 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 9:43-48 devotional summary I guess there are two ways you could approach what He says about judgment and heaven and hell. You could agree with Him and follow what He says and know you will live with Him forever in heaven. Or you can choose not to believe Him. You can live your own life, do what you want, ignore what He tells us to do and just assume that what Jesus says about heaven and hell is just a fairy tale to make people get along better in society. You can do either one of those. It’s you choice. But there is one huge catch at the end. If there is a judgment day coming. If there is a heaven and a literal eternal hell and we will end up in one place or the other based on our behavior and beliefs in this life, then if you follow the former philosophy, you’ll be okay. If you follow the latter philosophy, you’ll be in huge trouble on judgment day. So then, here’s the issue, does it hurt anyone to do the right things always? Does it hurt to follow God’s decrees? Does it hurt to obey the ten commandments and the other commands God gives that tell us how to love others the way we love ourselves? Doesn’t it build a greater community and build greater character to live the life He shows us through His example? If not, then doesn’t it make sense to do what He says? If you’re right and there is no hell, but you followed Jesus and His teachings, then you’ve still found your way to heaven. If you’re wrong and find on judgment day there is a hell and you’ve lived by your rules instead of His, well… That sounds like a pretty bad gamble in my book. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Chronicles 5-9 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 9:39-42 devotional summary How much do we get caught up in the jealousy John displayed that day as He tried to stop this other group from doing good? Well, that church on the corner isn’t part of my denomination, so they shouldn’t be inviting my people to their meeting. That church over there doesn’t do things the way we do, so they can’t be part of the kingdom. That denomination doesn’t sing the way we do, so they obviously must not be Christian. That group doesn’t emphasize the same things we do, so we are obviously more holy than they are, right? It’s so easy to get caught up in the petty discord Jesus saw with His disciples as He addressed John that day. Let them use My name to do My work! Let them see the things that happens when people hear My name and exercise their faith in Me. Even if you don’t agree with the person doing the work, recognize that when they do miracles in My name, they can’t turn around and contribute that work to someone or something else, because they invoked My name to accomplish it. My name is glorified before the people. So what if those people are making a profit by using Jesus’ name? What if they are charletons and are just trying to exploit the power of His name to line their own pockets with gold? Does that make a difference in how we should treat them? Jesus says if they are healing and performing miracles “using His name” leave them alone. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Numbers 1-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 9:37 devotional summary God expects us to represent Him here. He expects us to keep His reputation and His Name unsullied. God wants others to see His love in us. He wants us to share His grace and mercy to a world that sorely needs grace and mercy. That doesn’t mean condoning bad behavior. It doesn’t mean tolerance of evil. It doesn’t mean acceptance of things contradictory to God’s word. It means doing for others just what God did for you, extend His grace and mercy and love to those He created. Sharing His message of forgiveness. Introducing them to the one who can make a real difference in this world. So here we are. In every election cycle some of those we chose as our representatives are rejected from their positions and someone else is chosen to take their place. What will God do if we do not carry out our responsibilities as His representatives, His ambassadors? What will He do if we behave in manners that tell the world He doesn’t matter? His law is just rubbish and we can do what we choose? Can we just assume that once we ask forgiveness we can do anything we want and drag God’s reputation through the mud by calling ourselves by His name yet living the same life as Satan’s minions? That’s just not logical. Granted, some things God does don’t seem logical to us at times because we don’t have the mind of God. But throughout His word, He makes pretty clear that He treasures His reputation and the value of His name. I’m not sure I’d use the title of His company, Christian, and then live like the world. I’m not sure He’d let me stay in office very long. My election might be short-lived. So are you a representative of Christ or not? A good question for citizens of His kingdom. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Timothy 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 9:33-35 devotional summary I have to tell you, the military and most organizations have their organization charts upside down. If we really focused on who is important in an organization, it’s the people at the bottom of those charts that do the work that make the products and clean the offices and answer the phones. Yes, the CEOs and the generals make decisions and take a lot of risk with their careers as they lead those within their organizations, but without all those people below them, the missions would never be accomplished. As a leadership consultant, I often shock those senior folks by showing those charts just that way, upside down, to get the point across. The people at the top should be the servant of all those they lead. Jesus was a servant and He is the Son of God. If He can lower Himself to perform the lowliest task of the lowest servant in the household, washing animal feces off the feet of the guests before dinner, don’t you think we should serve those we lead as well? People flocked to His leadership style. If you want to be first, be last, the servant of all. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - John 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 9:16-29 devotional summary More often than not, astonishment is the reaction I see on the face of even Christians when God heals His children when they pray. Shouldn’t we expect God to do what we ask if we pray in His Name and in His will? If we pray, not expecting anything to happen, do we have faith to believe He can? Why would God answer our prayers if we don’t expect Him to? Why should we be astonished when God does what we ask? Why, when we go to Him in earnest prayer and He answers in tangible ways do we carry with us any emotions other than praise and thanksgiving? Maybe we don’t see much physical healing in our churches today because we really don’t have faith to believe God can do what He says. Maybe we don’t see forgiveness in our church because we don’t have enough faith to know He really can forgive us of our sins. Maybe we don’t see revivals sweeping across our land today because we who call ourselves Christians have lost what it takes to call down God’s Spirit on us in true faith and know He will answer when we ask Him. The man who came to Jesus with His demon possessed son got it right that day. Maybe we need to get on our knees and emulate Him today. Lord, I do believe. Help me with my unbelief. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Daniel 7-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 9:12-13 devotional summary If Jesus could make the checklist of prophecies to set up an itinerary to fulfill them from the scriptures, how could He get the scribes and Pharisees and chief priests and Romans to play along? After all, they didn’t want anyone to recognize Him as the Messiah. They were doing their best to discredit Him, right? So why would they fulfill scripture by hanging Him on the tree, crucifying Him? Why would the Romans cast lots for His garments? They didn’t know they were fulfilling centuries old prophecy and certainly wouldn’t have if they knew. Why would they not break His legs as was their custom when they wanted to make sure they were speeding up the execution process? It would have taken little more effort or time snap Jesus’ shins than to thrust a spear into His side. So why fulfill prophecy if Jesus were not the Messiah? The Romans didn’t know any better. The Pharisees and chief priests would certainly have stopped it if they remembered. What’s the probability that anyone could fulfill the prophecies about the Messiah in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled? Peter Stone and Robert Newman wrote a book several years ago entitled Science Speaks that determined the probability of the fulfillment of just eight of those prophecies - 1 in a quadrillion. That's one with seventeen zero's behind it. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning or winning the lottery. So just based on statistical analysis alone, I’d say odds are pretty good Jesus is the Messiah. Just as it is written. What do you think? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 8:34-9:1 devotional summary With the growing number of suicides, murders, neglect and abuse of children and elderly, it seems we have failed to teach our children and their children the value of life. How do we fail in that effort? What do you tell your children about terrorists? They are still souls Jesus died for? How do you talk about gang members on the street? Jesus died for them. What do you say when your elementary school-aged child brings home the slang titles of a different race? God created them, too. Each person on earth is created by God. He died on a cross for their sins just as He died on the cross for yours and He died on the cross for mine. Until we recognize the value of every life and begin to teach our children and their children the value of every life, we will continue to see society throw lives away. It might be by suicides or murders or abuse of children and the elderly or negligence of a race or socioeconomic group, but we will throw some group of people away as unimportant. But Jesus thinks every life is so important and so valuable that He gave His own life to redeem each one. What is each life worth to Him? Everything including His own. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 93-95 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 8:33 devotional summary Just think, Peter tells Jesus He is the Messiah, the One who would rescue them from the oppression and bondage sin brought on the world. He proclaimed Jesus is the Son of the Living God. But when Jesus tells the group of disciples gathered around Him the events that would unfold concerning His arrest, beating, torture, and death, Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him. Can you imagine the nerve it takes to rebuke the person you just called the Son of God? Do you realize how bold you must be to believe Jesus is God and then tell Him what He said is not just wrong but to rebuke Him because He said it? Think of that word, rebuke. It means to criticize sharply or to speak to someone in an angry and critical way. That’s what Peter did to Jesus right after He told Him he believed Him to be the Messiah, the Son of God, the Liberating King, the Anointed One. The unmitigated gall! How could Peter possibly think he could contradict the One He just proclaimed to be the Son of God? It just doesn’t make much sense, does it? At least he scripture says he took Him aside instead of making the rebuke in front of all the other disciples. “Hey, Jesus, come over here a minute. We need to talk. I need to tell you a couple of things before you go any further with this line of discussion. You know you’re God, right? You can’t be talking about death and torture and sacrifice if you want to draw a crowd. You need to get a little more upbeat and get back on track with the healing and feeding multitudes. This gloom and doom talk isn’t going to get you very far in the ratings. I think you need to tone it down a little. Understand?” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Chronicles 1-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 8:27-30 devotional summary Perhaps if you put yourself into the pagan world of Rome or Greece and remember the myths that ran through their religion, you might begin to understand the speculation that occurred. You might begin to see why some people in the crowd questioned who this Jesus really was. If you believed in a pantheon of gods, He could be just one more and so was no big deal except He decided to spend some time on earth instead of Mount Olympus. But now move forward 2,000 years, Who do you say that Jesus is? Do you believe He is the Son of the Living God? Do you know there is only one God represented in three personalities, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and that Jesus is one of those personalities, part of the triune Godhead? Do you know that He is God incarnate, come to live along side us for those 33 years to share our troubles and sorrows and temptations? Do you know He came to give His life as the penalty for your sins and mine so that we would not have to pay with our life? Do you know Jesus, the God/Man, loves us enough to do that for us? Today, there is still great speculation about Jesus’ identity. Some say He was just a great prophet. Some say He was a great teacher. Some say He was a rebel and a radical leader. Some say He was a marvelous rabbi, but twisted the scriptures in unusual ways. Some say He is the one and only Son of God, our perfect sacrifice, waiting to return to take His followers home to be with Him forever. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Leviticus 25-27 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 8:23-26 devotional summary Have you ever thought about why Jesus had to touch this man twice? What was it about this encounter that required Him to work in the man’s life two times instead of just once? In almost every other occasion we see Jesus speaking to someone or touching someone or doing something and the word says immediately the person is healed. So what is it about this encounter that is different? Why the second touch before this man could see clearly? Was Jesus off His game that day? I don’t think so. Was this man worse than others Jesus’ had seen? Probably not. Did the man have some strange disease Jesus didn’t know about and that’s why it took a double dose of His cure? I doubt it. Jesus is God incarnate. He can do all things. This was just another simple case of healing. So why the difference? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Thessalonians see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 8:15-19 devotional summary Do we do the same thing today? Does the story fit us in this generation? I’m afraid so. Whether we want to talk about the Hollywood celebrities so many emulate, or the sports figures that pocket millions in salary but find themselves on the wrong side of the law, or politicians that think themselves above the law, or any number of other segments that we tend to focus on, there are those that spread leaven in our society. They plant seeds of evil, lifestyles that run contrary to the life God wants us to live. Yet we flock to them thinking it’s okay to follow their pattern of life. It’s not. Look around, though, and you’ll find people wearing the same style clothes, styling their hair the same, using their same speech patterns. We fall into the trap of letting these leavening agents of sin slip into our lives, sometimes without even thinking about it. Jesus warns us, “Beware of the yeast, the leaven.” I don’t think He would use the terms Pharisee or Herod today. But instead He would point to those figures of authority we tend to blindly follow that will lead us to our destruction if we are not carefully discerning whether they are following God or self. How can we tell? Know God’s word. If they act in a way that is not in concert with His word, beware. God does not contradict Himself. Beware the yeast and leaven. It spreads before you know it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - John 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 8:12 devotional summary But He doesn’t deal in signs. He doesn’t deal in hocus-pocus. He doesn’t make deals. He works in issues of faith. You believe or you don’t. You love Him or you don’t. You obey His word or you don’t. You live for Him or you don’t. It’s pretty black and white. No signs. No flashes in the sky. No banner headlines. No great visions or spirits rising from the grave. Just faith in Him. That’s the deal. He still cares. He shows us that by what He did for those who were with Him for those three days without food. He fed them all until they were full. Probably some of those in that crowd hadn’t eaten until they were full in a while. But they did that day with baskets of food left over. Jesus cares. He showed it to those crowds by sticking around and healing all those who came to Him for healing. He touched everyone of them and took away whatever was wrong with them. They didn’t ask for a sign, they just asked for help and believed He could do it. That’s what He asks from us. Just believe. Just trust. Just know that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. He was there at creation, He loves us and cares about our needs. And when we meet Him with eyes of faith, we don’t need any signs, we know who He is without them. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Daniel 1-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 8:2-5 devotional summary Now here’s a question for you, when is the last time you stuck around a church service for three days without food? In fact, when is the last time you stuck around a church service for three days? In fact, when is the last time you heard about any church service that lasted three days straight without a break? I still remember the two-week revivals that sometimes extended an extra two or three days because of what was happening in those services, but they stopped something during the night and everyone went home until service started the next night. Not many people came to those services hungry either. But for Jesus’ ministry at this occasion, thousands stayed with Him without food for three days. Now that is a revival service. What would it take to have that kind of impact on a community again? How could we engage the hearts and minds of those around us to interest them enough to not only grab their attention and get them to come to listen, but then to keep them for three days because they’re afraid they might miss something if they left? What kind of service would you need to conduct to make people willing skip breakfast, lunch, and dinner for three days because of the Spirit of God they feel all around them? Good questions, aren’t they? We have a hard time getting people to stay long enough to miss the kickoff on television even though they could program their DVR so they don’t miss it and fast forward through commercials. We have a hard time getting people to commit to a prayer breakfast on a Saturday morning because they would have to mow the lawn later in the day or miss their favor tee-box time. We have a hard time getting people to listen to a sermon that’s more than 20 minutes long because that’s more than two television commercial breaks. What does it take to get people to come and listen and stay? It starts with me and you begin so tuned into God and His will that we can’t help but pour out His love to everyone we see. When others really see Jesus in us, they will stick around just like those thousands that followed the Master 2,000 years ago. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 14-15 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 7:34 devotional summary Sometimes I think a lot of us are deaf without any physical hearing problems. We hear what we want to hear and block out everything else. We don’t want to hear the truth of God’s word so we close our ears to His message and instead listen to what the world has to say. We listen to the voices of that tell us fame and fortune are the goals we should set for ourselves instead of listening to God and the plans He has for us. Fame and fortune may be part of His plans, but don’t count on it. He not as interested in our fame, but in His name. The world wants us to listen to its advertisements and buy into the idea that we are more important than anything else. We deserve to have it all. We are the center of the universe and everything revolves around our wants and desires. The world tells us it’s okay to satisfy our desires any way we choose. It doesn’t matter who gets hurt in the process as long as we get our way. It tells us the one with the most toys at the end wins. Too often we like what the world says and we turn a deaf ear to God and what He tries to tell us. He tells us all those things the world sets as such high goals are just temporary. They don’t last. And they don’t satisfy very long. They might make you happy for a little while, but the happiness doesn’t last. What God promises is joy, not happiness. But joy can last eternally. The world promises a party. God promises life abundantly and eternally. What does it take to hear God’s truth in a world driven by selfish motives and desires? Let Jesus touch your ears. Then He will touch your tongue and you can share His story with others as well. You don’t need to go through life deaf to the truth. Just let Him touch you. You’ll be amazed at the sounds you will hear when you do. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 90-92 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 7:27-29 devotional summary We have dozens of translations available to us today to help us understand His word better. We have commentaries and studies to help us dig deep into His word. We have sermons from a variety of great preachers both audio and written to give us insights into God’s word. We have books, video, audio, websites, incredible assets at our disposal to learn more about what God wants of us. But how much of it do we really use? If we are honest, probably not much. And as a society, we don’t use it at all. When most adults read less than one book a year after graduating, it’s no wonder we don’t know much about God’s word. We never read it. Maybe you think it’s enough to just listen to a few scriptures the pastor reads when he begins his sermon on the Sundays you attend. It’s not. You see, most people go to worship services expecting to be fed, but never take a fork with them. Unless we are prepared to be fed by really getting into God’s word throughout the week, praying consistently, learning from Him, the worship service is just a time for entertainment. We won’t get much out of it spiritually. We might get a good feeling. Our emotions might be stirred by the music. But that’s not what God wants from us. He wants us to eat from His table. He wants us to devour His word. He wants us to go to His house of worship prepared for something spectacular to happen, but that only happens when we come prepared and expecting it. Crumbs. That’s all the woman expected. That’s all she asked for. That’s all she wanted. She knew it would be enough. But Jesus gives us so much more when we put a little faith in Him. She used a wise saying to help us today understand just how much is available to us. We have much more than crumbs to help us know who Jesus is. All we have to do is believe it. He does the rest from there. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Kings 21-25 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 7:18-23 devotional summary Jesus didn’t mince words when He laid out His list of evils as He shared with His disciples - evil thoughts, immoral sex, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wicked acts, treachery, sensuality, jealousy, slander, pride, and foolishness. Did He really say foolishness? Yep. That’s evil? It can be. Proverbs warns against foolishness a lot. Foolishness wastes effort, resources, hurts people carelessly. It’s not the same as having fun and enjoying life. Foolishness is the opposite of wisdom and harms God’s creation. So, yes, foolishness is evil. We like to skip over those things that society says is okay, but they’re not. Sex outside of marriage is not okay despite what the world may say. Adultery is not okay regardless of who else might engage in it. Greed is not healthy for society or for the individuals that engage in it. Jealousy hurts not only the one who is jealous but it taints every relationship that person has. Slander creates distrust across society and is worse that theft because things can be replaced, but reputations can be destroyed forever. Pride sets us up for a mighty fall because it always puff us up falsely. Foolishness causes us to do things that just lead us into trouble unnecessarily. Yet all these things the world often thinks are okay. None of these are condemned the way Jesus condemns them . So who will we listen to, the world or Jesus? If we want to live eternally, the answer better be Jesus. After all, He’s the one who will stand as our judge at the end of time. It’s probably best to do what He says. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Leviticus 22-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 7:6-16 devotional summary Are the rules important? Sure. They keep us from the poisons outside the fence. But when we let the rules become our god. We’ve gone too far. When we live at the fence, we miss the special food God prepares for His children in the middle of His pasture. Just like the rancher doesn’t put the best grass seed at the fence line, neither does God. He wants us to come close to Him, in the middle of His kingdom. He invites us into His home, and that’s not at the fence. The Pharisees focused on rules. Jesus focused on our heart. The Pharisees focused on the fence line. Jesus focused on God’s home. The Pharisees focused on what we should not do. Jesus focused on what we should do. The Pharisees’ lives were full of negatives. Jesus’ life was full of positives. So why is it so many people want to follow the way of the rule watchers instead of life giver? Why do so many flock to the list keeper instead of the One who frees us from the list and gives us the pasture to get our fill? Yes, rules are important, but when you live in the center of the pasture, you never have to worry about getting your head caught in the fence in the first place. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Thessalonians 4-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 6:50 devotional summary Jesus says, “Don’t be frightened. Do you see?” Can you exercise just enough faith to open your eyes and see Me? Can you poke your head up above the rail just enough to recognize Me and see that I can do miraculous things in your life if you’ll let Me? Will you take the blanket off your head and see that I can help you, that I can calm the storms in your life, that I can bring peace to your troubled heart? Satan wants us to keep our eyes closed. Oh, he’ll tell us that we are wise, just like he told Adam and Eve. They learned otherwise. He’ll tell us the One out there on the water is something to be feared, something other worldly, something impossible to exist. But if we will just sneak a glimpse of the Man who beckons us, we will find we don’t need to be frightened. We will see Him walk out of the mist that the world tries to cloud Him in and we will recognize Him for who He is. We will see that Jesus is the Son of the living God. We will see that He can forgive our sins, fill us with His Spirit, and enable us to live the life He calls us to live. We will see the fog roll away and know that Jesus wants to do incredible things for and through us if we will just poke our heads above the railing. Or if we brave enough, like Peter to step out of the boat, we can be part of some wondrous water walking experiences of God’s hand at work all around us. Don’t be frightened. Don’t you see? It is Jesus. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - John 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 6:37-40 devotional summary We know about the crowd that followed Jesus to hear Him speak. We know they are some distance from any town of any size that could provide enough food for the number of people gathered there. We know no one really expected to stay as long as they did or more people would have brought food with them. We know it is late enough in the day people are starting to get hungry. We know the disciples want to send them away because they are afraid of what hungry people might do to them. Jesus asks the disciples that obvious question, “Does anyone have any bread?” Duh! Before you send everyone home, see if there is enough food that we might share. Maybe these folks didn’t come unprepared. Perhaps they heard about His ministries in other places and knew He would stick around as long as people came to Him and that could be a while. Maybe a bunch of people brought a picnic lunch or supper in a basket and had enough to share. “Just go look and see.” They came up with five small flatbread and two fish, if that makes any difference. That much could start a riot among hungry mouths, but not much more. Five tortillas and two sardines would give each person just enough to know they had a crumb of something in their hand if they spread it around, but they probably wouldn’t be able to recognize what it was. The morsel would be two small to tell whether it was meat or bread or potato or dried grass or a grain of sand on their palm. Not much to ease any hunger pangs they might have. Nope, the headlines read “Riot on Judean Hillside Over Five Flatbread and Two Fish”. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezekiel 43-48 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 6:31 devotional summary what do we do with that leisure time and what do we do when we rest from our labor? Now few people work six days a week at their jobs. 40 hours is the standard and most people have the whole weekend free. But what do you do with it? Do you honor it and make it holy? Do you remember, like the Israelites that your labor, whatever it might be, is service to God, and then your rest is a time to remember Him and should be made holy, set apart, different? God didn’t need rest from the labor He expended to create the universe. He spoke and light appeared. He spoke and water separated the firmaments. He spoke and the sea stopped at the coastlines. He spoke and all the vegetation and animals in the world came into being. Then He made man in His image. God just said the words and things happened. God spoke. He didn’t need rest from what He did. But He commands us to honor the Sabbath because we need rest. We need a Sabbath to stop from our self-imposed busy-ness and remember Him. We need a Sabbath to do something different from our every day labor to give our physical bodies and our minds a chance to recover from the labor we gave to Him the other six days of the week. We need a Sabbath. That’s why God commands us to remember it, use it, honor it, set it apart and make it different and holy. How are you doing with that fourth commandment these days? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 13 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 6:4 devotional summary Do you really want to test your faith? Do you really want to know if what you’ve found in Christ is real and can stand up to the test of the world and the ridicule of those you ran around with as an enemy of God and His kingdom? Then live Christ in front of your family. Day in and day out live the life God wants you to live. Share what God puts on your mind. Do the tasks He calls you to do. Love the way He wants you to love within your family. When you live your life in front of your family, they know if you are real. You can’t put on a façade in front of them, at least not very long. They know your past. They know your habits. They know the things you’ve started and quit. They know the resolutions you’ve made through the years and failed in keeping. They know the buttons to push to get you riled up and send your emotions flaring. Your family knows you better than anyone else. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 87-89 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 5:36-43 devotional summary So why did Mark point out this small detail? This point about Jesus going to heal a 12-year-old girl? Children were the throw-aways of society, then and now. If you were going to discard someone, it would be one of those two groups. Second, the child was a she, not a he. Women held little or no standing in the societies of Jesus’ day. The feminist movement was unheard of. Today’s Shariah laws concerning women would have been considered left-wing liberalism in those days. Women had no rights. Life was harsh. Third, with all these cultural things weighing against any hope for this young life, we see that if no one else does, Jesus cares. He goes out of His way to meet the need of this young lady and her family, even to the point of reminding them that after not eating for the time she lay in state while the professional mourners wailed by her side, she would be hungry. Her parents should hurry and fix her something to eat. What’s the point? If Jesus cares about such an insignificant person in the society of His day, certainly, He also cares about you. He will help you when you call on Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Kings 16-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 5:30-34 devotional summary That’s important to this story. It tells me that God knows what I’m doing when no one else does. It tells me my prayers and my desires and my hurts and my questions are not lost in the cacophony of the crowd around me. Even in the noise of the world that seems to drown out my voice to others, God hears. The world may not care about what happens to me and in fact, might press me down in their rush to move along the street of life, but God cares. He won’t let me get lost in the crowd. He knows my touch among the throng of people that crowd around and might try to still my voice. That’s one of the things I like most about this story. God hears me, even when others don’t. He listens, even when others try to crowd me out. He responds to my touch, even though it is so brief and so gentle that most would never notice a touch has been made. The story tells me God really cares about us individually. He picks us out of the crowd and meets us where we are and meets our specific individual need, not what the roar of the crowd suggests. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Leviticus 19-21 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 5:19 devotional summary “I want you to go back home to your own people.” The newly freed man didn’t expect that. He probably didn’t want it, either. Like most of us, the man probably wanted to accompany Jesus on His mission journey through the other towns of Galilee and Judea spreading the good news that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. But that wasn’t the mission Jesus gave him. Jesus told him to go home and talk to his family. The people that knew him best. The man freed from his demon possession would have a tough time ahead. Jesus wanted him to witness to those who knew him best. He was to show the change in him. He was to share the message and not just talk about it, but live it every day in front of those who knew him best. This changed man was to prove himself to those who did not trust him, those who threw him into the street and chained him up in the cemeteries because he had been a danger to the community. His task would be his toughest assignment. But that’s sometimes what Jesus calls us to do. Live the life He calls us to, just where we are, the toughest place to live. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Thessalonians 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 5:7-9 devotional summary Jesus commands the demon to come out of the man. And the demon replies, “…In the name of God, I beg you…” Did you notice that? The demons serve Satan. They devote their lives to the powers of darkness. That give their all to the enemy of God. They do everything they can to thwart the plans God has for His kingdom and our salvation. They want to capture our soul and turn us to wickedness and away from God and His holiness. These demons want to lead us on the world’s path toward eternal destruction and join them in Satan’s hell. Yet, when Jesus confronts these demons with the command to leave this tortured man, the demons cry out, “In the name of God…” They know where the real power lies. They understand their boss, Satan has no real authority. He has no real power. He cannot defeat the creator of the universe. His strength cannot match that of the Almighty’s. He knows it and he is very afraid when Jesus comes near. The demon expects great pain, severe punishment because of who he is and what he’s done when Jesus comes near. The demon is now in the presence of God and expects judgment when he encounters His Son in the flesh. He assumes his eternal punishment will begin right then since Jesus has come from heaven and touched His feet to this planet. The demon assumes time has ended for him. “I beg you - don’t torture me.” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 23-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 4:39-40 devotional summary We fear the things we cannot control. Whether it is terrorism, cancer, heart attacks, communicable diseases, storms, we fear these things we cannot control. That’s what was happening with these seasoned sailors. They got caught in the middle of a storm that rose up on the Sea of Galillee while transporting Jesus from one shore to the other. The winds came out of the north whipping up the waves and producing the kind of violent storms that sometimes plagued the area. They didn’t expect it. They didn’t think the storm would come in like it did. They knew how to read the weather and this storm wasn’t predicted. But it came just the same. And they couldn’t control its effects on their small vessel. If it continued, the vessel would surely sink. They were afraid. But Jesus was with them. And that makes all the difference in the world. He controls things we cannot. He controls the results of the storm. In fact, He should the disciples and those in all those other boats that traveled with them that He controlled the storm itself. With just a word the winds stopped, the waves calmed, the rain ceased. The storm obeyed His voice. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezekiel 37-42 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 4:30-32 devotional summary Like the mustard seed that grows into a bush the size of a tree where birds build their nests or like that single candle used to light others that finally engulf the whole room with light, when we share God’s mercy and grace and love with those around us, something happens. His spirit works to spread that fire not only in us, but into those with whom we share. His spirit is always at work. He leads us to people who are ready to hear His word if we will listen to His guiding voice and share when He tells us to. He knows when the time is perfect. Will we see the results of our labor? Maybe, maybe not. It’s not our responsibility to save people from their sins. We can’t do that. We can’t even win them to the kingdom. Not within our power. But what we can do is tell others what He has done and is doing in our lives. We can act as His witnesses and tell them about Jesus and the good news of His kingdom right here for those willing to give themselves to Him. God does all the rest. You might feel like one candle in the darkness sometimes. But remember that single candle begins to lighten the whole room. That event or service or memorial you remember with all those candles lit and providing light in that auditorium started with one candle touching another. Are you willing to be that candle in a dark world? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 11-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 4:26-29 devotional summary When we are part of His kingdom building and do our small part, the simple tasks He asks us to do, He does the rest and we don’t need to know how He does it. If we will sow seeds of kindness, He can use them to grow His grace in the hearts of those who receive it. If we sow His love, He multiplies it and it spreads not just to the ones we love, but well beyond them to touch many who see and hear of that love through the stories of those we touch. If we share the story of Jesus, God’s spirit helps it mature in fertile ground. We don’t need to worry and fret about what happens to the gifts we share with others, prophecy, teaching, healing, hospitality, or any number of other gifts. When we share them, God uses them the way He sees fit and they spread His love and mercy and grace into the hearts and lives of others. Isaiah records God’s message to us: So it is when I declare something. My word will go out and not return to Me empty, But it will do what I wanted; it will accomplish what I determined. God just expects us to carry out the simple tasks He gives us to do. They’re not always easy, but they’re usually simple to understand. When we do, He does the rest. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 84-86 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 4:24-25 devotional summary Before you can multiple, you need to know how to add. Before you can do algebra, you need to have multiplication mastered. Before you tackle calculus, algebra, trigonometry, and geometry should be in your repertoire. And as you begin to master each of those skills, new horizons of learning open up for you so that you can solve problems with ever increasing difficulty that as a grade schooler learning to add, you would never have a clue how to begin to solve if your life depended on it. That’s the way it is with spiritual things. Too many times, people think they should be able to open the Bible and know all the answers about life by reading the book. It doesn’t work that way. We forget that regardless of our physical age, when we are born again, by the Spirit of God, we are spiritual infants. We know just enough about spiritual things to have our sins forgiven and begin to follow God’s leading. As we continue to read His word, pray about it, follow the teaching He gives us, we begin to learn more each day. We figure out what it really means to let Jesus be Lord of our life. But we can’t learn that until after we’ve had our sins forgiven and committed ourselves to Him. Only then do we begin to gain the additional knowledge about His guidance and leadership in our life, because until then, it’s like that second grader reading a calculus book. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Kings 11-15 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 4:21-23 devotional summary Do you play hide-and-seek as a kid? I think it’s a popular game for most kids in almost every society. And I think we can get pretty good at it the older we get. As toddlers, we think that covering our eyes so that we can’t see anyone else means they can’t see us, but as we mature, we learn to hide in closets, find spaces in the cabinets, discover those hidden holes behind boxes in the garage. We find all kinds of places that others forget to look in and can stay hidden for a long time before anyone finds us. We can get pretty good at hiding. Christians have become invisible. We look and sound like everyone else. Co-workers are surprised at the announcement of our faith. Neighbors are shocked if we suddenly say we won’t do something because we say we are Christian. They look at our behavior, our speech, our lifestyle and ask, “So what’s different about you?” What do we answer? What is different about us? How do people know that we are Christian? Can they see God’s light shining through us without us telling them? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Leviticus 16-18 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 3:33-35 devotional summary Jesus wants all of us to remember the few words Christendom agrees on found in the Apostles’ Creed that has come down to us from the very early days of “The Way” as it was called then. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. When we share those words together, we are brothers and sisters. Members of God’s great family. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Colossians 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 3:23-29 devotional summary Jesus wants us united as His church. He wants us to come together to carry out the mission He gave us before He ascended into heaven on a cloud. He wants us to have that single aim, to go and make disciple, teaching them the things He taught His first disciples. So how have we gotten to where we are today with the divide between all those denominations and branches and Catholic and Protestant and everything in between. Somewhere along the line, we let that thing called selfishness slip in again. I want my way. Even in building the kingdom. I want to believe the way I want. I want to interpret what Jesus said the way I want. I want to live the commandments the way I think they should be lived. I want to hear sermons that touch me the way I want them to. We get into this selfish mode even in our religions. We pick and choose and establish our faith around our desires and our will and our wants even while trying to seek God’s will. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 15-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 3:4-5 devotional summary I wonder how often God gets furious with our silence. As we’ve watched the violence around the world and in our own country the last several days and weeks, I can’t imagine the pain and anger He feels at just how evil His greatest creation has become. How could we stoop so low as to kill each other over the color of our skin or the way we talk or the place we live? How could we get to the point that life means so little that we would kill innocent people because some idiot killed another person? When did it become okay to take vengeance on the innocents because of the guilt of wrongdoers? God must be furious with us, don’t you think? We were created to love each other and worship Him. He is a God of love and peace and joy. We, in our drive to fill our selfish desires, have turned this world into one of hate and war and sorrow. How can we do that in light of all God does for us? The answer is found in that word selfish. From the very beginning, Satan tempted Adam and Eve to satisfy instead of God. Everything else stemmed from that first fall. We want what we want at any cost and the cost has been high. Just look around and you see the price we pay every day. Broken homes, racial divide, nations warring against each other over 10 miles of land, civil war, war in the name of God. Would He approve of any of this? No. He is a God of love and peace and joy. But in our selfishness we want our way, not His and so we continue to see others the way we want to see them, instead of the way He sees them. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezekiel 31-36 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 3:3 devotional summary I think it says there will always be those, even within our organized religions that want to keep us trapped in rules and regulations. Even if there are good things that should be done that disrupt the ordinary, those will cry out against those good things because of the rules they live by. And they will consequently lose great blessings and the joy of following Jesus. I think it says we will occasionally have opportunities to hear Jesus tell us to come to Him, but we will have to overcome the glare and ridicule of some tough opposition. The opposition might be fierce and even do everything in its power to destroy us, but if we will stand faithful and follow Jesus’ command, the reward will be well worth it in the end. I think it says we have two choices, we can cower to the influence of those who want to rule our lives with the way things have always been whether right or wrong and find their favor, or we can follow God and find His favor. There are but two choices. Like the man with the withered hand, make the right one. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 2:25-28 devotional summary The Pharisees forgot why the Sabbath came about in the first place. God didn’t get tired and need rest after He brought everything into creation on those first six days. He set aside the seventh day for humankind to rest. God has infinite energy and power. He doesn’t sleep. He doesn’t rest. He doesn’t take a day off. But He knows that we need to stop from our labors and remember who brought all of this into being in the first place. Part of our problem today is we somehow forgot about taking time off to remember God and His goodness to us. I don’t think it really matters what day of the week it is, we just need to stop and spend time remembering Him. And that hour and a half on Sunday morning doesn’t cut it if that’s all the time we give to Him. We need to stop, slow down, quit our busy-ness, set aside time to meditate on God and the blessings He gives us. We need to remember the Sabbath, not as a day on which we must follow a bunch of dos and don’ts, but as a time to worship and praise our Redeemer. I wonder what would happen if we started remembering the Sabbath again? I’m not too sure we know how anymore. What if we spent one whoe day in worship and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ relaxing in the company of each other, hopefully safe from the evils of the world as we share in that one day together each week? What if we stopped doing all our household chores and our shopping and our sports and other activities we didn’t have time for during the other six days of the week and spent that whole day on things related to our salvation instead of on things related to ourselves? Would that make a difference in our spiritual lives? Would it change the dynamics of our families? Would it change our churches? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 81-83 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 2:19-22 devotional summary While the maker of all things is with us, we should not be sorrowful. When we are in His presence, if our sins are forgiven, we can experience incredible, inexplicable joy. That’s what He wants for us and that’s what He gives us. It’s just common sense to follow Him. It’s just common sense to follow His advice about parties and patches and wineskins. It just common sense to ask for His forgiveness of our sins. It’s just common sense to enjoy the peace and freedom from guilt He brings when we follow His commands. It’s just common sense to listen to the Maker of the universe and do what He says to do. That’s what Jesus is telling the scribes and us today. Just use a little common sense. When we do, the only answer we will find is to follow and obey Him for the rest of our lives. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Kings 6-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 2:17 devotional summary Sick people go to see a doctor. Whether a primary care doctor for those routine illnesses, an emergency room for something severe and urgent, or a specialist for something else, we go to a doctor when we’re sick. And usually, if we’re not sick, we avoid those places. I don’t know anyone that enjoys sitting around in doctors’ offices or emergency rooms or hospitals just for the fun of it. They are not built for fun. I don’t have any hospital addresses on my vacation list. You probably don’t either. But guess what? I also don’t know any doctors that make house calls any more. If you don’t go to the place they practice, you won’t get the care you need. House calls are out of the question now days. Jesus tells the scribes when they complain about the company He keeps that it’s time to make house calls again. He goes outside the temple and the synagogues and reaches out to the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the thieves, the beggars, the lepers, the outcasts of society. He doesn’t wait for the sick to come to Him, He goes out to the sick to shorten the distance the must go to reach Him. So what does that tell us today? Too often we get comfortable sitting inside the four walls of our churches, temples, and synagogues waiting for someone to come in to hear the gospel. As we sit in the pew and sing praises, we wonder why the world is in such terrible shape. But we refuse to take a step outside the door to share the message to those who really need to hear the good news that Jesus will forgive them of their sins and live in them to help them live the life for which He created them. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Leviticus 13-15 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 2:14 devotional summary So how should we view elections? Who should we vote for in these important races? What should we do as Christians as the din of the rhetoric rises around us? I’m not sure the answer is easy, but it is simple. We need to get on our knees and pray. Ask God for His guidance. Be good citizens and explore the character of the candidates long before going to the poll. Don’t listen to the media. Depending on whether you listen to CNN or Fox, you get a different slant that bends toward the candidate their executives want in office. News networks sell advertisements and entertainment. They are businesses, just like the grocery store down the street. If they can’t sell advertisements, they go out of business. If they can’t lure listeners with the best entertainment, juicy gossip, or twist of the news to what you want to hear, the way you want to hear it, you’ll turn to another station. So research candidates on your own. Search every source you can find to figure out what kind of character they have. Pray a lot and vote for the person who follows Jesus. But most importantly, you follow Jesus. He tells us to. And when we follow Him, we can’t go wrong. This world is coming to an end. His book tells us it’s coming. Whoever sits in the office next, God allows it to happen. When he or she is God-fearing or God-serving or not, doesn’t matter. It’s still God who allows that person to serve for His purposes. Perhaps our next president will be part of the events that usher in the end of the world. It’s pretty exciting to think we’re voting for that person, isn’t it? So who do you think that might be? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Colossians 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 2:5-11 devotional summary Is the Bible accurate? Yes. Every time someone tries to prove something doesn’t fit historic facts, archeologists seem to uncover evidence that the Bible, not the historic facts are true. Is it scientific? No. It’s not meant to be. It’s the story of what God does for us and why, not how. Our finite minds can never wrap around the infinite wisdom of God. Just one simple thought to consider to boggle our finite mind: Scientists tell us everything is made of atoms. And atoms are mostly empty space. So much so that scientist tell us that if all the empty space in the universe could be removed and the solid mass of the universe condensed into a single object, some say it would take up the space of a house and some say as small as a basketball. So why can’t we just walk through walls? I know the quantum physics answer, but it does make you wonder about God’s design in it all, doesn’t it? After all, where did those, electrons and protons come from to repel each other in the first place to form those atoms we’re talking about? So when the Bible tells us proves to be true, then when it says Jesus is God in the flesh, that must be true, too. And we exercise just a little faith in that truth, scripture opens up to us in incredible ways. Just try it. You’ll find He really can forgive sins. He forgave mine and He can forgive yours, too. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 19-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 1:41-44 devotional summary Do we get so tangled up in our taboos that we forget the people inside them? I sometimes think that’s what Jesus tries to tells us. The leper He healed that day had only other lepers as friends. Drug addicts end up with drug addicts and dealers as their only friends. The homeless end up with only the homeless as friends. The down-and-out end up with the down-and-out as their only friends. Maybe part of the less Jesus wants us to learn is that we need to break the rules every once in a while and break through with compassion to those who need someone else in their circle of friends. Before we can be healed of any of those maladies above, we must want to be healed, just like the leper in the scene Mark gives us. But how many of the addicts, homeless, down-and-out finally come to realize they need help, only to find that when they get to the edge of the crowd, no one will reach out and touch them. No one on our side of the divide will dare to break the rules as Jesus did. To find healing from the diseases the sin this world brings upon us, it takes two willing to break the rules. God in His holiness, willing to reach out to a sinful man and forgive him of the wrongs committed. And this sinful man recognizing the pitiful state I’m in and reaching out to a holy God in whose presence I am not worthy to stand. When both of us break the rules, healing takes place. He makes me clean and invites me into His kingdom. What a marvelous God we serve. Have the two of you broken the rules yet? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezekiel 25-30 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 1:38 devotional summary In our mobile societies, an interesting phenomenon takes place in our churches that’s hard to avoid, but we really must if we really carry out the mission God wants us to carry out. Carole and I have found that almost every church has walls. Not just physical walls that hold the roof up, but invisible walls that keep newcomers from joining in. No one really means for those walls to be there and most churches think they don’t have them. But they exist, nonetheless. Here’s why. Because we don’t have real community churches anymore in which people walk to their church and meet each other across their fence every day during the week, for most parishioners, the only time they see each other is at church. So what happens? Before services, between services, after services friends catch up on the latest news. So what do the newcomers do? They slip in and out of the building because they don’t want to interupt ongoing conversations. They hear the laughter and see the smiles. Everyone knows it’s a friendly church except the newcomers because they’ve gone unnoticed except by the person who handed them a bulletin at the door. We don’t mean to be unfriendly as churches. We don’t think we exclude people from our fellowship. But most churches actually do a very poor job of assimilating new people into their congregation. There are some giant churches in which people come and enjoy the music and the sermons and like to worship together, but even in those mega-churches, you’ll find hundreds of people who have worshiped there for months who no one knows and they don’t know anyone there. They’re still newcomers, really. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 8-9 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 1:25 devotional summary Jesus wants to bring freedom to any of us who want freedom from the sin and evil that is resident within us. We may not be possessed by demons, but we all have sinned and harbor that dark place that needs His light shined upon it so the darkness is dispelled. He wants to do that for us if we will let Him. He is anxious to do the work and all it takes is the sound of His voice. Come out and leave him. For Jesus, it’s that simple. Where no one else can soothe the guilt and turmoil in our soul, Jesus can with just a few simple words. You are forgiven. Enter in. Faithful servant. Child of God. Simple words with great impact. Don’t you love the power in His simple words? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 78-80 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 1:17 devotional summary Today, I think Jesus would use traffic jams and unions strikes and political campaigns and pollution generators and wind and solar powered generators and all sorts of things we see and hear every day to explain the kingdom of heaven at hand and God’s desire to show us His grace and mercy. I think Jesus would share with us in ways that speak to our hearts using tools that help us clearly understand just how He wants us to live and share the message with others. He would call us to follow Him just as He called Simon and Andrew. But He might not ask us to be fishers of men. He might ask us to follow Him to be taxi drivers and carry people to the kingdom or pilots to fly them away to heaven or who knows what occupation He might use to help you or me better understand He has a specific role in mind for us. He created each of us with a purpose. God’s plan will be fulfilled and we can choose to be part of it or not. But if we choose to follow Him, He has a plan for us, too. He has work for us to do in His plan. We can be part of the good work He does. I will bring others into the kingdom, but not as a fisherman. I just don’t like to fish. That’s not what I do. Jesus knows that about me. But He does know what I like and what I do best. That’s where He calls me and that’s where He uses me in His great plan. What a Savior, Master, and Lord we serve! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Kings 1-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Mark 1:15 devotional summary It’s time to do three things He says. Seek forgiveness, change your actions, and believe this good news. The first, seek forgiveness, requires us to first recognize we are sinners, apart from God, in violation of His laws, disobedient and unworthy of His grace. Change your actions. You can’t remain in God’s favor doing the sinful things you’ve always done. Repentance means turning away from the evil and turning toward God. The third thing Jesus tells us to do is believe this good news. What news is that? The kingdom of God is near. It is time! The kingdom of heaven is near. Seek forgiveness, change your actions, and believe this good news! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Leviticus 10-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 28:18-20 devotional summary They looked to their Master and listened to Him give one more command, a commission for those on the hillside and for all who would call themselves His follower: “Go out and make disciples… .” It’s a simple command. Easy to decipher. It’s not difficult to understand. There’s no hidden message in there. It’s very straight forward so there will be no misunderstanding between Jesus and all those who will come after those gathered that day. Go out and make disciples. There it is. Our simple, clear directive from the King of kings on the day His feet last touched the earth. We don’t know when He will come back, but when He does, He will undoubtedly ask us an important question as His followers. “How did you do? You say you are My followers, My disciples. So how did you do? I told you to go out and make disciples, so show Me what you’ve done.” Are you ready for Him to see your results? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Philippians 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 28:9-10 devotional summary You’ve probably seen the popular TV show, actors portray different scenes in public and hidden cameras watch unsuspecting bystanders to see what happens as the action plays out before them. You know the punch line - “What would you do?” Sometimes the actions are pretty bizarre and we would like to think we know how we would react when put in those situations. But do we? Put yourself in the cemetery on that first Easter morning. You go to the tomb to finish preparing the body of the man you thought would lead your country to freedom. You listened to His words and just knew He was must be the Messiah, but then He was arrested and killed like a common criminal. All your dreams are dashed. But you still want to carry out this last act of respect. The guards are laying around the tomb either unconscious or so terrified they just can’t move. The stone is rolled away from the entrance. You see an angel sitting on top of the stone. The tomb is empty. Then the angel talks to you and tells you not to be afraid. What would you do? I’d probably be scared out of my gord no matter what the angel said. He just took on a whole Roman squad by himself and rolled away a stone too massive to for any man to move alone. And did it all without getting a speck of dirt on him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 17-18 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 27:46 devotional summary We have no record of what happened from the time Jesus was laid in the tomb until He burst forth in resurrection power. We don’t know the struggle that took place between He and Satan. We don’t understand the realm of the after life and what happened to Jesus’ spirit after He took that last breath and left this world to enter the next. But I imagine the real battle took place then. Satan thought he won when He killed the physical shell that housed the God/Man. He thought it was over when Jesus’ heart stopped its rhythmic beat and His lungs refused to release and accept air in them. Satan thought when the physiological processes ceased, it was over. But I think he and his minions found the battle had only begun when Jesus’ last breath passed His lips. I think it was at that point, when Jesus had become sin for us and died for us that He entered the depths of hell for us. And there He engaged His enemy in full force. I expect Satan never expected God to visit his domain. God is holy and would never step foot into the bowels of hell which reeks of evil and vice and sin. But when Jesus, the Son of God, became sin for us, then gave His life, and as Paul tells us, descended into Hades, the battle was on. Now the Son of God, covered in our sins, took on the demons of hell in their domain. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezekiel 19-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 27:11 devotional summary So what do we learn from this exchange? Once again we see Jesus is silent before His accuser. There is no need for argument. As victor over sin and death and the grave, Jesus needs no defense. He has already won the victory. Jesus won His personal human struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was about to win the cosmic struggle over sin in just a few hours. Defense just wasn’t required. He was on the offense now. It might not look like it from the world’s perspective, but that didn’t matter and Jesus knew it. The battle was won! When we understand that when we are on His side, we are part of the victory team. We don’t need to defend the faith, we just need to live it. We don’t need to argue our position, we just need to stand on the truth of God’s word. We don’t need to cower in the face of the enemy, the battle is already won. The enemy has already been defeated. He just doesn’t know it yet. God has won! When we believe in Him, we are victorious, too. Defense? Not anymore. We’re on the offense and the very gates of hell cannot stand against the church on the offensive. Jesus didn’t argue. We don’t need to either. