Daily Devotional

Scripture Luke 21:36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Observation: With everything happening in this world it appears it won’t be long before Jesus returns for His children. I’ve been doing some research when we would be raptured and the majority of theologians agree with a pre tribulation rapture, which I pray it will be. This verse seems to support that theory when Jesus says for those counted worthy can escape all things that will come to pass.

Application: No matter when Jesus calls us home, we must be ready. This is not a time to sit back to see what might happen but be busy fulfilling the calling God has given us. We need to be visible to others especially family members and keep them in prayer, God has called us to be a witness to others and to help guide them to Jesus.

Prayer My Lord thank you for allowing me to be your child. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as I walk and talk to others, put on my heart what to do and say. You are worthy of my very best, may that be what I offer You each day.

Scripture Luke 20:35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

Observation: I don’t feel like I’m worthy to attain the age to come, but it’s only through Jesus sacrifice that my name is written in the book of life. It’s amazing how God thinks more of me than I think of myself, then a good parent often does for their children.

Application: I need to love my Father more than anything else in this life and that love needs to show to others. I need to spend the rest of this life here trying to please Dad. I can’t wait to be with Him forever.

Prayer Dear Lord thank you for waking me up this morning. Guide me on the journey You have planned for this day. Please give me the opportunity to brag to someone today about my Dad.

Scripture Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Observation: Jesus is still in the seeking and saving business. As bad as everything is now, He doesn’t give up and continues to search this earth for those that are lost. I’m so grateful that He continued to seek me out even though I was hiding from Him. I didn’t want any part of God and would run away if I thought He was close, but He never gave up until I was His.

Application: This world is so hard and it’s difficult to think someone loves us so much, not to give up on us. I need to share my testimony as much as I can that there is an awesome God who loves more than we can imagine and want us to be with Him forever.

Prayer My Lord I don’t fully understand your love, but I gratefully receive it. Use me to deliver your message of love to others that they will be found by You.

Scripture Luke 18:17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Observation: I’ve been rereading the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. I really enjoy his perspective based on scripture. If we could just see a glimpse of Heaven in our minds, we would be like little children excited to go to Disneyland for the first time. This is the place we get to meet our Lord who has sacrificed all for our admission. This is our forever home, filled with joy and wonder and we need to be focused on the place God has prepared for us.

Application: Each day I need to spend time looking at the brochure God has placed in my heart of my new home. All that I do here should be in anticipation of being there. God has given me the opportunity to earn rewards that will be used there and I should be excited like a child anxiously waiting my arrival.

Prayer My Lord thank you that You wouldn’t let me leave this earth without the opportunity to be with You. You’ve done everything to guide me home and I can’t wait to see You. May my day today be a day to show my appreciation and glorify You.

Scripture Luke 17:21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Observation: God placed the Holy Spirit in those that received Jesus as Lord and Savior. He has guided us and has given us the desire for our eternal home. We now may have the key to heaven for someone God puts in our path. We are called to be the light and to spread the gospel. For someone we may be an invitation for their own homecoming.

Application: I need to make sure I’m in God’s will and listening to the Holy Spirit. I need to be available to others that are lost and be accessible to them and to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to them. God may want to use me to be that invitation to come to His Kingdom.

Prayer My Lord, I thank you for using others to invite me home to You. Use all that You have given me to guide someone else home. I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice, may it be holy and pleasing to You.

Scripture Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Observation: Before I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior all I ever did was serve money. My existence was made up of what I had and how successful I thought I was. I would work all kinds of hours and spend money as fast as I made it. I was always looking for that purchase that would bring me happiness, but never found it. When serving God became my top priority, even though I fall from time to time, I found something better than happiness He gave me joy.

Application: Things are different now and it’s a long process from weaning away from the things of this world and seek God only. With God as my focus the things in this world become less and less appealing and He becomes my main desire. I hope as I continue on this path that glorifying Him will be my only concern.

Prayer Dear Lord You are my joy and I want to please You with the time You have given me. Guide me today to do what You desire of me and that I will not have any distractions from accomplishing the goal You have set before me.

Scripture Luke 15:7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Observation: I wonder what it was like when this sinner finally repented after 46 years of sin. I know God has watched over my life even though I continued to sin and never gave Him a thought. The angels must have looked down all of the times I fell flat on my back and thought this will be the day his eyes will be opened to God, but not yet. I wonder if the angels finally gave up on my repentance because of my hard heart. They must have been surprised that day, but my Father always knew and never gave up on me.

Application: I look back on my life and it was completely godless and self-centered. There was no room in my heart for anything or anybody I was too busy thinking only about me. Six times I tried to end my life, but God wouldn’t hear of it. When I received Jesus as my Lord and savior one of my first prayers was that I was tired of living my life for me and asked if He will help me live the rest of my life for Him. He never let me down.

Prayer Thank you Lord for answering my prayer. I don’t know how much time I have left here, but please use it to glorify You. Thank You for not just the joy in heaven that day, but the joy You placed in my heart.