Redeemed

Victory!!!

Read: Joshua 6:2, 1 Corinthians 15:57, & Revelation 19:11-16

Reflect: Jesus is a warrior that goes before us and gives us victory. Do you ever try to gain victory over sin with your own strength?

Request (prayer): Lord help me to rely on You and You alone for victory.

Crux Family,

When I was a boy I used to play baseball. I actually played for over 8 years! It was a lot of fun. I played second base, centerfield and if we were really far ahead the coaches would let me pitch. I have a lot of good memories of that time in my life.

I remember one season I played on the “Rockies”. It was a great team, we actually won first place! Although playing baseball in-and-of itself was fun, winning just made the game that much more exciting. When you play a game regardless of what it is, isn’t it better to win? Losing is not fun there’s no way around it. (more…)

My God is the God Who Provides

Read: Genesis 22:14

Reflect: Jehovah Jireh means the Lord will provide. What has God provided for you and/or your family?

Request (Prayer): Thank the Lord for everything He has given you.

Abraham was told by God to go sacrifice his own son. That’s a pretty huge thing for God to ask someone to do. To sacrifice his only son!? That’s pretty intense!

In Genesis 22, Abraham is asked by God to kill his only son, this was ultimately an act of faith on Abraham’s part. Would he do it? Would he sacrifice his only son to be obedient to God? What would you have done in that situation?

There are 2 ways this could have gone. 1- Abraham disobeys God and decides to not kill his own son, but receives judgment from God for not listening to Him. 2- Abraham listens to God, kills his only son, and see how God would bless him.

Abraham did the 2nd, he was ready to kill his only son, so much so that he even lifted the knife above his son and was ready to come down upon him to kill him, but the Lord sent an angel to intervene. Because of Abraham’s obedience, the Lord provided another sacrifice than his own son.
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Long Live the King!

Read: Revelation 19:16

Reflect: Our God is King. What does it mean to be a king and how do you worship a king?

Request (Prayer): God, You are King, how do You want me to worship You?

We’ve seen it in the movies, we’ve seen it in books, the king that rules over all the land, exercises his authority and is usually saving the princess from the evil lord or dragon.

The king in the story is the hero of it all, and is usually at the end of the movie or book, praised with a huge celebration, congratulating him for his heroic deeds. Most of this, is of course, fiction, but some of it can also be true.

When thinking of the word “king” what comes to mind? Royalty? Power? Authority? Now thinking of those terms, look at those principles and apply them to God. Is God a king? Absolutely! Does He have power and authority? You betcha! With now understanding God as King, how should we praise Him for all the heroic things He has done?
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Worship Jesus

Read: Genesis 3:15; John 3:16

Reflect: A great reason to worship God is because of His Son. How do you think God felt sending His only Son to die?

Request: Thank God for His love for you.

In Matthew 22 we read about how Jesus answered one of the religious leaders question. His question was, “What is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus’ answer shows us the core of what should motivate us. He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” (more…)

The Beauty of Creation

Read: Genesis 1:1, Job 38:12, Colossians 1:16

Reflect: We worship God because He is the Creator of all things. What are some things God created that we can be thankful for?

Request (Prayer): Ask the Lord to remind you of the beauty of His creation.

When we think of the way that God created everything, is allows us to reflect on who He really is. The power He possesses, the control He has over all things, and His love towards us.

He has given His creation, the blessing of living on earth with seeing His beauty displayed all around us. We see the beautiful trees during the fall season, the pure, white snow in the fall, and even the stars at night, and to think that He created all of those things, and everything else in existence, and He allows us to see all of it on display. How cool is that?

We get to see the Master Artist’s work revealed right in front of us, and we even get to see the beauty of how He also made us too! When taken into consideration all of the things that God created, we can;t help but worship Him and bring Him praise for the intricate and complex design of everything ever created, and yet He spoke it all into existence! Wow!

When God created all things, He saw it all, looked at it, and said it was GOOD! Of course it was good! He’s God! And He gives us the inside scoop to how it all came to be!
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