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 7 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:64 devotional summary So what do we learn from this exchange between the chief priests, the high priest, and Jesus? First, like Jesus, we must keep our behavior above reproach so no one can bring charges against us unless they hire liars and thugs to drum up false charges. Second, we should recognize that if we are followers of Jesus we can expect unbelievers to try to find fault in our living. Third, when those things happen, sometimes, like Jesus, it’s just best to keep our mouth shut. Finally, what happens if the world trumps up false charges against us and punishes us unjustly for something we didn’t do? What happens if we are imprisoned, persecuted, libeled, discredited, humiliated because of following Jesus? Well, we join a pretty significant crowd, don’t we. If you read Foxx Book of Martyrs, you’ll find you’re in pretty good company. Thousands have gone before you imprisoned, persecuted, humiliated, libeled, discredited, and killed for doing what God asked them to do. They broke no laws. They threatened no lives. They did good to others. Yet the world hated them just as Jesus promised. I won’t tell you it’s pleasant to be in that crowd, but it sure is a pleasure to be in that number. Jesus teaches us even in His encounter with Caiaphas. Learn to be like Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 75-77 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:52-26 devotional summary Where is the so what in there for us today, though? First, we recognize His indescribable love for us. The fact that He would allow all of these things to happen to Him when He could easily escape them and get full retribution against those who tried to harm Him demonstrates just how much He cares for us. Second, We owe Him a great deal, more than we can every repay. He gave His life that we might live. Paul tells us our reasonable worship is to give ourselves as living sacrifices for Him. Anything less than that is unacceptable. It is out reasonable sacrifice for Him. Third, when we walk with Him and He adopts us into His family, those legions of angels are also at our disposal. We need not fear circumstance around us. We need not feaar the things going on in the world or the politics and trends that seem so evil. God is still in charge. He will take care of His children. We can call on Him and He will be there. Will He immediately transport us from the problem and let us escape the pain and ridicule and persecution we might be under? Maybe not. But He will be right there with us to the end. Finally, Jesus went through more than most of us will ever endure in our lifetime. He voluntarily gave Himself to the agony for us. When we suffer the slings and arrows society throws at us because we follow Him, it’s nothing compared to what Jesus went through. So when you think you’re under pressure, stress and strain for you faith, think about the cross. If Jesus could endure the cross, surely we can endure the little suffering the world gives us for His sake. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Kings 19-22 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:50 devotional summary That tells me Jesus loves us all. Saint and sinner alike, Jesus loves us. He gave His life for all of us. If He calls Judas His friend, He calls all of us friend. We are part of His creation and so He cares for us. He loves us and would do anything for our good. In fact, He did. He gave Himself to pay the penalty we should pay for our sins. Jesus doesn’t count anyone as His enemy, only His friend. So what does that say to us? How can we spew the vitriol that sometimes comes from the mouths of so-called Christians against this group or that group when Jesus taught us to love our enemies? Does that mean Jesus condoned their actions? Never. Does it mean we condone a sinner’s actions? Never. But how can you win someone to Jesus unless they understand that you see them as a friend, not an enemy? Jesus gave us the example to follow when Judas came to Him in the garden and placed the betrayal kiss on cheek. The other thing I see in this short exchange is Jesus’ desire that we not procrastinate in our business with Him. Judas was a betrayer and would give His identity to those who would carry Him away to be humiliated, flogged, and crucified. We would probably want to delay the betrayal. Buy ourselves time to avoid the pain and the cross. We would try to push away the agony that was coming. But Jesus just said, get on with it. Stop playing around. Quit trying to pretend things are okay. Stand up and be counted. You are either with Me or against Me. Just own up to who you are. See, it’s only then you can see yourself and let God change you. It’s only then you can truly repent and turn toward Him for forgiveness. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Leviticus 7-9 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:45-46 devotional summary I’m convinced the time is getting short for us to fulfill the mission He gave His disciples that is passed to each of us who call ourselves His followers. He told us to go and make disciples. We cannot do that by sitting within the four walls of our churches. We must share the good news of His sacrificial death for our sins and His resurrection power that demonstrates the truth of His ability to forgive us. We must bring others to Him so they might find forgiveness and enjoy the peace only Jesus can give in these days of evil and violence and terror. Expect when we share and stand on the truth contained in God’s word that others will hate us. When you tell someone their lifestyle doesn’t stand up to the test of God’s sovereign command, they will hate you. When you share with the world that their end is eternal punishment unless they repent and turn from their evil ways, they will hate you. And yet there is another problem the early church encountered and we will encounter as the end of time draws near. Did you hear it in Jesus’ words to His sleeping disciples? “…here comes the one who’s going to betray me.” I’m pretty convinced that as the end draws near, many who call themselves Christian will be happy to betray those who are Christian to save their skin. They will be happy to shed the label and reveal who they really belong to so they can live another day. Brother will turn against brother and fathers against sons. Jesus predicts it because we live in an evil world and labels really don’t mean anything. It’s what’s inside that counts. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Philippians 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:42 devotional summary You can point to situations, circumstance, events in you life you’d not walk through if you could avoid them. I know I would. Painful times that I want to forget. Yet it’s in those painful, almost unbearable times that God seems to call to us and makes us stronger, like iron forged in the furnace. Tempered by the heat it becomes stronger and more durable. That’s what God often does to us in those difficult times we sometimes face. At other times, I think God takes us through those valleys to prepare us for the next challenge we might face or to give us the tools we need to help someone we will meet on our journey of life. We go through those difficult times for a reason. We may never know this side of eternity in many cases why God let us endure those things. But looking back with 20/20 hindsight, I can almost always see where God has drawn me closer to Him, helped me grow spiritually through the ordeal, or taught me lessons I could use to share with others once I’d been through the problems myself. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 15-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:40-41 devotional summary God understands our physical limitations. But He also helps us even with those physical limitations. I’m convinced it was His hand on me physically that let me work the grueling schedule I worked in Desert Storm without collapsing until after our return from the front. His sustaining power gave me the strength to endure all those months until my planning skills were no longer immediate concerns for medical support on the battlefield. We will all face times of testing as the disciples did in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus and as I did with the constant pressures of planning in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. But prayer was high on my list and I felt the prayers of those who were home lifting me to God both for my safety and my ability to perform my tasks well not even knowing what my tasks might be. I knew friends and family were on their knees with my name on their lips. Now twenty-five years after that conflict, I lift those planners and service members in my prayers daily. Some of them I know by name. Most are nameless to me, but not to God. Are there times my body fails me? Yes. Just passing my sixty-second anniversary of my birth, my body fails more often than I’d like, but I’ve learned to lean more on God so He can empower my spirit to keep at the fight. How about you? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezekiel 13-18 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:39 devotional summary Have you ever had God not answer your prayers the way you wanted Him to answer them? If you haven’t, then you probably haven’t prayed…ever! I’m pretty positive that everyone who ever prayed more than once has asked God for something He didn’t grant. You see, God isn’t in the business of being a cosmic Santa as too many want to believe. Instead, we need to recognize God as our heavenly Father. Jesus talked about the fact that a father gives good gifts to his children, so if a son asks for a fish, he wouldn’t give him a snake, right? But we never stop to think that the reverse is also true. When my kids were little, if they asked for a race car, I would probably give them a toy race car. But if they wanted a real one, there is no way, that as a good father I would give them real race car. That would have been foolish. Granting them that request would mean injury or death. They certainly didn’t need a race car and to give it to them would have been a cruel gift to them as their father. The same is true with many of the things we ask from God. He knows what is best for us. We do not. Sometimes we think we are smarter than God and know all the answers, but we don’t God answers our prayers in a way that is best for us and brings glory to Him. He knows the right answers in every circumstance. He knows how to make every bad situation turn for our best. It may not seem like it at the time, but as a good Father, He gives good things to His children. Always. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:36-38 devotional summary Prayer was such an important part of Jesus’ life. We see Him getting away from the crowd and even from His disciples whenever He had important decisions to make. We find Him alone on hillsides, in the mountains, in gardens, slipping away in the night, rising early in the morning. Jesus got away to pray by Himself. He wanted time alone with His Father to discern the best course to take at critical junctures in His life. In this scene just before Judas comes with a squad of soldiers to place the kiss of betrayal on the Master, Jesus once again slips away to pray alone. But in this instance, as He did when Peter, James, and John witnessed His transfiguration, He asks these three to watch with Him and pray. They cannot understand the incredible strain Jesus is enduring at the moment, but they can still join with Him in prayer…if they will. They just finished a meal. They consumed some wine. It’s getting late. They’re not sure what they’re praying about. We know what’s about to happen. Have you ever had that problem? Jesus asks them to watch and wait, but their eyes get heavy and they don’t watch very well. But there are a couple of things I think we can learn from the small exchange we see in the first part of this garden scene with Jesus and His closest friends. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 72-74 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:31-34 devotional summary p>Have you ever made Peter’s type of declaration about one of your snares to temptation? “I’ll never miss my devotions again. I’ll never frequent that den of evil again. I’ll never look at that filth again. I’ll never drink that stuff again. I’ll never smoke that stuff again. I’ll never …” Name the temptation that plagues you most and you’ve probably made the same promise Peter made to Jesus. “Even if everyone else falls away, I’m so devoted and so determined, I’ll never do that because I love you so much.” What happens next? The tempter comes with just the right shiny bait and suddenly we find ourselves falling to the temptation once again. The bait looked so good and so delicious we just couldn’t help but bite and we didn’t see the hook hidden just beneath the surface. Now we’re pulled along by the angler who wants to take our soul. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Kings 14-18 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:26-29 devotional summary Is it easy to let your mind wander to what’s for lunch as communion is being served? Yes. Is it easy to think of the ballgame starting in a few hours? Yes. Is it easy to think about what will happen at work this week? Yes. But if we try, we can also focus on the bread, a symbol for His body, broken for us. We can focus on the cup filled with the fruit of the vine, a symbol of His blood, shed for us. His sacrifice ushered in a new covenant. One in which we can have a personal relationship with the creator. He promised that if we ask, He will live not just with us, but in us, to help us be the person He created us to be. Next time you come to the Lord’s table, stop, think about the bread and the wine. What does it mean for you? Really think about it. Don’t let go of the beauty of the moment as you share this special moment with others. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Leviticus 4-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:21-25 devotional summary There are three things I learn from the disciples in these short exchanges. First, all of us are susceptible to temptation and can betray Jesus if we do not keep our faith strong and our eyes on Him. Second, all of us know our position with Him. We know if we are the one selling Him out to others. Third, there is always a way of escape if we will take it. And most of the time, God points us to it pretty clearly. He makes the exit sign pretty bright, but we have to move toward the sign to get out the door. Judas answered his own question, but he still had a way out if he had chosen it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ephesians 4-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:18 devotional summary I like this about Jesus and the relationships He has built in His thirty-three years on earth. He told a few of His trusted disciples to go find a certain man. No doubt one of the many friends He made along the path of life He traveled over the last several years. Maybe the man was a family friend who didn’t berate Mary and Joseph for the son born to early to them to be Joseph’s legitimate heir. Maybe he was one of the guest at Cana who witnessed Jesus’ first miracle and became a close and trusted friend after believing Jesus was the Son of God. Maybe he was one of John’s followers present on the day John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. We don’t know who the man was, but Jesus sent His disciples to this particular, person to let him know He was coming with a bunch of His friends. And when Jesus’ disciples came to that man and told him what Jesus said, he didn’t even flinch. He set up the room. He got provisions for them. He welcomed them in. He was happy to see Jesus and meet whoever Jesus brought with Him. I often wonder how many of those kinds of friends Jesus made in His wanderings throughout the territories of Judea and Galilee. I think of people like Lazarus, Mary, Martha, Zaccheus the tax collector, and others who probably gave Him an open door invitation to welcome Him into their home any time He was in the area. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 13-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:10-13 devotional summary Are you ever guilty of the disciples’ error? I have to admit, I have been. And I’m pretty sure if you thought about it a little bit, you’ve probably been guilty of the same error. Someone doing good for another person and we stick our nose in it and complain about it. We think they should be doing something else instead. Essentially, that’s what the disciples were saying. Hey, Jesus. Why are you letting her waste that perfume on your feet? She could be doing something else with the money that stuff costs. So many times we want to second guess the good actions of other people. Did you every stop to think that maybe God prompted that person to do that act at that time for that person for a particular reason? Maybe that person needed some encouragement at just that time to keep them on track in their spiritual journey. Maybe the act performed was just the demonstration of God’s love that convinced the recipient that God is real and pointed them to His saving grace and merciful forgiveness. We don’t know why God prompts His children to do particular things at particular times. But sometimes He does. And sometimes those acts may seem extravagant to some. But what causes us to think that way in the first place? I think it’s often that tenth commandment that gets in the way. He didn’t do that for me, so why should he do it for her? I didn’t get that extra helping of potatoes so why should He? The church recognized them for cleaning up the yard, I was there, too, why didn’t I get mentioned? Can you say covet? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezekiel 7-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 26:2 devotional summary The penalty for our sins is still death. That’s what we deserve. We earned the death sentence in our disobedience to God. Every single one of us have that paycheck due us. Death stands at the door. But we have an opportunity to apply Jesus’ sacrificial blood on the door of our heart and live. His blood covers our sins and death passes over us instead of visiting us with its eternal damnation. But the blood must be applied and that is something we must do. Like the Israelites who brushed the lamb’s blood on the doorposts of their homes, we must accept Jesus as Lord, the power of His saving grace, the sacrifice He made to pay the penalty for our sins. His blood, shed for us, applied to our hearts gives us life instead of death, freedom instead of slavery. Passover happened again the day Jesus died. It happens again every time someone in faith accepts Him as Lord. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 25:41-46 devotional summary Yes, there are some crooks out in the world who would take advantage of us. Yes, there are some people who make a living by deceiving others and weaving sad-song stories to get handouts so they don’t have to work and pay taxes. Yes, our government is creating a welfare society in which we are quickly relying on the government instead of ourselves for support. But the vast majority of those in real need are not among that number. And I really think God’s Spirit in us can help us sort those out if we truly listen to Him. He can help us discern the sheep from the goats, even among that crowd. So if we can have compassion for the animals the humane society shows on their commercials with “Amazing Grace” playing in the background, can’t we begin to have some compassion for the people around us that need a little lift in their world? The price for walking by could be pretty high. Remember Jesus’ words, “whenever you saw a brother hungry or cold, when you saw a sister weak and without friends, when you saw the least of these and ignored their suffering, so you ignored Me.” Those are harsh words I don’t want to hear. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 69-71 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 25:31-40 devotional summary I always pictured the judgment as this long line of people walking up to Jesus, sitting on His throne. Next to Him is this gigantic jumbo-screen, like you see in a basketball court, large enough for everyone in line to see. And as you stand there, your whole life plays out in front of you. Everything you did shows up on that screen. Everything! I mean everything! But for those whose sins have been forgiven, washed away by the cleansing power of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, when those sinful acts start to play, instead of the act showing on the screen, there is this splash of blood red that covers the screen. Words scroll across the screen in big bold letters that read, “This portion of Richard’s life (or insert your name if you’re a child of God) is forgotten, covered by My blood.” The video of your life continues. The whole of your life plays out. And as a child of God, saved by His grace, every sin committed shows up with that same crimson cover, “This portion of Richard’s life is forgotten, covered by My blood.” But the other interesting thing about that video for the righteous, is that I think we will see things we never realized happened. Words of encouragement we gave that we don’t remember. Acts of kindness we performed that slipped our mind. Giving gifts without any reason other than giving with the thought sharing God’s love at a particular moment in time, but never remembering the reason or the moment, or even the person we gave the gift. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Kings 10-13 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 25:14-30 devotional summary God gives each of us gifts, talents, skills, experiences that He expects us to use in service to Him and others. What talents, gifts has He given you to serve and edify His church? Is it preaching, teaching, hospitality? Is it one in the long list of spiritual gifts that Paul gives us in his writings? Maybe it’s the gift of math that you can use to help the treasurer of your church or to help others understand budgeting to help them out of or to avoid the stranglehold of debt. Maybe you are gifted as a mechanic and can serve some that need transportation but cannot afford to get their car fixed right because of their current situation. What talents, gifts, skills, experiences has God given you that you can share with someone around you that can help them see the love of God. Can you use those gifts and multiple the disciples in His kingdom? That’s our task, after all, to make disciples in every nation. Are you using the gifts God has given you to double the disciples in your neighborhood? It’s an interesting question to ponder. How many disciples would that be? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Leviticus 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 25:1-13 devotional summary How about us? We know what it takes to get into the wedding feast. It takes confessing our sins, asking forgiveness. Believing in Jesus, God’s Son, as the means of our salvation, the one who sacrificed Himself to pay the penalty for our sins. It takes true repentance, turning away from sin and toward obedience to God. We know what we need to make it to the feast, but have we prepared? Have we accepted Him as Lord? Are we watching for Him and keeping at the ready for the moment He passes by? Only you and God know the answer to those questions. But you can know. And in just a few moments in prayer with Him, you can have the assurance that you are ready and waiting at the roadside. If He tarries before coming, it means keeping oil in your lamp, staying prayed up, keeping Him as Lord, living the life He wants you to live. How’s your oil level? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ephesians 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:48-51 devotional summary the descriptions Jesus gave of His return and the coming judgment lead us to some pretty important questions. First, am I one of His followers? If not, I won’t even have the opportunity to share with Him in glory. I’ll be part of the left behind, Jesus described earlier. I’ll never have an opportunity to carry out His tasks. I’ll face the full force of God’s wrath at judgment. Second, if I am one of Jesus’ disciples, what am I doing to fulfill the task He gave us to go reproduce ourselves? Am I making more disciples? Am I teaching others the practices others have taught me so they can draw closer to God through solid Christian disciplines? Am I showing them how to follow the commands Jesus gave as a living example of obedience in front of them every day? How do I measure up? Am I a faithful, trustworthy servant working diligently until my Master’s return? Or am I a worthless slave not expecting Him to come any time soon and wallowing in disobedience? Both kinds of servant will receive something from the Master. I’d much rather receive His praise and invitation to join Him that to hear His anger and be thrown into the pit where there is weeping and grinding of teeth. How about you? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 11-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:45-47 devotional summary In Jesus' day, when you are a trustworthy servant, it’s like being that employee the boss can count on for anything. The promotions come fast because the boss knows you will do what you say and will get the job done efficiently and effectively every time. You’ll take care of all the other employees in the process. You’ll satisfy the customers, you’ll make sure profits come in and the boss can go on vacation knowing everything will run smoothly when he puts you in charge. That’s kind of what God has done with those who believe in Him. I’m not sure why He would entrust sinful man with the story of redemption but He did. Now He expects us to carry out His work until He returns. He’s like that master that went away and left his faithful servant in charge. He trusts us to do the work He left us to do. He expects us to do it to His standard without expecting anything in return, just knowing we are doing His work. Just like the faithful servant of the master in the story He told. When we do, we will reap the benefits in the end. There is the reward of a job well done and the benefits of living in the master’s home with Him forever. That should be enough. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ezekiel 1-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:42-44 devotional summary The question is whether we’re watching. He will come quickly, like a thief in the night. If the owner of the house knew the thief were coming, he’d stay up all night watching for him and be prepared to defend his home against the intruder. He’d be prepared. Jesus is coming just as quickly and just as stealthily. Unless you’re prepared to see for His coming you won’t see Him before it’s all over. You’ll be like the owner of the house who came in after then fact and found all his possessions gone. The thief came and went and you were not prepared for him. The house is empty and all is gone. If Jesus comes back and leaves you here that’s what your life will be like. Empty. Hopeless. Everything lost. It pays to watch for Him. We know He’s coming. Be ready. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 2-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:37-41 devotional summary As in the days of Noah. Those who truly follow God will prepare. They will see the signs Jesus gave us concerning His return and recognize the time is short. Everyone else will see the signs and ignore them. They will go about their everyday lives and not see the signs for what they are. But then, one day, the signs will be obvious just like the rain falling for the first time was obvious and people will cry out for help. But like those in Noah’s day who ran to the ark for safety. It will be too late. God shut the door on those who would not heed the message Noah had for them in that day. On the day of Jesus’ return, it will be too late. Jesus tells us in these verses His coming will be like the days of Noah. Those that are ready will be taken with Him. Those that are not, will be left to face the wrath of God. Don’t be caught standing on the wrong side of the door. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 66-68 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:36 devotional summary In Jesus day, families didn’t build separate houses. When a son became engaged, those were arranged marriages, by the way, his father had him start building a room or two on the family home for his new bride as a place to begin their new family. The family property was often bounded by a fence or wall to keep wild animals out and the families animals in, so the son would build within the confines of that structure. The extended family would share kitchens, common areas, storage space, usually only bedrooms were separate. And the son, his wife, and as many children as would fit in the bedroom slept together in that room. The father determined when the son’s room was sufficiently prepared to house his new bride and accommodate the making of his new family. The wedding date wasn’t up to the bride, the son, the in-laws, the father made the decision. People in the village knew it was getting close as the new room got closer to its finished construction, but the wedding didn’t happen until the father said, “Son, go get your bride.” And on that day, a wedding happened. No six-week notice in the mail. No engraved invitations. No twitter or Facebook save the date. The father said, “Go get your bride.” And that was the day. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Kings 5-9 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:32-35 devotional summary It doesn’t take a calendar for us to know what time of year it is. Just look around and you can tell. So it is with the end times, Jesus tells us. His word gives us all the signs. He tells us to watch and those who look around can see the seasons change and know that His coming is not far off. The signs are cascading all around us. Wars, rumors of wars, nations fighting against nations, earthquakes, natural disasters of all types, famine, diseases, out of control weather patterns - what else do we need to see to know that the signs are all pointing toward His coming back? The seasons are changing in God’s plan for sending His Son to come back for His bride, the church. Jesus told us the signs. He told us to watch. He doesn’t want us to be surprised when He streaks across the sky to gather us together to take us home with Him. So, are you watching for Him? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 37-40 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:29-31 devotional summary Can you imagine a world with no restraint on evil? Our world is a pretty wicked place right now, but there is still a strangle hold on evil for the sake of God’s faithful. God’s spirit is still in control of this place. He hold reign over Satan and his minions and will not let them loose to do as they please. But imagine if He opened the gates and let Satan do whatever he wished for a time. We think about some of those seemingly soulless people we imprison for the rest of their lives - serial killers, serial rapists, those with no conscience that seem to thrive on the performance of evil and terror against others. Imagine a world full of those people running loose to do whatever they choose. That’s the world after the faithful are taken home with Christ. There is coming a day when Jesus returns to take His faithful home. The question to ponder today, Will I be part of the crowd His heavenly messengers gather to be with Him, or part of the crowd left behind? It’s my choice as to which side I’m on. He’s ready to take Me with Him on that day fateful day, if I just repent and follow Him today. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Galatians 4-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:23-28 devotional summary Thunderstorms remind me of these verses in Matthew and Paul’s description of Jesus’ coming again in 1 Corinthians 15. Jesus says everyone will know of His return. Like lightning in the East is visible in the West. That’s the way it is on my hilltop. Sometimes I don’t know where the lightning is, I just know it’s really bright because it stuck somewhere around us and whole sky lit up when it did. That’s how it will be when Jesus returns he says. His coming will be like lightning. Paul says it will happen in the blink of an eye. Just think about how fast the blink of an eye. It’s measured in milliseconds. And just that fast, Jesus will come, take His redeemed with Him and be gone at the rapture. That’s fast. It’s like a lightning strike He says. Ever try to capture a lightning strike on film. You almost have to take a move and then capture the one or two frames within the movie on which the strike occurs. If you wait to push the button to activate the lens when you see the strike, you will already have missed it. That’s how fast Jesus’ return will be. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 9-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:15-22 devotional summary So how should we approach the debate when Christians begin to argue among themselves so fervently about pre-, mid-, and post-tribulation rapture? We should probably sit back and laugh at the brawl that ensues or perhaps weep for our misguided brothers and sisters who spend so much energy on such an unimportant thing. What does it really matter after all? The question really is, “Will I be part of the rapture when it happens?” As long as I’m right with God, He will see me through the tribulation. Will I suffer during those times? Probably, as will every other human being on the planet. Will I suffer as much as those not right with God? Probably not. But for sure, if I’m right with God, I will not spend eternity in hell, separated from Him. If I’m right with God, I will be part of the rapture whenever it occurs and that’s the more important question. Not when it will be, but will I be part of it? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Lamentations see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Growing up, I always wondered about that part Jesus’ prophecy to His disciples that the end would come after the good news of God’s kingdom is preached throughout the whole world. It always seemed that’s what He was saying in the words He gave to His followers. They must have thought that would be a long time coming since news traveled so slowly in His day. It took months and years to get news from one end of the known world to another. Modes of transportation were as fast as a horse or a ship or a man’s feet. And the path from east Asia to Spain to Egypt and Africa was a long treacherous one. Surely it would be a long time before Jesus returned if this was one of the things that must happen before His return. But God’s message goes where He wants it to go. One day, and it’s coming closer every day, it will spread around the world and then, as Jesus says, the end, the consummation of all things, will come. Be ready, it’s not far away. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Proverbs 1 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:11-12 devotional summary How much should we concern ourselves with Jesus’ prophecy to His disciples about these end time happenings? What do we need to look for ourselves and how can we know if we are part of that group Jesus talks about or are we okay with God as we listen to His predictions? Have we let our love grow cold? Have we let ourselves be taken in by false prophets? Are we slipping into wickedness instead of righteousness? Those are serious questions we need to answer for ourselves as we think of Jesus’ words today. So lets take a look at ourselves over the next few minutes. Should we concern ourselves with His words? Absolutely. Many will fall away. Can I fall away? I could if I fail to listen to Him and read His words and follow Him closely. So can you. Be careful in these days. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 63-65 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:9-10 devotional summary The promise Jesus gives in these two verses doesn’t sound so good does it. You might wonder who “they” includes in Jesus’ comment. Go back to the previous description of the signs of the times and you find it’s the people that claim to come in His name as the Messiah. He says some who call themselves Christians will hand you over to your enemies. If you really follow Jesus, you will be tortured, killed, hated by all nations just because you obey what Jesus says. His words to us may not sound like the most pleasant prospect for us right now. But remember, these things usher in the best days. Jesus is coming soon. And when He does, those that remain faithful to Him will join Him in a party that never ends. We will worship around the banquet table of God rejoicing with Him forever. With that in mind, what are a few days of discomfort in exchange for an eternity with Him? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Kings 1-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:4-8 devotional summary These verses from Matthew that give us the description of the events that happen before the end comes can be a little disconcerting. Wars, rumors of wars, nations fighting against nations, kingdoms fighting against neighboring kingdoms. These are standard headlines today. Famines and earthquakes. They are everywhere. But Jesus tells us all these things are just birth pangs. These are not the end, but signs of its coming. These are the events that will tell us He is returning soon. So what should we do? We have a lot of people to warn and help them understand there is but one way to escape the coming wrath God will pour out on this earth and those who fail to recognize Him as God. We don’t have much time left to do our job. We’d better get to it! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 33-36 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 24:2 devotional summary God allowed Solomon to build a temple. Solomon dedicated it and made some promises that he failed to keep. Solomon’s son, Reheboam lost the northern tribes of Israel from the kingdom because of his father’s and his disobedience. The nation continued to falter in their faith and the temple finally was destroyed after it had been ransacked several times in the nation’s history. Ezra came back to lay its foundation four hundred years before Christ came, but it was nothing compared to the splendor of the ancient temple of Solomon or the awe inspiring edifice of Herod’s temple. And through all that time, the people continued to look at the building as the place where God resided. They put Him in that box and assumed He stayed there. Just like we too often put God in our sanctuaries and assume He stays there. We leave after the worship service and live our lives pretty much the way the Israelites did when they left the temple. We forget God is the God of everyone and everything. That means He is in control of your home, whether you want Him to be or not. He is God in control of your job, whether you like it or not. He is God in control of who sits in the White House, whether the President is in your party affiliation or not. He is God in control of the terrorists, whether we want to think so or not. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Galatians 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 23:34-39 devotional summary The Bible tells us Satan puts a veil over our eyes. The analogy I like to use takes you back to elementary school days. Remember those hidden picture puzzles? The teacher would give us a picture and we would have to find the shovel and the comb and the pail and the apple and umbrella and other objects hidden in the picture. God’s truth in this world is like looking at that hidden picture. Satan has put a veil over our eyes and all we see is the picture until we deliberately exercise our faith in Him. When we put our faith in God, the hidden objects appear. We see all those things we couldn’t see before. The truth stands out and every time we look at that picture, there are the hidden objects. We can’t help but see them from then on. The truth stares at us. We can try to ignore it, but we can’t. But first, we must exercise our faith in Him. So what are you waiting for? Want to know the truth? It’s there in plain sight. Take another look through the eyes of faith. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 7-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 23:23-33 devotional summary We might be avid sports fans, but these were avid law fans. They lived every jot and title. Yet Jesus told them they would not escape the judgment of hell. Why? Because they didn’t understand the kingdom of God is about living a relationship with the Almighty, not about keeping a long list of rules. God’s wants our love, and our love is shown through our obedience to His will. He will let us know our position with Him. Just ask Him. The Pharisees knew. Jesus made it pretty clear. If we ask He will let us know. The question is, will we do something about it. The Pharisees thought they could fix their problem by destroying God’s Son. Of course, their solution didn’t work. The only solution is to come to Him in repentance. Confess who we are and who God is, then turn away from sin and toward Him. Follow the path He lays out for you. That’s the real solution. It works. We never need to hear the woes the Pharisees heard. It just takes listening and doing what God says. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 47-52 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 23:13-22 devotional summary “What you say is not what you do. You steal the homes out from under widows. You are blind trying to lead others. You don’t understand what is really important in the temple or the rituals you use within the temple.” How would you like to hear those words from Jesus? Would it make a difference in what you did or how you acted? It didn’t do much for the Pharisees. They just plotted to kill Him and then carried out their plan. Do we do that? I’m afraid sometimes we do. I’m afraid sometimes we get so caught up in what we think is right we refuse to listen to anything else. We won’t even listen to God. We refuse to listen to anything that might disrupt our comfortable position in the world. We want to be first or at least in the top ten and so we disregard any advice from anyone that would disagree with our position. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 41-42 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 23:2-12 devotional summary It’s easy to play the church game. We can belong to the biggest, most popular church in the city. We can recite the Apostles’ Creed and the tenets of our doctrine. We can sing in the choir and teach a Bible class. We can be on the church board or council of elders. We can sing the right songs, pray what sounds like holy prayers. We can dress just like the preach and even fill in for him when he is absent. We can do all those things, but does that make us right with God? Of course the answer is no. God doesn’t look at those things by themselves. He care less about the external trappings and actions that we do to impress others and looks at the inside as to why we do the things we do. Others will see all those things and might even view us as righteous, right with God, on the inside track with Him. But we and God know better. We know if we do those things to impress people or in service to God. We know if our actions please Him or us. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 60-62 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 22:45-45 devotional summary There are those who wish to think there is no God because they want to wish away His commands. They want to think His laws do not apply. If they acknowledge He exists, they must acknowledge He has sovereign over all things and there will be a final reckoning for all we have done in this life. When you acknowledge the existence of God you must accept the whole package. Jesus talked about heaven and hell, a final battle of good and evil, a final judgment at which those who follow Him will be ushered into the presence of God and rewarded with eternal life with Him. You can’t ignore the parts you want and just pick and choose the words you like leaving the rest behind. God’s word is God’s word. Either all of it is true or none of it. We take it or leave it. It’s still our choice, but that’s the only two choices. No discarding the parts we don’t like. That’s no a choice on the test. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Samuel 20-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 22:37-40 devotional summary God’s kind of love reaches out despite the wrongs that might be done against us. God’s love does good whether or not there is affection or attraction or kinship or ties. God’s love reaches out to perform acts of kindness to show mercy and grace to those who do not deserve it just because people are part of God’s creation. If God made them, they are good and so we love them because we love Him. Love becomes an action verb that says we participate in making life better for those around us because we can. Not because we have to or even because we want to, but we do good for others because we can. That is love. Doing good expecting nothing in return. Wanting nothing except to pour out our lives as an offering to God in the form of service He asks us to do for those who do not deserve it because He poured out His life for us when we didn’t deserve it either. That’s real love. Do you pass the test? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 29-32 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 22:29-32 devotional summary I think that leads us to a few questions we need to answer today. First, have we even read it. Jesus pointed to them and acknowledged their claim. And Jesus really didn’t dispute the fact that they read the words. They could recite them as well as He could. So, the first question for us is have you read God’s word? It’s surprising how few Christians have read the Bible in its entirety. We think that’s for the “holy crowd” or the preachers or something. But if we really want to know God, don’t you think the words He left for us is a really good place to start? So that’s the first question, have you even read His word. If not, today is a good time to start. The second question is do we understand it’s message? Some, like the Pharisees and the Sadducees like to pick it up and find all the “thou shalt not” passages and beat people over the head with them. They see God’s word as a list of rules we must keep in order to win God’s favor and find our way to heaven. But that’s not what God’s word is. The Bible is really a love story. It’s the story of God’s overwhelming love for the people He created. So much so, that He wrapped Himself in flesh and gave His own life as the redemption price to buy us back into His presence. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Corinthians 11-13 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 22:18-21 devotional summary So what do we learn from these students’ encounter with Jesus? First, don’t ever think you are smarter than God. You’re not. You never will be. Don’t even try. Just give it up. Second, don’t worry about who is sitting in the seats of power. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be good citizens. We need to vote for the person God lays on our heart. We need to pray for our leaders. We need to understand the incredible stress our leaders are under to try to make sense out of governing the 7 billion people that occupy this globe. It isn’t an easy job. They need our prayer and support. God let them sit in those seats whether you like them or not. God is still in control of this place, so remember that if you bad-mouth them, you are bad-mouthing the person God allowed to sit in that seat! Finally, keep God first. It was a little thing to have Caesar’s coins in their pockets in the temple. But for these young men, it was like cheating at solitaire. It spoke of their character. They knew they weren’t suppose to have the coins or they wouldn’t have thought to bring up the subject in the first place. Jesus trapped them in their petty rules because they lived by rules instead of relationship. Make your relationship with God and others more important than a list of rules you need to keep. You’ll find that you still keep the rules, you’ll just have a lot more joy and peace while you do it and you won’t even think about keeping them. It will just happen because you love them, like you love yourself. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 22:2-14 devotional summary The King comes and asks an important question. Where’s your wedding clothes? How’s your heart? You heard the invitation, you knew it was a wedding, why didn’t you dress in the appropriate attire. What is the appropriate attire for the King’s banquet? We must be drenched in the redemptive blood of His Son, Jesus. If we haven’t asked for His forgiveness and received Him into our lives as Lord, we’re wearing the wrong clothes. It might look to everyone else that we’re doing everything we’re supposed to. We might fool everyone else along the way. But God and I know my heart. He knows your heart, too. I know if I’m wearing the wedding garments, ready to enter His banquet hall. He doesn’t keep my position with Him a secret. I know if I’m right with Him. There’s an old hymn about that, my wife’s favorite. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story. This is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long. We can have that blessed assurance that we will be part of the great wedding feast with God. All it takes is faith and walking in the path He tells us to follow. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 42-46 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 21:42-44 devotional summary Sometimes I wonder if God would be pleased with the focus we have in our churches and our ministries. Oh, we do some good things. But do we do them in the name of Jesus or to get our brand elevated in the eyes of the market? Do we feed the homeless making sure nothing has our church name on it or do we put a banner up and advertise who is helping? There’s a good question for you. Why do we do the things we do in ministry? Is it really to serve others or to serve ourselves? Do we want to do good and help others or are we trying to buy that ticket into heaven? James tells us faith without works is dead and I agree with Him. And quite frankly, no one looking in from the outside can tell the difference between someone doing good works because of their faith or someone who is doing good works to try to attain favor. The outcome for the person receiving the help is the same. It looks alike to the person being fed or clothed or taught or housed. It’s just good works to them. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 39-40 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 21:33-40 devotional summary So what about the work that you do? Do you realize that it all belongs to God? Do you give it to Him to let Him use it in whatever way He desires? Do you begrudge Him your time, offerings, energy, job, family, whatever tasks you might do in His name? If you do, remember Paul’s words. “Whatever you do, do it as if for the Lord.” Everything belongs to Him anyway. We are only tenants in this little dot of space. He owns it all and allows us to enjoy a bit of it for our pleasure for a little while. But never forget that during those few years we are here, we are just tenants. We just pass through. Remember the story. Don’t be caught like the tenants Jesus describes. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 57-59 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus SCRIPTURE devotional summary Do we really worship Him when we go into our churches or do we just go through a routine every week and say we do? Do we let anything take the place of our worship of God or take the place of our service to Him? Do we sully His name by calling ourselves Christians and then acting like everyone else instead of acting like Jesus? Do we take time to talk with God on a regular basis without asking Him for something, but just talking to Him as you would your father or a friend? How about honoring our parents? Do we give them the respect they deserve? Do we slander others and so destroy their reputation without real cause? Do our eyes wander lustfully to someone other than our spouses? Do we take home pens and paper from work or use the office resources for our personal projects? Do we cheat at solitaire? Do we try to keep up with the neighbor when then get a new car, new shutters on the house, new plants in the yard, or anything that looks interesting that we want? Those are just the common ten commandments God tells all of us to keep, you know. He gives each of us personal commands and convictions to keep us protected from the temptations Satan throws in our path. But do we listen to Him? Do we do what He tells us to do or do we take matters into our own hands and think we know whats best and make our own decisions without consulting Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Samuel 15-19 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 21:24-25 devotional summary I wonder what Jesus would say about our conversations today if He dropped into our churches and social groups and homes as we talked about our brothers and sisters. When we begin to belittle our fellow denominations or we start talking about the televangelists or we demean all faith healers when one or two are found to plant fake victims of disease or illness in the audience, are we doing what these chief priest and elders did? I think we might be. I think Jesus might just ask us to answer a few questions that would cause us to stop us in our tracks, back away slowly with an embarrassed look on our face, and run back into our holes. You see, if people are doing good in Jesus’ name, it’s not our place to figure out their internal motive. If they are doing so for their personal gain, that’s for God to sort out. If they accept funds and use that money to satisfy their own greed and avarice, they will answer for it before God. We don’t need to worry about it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 25-28 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 21:19-22 devotional summary I’ll have to admit, I’ve never looked at plant and have it wither at a glance. It takes me a little longer than that. I’m just terrible at keeping plants alive. When I plant things they die. But to wither a thriving tree in a single glance? I haven’t done that. Or even a bush or a blade of grass. Do I have enough faith? But then again…maybe I do. What does it mean to have the kind of faith Jesus talks about. Could I do something or let God teach me something that could wither a fig tree? Over the years I’ve learned about different chemical, poisons, mechanical reactions, that God allowed me to learn over the course of my education and career that in a pretty short time could wither a fig tree. Does that count? Well, God put me through the right training and experiences to enable me to do it. And how about moving mountains? Can I tell a mountain to throw itself into the sea and it happen? We certainly have the equipment, explosives, moving capability to do that today. Does that count? Some would say you can’t move a mountain. I know you can because of what I’ve seen happen in large construction projects. It might take some time, but I know we can move a mountain from where it sits today and put it into the ocean. Is that faith? It is. Is it faith in God’s ability? Yes. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Corinthians 9-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 21:16 devotional summary We learn from the priests and the scribes who approached Jesus, don’t get in God’s way. Don’t worry about who is in the limelight when God is doing good things. It doesn’t matter if the miracles are happening on the platform or in the back of the crowd. When God is on the scene, stand back and watch Him work. Don’t get in His way. Just get on board. The second thing we learn from Jesus’ words is that children can be pretty smart. They don’t hold back what they think most of the time. Some time that embarrasses us when they tell the person in front of us in the grocery line that they are fat or they stink, but children usually are pretty preceptive and at a young age, haven’t yet learned to hold their tongue. So they just say what they think. When the children circled Jesus in the temple courtyard and sang songs of the Son of David, they just expressed what they thought. Unfiltered joy and their belief in who Jesus was. Did they understand the impact of what they said? Probably not. Did they understand the uproar in the city their songs would create? Probably not. Did the children understand the full political and theological depth of their words as they sang? No. We still don’t understand the full depth of their meaning today with our finite minds. But they sang what they believed. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Luke 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 21:13 devotional summary What differences would you make in your church if your focus was making your church a house of prayer. The other programs and processes and services you provide are not necessarily unimportant, but what if you made your focus for everything center on your church being a house of prayer. How would that change things around your facilities? Does your church, like most churches, let itself get caught up in the activities you plan and the programs you put on your calendars until you forget the most important thing about what you are really about? The church, the temple, the synagogue was always the place where Jesus went each week to worship in community with others to renew His strength in worship with others. This was a place of prayer and worship. It was the place where He joined His voice with those with like faith and prayed for the deliverance of Israel from their bondage from evil, not from Rome, but from evil. For Jesus it was a house of prayer. Jesus called the temple His Father’s home and a house of prayer and the people there turned it into a den of thieves. How would He describe your church? If you choose, you can make it your house of prayer by your individual action as you step in the door by not letting all the other things distract you, but focusing on making it your house of prayer. Try it this week. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 37-41 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 21:2-3 devotional summary So He came into the city, riding on the backs of a donkey and an untamed foal. Now that is a miracle. I don’t know if you’ve ever ridden a donkey with an untamed animal tied to it. I haven’t, but I’ve seen others who have tried to ride those untamed animals. It’s usually not a pretty picture for the rider. But Jesus rode into the city, through a crowd of people with His disciples leading the parade. No one was trampled. The donkey and foal apparently behaved themselves. That’s a miracle! The people waved palm branches, threw their cloaks onto the dusty road, shouted praises, heralded Jesus as King. The din must have been tremendous as the guards came out to settle what they thought was a riot. Still the animals remained quiet and controlled. Now that’s a miracle! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 37-38 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 20:32 devotional summary In the Christian world, in fact in every religion, we talk a lot about the power of prayer. We hear lots of sermons on how important it is to commune with God. Jesus gave us an example prayer when His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. They recognized prayer was an important element of strength, even for the Son of God. He spent long hours with His Father making sure He stayed on the right path, renewing His strength, gaining wisdom, protecting Himself from His enemies. Prayer is vital for the Christian. It’s an important discipline we must learn if we expect to remain a Christian. I don’t think we can maintain our relationship with God if we don’t talk to Him regularly. And that means a lot more than just at mealtime and at church on Sunday mornings. We need to really get in touch with God often. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Samuel 10-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 20:25-28 devotional summary Here’s another one of those speeches that got Jesus in so much trouble. “God the Father doesn’t play be the Romans’ rules.” Once again Jesus turned the world’s thought process upside down. Aren’t you supposed to work your way to the top? Aren’t you supposed to take your knowledge and wealth and power and find a position worthy of your experience as you get older? Aren’t you supposed to try to gain those seats of power in your workplace, in your home, at church, in your social circles? But now Jesus is saying it’s the servant, the slave, the people at the bottom of the caste system that will be held in highest esteem in God’s kingdom. How can that be? These people are the beggars on the streets. You don’t even see them. They are there, but if you keep your eyes up as you should, then they are the invisible vermin that populate the roads and ditches and sewers of the city. Why would Jesus insinuate that these people will be first in God’s kingdom? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 21-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 20:21-23 devotional summary I’m not sure James’ and John’s mother understood that about being in the limelight #1. And #2, the positions were not Jesus’ to give. As the Son of Man, He had no authority to name the people who sat on the seats around the Father’s throne. As the glorified Son of God He might, but He wasn’t in that position yet. Besides, He explained those positions were already promised. But then He talks about the difficulty of those top positions. Perks? When you wake up in another motel room at 5:30 in the morning and don’t remember what city you’re in today because all the motel rooms start to look alike, travel is not fun. You know someone will be at your door thirty minutes later and whisk you off to breakfast, which will be a business breakfast and the day will run non-stop meeting after meeting until they plant you on another plane or in your motel room after your dinner business meeting at 8:30 that night. Then you get to answer the 300 emails in your inbox before you go to sleep. Perks at the top? Be careful what you ask for. You just might get it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 21-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke whileHe walked alongside us. Our websitehttp://alittlewalkwithgod.com.Today's Scripture FocusMatthew 20:18-19devotional summarySo there it is. Jesus says, “We are going to Jerusalem.” Sofigure out what God’s plan is, get on board and just go do it. It’sreally that simple. Is it always easy? No. But God will be with youevery step of the way. He’s promised never to leave us or forsakeus. So just take that first step and see where your journeyleads.Today's Bible reading plan:Read it in a year - 2 Corinthians 6-8see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke whileHe walked alongside us. Our websitehttp://alittlewalkwithgod.com.Today's Scripture FocusMatthew 20:1-16devotional summaryTo live that extra 10 or 20 or 50 years without the guilt ofsin, certainly has its own reward. To have the privilege of workingin God’s vineyard and feel the joy of watching one more person cometo know Him as their Lord carries a priceless value. To be part ofbuilding God’s kingdom for the years He allows us to labor for Himcannot be viewed as hard labor in a field with no reward, it hastremendous value in its own right. We just need to stop andremember what God gives us during those extra years He allows us toengage in the work of building His kingdom.He created us to care for His creation. When we don’t do that,somehow I get the feeling we we just will never be content. Butwhen we work in His fields, building His kingdom, doing the work Heplans for us, I think we enjoy that peace only He can give. Theinternal reward of a job well done. Don’t worry about what theother guy gets. The peace God gives on the journey with Him paysevery single moment we live in His presence.Today's Bible reading plan:Read it in a year - Luke 1-2see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke whileHe walked alongside us. Our websitehttp://alittlewalkwithgod.com.Today's Scripture FocusMatthew 19:28-30devotional summaryThink about the fact that we live in a broken, corrupted,polluted, sin-scarred world that has collapsed into emptinessawaiting to be revealed when creation is consummated, completed,renewed by the final battle of good against evil. Imagine with allthe beauty of this world, what the next one must be like, well,maybe you can’t. I know I can’t. I’ve seen some great things here,so what will the new heaven and new earth be like?But all creation awaits it. The earth groans like a woman inbirthing pains. Can you sense it? Take a look at the news reportsand listen to the birthing pains of creation. The earthquakes, thefamines, the wild storms, the inexplicable changes happening allaround us. Some will try to explain it all away as man’s doing. Ina way it is, but it’s not our fossil fuel use. It started withAdam’s fall and has gotten worse ever since. But God made a plan tocomplete creation, to renew it.Those who follow Jesus will be a part of this renewed creation.We will experience this new heaven and new earth. As beautiful asthis one is in some parts, the next will have no damaged parts. Andall creation longs for it. All creation awaits that day. Allcreation looks for the day when God’s children will be revealed sowe can once again be the caretakers of God’s beautiful gardens, Hiscreation, His wonders and glorious kingdom. Can you imagine what itwill be like?Today's Bible reading plan:Read it in a year - Jeremiah 32-36see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke whileHe walked alongside us. Our websitehttp://alittlewalkwithgod.com.Today's Scripture FocusMatthew 19:26devotional summaryWe sure try to save ourselves, though, don’t we? We try to buyour way into heaven by giving tokens of material goods. We think ifwe give enough to a church and get our name on a pew or the wing ofchurch or maybe on the wing of a hospital it will earn us that spotin the kingdom. It’s kind of foolish to think that way, though.Take a look around. How much would it cost to buy the ocean andeverything in it? That belongs to God, so does your wing of thehospital impress Him?Do you know how much gold has been dug out of the earth? Ifyou’ve never thought about it, it’s not quite enough to fill anOlympic swimming pool. That’s all. Men have been pulling gold outof the ground for centuries and that’s all they’ve found. So howmuch of that Olympic swimming pool sized lump of gold do you own?Do you think that impresses God? I guess not. So buying your way,just can’t save you, can it. There’s nothing you can give God inmaterial goods that could impress Him.So how about something you could do. Is it some good deed youcould do that could get you into heaven? What could it be? What actcould you perform that could impress God enough to win yoursalvation? The answer is nothing. He has seen it all and peoplehave tried everything to try to assauge the guilt of sin they carrywith them from their youth. No one has found the cure in goodworks. Every prophet, every preacher, every priest has talked aboutit. When you compare what we can do with what God can do, what canwe do that would impress Him? Again, the answer is nothing.Today's Bible reading plan:Read it in a year - Job 35-36see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke whileHe walked alongside us. Our websitehttp://alittlewalkwithgod.com.Today's Scripture FocusMatthew 19:23-24devotional summaryJesus says it’s hard for the wealthy to find their way to heavenbecause they find it hard to let go. They forget the materialthings of life are meaningless. The world tells us they are soimportant. We work so hard and at some point we have enough toretire and enjoy the remainder of life in some semblance of rest.But it doesn’t work. We can’t take any of it with us. And when ourhealth runs out near the end of life, what good are all thosethings? Solomon talks about those days when sounds are muffled andsight is dimmed. Life drags on until we take our last breath. Ithappens to the poor and it happens to the rich.The rich think they can prolong life by searching out the rightdoctor, the right medicines, the right elixir, the right cure. Theycan’t. Only God knows the day or the time your last breath willcome and nothing you can do can change that. Your riches or yourpoverty cannot change the number of your days. God gives us thosedays and He can take them away. He allows us to be stewards of Hisproperty. He can also take that away just as quickly as well. Askthe executives at Enron. They thought they were invincible. It tookjust a few words in the right place and their empire came crashingdown.It’s all His, give it to Him, He lets us enjoy it while we’rehere, but don’t hang on too tightly. You might begin to think likethe young man who went away sad. He thought he was wealthy. But washe really? Where is your treasure?Today's Bible reading plan:Read it in a year - Psalms 51-53see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 19:17 devotional summary Isn’t it just like us? The young man, I mean. Jesus explains in pretty simple terms what he needs to do to be assured of eternal life. He explains all he needs to do is obey God’s commands. So what does the young man do? He retorts with, “Well, which commands in particular? I really don’t have to keep them all, do I? Just tell me the most important one so I can concentrate on those. Give me the cliff notes so I don’t have to study so hard and let me just keep the one or two commands that are most important to God, okay?” Let me ask a couple of questions. Do you substitute sports for devotion to God. Do you substitute your lawn or upkeep on your house for devotion to God? Do you substitute your house for devotion to God? Are you kids extracurricular activities more important than your devotion to God? What does your heart tell you when you ask yourself those questions? Only you and God know the answer. You can put on the airs of the young man who spoke to Jesus and everyone around you will think everything is in order and you’re on your way to heaven. But you know what God thinks. Is it time to find an altar and put all your possessions there? God accepts nothing less. But then, it’s His anyway, we’re just His temporary stewards. