FB Daily Devotional by Doc Layco

22/07/2019

13/04/2016

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April 14, 2015 (Tuesday)

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19

Often today we hear people make reference to "their" God: "Well, my God would never want me to be unhappy!" "My God would never send someone to hell!" "My God would never say there is only one way to get to heaven!" Contrast these statements with the words of a small child: "My daddy promised to take me to the zoo, and he always keeps his promises!"

What's the difference? The child is speaking about a father whom she knows personally, with whom she has had past experiences, whom she has learned to trust. On the other hand, individuals who refer to "my God" are usually creating God in their own image. And while they're usually referring to the God of the Bible, they are usually wrong in what they so confidently assert. Paul used the phrase "my God" in Philippians 4:19 on the basis of years of knowing Him and His promises. He told the Philippians that God would supply all their needs because he knew God to be a loving Father who would bless the Philippians' sacrificial spirit in giving. God invites you to call Him your own as you learn to trust Him for your every need.

If you refer to God as your God, make sure you know Him for who He really is.

29/09/2015

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September 30, 2015 (Wednesday)

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” - Revelation 21:2

When I began to date my wife, we made contact almost every week and were delighted to spend time together. A love relationship began, and few years later she walked down the aisle, beautifully dressed in white. As I awaited her arrival at the altar, the thought on my mind was not the things she could do, or how we were going to pay the bills, No! She was my delight, and we were marrying because we were in love. We were entering into a covenant of oneness in which we would walk together for the rest of our lives.

Human marriage is a picture that points to the union of Jesus Christ and his church. As we read in Ephesians 5:25-27: “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy … to present her to himself as a radiant church … holy and blameless.” When Jesus looks at us clothed in the white garments of righteousness, his heart soars with delight for us, his church.
While we live and work to serve our Lord and Savior each day, we can walk with him, keeping in step with his Spirit, obeying his commands, sharing his love, and bringing his good news of reconciliation and new life with God to others. In this way he is preparing us to join with him and the Father on that great day when he returns!

28/09/2015

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September 29, 2015 (Tuesday)

“All people will see God’s salvation.” - Luke 3:6

In our verses for today, Luke introduces us to the international political and religious leaders of that time. Then we read, “The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” The whole world of that day was being governed by others; yet God called John to prepare for the coming of another King by leveling mountains and filling valleys. In the wilderness John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The wilderness is a risky and uncertain place. There we can see things through different eyes, beyond the reach of the status quo and normal expectations. That’s where the Word of the Lord came to break and change the world.

Mountains were leveled and valleys filled as merchants repented of unfair business practices, soldiers repented of brutal abuse to gain money, and government workers repented of unjust demands for taxes. High and low came to confess secret sins, and all were baptized in the Jordan River.

Preparation for the coming King was sealed in baptism as people plunged beneath the waters of the Jordan and came up again. It marked a commitment to end an old life and to begin a new one with God.

Today Jesus calls us to be baptized into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Have you committed your life to the Lord?

27/09/2015

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September 28, 2015 (Monday)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all cir-cumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Giving thanks is critical in any culture. An attitude of gratitude is very much appreciated by everyone. Jesus modeled thankfulness when he gave thanks for some bread and fish before he fed five thousand people (John 6:11). Jesus looked beyond the two fish and five loaves to the ultimate giver. Jesus gave thanks to acknowledge the giver of all good gifts, the one who blesses the earth each day.

The Hiding Place tells the story of Corrie and Betsie ten Boom. These sisters spent time in a German concentration camp because they were caught hiding Jews during World War II. Their barracks was crammed with women, the place smelled horrible, and they were tormented by biting fleas. Corrie was appalled, and she genuinely struggled to see God’s goodness in this situation. But Betsie urged the reminder to “give thanks in all circumstances,” and Corrie grudgingly did so. Later they learned that the officers avoided that barracks because of the flea infestation, and that gave the women freedom to read their Bible together with the other prisoners and to pray without interruption.

Do you give thanks in, though not necessarily for, all circumstances? God can make use of even the worst situations to bring about good things (see Romans 8:28).

26/09/2015

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September 27, 2015 (Sunday)

You were redeemed … with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. - 1 Peter 1:18-19

There's an old hymn I loved so dearly, “There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb.” That song enabled us to speak of a wonderful truth that we learn in God’s Word. It’s about “the Lamb who was slain,” who is worthy “to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12).

Blood is a mysterious substance connected to life. In ancient times, Scripture put it this way: “The life of a creature is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). Blood is not life, but it carries life. Life is spiritual, but in creatures it has a physical carrier, and that is blood.

