Morning Devotion
May 2, 2022
Today's Bible Verse
Romans 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.
Today's Bible Study
In this morning's verse, the apostle Paul encourages the Roman church to be "fervent in spirit" as they serve the Lord. They should not look at their work as drudgery. Rather, they should see it as an opportunity to honor the Lord and bring other people to Him. This is an important lesson for us today.
Why is it essential that we serve the Lord? Just as we love Jesus because He first loved us, we should serve Him as He first served us through His ministry on Earth and through His life and death. Nothing pleases the Lord more than people delighting in Him and doing His will. Serving other people and showing them what Jesus is like through our actions is an essential part of our walks with the Lord.
When we serve, we are pouring ourselves out for others. We are giving our time, effort, energy, and even love to other people. Yet we must also remember to tend to our souls first, since serving can become very tiring if we don't. To avoid making ourselves run on empty, it is important that we spend time with the Lord … who fills us up.
Why is it essential that we serve the Lord? Just as we love Jesus because He first loved us, we should serve Him as He first served us through His ministry on Earth and through His life and death. Nothing pleases the Lord more than people delighting in Him and doing His will. Serving other people and showing them what Jesus is like through our actions is an essential part of our walks with the Lord.
When we serve, we are pouring ourselves out for others. We are giving our time, effort, energy, and even love to other people. Yet we must also remember to tend to our souls first, since serving can become very tiring if we don't. To avoid making ourselves run on empty, it is important that we spend time with the Lord … who fills us up.
We can spend time with Him by reading the Bible and devotions, praying, and worshipping in church. If you feel yourself getting worn out when you serve, think about taking stock of whether you have devoted sufficient time to being filled up by God. This is an essential part of serving others.
When we are filled up with the Lord, we will have fervent spirits, secure in Him and His love. Instead of serving taking away from us, it will become a natural expression of the love that we have already experienced from God. It will be an acknowledgment of who He is and what He has done for us, and an opportunity to serve as He has first served us.
When we are filled up with the Lord, we will have fervent spirits, secure in Him and His love. Instead of serving taking away from us, it will become a natural expression of the love that we have already experienced from God. It will be an acknowledgment of who He is and what He has done for us, and an opportunity to serve as He has first served us.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to serve you well throughout my days. I want to help others experience your love in the same way that you have loved me so well. Thank you for your goodness to me, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.
-C.S. Lewis
God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.
-Elbert Hubbard
The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.
-C.S. Lewis
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
-Dorothy Parker
Yesterday's Devotional
May 1, 2022
Yesterday's Bible Verse
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Yesterday's Bible Study
In this verse Paul prays for the Thessalonians, remembering how the Lord loves them and the grace He has shown them. Paul asks the Lord to comfort them and establish them in every good word and work. Today, as Paul did, let's reflect on the love that the Lord has shown us.
Have you ever felt the Lord comfort your heart? When we're wounded by the things of this world, we can take refuge in Jesus. Indeed, no love can compare to the love of Jesus! Our deepest, sweetest relationships give us a glimpse into the Lord's love for us but ultimately pale in comparison. He will meet us right where we are and bring healing to our hearts by reminding us of His tender care for us. If you are struggling with something or feel hurt, remember to go to your Savior, who loves you deeply.
Because He loves us, the Lord will establish us in every good word and work. In other words, He will sanctify us so that we become more and more like Him—which can sometimes be a painful process. I don't always want to be reminded of all of the sins in my life, and repentance is an intentional—and difficult!—act of surrendering my will to the Lord. Yet, He knows that sin destroys our lives, and the pain of leaving sin behind is less than the pain of living in sin.
Have you ever felt the Lord comfort your heart? When we're wounded by the things of this world, we can take refuge in Jesus. Indeed, no love can compare to the love of Jesus! Our deepest, sweetest relationships give us a glimpse into the Lord's love for us but ultimately pale in comparison. He will meet us right where we are and bring healing to our hearts by reminding us of His tender care for us. If you are struggling with something or feel hurt, remember to go to your Savior, who loves you deeply.
Because He loves us, the Lord will establish us in every good word and work. In other words, He will sanctify us so that we become more and more like Him—which can sometimes be a painful process. I don't always want to be reminded of all of the sins in my life, and repentance is an intentional—and difficult!—act of surrendering my will to the Lord. Yet, He knows that sin destroys our lives, and the pain of leaving sin behind is less than the pain of living in sin.
When we feel convicted about our wrongdoings, instead of becoming despondent we can reflect on the love of God, who loves us enough to help us live in holiness.
Jesus demonstrated His irrefutable love for us when He paid the price for our sin. He was the perfect sacrifice, and He gave Himself up for us. Because of what He did, our sin is gone. We are no longer sinners stuck in unholy patterns, but instead, are saints of a loving and mighty God. He comforts us, establishes our words and works, and loves us more than we will ever understand.
Jesus demonstrated His irrefutable love for us when He paid the price for our sin. He was the perfect sacrifice, and He gave Himself up for us. Because of what He did, our sin is gone. We are no longer sinners stuck in unholy patterns, but instead, are saints of a loving and mighty God. He comforts us, establishes our words and works, and loves us more than we will ever understand.
Yesterday's Prayer
Dear Lord, I am so grateful for the love that you have shown me. Thank you for Jesus, who paid the price for all of my sins. Thank you, Lord, for helping me become more like you as I am sanctified each day. In Jesus' name, amen.