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Samuel 5-9 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 19:17 devotional summary There is only One who is good. Do what He says to do. He’s the judge. Obey His commandments. I don’t see much tolerance in Jesus’ words there. I don’t see Him saying, “Well, you can follow anyone that sounds like he’s succeeding in the world.” It doesn’t sound like Jesus advocates, “Just do what feels good.” I don’t think Jesus meant to say, “Any religion works as long as you’re sincere in your belief.” Jesus’ words come out pretty straight forward and remarkably clear. God is good. Do what He says if you want assurance of eternal life. That’s the only way to get it. There’s not other path, nothing you can pay, no spells you can cast, nothing else you can do. Just obey what He tells you to do. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 17-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 19:17 devotional summary There is only One who is good. Do what He says to do. He’s the judge. Obey His commandments. I don’t see much tolerance in Jesus’ words there. I don’t see Him saying, “Well, you can follow anyone that sounds like he’s succeeding in the world.” It doesn’t sound like Jesus advocates, “Just do what feels good.” I don’t think Jesus meant to say, “Any religion works as long as you’re sincere in your belief.” Jesus’ words come out pretty straight forward and remarkably clear. God is good. Do what He says if you want assurance of eternal life. That’s the only way to get it. There’s not other path, nothing you can pay, no spells you can cast, nothing else you can do. Just obey what He tells you to do. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 17-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 19:14 devotional summary Societies at large have little regard for children and the elderly. But Jesus turns the tables on His disciples who, like many around them, want to push them aside and pretend they just don’t exist. They are the ones who die of starvation in famine raked countries. They are the ones denied scarce medicines in disease ridden sections. They are the ones left on doorsteps or locked in homes to fend for themselves while those who should be caregivers selfishly go party. Because children and the elderly are non-productive members of our societies, we push them to the curb and forget about them when things get tough. We often talk a good game and tell ourselves we have great programs to help. But when it really comes down to it, thousands of kids, even in our country are left alone, left in the cold, forgotten because they are just kids. They are the invisible human beings of our society. But not to Jesus. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Corinthians 4-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 19:4-12 devotional summary The marriage relationship is at the core of our community. It should be the relationship from which all others spring. When we disregard the importance of marriage and begin to trivialize or minimize God’s directions for us in regard to marriage, we stand on shaky ground in regard to the whole of our society. It isn’t long before the family unit dissolves as we have already seen in our country. In fact, our rules for welfare support seem to encourage the dissolution of families rather than support them. As Jesus says, divorce was contrived because we live in a fallen world. It was never God’s plan. We fall away from each other in marriage primarily because we fall away from God. If God is first for both partners in a marriage, it is unlikely the marriage will fall apart because the closer we come to God, the closer we come to each other as we keep God as the head of the home. The geometry of that marriage triangle always works. We just don’t like to put the effort into it in this fallen world that we need to. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Mark 15-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 18:23-35 devotional summary We just don’t understand how gracious God is when He forgives our sins, that $1tn debt when we are so reluctant to forgive those who do petty things against us that irritate us, that $20,000 debt. Can we get ourselves back to school to figure out how different these numbers are again? Can we begin to understand the vast level of love God has for us when He forgives us? Then can we exercise just a little of His great love to share some of that forgiveness with those around us? Jesus says we must forgive from the very cockles of our heart. Ever heard that expression? It means the ventricles of your heart. You see, when you love someone, it makes your heart beat a little faster, a little harder. It warms your heart. It’s a great expression that came to us from the Latin. Forgive until your heart is warmed. You’ll like it. God promises. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 27-31 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 18:23-35 devotional summary We just don’t understand how gracious God is when He forgives our sins, that $1tn debt when we are so reluctant to forgive those who do petty things against us that irritate us, that $20,000 debt. Can we get ourselves back to school to figure out how different these numbers are again? Can we begin to understand the vast level of love God has for us when He forgives us? Then can we exercise just a little of His great love to share some of that forgiveness with those around us? Jesus says we must forgive from the very cockles of our heart. Ever heard that expression? It means the ventricles of your heart. You see, when you love someone, it makes your heart beat a little faster, a little harder. It warms your heart. It’s a great expression that came to us from the Latin. Forgive until your heart is warmed. You’ll like it. God promises. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 27-31 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 18:23-35 devotional summary We just don’t understand how gracious God is when He forgives our sins, that $1tn debt when we are so reluctant to forgive those who do petty things against us that irritate us, that $20,000 debt. Can we get ourselves back to school to figure out how different these numbers are again? Can we begin to understand the vast level of love God has for us when He forgives us? Then can we exercise just a little of His great love to share some of that forgiveness with those around us? Jesus says we must forgive from the very cockles of our heart. Ever heard that expression? It means the ventricles of your heart. You see, when you love someone, it makes your heart beat a little faster, a little harder. It warms your heart. It’s a great expression that came to us from the Latin. Forgive until your heart is warmed. You’ll like it. God promises. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 27-31 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 18:22 devotional summary Forgiveness is more than restoring a person into a position or bringing them back into the fellowship of brothers and sisters. It’s a reminder of the grace and mercy God extends to us. As we recognize the position others place themselves in apart from the fellowship of God’s people and apart from God by their actions, we recognize their lost state and our hearts should break for them. We can remember how God’s heart broke for us when we were far from Him. He died for us and took us under His wing when we came repentantly to Him. Nothing must stand between us and God or between us and our fellow man. The only way to ensure we retain that close relationship with God is to forgive and be forgiven. How many times must we forgive those who wrong us? As many times as it takes. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 33-34 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 18:18-20 devotional summary There is but one way to heaven and that is through Jesus, the Son of God. There is but one Savior, Jesus. There is but one Redeemer, Jesus. There is but one perfect sacrifice for our sins, Jesus. There is only One capable of forgiving our sins, Jesus. There is only One who will plead for us at the final judgment, Jesus, the Son of the living God. Following after, worshiping, obeying, focusing your devotion on anything or anyone other than Him is idolatry and violates His commands. If you violate His commands, you cannot call yourself a Christian. Well, you can call yourself a Christian, but I can call myself a martian, too, but that doesn’t make me one. Do you do more than just believe in Jesus? Remember, He said even the demons do that. You must truly follow Him if you desire to carry His name. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 48-50 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 18:15-17 devotional summary Man, if we would just put these words into practice in our churches, what a difference it would make in the love people felt for each other. What a difference the outside world would see in the sense of community with our churches and in our mission to the greater community around the facilities that hold our worship services. If your church is like every church I’ve attended in the last 62 years (by the way, that’s nine months before my birth for those that are wondering). People gossip, backbite, tell tales, exaggerate, talk about each other behind their backs, and all sorts of things that run contrary to these biblical principles. And the world outside our doors know it goes on, because they hear the stuff around the water fountain at work, over the fence in the neighborhood, and now plastered all over facebook, instagram and twitter. We don’t even pretend to hide our failures to do the right thing in confronting the sins of one of our brothers and sisters. We’re afraid we might hurt their feelings, I guess. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Samuel 1-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 18:10-14 devotional summary I know we spout lots of reasons why we are timid in reconciling and restoring our fallen Christian brothers and sisters. My prayer is that we will soon throw off the label the outside world has given us. As I said at the first, we really are not the only organization that shoots its wounded, but shouldn’t the church, of all places, be the place to find restoration and hope when we fail. Pray that God will make you and your church a place of redemption and restoration for all. Remember Jesus forgave those Roman soldiers who flogged Him, put a crown of thorns on His head, crucified Him, and pierced His side with a spear. Can’t we help our brothers and sisters find their way back to Him? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 13-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 18:7-9 devotional summary p>God created us to come into a relationship with Him and gave us the instructions on how to do it. We can choose right over wrong, obedience over disobedience, righteousness over sinfulness, eternal life over death, we get to choose which path we want to follow. But in choosing, there are rules to follow. We follow God’s rules or we act like the idiot in the earlier illustration. God judges based on His rules, so which is the path that makes the most sense? Did Jesus really mean follow God’s rules whatever it takes to do so? Absolutely! He’s the one that sets the rules. He’s the one that sits in the final judgment. He’s the one that determines whether or not we followed Him. Doesn’t it make sense to dust off His rule book and study up a little before that day comes? I’d sure like to ace that final exam. How about you? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 2 Corinthians 1-3 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 18:3-6 devotional summary Jesus looked around at the children playing in the village and in the fields around Him. He saw their behavior and their character. He saw their openness and joy. Jesus saw in them the trust and curiosity that comes with being a child and longs for us to scrap off the façade the world tries to get us to paint on our faces to make us think we’re all grown-up, self-sufficient, in need of nothing. But we’re not. We need Him. We need to humble ourselves. Become like little children with their joy, their trust, their curiosity, and their wisdom to know Who to turn to. We can learn a lot from children if we will just stop and watch them carefully. Jesus had a lot to say about them. He said such as these will inherit the kingdom of heaven. I guess I really want to be like a kid again. How about you? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Mark 13-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 17:25-27 devotional summary While I was serving in the military, we often joked about our paychecks. And we had a lot to laugh about. Those of you who are old enough, might remember those payday lines when the pay officer dealt out cash on the Friday closest to the end of the month. I was one of those pay officers every once in a while as a new lieutenant. I was very happy when the Army said everyone had to receive their pay by check and then by direct deposit. Cash paydays were awful for the pay officer for a lot of reasons. Those were interesting times. But one of the other things we joked about were the taxes, Social Security, and Medicare fees that came out of our paycheck every month. Didn’t that mean we were paying ourselves? Sounds a little ludicrous, doesn’t it? The children of the king didn’t pay taxes. Caesar’s kids didn’t pay taxes. Herod’s kids didn’t pay taxes. So what about the Father’s Son? Should the Son of the living God pay a tax to people who were charged with maintaining His house? That’s kind of what Jesus was asking Peter. But like all those soldiers that pay part of their own wages by paying taxes, Jesus tells Peter to go fishing, watch a miracle happen, then pay both their taxes. He didn’t have to, but He did. Why? Because He wanted to show us that we are still in this world. He was in this world, but not of it. He didn’t have to pay the tax, nor did Peter. They and we are children of the King. The King’s children don’t pay taxes, but to show the world His support to the King’s house, that He follows the rules laid out by the King for those subject to the laws of this realm, He too followed them. Just like soldiers pay their salary, Jesus and Peter paid for the support of their house, the temple. How do you support your house, the church? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 22-26 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 17:22-23 devotional summary If anyone could be said to have a loyal following, Jesus did. It reminds me of the political games we play today. Trump is our man. No wait, it’s Cruz. Oops, I meant to say Clinton, except she’s not a man, she’s a woman, so let’s change our language. Clinton is our person. That’s not right. Sanders is the one we want. Well, maybe it’s really Kasich that should be in office. Soon the race will be down to two candidates and everyone who rooted for one of those out of the race will suddenly defect. Well, he (or she) wasn’t such a great candidate after all, I really want XYZ to win. I’ll put all my weight and effort behind him (or her). We are so fickle. We don’t know what we want in this world. We are so sure of something and then suddenly the tides changes and we’re off on something else. That’s why car dealers and IT companies and clothing manufacturers and every other business keeps pitching those ads, you know. The thing that was perfect yesterday and had our undying devotion is suddenly obsolete. Anyone still have an Atari laying around? How about one of those TR 8080s? My first real computer was an Apple IIc. How long has it been since you’ve seen one of those? It had a whole 128 KB internal memory! That’s right for you youngster, I really did mean kilobyte and it was top of the line at the time. What would I give for that Apple IIc now? Nothing. It’s just a paperweight or a museum piece I don’t have room for. And so it is with so many things in life. We let it take first place and then discard it like so much trash. That’s what too many people do with Jesus, too. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 31-32 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 17:20-21 devotional summary Jesus’ words today reminded me of the ole Smokey Bear public service announcements. Just one little spark, one smoldering ember can cause acres and acres of forests to catch flame and destroy hundreds of years of forest growth. I don’t know if Jesus saw many forest fires in Judea. When I was in the middle east, I don’t remember seeing much that would create a wildfire. But we understand wildfires in this country and the devastation they can cause. Just a little spark and it seems like the whole world is on fire if you live in one of those wildfire prone areas. Jesus tells us we only need that much faith, just a spark we could tell a mountain to move and it would move from one place to another. You might wonder how that is done. God could do it any number of ways you know. He could generate an earthquake that shifts the crust of the earth and makes on mountain disappear as the crust of the earth pushes above it and causes the crust to push up in another place. It has happened in the past and can happen again. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 45-47 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 17:20-21 devotional summary Jesus’ words today reminded me of the ole Smokey Bear public service announcements. Just one little spark, one smoldering ember can cause acres and acres of forests to catch flame and destroy hundreds of years of forest growth. I don’t know if Jesus saw many forest fires in Judea. When I was in the middle east, I don’t remember seeing much that would create a wildfire. But we understand wildfires in this country and the devastation they can cause. Just a little spark and it seems like the whole world is on fire if you live in one of those wildfire prone areas. Jesus tells us we only need that much faith, just a spark we could tell a mountain to move and it would move from one place to another. You might wonder how that is done. God could do it any number of ways you know. He could generate an earthquake that shifts the crust of the earth and makes on mountain disappear as the crust of the earth pushes above it and causes the crust to push up in another place. It has happened in the past and can happen again. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 45-47 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 17:11-12 devotional summary Some read God’s word and recognize His word is truth. What God says, He means. Yes, God is love. Yes, He wants all of us to live with Him. But in making us in His image, He gives us the choice for our eternal destiny. He has left the choice of our destiny up to us. We can live with Him or we can choose not to. We read His word and recognize we are fallen, broken, in need of His grace and mercy. We learn the only way we can find our way to Him is to see He has already reached out to us and we must accept the gift of grace He holds out to us. We must believe in His Son, Jesus for salvation. We can also see Jesus words and John’s revelation and in those descriptions, it’s not too difficult to see the signs they talked about when the end would be very near. Earthquakes, famine, signs in the sun, moon and sky. We are closer than many want to believe. The earth is going through pains like a woman in childbirth. Last year over 25,000 earthquakes above 3.0 on the richter scale shook our planet. They are coming faster and stronger this year than last, just like a woman in labor as described in scripture. Is it time for us to read the Bibles on our tables and bookshelves and see the signs, read the descriptions, and understand that time is running out? Check it out for yourself. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Corinthians 15-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 17:7-9 devotional summary Jesus in His glorified form as the Son of God, light of the world, brighter than the morning sun would scare me to death. He has everyone who has seen Him. Paul fell on His face as though dead. Daniel fell on His face as though dead. John fell on his face as though dead. These three together fell on their face as though dead. That’s the reaction when you see Jesus as He really is. He is God. We are not. Standing before God is a fearful, yet wonderful thing. But I expect our first reaction will always be to fall on our face. Either in fear or in worship or both. I like what usually happens when Jesus breaks in on the scene, though. The first words He usually says to those who believe in Him and are trying to follow God’s path are, “Don’t be afraid.” He calms our fears. He lets us know He’s on our side. He wants us to know He is for us, not against us. When we’re flat on our face, He says, Get up, don’t be afraid. What wonderful words. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Mark 11-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 16:23-28 devotional summary Sometimes I like reading about Peter. I want to be so much like him when he does things like step out of the boat or be part of the group that serves the 5,000 those baskets of bread and fish or declares that Jesus is the Son of the living God. At other times, like today, I really don’t want to be much like Peter, but I’m afraid I’m more like him than I want to admit. Peter declares his loyalty to Jesus and says I won’t let anyone or anything harm you. I’ll die before I let them take you! Boy, I’d like to say those words, just like Peter. And I think I would die for my faith. I would die for Jesus. I haven’t been put in that place yet. I haven’t faced the knives in the hands of ISIS terrorists or the torture of government sponsored aetheists in China or the killing squads hunting down Christians in the Sudan. I can’t guarantee that I would die for my faith, but I think I would. I’m pretty sure I would lose my life for Him. But then, look what happens. Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Get away from Me, Satan!” Ouch! Peter, unbeknownst to him was being used by the prince of darkness. I do not want to be like Peter in that circumstance, but if I were a betting man, I would bet my words have been a stumbling block to someone at one time or another. Something I have said led someone down a path I did not want them to go or God did not want them to go. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 17-21 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 17:17 devotional summary In the weekly church staff meeting I attend, we try hard to stay on task. We usually have a lot of ground to cover and need to keep on our agenda because all of us are busy and what we really want to get to is the prayer requests that have been given to the staff. If we spend too much time on business that can be done elsewhere or start down tangents, we can easily lose lots of time in the meeting. You’ve probably all been there if you’ve been in more than one meeting in your life. Invariably, though, something will be thrown on the table that sparks a discussion and off we go. We act just like those young pups you see in the park the owners are trying to train. They are pretty obedient in the middle stages of their training until a squirrel darts across the playground. Then all bets are off. Whatever the trainer was trying to do just ended. That squirrel has become the center of attention and the dog is off to chase it. We’re a lot like that dog being trained. We so often let our fleshly desires chase after insignificant things that will cause us to run out in front of a car instead of keeping them under control so we can get the real rewards in life. We fail to listen to the commands of our master and instead run to and fro after some illusive target that we have little chance of capturing in the first place, but we run as fast as we can to get it only to have it disappear up a tree and we’re left with nothing. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 9-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 16:17-19 devotional summary what is Jesus’ message to Peter and to us, His disciples following after Him? You are blessed if you know Him. Knowledge of the truth of His Sonship to the Father comes from the Father Himself and this knowledge is the bedrock, the foundation of the church. Because of that solid foundation, we, the church can march against evil knowing it cannot defeat us. God has already won the war. It’s just a matter of time until Satan figures it out. In fact, it is our responsibility to share the message of this great truth because we will be held accountable for the use of those keys to heaven we hold in our hands. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 29-30 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 16:13–16 devotional summary These are two of the most important questions you’ll ever answer, especially the last one. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 42-44 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 16:13–16 devotional summary These are two of the most important questions you’ll ever answer, especially the last one. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 42-44 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 16:6, 8-11 devotional summary I’ve baked enough now, that I’ve made the mistake of using the wrong leavener in what I was making. I’ve used baking powder instead of baking soda. I’ve used regular milk instead of sour milk. I’ve used the wrong stuff enough to know that when you do, you definitely don’t get the results you’re looking for. And once it’s in there, you can’t take it out. It goes through the whole batter and you can’t remove it. Period. The whole batch is ruined and goes into the trash. That’s what Jesus warns His disciples. If they let the false teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees invade them, they can’t get it out of them. It permeates and fills them. It’s as hard to remove those teachings as it is to remove leaven from bread. It infects the whole of a person. So Jesus warns them. Be careful about who you listen to. Be careful about what you let into the windows of your soul. Be careful about the studies you undertake. Those things have an affect on you that you cannot just forget. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 42-44 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 16:2-4 devotional summary God, I would believe in you if you make me rich. God I would believe in you if you heal my kid. God I would believe in you if you get me that promotion. God I would believe in you if you turned my hair blue. We make fun of the Pharisees and Sadducees that came to Jesus asking for a sign from heaven, but so many of us do the same thing. They used to call those foxhole conversions back in the days of World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. We don’t dig very many foxholes any more. But we still try to get a sign from heaven so we can believe that Jesus is who He says He is. Show me the evidence. I just can’t take someone’s word for it. I need to see something miraculous for myself before I can believe. Did you ever meet someone like that? Are you someone like that? Be careful. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Samuel 21-25 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 15:34 devotional summary Have you ever wondered about this second set of questions from Jesus’ disciples? We read in chapter thirteen about the feeding of the 5,000 men and all the women and children with them. When Jesus told them to feed the crowd they doubted their ability and asked where they would get food to feed so many. Jesus asked what they had. Remember? So here we are again. A crowd has gathered around Jesus to hear His teachings, to see His miracles, to bring their problems to Him for resolution. They’ve been on the hillside with Him for three days without food and Jesus says, feed them. They touch My heart, I want to take care of their physical needs, so disciples, go feed these people. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 5-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 15:32 devotional summary We see the hurting around our world, but what do we do? I know we can’t feed everyone. I know we can’t take in everyone. I know some of those on the streets will just continue to live that way no matter how much you try to do for them. I know there are evil men and women that will continue to take advantage of our young boys and girls as long as there are other men and women willing to pay for their services. But can’t we have at least as much pity on them as we do for those puppies in the cages we see in videos at Christmas? Have we become so callous that we no longer see the people around us that are desparately in need of our help and the cleansing that Jesus can bring into their lives? Jesus looked at the crowd scattered across that hillside that came seeking relief from the various maladies in their lives. They had been with Him for three days. They went without food and water just to be near Him. If you have never fasted for three days, try it some time. They were hungry and thirsty. He looked across that sea of people and they touched His heart. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Corinthians 13-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 15:24-28 devotional summary Jesus’ words at first seem pretty harsh, don’t they? Here’s a women in desperate need for her daughter. The girl is possessed by a demon and she can do nothing to help her. She comes to the Master hoping that He can do something to relieve her of the plight she suffers. And what does Jesus do? He snubs her. “I was sent here only to gather up the lost sheep of Israel.” And it gets worse! The woman cries and pleads, falls on her face at His feet and cries out, “Lord, help me!” What was the reply of the only One who could help her? “It is not right to waste the children’s bread by feeding dogs.” Did Jesus just call her a dog? Did He insult her in the most vile way and cast her aside as so much garbage? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Mark 9-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 15:13-20 devotional summary Don’t you just want to shake the disciples sometimes? They seem so dense when we look back and listen to the questions they have for Jesus. Explain your riddle. Tell us what your parable means. Why do you make your sermons so hard to understand. And Jesus spends time slowly going over what He’s just told the crowd. He puts things in terms kindergarteners can understand. Still they ask their questions and we sit back and shake our heads at them. But…should we be so quick to chastise them for their ignorance? We live on this side of the cross. We have heard Jesus’ explanation of all those parables. We know the answers to the questions the disciples raised. We have centuries of writings from the apostles, early disciples, and theologians that tell us the meaning of Jesus’ words. These guys heard these words for the first time with no other background except His words. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 12-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 15:3-11 devotional summary I think about what we do in our services sometimes and wonder if we have reduced our worship routine to just a ritual. We used to talk about the service being three hymns and a sermon with an offering thrown in there somewhere. We’ve gotten rid of the hymns, but most churches have a pretty set routine for that hour and a half people spend inside their walls. You can probably recite your routine for me without much trouble. And so it goes. We come to church, spend our time in mindless rote without even thinking about the words we sing or the scripture we read. We listen to the pastor pray a few words and give a nice sermon. Then we walk out the doors and do the same thing we did last week. We don’t let God intervene in our lives. We just go on day after day assuming we are okay with the Creator. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 27-28 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 14:29-31 devotional summary We sometimes decry Peter for his lack of faith and taking his eyes off Jesus. We preach sermons about his looking at the storm around him and failing to keep his eyes on the prize. We talk bad about Peter’s faith sometimes. But if you really stop and think about it, there were at least twelve disciples in the boat. All of them saw Jesus out there. All of them heard the conversation. The boat wasn’t that big that they could avoid what was going on. All of them heard Peter’s request and Jesus’ reply. All twelve of the disciples had an opportunity to step out of the boat that night and do something no one else had done. All of them had an invitation to come out and see what it was like to walk on the surface of the sea. But only one really acted like a disciple that night. Only Peter decided he would be like his Master and stepped out of the boat. He longed to be like Jesus so much he dared to put his foot over the side and onto the stormy sea. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 39-41 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 14:27 devotional summary It is so hard sometimes to stop and be still. It is hard to stop churning and doing and fretting and working to just look out into the fog and see who it is that is coming through all that mist and spray that seems to surround us. With everything pouring in, it’s hard to stop and take the time to look over the bow and focus on the figure blurred by all the commotion and noise and lightning and thunder to see that He is walking toward our rescue. That’s what He tells us to do, though. When we are in the middle of our greatest storm, it’s sometimes best to stop and focus on Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Samuel 16-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 14:18 devotional summary We don’t admit that we can’t handle the problem. We don’t admit that a task is too hard for us without God’s help. We plow in headstrong and find ourselves with mild concussions after beating our head against that wall that just won’t budge. Still we don’t come to the source of power. We keep trying to plow through. Jesus says to us today, take what you have and give it to Me. Then watch what I will help you do with it. You’ll be in awe and those around you will, too. Give what you have to Me then get ready to work because God things are about to happen. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Exodus 1-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 14:16 devotional summary What can we learn from Jesus' words to His disciples? First, expect the unexpected. Second, expect to work. Third, expect to help people. Finally, expect miracles. The disciples were astonished at Jesus’ words. On this side of the cross, we can learn from them and listen for Jesus’ words expectantly. Listen for Him to speak to you and watch His miracles work around you. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Corinthians 11-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:57 devotional summary Maybe today is a good time to just stop and think about what your siblings have accomplished in life. Maybe it’s time to give some praise to those who love you best even when things are tough. Maybe it’s time to take inventory of good that comes from your family and share it with the people outside your family circle and give some praise for the family that surrounds you. Maybe it’s also time to let your family know how much you admire them and the accomplishment, the successes they have. Jesus couldn’t do much in his home town because his relatives, those who grew up around Him, couldn’t see past their family relationships to see what He had done. What a difference He could have made in their lives if they had just given Him a little credit for what He had done! How about giving some credit and some praise in your family? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Mark 7-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:52 devotional summary If you really want to learn, there are two kinds of teachers you want to avoid, those that have the “we’ve never it done it that way” attitude, and those that chase after every new idea that comes along. Both will lead you down the wrong path. The first will hold you back and make you think progress is terrible. Only the old ways are God’s ways. There’s a problem with that kind of thinking, though. God gave us a brain to use it. He enabled us to progress. He gave us the intelligence to build cities, make machines, discover the science behind things. If He didn’t want us to discover and use that knowledge, He would have hid it from us. There is nothing wrong with progress. Conversely, the teacher who jumps at every new idea and throws out the old is bound for problems. You see, we have progressed to the we are today because of the knowledge of those who have gone before us. If we throw out the principles and understanding of those that made the present possible. When we forget all the principles on which our current successes are founded, we find ourselves standing on a slippery slope. We see it in our nation today. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 7-11 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:47-51 devotional summary How will His messengers know the difference? God stands in judgment and sees our hearts. As He gives directions, His messengers carry them out. There are no mistakes because God knows everything and sees everything. He knows those who harbor sin in their hearts and those whose sins have been covered by the blood of His Son’s sacrifice because they have come to Him in repentance. He knows our intent, or motive, or thoughts. He knows everything about us. There will be no errors in His sorting process. The results from that sorting process should be a little scary for those whose hearts are not right with God. Jesus says they will be cast into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Doesn’t sound like a pleasant place to me. Many discount Jesus’ descriptions of hell and assume there is no hell. But Jesus talks a lot more about hell than He does about heaven. Why would He do that if it wasn’t real? I doubt if He’s just trying to scare us. That doesn’t sound like God. I think He continually tries to warn us. He doesn’t want us to go there, but He still gives us the choice. Why would anyone choose to go there? But they do. Because when you don’t choose heaven, you choose hell. There is no other place. Jesus only talks about two places. You have your choice, but there are only two to pick from. Pick the right one. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 25-26 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:45-46 devotional summary The jeweler was on the lookout for that valuable jewel. He wasn’t just sitting around. He spied out the things that passed through his hands and was looking for something worth his time and effort. He knew there was one special jewel out there that was worth everything and when he saw it, he wanted it. Heaven it like that. If we look for the very best there is to find, we will find Jesus. We will find heaven. If we never look, though, we’ll never find heaven. If we keep our eyes closed to the truth, heaven will pass us by. If we refuse to do what is necessary to obtain it, it will be beyond our reach. Heaven is worth it. It is beautiful, valuable, rare, and precious. The parable of the pearl helps to teach us just how rich and wonderful it is. But like the jeweler looking for the pearl, we must look for heaven and then commit everything we have and everything we are to finding it. God accepts nothing less. After all, He gave His life for us. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 36-38 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:44 devotional summary So what would you do if you happened upon something so valuable it was almost impossible to fathom its worth hidden in some obscure place? What if you were like the man in Jesus’ story? Would you gamble everything you had on that one treasure? Would you sell everything you had to obtain that treasure that you knew would make you one of the richest people in all the world? Would you plot to get the secret of its location and do anything you could to get that field or building or container that held the treasure? I think if you’re like most of us, you would do exactly like the man in Jesus’ story. We would all like to be wealthy enough not to worry about where money will come from to pay tomorrow’s bills. We would like to have enough money to get the things we want. We would like to know our retirement is secure without worrying about what the stock market will do or whether Social Security will be solvent when it’s time to use it. Probably very few of us would just ignore the treasure if we found it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Samuel 11-15 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:37-43 devotional summary And then comes the good part. Jesus didn’t ridicule His disciples because they didn’t understand. He didn’t send them to the library to look up the answers. He didn’t send them off to the seminary or tell them to go study their catechism. No. Jesus answered their questions. He understood their infancy in their faith and took the time to explain His teachings to them. He made sure they understood His message so they could better understand Him and His mission from the Father. It helps us know that Jesus doesn’t want to be hidden from us. His message was plain: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. God has burst in upon the scene. He wants an intimate relationship with you. I’ll tell you stories to help you understand the relationship God wants to have with you. But He also wants you to exercise your faith a little. He also wants to see that His relationship with you isn’t completely one-sided. He carries the biggest load. He pulls the heaviest weight. He makes the greatest sacrifice. But He also expects us to do at least a little something in the relationship. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 48-50 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:33 devotional summary Jesus says heaven is like that yeast. There is an initial phase of real excitement. A huge bubble of growth that everyone sees happen fast. But life happens and those, like the seed sown in rocky and thorny soil fall away. They don’t stand up to the pressure of the world and succumb to the temptations Satan throws at them instead of living the life God has planned for them. The pressures of the world crush the fast growing, flash in the pan believers, just like the first kneading crushes the bubbles in the first rise of the dough. Jesus also says yeast spreads through the dough and heaven is like that. If you look at a loaf of bread, there are tiny holes in every slice, top to bottom, end to end. It shows that the yeast has traveled to every part of the dough. Just so, God’s kingdom spreads to every part of the world. Once yeast is put into the mixture of flour, water, salt, and sugar, the other basic ingredients for a loaf of bread, you can’t take it out and you can’t keep it from spreading through the whole loaf. It goes everywhere in the mixture. God’s word and His kingdom is like that. Once His word broke out into the world, there was no stopping it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 48-50 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:31-32 devotional summary I didn’t know much about mustard seeds or how they grow until I did a little research. There are a few different kinds of plants, none really grow into real trees, but there is one that grows so rapidly and so tall that it could be considered a tree. It grows wild in some of the most inhospitable climates as long as it has a water source. And because the seeds are so small, when the seed pods burst at maturity, the wind scatters them so they have the potential of growing wild almost anywhere. So Jesus talks about these tiny seeds, about one millimeter in diameter. These tiny little seeds germinate in one to five days and grow large enough to harvest in 60 to 85 days. Usually, the plants grow as clumps of bushes three to five feet high, but in the right conditions these wild mustard plants can grown together into tree-like plants as tall as 20–22 feet high. It’s interesting that Jesus would use this as a metaphor for explaining heaven. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Mark 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:24-30 devotional summary We are not strong enough to stand up against Satan, but God is. The sentry on duty isn’t strong enough to stand up against an attack when the enemy begins to rush the perimeter of a unit. The commander knows that, too. But his job is not to defeat the enemy. His job is to give the warning, alert the rest of the unit, make sure everyone knows the enemy is about to attack. That’s the sentry’s job. So if we will just recognize the enemy is on the perimeter, God will take over and help defeat the enemy. He has already defeated him anyway. Satan just doesn’t know it yet. All we have to do is stay awake, stay alert, watch for the temptations that Satan sends our way. Then we sound the alarm and bring in the big guns. Call the artillery. Send for reinforcements. Let God deliver us from the attacks that Satan might bring our way. What happens then? Victory! That’s what! Don’t sleep on the job. Stay awake. Stay alert. Sound the alarm. You won’t be sorry when God keeps Satan and his minions outside the gates of your life. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Jeremiah 1-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:18-23 devotional summary Hopefully, you are like that good soil that Jesus talks about. Ready to receive all He has for you and ready to be part of His master plan to bring others to know His will that all would come to the saving knowledge of God’s Son. Ready to give testimony to all God has done in your life and act as His emissary in a world that has too many rocks and thorns and not enough ground ready to plow. Hopefully, you are like that good soil that Jesus talks about, ready to become the person He created you to be. Full of His Spirit. Acting on His behalf. Sharing His message. Bringing others into His kingdom. The great thing about the story of the sower and the soil is that you get to pick what kind of soil you want to be. So which is it? Are you the rocky soil, the thorny soil, or the good soil? I pray you make the right choice. Your eternal destiny depends on it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 23-24 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:11-17 devotional summary If we will open our minds and hearts to God’s word, if we will exercise just a little faith in Him, if we will recognize that He is God and we are not, He will open up His word to us and make Himself known to us. He doesn’t hide. But like the objects in those hidden picture puzzles, once you see the object, you can’t help but see them every time you look at them. So it is with God. Once you exercise just a little faith and recognize who He is, you see Him in all His glory. You recognize the truth of His word. You see the power of His Spirit in the world. You begin to see His handiwork around you. His miracles unfold around you and He is evident everywhere. God doesn’t hide from us, but we must open our eyes of faith to see Him. God doesn’t make His word obscure, but we must let His Spirit speak to us through His word and trust Him to open His truth to us. God makes plain who He is to those who are ready to listen. But to those who refuse, like the object in the hidden picture puzzles, you’ll have a hard time finding Him. Isn’t it time to open your eyes of faith? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 33-35 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 13:3-9 devotional summary So when can we best reach someone with the message of hope Jesus brings? At those crisis moments of life. Those times at which everything seems to have fallen apart and our world seems to be crashing in around us. We go to the doctor and hear the dreadful news about our or a loved one’s medical condition that will never get better. We discover our life-time security in our job just ended in a layoff as the company downsized. We discover the retirement account we relied out suddenly disappeared as the broker who held our securities went bankrupt. Hope seems gone. Or we look at our life and discover just how sinful we are in the light of God’s holiness. We hear a message or a song or read a book or scripture that shines God’s light on our life and suddenly we become aware of just how depraved and empty we are without God’s forgiveness and without His Spirit guiding us in our daily activities. We reach the end of our rope and there is still a lot of cliff below us. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Samuel 6-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:48-50 devotional summary How is it that we can feel so comfortable in another church and another worship service regardless of the denomination or worship style or country in which we worship? It’s really pretty simple. They are family. Just like my physical brothers and sisters share DNA with me, they are different and similar to me at the same time. So it is with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We share something in common. We may be different in many ways, but in the most important things we are alike. We share Christ’s Spirit in us. We share His love. We share His grace and mercy. We share His forgiveness in our lives. We have each been adopted into His family and have become children of the King of kings and Lord of lords. We are a part of His kingdom. So we stand on common ground. We believe together in a common understanding of our faith. If you are part of a Christian faith, there are a few fundamental beliefs that you hold dear, summed up in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 44-47 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:43-45 devotional summary Remember the words of Revelation 3:20 that you hear so much in evangelistic campaigns, “I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me.” We use it to try to win the lost. But the verse wasn’t written to the outcasts. John wrote this revelation to the churches. Jesus had John pen these seven letters to the seven churches in Asia, remember? Jesus says if we don’t let Him in, if we don’t let His Spirit come inside, if we leave Him standing outside the door knocking, a pretty dreadful thing can happen. That spirit that He drives out and cleans up. You know, the filth and corruption and evil He took care of when He forgave your sins, it comes back. But it comes back with a vengeance. It comes back bringing seven friends with him. The plight of the sinner who doesn’t let Christ come in and take charge is worse than the sinner who never lets Him clean up his house in the first place it seems. Now that’s a scary thought. I can get seven times worse than before I let Christ forgive me? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Corinthians 7-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:39-42 devotional summary So we have all of the evidence of who Jesus is. We have the stories. We have the testimonies of the disciples and the early church leaders. We have the faith of those early Christians who even suffered martyrdom for Christ. Would they do that if all of it were not true? Would they suffer the kinds of death they faced if Jesus were a farce? I don’t think so. So we have 2,000 years of historic facts behind us. The Pharisees Jesus spoke to had only His words at the time and the gossip they heard from the uneducated masses that told them about this man who could perform miracles and must be God. We know. We have the evidence. We have the witnesses. We have God’s words handed down to us. What more do we need to believe Jesus is the Son of God? If you don’t believe Him now, like the Pharisees, you probably wouldn’t believe if He stood in front of you. What do you need to do about it? Exercise a little faith in Him. That’s all. Stop doubting and believe. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Mark 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:33-37 devotional summary I understand what Jesus talks about in these words. Especially as He goes on to talk about what comes out of our mouth. I understand that good fruit doesn’t come out of good plants. I can attest to that as I’ve tried my hand at growing tomatoes and cucumbers a couple of times. And you know what? Good tomatoes and cucumbers never grew from the bad plants I managed to grow. My friends and neighbors could have bumper crops, but my scawny little vines would just produce…nothing. So it is with the words we speak. When we are dried up and rotten inside, we can’t get good words out that will bless and edify others. For us to really help lift others with our words, we need to be right on the inside. That’s what Jesus is telling these blowhard religious leaders. They can’t help the people they are supposed to be leading because they are rotten on the inside. Nothing good can come from them until they clean up their act from the inside out. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 62-66 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:31-32 devotional summary People worry a lot about this saying of Jesus. What does it mean to blaspheme God’s Spirit? What is the unpardonable sin? Have I committed it? Am I beyond God’s grace for what I have done? Satan tkes these words of Jesus and causes many to bail out. To think they are so far down the path of sin that God can’t forgive them. Satan makes them feel so bad about themselves that they just know God must feel the same way and would never let them into His kingdom. So they give up. They stay at the bottom of the pit and feel utterly hopeless. But that is just another lie of Satan. Remember, Satan is the father of lies. He will do anything he can to keep you from giving yourself to God. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 21-22 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:29-30 devotional summary When others see us failing in God’s plan to enlarge His kingdom through the missions He gives us individually, to make disciples out in the world, it tarnishes God’s name. It says God can’t do what He says He can do. It tells others He has limited power and authority. As Christians we know that is not true, but Satan blinds us and convinces us it’s okay not to obey, let someone else gather people into the fold. Let someone else do the discipling. That’s not our marching order from our Savior. So will you be doing the Father’s work of gathering the flock, or will you scatter the flock by your inactivity? Again, you get to make the choice. Choose the right path! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 30-32 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:25-28 devotional summary Have you ever been guilty of the Pharisees’ crime, trying to give credit to the wrong spiritual side? They tried to give credit to Satan for the work Jesus did. Particularly His work in driving out demons from the possessed. They just couldn’t come to grips with Jesus being the Son of God as many claimed. He kept fulfilling the prophecies they kept reading to the people. But surely, this carpenter’s son from Nazareth could not be the Messiah they looked for. Surely, the Messiah would come from the priestly line and would be born in their capital among the priests. After all, they were the leaders of Israel. Everyone expected their Messiah to come from the proud lineage of Levi. So the Pharisees disregarded what they saw in front of them and declared Jesus’ miracles must be a product of Satan’s work. But they didn’t use their head and think it through. Just like we too often make rash statements without thinking them through. Jesus’ retort put them in their place, still they plotted to kill Him because He disrupted their system of religious rules. He made them introduce love and mercy and hope into their religious equation, characteristics they were not ready to adopt as the harbingers of justice, not mercy. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Samuel 1-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:11-13 devotional summary Do we get mixed up in what is really right and wrong? The Pharisees did. Jesus used this opportunity with their condemnation of His disciples for their gathering a handful of wheat to teach them a lesson about God’s goodness. What is really important? Doing good or setting and keeping stupid rules? Granted, the rules help to keep us in line most of the time, but sometimes, the rules just don’t make sense. That’s what He was trying to tell these holier-than-thou leaders. People are more important than rules. Relationships are more important than rituals. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 40-43 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:7-8 devotional summary One of the things necessary to build a relationship with God is obedience. And one of the things He demands of us is mercy to others. Because He shows us mercy, we should show mercy to others, something the Pharisees seemed to have in short supply. They were ready to condemn Jesus’ disciples for being hungry and eating a few grains of wheat on the Sabbath. Their rules said you couldn’t harvest on the Sabbath and the disciples act of running their hand across a ripe stalk of wheat growing in the field and eating those few grain, they considered harvesting. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Corinthians 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 12:3-6 devotional summary So what’s your hangup? What is it that you just can’t get over someone else doing that you think must be wrong? Take a look at it again from Jesus’ perspective. Is it one of those that He would same the same thing He did to the Pharisees about their comments to Him about the Sabbath? It’s not that observing the Sabbath is wrong. It’s not that your particular hangup is wrong. (sorry, I probably shouldn’t call it that). But sometimes the things that we think are just so important, are not. God wants more out of us. He wants a relationship with us and that doesn’t come through those rituals and rules and habits we think are so important. Relationship comes through listening and talking and doing things together. And since He’s God and we are not, doing the things He wants us to do. It means reciprical love. You know God loves you, He wants you to love Him back. Can it be that simple? Can our spiritual life be summed up as simply as that? Yes! His word says it is so simple that even a fool doesn’t need to miss it. So unless you want to call yourself dumber than a fool, it’s not that hard to figure out. Let Him be Lord! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Mark 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 11:25-30 devotional summary Until we come to Him, we’re like a private in basic training, unfamiliar with that equipment. He puts it on, but doesn’t know how to make it fit right. It jostles and rubs and pushes in the wrong places as he moves through training and everyday he goes back to the barracks with more bruises and sores than the day before. Until finally, he gets smart and asks his drill sergeant for help. That’s all the drill has been waiting for. Helping the new recruit understand that he’s not alone and can’t make it by himself. He needs someone else to show him the way. That’s what Jesus does for us. He’s like that drill sergeant just waiting for us to realize how desparately we need Him, come to Him and ask for His help. He willingly gives it. But He doesn’t force Himself on us. He wants us to desire Him, not be robots that just jump because we’re programmed that way. He desires us to love Him the way He loves us. So He tells us to come along side Him in His work, share His yoke. He will take the heavy load and give us the lighter burden. Just as with a team of oxen, the lead ox takes the heavy load. That’s just what Jesus invites us to do as He invites us to come to Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 56-61 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 11:21-24 devotional summary All of us have access to His word today. All of us are in the same boat as Chorazin and Bethsaida and Capernaum. We have no excuse. We can read the scriptures and know the truth. If we choose not to listen to His word, that is our fault, not God’s. If we choose not to take advantage of the resources available to us, that is our fault, not God’s. If we choose not to learn about Him, that is our fault, not God’s. At judgment, we will be as guilty as these three cities Jesus points out in the words we consider today. If we fail to take advantage of His words, listen to Him and follow Him, it’s our fault, not His. God has done everything He can to make salvation available to us. But He won’t make the choice for us. The one area in which He has removed His power is in respect to our moral choice. We can choose to do right or wrong. We can choose to make Him Lord of our life or not. We can choose to live eternally by following His decrees or we can choose death by living our own way. It’s always our choice. He wants us to fare better than Sodom. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 19-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 11:16-19 devotional summary So what should Christians look like and act like? Sometimes we will look and act like John the Baptist. Sometimes it’s necessary to be the prophet with the message of repentance. When Christ asks us to take on that role, it isn’t always pleasant and our countenance will probably reflect the difficulty of confronting others with the truth of the gospel. We will sorrow for those who refuse to listen and continue on their selfish path to ultimate destruction and eternal punishment. But most often, we will be like Jesus was as He drew crowds around Him. Welcoming the children. Singing. Laughing. Telling stories of God’s grace and goodness. Helping others understand the good news of God’s salvation and His empowerment in our life, now, in this place, in the middle of all the evil that surrounds us. Our lives as Christians today are certainly no more difficult than that of the early followers of Jesus. In fact, we probably have life too easy. Maybe a little persecution would help us understand just how much we need to rely on Him instead of ourselves. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 27-29 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 11:7-15 devotional summary Who do you look for to learn about spiritual things? Jesus pointed to John the Baptist and asked the crowd following Him what they thought of John. What were they looking for? Someone soft that would bend in the political wind of the time? That wasn’t John. He was in prison for speaking out against Herod’s marriage. John saw Herod, who proclaimed to have a Jewish heritage, do something well outside the bounds of the moral code of the Jewish faith. The priests wouldn’t say anything about it for fear of reprisal from the king, but John had no such fear. When he saw wrongs that needed righting, he jumped in with both feet and let them be known whether the perpetrator lived in a hovel or sat on the king’s throne. That’s the kind of person I want as a spiritual teacher and leader. Someone unafraid of the politically correct. Someone who stands for what is right regardless the consequences of that stand. John was such a person. I’m afraid many that we see in our pulpits today, may bend with the political climates instead of standing firm on God’s word. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Ruth see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 11:4-6 devotional summary Jesus told John’s disciples to just look around and see the miracles happening around them and report back to John. He will know the truth when he hears their report. Can we look around and see the truth of God’s word around us? If not, maybe it’s because we’re not in touch with Him. Maybe we need to open our eyes and look around at the things He does for us everyday to understand what’s afoot. If you have a hard time finding miracles, just think about the process of breathing the air around you, the miracle of life. Think about how extraordinary it is that God makes you in such a way that your body naturally pulls in enough oxygen to power the processes that turn food into energy so your muscles can do what they do, so your brain can think, so your body can function, so you can live. Life itself is a miracle beyond description! God is afoot! