Author: Beth Morrison

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17 ESV, Romans 6:1-23 ESV, Psalm 16:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 19:20-21 ESV

Daily Verse: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4 ESV)

SUNTHAPTO (4916): “To: from 4862 and 2290; to inter in company with, i.e. (fig.) to assimilate spiritually (to Christ by a sepulture as to sin Rom 6:4.” [i]

Assimilate spiritually.

Buried with Christ in baptism means we align our spirit with His. The public expression of faith tells everyone who you follow. Going into the water represents dying to self; coming out means living for Christ. A renewing of your soul as you begin a spiritual journey with Jesus.

Leaving behind our sinful past allows us to experience new life. Instead of following the paths that lead to death, we can find life to the fullest following Jesus. God doesn’t illuminate the entire trip; He guides us one step at a time.

Follow closely.

Everything we do has kingdom impacts. Each word from our mouth, God knows. Whether we uplift, encourage, tear down, or destroy our language and actions matter. The smallest act of kindness can change the world, but so can the tiniest act of hate. Whatever you do causes a ripple effect that impacts the world around you.

Lining our spirit up with Jesus allows us to follow Him closely. The more integrated we become with Christ, the more His light will shine through us. Our words and actions will become aligned with His, and just like Jesus, we will turn the world upside down, one act of love at a time.

As you get to know Jesus better, assimilating your spirit with His becomes the only choice. No other way can you find life to the fullest. Only Jesus has the key to eternal life, peace on earth, and unending love. In Him, you will find what you can find nowhere else.

Bury yourself in Christ today. Let your spirit melt into His. Jesus’ love for you can help you overcome any obstacle. Whatever crisis you face, seek God. Look for answers in the pages of scripture. When you find what Jesus did, apply it to your life.

Every journey has potholes. None of us live a pain-free life. But with Jesus, we can overcome the hardships as we seek strength from the Creator. Allow the Holy Spirit to navigate the rough terrain and cling to Him with all you got. In Jesus, you will find victory.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 242) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30 ESV, Romans 5:6-21 ESV,  Psalm 15:1-5 ESV, Proverbs 19:18-19 ESV

Daily Verse: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6 ESV)

ASEBES (765): “This word means “impious, ungodly, without reverence for God, not merely irreligious, but acting in contravention of God’s demands.” [i]

Without reverence.

Jesus died for us even though we had no reverence for Him.  Stuck in the mire of sin, we need a Savior to pull us out of our misery and make us whole again.  God supplied a solution to the problem we can’t solve, man’s sinful nature.

As hard as any of us try, we still falter.  For many years of my life, I put people on pedestals, thinking they could conquer anything.  In the end, they disappoint me because their humanity eventually shows.  With Christ, He never disappoints; in Him, we can find freedom from condemnation.

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Still sinners.

Whether we like to admit the truth or not, we still sin.  Following Jesus makes us sensitive to the misdeeds in our lives, but we still do them.  Battling our sinful nature will continue until we reach heaven.

If you read my book, Three Word Prayers for Everyday Living, you know I struggle with anger issues.  Granted, I’ve come a long way, but the beast still rears its ugly head, especially on the golf course.  When something becomes ingrained in you, it takes a lifetime to conquer.

And my anger draws me closer to God as I apply Biblical principles to deal with the volatile emotion.

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” (James 1:19 ESV)

Jesus died for me, knowing I would struggle with anger issues.  Christ’s strength helps me overcome my weakness.  Jesus reveals the reasons for my anger, which allows me to defeat it.  Behind anger, fear lingers.  Identifying the fear helps defeat the emotion.  Christ helps me recognize and solve the problem.

Jesus died for you, warts and all.  God doesn’t expect perfection; He wants honesty.  Tell the Creator your struggles, find scripture that addresses your needs, then apply it to your life on repeat.  Watch as God transforms your weakness into His strength.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 44) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34 ESV, Romans 4:13-5:5 ESV, Psalm 14:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 19:17 ESV

Daily Verse: “For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.” (Romans 4:15 ESV)

PARABIS (3847): “Parabasis is the act of excessive and enormous transgression of a stated law or a given commandment.  This word means primarily “a going aside,” then “an overstepping,” is used metaphorically to denote “transgression” (always a breach of law).  Negatively, where there is no law since “transgression” implies the violation of laws, none having been enacted between Adam’s “transgression” and those under the Law, Rom. 4:15.” [i]

Going aside.

Paul explains the necessity of faith. Using Abraham as an example, Paul describes how our forefather’s beliefs helped him persevere. At 100 years old, married to a barren woman, Abraham’s faith never weakened when God promised to make him the father of many nations. Abraham didn’t live to see it all, but he did see the beginning.

