Honest God Truth

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ God expects perfection from all his creation including us!  Without holy perfection we will never see God. It is hopeless without Jesus.  He had to be perfect because we are not even close.  His perfection is given to us when we believe.  He receives our sin and we receive his righteousness.  What a glorious truth that is!  Oh Jesus how much do I love you, more and more everyday.  Amen

We cannot make ourself salty or have light.  When we are transformed by the Holy Spirit we become salt and light.  Our task is to share who we are with others to glorify our Lord Jesus.  We have in our vessels of clay an amazing treasure and our mission is to let it out so others may experience the love of Jesus. We need to stay close to our Lord for his love to flow through us to others.  We can’t do it alone or even want to.  He gives us the desire and ability to be salt and light. Thank you Jesus for choosing to use us for your glory and our joy.  Amen

Matt 25:12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’  Do we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?  How do we know, since without one we are doomed until eternal punishment. Do I have to ask Jesus into my heart to save me from my sinful nature? Yes, and do I have to take communion to receive his new covenant of his body and blood? Yes, and do we have to share the good news of the gospel to other people in our life ? Yes, but all that along is not enough because we can do all of that on our own power.  The way we know if we truly love Jesus is to love people in need.  Do we desire to help others?  Do we care for others more than we care for ourselves?  Do we love the people who are unloveable?  Do we know that the Holy Spirit is causing us to think of others and act on those thoughts?  Do we trust God and do what we know is right even when he is saying wait for awhile?  There is more but we must look at our heart and ...

A pure heart is a righteous, loving heart.  And if you analyze your motives just for a moment you will know that it is always desiring selfishness.  Only when the Holy Spirit is controlling your heart is it pure.  We should long for our hearts to be completely controlled every moment by God.  When that occurs then we will love others more than ourselves and become peace makers for our desires will not keep us for meeting others needs.  Oh the joy of dying to ourselves, taking up our cross and following Jesus. The Saints found joy and peace because they trusted Jesus enough not to hold onto self!  Jesus help us to deny ourselves that day.  Amen.

Matt 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”  What did Jesus mean that his word will not pass away?  Jesus is the word, all things were created by his word, all things are held together by his word. Holy scripture is his word and it will not pass away. We as humans are made by Jesus and we see our homes and places as comfort and security.  But let’s not be deceived. All things change, end, fall apart. Jesus and his word will never end, pass away!  Let’s us put our trust, confidence and hope in him and find joy in eternal love, truth, and peace.  Thank you Jesus help us trust in you today.  Amen

 Mourning over your sin is a part of repentance and the understanding that you have offended God and want forgiveness and help in turning to him for comfort and peace. It is a constant friend for those who have addicted personalities.  How many times can you be forgiven, at least one more each day.  Mourners over their sins create a heart that doesn’t demand what they desire because they know they deserve punishment.  They know it is only by God’s mercy and grace that they have anything good.  They learned that God is gracious and gives good gifts to the ones he loves not because they deserve it but because God loves them. Do they are blessed with what they have and have joy in all situations. The joy of being meek.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen

Why is it so hard to depend on Jesus instead of our own strength?  Why do we fight against getting help and choose to do it ourselves?  Why do we have a need for significance and importance?  The truth is we can do nothing, nothing with out God! We are the clay and he is the potter.  Why does the clay want to be the potter? The good news is that when we know the truth of who we are we choose to obey God.  Then we are truly wise when we know we are clay that needs the potter for everything.  Happy are those who know and receive help. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven!  Amen

Jesus came and changed everything.  He was not an insignificant person that only the Jews knew about but the entire Middle East knew about him.  Healing every person that needed help caused eyes and hearts to be open to his message of God’s love.  How could anyone not believe? Yet most in the end turned away because receiving good health does not satisfy the heart.  Only the Holy Spirit does and God chooses who will receive God.  May we receive him today and thank Jesus for his sacrifice for us.  Amen

Matt 20:26 “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,“ Great is special, unique, precious and valuable. It is desired by all people to become great. It may seem prideful but it is the heart’s desire.  Jesus said to be great become the servant to all. That is counter to all society. Satan wanted to be great and became just the opposite and tempts us to be lord over people becoming useless. Jesus wants us to have hearts that are full of greatness when we learn to be servants of all. Trust Jesus and live a full great life!  Amen

Matt14:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Jesus knew the plan of salvation that unless he came and lived perfectly and died for our sins no one would be saved.  Why can’t fulfilling the law bring us to heaven?  It is impossible for mankind. Our heart can’t desire to think of others more than ourselves all the time.  Yet that is what is required to be perfect.  When we believe Jesus did do the impossible we receive the Holy Spirit that gives us godly desires to be holy.  But we still have our flesh that battles within us.  We realize that we need Jesus more and more because we know we can’t and he can do the impossible for us.  Thank you Jesus

