'Christian Life' Tagged Posts (Page 5)
Daily Devotional – Maintaining the Proper Relationship
Maintaining the Proper Relationship – From Utmost.org March 25, 2016 …the friend of the bridegroom… —John 3:29 Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction.…
Daily Devotional – Am I Carnally Minded?
Am I Carnally Minded? – From Utmost.org March 23, 2016 Where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal…? —1 Corinthians 3:3 The natural man, or unbeliever, knows nothing about carnality. The desires of the flesh warring against the Spirit, and the Spirit warring against the flesh, which began at rebirth, are what produce carnality and the awareness of it. But Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the…
Daily Devotional – The Burning Heart
The Burning Heart – From Utmost.org March 22, 2016 Did not our heart burn within us…? —Luke 24:32 We need to learn this secret of the burning heart. Suddenly Jesus appears to us, fires are set ablaze, and we are given wonderful visions; but then we must learn to maintain the secret of the burning heart— a heart that can go through anything. It is the simple, dreary day, with its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart—…
Daily Devotional – Will I Bring Myself Up to This Level?
Will I Bring Myself Up to This Level? – From Utmost.org March 18, 2016 …perfecting holiness in the fear of God. —2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises….” I claim God’s promises for my life and look to their fulfillment, and rightly so, but that shows only the human perspective on them. God’s perspective is that through His promises I will come to recognize His claim of ownership on me. For example, do I realize that my “body is the…
Daily Devotional – The Discipline of Dismay
The Discipline of Dismay – From Utmost.org March 15, 2016 As they followed they were afraid. —Mark 10:32 At the beginning of our life with Jesus Christ, we were sure we knew all there was to know about following Him. It was a delight to forsake everything else and to throw ourselves before Him in a fearless statement of love. But now we are not quite so sure. Jesus is far ahead of us and is beginning to seem different…
Daily Devotional – Yielding
Yielding from Utmost.org March 14, 2016 …you are that one’s slaves whom you obey… —Romans 6:16 The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because…
Daily Devotional – Total Surrender
Total Surrender – from Utmost.org March 12, 2016 Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” —Mark 10:28 Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is “for My sake and the gospel’s” (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, “I’m going to give myself…
Daily Devotional – The Source of Abundant Joy
The Source of Abundant Joy – From Utmost.org March 7, 2016 In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. —Romans 8:37 Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our…
Daily Devotional – Taking the Next Step
Taking the Next Step from Utmost.org March 6, 2016 …in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses. —2 Corinthians 6:4 When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him. It takes much more…
Daily Devotional – Is He Really My Lord?
Is He Really My Lord? – From Utmost.org March 5, 2016 …so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus… —Acts 20:24 Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us,…
Daily Devotional – What do You want the Lord to do for You?
What Do You Want The Lord to Do for You? From Utmost.org February 29, 2016 “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” —Luke 18:41 Is there something in your life that not only disturbs you, but makes you a disturbance to others? If so, it is always something you cannot handle yourself. “Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all…
Daily Devotional – Our Misgivings About Jesus
Our Misgivings About Jesus from Utmost.org February 26, 2016 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw [water] with, and the well is deep.” —John 4:11 Have you ever said to yourself, “I am impressed with the wonderful truths of God’s Word, but He can’t really expect me to live up to that and work all those details into my life!” When it comes to confronting Jesus Christ on the basis of His qualities and abilities, our…