Daily Devotions
S196P30 – Growth spurts: burden-bearing
Gal. 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. As he was walking by the woods one chilly evening, he came across…
Read MoreS196P29 – Growth spurts: self-awareness
Jn. 8:7-9 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by…
Read MoreS196P28 – Growth spurts: restraint
Jam. 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. If there is one overarching theme in my life before Christ, it is that I was driven by my impulses. With my priorities out of order and my moral…
Read MoreS196P27 – Growth spurts: saltiness
Lk. 14:34-35 Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! The beginning of my sanctification was marked by a number of spiritual…
Read MoreS196P26 – Growth spurts: joy
Phi. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! When I was in high school, I was supposed to attend my first big concert. It was my favorite band in the whole world, and they would be appearing about an hour or so from my house. I got together some classmates who…
Read MoreS196P25 – Growth spurts: freedom
Gal. 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Jesus was going to be his quick fix or so he thought. Prior to salvation, the man had led a life which was governed by his addictions to women…
Read MoreS196P24 – Growth spurts: meekness
Col. 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. They called him the gentle giant, a trite but fitting nickname. …
Read MoreS196P23 – Growth spurts: unity
Eph. 4:11-16 And [the Lord] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the…
Read MoreS196P22 – Growth spurts: strength
2 Cor. 12:9-10 And [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in…
Read MoreS196P21 – Growth spurts: preparation
Eph. 6:14-15 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace… The palace had been still just a moment earlier. Then, in the blink of an eye, a battle ensued. First came the sounds of artillery…
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