Devotion
Growing in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ
Chipo Biti
One of the best things that we can desire, as Christians, is for us to continue growing in the knowledge that we have of Christ. The more we learn of Christ, the more we learn of the nature of God and His love. Jesus Christ is referred to as the express image (the direct representation of God) - Hebrews 1:3. At the time of Jesus' arrival to the earth, humankind had adopted many misconceptions about God and His nature. Jesus came to correct all misconceptions and show the world who the Almighty God really was.
Many people believed that God was a wicked God who was to be feared. But through Jesus, we learned that God is a loving God, determined to win our affections. We learned that God truly has our best interests at heart and he desires to keep us away from the wiles of the enemy.
The Christian life is a life that if filled with constant moments of growth. The more we focus on the word of God, the more we grow in the knowledge of Christ. The Holy Spirit is also known as the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation".
Everything that we need to know about Jesus Christ is learned through the Holy Spirit. When you read through John14 and John 16, you will gain a very clear understanding on Jesus' reasons for leaving us with the Holy Spirit.
When we know more about Christ and the more we "know him better" we are also led to understand our identity as believers as well. To be Christians means that we are of Christ. In order to truly show the world that we are of Christ, we have to walk in His ways. We have to express and live according to the wisdom that He lived by as well. The only way we can do that is through the growing understanding that we have of the word of God. The word of God leads us into the deeper revelations and the better knowledge. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us understand the word of God in a better light.
To know Christ better, is great gain. When we understand our identity in Christ, and we understand what it means to be a child of God, we become stronger in our convictions and much harder for the enemy to try and toss us to and fro.
Prayer
The word of God fortifies us from the attempts of the enemy, and keeps us firmly rooted in the firm foundation of His love.
Devotion
Let us Bless The Lord
Frances Taylor
This is one of the psalms attributed to David. He is thanking God for rescuing him and promising to bless God at all times. He asks us to join him in his praises. He says his soul shall boast in the Lord. St. Paul tells us that we, too, should only boast in the Lord because it is he who always saves us. So, today, make a list. Make a list of everything that you are thankful for. Make a list of every success you have had and every failure you have survived. Make a list of every person who has helped you grow as a person and as a Christian. Now, look at it. Each of the items, events or persons on these lists are blessings from God. Either now, or before the day is over, bless and thank God for each of them. Ask God, also, to bless each of the people you have listed that you might be a blessing for them. If some of them are now with God, they would still like to hear you say thank you. God is so good to us all the time, and as one of my favorite ...
Morning Prayer
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Inspiration
Jesus tried to minister to the people in his town, but they rejected that he was the son of God. They only saw him as the son of a carpenter. There are many other Jews, who were referred to as God's own, who rejected Jesus Christ as the son of God, too. This is how Jesus ended up being crucified. But this did not deter Christ from His mission. He held nothing against anyone who rejected them. He forgave them and prayed that they would be saved.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for your son, Jesus Christ, who loved us so much, he did not hold it against any man when they wronged Him. Lord, I pray that I can exemplify this kind of love in my life too. I cannot do that without your help, Lord. May you help me to follow the example your son set for me, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
