Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today's scripture are about our reconciliation by God, through Christ. Jesus said: "I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30), and He meant that literally. We know from the beginning there was God, and with God was the Word, and the Word was Jesus Christ (John 1:1). The Holy Spirit was also there, which made up the Trinity of God. Salvation and truth is given and maintained through this trinity, which is why Jesus commanded: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 25:18-20) Baptism symbolizes dying to our old sinful self, being buried, washed of all sins, and resurrected with Christ, becoming a new person.

No one really knows why God operates the way that He does, or why salvation is necessary. Things as complicated and deep as these will be revealed to us when we get to Heaven. Right now, we know the truth lies in His Word, salvation lies in His blood, and reconciliation is for each believer. God came to earth, in human form, as Jesus Christ, in order to bring us, His own creation, back to Him. We were once separated by sin, but He's taken care of that, once and for all. The moment we accept this Salvation, that's offered to all who believes, we're one with Him. There are some awesome things going on inside of us, which gives us the power to live above the world. We're kings and queens through Christ, and nothing on this earth have total control over us.

This reminds me of the story of Paul and the deadly viper. Paul was on the Island of Malta, on a cold and rainy night, so he built a fire to help him and his men keep warm. It's written: Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. (Acts 28:3-6) Paul had just escaped death on the sea a day before this, and now he was bitten by a deadly viper, and still didn't die, all He did was shake that snake off, and kept moving as if nothing had happened. Paul knew how to work is faith. He knew that God had a journey for him to complete, and it wasn't yet time for him to die, so by faith, and faith alone, he survived all that was thrown at him. Paul understood his power through Christ, because he had grown to love and worship the Lord, and the Lord only. He had no fear of anything or anyone, because he knew that God had made him a promise, and revealed Himself to him, because he sought Him, and was obedient to His will.

Paul wasn't always a man of this much faith, actually, he persecuted Christians at one time, but God worked in him, and he was reconciled. God took a once sinful and wicked man, and made him a Saint. This was possible because of Paul's complete surrender to the Lord. God still does that today, in the lives of millions of Christians, including me, and most of you reading this message. He lives and breathes through us; similar to the way He did through Paul, Peter, John, Timothy, Andrew, and the many other disciples. He uses us to be Shepherds and "fishers of men" (Matt. 4:16). Paul faced storms and vipers of all types, but he knew the truth, and lived by that, and that alone.

Try to picture your heart in a Spiritual aspect. Not the literal organ, but the Spirit, or the core of your being, which is responsible for your very life. Think of Jesus Christ, and the power He posses; He was beaten and killed, but in the same week used His own power to be resurrected into full glory, and still lives today. Think of the Holy Spirit, and His ability to speak to and through us, planting seeds of growth and prosperity in our very Spirit. Now, think of God - the Creator of the entire Universe, ruler of all things, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Think of the power He possesses - He made earth, wind, and fire; the sun, clouds, and rain. He who tells the water of the ocean where to stop, so it won't overtake the earth, and most importantly He made man in His own image. Our minds can't begin to fathom the enormity that is the Holy Trinity, and the power He holds.

All of this power, from God our Heavenly Father, is on inside of you and me. He waits to hear from us, and concerns Himself with all aspects our life. He cares when we're happy or sad, joyful, or afraid. He's there when we call upon Him just to talk, or when we're in extreme need. He gives us power when we call on Him, by the Name of Jesus Christ, to move any mountain that's in our path. Yes the same God - the Creator of the earth, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

If you haven't confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you don't have access to this power, not until you say that prayer. You’re of the world, and covered in sin, which if isn’t taken care of, will eventually consume you to death. Salvation is free to anyone who asks, no matter what. Pray and ask Jesus to come into your life as Lord and Savior, if you haven't done it already. If you're not sure where you stand, then take a few moments to take the God Quiz today! My favorite verses today are: It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself. (Colossians 1:19-20)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455482&dtype=Scripture
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