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 36-39 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:40-42 devotional summary If you welcome Jesus' emissaries, you welcome Him, and you welcome the Father, because He is one with the Father. Conversely, if you reject His emissaries, you reject Him and the One who sent Him. Those can be tough words today. How do we discern who His true emissaries are in a world that also contains a lot of false prophets, preachers and teachers that bend the truth and pull us away from God’s intended path? Like Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, they use scripture to prove their point. But they use pieces of scripture for their convenience. Their words sound good, but they don’t carry God’s message. How do we discriminate between God’s prophets and false prophets? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Corinthians 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:34-39 devotional summary Jesus’ words really get to the heart of our devotion. Who or what do we worship? Will we worship Him or someone or something else? He only accepts first place. Remember the second commandment God gave Moses on Mount Sinai? “You are not to make any idol or image of other gods. In fact, you are not to make an image of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You are not to bow down and serve any image, for I, the Eternal your God, am a jealous God.” That any image, include any person. Sometimes that’s our biggest problem. We begin to put our spouse or our parents or our kids ahead of God. You say, I’d never do that! But then we take them out of church to go to those soccer games. So, what’s more important? We decide to hit the lake instead of helping our invalid, widowed neighbor since that’s the only day we have off. So, what’s more important? We choose silver over service, gold over God’s glory, pleasure over piety. We don’t pour precious metals into molds and bow down to them as they sit on altars. But we have our idols as surely as the pagan nations of the Old Testament. We just disguise our better. Or so we think. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Matthew 26-28 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:32-33 devotional summary When we look at the use of the word in the Old Testament we begin to get a better idea about what it means to ‘know’ Jesus. In Genesis 4, the King Jame version and many of the older translations use the term Adam ‘knew’ Eve and she conceived and bore Cain. Abraham ‘knew’ Sarah and she bore Isaac. ‘Knew’ and ‘begat’ go hand-in-hand throughout the Old Testament. The term denotes the intimate relationship between husband and wife. It’s even more than a sexual relationship. It’s the relationship that desires and accomplishes procreation. Jesus wants us to know Him. To create more spiritual children for His kingdom. He is sending our His disciples to share His message to increase the population of the kingdom of heaven. The intimate relationship that draws us close to our spouse, so close we want to create progeny to carry on our human legacy, is the kind of close relationship Jesus wants with us. He wants us to know Him intimately. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 51-55 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:28-31 devotional summary When we believe in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, we do not need to fear punishment. This fear is the awe that God deserves from us when we remember exactly who He is. He is God. The Creator of the universe and all that is in it. He deserves our worship and our awe, our fear. Jesus goes on to say, though, that we are worth far more to God than the smallest creatures He takes such good care of every day. His example of the swallows God feeds and shelters helps us see how much we must be worth to God. God knows everything about us. He knows what we have tried to fill the void in our life. He knows the path we have trod to finally discover our broken, depraved, seemingly hopeless condition in our sins. He knows the price He already paid for our salvation. God knows more about us than we know about ourselves. He knows the number of hairs on your head. Do you think you could ever count them? Don’t worry about those authorities that might want to arrest you, beat you, even kill you. Fear God. Follow His directions. He’s the One that sets the standards and makes the rules. Probably a good idea to please Him if He will be the final judge. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 17-18 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:26-27 devotional summary Jesus promises this universal disclosure of our lives as He talks to the disciples on this particular day. Nothing will be secret, everything will be known by all. So, how then should we live each day? Would your actions stand up to the scrutiny of others? Do you want you life on display for others to see? Jesus is telling us to live such that our lives can be an open book and the events of our lives, directed by Him, shouted from the mountaintops. In fact, Jesus wants us to tell others the secret whisperings He has for us. His message doesn’t change. Repent. Follow Me. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Shout it from the rooftops. Let others know your secret - Jesus is Lord, His kingdom is at hand. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 24-26 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:24-25 devotional summary Names have significant impact, not as much as they used to, but they carry a lot of weight. Think about a few names that bring some visceral response. Mother Theresa. Billy Graham. Bill Gates. Steve Jobs. Jeffrey Dahmer. Adolf Hitler. We could go on and list dozens and dozens of names that cause us to think good thoughts or bad thoughts about those names. Now think about Jesus’ words. If the head of the house is called, the devil, and he is the best of the bunch, what will people call the rest of the household members? Get the point? So whose house do you want to be a part of? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Judges 17-21 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:21-23 devotional summary Men will hate you if you tell them about dying to selfish desire and living for Christ. Men will hate you if you talk about repentance and obedience to God’s word. Men will hate you if you tell them the only way to heaven is by following Jesus’ example. Men will hate you for bearing the righteousness of God because of His forgiveness and His Spirit in you. Jesus promised they will hate you if you carry His message to them. As we help others understand the truth of Jesus’ message, some will hate us. But some will learn about Him and be gathered into His kingdom. Some will repent because His kingdom is at hand. Some will recognize their evil ways, their brokeness and want to find freedom from the burden of sin they carry. Some will listen to your words and want the peace and joy they see in your face. And for those few who find the narrow path on which we walk, all the trials and persecution and suffering and heartache will be worth it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 32-35 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:18-20 devotional summary A great job description, don’t you think? Join my firm and the people that don’t like what you say will drag you before the highest authorities in the land and have you arrested and taken into court for your “crimes”. But don’t worry about it. Don’t worry that those authorities have the power to execute you. Don’t worry that the naysayers and doubters are paying off those officials and have the power to get you arrested and thrown into prison in the first place. Don’t worry about any of that. Just join my company and do what I tell you to do. How would you like those instructions? Notice Jesus didn’t mince words here. “When this happens,” He says. “When you are arrested and dragged into court, not if. This is going to happen to you. You’re going to find yourself in jail. You’re going to be arrested. You’ll get your mug shots on the post office wall as part of the most wanted crowd. But don’t worry about it. You’ll have your day in court.” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - 1 Corinthians 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:16-17 devotional summary Jesus warns us. Watch out. Be careful. Be discerning. Be on your guard. Be shrewd in dealing with the people who hear the message. Many will hate you because you tell the truth. The message cuts to the heart of every person…without exception. Because God’s word is sharper than a two-edged sword. It exposes the sin people think they have hidden so deep inside them no one can see it. But when you share the message that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, God’s word exposes sin. And people will hate you for it. They will try to destroy you because you carried the message that laid them bare. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Matthew 23-25 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:11-15 devotional summary To see trustworthiness, we must be trustworthy. To see kindness, honesty, integrity in the core of a person in that first meeting, in must be in your core. To discern the makeup of the person in front of you, you must have those qualities deep inside you. Only then will you know what that inner peace and confidence looks and feels like when you meet another of your kind. To be one of those to whom Jesus sent the disciples, your actions must demonstrate who you are on the inside by consistent behavior day in and day out through every situation that arises. Then others will call you trustworthy, a person of integrity, honest, loyal, a person of great character. It was probably easy for the villagers to point the disciples to the right house in every place they visited. So the big question as Christians in a sin-filled world, where will people in your neighborhood point if a disciple asks the question, “Can you point me to the most trustworthy person around here?” Will they point to your house? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 45-50 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:9-10 devotional summary So, what’s one of the first things you do when you go on a vacation or a business trip these days? If you’re like me, you make motel reservations. I want to make sure I have a place to sleep when I get off the plane or finish the long drive to wherever I’m going. I know I’m going to be tired after traveling and the last thing I want to be doing is trying to find a place to sleep. Once I know I have a place to sleep and know how I’m going to travel, I pack my bags. I have to admit, I can not remember a single time in my life launching out the way Jesus told the disciples to travel. Talk about faith. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 15-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:7-8 devotional summary What message do you share with others when you tell them about Jesus? He sent His disciples out with a pretty short and sweet message. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Then He gave them a few other things to do to demonstrate the fact of the kingdom’s arrival: heal the sick; raise the dead; clease the lepors; drive out demons. A pretty short list. But the list would keep them busy for a while and help show those they met that the Messiah and God’s Kingdom had arrived. I’m afraid we don’t think too much about the message we share when we go out into the world every day. But if we take Jesus’ words to heart, we are supposed to share His message, aren’t we? Do we think about what we should say? Do we think about what those around us need to hear from God? Do we understand ourselves that the kingdom of heaven is at hand? What does that mean, anyway? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 21-23 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 10:5-6 devotional summary So what should we do? Start sharing with those around you first. Share your good news with those who know you. They are the ones who will see the change in you first and recognize there is something different about you when you really give your life to Christ. So tell family and friends first. Then you’ll find your early success there. Then reach out beyond your immediate sphere of influence to share the message to anyone who will listen. But those who know you best are most likely to listen to your story because when Jesus gets on board in your life, they will know by your love. Tell them where it comes from. That’s all He asks. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Judges 12-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 9:37-38 devotional summary Jesus saw these souls wandering aimlessly through life without direction, without hope. He had the answer. He was the answer. But He needed others to get the message out. He needed the disciples to believe, grasp His message of love and surrender to God. He needed more mouths than His to tell the story. He needed more feet than His to carry the message. He needed more hands than His to help the hurting. He needed more than just Him to show God to the lost and dying souls all around Him. We often jump up and say, “I’ll be one of those workers! Let me work in your fields!” But I think back to my few experiences of farm life and know that harvesting is hard work. That metaphor sticks in the spiritual world, too. A lot of people jump up and wave their hands to volunteer, but when they find out about the sweat and tears and investment in others lives, they quietly sneak out the gate at the side of the field and disappear. What happened to the enthusiasm? What happened to the great cry to win the lost? What happened to mass of people in our churches who said they would volunteer but then don’t show up when it counts? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 28-31 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 9:30 devotional summary I really think Jesus didn’t want the blind men to tell because if we’re going to follow Jesus, it can’t be for the miracles He can do for us. Yes, He wants us to ask Him for His help when we need it. Yes, He tells us to ask Him and He hears our prayers. Yes, He acts on our behalf and gives us good gifts as a good father would. But if that’s why we follow Him, our following will fail. We will hit a bump in the road and suddenly we will find our faith gone. Jesus doesn’t want us to follow Him because of the things He can give us. He wants us to follow Him because He is God and that’s enough. If we ever lose sight of the fact that He is God and we are not, we’ve missed it. There is a God-sized hole in us that only He can fill. He created us to worship Him. All the rest of creation worships Him, but He gives us a choice. We try so hard to fill that void with everything but Him. It doesn’t work. Nothing fits that space in us but Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Romans 15-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 9:28-29 devotional summary These two blind men wanted a miracle and all He did was go home with them and eat their food as He sat on the couch and ate. I sometimes wonder what the rest of the conversation was like with the two men. Surely, on the journey to their house and as they invited Him in to sit and with the nature of Jewish hospitality there was much more said than recorded in Matthew. I’m sure it was more than pleasantries about the weather or the latest sports team scores. Jesus probably talked about more than gossip in the Roman entertainment industry or the latest fashion hitting the streets of Jerusalem. I expect as Jesus entered the blind men’s house, He asked lots of questions that caused them to think. And I expect they had few satisfactory answers. I expect He also pointed those questions at the crowds that followed and those questions caused some of the pious in the crowd to shrink into their pious shrouds in shame as He saw through their sham of self-righteousness. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Matthew 20-22 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 9:24 devotional summary Everyone knows the difference between life and death. Or do they? Do those who belong to Christ see things the way He does? How does He see life and death? What’s different about how Jesus saw the girl and how those mourners saw her? We have to go back to the beginning to understand what Jesus saw. God never intended death to enter the world. He brought life here. He created every living thing. He breathed into us so we became living spirits. He gave us a part that He didn’t give other created beings. He gave us immortality when He made us in His image. He intended for us to live with Him forever. It was Adam and Eve who brought the curse of death on humankind. When they disobeyed God’s command, He let the consequences of their disobedience fall on them and on their descendants who could not help but follow in their footsteps. Death entered the world. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 40-44 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 9:22 devotional summary I’m afraid we let our doubts get in the way far too often today. Do we really believe God can do the kinds of things He did through His children in the early church? I’ve said it before, “God hasn’t changed. His Son hasn’t changed. His Spirit hasn’t changed.” So what has changed? I’m afraid it’s our faith. I’m afraid we no longer believe God can do what He says He can do. Jesus said nothing is impossible for God. Do we really believe that is true? Do we limit God’s work in our lives today because we put Him in a box and just fail to exercise faith in Him? Do we confine His activity in our prayers because we just really don’t think He can do what we ask Him to do? When will we learn that God is God and we are not? When will we learn that our limitations have nothing to do with what God can or can not do? When will we finally discover that, like the woman in our scripture today, God wants to do so much more for us than we can even imagine. All we need to do is have faith in Him. Not just say we do, but have real faith in Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 13-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 9:15-17 devotional summary This new love Jesus talks about, this new way of life, this writing of God’s law on the heart makes us new from the inside out. It changes a person. It transforms a person completely. It means the old habits, the old haunts, the old friends, the old language, the old everything stops. A new way of life begins transformed by the power of God’s Spirit in us. Trying to hold God’s Spirit in us while living the ways of the old life are as fruitless as sewing a new patch on an old garment. When it’s washed the new patch shrinks and rips the whole more making the tear worse than it was to start. Trying to put God into an unrepentant life is like putting new wine in an old wineskin. As the wine ferments, the expansion causes the air to expand, but the wineskin doesn’t expand with it, but bursts instead. Following Jesus means taking on a whole new lifestyle. It means turning away from the old life and sin and following His directions, His commands, His rules. His laws become more important than my desires. His will overrules my will and my desire. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 18-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 9:12-13 devotional summary You know, it’s great there are hypocrites in the church. I’m glad they are there. I’m glad the church has tax collectors and prostitutes and thieves and liars and all sorts of outcasts in it. I’m glad to see the pews filled with unrighteous people. I’m happy to see crowds come in that don’t fit the mold of the solid Christian character. Why? Because for at least that thirty minutes or so that the gospel is preached from the pulpit, they will hear the message of Christ. At least for those few minutes, the world’s message will be shut out and they will know they will be in the presence of at least a few saints of God and hear from His holy word and maybe, just maybe their hearts will be softened enough to open the door for Jesus to come into their heart. For those few minutes, there is an opportunity to introduce them to the One who can change their life forever and pick them up out of their world of sin and make them a new creation in Christ, the Creator of the universe. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Judges 7-11 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 9:9 devotional summary Two simple words, but do we really pay attention to them? Follow Me. That’s all He asks of us, but they are hard words. We have failed to really understand what they mean today in our feel good religions and self-indulgent society. We want to follow Him as long as it benefits our pocket book. We want to follow Him as long as it pleases us. We want to follow Him as long as it doesn’t cost us to much or inconvenience us or mess with our plans. But if you’ll notice, there are no qualifiers in Jesus’ command. He just says, “Follow Me.” Wherever He goes, He expects us to follow in His footsteps. He expects our shoes to step into the footprints of His. He says follow Him. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 24-27 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 9:2-6 devotional summary Do we really believe in Jesus, the Son of God? Maybe we don’t see the New Testament church miracles because we don’t want to see them. Maybe we really don’t want to let God come upon us the way He did then. There’s some danger involved in letting loose and letting God have full control of your church, you know. Remember Ananias and Sophira? They lied about their giving and God struck them dead! Remember Silas, the sorcerer? God blinded him for his attempts at playing Christian. Certainly the early church saw miracles happen in their midsts, but God executed His wrath on the unfaithful in powerful ways as well. Maybe we’re afraid to let God do His mighty works in us because we’re afraid to let Him in the door. Maybe we’re afraid of what God will see in us if we let Him look inside. We shouldn’t be afraid of what He sees, though. He already knows. Maybe we’re really afraid of what we’ll see. We might find just how broken and desperate and needy and sinful we really are. Maybe we’ll find how far we are from Him and find we must fall on our face before Him in true repentance before He can do any work in us or through us. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Romans 13-14 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 8:32 devotional summary Satan’s demons in those pigs in the Gadarenes meant disaster for the demons. We think animals are not smart and certainly humans are at the top of the pyramid for intelligent life on the planet. (at least I think we are most of the time, although at times I wonder) As soon as the demons flew into the pigs, the herd killed themselves running over a cliff into the sea. The pigs couldn’t handle the evil that suddenly took residence in their bodies. God made them and they were good, the evil tainted them so badly, they destroyed themselves. It was the only way the pigs knew to get rid of the evil inside them. It’s interesting to me that the pigs couldn’t tolerate that evil for even a few minutes, but we can live with it for a lifetime. We convince ourselves so well that what we do against God is okay, that we live that evil brewing in us and just no longer see it. Maybe we need to get pig’s eyes for a little while so we can see what we are and realize just how much we need God’s cleansing in our lives. Maybe then, we would fall on our knees and beg His forgiveness and mercy for our sins. Maybe then, we would understand His willingness to make us clean and whole again. To rid us of the filth in our lives and make us new in Him. Maybe we need pig’s eyes for a while. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Matthew 17-19 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 8:26 devotional summary I love to watch little kids at playgrounds. They show us what’s it’s like not to fear. Watch them. They hang on the bars upside-down without a care. They race and climb and jump and sometimes they fall. It’s not until adults intervene and tell them something isn’t safe that they begin to curb their appetite for play. Little kids will do just about anything within their ability with no fear. They just do stuff. They exercise faith in their ability and their invincibility. We parents are the ones that instill that fear in them. We stop them cold and tell them they’ll get hurt. Don’t climb too high. Don’t swing too far. Don’t run too fast. Don’t … Don’t… Don’t… And so we build fear into them. I’m told the only fear infants have is the fear of falling. Everything else we teach them with our constraints and dire warnings. Have you ever thought about had sad that is sometimes. So maybe we have taught out children, by our actions, to fear coming to Christ for salvation. Maybe our actions tell our children it’s not safe to give your all to the Master. Maybe we have demonstrated those dire warnings to our children that you better fear doing too much for Christ. Can you trust Him with everything you have and everything you are? Can you get rid of the fear that keeps you from serving Him completely? Can you avoid the words His disciples heard in the boat, “What are you so afraid of, you of little faith”? Are you ready to act like a child and boldly step out and do the unthinkable when and where He leads you? I promise you, Jesus will never ask you to do something He and you cannot do together because He never fails. Never! So what are you so afraid of? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 34-39 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 8:22 devotional summary How often do we put off what Jesus asks us to do until it’s more convenient for us? How many times do we miss opportunities to share what He is doing in our lives, that’s called witnessing, by the way, to someone around us? How many times do we fail to show His love to someone near us that we can help in some small way because we’re just too busy with our own lives to think about those around us? What if Jesus lived His life that way? What if God lived in such a way that He only took notice of the important things. How would we fit into that? Would we even register in the mix? I’m one of 7 billion people on one of eight planets (maybe nine again) circling one of billions of stars in one of billions of galaxies in a universe too large to measure that is expanding every second. How important does that make me that God would care? The answer is important enough to die on a cross for my sins, that if I choose, I can follow Him and have eternal life. What is more important than that? How can I not drop everything else when He gives me a task to do? He knows your heart. Follow Him. Just do it! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 11-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 8:20 devotional summary Jesus want us to know the cost of following Him, but in reality, it’s no cost at all except the one thing He wants. Me and you. Everything else is just temporary stuff that we really can’t control very well anyway. We think we do, but it’s a façade. It’s one of those lies of Satan, the father of lies. When we follow Jesus, we must know the cost, Jesus says, “Foxes have dens in which to sleep, and the birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Are you ready to go with Him? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 15-17 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 8:10-13 devotional summary Jesus reminded all who gathered around Him that He came for everyone. Salvation is universal for all who believe in Him. His words must have shocked the Israelites around Him. How dare He talk about Gentiles sharing in the resurrection feast with God? But that’s the promise He makes as this “heathen” demonstrates more faith than any of the religious leaders Jesus has seen in His journeys through the country. His words remind me, though, that we can be just as guilty as those pious, hypocrites Jesus addressed that day. If you’re a Protestant, do you bash the Catholics? Did you forget that your tenets of faith originated within their church? If you’re Catholic, do you think all Protestants are heretics? If you’re Baptist, do you think every other denomination has it wrong? What if you’re Nazarene, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist? Do you look down on other denominations and wonder about their salvation? If you want to know the truth, Jesus would probably tell us there are some Christians in each of those faiths, and a lot of people who call themselves Christians in each of those faiths. As He told those around Him that day, it isn’t your pedigree that gets you into heaven. Jesus doesn’t care what you call yourself. You could call yourself a “Gollywopper” and be a Christian if you’ve asked for His forgiveness and follow His commands. But if you don’t come to Him repentantly and follow Him, it just doesn’t matter what you call yourself. You won’t be at the feast. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Judges 1-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 8:7 devotional summary Look what Jesus does for us. When we were still sinners, dirty, and filthy in our sins, rolling around in the mud and the filth of this world, He came to us. We didn’t deserve His love. We didn’t deserve His visit. We didn’t deserve His attention. We didn’t deserve His words of kindness. We didn’t deserve anything from Him except the outpouring of His wrath. But like the Roman officer, Jesus says enthusiastically, “I will come to you.” Invite Me and I’ll be there. I want to come. I want to show up and attend your party. I want to help you. I want to do more for you than you can ever imagine. Please invite Me. I’ll come. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 20-23 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 8:4 devotional summary How many times do we use our words to explain what happens to us in our religious experiences instead of our actions? We declare to the world, “I’m a Christian.” We say the right words and attend the right churches. We tell others of our generosity and our faith. We talk about our prayer life and our study. We have a lot of words we share with others and sort of brag about our relationship. I think that’s what Jesus warns against as He shares this instruction with the leper after his miraculous cleansing that day. Just do what you should be doing as a child of God. Follow His instructions. Read His manual and do what it says. That’s enough. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Romans 11-12 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 8:3 devotional summary Jesus redeemed us with His shed blood. But we must accept that redemption. He doesn’t put shackles on our feet and drag us into His kingdom. He paid the price, but asks us to voluntarily follow Him. He lets us choose the path we take. Will He cleanse us and make us free from the dirt and filth of sin? Absolutely! But we must come to Him the way the leper came to Him. The leper knew his condition. He didn’t care what others thought about him coming forward to Jesus. He knew they would talk about his breaking the rules. He assumed some what talk about how terrible he was to expose others to his disease by coming along the road with people who didn’t have his disease. The leper knew he was an outcast and could not help himself. He knew his only hope was in the healing and cleansing Jesus could bring. He knew Jesus could make the difference in his life no one else could make and had confidence in Jesus’ ability to do so. He put all his faith in Jesus. What do you need Jesus to do for you? How do you come to Him with your request? He tells us to come to Him boldly? But do we remember that He is Lord of creation? Do we understand just Who we address when we fall on our knees in front of Him? The leper understood. He came in humble adoration and made his plea. Jesus’ response - Of course, I wish to do it! He doesn’t withhold His good gifts from us. Just remember Who you’re asking in the process. He is God, you know. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Matthew 14-16 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 7:24-27 devotional summary A few weeks ago floods tore through the midwest again. The Mississippi River overflowed its banks and the same little town that routinely finds itself ravaged by those floodwaters found itself ravaged again. I sometimes wonder about the intelligence of the people that live in that little town. Year after year, the Mississippi floods when the rains hit the countrysides upstream. Rains don’t necessarily hit that town, but all through the midwest, melting snow and spring rains fill the tributaries that feed the Mississippi and invariably that little town hits the national news. So why do the people stay there? When I hear the name of the town on the news every year, I think about Jesus’ words to the crowd on the mountainside. When a storm comes, the rain falls, the waters rise, the wind blows, and his house will collapse with a great clash. That’s what I think about as I see the houses float down the Mississippi after the floods rip them from their foundation in the spring and autumn rains. You would think people would look at the maps and quit building in the floodplain, wouldn’t you? But next year, guess what we’ll see on the news. Yep. Rescuers will be pulling someone from a rooftop or out of a tree because they built back in the same place and the Mississippi will overflow its banks and they’ll feel the power of the floodwaters as their house disappears in the torrent. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 29-33 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 7:21-23 devotional summary These words of Jesus must have been tough for those who heard it that day. They are probably tough for us if we really stop to think about them a little. Jesus is saying all our good deeds don’t mean anything to God if they haven’t come from an obedient heart. Look at the list of things He mentions as the works of those who He turns away at the day of judgment. Prophesy, driving out demons, performing miracles. Aren’t these the very works He did? Aren’t these the things Jesus said we would do for Him when He departed? How can He tell us that those who do these very things will not be allowed to live with Him? These people are doing great things in Jesus’ name! They show every evidence on the outside that they are His followers, so how can He now reject them from heaven? The answer is simple. They haven’t been obedient to Him. Remember Moses? Do you remember why God didn’t let him cross over the Jordan River into the land promised to the Israelites? The event was such a simple thing. God told Moses to speak to the rock and tell water to come out of it to give the Israelites water to quench their thirst. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his rod. Years earlier in the journey God had told Moses to get water by striking the rock and water came out of the rock. So why would God ban Moses from the promised land for such a simple thing, striking the rock instead of speaking to the rock? Disobedience. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 9-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 7:15-20 devotional summary There are a lot of false prophets out there now days. They were around in Jesus’ time, thrived during the days of the early church, and keep on truckin’ today. In fact, if I read my Bible right, they will be around until Jesus comes again. And guess where they do their best work. If you guessed in the church, you’d be right. It’s sad, but true. They come in with all the right words. They look religious. They quote long passages of scripture to prove their point. But when you look at their lives, they are empty shells with nothing inside. No real life. Nothing to show on the inside that would point anyone to Christ and His truth. Yet many will fall for their flattering words and mystic sounding phrases and follow them anywhere. Just look at the number of people that followed Jimmie Jones and David Koresh. Those two made national headlines because of the scores of people who died because of their false teaching, but there are dozens like them that don’t get the mass attention but are just as dangerous. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 12-18 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 7:13-14 devotional summary It’s easy to go along with the crowd. Just ask the herd of cattle on the farm. They move from the barn in the morning to the pasture and just graze around following the lead cow. In the afternoon, the lead cow knows it’s about time to go back to the barn so they follow the same worn path back to the barn until the next morning. The same routine goes on day after day, with the cows going out into the field and coming back in again until one day the lead cow leads the herd through a series of gates that ends up with the cows looking through the sideboards of a transport headed to the slaughter house. We’re not much different. We have a tendency to just follow the leader, not thinking much about who we’re following. We get into the middle of the crowd and let it push us along mindlessly going back and forth day after day until finally we find out one day we’re looking through the sideboards of life on our way to the slaughter house and it seems there’s no way out. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Joshua 21-25 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 7:12 devotional summary Jesus gives instructions that turns us away from selfish motive. He turns us to think of others. He points us toward doing good deeds for the benefit of those we can touch. Demonstrate God’s love through our actions. So if that’s what Jesus has been telling us to this point, He probably means to carry that message through with this tidbit of instruction as well. This command isn’t just about showing mercy. It isn’t about holding off on our vengeance against those that wrong us as we so often want to use this verse. Jesus give us these words to spark us into action. Listen to those words once more. “In everything, in every circumstance, do to others as you would have them do to you.” So stop for just a minute and think. What would you like someone to do for you today? Would you like someone to tell you, “I love you?” Then find somone and tell them those words and mean it. Would you like someone to compliment your work efforts? Then find one of your co-workers and compliment them. Would it be nice if someone paid for your gas at the pump? Fill the tank of the next car that pulls up at the pump next to you. Would you like to get flowers? A book you’ve been wanting to read? A meal at a restaurant? A ride somewhere? Just stop and think about what you would want someone to for you today. Then do it for someone else. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 16-19 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 7:9-11 devotional summary What God wants is our recognition that He is God. He wants our honor, respect, and obedience. He wants us to say yes to His will. He wants us to accept the gifts He has for us and to use those gifts to carry out His will on earth, not ours. He wants us to forget about our desires and focus on His. God wants us to abandon our selfish ambitions and seek His kingdom and His righteousness. You see, we can never be good enough, but we can accept His goodness as our own through faith. That’s what Abraham did without the written law. That’s what Moses did before the law was given to Him on tablets of stone. That’s what Joel talked about when He said God would write His law on the hearts of men and women. But one thing is certain. When we ask our Father for something in prayer, we can be sure He answers. And when He answers, His answer is good. It might not be what we want, but it will be good. Because the Father gives good gifts to His children. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Romans 9-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 7:7-8 devotional summary Jesus moves back to the topic of prayer. He tells us to just ask, but does He mean we can get anything we want? Does He portray the Father as a cosmic Santa that will give us whatever we want? “Just ask and it will be given to you…” It might sound like it if you lift that verse out of His sermon like a lot of name it and claim preachers try to do. But go back and look at the model prayer He gives us earlier in His sermon and remember that He never contradicts Himself. Ask and it will be given to you. Ask for what? Remember Jesus’ model prayer? Father in heaven, I ask that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Ask and it will be given to you. Seek after it and you will find it. Find what? Find the Father’s will. You see, I think we get the wrong idea about what to ask for in the first place. We get ourselves mixed up into the equation and let that selfish desire poke its head up and try to grab all the attention instead of listening to what Jesus says to us in the rest of His discourse. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Matthew 11-13 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 7:6 devotional summary We can take the precious treasures God gives us, the relationships nurtured and grown with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and throw them away with the kinds of attitudes, unjust judgments, blind criticisms, and wrongs Jesus shared with His listeners. We can forget all the things He has said and just live the way we want with self on the throne of our heart and do what we want. When we do, we will lose the relationships we worked so hard to build. It takes little to destroy relationships, but years to develop them. Just like it takes little to toss your treasures at the feet of dogs and swine. How hard is to recover them from those beasts once done, though? Not so easy is it? Recognize the treasure you hold in your hand as a child of God. Share it, but don’t throw it away. Listen to Jesus’ words and meditate on them today. What are you doing with your treasure? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 23-28 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 7:1-5 devotional summary So what is our response to Jesus' words today? Do we sit by and let behavior go unchecked because of a misinterpreted pronouncement of “don’t judge or you’ll be judged”? No. Do we let anything go because of a fear that we cannot adequately know what is right and wrong in a world that continues to slide down a steep path of degradation and evil? No. The words Jesus shares here doesn’t mean we don’t have a responsibility to stop bad behavior, but to first police our own behavior before we level judgements against others. He says we must look at our own actions first. Make sure we are prayed up, in right relationship with God and man, before going to our brother to judge his actions. Know that we are doing some self-assessments and cleaning up our own act before we try to clean up the actions of those around us. It’s easy to see the bad behavior around us and announcing bad behavior for what it is doesn’t violate God’s commands or the precepts in His word. Jesus just says to also take inventory of our own lives as well. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 7-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:31-34 devotional summary How do we find God? A good place to start is in the scriptures. It’s His word to us. It’s the written record of how He wants us to live and act and think. Pick your favorite translation. As long as the translation is true to the original manuscripts, it really doesn’t matter much which translation you choose. That’s one of the beauties about what God has done for us. As I’ve read and explored and used various translations over the last forty years of my diligent search for God (before that I wasn’t diligently searching for Him, I was just stumbling along with what others would tell me), I’ve found that every one of those translations talk the same way about what’s important to get me to heaven. Every one of them have the same formula for pleasing God. Every single one tell me that Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin, died on a cross for my sins and the sins of the world, rose from the tomb on the third day, sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on my behalf for all those who believe in Him for salvation. Every one of those translations tell me that Jesus will return again and all humankind will face a final judgment based first on whether Jesus is Lord of our life. Every one of them tells me that salvation comes through faith in Jesus alone. But also that faith with the subsequent demonstration of that faith by doing good works for others is not really faith, but just words. So start with His word. Read it. Meditate on it. Let it soak into your brain. You’ll find God there if you desire to find Him. Then confess that He is God and you are not. Confess that you need His forgiveness for the wrongs you have committed against Him as laid out in His instruction book to us. Then let Him become the Director of your life. You’ll find Him. He will impart His righteousness on you. He will begin to transform you by the renewing of your mind. He will make you over again until those around you before you gave yourself to Him will barely recognize you because of your changed behavior, attitudes, demeanor, love for God and others. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 9-11 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:25-30 devotional summary Maybe God got it right in the first place. After all, He tells us not to worry about what to eat, doesn’t He? I think He probably knows what’s best if we would eat what He creates instead of what we recreate. Just a thought. What God really wants us to spend our time thinking about, meditating on is not what we will put in our mouths, or put on our bodies, but how will we fill that empty place in our soul? How will we satisfy that God sized empty spot in your soul? Will we try to satisfy it with the things of this world or with Him? That’s the question. Only you know your answer. What will it be? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Joshua 16-20 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:24 devotional summary Commitment:1. the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc. 2. an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action. Commitment, a word that disappeared from our vocabulary somewhere along the line except when it comes to commitment to ourselves. We want what we want and that’s it. But seldom will we use the word to dedicate or obligate ourselves to anything else. But that’s exactly what God demands of us. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 12-15 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:22-23 devotional summary How do we stay on track? Watch what comes into the windows of your body, your mind, your soul. Filter the things you can filter. I know the culture will expose you to things you cannot help but see. Billboards are everywhere and we cannot avoid them. Magazine covers hit you in the face at checkout lines. But we do not have to keep our eyes glued to those things. We don’t have to dwell on what the world puts in front of us. We have the power to avert our gaze. We can, with God’s help, filter the things that we focus on. We can do what Paul admonishes us to do. “Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Romans 7-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:19-21 devotional summary Everything Jesus tells us to this point leads us toward building our treasure in heaven. It’s not brownie points of doing good, but rather it’s loving God with your all your strength, mind, soul, and spirit. It’s loving your neighbor as yourself. It’s building relationships with others. It’s sharing God’s love with everyone you meet. It’s telling others what God does in your life, witnessing to His amazing grace. That’s your real treasure. Everyone of those people you introduce to God’s kingdom, those are the real treasures you put away in heaven. Eternal friends and family. Those relationships will go on forever. So, like Jesus says, “Instead, put up your treasures in heaven where moths do not attack, where rust does not corrode, and where thieves are barred at the door. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Matthew 8-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:16-18 devotional summary So when is the last time you exercised the Christian discipline of fasting? When is the last time you spent that “meal preparation” time, four or five hours alone with God. See it’s not about skipping a meal. We can all afford to do that every once in a while just to keep a pound or two off our frame, but can you spend quality time, real time with your Father to really get to know Him? That’s what Jesus is asking us to do. When you spend that kind of time. I guarantee you won’t look sad and weak and forlorn. You will have been in the presence of God and you’ll wear His joy on your face. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 18-22 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:14-15 devotional summary I do not want to hear those words from Jesus! How dare He set the condition of my forgiveness on my forgiveness! Ouch! From the time God created Adam and Eve and the world began to populate, that small community that began with two and grew from their family always depended upon their existence as a community. Our very survival depends on our living in community with others. We cannot survive alone. We might watch the “reality” TV shows that pit man against nature, but remember that so called lone survivor is surrounded by TV crews, modern technologies if he gets in trouble, respites between shows. Few people across our globe could survive long on their own. We were created to live in community, interdependent on each other. God really does want us to live in community and the only way to do that is for us to get along with each other. The only way we can really get along with each other is to forgive each other. If we hold grudges, always seek revenge, always think poorly about those who wrong us in some way, the community crumbles. God is serious about our relationships with our neighbors. He gave us the parable of the Good Samaritan to tell us just how much that relationship means. He said love your enemies. He said do to others what you want them to do to you. He said forgive. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:9-13 devotional summary We should never take Jesus' example in prayer lightly. Let it sink into you and resonate within your heart. He gives us a simple pattern for prayer that we should not forget. Prayer opens with the acknowledgement that the God of creation invites us to commune with Him. Imagine that. It’s really a little hard to comprehend sometimes. If you tried to get an appointment with the governor or the president, you would have to explain your reasons in great detail and still would have to go through background checks, investigations, whole layers of staff to get that appointment. And these are just men. But the God who created everything from nothing invites you to talk to Him without an appointment. Just burst into His throne room whenever you want. Whenever you have something on your mind that you want to talk about, He gives you that freedom. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 6-8 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:5-8 devotional summary Prayer is such an important discipline for the Christian. I’m afraid few of us really practice prayer the way Jesus wants us to, though. If you examine His life in the scriptures, you find He made a habit of praying. He prayed early in the morning and late at night. He prayed before every major event in His life. He prayed before various tasks He performed. Jesus prayed all the time. It was His lifeline to His heavenly Father. Paul admonishes us to pray continually. As much as we see prayer emphasized in scripture, we do a poor job of emulating Christ and His Apostles in spending quality and quantities of time in prayer. I hear too many say, “I don’t know how to pray.” But that’s just an excuse. Everyone know how to pray. If you know how to talk or think or listen or communicate in any form, you can pray. That’s what prayer is, after all, is communication with God. We listen, we talk, we hear His voice, we read His word, we enter into a meaningful relationship with the God of the universe. It’s really that simple. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Joshua 11-15 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 6:1-4 devotional summary What would happen if the government suddenly decided not to give credit for charitable giving? Would it change your giving habits? Would you give less to your favorite charities or to the church? Would your contributions take a nose dive if you didn’t get credit for giving to others? It’s an interesting question and one these words of Jesus ask us ask ourselves. You see, it’s not just the announcement in the press or your name on a board or in a bulletin that might make your head and chest swell because of what you give. But we should seriously ask ourselves why we give. If its because of a tax break, don’t give. If it’s to get the applause and recognition of those around us, don’t give. If it’s to get our name on the cornerstone or chisled on the arch of the doorway, don’t give. God says, if we have the wrong motive and expect any blessings from Him because of that extravagant gift, you’ve missed the boat. You’ve already received your reward and it will be pretty sour when it comes around. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 8-11 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:43-48 devotional summary We really get hung up on that call to “be perfect,” don’t we? But would Jesus tell us to do something that we couldn’t do? Would God give us a command that was impossible to frustrate us throughout our life? I don’t think God works that way. I think God wants us to experience His joy and peace and comfort now and through eternity. I think He wants us to get a glimpse of heaven here before He takes us to be with Him for eternity. So He calls us to “be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect.” Here’s the catch. What does perfect mean? Does it mean I will never make a mistake? Does it mean I can go through life and my math always works? Does it mean I can expect never to say the wrong word and never to hurt someone’s feelings by doing so? Does it mean every business decision I make will end up as a profitable one? Rhetorical questions with a clear answer. No. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Romans 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:38-42 devotional summary Turn the other cheek? Did Jesus really mean for us to take the abuse others might deal out to us and just roll over and play dead? Did Jesus really want us to suffer at the hands of our enemies and let them punish us unjustly? Did He really call for us to bear injury and insult when we have within our means to defend ourselves against those who would harm us? The answer to each of those questions is yes. The problem in our society today is we have become so sensitive to wanting our own way and wanting what we want, we forget that our wants are really not important. It’s what God wants that’s important. Walking through this life and fighting against evil is not our fight. It’s God’s. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Matthew 5-6 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:33-37 devotional summary The election year will start up in earnest now. Candidates with spew their rhetoric across the airwaves and meet with thousands to vow what they will do if we will just put them in office. Well, we’re on president number 45. None have kept their vows yet. Should we expect number 46 to keep his or hers? I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to hold my breath. If I were a betting man, I’d bet none of them will keep their promises. It’s important to God, though. He says so in these words. When we make an oath He expects us to keep it. But more than that, He expects our simple yes to mean yes and our simple no to mean no. But we’ve gotten really good at double-speak. Have you noticed? Just add enough words and you talk yourself into or out of just about anything. Instead, Jesus says use fewer words, get your point across, and mean what you say. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 12-17 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:31-32 devotional summary We have made divorce so easy and told ourselves that divorce is okay so we just throw relationships out the window when we get tired of them. God never intended them to be that way. He let us know that when He was here with us. Let’s go back to Jesus’ words. If you’re divorced, God forgives. He doesn’t like it. He wants relationships to thrive, but He forgives the past. If you’re married, work as hard as you can to keep your relationship growing. It takes both of you, but it’s worth the work. If you’re in a relationship, dating, thinking about marriage, pray hard. Make the right choice. Remember God expects you to marry for life, not for convenience. These might be words we want to skip over and pretend Jesus didn’t say them, but He did. We have to contend with them even in our society in which divorce is rampant. Marriage is only a convenience for many. Vows mean little or nothing for too many that stand before an altar. Remember marriage was an institution created by God and He set the rules. When we abide by them, marriage works well. When we don’t, expect to suffer the consequences that come with it. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:27-30 devotional summary Our culture wants us to believe it’s okay, to engage in pre-marital and extra-marital affairs. No harm done to any parties involved. Or so they say. Look around at our society and it’s easy to see the damage, though. Broken homes, damaged and castaway children. Emotional wreckage along the pathway of life because we think it’s okay to disregard Jesus’ words. And just like with His discourse about murder, Jesus starts with a behavior that we know will disrupt the fabric of a healthy and wholesome society and reminds us that behavior doesn’t come from pure instinct within the framework of the human creation. We have a choice in our behavior, our actions spring from thought, not pure base instinct as in other animals. We can decide to act differently. We can choose behavior that glorifies God and keeps the norms of society on a higher plane. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 3-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:23-26 devotional summary Ouch! It’s one thing for Jesus to tell me to stop begin angry at someone else for something they have done against me, but man, is it hard to go ask forgiveness from someone that’s angry with me. Especially, if I think I’m right. I mean, really? What is Jesus thinking? Why do I need to make things right when the other guy is the one with the anger issue? Why should I put myself in a situation where he might boil over and test my faith with that turn the other cheek rule? And Jesus says to do that before I bring my offering to God. Here I am about to do something good for God, about to give Him my best, and He wants me to go make it right with someone who is angry with me first. Why? God is a God of love. In fact, He is love. We learn to love because He plants the seed of love in our hearts before we know Him. He puts it there and shows us an imperfect kind of love through the relationships we have with others. So when there is something between one of our fellowman and us, how can we have a loving relationship with God? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Joshua 6-10 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:21-22 devotional summary If I am to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and the Apostles and the great figures of the church, I must remember God created us all. I must remember these words of Jesus and let Him help me stop my thoughts of self importance and disregard of my brother or sister. I must let Him into my life so I avoid those initial thoughts that can lead to hatred which is just a single behavior away from murder, an act we all agree is wrong and worthy of the severest punishment. Jesus’ words take us back to Cain’s question in the Garden of Eden and what seems a rhetorical answer viewed throughout the rest of God’s word. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Yes, at a minimum, I must extend the grace and mercy and love God shows me to him. So, how do your thoughts measure up? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 4-7 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:17-20 devotional summary Once we come to know God, we can hear Him. We can distinguish His voice among all the others in the same way you can hear your baby’s cry in a room full of infants. We can distinguish His commands from the cry of the world in the same way we can pick out our spouse’s voice among the din in a crowded room. We can hear Him, because He puts His law in our heart. We no longer need a list of written rules and regulations because God transforms our mind so we become more like Him each day. We begin to live according to His wishes instead of our own. We begin to live within the boundaries of His law, His precepts, His directions and commands, so that we stay by His side on this journey of life. What is the sacred law? It’s God’s Spirit directing us when we give ourselves completely to Him. Will it be different from His written word? No! God doesn’t contradict Himself. That’s why Jesus can say, “…not one letter, not one pen stroke, will disappear from the sacred law—for everything, everything in the sacred law will be fulfilled and accomplished.” He wants to accomplish His law in you and me. The question each day is, “Will I let Him?” What’s your answer? Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Romans 3-4 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:13 devotional summary So God gives us a choice. We can be salt for Him. Useful. Flavorful. Giving life and utility to the world around us in the manor He chooses in His overall plan for the world and His individual plan for each of us. Or we can choose to take our own path. But when we do, we are like that salt that looses it’s saltiness. It’s like the salt mined from the ground over which water flowed to removed the pure mineral leaving asphalt, useful only for paving roads. So when the “salt [mined from the ground] loses its saltiness, can anything make it salty again? No, its useless. Tossed out, thrown away, or trampled.” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 7-11 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 5:3-12 devotional summary The secret to the happy life, Jesus tells us, is not in the outcome of these verses, but in the input. We get the blessing by changing our attitude toward life. When we demonstrate the characteristics He outlines in these verses, we begin to reap the rewards, but not before. So as we recognize we are poor in spirit, as we mourn our condition, as we walk through life with a meek and gentle spirit, then, God begins to bless us with the rewards He talks about in these verses. We inherit heaven, comfort, and the earth. We begin to experience real joy. We understand as our character changes what blessings and exalted happiness is all about. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Job 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 4:19 devotional summary You can’t be a disciple, a follower, a Christian from long distance. You just can’t hear what God has to say when you’re far away from Him. You need to snuggle up close so He can put His lips up to your ear and whisper His commands, His blessings, His thoughts to you. He wants you at His fingertips ready to talk to you all the time. He can’t do that if you’re not right there in His presence. So first, He says, “Come.” The second thing Jesus told those crusty fishermen was, “Follow me.” When we come to Jesus, He won’t leave us alone. He won’t leave us where we are. God wants to change us. He doesn’t want to leave us in the state we live in now. He calls us to Him to transforms us, to make us over into the creation He wants us to be. And so He says, “Follow me.” Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Psalms 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 4:17 devotional summary John’s message, the message from the prophets, Jesus’ message as He walked alongside us, all pointed us to the same thing. Turn from your wicked ways. Stop in your tracks, do an about face on the path you are taking and walk the other way. Walk toward God, not away from Him. See, there are only two directions you can go in life. You can walk toward God or you can walk away from Him. Repentance means feeling such sorrow over your past actions that you do something about it. You ask forgiveness of those things and then change! Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Joshua 1-5 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 4:10 devotional summary I believe Jesus faced his temptation in the wilderness as fully man. Yes, He was God, but I think while He lived alongside us, He showed us how to live in our humanness. So He set aside much of the power of His diety when He faced the problems we face from day-to-day. I think His emotions, His desires, His temptations were just as powerful as ours because He was fully human. His advantage with respect to temptation compared to the rest of us lies in the fact that He was not born of Adam’s seed. Born to a virgin mother, Jesus suffered and endured everything we do as humans. Did you get it? Jesus said, “Get away from Me Satan. I will not serve you. I will instead follow the Scripture…” The point of this particular temptation focused on worship, but note that every temptation Satan threw in Jesus’ path, He answered with Scripture. Now, Jesus tires of Satan’s games and first tells him to go away, then tells him why. “I will follow the Scriptures,” Jesus tells him. Those are important lessons for us as we begin this new year. If we could just remember those two lessons as temptations come, we would stay so far ahead in life, we would be awed by our spiritual progress. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Genesis 4-7 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 4:7 devotional summary Isn’t that just like the Devil to twist scripture to lure us aware from God? It has been said you can use the Bible to prove anything you want to prove. It even says in Psalms 53:1, “there is no God.” Of course those words are taken completely out of context and if you read the whole verse it says, “The foolish are convinced deep down that there is no God. There souls are polluted, and they commit gross injustice. Not one of them does good.” Can I challenge you this year to not just skim through the Bible this year, but to really pick it up and make it a major part of your life? Can I challenge you to let passages sink into your heart until they become part of you? Don’t let your favorite verses be the only thing on which you meditate this year, but like Jesus, make God’s word a steady diet until you it devours you. Until it becomes a part of you. Until it transforms your mind. Today's Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Romans 1-2 see the whole year's plan here