When Isaac came into the world, he fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham. As a result, God declared the patriarch righteous because of his faith. Abraham strayed in his walk, going aside from what God wanted, but justified by his faith, he gained God’s peace.

No transgression

Today, we have Jesus to save us from our transgressions. When we go sideways, Christ draws us back to Him.  Consequences exist for our misdeeds, but we needn’t fear God. When God looks at us, He sees Jesus, who makes us righteous.

Living for Christ means striving to imitate what He did. Jesus lived a sinless life. Once we become aware of our imperfections, convicted by the Holy Spirit, we should do our best not to do it again. We will falter; everyone does. But the joy of the Lord comes through His fresh mercy each day.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)

Not a day goes by we don’t commit some type of transgression. A white lie here, an overindulgence there, everyone struggles with their sinful nature. But each morning when we rise, we can confess our misdeeds to the Savior and try again. Sincere apologies go a long way to living at peace with those around you. God forgives you the minute you confess your sin; hopefully, with time, others will too.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 188) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11 ESV, Romans 4:1-12 ESV, Psalm 13:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 19:15-16 ESV

Daily Verse: “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3 ESV)

GRAPHE (1124): “A document, i.e., holy Writ (or its contents or a statement in it).  Graphe, as a verb, means “to write.” In the singular in reference to a particular passage, e.g., Rom 4:3.”[i]

Holy Writ.

Approximately 40 authors wrote the Bible over 1500 years.  Scribes organized the writings into books.  Jewish and Christ-followers kept and copied the sacred text.  Centuries after Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, humans decided which books would become the Bible as we know it today.

People writing about their relationship with God still happens.  My daily devotionals represent my interpretation of the scriptures in my life.  The lessons taught within the pages of the Bible remain timeless.  Our world may change and evolve, but the state of the human heart remains the same. 

As the oldest book in the world, the Bible has deep roots.  People studying and writing about the written word continue as they seek to know and understand God.

To write.

Initially, people shared the stories in the Bible orally. Eventually, someone started to write them down, providing a written record for those to come.  The shortest pencil still beats the longest memory.  If we don’t write down our thoughts, we’ll lose them.

Spending time journaling helps us process our relationship with God and others.  Just as the scripture authors poured their hearts out on paper, we can do the same.  Allowing God to work in our lives by applying Biblical wisdom takes time and intentionality.

We write our books one day at a time as we live our lives for Jesus.  Developing a relationship with Christ means spending time in Scripture and learning about Him.  As we pursue Jesus with all our hearts, life changes will occur.  Writing down our experience with Christ gives direction for our future generations.

Spend time in the scriptures daily.  Journal about the changes following Jesus brings into your life.  Let the emotions of your heart pour onto the page, bringing them into the light. God will fill you with love to spare when you pursue Him fervently.  And, you will have plenty of things to write about each day.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 61) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32 ESV, Romans 3:9-31 ESV, Psalm 12:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 19:13-14 ESV

Daily Verse: “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” (Romans 3:19 ESV)

HUPODIKOS (5267): “Brought to trial, answerable. Rom. 3:19 is translated “guilty,” the decisions of the court.”[i]

Decision of the court.

If we didn’t have the law, we wouldn’t understand sin. Standards create expectations of ourselves and others.  Paul reminds us that one day we will answer to God for our deeds and actions.  None of us have a clean record, so Jesus cleaned it for us.  We don’t have to fear standing before God; Jesus took the judgment for us.

Rules guide us along the narrow path.    Following the ten commandments produces healthy relationships.    The first four tell us how to relate to God and the last six how to relate to others.  When we do what the Good Book says, life-giving experiences like we never imagined will begin to happen.

Honesty challenge.

Just because Jesus paid the price for our past, current, and future sins doesn’t mean we can do whatever we want.  Once we recognize and confess sin in our lives, as Jesus said to the adulterous woman, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11 ESV).  God does expect us to live to a higher standard, setting an example for those who don’t know Jesus.

Start with honesty.  Everyone knows not to lie, yet we do.  Ron and I recently talked about how we handle it when someone lies to us.  Where I call them out on the lie, with love, Ron doesn’t.  Not confronting the lies leads to problems for my husband because when he lets small lies stand, they turn into more significant lies.

Next time, lying seems the most straightforward course to take; tell the truth to others and God.  Confess the sin plaguing you to your Creator; He already knows it.  God’s just waiting for you to tell Him.  When you strive for honesty with God and others, you will experience freedom like never before. 

