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Is GOD Number 1 in your life?
Or are you all grown up now and much too busy for such things? Maybe you had enough of that when you were a child, or maybe not at all ? Do you claim [ HIM ] when all is well, but the moment some ‘ insignificant ‘ occurrence takes place, you abandon HIM because, well - you must fix this problem?
You know --
You gotta go ‘’ handle your business.." Is this ‘you’ ? Maybe more often than not?
Or - maybe your so ( seemingly ) in touch with GOD, that you don’t feel the need to be in constant devotion to HIM. Constant prayer. Constant prayer? Who has time for such things..?
After all, [ you ] have this ‘stainless connection’ with HIM and you have life to deal with, right? WRONG. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Maybe what happens within your daily life is more important?
Do any number of things cause you to focus on them 1st, and then -- GOD 2nd? Or 3rd? Or not at all?
Any one thing that comes between “You” and “ HIM “{ IS } a form of: Idolatry.
Boy, does THAT STATEMENT make people mad ! But it’s true.
Life itself, is NOT all there is to existence. You do realize this, right?
If you know this - Good for you ! If you don’t know it, or just don’t care -- you have bigger issues to deal with. This life we are afforded, is a mere blink of an eye. A hiccup. The oldest man recorded in the Bible, Methuselah, was 969 years old. As long as that seems, it’s still a very small fraction of time. How long is it compared to eternity? Eternity, which is spoken more of in the Bible then time is, is so much more than just ‘’ lots of time. ‘’ Time one day, WILL BE, NO MORE.
We then enter into eternity. Shouldn’t YOU be spending as much ‘’ time ‘’ as possible Making GOD { YOUR } PRIORITY?? I personally, want to learn all I can about HIM ! And I can’t do that, unless I spend as much ‘time’ with HIM, as I can. Who CREATED everything? Who made you?
It wasn’t: “ Mom & Dad... “ The very BREATH you have, is HIS, that is: GOD’S BREATH.
Job 33:4
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Ecclesiastes 3:19
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
NOTHING exists without GOD. What is “ DEVOTION “ ??
loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, constancy, commitment, adherence, allegiance, dedication;
fondness, love, admiration, affection, spirituality, worship. Are you DEVOTING WORSHIP TO GOD? FAITHFULLY? REVERENTLY? Or just giving HIM lip service? Here is Merriam - Webster's definition of: Lip Service -- : an avowal of advocacy, adherence, or allegiance expressed in words but [ not ] backed by deeds. Deed.
Let’s make a clear distinction of the term; Deed, as it applies to GOD & Devotion…
an action that is performed intentionally or consciously.
"doing good deeds"
synonyms:
act, action;
feat, exploit, achievement, accomplishment, endeavor, undertaking, enterprise
a legal document that is signed and delivered, especially one regarding the ownership of property or legal rights.
synonyms:
legal document, contract, indenture, instrument
"a deed to the property"
convey or transfer (property or rights) by legal deed. Ephesians 1:14
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Psalms 74:2
Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
Exodus Chapter 15
14 The people shall hear, [and] be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be [as] still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, [which] thou hast purchased.
17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, [in] the place, O LORD, [which] thou hast made for thee to dwell in, [in] the Sanctuary, O Lord, [which] thy hands have established.
2 Corinthians 4:4
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but _____________ us from _______: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Note especially verse 13: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” which may also be rightly translated:
“Deliver us from the Evil One.”
When you were saved, you were brought into a battle. Not to a religious playground or Sunday School picnic, but a fight to the finish with no holds barred against a sinister enemy. We are up against the demonized, mobilized, hosts and forces of Hell.
Do [ you ] realize, that when Adam fell, legal, temporary ownership, was transferred to Lucifer?
In other words, mankind fell under subjection to satan? JESUS CHRIST purchased us, through HIS Blood. By the Shedding of HIS Blood, we were saved from the clutches and demise of satan. And NOBODY has the time to devote daily worship to GOD?? Am I MISSING SOMETHING HERE?? Before JESUS came, sin was dealt with by the shedding of sacrificial blood. And all [ that ] did, was cover sin, and did NOT wash it away. JESUS washed away sin, if we have confessed our sins to HIM.
This alone, should cause you to begin daily devotion to HIM. GOD. Let’s talk about daily devotion ---
Why are Christians encouraged to have daily devotions or quiet times?
Daily devotions or quiet times are time spent each day dedicated to relating with GOD.
When people speak of daily devotions, they are usually referring to a time of reading their Bible, doing a Bible study, or reading a devotional book, accompanied by a time of prayer. Some may simply pray. Some also include musical worship.
No matter the format of a daily devotional time, it is important.
GOD desires relationship with us.
HE created us and has redeemed us for this very purpose.
Jesus, prior to His crucifixion, prayed, "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24). First John 4:8 tells us that GOD is love.
The love of GOD is sometimes described as that of a father and child or of a married couple.
These relationships are intimate.
Intimacy takes time to build. We spend time – daily if possible – with those we love.
This time is meant to further our knowledge of one another as well as give us enjoyment.
Scripture also describes GOD as our master. Servants (or employees) must spend time with their employers in order to know the employer's will. When we spend daily devotional time with GOD, we submit our will to His. It is in that time that we surrender our lives to GOD. We surrender not just the overall trajectory of our lives, but each day.
GOD is in the details of our lives (Matthew 6:25-33).
He cares about the details of each day with the love of a father or spouse and also with the interest of a master.
We seek to further GOD'S kingdom.
Coming to HIM each day is one way to know which direction to move.
Daily devotionals also teach us truth.
When we spend time in GOD'S Word, we gain wisdom and understanding. It has been said that the best way to recognize a counterfeit is to study the real thing. satan is the "father of lies" (John 8:44).
If we are not steeped in GOD'S truth, we are more easily duped. When we know the truth, we experience freedom (John 8:32).
Daily spending time with GOD is a way to worship Him. Time is a limited resource. What we spend our time on is an indication of what we value. When we spend time with GOD, we demonstrate that we value Him. We claim that He is worthy of attention and of praise.
GOD is our refuge (Psalm 46). Life is often chaotic and confusing. When it is, we run to GOD. If we desire to truly find rest and safety in GOD, it is helpful to know HIM well. Such deep knowledge comes from daily time spent with HIM.
Sometimes the best way to use a refuge is to go there before things get messy.
Daily devotions is a spiritual discipline that helps us get to know GOD, that ensures we stay connected to HIM (John 15:1-8), that teaches us truth, that provides a place for worship, and that functions as a daily shelter in the midst of the storms of life.
GOD Bless everyone ! ! !
Here is 2 Corinthians 4:4 in Context...
1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.