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Today's Scripture Focus Matthew 3:15 devotional summary What Jesus told John and us, is you have a mission. Your mission from the Father is to proclaim His word and to baptize, ritually cleanse through this outward sign of inward repentance that they will follow the will of God. Jesus went through the ritual of baptism to announce to the rest of the world He would follow the will of God. But He also told John through His actions, “You’re doing the job God gave you to do. Don’t stop. Keep it up. Even though I’ve arrived and part of your mission is to announce My coming, you mission isn’t over. Keep preaching the importance of repentance and the individual, outward proclamation of that repentance through baptism.” God gives each of us missions to perform. How appropriate for Jesus’ first recorded words in this first gospel of the New Testament to be directed to each of us, saying, “Get on with the work I’ve given you to do. No one else will do your job for you.” Today’s Bible reading plan: Read it in a year - Isaiah 1-6 see the whole year’s plan here

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary A new year starts tomorrow. How about beginning with God, then every day begin with Him again, and again, and again. You’ll face Him at the finale John talks about in the vision Jesus gave him. Why not get ready for it by walking with God every day until then. You’ll pass the test if you do. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Revelation 22:7-21 Set - Revelation 21-22 Go! - Revelation 19-22

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary There are two kinds of fear. Everyone will experience one of those two types depending on whether you follow God's precepts. The first type of fear is reserved for those who have not follow His ways. That type of fear and trembling comes because of fear of punishment. It equates to the horror of what will befall those damned to eternal punishment. Those who choose their own path choose eternal separation from God. They choose to face the horror of eternity alone with no support, no love, no light, nothing. They will face eternity absorbed by the horror of complete isolation from their only source of hope, Jesus. But for those who choose to follow Christ, there is another kind of fear. Seldom to you hear about that definition today, but His word uses the term “fear God” often. So what does it mean for those who follow Him? For that group, you do not fear punishment and the wrath those who follow their own way do. So what does it mean to fear God? It means to tremble in awe and reverence. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Revelation 15 Set - Revelation 15-16 Go! - Revelation 15-18