Worship and serve Jesus used when he spoke of his Father the Lord God.  Worship is such a strong action that comes from the heart.  It is all consuming that often causes outbursts of singing and emotions that are uncontrollable.  Worship is free from worry, embarrassment and proper standards.  Serve the Lord God means correct, righteous behavior realizing that God is holy, righteous and true.  We need both to truly love God like Jesus did. May we follow Jesus example and worship and serve God today for his glory and our joy!  Amen

Genesis 13:4 “to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord.”   Abraham was learning to call upon the Lord.  An alter points up to heaven where God lives.  An alter is built to be bowed down to and for worshipping.  A humble heart and a wise mind God uses for his glory.  Wisdom and humility lead to a path of righteousness.  Living the right way is mankind’s desire but wisdom comes through submission and obedience which go against our sinful heart. May God grant us hearts that trust and obey him. Thank you Jesus, Amen

Peter was the person who God used to proclaim the truth about Jesus.  He was the Christ, the messiah, the son of God.  We are blessed when God chooses us to proclaim the truth about Jesus.  The church of Jesus are humans who have been changed by the Holy Spirit to glorify God and be made to serve him by trusting and obeying him. Peter was the first person to be used in the church and it has continued to this day. Our desire is for God to use us for his glory and not Satan who hates God’s ways.  Help us and use us Lord for your glory and our joy!  In Jesus name.  Amen

Jesus said “be perfect and your Heavenly Father is perfect.”  Adam failed, Israel failed, we fail everyday. But Jesus succeeded he lived perfectly!  Every one of his hearts desires were perfectly righteous.  He is Lord God almighty in the flesh. He could not say dead for sin had no place in, on or over him.  He was killed so that our sins were paid for if we have faith in who he is and what he did.  When we put our trust in him because he lives we will live forever with him.  The good news of the gospel of Jesus.  Wow!  Amazing grace.  Amen

Jesus did come and baptize with the Holy Spirit.  He was filled with the Spirit at his baptism and lived his life walking in his presence.  Fire is used as cleansing and purification.  Same process where what is left is clean.  If the fire destroys the entire person then there was no righteousness found.  For unbelievers that’s will be the case for all acts of goodness are tainted with sin.  Believers that submit to the Holy Spirit will be saved but must go through purification.  For all must be perfect in heaven.  Let’s learn to trust and obey Jesus today.  Amen

“Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭ Scripture has little patience for hypocrites.  It is better to admit you love your sin than to lie that you don’t.  If we live our lives denying that we don’t need help with our temptation than we are in danger of losing our soul.  Do we know our heart?  Are we deceiving ourselves with religious talk and actions when we truly are walking in darkness because our eyes are still closed to the end of our deception?  Repent of you sin and turn to the light so Jesus might still forgive you and save you.  Scripture’s promise; if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart your will be saved.  Let’s stop being hypocrites.  For Jesus glory and our joy. Amen

“and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:6‬ God is perfect, righteous, and holy.  When we think of him and all his attributes we should never think that he accepts us “just the way we are” because he can’t.  We are sinners and he is sinless.  We need to be fixed, cleansed, made right, forgiven.  Not just once but every moment.  Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.  If you want heaven you need Jesus, without Jesus no heaven!! Amen

Matt 3:1-3 When we know the kingdom of God is near it changes our behavior.  Often before people are close to death their behavior changes. They try to make things “right”.  Are there things in our life that we would change if we thought it was the end?  If so we need to change our perspective and change them now.  If we love something more than Jesus we don’t love Jesus enough.  If we are willing to ask the Lord to help us love him more he will give us the desire and ability.  Let’s us know that Jesus is worth more than anything!  Repent!Repent!  Amen

In Matthew 2 the Holy Spirit seems to be wanting to show his readers that Jesus was the fulfillment of scriptures concerning the coming Messiah.  Jesus is not a replacement for scripture but an blossoming completion of written truth.  He brings the old and new testaments together in such a stunning fashion like when a rainbow and the morning star shine together to indicate God’s blessings to his creation.  Jesus walks through the door of eternity and all those who see him rejoice! Thank you Father for sending us your son.  Amen

Matt 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  The best way to learn is to be connected to one who is teaching you.  You learn more than instructions, you learn action, feelings, events that cause decisions.  You are learning on the job!  The greatest advantage to being connected to your teacher is that you are never alone. Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart.  That is what we need to learn to be.  The opposite would be harsh and prideful.  Rest in our soul can be obtained when we learn from Jesus how to depend on him in a gentle and humble way.  The more we do the more peace, joy and rest we will enjoy.  Thank you Jesus.

After the flood God was fulfilling his plan for the earth. The flood destroyed all things living  on the earth.  He then sent everything out of the ark in families.  Families are from God and we need to live in and as families.  They represent God’s plan for all creation.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are a family that made a plan for us to join. Thank you God for sending Jesus to make a way for us to be in your family.  Amen Genesis 11:19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.