Hard at first, honesty always pays off in the long run.  Regrets become smaller when you tell the truth.  Honesty leads to self-awareness, closer relationships, and more fulfilling life.

One day, we will stand before God, but we need not fear.  Jesus paid the price we can’t.  Today, live your life for Christ.  Let your gratitude for the Savior show in everything you do.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 259) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30 ESV, Romans 2:25-3:8 ESV, Psalm 11:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 19:10-12 ESV

Daily Verse: “What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?” (Romans 3:3 ESV)

APISTEO (569): “To be unbelieving and is translated disbeliever implying that the unbeliever has had a full opportunity of believing and has rejected it.”[i]

Rejected belief.

Paul brings up an interesting point, God’s faithfulness versus humans.  Everyone has moments of faithlessness, even me.  But God never does.  When we doubt, God remains faithful. 

In my mind, I hear my mother’s voice, “Ye of little faith.”  She said the words to me when I doubted God.  Her words made me pause and think every time she said them.  “What does she know I don’t know?”

My mother’s devout faith grew from her earthly struggles.  Unexpectedly losing her father at five during the 1930’s depression, mom knew hardship.   Grandma sold eggs and took in laundry to make ends meet.  They never went without food or shelter, but they had a rugged path to walk.  From her challenges, mom’s faith grew.

God never leaves.

What my mother learned amid her darkest days, God never left her.  He remained faithful when she doubted.  Decades later, her enduring faith made it easy to say, “Ye of little faith,” to her daughter, who had little experience with life’s difficulties.

God’s always faithful, especially when we doubt.  From our perspective, God seems inactive, but He’s not.  The Creator’s plan began unfolding long ago and will continue through eternity. 

In a world of self-entitlement, people struggle to realize that the earth doesn’t revolve around them.  Just because someone doesn’t get what they want or think they deserve doesn’t mean God doesn’t care.  None of us deserve anything we have.  All sinners, the penalty remains the same, death.  But Jesus paid the price so we could live life condemnation free.

Remember my mother’s words when you doubt, “Ye of little faith.”  God will bring you through the storm.  Just because you doubt doesn’t mean God’s not with you.  Give the situation time; you’ll look back one day and understand.  But for now, just believe.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 34) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17 ESV, Romans 2:1-24 ESV, Psalm 10:16-18 ESV, Proverbs 19:8-9 ESV

Daily Verse: “We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.” (Romans 2:2 ESV)

PRASSO (4238): “To practice, i.e., perform repeatedly or habitually. In Rom 2:3, he who does, poieo, the things mentioned, is warned against judging those who practice them, prasso.[i]

Perform repeatedly.

Writing to the Romans, Paul highlights the downside of judging others; you condemn yourself.  God judges, not us. Loving others means not judging them.  Unfortunately, forming incorrect opinions about others comes naturally, causing damage to relationships.

Instead of practicing judgment, change your thought patterns by repeatedly seeking Jesus.  Beginning a daily practice of reading God’s Word, journaling and praying will change the way you look at others.  Instead of judging them for their sin, you will love them in it.

Allowing the scriptures to illuminate your heart will help you become self-aware.  As the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, you become more graceful.  Judging others may take the attention off you, but it doesn’t negate the truth. 

Grace required.

Everyone needs grace because everyone sins.  My sin may differ from yours, but the price remains the same, death.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 ESV)

Before you point the finger at someone else, do some soul searching.  Yank the plank from your eye before pulling the splinter from someone else’s.  Thinking of yourself better than others never ends well.

Jesus humbled Himself for humanity.  Born in a nasty manger, raised as a carpenter, and died on a Cross for you.  Christ didn’t sacrifice Himself for you to judge. Jesus did it to show you how to love.

Judge less, love more.  The world will thank you.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 209) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36 ESV, Romans 1:18-32 ESV, Psalm 10:1-15 ESV, Proverbs 19:6-7 ESV

Daily Verse: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18 ESV)

ORGE (3709): “From 3713; prop. Desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e., violent passion by impl. Punishment. God’s purposes in judgment, Romans 1:18.” [i]

God’s purposes.

No one hurts us more than ourselves.  We blame God for choices we make that negatively affect our lives, then call it God’s wrath.  Consequences do exist for the decisions you make.  For some reason, we decide our mistakes equal God’s wrath.

Our introduction to God’s wrath happens in Genesis when Eve bit into the forbidden fruit.  God didn’t make her bite the apple; Eve made the decision.  When the Creator walked through the garden, Adam and Eve’s sin caused them to hide, covering up their nakedness.  What did God do?  He clothed them with animal skins.  The first sacrifice happened because of man’s sin. 

Consequences happen.