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com If the river John saw in his vision on Patmos was only ten feet wide and the horse's bridle was about six feet high, the volume of blood from just the city of Babylon, the great city of God’s wrath represents more than 150,000,000 people. That will be the first city of all the cities on earth that will feel the wrath of the Father when He sends Jesus to bring His followers home. It will be an awful day for those not protected by the blood of His forgiveness. Christ has told you that narrow is the path that leads to eternal life and few find it. Not because the Father and He don’t want you to find it. They make it plain for all to see. Few find it because few are willing to sacrifice their selfish desires for His will in their life. The narrow path to eternal life with Him means obedience to Him, not the cry of the world. It means staying focused on God. Listening to that still, small voice Elijah heard. Walking in the light He gives you each day. Living for Him instead of yourself. It’s contradictory to the path the world tells you to walk, but that’s why so few follow it. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Revelation 14:6-20 Set - Revelation 14 Go! - Revelation 10-14

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Everyone comes along to tell you about Jesu is part of His creation. And everyone and everything attempting to break the seal on the scroll in the hand of the One on the throne of heaven could not because they are created. The messengers around the throne were created. The 24 Elders were created. All was created…except Him, because He is. He was here before time began and He will be here after time ends. But for a little while Jesus combined Himself with some of our DNA and walked on the earth with us. Jesus is all God and all Man. He is your perfect intercessor and He is worthy to open the seal and the scroll so John could see more of the unfolding of the final judgments against Satan and those who choose to follow him. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Revelation 5:1-10 Set - Revelation 5-6 Go! - Revelation 5-9

