Monday, August 16.

“THE DANGER OF SPIRITUAL EROSION”

Thursday, August 12.

When the Israelites demanded a royal leader just like all the other nations, God gave them King Saul. He was exactly what the nation wanted, an impressive man who stood head and shoulders above the rest. Saul probably started out with good intentions, but before long he veered off course, and his character began to erode because of his disobedience to God.  

Saul’s downhill slide began with rationalizing and excusing his rebellious actions (1 Samuel 13:6-14). Then he picked which parts of God’s commands to obey and which to neglect (1 Samuel 15:10-23). He claimed he’d obeyed fully, but after being confronted, he shifted the blame to his army. Eventually he became consumed with jealousy, rage, and fear, which led to many foolish decisions. Saul’s life stands as an example of what happens when sin creeps in and begins the destructive process of corruption. 

Spiritual erosion is dangerous because it occurs so slowly that we’re often unaware anything is happening inside us. Don’t wait until nearing the end of your earthly existence before looking for evidence of erosion. Check your heart regularly to be sure your soul is clean from the nagging, destructive presence of sin.

Memory verse:1 Samuel 15:23.

“Spiritual failure is seldom n explosion; it’s usually an erosion.” Larry Osborne

Friday, July 2.

Couple of weeks ago, we learn in one of my sermons that Peter said yes and then let down his nets. And today we see how the soon-to-be apostle’s plans were irrevocably changed. Fishing was put on hold, and Peter became a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

Obedience to God never disappoints. Jesus filled Peter’s empty nets with an enormous catch and made him into a “fisher of men.” God can do this with our finances, relationships, or any other area of our life, but He does so in His way and for His purposes. 

Obeying God makes His power evident in our life. Peter’s “yes” allowed him to witness a miracle. He could have looked at his to-do list and said, “I’m too busy,” or he could have pointed out that he was a fisherman and knew better. But Peter agreed and witnessed the power of God, first in that boat and later in his own life. 

Obedience helps us understand God and ourselves. Having seen the miracle of the full nets, Peter gained fresh insight into who Jesus was and, by contrast, how he himself was a sinful man. Eventually, he came to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:13-17). 

What is God asking of you today? Listen carefully, say yes, and watch what He accomplishes in and through you.

Memory verse: Matthew 16:16.

“He who has never learn to obey can never be a good commander.” Aristotle

Thursday, January 21.

One of the most misleading pieces of advice you will hear is the recommendation to follow your heart. God says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9). We all enter life with a inclination toward sin and selfishness, and there is no way we ourselves can change this. Instead of trusting a sinful heart, what we really need is a new, clean heart, and only the Lord can give us one.

Our heavenly Father sent His Son into this world to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins. Only in that way could we be forgiven and receive a clean heart from which flow holy desires and ambitions. Through Christ, we are set apart for God, welcomed into His family as adopted children, and in-dwelt by His Spirit.  

Thanks to our new heart and the Holy Spirit’s empowering presence, we are enabled to live a righteous life of obedience to the Lord. Instead of living with a deceptive heart, we can now draw near to God in fellowship and understand the truth of His Word. With gratitude for our new heart, let’s rely on the Spirit’s power to help us discern error and make wise decisions.

Memory verse: Jeremiah 17:9.

“The gift of spiritual discernment allow members of the church can see things not visible and see things not tangible.” Russel Nelson

Tuesday, January 19.

Once we have received Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we are clean in His eyes. But that doesn’t mean we will never sin again (John 13:9-10). As we live in this world, we’ll continue to exhibit some fleshly patterns—at times thinking wrong thoughts, making hurtful comments, having inappropriate attitudes, and behaving foolishly. That’s why continual cleansing from sin is important.  

James gives us a process by which we can purify our hearts. When we resist the devil, mourn for our sin, and humbly draw near to God in submission, our Father is always faithful to forgive and cleanse us. Confession and repentance are like a spiritual shower that washes away the filth of sin so we can be clean and renewed. 

Ephesians 5:25-26 speaks of cleansing the church “by the washing of water with the word.” Scripture acts like a sharp sword that convicts us, reveals our hidden sins, and teaches how to live in a manner pleasing to the Lord. 

Let’s follow James’s advice today by submitting to God and renewing our minds with His truth. I pray that we can perceive and understand the Lord’s ways, and be confident of our salvation and eternal security despite our failures. 

Memory verse: 1 John 1:9.

“Seek God’s ways in all you do and he will show you the path to take.” Proverbs 3:6.