Would sin exist in the world if Eve never bit into the apple?  I don’t know the answer to that question.  If the alcoholic knew the first drink would lead to his demise, would he still take a sip?  Often in life, we don’t know how the choices we make will impact us in the long run.  No one knows the future but God.

When we sin, in whatever manner, God does forgive us, but He also lets us endure the consequences.  Spending more money than I had led me to debt.  God’s word clearly states, don’t become a slave to the lender, yet I did.  As a result, I spent years paying off my debts. 

Often, during that time, I wondered why God didn’t provide the means for me to become debt free.  After all, God owns all the resources, right?  What I know now, if the Creator supplied me with a check, I wouldn’t have learned the lesson.

God does have a purpose for us in this life, and He understands our sinful nature.  Jesus bridges the gap between God’s perfection and our imperfection.  The Creator will do whatever He wants, but sometimes, God’s responding to what we did.

 And the response remains the same as when God clothed Eve in the garden, love.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 181) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17 ESV, Romans 1:1-17 ESV, Psalm 9:13-20 ESV, Proverbs 19:4-5 ESV

Daily Verse: “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7 ESV)

 

KLETOS (2822): “invited, i.e., appoint, or a saint: -called.  In Roman 1:7 and 1 Cor 1:2, the meaning is “saints by calling.”[i]

Saints by calling.

God created you for a chosen purpose.  No one else can fulfill the Maker’s plan for your life but you.  Trying to accomplish someone else’s divine task will lead to failure.  MVPs don’t exist without teams.  Becoming one of God’s Most Valuable Players requires playing your position well.

Ron and I’s first volunteer gig together involved cleaning toilets.  Our role happened behind the scenes.  While people worshipped God in the auditorium, we cleaned the bathrooms, refilled the mints, and emptied the garbage.  Praying over the mints became my favorite part of the job; not knowing who would enjoy which ones, I prayed all would have their lives impacted as they learned about Jesus.   

Every position counts.

Whatever task God gives you, whether cleaning toilets or speaking from the podium, they build the kingdom.  Someone has to run the sound system, clean the bathrooms and preach the message.  No role carries more weight than any other, all of us equal in God’s eyes.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”  (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

As Christ followers, our tasks differ, but the importance remains the same.  Without each of us doing what God called us to do, His kingdom wouldn’t advance. Our Creator’s plan unfolds one day at a time as we apply His commands to our lives.

Whatever divine task God assigns you, do it to your best ability.  Building the kingdom requires all types of people to do different things.  Instead of changing people into your image, help them strive to become more like Jesus.  Give others space to live the life God intended them to live, not the one you want them to live.

Letting go of your expectations allows God to shine brightly through others as they fulfill His purpose for their lives.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 108) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18 ESV, Acts 28:1-31 ESV, Psalm 9:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 19:1-3 ESV

Daily Verse: “When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.” (Acts 28:3 ESV)

ECHIDNA (2191): “An adder or other poisonous snake.  Generic term for poisonous snake.”[i]

Poisonous snake.

Paul, stoking the fire, disturbs a viper that latches onto his hand. Without flinching, Paul shakes the snake off unharmed.  Unable to believe their eyes, Paul became a god in the native’s view.  Not knowing about Jesus and His power, the natives couldn’t help but come to this conclusion.

God’s protection over our lives comes in many forms.  When on a mission for the Big Guy, nothing will stop you, not even poisonous snakes. Stoking the fire reveals the snakes. Evil slithers in and out of our lives like a viper, leaving chaos in its wake.  But Jesus protects us from the snake’s bite, the Holy Spirit propelling us forward on our journey.

Shake it off.

Paul, following Jesus, suffered many things, shipwrecks, beatings, stoning, and snakes, to name a few.  Every one of his difficulties, Paul shook off and kept going.  When Paul spent two years chained to a guard, he shared the gospel with his captors and wrote letters encouraging the church.  Nothing stopped Paul.

Following Christ will disrupt the world around you in unimaginable ways.  Speaking truth to others, in love, requires tender care.  No one you know has a pain-free life; everyone suffers.  Jesus gives hope to the hopeless, peace to the anxious, and grace to the sinner, all with unconditional love.

As you become more like Christ, loving those around you, they may not respond as you think.  Adding more fuel to the flame will send the snakes scurrying.  Like Paul, don’t let them bother you.  Understand, dealing with snakes comes with the journey.  Victory comes with Jesus.

If someone says something hurtful to you, let it go.  Don’t ponder on the snake bite; shake it off.  Trust God’s work in their lives as you love them to the best of your ability.  Jesus brings us out of the pit into life, one step at a time.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 108) Thomas Nelson