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary How would you like to have those words written about you? Limited strength, but obedient to God's word. True to His name. Loved by God. You endured and were patient. Those would be pretty good descriptors for anyone wanting to join God in His kingdom. When you look around this corrupt world and the enticements Satan throws in front of you every day, a description of your life like those God gave to the church at Philadelphia would feel pretty good. What you must do, though, is walk through those open doors and leave those closed doors shut. The problem with many who say they want to follow Christ, they come to a closed door and start slamming their shoulder against it to burst through it. I don’t know if you’ve seen many doors that someone burst through, but there are always cracks and splinters and broken frames involved when you do that. You’ve just ruined the door. Jesus closes those doors for a reason. Those places aren’t good for you or at least aren’t good for you at that time. A closed door means stay out. Don't insist on going in. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Revelation 3:7-13 Set - Revelation 3-4 Go! - Revelation 1-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary So many people today want to try to change God's laws. They say they are old-fashioned, out-dated. They say His laws should keep up with the times. What those folks don’t understand is that God made each person. It’s His miracle that allows birth to happen in the first place. It’s His miracle that allows life to happen on this third planet in orbit around this particular star in this galaxy. It’s God's design that keeps all of those things in place so you can enjoy this world at His pleasure. What you forget is that you haven’t changed. God has let you learn more about the place you live. He’s let you discover more about the way things work so you could enjoy more comfort in life. But your desires basically mimic those of your ancient ancestors. You want a better life for your children. You want to live in safety. You prefer health over sickness, warmth over cold, community over isolation. You have not really changed since God first created humankind. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Psalms 119:89-112 Set - Psalms 117; Psalms 119:81-176 Go! - Psalms 117, 119:81-176; 2 John; 3 John

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary How do we share hearts with God? I can’t explain it. God will not explain to you how He becomes part of you, just as He will not explain how He became both God and Man. The mystery of how God does those things is far beyond your human understanding. Your understanding is finite and He is your God. Just know He can do it and believe in Him. You don’t need to explain it, just have faith. You don’t need to explain the intricacies of gravity to know that things fall, but you believe it. The mystery of gravity, God put into place before creation. His commands He put into place the same way. Just believe and know that His commands are not burdensome. It’s all about love. Think about what that means for you today. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 1 John 5:1-12 Set - 1 John 3-5 Go! - 1 John 1-5

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary I love the reactions people have when the Father sends His messengers to meet with them. Most of the time, they recognize them as His angels and fall on their face as though they were dead. All the soldiers positioned around the tomb fell prostrate that morning. The angel’s feet touched the ground, an earthquake shook the ground, and the soldiers fell down as if dead. It happens all the time. They can be really scary dudes when they don’t come to deliver a message to you…or even when they do. They all believed because they saw Jesus. Blessed are you because you believe and have not seen Him, but trust in His word and the word of those who have gone before you. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - John 20:11-29 Set - John 20-21 Go! - John 19-21

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Those who do not obey Jesus and therefore do not obey the Father, are like the branches in a vineyard that do not produce fruit. The Father cuts them off and burns them in the fire. They will forever be separated from Him at the end of time. Those who do follow Christ and therefore obey the Father, He still prunes so they produce the best fruit possible. Pruning is an important part of the growing process. He cuts away those parts of us that are unproductive, ineffective, useless to His plan and His kingdom. It may seem painful when He prunes things from our lives, but remember the Father is God, the Creator. He knows how best to use you and how best to help you grow. Trust Him to prune your life for your best advantage as the perfecter of your faith. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready -John 15:1-17 Set - John 15-17 Go! -John 15-18

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Jesus gave encouragement to those around Him as best He could so they could face the coming trial and perhaps better understand all the events that would happen in the three days that would transpire before they saw Him again. He wanted them to believe and perhaps these words of encouragement would get them through the grief until He could return to them. Then, of course, they would understand. And when His Spirit returned, they would have Him in them. They would really begin to comprehend all Jesus said to them and His words would open to them as never before. Jesus wanted them to know the peace He enjoyed despite the coming trauma. Peace despite the accusations. Peace despite the coming crucifixion. Peace that the world will never enjoy. Peace that He leaves as a legacy to all His followers. Peace. The angels who heralded Jesus' birth said He would give peace to all people who pleased God. That is Jesus' legacy. Enjoy His peace. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - John 14:15-31 Set - John 13-14 Go! - John 12-14

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary The shepherd metaphor probably means a lot less to you today than it did to those Jews who heard Jesus give it 2000 years ago. They saw shepherds every day tending sheep on the Judean hillsides. Many of them owned sheep and understood what it meant to hire out the job of tending sheep to low paid hired hands who ran from danger. Maybe a better metaphor for you can be found in a number of news articles that find their way into local papers these days. Gunmen enter a school and you hear about the heroics of teachers taking charge of their class of students. Those teachers protect the students in amazing ways, often standing in the way of gunfire and sometimes giving their lives to protect the children under their care from the random shooting of some crazed gunman. But at the sound of the first shot, most who are not given the responsibility of students flee from the scene as fast as they can. That’s the difference between the shepherd and the hired hands in the metaphor. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - John 10:1-21 Set - John 10-11 Go! - John 9-11

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary It would be easy to say all of Jesus' wisdom came from the God side of Him, but that is only half the story. Jesus was completely God, but also completely Man. His mother, Mary, and His earthly father, Joseph, made sure Jesus knew His real heritage from an early age and made sure the scriptures were available to Him. Joseph would read to Him often from the Law and the Prophets before He could read and Mary would help Him memorize long passages of scripture as a young boy. Jesus would spend time meditating on what those scriptures meant and because of knowing the story of His birth, He could see the prophecies within those scriptures that pertained to Him throughout His life. Jesus saw the truth of His birth in Bethlehem, yet being called a Nazarene living in the town of Nazareth. He understood the cries of the mothers around Him since all the boys His age were killed by Herod. Jesus' parents fled to Egypt and His family was called out of Rahmah. He knew the story and the scriptures. Throughout Jesus' life He made the scriptures part of His life and they awakened every day as His human life unfolded around Him. But you can use the scriptures the same way, you know. They are about Jesus, but when you let Him into your life, you can understand the scriptures with authority because of His Spirit in you and confound those around you. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - John 7:12-20 Set - John 7 Go! - John 7-8

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Why do you follow Jesus? He knew that many that crossed the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum that day were following Him only to see more miracles. They didn’t care about His teaching, they only wanted to see HIm turn a small lunch into enough to feed a crowd again. Or to cause a blind man to see. Or make a lame man walk. They followed Him to see some circus act and see what kind of spectacle He might perform in their presence so they could tell their children and their neighbors about it when they returned home. But why do you follow Jesus? today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - John 6:22-40 Set - John 6 Go! - John 5-6

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Do you stand in the shadow of someone? Do you feel jealous toward someone who has taken the limelight you once had? Did you ever consider that God has given that person their mission and He has something else in mind for you? John ultimately found himself in Herod’s prison and beheaded for preaching the truth to Herod and his wife. God probably won’t ask you to await execution for Him, but He might. Are you willing to stand the test for Him? The day might come when you must do just that, you know. The real issue, God has plans for you that are yours and yours alone. He has plans for those around you that belong to them. God gives each person responsibilities and task fit for them. You cannot carry their cross and neither can they carry yours. Together, though, His ultimate plans for this world are completed so that His children find eternal rest in Him and the wicked never plague you again. Instead, as John says, they will experience God's wrath. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - John 3:22-36 Set - John 3-4 Go! - John 2-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary I talked a few days ago about Paul’s words to you to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Peter gives you a formula to help you in those efforts with the words you heard today. This effort in faith requires character building. God wants you to want Him as He’s told you many times. He wants you to desire to be like him. To be one of His disciples. To be a disciple takes work, devotion, commitment. It comes about by a change of habits and lifestyle. It takes changing your very character. God helps you with the process, but you also play a part in that transformation in your willingness to let Him transform you. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 2 Peter 1:1-11 Set - 2 Peter 1; John 1 Go! - 2 Peter 1-3; John 1

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Peter addresses his modern world. Many of his day assumed they would not like this new Christian religion because of its freedom from the rules established by Moses centuries before. So they fought against Peter and his compatriots. They assumed faith in Jesus as the living God-Man, born of woman and of God, could not be who He showed them He was and could not do the things He did even when they saw it with their own eyes or heard it from the lips of eyewitnesses. Many were afraid of what others might think of them if they abandoned the religion they pledged their allegiance to as children or young adults and feared the isolation from their old religious order more than they feared the living God, as His Spirit spoke to them convicting and convincing them of sin. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Unfortunately, the same conditions exist today. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 1 Peter 2:1-12 Set - 1 Peter 2-3 Go! - 1 Peter 1-5

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary James hits the nail on the head. The problem with humanity is selfishness. You don’t get what you want and war erupts within you. Then often it explodes in your behavior. Sometimes it even goes global with national policies and global alliances. You are selfish by nature. That’s the problem with every individual, every group, every town, every nation. You want to gratify your wants and don’t care what it might cost others. Envy and jealousy are your hallmarks. Failure to align with God, though, means declaring war against Him. You can’t live on the fence. You are either fully for God, or fully against Him. There is no middle ground with Him. It just doesn’t work. You see, He is a jealous God. Yes, He wants His way. But His way is good. It is the best thing for you. He knows it is because He is God. He created you and all there is. He will judge you at the end of time. There will be no jury of your peers, because they have also sinned. Only God is holy. So He alone will judge you. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - James 4:1-10 Set - James 4-5 Go! - James 1-5

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary As the Son of Man, Jesus felt all the same temptations you feel to yield to quick and unholy gratification of human desires. But the discipline the Father taught Him from an early age through His parents, His rabbis, God's word, and His Spirit helped Jesus keep from falling to the temptations Satan set before Him. Some of that discipline was painful emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Discipline is not always easy or pleasant, but necessary for growth. So even the Son of Man required discipline to withstand the temptations He would face later in His life as He faced the cross. When suffering comes, think of it as a means to the end. Think of it as a part of the discipline process to make you able to stand just as the Father discipline His Son, Jesus so that He could stand. The suffering may not come from God. It may come as a result of the good you do for others. Remember Jesus promised you would have trouble in this world. But if you look at all suffering as discipline and not try to figure out which is which, you will be less likely to try to seek revenge. You will be more likely to forgive wrongs if you see all suffering as discipline from God. You will find more grace from Him as you struggle through the difficult circumstance of life. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Hebrews 12:1-13 Set - Hebrews 12-13 Go! - Hebrews 12-13; Jude

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary You think faith doesn’t work? Just listen again to the list of ancient heroes in Hebrews 11 whose success came because of a little faith. They were ordinary people who just chose to believe what God said. Their faith took them to the promises He made to them. God will do the same for you. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Hebrews 11:1-31 Set - Hebrews 10-11 Go! - Hebrews 9-11

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Think about Jesus, all God and all Man. Human priests fall short in their ability to approach God because they still fall so short in their insight, intellect, or behavior compared to a holy God. But His Son, God in the flesh, part of the triune Godhead. Perfect in insight, wisdom, and sinless. He needed no intermediary. Jesus could approach the Father on your behalf because He was and is God Himself. Not just good, but God. Jesus could approach frail humans with all their faults because He was and is human. Jesus. Son of God. Son of Man. The perfect High Priest. Eternal. Sinless. Approaches the Father without hesitation because He is God. Approaches all humanity without hesitation because He is Man. Jesus knows the Father intimately. He knows you intimately. How could there be a better High Priest than Jesus? How could there be a better intercessor for you than Jesus? How could there be a better gift from heaven than the God-Man, Jesus? So who do you want as your High Priest? Some human with his faults? Or Jesus, the perfect High Priest? Think about it, but it’s not a hard decision. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Hebrews 8 Set - Hebrews 7-8 Go! - Hebrews 5-8

