Devotionals Feb 28th - March 5

MONDAY, February 28th

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
Passage: Genesis 2:15-17

You were there. In the Garden of Eden, I mean. How? You were in Adam. Your DNA comes from him, so not only biologically were you there, but spiritually you were there. Paul tells us that when Adam was put in the garden he carried with him the entire human race and when he sinned, everyone sinned with him and became guilty of his sin.
At the moment Adam did what God told him not to do, his nature was infected with sin and that nature, along with his guilt, has been passed down to everyone on earth who has ever been born. That includes you and it includes me. All of us sinned in Adam and so we are guilty of that original sin. At the same time, all of us have sinned on our own by choice, so we are plenty guilty of our own sins as well. This recognition that we are sinners is a key factor in appreciating what Jesus has done for us.

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)

TUESDAY, March 1st

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.” (Romans 5:13)
Passage: Genesis 6:1-3

There are many actions that most people would agree are wrong, but unless there is a law that can be applied to a particular action, a person can’t be found guilty if he does something many think is wrong. While the world at the time of Noah had become so corrupt that God decided to send a flood to wipe things clean and start all over with Noah, Paul would point out that those who died in the flood were not guilty of breaking the law. They were sinners because they were guilty of Adam’s sin and what they did simply flowed out of that.
Whether God had ever given the law or not, we would all still be sinners in need of a Savior. It is in our nature to sin. It is in God’s nature to save. The depravity of the world at the time of Noah is a stark testimony to the condition of the human heart without God. It also is a testimony of the love of God reaching out for 120 years to give people a chance to turn to Him. Aren’t you glad, the Lord reached out to you!

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)

WEDNESDAY, March 2nd

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” (Romans 5:15)
Passage: Isaiah53:4-12

Adam’s action had a powerful impact. It brought sin into the world and into the nature of man. It brought death into the world. It brought destruction on himself and everyone else. It brought separation from God. The consequence of what Adam did is seen in every act of self-centeredness and in every cruel action done by one person against another.
Jesus’s action had a more powerful impact. Like Adam, He was born without a sin nature, but unlike Adam, He never sinned and what He did for us goes far beyond the damage done by Adam. He not only paid the penalty for our sin, He also gives us His perfect life to allow us to stand before God the Father without any sin counted against us. That is amazing grace!

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)
THURSDAY, March 3rd

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17)


In his famous poem, “Invictus”, William Henry concludes by writing, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” To which God would answer, “No you’re not.” No one is. Everyone is under the reign of either death through Adam, or under the reign of life through Jesus.
In Christ, everything is new for us. Everything we have is a gift to us. Whereas death reigned over us in the past, life reigns in the present. Jesus went far beyond simply restoring us to the position Adam had when he was first put in the garden. He took our sin which resulted in death and He gave us His perfection, which results in life. In Christ we have something and someone to live for. Go out today and be the presence of Jesus in your world.

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)


FRIDAY, March 4th

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)
Passage: John 3:16-21

It’s a natural law that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, actions have consequences. Those consequences may be good or bad, but make no mistake, there are consequences. When Adam sinned, his action didn’t just affect him, it affected the entire human race that would follow. While you and I are plenty guilty of our own personal sins, the main reason we are sinners and the main reason we would have face condemnation is because Adam sinned and we were in Adam.
So Jesus left heaven, came to earth, and became a man. In the eyes of God, He became the second man – the second Adam. He came out of love for you. Through your belief in and acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior, His action of living a perfect life is transferred to you and the consequence is that God the Father considers that you lived the perfect life Jesus lived. That allows you to be declared right in His eyes and it means heaven is your home. Let your actions today be reflective of tht love. They will have consequences on others.

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)
SATURDAY, March 5th

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,” (Romans 5:20)
Passage: Joshua 24:14-27

The law of God which was given to Moses came thousands of years after the sin of Adam in the Garden. The law wasn’t given to make people sinners. It was given to show the extent of their sin and how truly impossible it was for anyone to become right with God on their own. Joshua recognized this when he challenged the children of Israel that they couldn’t serve God faithfully to which they emphatically replied, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey Him.” They failed.
That’s why Jesus came. Sin was already present, but it was increased when the law was given, because then mankind had all the standards of perfection right in front of them, but they still couldn’t live up to those standards. We needed grace to cover more than Adam lost. We needed grace to forgive, restore, and then cover our lives with righteousness forever. That’s the kind of grace we have in Jesus. That’s the grace that is bigger than all our sin. That’s the grace that makes a person fall on his knees in love and thankfulness to God. Prepare yourself today to fully worship God tomorrow.

