Day 348: I Thes 1:1 - 5:28

The book of I Thessalonians is a good book to read to be reminded that it's important to regularly evaluate our lives as believers and make adjustments accordingly. In general, we could agree by Paul's letter to Thessolonica was a positive one commending them on their faithfulness and solidarity in the faith, but it's interesting that he was also sure to give them a few specific pointers of things that they need to work on and focus on. All too often, Christians tend to look at their faith and relationship with God and assume that since there aren't any huge problems, everything is perfect, but we need to understand that it's not only healthy, but also essential to be aware not only of the things that we're doing good, but also the things to work on in order to truly live the life that God has called us to.

- Lord, help me to be mindful of the things that I need to change and improve in my relationship with You. Help me to never get to the point where I think that there's nothing left for me to work on because I know that a relationship with You is a progression and it's all about learning and growing in You. -

Day 347: Col 1:1 - 4:18

The book of Colossians is an excellent reminder of the fact that Jesus doesn't simply intend for us to make Him a small part of our lives, He wants us to make Him the primary focus of our lives. It's very easy for believers to take Jesus and throw Him into the mix with all of the other influences and and emotionally stimulating things in our lives, but we have to learn how to exalt Him high above anything else in our lives. Jesus is not just one of the benefits to living this Christian life, He is the absolute reason we live and we will never truly live until we've made Him the paramount center of our lives. Some of us even have to be reminded each and every day that He is the only reason we exist and He is the one Who will truly make our lives worth living. If you're at a point right now where you feel like perhaps you've put God somewhere far down the list of priorities, I would encourage you to read this book another time or two and make a decision today to put God back where He belongs in your life.

- Lord, forgive us for oftentimes adding You to the list of focuses and obligations rather than placing You at the very top of the list. You are the only reason we're alive and we need Your strength daily to be able to keep that priority. Thank You for Your grace and for loving us no matter what! -

Day 346: Phil 1:1 - 4:23

The book of Philippians is hands down one of the most encouraging books in the entire Bible. I would venture to say that if you can read through the entire book of Philippians and not even feel a little bit encouraged, there's clearly something wrong with you. I can't tell you how many times I've sat down and opened up this book feeling like the most worthless person in the world and by the time I'm done reading chapter 4, I'm ready to go out and do something for the Lord! In this entire book, Paul reminds us and encourages us in the fact that no matter what we're going through or are about to go through, God is bigger and stronger than any of it. We see that the key to making it through difficult circumstances has nothing to do with our strength or determination, but has everything to do with lifting up our hearts in thanksgiving and allowing God to work through our problems, through our thanksgiving, and through His power to propel us to new heights in Him. God is always faithful to pull us out of any negative situation. We just have to be faithful to rely on Him first.

- Lord, thank You for books like Philippians that we can read to be reminded of Your providential grace and favor in our lives. We know that nothing is impossible through You and all we have to do is set our eyes on You and on Your providence and we can never be let down! -

Day 345: Eph 4:1 - 6:24

Interestingly enough, whereas the first half of the book of Ephesians is all about who we are in Christ, the second half deals with how we should behave in Christ. Sadly, there are alot of believers today who seem to think that because we live under the grace of God, we are allowed to act any way we want and do anything we want because we can just say that we live by grace and then ask God to forgive us and we'll be just fine. But if there's one phrase that clarifies everything, it's 5:1 - "Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children. . ." Our job as believers is not to see how close we can get to the line before crossing it or even figuring out where the line is. Our job is to be imitators of Christ and follow God's example. And, yes, as humans we will inevitably slip and fall, but God knows our hearts and if we will set our hearts towards living a life after His example, He will honor that and give us the strength to do it right.

- Lord, I want to spend the rest of my life following Your example. I know that it's not a task I can complete on my own, but with Your help and Your strength, I know I can accomplish anything. -

Day 344: Eph 1:1 - 3:20

The book of Ephesians is the perfect place for someone to look who has not yet discovered their identity in Christ. It's always interesting reading through the book of Ephesians and being reminded that a large number of encouraging verses of scripture that I learned as a little boy can be found in this book of the Bible. I would venture to say that the average believer today has some sort of identity crisis that is holding them back from where and who they need to be in Christ. But when we open up this book and begin learning exactly what God has done for and promised us, we begin to see that God has ". . . blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (1:3)," "in Him we have the redemption through His blood (1:7)," and that "it is by grace that you have been saved (2:8)!" God hasn't made this relationship with Him complicated. It's not some sort of cryptic, enigmatic puzzle that we are bound to try to piece together for the rest of our lives. God lays it all out on the table for anyone who wants it. We all have a very specific identity in Christ and if we will take the time to learn exactly what that is, we can finally starting living who we are in Christ.

- Lord, thank You for revealing to me exactly who I am in You. Help me to never forget who and what You've called me to be. I know that Your Word is the blueprint to my life and if I will know and follow what You have said, I cannot fail. -

Day 343: Gal 4:1 - 6:18

I love this passage because it reminds us and encourages us in the fact that we are not just followers or slaves of the Most High. We're not even just his children, we are the heirs of God and heirs to the promises and covenants that He has offered. It's so easy to look at God and think of Him as some sort of big, omnipresent, being that orchestrates everything according to how He feels, but never really pays attention to us as individuals. But we are reminded in this passage that in being in Christ, we don't just have access to His provision, we are guaranteed through His covenant to receive the full inheritance. We as believers need to understand that all we have to do is know and understand what God has promised us, and step up and accept it and we can have it. There's a big difference between blindly demanding something simply because we think we deserve it and boldly standing before the throne and accepting what has already been promised. If we will stand before the throne with a bold understanding of what God has already promised us, we too can live in the abundant inheritance that God is offering us.

- Father, help me to stay in Your Word so that I can fully know and understand the inheritance that You have promised me. I don't want to to be guilty of ignorantly demanding something just because I think I somehow deserve it, but rather I want to be able to come boldly into the throne of grace knowing exactly what You have promised me. -

Day 342: Gal 1:1 - 3:29

In this passage, we see a very common principle throughout this part of the New Testament - faith vs. works. I have to say, I love how one can read the New Testament and pick out so many places where the writer could have just as easily been writing to the church today. At the beginning of this passage, Paul discusses the fact that the church in Galatia had forsaken the Gospel that they had originally heard and decided to follow a newer more palatable "gospel." What other "gospels" have we been exposed to and possibly found ourselves listening to? As we've discussed before, every lie has a seed of truth, and the Devil knows that the best way to deceive believers is to feed them a little bit of truth along with a huge helping of lies. We need to remember that no matter what we hear or who we hear it from (even if an angel says it to you - Gal 1:8) if it can't be backed by God's Word, it's not the truth and we risk more than we could ever imagine by making that "gospel."

- Father, help me to remember to weigh everything I hear by Your Word. I've seen firsthand what can happen when believers are deceived by a fake "gospel," and I won't allow that to happen to myself or those around me. Give me the wisdom and foresight to never present a gospel other than the true Gospel in Your Word so that I will always find myself strengthening the body of Christ rather than pulling it down. -