Daily In Christ

Verse Of The Day:
1Cor 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

My Thoughts:
Do you ever read a verse in the Bible and feel like God speaks volumes of stuff to you in that one verse? Today’s verse is that for me. We are called to be imitators of Christ, not Christian Posers. An imitator of Christ takes on the attributes of Christ and looks different that the rest of the world. A poser looks like a Christian and might even act like one, but isn’t really a true follower of Christ.

An imitator will love others in the midst of persecution. A poser will run from persecution. An imitator will show compassion to the poor. A poser will look at the poor with disgust. An imitator will live life with a purpose or mission in mind. A poser will go whichever way the wind blows to make it look like he is doing something. And an imitator will give up his life for the needs of others. A poser will hold on tight to his life and live for himself… Poser or imitator, which one do you want to be?

My Prayer:
Lord, help me to look like you and be like you in such a way that I am willing to lay my life down for others. I want to be an imitator of Christ not just a guy who looks like a Christian. Amen.

Verse Of The Day:
Rom 15:13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Daily Thought:
We all need hope! There is a promise of hope every time we turn the corner. However, the hope the world has to offer is never satisfying and always lets us down. God wants us to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. To do this we need to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and walk daily in Him. Hoping in our security and freedom in God is as easy as turning from the things of this world and accepting the free gift of life that He has to offer… Where is your hope coming from today?

My Prayer:
Father God, please bathe me today in your Spirit. Help me to have hope in my life and live in such a way that others will see it and want what you have given to me for themselves. I Pray for those around this world who don’t know you and are struggling for hope. Addicts, homeless victims, those who are starving and have no resources, and even those who have plenty but find no fulfillment in material things. Spread your hope across this globe Lord and let me be a heralder of hope to those around me. Amen

Verse Of The Day:
Mat 7:13  “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Mat 7:14  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Daily Thought:
The contrast between the two gates in this passage from Matthew is sobering. The narrow gate and the wide gate. It is quite apparent in our culture that the wide gate is vying for our complete and total attention. Movies, video games, pornography, material things, false religions, and so much more try to entice us to follow the path that leads to the wide gate. Ultimately ending in our separation from God and His eternal life. Jesus tells us that the gate is narrow that leads to life. Remaining on this path and walking through this gate requires us to work at it. Thus, “The way is hard that leads to life.”

Jesus is our strength and power and will equip us to remain on the path that leads to life. Which path are you on and do you know whether or not you will be traveling through the narrow gate? Follow Jesus and you can be certain which path you are on by your desires and the fruit from those desires. Narrow gate or wide gate… which one will you choose to enter?

My Prayer:
Lord, help me to walk the path that leads to the narrow gate. Thought many will follow the other path, lead me in the way of everlasting life. Help me to not lock arms with the world. Your world tells me that I should look different that the world and I pray that I will. Thank you for your blessing of eternity with you. Amen

Verse Of The Day:
1John 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
1John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

Daily Thought:
The word of God is full of wisdom. In this verse I thing it is pretty simple to understand the first part from verse 6. If I keep walking in a lifestyle of sin and satisfying the flesh then I probably don’t know God. But what does it look like to “practice righteousness?”  Matt 6 tells us not to practice righteousness before men so it appears that it is something we do in private. Isaiah 64 tells us our righteousness is as filthy rags. Therefore, it looks as though we ourselves can not produce our own righteousness.

Righteousness starts at the cross of Jesus Christ. read more…

My Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know that when I try to work harder to produce my own righteousness it is as filthy rags to you. Help me to trust in you for my righteousness and walk in faith. Lord, you are enough for me and I desire to please you in everything. In my actions, in my thoughts, and in my whole life. Thank you for making me righteous in You. Amen.

Verse Of The Day:
Matt 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
Matt 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Matt 22:38 This is the great and first commandment.
Matt 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Daily Thought:
As I go throughout my day I often fall short of the words of Jesus. The first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord with everything that is in me. Distractions of the day cause me to fall in love with so much more… work, people, things, etc. They often come before my time with the Lord and cause me to fall short of His command. As I reflect on the second of these, love your neighbor, I am humbly reminded at how God wants me to love those I encounter each day. We are all God’s children. Not just the ones I like or have common interests with, but all people are my neighbor and I am to love them as He does… I think I have some heart work to do today…

My Prayer:
Lord, help me to Love you first in all things. I want to make you the highest priority in my life and not my job, my family, or other things. I need you to change my heart toward others so I can love them as you

Verse Of The Day:
Prov 3:5 ​​​​​​​​Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Prov 3:6 ​​​​​​​​In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Daily Thought:
Do you ever have circumstances in your life where the outcome seems like it is not going to go well? I know I certainly do. This verse reminds me today to trust in Him. The maker of Heaven and Earth! Trust that God is in control and going to do great things, in whatever the situation, to bring his Glory and my ultimate good. He will make my path straight…

My Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to trust in you and not my own understanding of things. I need your wisdom and guidance to get me through every situation in my life. Thank you for showing me that you are always working things out for good. Amen

Verse Of The Day:
1Tim 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
1Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Daily Thought:
The fight of faith takes endurance and courage. One must also be intentional. Paul tells us to flee former things and to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. It is a fight against our flesh and the things of this world. And it is the pursuit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we fight the fight of faith we bring glory to God and  continue His good work in us.

My Prayer:
Lord Jesus, only you can help me to fight the goof fight of faith. I can not do it alone and I pray that you will provide your Spirit in me to help me continue battling the fleshly desires that come my way. Thank you for your faithfulness to me. Amen.

Verse Of The Day:
Heb 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Daily Thought:
In the age we live there are many who profess that there are many ways to God. Find the one that is right for you and you are good to go… However, that is not what the Bible tells us. God has come to us through His Son Jesus Christ. He is the only way to the Father.

My Prayer:
Lord, thank you for creating a way for us to fellowship with you. As I go throughout the day today help me to remember that Jesus is the only way. I love you and praise your name. Amen

Verse Of The Day:
Ps 121:1 ​​​​​​​​I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
Ps 121:2 ​​​​​​​​My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Ps 121:3 ​​​​​​​​He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Ps 121:4 ​​​​​​​​Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Ps 121:5 ​​​​​​​​The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
Ps 121:6 ​​​​​​​​The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
Ps 121:7 ​​​​​​​​The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
Ps 121:8 ​​​​​​​​The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Daily Thought:
Where does your help come from? From the one who made the heavens and the earth? God is our help in times of need. He never sleeps, he never needs to take a break, and he will keep us from evil. Find your help in him today…

My Prayer:
Lord, help me to find my help in you. I am run down, beaten up, and tired of trying to do things alone. When I am lost and can’t find my way Lord is when I turn to you. Help me to turn to you before I get stuck in a rut. I love you and need your help today. Amen,

Verse Of The Day:
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Daily Thought:
I think there is a direct correlation between these two verses in Colossians. In order for the believer in Christ to do everything in word or deed to the glory of Christ, I believe he must do what is described in verse 16. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” If I try to do everything in my life in the name of Chrsit  in my own strength, I will eventually run out of steam…

My Prayer:
Lord, please help me to do everything I do in word and deed to your glory. I need your strength and I thank you for providing that for me. You have blessed me in so many ways and I give praise to you today. Amen.