Devotion Choice to do Right

Read: I Peter 3:10-18 

For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit: --I Peter 3:18   

How often do we use “Christian” jargon either to excuse our behavior or (maybe unwittingly) confuse others about what we mean? It is easy for some of us who grew up in the church to use such terminology as “Jesus forgives sins”; “Jesus paid the penalty for my sins” or “He took my place.”   

We spout spiritual-sounding words such as the following: new birth, salvation, sanctification, and the much-used phrase--”Asking Jesus into your heart.”   

These may have meant something significant in our lives. But as time passes, we tend to lose sight of what this terminology once meant to our faith and to our walk with Jesus. We lose sight of the deeper meaning and forget those who do not know Christ may have no clue what we’re talking about when we use such phrases as worn idioms. Why should they? We’ve forgotten.   

Jesus Christ, Lord and Creator of the entire universe, loved each of us so much that, when He realized what a mess we’d made of our lives and His beautiful world, He made a critical choice. He left His power and glory to be born into our world. He lowered Himself to our level. He lived as we lived, felt as we feel.    He struggled with the same temptations, enticements and sins that seek to entangle us. The difference? He knew God’s Word. He chose to say, “No!” over and over again. He used Scripture to foil Satan at his own game.   

Because Jesus said, “No!” to sin and temptation, He didn’t have to suffer consequences for His own sin-- He had none. It meant He could, and did, choose to take the consequences for our bad choices. He chose to take on Himself the punishments and consequences we rightly deserve.   He allowed Himself to be tortured and murdered-- for you, for me, for our sin.   

We do not need to castigate ourselves over sins for which we’ve regretted and for which we’ve repented and turned away. Jesus forgives all those sins, bad things we’ve said, thought or done. He took our punishment and set us free of the guilt. Our part is simply to accept His gift; a gift freely given, which cannot be earned. 

 Jesus made the sacrifice for one reason. He loves us. He created us and desires a personal relationship with each one of us. He wants us to follow Him, that He might give us the deep, rich life He has planned for us. Jesus accepted death, that He might conquer death, evil and hell. Those of us who choose to follow Him, He offers His peace, hope, new life today and a place with Him forever in heaven.   

He doesn’t want robots. He doesn’t force me to serve Him. With His death and resurrection, He provided us a choice. We do not have to choose His gift of forgiveness, guidance, hope and life. There is always choice to make.   We never lose our right to make choices that either bring us life and light or selfishness, heartache and, ultimately, separation from Him. Satan entangles, manipulations, entices and intimidates. Only Jesus offers choice. Only Jesus offers true freedom.   The choice is mine--yours.

Thank you, Father God, for the gift of Your Son. Help me commit or recommit my life to You. Help me not merely spout words of faith, but live them out as a follower of Christ. Help me make choices that lead others to You. Amen.

Meditations: Monday: James 4:1-8 

Tuesday: Revelation 2:1-7 

Wednesday: Matthew 27:15-25 

Thursday: Luke 18:18-30 

Friday: Revelation 3:14-22 

Saturday: Hebrews 25

(C) 2018, 2022 Carolyn R Scheidies

From LISTEN! WHO ME?

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Poetry His Special Gift

Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

It’s all a gift, all that I have
However I strive to earn or get
If I am honest,
So much is not me at all
Some call it Good Fortune, Luck, Serendipity
Not willing to face the truth
Of a God interactive in time and space…and in our lives
Who loved enough to come and live and die,
Loved enough to sacrifice His life
For yours and mine and why?
That we might see our need and come to Him
Acknowledging what we hate to admit…our sin
We’ve goofed up more than lifted up
Hurt more than helped
We’d rather pretend self-confidence
Boasting of self-esteem on ephemeral things
Rather than basic truth—God exists
He loves us
He died for rebellion, mistakes and sin,
He conquered death, that you and I might live
Asks in exchange for comfort, peace and hope,
My trust, my will—so hard to give up,
But as I choose to do just that,
My Savior Jesus Christ
Turns luck into blessings,
Pain into promise,
And fortune into a sure future with Him
For Jesus offers forgiveness and salvation
Fills our hearts with compassion and caring,
And the realization that it isn’t my striving,
But His love that rescues me—freely given
All a gift
Because of His love.
I bow.
(C) 2021 Carolyn R Scheidies
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Devotion. Victor or Victim

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; —Hebrews 5:8-9 (KJV)

Who am I to get mad at God when life gets difficult, tragedies happen and things don't go as planned? Jesus was God. He didn't have to go along with His Father's program for humankind.

Jesus didn't have to leave Glory to live in poverty, be ridiculed, and have no earthly home. He didn't have to allow Himself to be tortured and murdered and treated like a common criminal.

He did it out of trust in His Father and love for us. Nothing that happened to Jesus was His fault. Can we say the same? Nothing that happens to you or I rises to the level of what Jesus went through. He took responsibility. He lived without recriminations, or turning His back on His Father. He trusted, and in that trust offered a way for you and I to know life—now and forever.

Jesus was, is a victor, not a victim. In Him, we can be victors, too. It's a matter of trust—and obedience.

Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve the LORD. —Joshua 24:14

(C) 2016 Carolyn R Scheidies
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From First I Bow

Devotion God is Good and There in Time of Need

Read: John 10:1-15

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. --John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd, “Jesus said. “I am the door.”

In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but through me.”

Throughout the Bible, in illustration after illustration, God lets us know that the One to turn to in times of need is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one with the answers for the problems that beset our daily lives.

Whether war erupts, or our neighbor threatens to sue over some minor disagreement, Christ has an answer and way to deal with the situation without hate or revenge, and with an attitude that leads to freedom regardless of what happens with the situation.

While it is easy to speak in platitudes about God’s love and care, most of us wish for specific direction. How?
First, we need a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Without Him, our lives will be adrift with our own will and way.
Second, we need to spend premium time reading, studying, meditating and memorizing God’s Word every day. Why is this important?

Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Following Jesus means knowing His Word.

Third, each day we need to spend quality time in prayer, worshiping God, asking His blessings and direction for our lives, confessing our sins and turning from them, and praising God for who He is.
Fourth, regardless of circumstances, we need to commit to doing things in God’s way, and in God’s time.
Finally, the key to positive problem solutions is our willingness to obey and follow the God we claim to serve, believing He truly is the “Good Shepherd” who will not lead us astray.

Thank you, Lord, that You are a good God and have my best interests in mind. Help me be willing to both seek and follow Your, not my, solutions to the problems I face each day. Amen.

Meditations:
Monday: Psalm 23
Tuesday: Matthew 11:28-30
Wednesday: Psalm 34
Thursday: Psalm 136
Friday: Psalm 27
Saturday: Psalm 86

(c) 2018, 2021 Carolyn R Scheidies
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From Listen! Who Me? 

Devotion Staying on Track—Don’t Be Misled

Satan doesn't care how He gets God's people off track as long as he does so. One way he trips us up is to get us entangled with details of life and faith that take time and energy, but that leads others away rather than to Christ, divides rather than unifies, and makes us more concerned with format and legalism than a living relationship with and faith in Jesus.

Timothy 1:3c-5 ...charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of true faith:

We need to be wise to Satan's tricks, and always, always realize we are saved by God's gift of grace not by works which we do. It's about allowing Jesus Lordship in our lives, not about earning our way. About following Him, not “me.”

I Timothy 1:15 (KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

(c) 2016, 2020 Carolyn R Scheidies
From First I Bow
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