A clear head to make good decisions is a beautiful thing.

In Deuteronomy 17, God instructed whoever was appointed King in Israel to read consistently the law, thereby insuring that his judgement and lifestyle would please the Lord and bring true justice to the  people.  As New Testament Christians, daily reading of God’s Word gives us a supernatural ability to exercise sound judgement and have a healthy perspective on life issues.

Who wouldn’t want that?

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for Your Word that gives light to our path and understanding that lifts us above common thinking.

DAILY READING:  Deut. 15-7:  Luke 3

Jesus said, “I have not come to destroy the law … but to fulfill it.”

We don’t live by the law.  We live by Jesus and the grace He brings.  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”  (Rom. 8:2)

The J.B. Phillips translation gives this paraphrase of Romans 3:20 by saying, “No man can justify himself before God by a perfect performance of the Law’s demands—indeed [however] it is the straight-edge of the Law that shows us how crooked we are.”

“Shall we sin to our heart’s content and see how far we can exploit the grace of God? God forbid.”  (Rom. 6:1,2)

We are not sinless, but we want to sin less.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, thank You for providing for the cleansing and removal of our sin.  Fill me with Your Spirit of life.

DAILY READING:  Deut. 12-14;  Luke 2

We don’t realize how partial we are.  We play favorites … we are good to those who are good to us.  We resist those who resist us.

Deuteronomy 10:17 declares God’s non-partiality.  “He regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward (bribes).”  The “good ol’ boy” network doesn’t trump unconditional love in God’s Kingdom.  For us to show true God-like love, we must move toward a non-partial, non-judgemental display of Christ’s character in our daily routine.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit today, and let me see the hearts of those around me as You see them.  Displace my partiality with Your compassion.

DAILY READING:  Deut. 9-11;  Luke 1

We are made up of body, soul, and spirit.  The one we feed, exercise, and obey is the one who will be in control of our lives.

Moses instructed the children of God to “Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.”  (Deut. 4:9 NASB.)

Jesus said, “My Words, they are spirit, they are life.”  (Jn. 6:63)

God’s Word shapes our spirit, our spirit controls our soul, and our soul controls our body.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for Your Word.  I live by the words that come out of Your mouth.

DAILY READING:  Deut. 5-8;  Mark 16

Ever been falsely accused?  Maybe you’ve been the accuser and upon discovering your error, you shudder in shame.

It must have been so difficult for Christ Jesus to endure the lies and persecutions directed at Him by the religious leaders of His day.  Yet, it was God’s plan to bruise Him.  God laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

The famous hymn, “And Can It Be” ponders the depth of love that would cause Jesus to willingly pay the penalty of our sin.  Love, forgiveness, mercy … as Christ gave them, let’s follow His example.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we are awed by the compassion and forgiveness You extend to us every day.  Let Your love flow through us to others today.

DAILY READING:  (Ooops, there is no Num. 37) … Deut. 1-4;  Mark 15

Last evening the TCS high school football team was returning from their game in Marietta.  As they turned onto Rt. 154 at I-85, the bus was T-boned by a drunk driver who fled the scene on foot.

Praise the Lord, nobody was injured.  The Lord’s angels were present to protect our students and coaches, including young children whose father was a coach.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, thank You for protecting our TCS family from any injury.  We trust You in ALL THINGS.

DAILY READING:  Num. 35-7;  Mark 14

Jesus and His disciples were walking through the temple one day when He described its destruction.  He was actually prophesying His death and resurrection.

You and me, we are the true building of God.  He isn’t impressed with the building we build.  He is VERY CONCERNED with the building He is building … the hearts and lives of those in His church.

“The tabernacle of God is with men.”  (Rev. 21:3)   “The Lord has chosen Zion [the city of David, speaking of the Church, God’s people], here is where I will live.  This is My (God’s) rest forever, here will I dwell.” (Ps. 132:13,14)  “You are the temple of the living God.”  2 Cor. 6:16

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, live in me today.  Show Your mighty power through my life, through my actions, through my words.

DAILY READING:  Num. 32-4;  Mark 13

BIBLE READING TIP:  Use http://www.biblegateway.com and click on the audio Bibles.  The NIV Dramatized uses character voices and complementary background music to express God’s Word in a more lifelike manner.  I listen to it every morning.  I love it.

Dear Reader,

I enjoy the task of preparing this devotional every day.  I will be faithful to it.  It is an opportunity of service to the Lord and to the school.  He’s been so good to me.  Spending time with the Lord is a VERY BIG PART of my life.

Please acknowledge that you read this by taking a moment to respond to me.  Please email me at dpdemos@numail.org if you could, please. Or, leave a comment in the reply box at the bottom of this page.  It would mean a great deal.

Thanks

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You have been good to us.  We devote our lives to hearing Your voice and reading Your Word.

DAILY READING:  Num. 29-31;  Mark 12

Jesus was hungry.  Upon seeing a fig tree, He approached it in search of fruit.  None.

It was implied that a healthy fig tree would have had fruit.  How about our spiritual lives?  Roots, sunshine, rain … all are provided and all we have to do is have a healthy spiritual life and we can produce fruit.

Focus on your spiritual health and fruit will come.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for supplying our needs.  We want to be healthy and produce fruit from a life that draws its strength from You.  Freely You give, freely we receive.

DAILY READING:  Num. 27-8;  Mark 11

It’s inevitable, offenses and hurts are a part of this life.  Do we react or respond?

Jesus said, “in the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33)

It’s better to be the offendee than the offender.  “It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”  (Luke 17:1)

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, help me to be sensitive to those around me, that I don’t become an offense.  Give me a heart of forgiveness to those who offend me.

DAILY READING:  Num. 23-26;  Mark 10