This Week’s Devotional

I hope everyone had a happy July 4^th. Last week, I wrote about how those who serve or have served in the military demonstrate a concern for future generations and an interest in others. Our nation began because a group of men took a stand. They knew it would bring on hardship for their own lives but they held out hope for a better future and risk their own lives to sign the Declaration of Independence. A similar history is laid out as we read the Old and New Testament. God knew His people needed a better way because keeping the laws of the Old Testament was not attainable. That’s why He sent Christ; providing a new way to follow His laws.

When someone holds a picture in their mind of God transforming their situation, they are drawn toward that picture; given more faith, devotion, and hope. God fills each soul with everything needed and He sees each of us for who we are meant to be. Pray for obedience and that God becomes more and more a part of your life. Ask that every day is filled with more hope.

The televangelist of the Hour of Power television broadcast Robert Schuller once said, “It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow”. 1 John 3-4 is filled with messages of hope and love. Love gives us a reason to live an abundant life not only for ourselves but for future generations just like the fathers of our country. They laid down the foundation for our future just like Christ laid down the foundation for the church. Something remarkable came from the great sacrifice and unselfishness Jesus demonstrated on the cross. This event defined love and should inspire us to act in brotherly love toward others. The Spirit of God works a change in all true Christians to receive His love and to express it to others. Pray for ways you can express your thankfulness by helping others.

Being well acquainted with God’s word gives knowledge, understanding, and the ability to make correct decisions. This guidance leads to happiness and the desire to help others. If you pursue Godly wisdom, you will be more likely to know whose side to be on and listen to the right people. You will follow the right leader because you will listen to those with wholesome values and morals. Like a magnet attracting iron, you will attract treasures for the soul because the elements of God’s principles are at work in you. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. Pray for guidance as you read the scriptures. Pray that you will genuinely love others not for your own gain but for the benefit of your brother or sister in Christ.

The act of Christ bleeding, hanging, and dying on the cross unifies Christians. It demonstrated God’s love for us and should motivate Christians in obedience, creativity, enthusiasm, and imagination. Someone in the Sunday school we attend sent out an email one time which had some uplifting messages. One was the following:

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. God said…Ahhhh, finally you have the idea. "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world".

In your prayer, express thankfulness for God’s love through Christ which is worth more than silver or gold. Then think about how this affects how you treat others. Pray for ways you can express brotherly love in helping others.

Send a comment or email any thoughts or prayers to lifetransgroup@live.com
To receive a weekly email with thoughts from a sermon or if you have thoughts from a sermon, Sunday school lesson, or other thoughts, send an email to the same address
Take a look at photo of the week. Then click back and take inspiration by clicking on this week’s video link
Photo of the week – Being well acquainted with God’s word gives guidance, happiness, and the desire to help others
Video link: That’s What Love is by David Phelps