In the Name of Jesus

Acts 3:6 -- "But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

photo credit

There is immense power in the words we speak. There is even more power in a name. This holds true especially when considering the name of God. After Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after His resurrection and speaking to many of His disciples, He left the Holy Spirit to guide all who followed Him. He also left them another gift, the ability to call upon Him, to use the power of His name to further work in His Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.

John 14:12-14 -- "(12) "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. (13) You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. (14) Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!"

Peter gives us a powerful example when he heals a lame man begging at the temple. Jesus wanted His followers to continue His work here on earth even after He ascended from it. we are not able to do anything in our own strength. However  by putting our faith in the Lord, by calling on the name of Jesus, we can do amazing things for the Kingdom while we are still on earth.

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for giving us the ability to call on you to further Your Kingdom. Help me to know this is not to better myself but to better others and help them to know Your amazing love. Help me to reach out to others and help them just as Jesus did.

There are more Devotionals where this one came from!

Study God's Word and be Blessed!

Wordless Wednesday *Linky*: A Day in Clemson

I did not realize until this weekend that this year marks 6 years since I graduated from Clemson University. I had a chance to go visit my Alma Mater this weekend and fell in love with it all over again.

Link up and join me in the Wordless Wednesday fun!

Clemson's Alma Mater:

Where the Blue Ridge yawns its greatness,

Where the Tigers play,

Here the sons of dear old Clemson

Reign supreme always.

CHORUS

Dear old Clemson we will triumph,

And with all our might,

That the Tiger's roar may echo

O'er the mountain height.

We will dream of greater conquests

For our past is grand.

And her sons have fought and conquered

Every foreign land.

Where the mountains smile in grandeur

O'er the hill and dale,

Here the Tiger lair is nestling

Swept by storm and gale.

We are brothers strong in manhood,

For we work and strive.

And our Alma Mater reigneth

Ever in our lives.

  

Knowledge is Not Enough

Colossians 1:9 -- “So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

photo credit

Paul explains how the knowledge of Jesus and God’s Word is not enough, we must apply his Word and develop a closer relationship with Him to truly know His will for us. It is through this closeness that we have complete spiritual understanding.

In this passage, Paul is exposing a hearsay that was a form of Gnosticism -- that the value was in the accumulation of knowledge. Paul disproves this, saying that knowledge alone is empty -- it is the changed life and closer relationship with God that is worth anything. It is important to have knowledge, but it is only the way we use that knowledge that matters.

Knowing God is not a secret knowledge for a select few, instead, it is open to anyone who will ask God for spiritual wisdom and understanding. We learn more about God and from God to put into practice to help others and live a changed life.

Dear Lord,I pray for complete knowledge of our will and to give me spiritual wisdom and understanding. Help me to apply this to my life and help others.

There are more Devotionals where this one came from!

Study God's Word and be Blessed!

God Grants Honor to the Humble

1 Peter 5:6 -- "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor."

photo credit

To be humbled means to be modest, being insignificant or to be low in rank. So humbling yourself under the Mighty Power of God seem appropriate. No matter how hard we try or how much we accomplish in this life, it will never compare to the God who created us.

However, we serve a merciful God who wants to lift us up. When we humble ourselves under God, He works through us to make great things happen in the world and beyond. Because we admit that our Almighty Lord rules over us, He lifts us up and gives us honor.

This is possible because even though I am weak, He is strong. I can do nothing, but through Him all things are possible. It is not through my hands that good works are done -- all the glory goes to God.

Dear Lord,
You know it is not easy for our human weakness to admit that You are greater than I could ever be. However, you show us time and time again that it is worth it to be humble under Your Power. Help to repeat and truly believe that no matter what I do, big or small, all the glory goes to you.

There are more Devotionals where this one came from!

Study God's Word and be Blessed!

Mark (Bible in 90 Days)

photo credit

Each of the four gospels is completely unique, yet impossibly the same. Men who were close to Jesus wrote down His story, each in his own style with His own perspective. Through these accounts we can see who Jesus was as He walked the earth. Knowing more about the author helps us to see who Jesus was and what He did through the author's perspective of the encounter.

John Mark (known as Mark) was not one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. However, he did accompany Paul on his first missionary journey after Jesus’ ascension. Mark’s gospel was probably the first gospel written, speaking to the Christians in Rome. The other gospels quote all but 31 versus of Mark.

photo credit

Mark’s gospel focuses mostly on Jesus’ miracles. He includes Jesus’ teachings and life story, but proves the truth of the Messiah by his actions. Reading Mark’s gospel is very fast paced because he moves with Jesus recording all of the miracles, wonders and interactions of Jesus as he travels from town to town spreading his message to the people.

Mark doesn't even include Jesus’ birth; instead, jumps to John the Baptist’s preaching. However, Mark puts much emphasis on Jesus’ death and resurrection.

photo credit

Mark sends a very important message about Jesus:

Mark 10:43-45 -- “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever want to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. Even the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

photo credit

From society’s point of view, Jesus was not a winner. Even though he healed the sick and raised the dead he was still killed by man’s hands. However, Jesus was more than a winner, he was a servant. He died as an ultimate sacrifice for all our sins so we could have a way to heaven to spend eternity with God. That is more important than any success on earth. Mark shows Jesus, the Messiah, serving, sacrificing and saving.