Toward the Reward

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Mark Shields

My grandfather used to say, “This world and one more”. The current world is not perfect, but the other one is because it is the perfect place in heaven beyond what we could imagine.

Questions for Reflection:

What are the characteristics of one who knows God and has eternal life?  In the face of false teaching who is the Christian’s true teacher? What will abiding in the Son mean in the specific attitudes and actions of your life today?

Reading 1 John 2:18-29 and answering the questions for reflection above, the characteristics of one who knows God and has eternal life are joy and peace. There is good discernment as the Truth is known and confidently followed.

The Christian’s true teacher is the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. The natural consequence of consistently applying the basics of God’s Word, following the example of Jesus, and internalized the Truth as the Holy Spirit counsels along the way is faith and this faith keeps growing each step of the way toward the reward.

Abiding in the Son means that any difficulties are handled with poise because God is our strength. There is hope, enthusiasm, optimism, and courage as we carry out the purpose God has given us and step ahead toward the reward of eternal life.

Father God, we have chosen Jesus and grace flows from Jesus to reward us with the Holy Spirit worth more than can even be imagined. Grace is the currency of Your Kingdom that has been given because of Jesus. We are grateful for Jesus and since we have Jesus, we have it all. Amen.

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Living in the Light

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Mark Shields

Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. – 1 John 2:10

Brought out in “Step Ahead in the Light” is that when we love God first, loving our neighbor becomes much easier. When we love our neighbors, the world is much less complicated and a much better place. We don’t need a lot of other rules in life when we love God and love His people. The greatest part is that loving and doing the will of God allows our amazing story to continue from generation to generation, and the story never ends!

This day with God, live in the light and give praise with the song Love of God by Brandon Lake & Phil Wickham. Like the lyrics to the song points out … how great is the love of God for He paid our debt on the rugged cross. We were bound but now found and set free. For all our days, let us sing our Saviors praise!

Index of devotionals

Thanks for reading. Please like, follow, and pass on to others … Live in the Light!

Photo Source – “Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.

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Step Ahead in the Light

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Mark Shields

Our mood is always lifted by the positive affirmation God gives us through His Son. Billy Graham once quoted: “I have good news! God knows you and takes active concern in your life. God thinks you are so bright and special that Christ was sent to die for you.” This day with God, let us continue to step ahead in the Light.

The commandment that neither old nor new and found in 1 John 2:7-17 is to love God and fellow believers with all our heart. Those who are in the light, will not stumble, but they will see what is ahead, and they will know where they are going as they step ahead.

The love for the world differs from the love of the Father because the desires of the world will eventually pass away but doing the will of the Father will live forever. A person can tell if they love the Father because they will keep His commands.

By loving God first, loving our neighbors becomes much easier. When we love our neighbors, the world is much less complicated and a much better place. We don’t need a lot of other rules in life when we love God and love His people. The greatest part is that loving and doing the will of God allows our amazing story to continue from generation to generation, and the story never ends!

This day with You God, we are thankful that You first loved us. Your perfect love exemplified in the life of Jesus and demonstrated on the cross with compassion inspires us. We are impelled to surrender our worldly anxieties and anger, so we receive the joy and peace available by accepting Jesus. This in turn makes us want to tell others about this Good News. To be the light in the world so others can follow and not stumble but step ahead to a brighter future following Jesus. Amen.

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Stay Following the Way

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Mark Shields

They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. – Acts 2:42

From the post “Following the Light”, the thought is that light shows the details … the good and the bad. God is like light that makes things visible. Light shows us what’s ahead and God is all about what is ahead. Light leads to forgiveness, and darkness leads to sin, so this day with God, we begin again to step ahead step by step trying to bring chagrin to sin and continue to leave the darkness behind.

This day with God, let us determine if there are things in our life that can be tweaked because just a little adjustment can make our future better? Are there readjusted priorities that can be established to help us step ahead into a brighter future? Are there better ways to spend our time and money? Should we be more aware of eternal treasures that reward us without end?

There is always room for improvement and our mission as a disciple of Christ is to build our life on the lessons that are taught in the Gospel. Take inspiration from Stay by Jeremy Camp and keep on following the Light with joy in your soul and being guided along the path toward the greatest goal.

Index of devotionals

Thanks for reading. Please like, follow, and pass on to others … Stay following the Way!

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Following The Light

Posted on January 23, 2025 by Mark Shields

Light shows the details … the good and the bad. God is like light that makes things visible. Light shows us what’s ahead and God is all about what is ahead. Reading 1 John 1:5 through 2:6, there are contrasting truths between light and darkness. Light leads to forgiveness, and darkness leads to sin, so this day with God, we begin again to step ahead step by step trying to bring chagrin to sin and continue to leave the darkness behind.

Fellowshipping with others who walk in the Light, keep us in the Light. I remember when I got out of college, moved to Waco, and was looking to meet some good people that would help me grow in my faith, so I started going to a local church. I met a group of friends, and we would get together every Sunday morning and on Thursday evenings.

The relationships gained last a lifetime and impact your life forever. The mom of one of these friends lives right around the corner from me. He and his wife met in the group, and they went into the mission field for 14 years in Ecuador, Ghana, and Ethiopia before taking a position at the Brook Hill School. A Christ-Centered College Preparatory School near Tyler.

There were other marriages because of people meeting in this group. One couple lives about five blocks away and I walk my dog past their house almost every day. Sometimes, me and my wife who I met in the group, get a chance to see them outside and chat for a while to catch up on things.

Life’s short so we should spend it with people who make us laugh and feel loved. Most of all, know that the one that loves us most is Jesus. What a friend we have in Jesus! Jesus obtained perfection and by following, we may not be perfect, but we can obtain excellence by following His Way to glory.

Father God, we are committed to following Your Son Jesus. He is the Light and shows us the Way. Jesus leads us to forgiveness, and away from darkness. We step ahead today following the Light and powered by the Holy Spirit with guidance in every step until the journey is finished. We may not be perfect, but we can achieve excellence in following the Way, the Truth, and the life of Jesus. Amen.

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