The Devotional

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 449 Colossians 1 (CJB) Christ The Preexisting God of Creation 16  because in connection with Him were created all things — in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, lordships, rulers, or authorities — they have all been created through him and for him. 17  He existed before all things, and he holds everything together. 18  Also he is head of the Body, the Messianic Community — he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might hold first place in everything. 19  For it pleased God to have his full being live in his Son 20  and through his Son to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace through him, through having his Son shed his blood by being executed on a stake. 21  In other words, you, who at one time were separated from God and had a hostile attitude towards him because of your wicked deeds, 22  he has now reconciled in the So...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 448 Colossians 1 (CJB) Trusting in Christ 3  Whenever we pray, we always give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 4  For we have heard of your trust in the Messiah Yeshua and of the love you have for all God’s people. 5  Both spring from the confident hope that you will receive what is stored up for you in heaven. You heard of this earlier in the message about the truth. This Good News 6  has made its presence felt among you, just as it is also be ing fruitful and multiply ing throughout the world in the same way as it has among you since the day you heard and understood the grace of God as it really is. 7  You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow-slave and a faithful worker for the Messiah on your behalf; 8  and he has told us about the love which the Spirit has given you. Jesus Christ/Messiah is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever—Hebrews 13:8 Prayer is vitally imp...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 447 Ephesians 6 (CJB) Angellic Warfare 10  Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! 11  Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. 12  For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. 13  So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. 14  Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist ,   put on righteousness for a breastplate , 15  and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. 16  Always carry the shield of trust , with which you will be able to extinguish a...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 446 Ephesians 6 (CJB) Children, Parents, Slaves, and Masters in the Land 1  Children, what you should do in union with the Lord is obey your parents, for this is right. 2  “Honor your father and mother” — this is the first commandment that embodies a promise — 3  “so that it may go well with you, and you may live long in the Land.” 4  Fathers, do not irritate your children and make them resentful; instead, raise them with the Lord’s kind of discipline and guidance. 5  Slaves, obey your human masters with the same fear, trembling, and single-heartedness with which you obey the Messiah. 6  Do not obey just to win their favor, serving only when they are watching you; but serve as slaves of the Messiah, doing what God wants with all your heart. 7  Work willingly as slaves, as people do who are serving not merely human beings but the Lord. 8  Remember that whoever does good work, whether he be a ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 445 Amos 4:6 (CSB) A Reason why! 6  “This is why I will deal with you in this way, Isra’el; and because I will deal with you in this way, prepare to meet your God, Isra’el — Jesus Christ/Messiah is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever—Hebrews 13:8 The reason for God's message is CLEAR, from the lips of His Prophet Amos, Adonai outlines the completed sins of other nations. There are three stages of discipline that nations go through, yet the nation survives. the four cycle that comes upon the nation is like the ‘hand writing on the wall’ like that found in the book of Daniel. There is the final cycle wherein God destroys the nation. Amos relays Adonai’s message to Judah and Israel that both the Southern and Northern kingdom will suffer the fifth cycle of discipline like all of the nations around Israel.  Now the country of Israel has followed in the same path as the Gentile nations around them and God has placed Israe...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 444   Micah 6:6-8 (CSB) How does a Person Come to God for Worship 6  What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? 7  Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the offspring of my body for my own sin? 8  Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God. Jesus Christ/Messiah is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever—Hebrews 13:8 Confusion is the mainstream of religion in our world today, so much so, that I personally have come to dislike the word religion—in addition to this the word, Christian, being much like an icon of bllonging rather than a PERSONAL relationship. Most church activity today is centered around ‘self-...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 443   Authority of the message given to Amos (CJB) 3:1-8 1 Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt: 2  I have known only you out of all the clans of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3  Can two walk together without agreeing to meet? 4  Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion growl from its lair unless it has captured something? 5  Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there is no bait for it? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has caught nothing? 6  If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the Lord done it? 7  Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his counsel to his servants the prophets. 8  A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; w...