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)

Quiet Time

Quiet Time Guide by Dr. Bill Skaar for Jan. 3rd through 8th

MONDAY, January 3rd

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.”
(Romans 1:1)
Passage: John 15:14-16

Who are you? I don’t mean what is your name. I mean who are you as a person? What is your purpose in life? What are you doing that makes a real difference now and into eternity? The answers to those questions will frame how you live your life. They will determine your attitude at work and how you interact with others. They will affect how you budget your time and your money.
In a deep relationship with Jesus, you are both a friend and servant to Him. That relationship has purpose and meaning. It has direction. Jesus chose you to produce eternal fruit for His Kingdom. You have a call to glorify Him and be part of His work through using your time, talents and treasures. As you begin this New Year, write out a prayer of commitment that expresses to God that you know who you are in Christ and why you are here.

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)

TUESDAY, January 4th

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “. . . your faith is being reported all over the world.” (Romans 1:8b)
Passage: Matthew 5:13-16

As a city, Rome was a city built on seven hills. It could be seen from miles away, but it was known across the world as both the center of the Empire and as a place filled with idolatry and immorality. Yet the believers in Rome were known for their deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. They were known as people who lived pure lives and made a difference in the world.
God wants you to develop a reputation like those believers in Rome. He didn’t intend for Christ to be hidden in your life. He designed for Christ to be displayed through your life. Your reputation is built by what people see and hear in you. Are you known for your faith in Christ? Are you known for your kindness and honesty? Are you known for your patience and generosity? Are you known for being faithful to your family? Are you known for being active in your local church? Are you known for being a caring citizen in your community? Every day you contribute something to your reputation. Build well today.

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)


WEDNESDAY, January 5th

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “I remember you in my prayers at all times.” (Romans 1:9c-10a)
Passage: Ephesians 6:18-20
The Apostle Paul prayed for people and he asked people to pray for him. He knew that prayer was an essential part of our lives as believers. He considered prayer to be the lifeblood of his ministry. Prayer connects us to God’s power and resources. Prayer keeps us reminded that we are not independent from God or from each other. Prayer is oxygen for our souls.
God wants you and every believer to stand strong in Christ. He wants you to hate nothing but sin, and fear nothing but Him. He wants to use your life to change the world. Therefore, He wants you to pray. Pray for yourself. Pray for your family. Pray for your pastor and church staff. Pray for your community leaders. Pray for your nation. Nothing is beyond the reach of your prayers.
Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)


THURSDAY, January 6th

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “I long to see you . . . that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
(Romans 1:11a-12)
Passage: Proverbs 27:17

It’s rare to see a goose flying alone. When a goose flies, it almost always flies with a flock in a V-formation. That flight pattern is not accidental. The V formation creates an updraft which enables the geese to conserve energy and fly farther than they each could individually. Whenever the geese in the lead of the V get tired, they fall back and other geese move into their place. The constant honking you here is actually the group’s encouragement to each other.
You could call it the Geese Principle. Life is a journey, but it was never designed by God to be a solo trip. It’s impossible to fully develop in a life of faith apart from being in community with other believers. You need them and they need you. You need their encouragement and they need yours. Your need their strength and they need yours. This is major reason God established the Church. We need each other.

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)


FRIDAY, January 7th

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:” (Romans 1:16)
Passage: John 3:16-18

Paul knew the power of the Roman Empire. He also knew the power of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. The Roman Empire was powerful enough to conquer nations and control people’s lives, but it wasn’t powerful enough to convict people’s hearts and change people’s lives. Only the gospel can do that.
The gospel message is simple. God loved you. You are separated from Him by sin. God sent His Son Jesus to die for your sin. He was raised to life and offers you salvation through faith in Him. That message is so simple, a child can understand it. Yet, it is so profound, a scholar can study a lifetime and not plumb the depths of it. Paul had accepted the gospel and he was unashamed to acknowledge it and to proclaim it. Are you?

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)


SATURDAY, January 8th

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (3 minutes) “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
(Romans 1:17)
Passage: Galatians 2:15-21

Faith. It is the key to living a victorious life. It is the essential element of being right with God. Faith had to be exercised in order to received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Faith has to be exercised in order to grow as a Christian. It has to be applied for you to be used by Christ each day. Faith that is solid rests upon the person of Jesus Christ and who He is. It hold on to the promises of God found in His Word. It is conscious of Christ’s presence in your life. Faith starts each day with an uplifted heart saying, “Jesus, this day is for you.”
Now, go out into your day by faith. Prepare yourself for Sunday worship by faith. Look at your problems by faith. Be kind to your neighbors by faith. Serve at your church and in your community by faith. Be a steward of your resources by faith. From start to finish in the Christian life, there’s only one effective way to live. By faith.

Apply – (2 minutes)
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Pray – (1 ½ minutes)















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