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Whether you read God's word or not, He will still be your judge at the end of the age. You cannot hide from Him. God sees everything you do. He knows every thought you think. As His word tells you, everyone and everything is exposed, opened for His inspection. You will have to explain yourself to God one day. And He will examine you according to the precepts explained in His word. He left them with you long ago. They’ve been available to you long before you could read and study them. They were available before He created the world. If you refuse to take advantage of the many avenues by which you can read and hear God's word, should you blame Him for that? Is He at fault for your failure to heed what has been at your fingertips for all the time you’ve been alive? Is it God's failure or yours when you let His word sit on your bookshelf while you engage in frivolous activity? Maybe it's time to pick up the textbook and study. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Hebrews 4:1-13 Set - Philemon; Hebrews 4 Go! - Philemon; Hebrews 1-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Paul knew God could protect him from whatever he faced. He didn’t hold any doubt in his mind. Paul knew with certainty God could do what He said He would. God never fails. When He makes a promise, He keeps it. Paul knew that about Him. His confidence in God was sure. So he could face the trials that came his way. But Paul was just a man. There was nothing special or unusual about him. God didn’t give him some special DNA that enhanced his faith. He just exercised the faith he had. That’s it. That’s why people remember Paul. That’s why Paul was such an exceptional disciple. He just believed, always. You can, too. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 2 Timothy 1:3-18 Set - 2 Timothy 1-2 Go! - 2 Timothy 1-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Paul’s words to Titus fit anyone who calls themselves a Christian, not just pastors. Jesus' name should mean something to you. It should also mean something to those outside the faith that see you when you use His name to identify yourself. As Paul told Titus, it’s your life lived out in front of others that speaks so much louder than your words. I see a lot of hypocrisy, though, among those who call themselves Christian, today. Not unlike the Pharisees that walked the streets of Jerusalem. They plotted murder to stop Jesus' voice. Murder! Talk about getting off track. Yet some today, bomb clinics, stores, homes, and more in His name. Is that different? Some slander the names of others and do everything they can to discredit those who disagree with their views, all in Jesus' name. Is that different than what the Pharisees did? today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Titus 2 Set - 1 Timothy 5; Titus 2 Go! - 1 Timothy 5-6; Titus 1-3

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary How do you know if the church you attend is in line with God? How do you know if they just teach what you want to hear or really teach God's word? How can you guard yourself against the false prophets God's representatives always warn about in their writings? It’s really pretty simple. Do two things consistently and you’ll figure out the counterfeits. You’ll know whether your church is sound in doctrine if you do these two things. Ready? First, read and study God's word every day. Read it from cover to cover. Don’t just pick your favorite verses and pull them out of context. Read chapters and books at a time. Get the story God’s trying to tell you through His prophets and apostles. His word does not contradict itself. The theme is the same from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. The Bible is God's story of redemption for you (insert your name in that pronoun). Second, pray. As you read God's word again and again, you will begin to pray fervently. Your prayers may begin for yourself, but as His word is absorbed into your life you’ll begin to pray God's will for your life and for the lives of others. You’ll find yourself absorbed by the concepts in His word and as they transform your mind, your prayers will help you discern truth from falsehood. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 1 Timothy 4:6-16 Set - 1 Timothy 3-4 Go! - 1 Timothy 1-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary It seems that every day there’s news of another shooting. Another terrorist or someone filled with anger loses control and unleashes that anger on the innocent just because they can. Lives face eternity instantly and families are changed for a lifetime. Does God expect you to really live the life Paul talks about in the face of such wickedness in the world? A life of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience? Does He expect you to forgive even those who wreck families forever because of their wonton disregard for life? The answer is yes. Think about the conditions Paul faced. When he wrote these words he found himself chained to a Roman guard in prison. He didn’t know if he would live or die. He faced trumped up charges of treason against the state, a clear sentence of death if found guilty. After 25 years of following God's directions, Paul had been beating, imprisoned, flogged, stoned, and left for dead. What does Paul do with each of his tormentors? He forgives. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Colossians 3:1-16 Set - Colossians 3-4 Go! - Colossians 1-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Paul says, “Continue to work out your salvation, with great fear and trembling, because God is energizing you so that you will desire and do what always pleases Him.” That doesn’t mean good works will get you to heaven, but James also reminds you that faith without a demonstration of your faith by good works is dead. Paul tells you often it is by faith you are saved so that none may boast. Jesus told you that all who believe in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. So it’s faith that gets you to heaven, but your good works demonstrate the faith you have in Him. The demonstration comes not because of duty, but because of love. Love for God and love for your brothers and sisters in His kingdom. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Philippians 2:5-18 Set - Philippians 2-3 Go! - Philippians 1-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus reminds them and you of the power at your disposal. Many Christians today forget what Jesus told you while He was with you in the flesh. He told His disciples that when He went away and sent His Spirit in His place that you would do miracles on His behalf and you would do more than He was able to do while He lived alongside you. It’s an important promise to remember. And it is absolutely true. Because so few really experience what Paul experienced in his life, you don’t see the things that happened in Paul’s day on a wholesale basis. God can still do those things through you, and does them around the world. He still performs miracles of healing, feeding, financing, driving out unclean spirits. He still heals broken relationships, mends confused and broken minds, guides decisions. He still saves you from the penalty of sin. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Ephesians 1:15-23 Set - Ephesians 1-2 Go! - Ephesians 1-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary You know that God's word tells you some things are flat wrong - stealing, murder, sexual immorality, lying, and so forth. There are many things that you’ll come across day by day, though, that His word doesn’t say anything about. Some churches hold firm views on certain activities and others will tell you those activities are okay. So what’s the truth? What is the real story? What does God say? God says, listen to His spirit within you.The concepts within His word do not change. So first listen to them and judge your actions according to the concepts and precepts within God's word. But often He will give you personal convictions and commands to follow that He does not give to others. He does it for a reason. God knows your weaknesses just like Satan knows your weaknesses. But when you give your life to God, He protects you from the evil one, just as you ask Him to do. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Romans 14:1-12 Set - Romans 13-14 Go! - Romans 13-16

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary God designed you to be interdependent as people. For His church to operate effectively and efficiently, He needs all His church’s members to use the skills and talents He gave them to pull together for a common purpose - to spread the good news of His salvation. God wants each of you to understand the importance of bringing others into His church. Each person coming into the community of His fellowship adds to the effectiveness of the spread of His message to the world. As the right skills add to the spreading of the message, more and more will come to the saving knowledge of Christ's sacrifice for them. But God needs you. The mission God gives you as a part of His church will satisfy you when you work at it with the skills and talents He entrusted to you when He made you. When you do the tasks He gives you to do, you will wonder at the joy you experience. You will know the kind of satisfaction Adam had when he fulfilled the tasks God gave him to do at the end of His six days of creation. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Romans 12:1-8 Set - Romans 11-12 Go! - Romans 9-12

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary So once you thought you were free to do whatever you wanted but found you were slaves to your selfish desires that led to nowhere. Fulfilling those base desires in sinful ways are the road to death and you know it. They might bring temporary pleasure, but you know the pleasure doesn’t last and in the end you fall further into a pit of guilt and sorrow and slavery to those selfish desires. That path always leads to misery and death. But Christ gives you a different path. Jesus offers you the path of righteousness and holiness. He offers you His sacrifice to cover the penalty for your sins. Christ offers you the free gift of eternal life. Paul talks in these words about slavery to one of two masters. You can choose slavery to self and sin which leads to eternal death or you can choose slavery to Christ which leads to peace and eternal life. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Romans 6:15-23 Set - Romans 6-7 Go! - Romans 5-8

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary No one is exempt from the fall. Everyone fails to reach God in their attempts at righteousness. Since Adam and Eve, all have been born with the propensity toward wanting your own way. But Christ came into the world to pay the penalty for your sinful ways. He came as the perfect sacrifice for your sins. All you need to do is believe in Him for your salvation. The law points out your sin, Christ redeems you from it. He gives you real freedom from the law. Many think Christ abolished the law, but that really isn’t true. What He really does for you is make it possible for you to live as the law intended. The law gave you guidelines and pointed out your wickedness, but couldn’t do anything to redeem you because you couldn’t keep the law. But with Christ in you, covering your sin by the sacrifice He made for you, you can keep the law the way God intends you to keep it. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Romans 3:21-31 Set - Romans 3-4 Go! - Romans 1-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Paul summed up his teaching with a good motto you should remember. Live a life that is pleasing to God. Paul goes on to give you a few examples of what that means, but the bottom line rests in that simple motto. Live a life that is pleasing to God. Too many times I see people trying to live their lives to please other people instead of pleasing God. They look to make other people happy. So, there we are. Paul’s summation. He got it absolutely right. Please God and your life will be on the right path. You will love others if you live to please God. You will live a holy life if you please God. You will live a moral life to please God. To please God, you will live generously and care for the needs of others. You will avoid sexual immorality and learn how to take charge of your own body. You will do all those things Paul talks about if you live a life to please God. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Set - 1 Thessalonians 4; 2 Thessalonians 3 Go! - 1 Thessalonians 4-5; 2 Thessalonians 1-3

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary There is a dimension of life you seldom see in your everyday life. It’s all around you and when you read God's word you become aware of its existence, but often people do not acknowledge the importance of the realm I speak of. There is a spiritual realm where a battle between good and evil takes place. Sometimes the spiritual realm’s beings break in upon the physical realm you see with your five senses. When it does the reaction is always the same - fear, terror. Why do I tell you all these things today? Because today you might need to know that you’re not alone. You might not see God's messengers at work with you, but they are there at your side. They are working with you to keep you safe from the evil one, guarding your heart. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Matthew 28:1-10 Set - Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 3 Go! - Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 1-3

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com For those who have faith in God, He is eternally good to them. They endure for ever, too. God's goodness lasts forever as they live with Him in His home. Those who put their faith in God enjoy His presence and His eternal rewards. He’s been preparing them a long time. He knows what pleases you, but what will please you most is just being in His presence, rejoicing in the company of the other saints, praising God throughout eternity. The only ones who will be there are those who follow God. Only those obedient to Him will make it to His home. The wicked will never cross its threshold. God will not allow the wicked into His presence and they will never bother you again when you join Him in paradise. What a glorious time we will have together. You must make the decision now, though. Today is the day of salvation.   today's scripture   Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Psalms 125 Set - Psalms 125; Matthew 27 Go! - Psalms 125; Matthew 26-27

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary God never expects you to just sit around and do nothing. He always has a task for you. Sometimes it requires some waiting for things to happen around you, but seldom does that mean you are idle in the process of waiting. Even in waiting, God expects you to be busy doing good for others. He never expects you to just sit by and watch the grass grow and the clouds drift by. His children never retire. He may change their tasks from time to time, but they never retire from His service. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Matthew 25:14-30 Set - Matthew 24-25 Go! - Matthew 23-25

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Saying the right words doesn’t go very far with God. A lot of people know the right words to say. They’ve practiced them a long time. They know how to fool those around them with their pious words and for a short time they act the part well. With their knowledge, they fool those around them into thinking they know God, but they don’t. They are far from Him. Knowing God only comes through letting Him live in you. That comes through faith. Believe in God for salvation. Believe that He can teach you. Believe that He loves you more that you can ever imagine. Then ask Him into your life. Then just talk with Him. God will talk with you through His word, through pastors and other believers, and through His Spirit speaking to you. You can know God, not just about Him. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Matthew 21:23-32 Set - Matthew 21-22 Go! - Matthew 20-22

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary God's words might sound harsh when He tells you it’s better to cut off your hand or foot or pluck out your eye than to keep on sinning. But His words are true. Don’t let anything keep you from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. You don’t want to be on the outside at the end of time. Satan will try to tell you it isn’t real. He’ll try to persuade you God's truth is a façade, but Satan is the father of lies. Just look around and listen with your heart. God's Spirit will guide you to the truth if you will let Him. Being outside God's kingdom means being alone. You might find some temporary pleasures for a time, but you’ll find yourself alone more often than not. In God's kingdom, you’re never alone. You always have God with you and you’ll find brothers and sisters will come beside you in times of need to bear your burdens with you because that’s what love does. God's children learn to love and they will come along side you in this life just like God will. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Matthew 18:1-11 Set - Matthew 18-19 Go! - Matthew 17-19

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Spend time talking with God. A lot of time. Never sacrifice the time you should spend with Him. It’s important. And when you spend time with God, you’ll do amazing things. You might even do some things you never imagined you would ever do. You might even end up doing things as remarkable as Peter, like walking on the water to Him. You just never know. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Matthew 14:22-36 Set - Matthew 14-15 Go! - Psalms 134; Matthew 14-16

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Does God hide knowledge from you? Why would He tell His disciples about Isaiah’s prophecy that “though seeing, they will not see; though hearing, they will hear; though understanding, they will not comprehend”? Do you think He hides knowledge from you? No. But Satan often pulls a veil over your eyes so that the truth seems camoflagued. The lies you’ve heard for so long cause you not to see the truth right in front of you. It’s like looking for the hidden face in a picture. It’s not really hidden at all and once you see it, you can’t help be see it every time you look at the picture. In fact, it’s the first thing you see when you look at the picture. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Matthew 13:1-23 Set - Matthew 12-13 Go! - Matthew 11-13

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Righteousness is all about faith and who you put your faith in. The Centurion got it right. He put his faith in Jesus. He had not seen faith like the Centurion's until that point in His earthly ministry. The Centurion understood. Jesus didn’t have to go to his house. All He needed to do was say the words and the warrior's servant would be healed. The Centurion understood authority and had faith that Jesus held authority over the disease that touched his servant. That’s faith. It’s not hard. It’s just believing that God can do what He says He can. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Matthew 8:1-13 Set - Matthew 8-9 Go! - Matthew 8-10

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary People make prayer so hard. All God wants is a conversation with you. Through the years some have tried to put prayer into flowery 16th century language, thinking God can hear that better. Some think He can even hear Latin better than their native tongue. Some think they can even learn some celestial language so they can talk to Him. None of that really works. Because God wants to hear from your heart. You speak from your heart when you talk to your best friend in your every day language. No airs. No pretense. No hiding. Just talking. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Matthew 6:5-18 Set - Matthew 6-7 Go! - Psalms 87; Matthew 5-7

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Did you ever think what it would be like to be in Joseph’s shoes? Your parents arrange a marriage with one of the local girls in Nazareth. She’s young, not too bad looking. You’ve known Mary most of your life. She won’t be too bad a catch, but her parents are rich or anything. They are the appropriate exchanges of gifts and doweries to solidify deal and now you wait for the years to pass by so Mary can become your wife. Joseph would feel the pressure as much as Mary once Jesus was born. Yet until the angel came and explained her situation, he still supported her and wanted to avoid any shame and embarrassment she might endure. And then the angel came. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Matthew 1:18-25 Set - Matthew 1, 4 Go! - Matthew 1-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Have you ever experienced one of those near escapes that David talks about in this 125th Psalm? Perhaps you avoided a collision by just inches. Maybe you missed something falling on you by seconds. Maybe you missed a flight that later crashed or a ferry that sank. Maybe you changed your travel plans and found that a tornado or hurricane ripped through the area you would have visited if you had not changed your plans. Did you ever stop to think about those near misses and wonder how that happened? Have you ever stopped to think that God’s watching over you? Did you ever stop and wonder if there really are guardian angels that look out for you at times? today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Psalms 124 Set - Psalms 124; 2 Corinthians 12 Go! - Psalms 124; 2 Corinthians 11-13

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Paul’s words to the Corinthians saved a lot of people a lot of embarrassment and reminded them that God loves generosity toward those of His children who need it. He loves to see you giving cheerfully to ministries that do good for others. Don’t be embarrassed about asking or giving money when it is for God and His causes. Just think about how to do it so you and others can plan so that giving just happens. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 2 Corinthians 9 Set - 2 Corinthians 9-10 Go! - 2 Corinthians 7-10

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary You have faith. You exercise it every day. You might not think about it, but you do. You have faith the water will come through the pipes when you turn on the faucet to take a shower in the morning. You have faith the lights will work when you flip the switch on the wall. You have faith your car will start when you turn the ignition. You have faith your boss will pay you on payday. You have faith. You probably have faith in others also. You probably have faith in your doctors. You probably have faith in your mechanic. You probably have faith in many if not most of your co-workers to do their jobs as you do yours. You probably have faith in many people when you stop to think about it. So you have faith. Faith is faith, it’s a question of what and who you have faith in. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Set - 2 Corinthians 5-6 Go! - 2 Corinthians 3-6

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary How do you fight your battles? David learned a secret to coming through his battles as the victor. He knew how to fight. He didn’t fight against men, but rather took the battles to God. When he did, he won. When he failed to do so, he lost. Read the psalm again. David had enemies coming at him, abusing him, discrediting him, slandering him. But instead of fighting them, he took his cause to God. David remembered that vengeance belongs to Him. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Psalms 35 Set - Psalms 35; 2 Corinthians 1 Go! - Psalms 35; 2 Corinthians 1-2

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary God loves to hear the praises of those who acknowledge Him as their Lord. He loves to hear the music they make in their heart. He loves to see them lift their eyes and their hands to heaven and sound of the uncontained joy they feel as they remember the blessings He gives them each day, the rescue from the penalty of sin, the new life they have because of the life He gave for them. He loves to hear their praise. So many times, though, the people Christ died for just go about their lives doing the things they’ve always done. They just live and die without acknowledging the blessings they receive. They never give thanks for the miracles God performs in their lives. They never stop to think about the life He gives them each day, the food He provides, the air He gives them, the water they drink that comes from Him. They just muddle through each day without thought of the God of creation. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Psalms 149 Set - Psalms 149; 1 Corinthians 15 Go! - Psalms 149; 1 Corinthians 15-16

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary When Job came to know God instead of knowing about God, he fell with his face in the dust in repentance. He mourned all the things he had said about God, but God understood all the things he had said. God understood his misunderstandings and his feelings. God understood what he was thinking and why he felt abandoned by God. Job didn’t need forgiveness from God. He did nothing wrong. God knew Job's heart and he still stood righteous before the Almighty. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Job 42 Set - Job 42; 1 Corinthians 14 Go! - Job 42; 1 Corinthians 13-14

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary You don’t know the final plan God have for the world He created. You get glimpses by the words He left with you, but you only see the part of the plan He has for you just as the electrician only sees the pages of the blueprint he needs to build your house. He doesn’t get the whole set. He doesn’t need the whole set. Neither do you need to see the whole picture of what God plans for the work He has in store for His people. Just be content with the gifts He’s given you and understand that your part is necessary. Then do your tasks well. Use the gifts He’s given you, knowing that the tasks He’s given you are an essential part of His plan. Just like every talent that went into the building of your house is important, so the gifts He gives to every person are important in the execution of the plans God has for this world and the next. Work diligently for Him so that at the end of time, He can say to you, “Enter in, good and faithful servant.” today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Set - Job 40; 1 Corinthians 12 Go! - Job 40-41; 1 Corinthians 12

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Do you prepare to meet with God when you come to worship? Do you sing and praise and pray on your journey from your home to the place you will gather with others to worship God? Do you come enthusiastically to the place where you will experience His glory and present yourself to Him as a living sacrifice so He may bless you and your family as you worship with those of like mind with Him? Is your journey a chore? A bore? Or an enthusiastic joy knowing you have an opportunity to meet with God again? You might try what the early Israelites did on your next trip to church. Sing and praise God on the way. Get prepared to meet Him before you come. Worship Him along the way. You’ll be surprised what it does to the rest of your day when you start your journey with God. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Psalms 122 Set - Psalms 122; 1 Corinthians 10 Go! - Psalms 122; 1 Corinthians 9-11

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Listen to Paul. Don’t just think about what He says, but do it. God inspired him to write those verses to the Corinthians. Your culture isn’t much different than those in Corinth and Rome. Always looking to find ways to satisfy your base desires. Always looking for pleasure and happiness in the wrong places. Wanting instant gratification. Thinking money and things can satisfy you. Just look at your advertisements. “Sex sells,” the marketers say. And they use it generously. Your culture mimics those of the first century in so many ways. Listen to Paul and take heed of what he says. It will save you a lot of heartache. It will salvage relationships. It will help your marriage and teach your children respect for the opposite sex. Listen to him and do what he suggests. They are God's words he writes, after all. today's scripture Ready - 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 Set - Job 39; 1 Corinthians 7 Go! - Job 39; 1 Corinthians 7-8

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Today I want to ask you a question. Why do you do good things for other people? Look deep inside yourself and answer the question honestly. Do you do it because it makes you feel good? It should make you feel good. That’s a great motive for doing good for others. One of the best ways to get out of the mully-grubs is to do something nice for someone else expecting nothing in return. God made you that way. He made you to enjoy doing good for others, so you will experience that warm feeling that puts a smile on your face when you perform acts of kindness for others. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Set - Job 38; 1 Corinthians 4 Go! - Job 38; 1 Corinthians 4-6

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Why do you go to church? Is it to hear the message of the preacher? Is it to hear the music presented by the choir or choral group? Is it to study under a particular teacher? Just why do you attend where you attend? It really is an important question to ask yourself every once in a while. If you only go because of the pastor or the music or the studies presented or some particular program, you’re there for the wrong reason. You’re even there for the wrong reason if it’s because you think they have the doctrine that fits the way you believe. So why do you go to church? The only acceptable answer is to worship God. Any other answer makes the church a social club. You might as well go to the Elks Lodge or the local Lions’ Club. Find yourself another place that does good things for people and go there. If your goal when you come through the door of the sanctuary of your church isn’t to meet with God in worship, then you’ve missed the reason for coming together as brothers and sisters. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 Set - Job 33; 1 Corinthians 3 Go! - Job 34-37; 1 Corithians 1-3

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary God intends for you to help each other. That’s part of the extension of His grace and mercy. He gives you His grace so you can extend it to others. He shares His love so you can share it. If you try to hoard it for yourself, you’ll find that His love and grace will wither away and die in your life. You must give it away to sustain it in yourself. Only through giving of yourself to others, only in extending the grace God gives you, only in sharing love can you really keep and grow the love and grace He’s given to you. Sow generously. When you do, you will reap a great harvest. Don’t be afraid to give grace and mercy to those around you, especially to your brothers and sisters in Christ. You’ll never be sorry you did. Will they give to you in return? It really doesn’t matter. God will and that’s what really matters. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Galatians 6:1-10 Set - Job 31; Galatians 6 Go! - Job 32-33; Galatians 5-6

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Since God is the God of all people, shouldn’t you also love all people? Everywhere, I see the prejudice of humankind rising. God had hoped with increased knowledge through the centuries that you would learn to get along with each other, but it hasn’t proven true. Instead, increased knowledge seems to increase the prejudice between you. Races and nations continue to debate the superiority and inferiority of one another. Each touts its own prowess over others wanting to gain more instead of being satisfied with what God has given them. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Galatians 3:15-29 Set - Psalms 120; Galatians 3 Go! - Job 30-31; Psalms 120; Galatians 3-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary “It makes no difference to God if people have power or inflence.” What you consider earthly power means nothing to Him. Suppose you are the leader of a group of people, what does that mean? They follow only as long as they desire to follow you. Can you really make them do what they do not want to do? No. You might impose some kind of consequence if they do not act as you wish, but they still do not have to follow. Does your power and influence in this place matter to God? Not in the least! But His power in you can make all the difference in the world for you. He can help you make it through any circumstance. He can give you joy and peace in any situation. He can transform you into the person He created you to be. His power and influence in your life can demonstrate to others that He is still alive and well on planet earth, doing His will among those who continue to serve Him. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Galatians 2:6-10 Set - Job 28; Galatians 2 Go! - Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary The psalmist wanted others to understand not just the importance, but the beauty of the laws God gave you. So he put them in the form of a beautiful acrostic poem. This longest book of the Bible tells you a lot about God's law. What it is. Why He gave it to you. Why it’s important to follow it. Why it helps you along the path of life. The beauty it holds within its words. The peace you find by following it. The love that grows in your heart when you follow His precepts. Many think that if you don’t read God's word or hear His laws you will be exempt from them. But that isn’t true. You have them available to you so you have no excuse. In fact, in the West, you probably have multiple Bibles in multiple versions in your home. The question is, do you read them? Do you make them an everyday part of your life? The psalmist understood the importance of making God's law a part of his heart as he talks about hiding it in his heart so he will not sin against God. Do you follow the psalmist's example? today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Psalms 119:1-16 Set - Psalms 119:1-16; Ephesians 5 Go! - Psalms 119:1-80; Ephesians 5-6

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Job talks about integrity as he shares this discourse with Zophar. In this materialistic age in which most think the person with the most toys wins, you should take a lesson from Job’s wisdom. Life is short, God determines the rewards and punishments when this life is over. The things you have now will not go with you to the next. Think about what is important. You’ll find it has nothing to do with material things, but with relationships, character, integrity. Job had it right. Live a life of integrity. You won’t go wrong doing so. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Job 27 Set - Job 27; Mark 15 Go! - Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary What was the change in Peter? The upper room was the change. He and those who spent time with him in that room waited for the third person of the triune Godhead to invade their lives. The Holy Spirit came to them after they prayed through. What does that mean? They gave up everything. They emptied themselves of self and let God have control of their lives. They vowed to do what God asked them to do…whatever it might be or whatever it might cost. Peter and those with him held nothing back. You can do the same. It’s not just the words, “I give myself to you,” though. It means you have to really do it. You really pray through and give God everything…everything. It’s not always easy to give everything up, but you must give Him everything if you expect to have the strength of those like Peter, Paul, James, John, and so many others through the centuries. Peter couldn’t keep his promises until God lived within him. Neither will you. But once you let God transform you with His mighty power, there is nothing impossible through Him. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Mark 14:27-31; 66-72 Set - Job 25; Mark 14 Go! - Job 25; Mark 13-14

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary God knows you. He knows your thoughts and He knows your actions. He knows when you are passionate about following Him and when you just play the religious game with your words and actions. He knows how you pray and how you listen to Him when He talks to you. He knows when you try to do what He tells you and He knows when you let Him give you His strength to help you through a task. You can try to hide what you do, just like the Pharisees tried to hide their schemes from God, but it won’t work for you, just like it didn’t work for them. They discovered He knew their plots and schemes when He gave them the parable of the killing of the vineyard owner’s son. You know because for 2,000 years you have had the witness of those who followed the truth of God's word. Those who believe in Him for salvation can tell you He knows their inmost thoughts before and after their salvation. But when you give your life to God, He can transform your life and you’ll not need to try and hide from Him anymore. You can’t hide, anyway, so just quit trying. Come to Him and live in freedom. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Mark 12:1-12 Set - Job 23; Mark 12 Go! - Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Prayer and fasting. The secret to doing miraculous things in Jesus' name is to stay connected intimately with Him through prayer and fasting. The disciples who tried to expel the demon from the young man couldn’t do it because of their limited connection with God. They didn’t have the deep connection that comes from knowing Him intimately. Does that mean you must memorize every word of every book of the Bible? No, but you should read it. Read it through from cover to cover. It really isn’t that long, you know. In most translations, the Bible is only 1500 pages. That’s less than five average-sized novels. I guarantee you’ll get more out of God's 1500 pages than you’ll ever get out of five novels. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Mark 9:1-29 Set - Psalms 121; Mark 9:1-29 Go! - Psalms 121; Mark 9-10

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Until you personally recognize Jesus as God incarnate, the one who died to pay the penalty for your sins. The one who rose from the tomb to live forever at the right hand of the Father. Until you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you will not know in your heart that He is Christ, the long awaited Messiah. Only when He is Lord of your life will you be able to say with Peter that Jesus is God’s Anointed, the Liberating King. Give your life to Him and discover the truth for yourself. Anything less means taking someone else’s word for it. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Mark 8:27-37 Set - Job 22; Mark 8 Go! - Job 22; Mark 7-8

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Sometimes it’s hard to believe the transformation that some have had. That’s what happened with the people in Nazareth. Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t this the guy we went to school with every day? Isn’t this the kid we played with growing up? How can He be the Messiah? He grew up with us. He can’t be the Messiah, He went grew up in the same place we did, He just can’t be the Messiah. We know what His brothers and sisters are like. Surely, He’s the same. He can’t be the Messiah. Well, Jesus was and Jesus is. Sometimes you just need to open you eyes and recognize He can transform lives. Maybe you need to go through the transformation yourself to realize just how much He can change a person. If you think He can’t change someone completely, try Him. Let Him change you and you’ll find that no one is too hard for Him to give a complete makeover... from the inside out. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Mark 6:1-13 Set - Job 21; Mark 6 Go! - Job 21; Mark 5-6

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary A lot of people will tell you that if they heard Jesus face to face they would believe, but they wouldn’t. You have a significant advantage over those who listened to Him on the hillsides of Judea. You have 2000 years of people who have interpreted His parables, lived the life He showed His apostles and disciples, and gave witness to the truth of the things He said. Jesus brought the reality and revelation of the law to the people and they didn’t know how to handle it. You benefit from the many letters His disciples wrote to the early churches, the commentaries and studies available today. You have no excuse for not listening to His instructions and following Him. So now that your excuses are gone for wanting first-century experiences, how about getting into God's word and learning about Him. Really let yourself go and let Him take control of your life. That’s what His word demands. Die to self and be born anew in Him. You won’t be sorry if you do. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Mark 4:1-20 Set - Job 20; Mark 4 Go! - Job 20; Mark 3-4

A daily devotional through the Bible speaking with God as Adam and Eve may have in the garden east of Eden. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com summary Learn some lessons from Job. Never give up. Understand you may never know why you go through the trials you face, but God will never let you face more than you can handle. And you don’t know who else is looking at your life to watch how you weather the storms you are facing. Just keep trusting in God. He’ll get you through it. today's scripture Today’s Bible reading plans include: Ready - Job 19 Set - Job 19; Mark 1 Go! - Job 19; Mark 1-2