I “RECKON”
Today’s Reading: Romans 5-6
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
A view from high atop the il Vittoriano in Rome. You can see the Colosseum and much of the city to the south from here.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Romans 5:8, 6:23
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What an encouragement! Sublime truth! When we stand firm on the foundation of God’s truth we truly have peace. We are free from guilt. We move into the future with full confidence in God’s infinite love. Eternal life is ours now. We don’t have to wait until we die to find out where we will spend eternity. This assurance is not presumption. It’s simply and humbly taking God at His Word (God would never lie to us!), confessing that Word, and believing that Word at all times. Amen! Chapter six states the fact that we who believe are dead to sin. Romans 6:11 states the truth that we are to “reckon” ourselves “dead indeed unto sin.” “Reckon” is a mathematical term. Just as sure as 2 X 2 = 4, so it’s a fact that we who believe have died with Christ on the Cross. He bore our sins, and us too. The gift of faith enables us to believe this, and that same faith enables us to live our lives as dead to sin and “alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We may want to read these chapters again in the next 24 hours. Let us read slowly and deliberately, soaking in every Word. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I confess the fact that I am dead to sin!!!…and that I’m alive to God. I truly believe this. Therefore, I will not let sin reign in my mortal body. Lord Jesus, You reign as my absolute Monarch. Your power enables me to do only what is right. Thank You for victorious Christian living. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Along with learning and believing the truth that sets me free, I had to learn what John taught in his first epistle, chapter one. I realized that I must make a daily choice to “walk in the light.” Again and again, I read and quote from memory 1st John 1:5-10. If I had not made this truth an integral part of my daily life, I would’ve been discouraged. God’s Word is light. I learned that in order to walk in His light, I must read His Word without fail each day. This blog is my way of turning on a light in the darkness, so that I’ll see the path ahead, not stumbling and falling into sin. John was writing to his fellow believers, reminding them, and himself, that no one can say “we have no sin” and “we have not sinned.” I recognize that I am being constantly cleansed in God’s eyes by the Blood of Jesus Christ. God sees me through the lens of Jesus’ sacrificial death on my behalf. Thank You, thank You, thank You, Jesus!!!!!
Yours for walking every day in the Light of God’s Word,
David
P.S. For many years now I have tried my best to be faithful each morning to quote under my breath, so as not to waken Norma-Jean when I first wake up, Galatians 2:20. “I am crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Wow, is it cold out there, this morning, and slippery–please be careful, today, saints. The commentary that went with today’s blog took me to a deeper and richer understanding. Thank you for your inspiring message, David. Memorizing scripture has strengthened me. Galatians 2:20 is part of my morning prayer after the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the prayer of Jabez 1 Chron 10, and Matthew 6:33. Discipline and routine are essential to keep our mind on and heart in Jesus, during early morning hours. Praying for safe traveling mercies for my friend Vera, today. Wishing all saints wonderful worship in their sanctuaries, today.
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Philippians 4:11 NIV
Healing with Scriptures and Soaking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riL_UmSk_MM
it’s funny how God directs our eyes to certain Scriptures or certain notes we have in our Bibles…
at the end of 1 Timothy I wrote years ago:
contentment – for those who are rich
-do good,help others
-get involved in good deeds
-be generous
we will miss contentment if:
– something other than food, clothing, shelter, (the basics) stop being essential
-having more money that we currently make becomes a fixation
-keeping rather than releasing
contentment = grateful, satisfied, generous.
Thanks Beverlee Kay for all your positive encouragement
I’m heading for the pool! Pray I have a good time, and a safe journey there and back!
I wanted to post this, yesterday, but was having problems doing so. Here it is, today: from Streams in the Desert, January 7, Cowman.
I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (Philippians 4:11).
“Paul, denied of every comfort, wrote the above words in his dungeon.
A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning, and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak that stood near the gate what the trouble was. He found it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of heart because it could not bear grapes, like the vine. The vine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.
And so on all through the garden. Coming to a heart’s-ease, he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. “Well, heart’s-ease, I’m glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.” “No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but as I knew you wanted a heart’s-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart’s-ease that I can.”
Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God’s heritage
Can do it so well as you.
They who are God’s without reserve, are in every state content; for they will only what He wills, and desire to do for Him whatever He desires them to do; they strip themselves of everything, and in this nakedness find all things restored an hundredfold.”
I am listening to the Healing with Scriptures and Soaking as I am posting this–feeling so in love with Jesus and very uplifted! Thank You, our Sovereign Lord!
The Lord was speaking to me today through these words. I have been feeling very depressed of late and although I would never harm myself I have been asking God in prayer to take me home because I don’t see what use I am since I have been so miserable and unhappy. I have tired all the things we are supposed to do, read Scriptures, pray, think positively, but still at the end of day I go to bed weary and feeling defeated. I am sure these words above will not change who I am or my circumstance but they remind me of the hope there is a reason for all of it– God created me for a purpose even if I can’t fathom what purpose I have now, but hopefully as each day unfolds, it will get better and I will be able to be the best that I can do that day–whatever that is, for that one day– and hopefully that will get me to another day and another day, until the Lord comes for me at last.
So glad the scripture brought you a sense of hope, Donna. God loves you so! I pray for an healing anointing over you; that a group of Christians you are comfortable with, will come and perform this healing ceremony on you and cast out any evil spirits that are seeking to pull you down. God has an appointed purpose for you and it speaks of healing, healing, healing. God bless you and keep you and wrap His loving arms around you, dear sister-in-Christ!
Thank you Donna for sharing! I suffer with bi polar! cold days, dark days, shorter days really test me! Each and every day I have to make the decision: should I live today or die today?
