No Condemnation by Billy Joe Daugherty

I apologize for the lateness, this is actually YESTERDAYS devotion. This is a devotion that I receive every morning via email, from CFaith Devotions. This particular one blessed me, hopefully it will do the same for someone else:

 

 

No Condemnation
By Billy Joe Daugherty
 

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

(Romans 8:1)
There is glorious liberty in the family of God. Our Father does not condemn us for any past sin. All judgment for sin was placed upon Jesus. As you put your faith in the blood of Jesus, you are cleansed from all sin.

The Spirit of God will convict men and point them to Jesus. The conviction of the Holy Spirit will lead men and women into faith and freedom. The opposite is true of condemnation. It causes people to focus on their sin and away from the forgiveness found in Calvary. Condemnation only leads to fear and bondage. Conviction leads to repentance and life and peace. The difference is profound. One leads to life; the other leads to death.

In your acceptance of Jesus Christ, you have received God's grace and mercy. You are now in Christ by virtue of the new birth. There is absolutely no condemnation in Jesus at all. For a brief moment in history, Jesus accepted the sin of the world along with its punishment. Judgment was passed. God is no longer holding the sins of the world against mankind. He is offering reconciliation (forgiveness and pardon) to all who accept His Son.

You are now in Christ and can be free from fear and condemnation. You are liberated from guilt—no matter what you have done or where you have been. Since you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, there is no condemnation.

The truth of Romans 8:1 will keep you singing the rest of your life. Think on it. Talk about it. Most of all, act on it. Since you are not condemned, you have no need to condemn others. What a freedom to see others reconciled to God and to tell them the Good News!

DECLARATION OF FAITH

There is no condemnation in me. I refuse all guilt and shame over past sins and failures. I am free in Jesus for I have received God's grace.

Devotions of Patience

by Lisa Kennedy

Ahh, patience. If you were to ask me the top five things I struggle with in my life patience would definitely rank in the top five. I am not sure why, but I definitely struggle with patience. Although, with that said, I can see a difference in the amount of patience I have now in comparison with only a few years ago. Things like my dogs teach me patience. Things like my husband teach me patience (I'm smiling on the inside). I am certain that if I am blessed with children, my children will teach me patience.

For many people, the first thing that you think of when you think of Biblical patience might be the Old Testament story of Job. In fact, the New Testament writer James even mentions Job's patience in James 5:11. Job is a wonderful story to study when looking at the topic of patience, and I encourage you to read through the book of Job.

Christians must be patient in many different respects throughout life. Christians are called to be patient in tribulation. Christians are also called to be patient with all those around them. I think that this is where I struggle the most. I find myself becoming easily irritated and annoyed by things that people do around me. Finally, Christians must be patient in awaiting the coming of the Lord.

Here are a few scriptures to consider when looking at the topic of patience:

• James 5:11: "Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful."
• Romans 12:12: "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
• Ephesians 4:1-3: "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
• Colossians 3:12-13: "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Related topics and words which may be useful in study: steadfastness, longsuffering, hope, trust, faith

How do you become more patient in your life? In what ways do you deal with situations which might cause you to lose your patience? Christians must remember that they should put on the characteristic of patience, as part of the new life they live in the Lord.

--
Diane C. Bryce
Howard University
Bachelors of Science Candidate, May 2009
Dove Sister Fabergé
Alpha Nu Omega Sorority, Inc.
#4ΛFA08

The Power in You

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

When I look back at all that God has done for me, and all that He continues to do, I have no choice but to be grateful. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul tells his son that the Lord did not save us and call us to holy life because of anything we have done. Nobody can say they were owed the blessings that God bestows. God saved us because of His own purpose and grace.

In return, the children of God can not be timid. We can not be ashamed. Everyone has an individual testimony, and that testimony is meant to be shared. There is power in your testimony and there is power in your praise. When you exude love, despite your troubles, you can be ministering to someone's life. And when you follow His commands, despite the daily struggle, people see that. Know the power that you have to bring others to God. The Lord gave us a spirit of power for this purpose.

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Glory to God!

Love,

Angel Vosburgh

DS Fidelity

Make a full and complete stop

Stop

 

 

Look around you

 

Now feel inside of you

 

Take a second to really think about all the tiny blessings we take for granted

 

When God tells us to choose life in Deuteronomy 30:19 He's not just talking about the moment we decided to give our lives over to Him. He's talking about a constant choice of life through Him. Constantly choosing to look at things through God's eyes and not our own. Constantly saying not my flawed sinful will Lord but change my will to Yours. This is the abundant life Jesus promised us. So join me as I consciously choose to live life abundantly, no longer letting moments of praise go unnoticed.

Thank you God for my many many blessings.

Amen

 

--
Samara Pearson