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MORNING MEDITATION
Morning Meditation: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over and through all and in all."- Ephesians 4:1-6
Jesus stood before the tomb of Lazarus and wept. All around Him was the sound of weeping and wailing, and His feet were being washed with the tears of Mary, who was questioning Him as her sister Martha had just moments earlier. "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:32). Maybe it was the grief of that moment that moved Him so, or maybe it was because He was seeing a picture of the not so distant future when His own disciples would be doubting and questioning why He left them. He had proclaimed days earlier that this day would not end in death. No! This day was meant, "for God's glory so that God's son may be glorified through it" (v.4). With a loud voice He called out Lazarus' name, "Come forth!" And the dead man walked out of the grave. The word "Come" is the great call of the gospel of grace; calling all men, who are dead in their sins, to take off their grave clothes and to walk in the newness of life. "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4).
Christ was crucified on the cross, buried in the grave, and resurrected from the dead, all so we could be set free from this dead corpse of sin that is hanging on us and dragging us down (Romans 7:24)."...because anyone who has died has been freed from sin" (Romans 6:7). The day of salvation is the dawning of a new day for the believer, and if we answer His call to come forth from the grave, He will take off our grave clothes and clothe us with Christ."I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:19). He has deposited His Holy Spirit within us, as a seal of His covenant, so we can begin the work of being perfected and produce the "fruit of holiness.""So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear the fruit of God" (Romans 7:4). We have been resurrected from the dead and raised to a new level of moral life; and the Holy Spirit has been given to us to help us live a pure life. May we yield to the guiding and enabling ministry of the Holy Spirit so that we can possess all the necessary Christian graces to preserve the unity of the Spirit. Let us each commit to living a holy life so we can come together and achieve a more perfect union as One Body under One Head, which is Jesus Christ. May our unity in the Spirit, as the Body of Christ, help us to be known for what we possess and proclaim, and not for what we oppose!
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing
of our great god and Savior, Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself up for us to redeem us from all wickedness
and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own,
eager to do what is good."
(Titus 2:11-14)
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AFTERNOON DEVOTION
Afternoon Devotion: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." - Colossians 3:12-15
Christ has resurrected us from the dead. He has taken off our grave clothes and given us a brand new garment; and we no longer wear the old rags of sin, instead we are adorned with a beautiful light that radiates from within. As the chosen Bride of Christ He has given us the very best of Himself so that we can be holy, and have the necessary graces of His Spirit so we can be perfected in Him. It is customary at weddings to offer blessings to the bride and groom; the blessings we have been given are spiritual, and they have been given from our gracious heavenly Father without measure. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).
God has clothed us with compassion, the grace of His tender-mercies. He has given us this garment so that we will "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36). He has shown us the riches of His mercy, so that in turn we might be merciful to others. "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:4-9). We have received the riches of His mercy, and the Lord expects the same from us in the way we treat others. Let us make every effort to keep the Spirit of unity by following our Father's lead. "Mercy triumphs over judgment!" (James 2:13). Help us Father to wear Your compassionate and merciful heart, while remembering it was sin that put Your Son on the cross. Thank You for Your mercy You have shown us In His name. Amen.
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you.
A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over,
will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
(Luke 6:37-38)
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EVENING PRAYER
Evening Prayer of Thanksgiving: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." - Colossians 3:16-17
Heavenly Father,
"Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name;
make known among the nations what He has done.
Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
proclaim His salvation day after day."
"We do not make requests of You because we are righteous,
but because of Your great mercy."
"Lord, I have heard of Your fame;
I stand in awe of Your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy."
Thank You for Your tender-mercies
which You have so graciously shown to us.
How grateful we are that You have set
us free from the bondage of sin,
so that we can walk in liberty; and
being perfected in all the ways of holiness,
so You can be as glorified in our lives,
as You were when You raised Lazarus from the dead.
May our hearts be always open and tender
to the needs of others so they
can be shown the great love of
our merciful and holy God.
"Give thanks to the LORD,
for He is good;
His love endures forever."
In the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
(1 Chronicles 16:8, 23, 34; Daniel 9:18b; Habakkuk 3:2)
Devotional provided by Trumpet and Torch Ministries
Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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