The Lord is continually showing love, justice and righteousness in the earth.  When we see him and know him we delight in knowing that he always is acting in that way since that is what he delights in.  A wise person knows, understands, and trust that the Lord is trustworthy and faithful.  Growing closer to Jesus is seeing the present situation and future with that truth.  For you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen

The devotion was very good.  God is in control of everything and has goals that he will accomplishment.  Throughout history people have been living and choosing good and evil.  Their actions and consequences were in response to their desires and beliefs.  Through it all God is weaving his plans for his glory.  When we have our eyes open to the truth of Jesus we can start to see God’s plan.  Joseph taking Jesus and Mary to Egypt was fulfilling God’s word.  When we choose wisely we fulfill God’s plan and when we choose poorly we need to learn and try again when God gives us another opportunity.  He fulfills his plans perfectly like he did with Jesus.  Yes we can trust him with our lives.  Our need is to have mercy and faith.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen

 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.  Matt 8:34  some people when they encounter Jesus see him as someone taking away their fun.  They enjoy their life and don’t want to change, well not enough if it will cost us some misery.  What do we have in our life that we don’t want Jesus to change?  Let’s us know that Jesus is better an anything we are holding on to that gives us happiness that we substitute for him.  Knowledge, truth, wealth, health, food, sex, alcohol, travel, anything that we can’t or won’t give up for Jesus.  Oh Lord help us know you enough that we will never give up anything that you will satisfy many times more now and forever in eternity.  Amen

God made man in his own image so he was by nature righteous.  When Adam fell he now became sinful meaning he could desire to do evil. Evil is anything that doesn’t please God. God sent him out of the garden and being separate from God allowed sin to control his heart. If God choose to come near a man then his heart would be able to be more righteous.  Without God the heart chooses evil.  Noah found favor in God through his family heritage since great grandfather was Enoch who walked with God.  Noah would be used to be the heritage of the final savior for sinful hearts the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thank you Jesus.

Enoch walked with God.  It didn’t say talked with God or sit with God or run with God. Enoch walked with God for 300 years.  Then he was no more.  As he walked he got to know God and understand what God liked and hated.  His relationship with God grew so much that God took him. He did not have to experience death.   He was the great grandfather of Noah.  And since Enoch’s son was Methuselah who lived 969 years he was able to tell Noah about God.  Even though the culture of that time was corrupt God had his people who knew him and obeyed him. In the darkest times God brings light. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.  Amen

God’s plans are perfect and always come true.  The part of the overall plan can take five minutes or five thousand years to accomplish.  God is outside of time so patience is a virtue for trusting him.  Scripture shows us that God keeps his promises always and often in ways that are unusual and marvelous.  We can’t figure God out but we know him and can trust him because he sent us Jesus.  Looking at the past should encourage us to trust him for the future.  Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.  Amen

How do we respond when we have been hurt, taken advantage, physically or emotionally abused?  Most of us would respond out of anger and self justified revenge.  Throughout scripture God is telling us there is another way.  “Justice is mine, I will repay says the Lord”. Turn the other cheek, walk an extra mile, those without sin cast the first stone.  God wants us to pause, take a moment or much longer to see what God is doing.  Romans 8:28 says “all things work together for good for those who love God.”  Jesus forgives us by dying for us.  His forgiveness cost him everything. When we forgive it will not be easy but it will be for God’s glory and our ultimate joy.  Let’s pause before we respond to being taken advantage of today.  With Jesus’ help all things are possible. Amen

Genesis 4 It is easy to takes God’s mercy and grace for granted. Cains family after generations came to see God’s mercy to Cain as the reason to be sinful.  Since God has protected Cain he will allow me to do whatever I want.  Lamech showed that in what he said and did.  Seth’s family learned to call out to the Lord.  You have to know God and realize your need for him to call out to him.  Without an understanding of our need and utter dependence on the Lord we would never call out to him.  Jesus came and showed complete dependence on the Father.  He called out to him everyday knowing that in so doing he was teaching us our need for God. Blessed are the poor in spirit for they know there need for him. When we trust him and call out for him we are praising the Lord God.  That gives Jesus glory!  Amen

Faith can ask questions because it uses our minds.  Faith trusts in God even when it doesn’t understand because it knows God is trustworthy.  Questions about situations is what makes us human and obeying most of the time makes us holy and asking forgiveness when we sin makes us saved!   Scripture is trustworthy because the Holy Spirit was actively involved in its authorship.  Jesus gave us a record of himself so we have a way to him that is sure, true and full of grace.  Thank you Lord Jesus.  Amen

God leaves nothing to chance and that means in our lives as well. We make choices everyday and some are beneficial and some are sinful.  When we realize our sin we must confess our sins and be truly sorry and desire to not repeat it again.  When we choose correctly we need to humble thank God and praise him for his mercy to us. All this is in God’s plan to bless us and prepare us to be Jesus’ bride. I pray that we humble become more like Jesus everyday and so find peace and joy in serving him. Amen

God has a plan and he has the power and intention to fulfill all of them. The earth and all creation shows God’s wonder and when we see the beauty of it we see a part of God’s wonderful glory.  In the same way the birth of our Lord Jesus was God’s plan and purpose to save his people from there sin.  Seeing God’s love for us in such a personal and glorious way we praise him and give him thanks.  Amen.