22 years ago God removed smokes/alcohol from me in a flash! a friend spoke these words over me WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT ENABLES US TO DO MORE THAN WE EVER DREAMT! with those words I threw the smokes away and alcohol went with it even though it was not a problem! The Lord did all that for ME! HE DID FOR ME! I could never have quit on my own! I tried! It was very difficult!
Another miracle happened 10 days after the above miracle! I fell, broke my leg and God turned that into me learning to swim! I swim nearly every day, it helps me alot with my illness, I was on medication however it was destroying my organs! The Lord took care of all that for ME! HE DID FOR ME!
Donna reach out to people! I don’t know if some form of exercise is to your liking, but exercise of any kind does help with chemical imbalances!
Again Donna I am sending you a BIG HUG! Thank you for sharing! Talking about chemical imbalances is a very GOOD thing!
Anyone reading this and if you have any form of a chemical imbalance, please bring it up on this blog, let others know, the power of pray moves mountains! Remember God says in His Word He will never leave nor forsake us!
Thank you for this good devotion this morning Pastor David! Thank you for your faithfulness to God, you are an inspiration.
As I meditated on what I read this morning I was again reminded by the Holy Spirit that the only way humanly possible for Jesus to be my ultimate Monarch, my Lord, and for me to obey Him daily, is through love. Love brings trust/ trust brings love, and that is why we need faith to believe! we can’t trust someone enough to obey them if we don’t know how deeply they love us. I’m working on this because wounded people don’t trust others well. We rely on ourselves. It’s hard for me to obey God in every single thing, because first of all I tend to think He’s expecting more from me than He actually is! And secondly because I’m stubborn, and I want to do what I think is best if I don’t like what God wants me to do. Trusting God enough to obey in every thing is a huge learning process.
Thank you all, by the way, for praying for us during the holidays, it was a great help to us. God bless you all!
I met a lady in Canadian Tire selling credit cards, & she was down on people for not realizing that we’re all in this together…all the Bible speaks of us going through this fallen world which is not our true home.
All Christians are in this together – there is only one Lord, one faith, one body of Christ. When one hurts, we all hurt; when one rejoices, we all rejoice.
So I rejoice with Christ and with Paul, and pray for our sister Donna, that God will comfort and strengthen you and show you clearly how great is His love for you, that you will not just survive, but thrive in His care.
Oh, amen!
God bless you Rob and thank you!
David I said your prayer you reminded me if I read chapters over again slowly it will helps me . I did read the chapters twice thank you .
Beverlee the healing, and scripture soaking I just listened to it is just what I needed tears came to my eyes. My mom is not well she is in her 80’s and is not a believer
I only wish she could hear this . I have a question maybe you can answer if she
to pass on would she go to heaven?
Lianne Hogg
Lianne, a visiting Pastor at church gave me the following scriptures to read and pray with my mom, before she passed, which I was fortunate to do when she was still coherent. We are promised in Acts 16:31: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Read this to your mom, along with Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”; 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” and most importantly 10:13: for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord JESUS will be saved.” Lead your mom in prayer, Lianne, in Jesus’ Name. Get her to call out the Name of Jesus and she will be saved. I believe this is a gift for you to give your mom, dear sister-in-Christ.
Holy Spirit we come to You and ask that You would enter the heart of Lianne’s mom and that You would instill in her a stirring of her heart and that she would ask Jesus Christ to come into her life!
Lord God bring about a certain time and place where someone could witness to her, maybe her daughter, maybe another person, God with You all things are possible for those who believe!
We believe Lord, we believe In Jesus Name We Pray AMEN
This teaching was a blessing to me dear Pastor David .
I just got home on Thurday after being in Hospital for a week. The diagnosis is vertigo also I had an MRI and there was no sign of a stroke. I am lying down a lot as I am so dizzy, I have an appt on Wednesday to see a therapist to determine which type I have. My husband is looking after me very well. He was 80 last May and I will be 77 on Friday the 13th next week. I am trying to keep up with the readings, this is the 1st time in over week I have been able to comment. I am in bed so I am using my I-Pod as it is easier for me. I would appreciate your prayers dear friends. I want to thank you in advance as I probably won’t be on again until tomorrow . Love to all Eleanor M.
Holding you and your husband in prayer, Eleanor. Happy to hear you are back home.
God bless you Eleanor! Lord we pray that You will give energy back to Eleanor, heal her body of all illness! Grant her a clean bill of health, grant her a great time of celebration for this clean bill of health! Bless her husband as he lovingly cars for his precious wife! Lord You are our Healer, our Saviour, our Redeemer, our Friend in time of trouble! Lord we pray that You will uplift Eleanor to perfect health so that she can celebrate with joy, honour, thanksgivng, love and mercy and grace to You, Our Lord God Almighty!
amen
Sah and Beverlee, you are inspiring “prayer warriers”!!!!
May we all pray for one another and our households!
Beverlee thank you for the scriptures I have had prayed for my family, and for friends needs . I never did pray the prayer or scriptures before , and don’t know if I can
say it. For now I will mark the scriptures in my bible
Okay, Lianne. I will keep praying for you.
How blessed we are to receive the Greatest Gift …not only a Father’s great Love, but eternal life!!! Thank you for Father for your Great love for us…You gave all in Jesus Christ Your only begotten Son!! Thank you Jesus!!! For showing us and opening the way to Your Father!!! For dying that we might live with you for ever!!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!! Amen!!
David, 2 wonderful scriptures to commit to memory which I have many years ago but thank you I need to refresh mind and do likewise. I so much like this blog. I am not very computer literate but there are a few things that I can do and this is one in reading this wonderful blog of yours. May our Lord continue to strengthen you in this coming year. Bless you my friend in Christ