Our life became contaminated because of our disobedience to God. Brokenness entered our world, introducing death and destruction. We needed a way to be restored to a right relationship with God. And the only way to do that was to have the pure, uncontaminated life of Jesus Christ given in our place. Jesus shed his own pure blood for us, giving up his sinless life for our sake. As the apostle John affirms, “The blood of Jesus … purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

With God the Father and Jesus the Son, believers overcome Satan, sin, and death “by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11). We are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ,” our Savior!

25/09/2015

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September 26, 2015 (Saturday)

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” - Luke 9:23

Our friendship with God in Jesus is the greatest relationship on earth. And yet it is often separated by our refusal to submit to God’s authority in our lives. We’d rather exercise our will instead of doing God’s will. The spirit of self-will says, “I want to do it my way, and I will!”

Jesus provides a remedy for this disease when he calls us to take up our cross daily.

The cross is where we give up all that we are clinging to in this world. The cross is where our self-life is immobilized. This may seem restricting and be painful to our selfish ambitions, but as we obey the commands of Jesus in faith and in the power of his Spirit, we discover the greatest freedom and joy imaginable.
As we take up our cross daily, we enter into God’s way of doing things and are freed of our self-will. This is not an achievement but a process that we enter into daily, with God’s help and in his strength, because we have a way of reverting to our old nature.
Are you willing to surrender yourself completely into God’s hands?
If you answer “Yes,” you are uniting with the Spirit of our Lord Jesus, whom God the Father sent to be the one Redeemer of the world.

24/09/2015

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September 25, 2015 (Friday)

“No one pours new wine into old wine-skins.” - Mark 2:22

As we read through the gospels, a disturbing revelation comes to light. The religious people of Jesus’ day were totally missing a new thing God was doing by sending his Son into the world. One religious group - the Pharisees - were much disciplined. They fasted twice a week, tithed a tenth of their goods, and faithfully read God’s Word and prayed. Yet as the heavens poured out new wine by sending God’s Son into the world, the religious leaders did not embrace him. What happened? Could we make that same mistake today?

In today’s verses Jesus is asked why his disciples do not fast. He replies, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?” The purpose of fasting was to deny and humble oneself before God, seeking his mercy and help from danger and from the influence of sin. It drew people closer to God and helped them focus on living for the Lord. But fasting was not necessary for Jesus’ followers while he was with them; they were living every day in God’s presence.

The Pharisees were diligent about spiritual disciplines, but their hearts were not connected with God. And, yes, we can make that same mistake today. God continues to do new things on the earth. Are we so used to doing things a certain way that we have lost contact with the Lord of the universe? Do we recognize Jesus as he shows up in our world?

23/09/2015

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September 24, 2015 (Thursday)

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” - Luke 3:16

Fire can be terrifying or comforting. It can be destructive and deadly if it gets out of control, or it can be a great source of warmth, heat, and light.

John the Baptist was known for his fire; he burned for God, bringing the light of God’s Word into a dark, troubled time and urging people to repent as he prepared the way for Jesus’ coming. Jesus said of him, “John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light” (John 5:35).
What caused John to be set ablaze? He was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (Luke 1:15), lived a life of self-denial, and spent time in the wilderness, where his relationship with God grew.
People were impressed with John, but he pointed them to “one who was more powerful”—that is, Jesus, who is actually “the light of the world” (John 8:12). John prophesied this about Jesus: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

God’s will is for all his followers to have a burning spiritual passion for him. The question is whether or not we will yield ourselves to him so that he can fill us with that kind of passion for him. As the fire of God enters into us, people and nations will be changed.

22/09/2015

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September 23, 2015 (Wednesday)

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

Why did Jesus ask Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Answer: Because Peter had denied him three times. Why did he do this publicly? Because Peter denied him publicly. The other disciples needed to hear Peter openly declare his love for Christ. Without hearing those words, the doubts would linger forever.

The man who had been so boastful, so sure of himself, so confident of his own courage, is now thoroughly humbled. Jesus’ first question-"Do you love me more than these?"-was a subtle reminder of his previous boast to be more loyal than the other disciples. In his reply Peter declares his love for Christ, but he refuses to compare himself with anyone else. As painful as this was, it was absolutely necessary. Jesus is cleaning the wound so that it might be properly healed. He is getting rid of Peter’s guilt and shame by dealing with it openly.

Consider what Christ doesn’t do. He doesn’t try to make Peter feel guilty. He doesn’t humiliate publicly. He doesn’t ask him, “Are you sorry for what you did?” He doesn’t make him promise to do better. He just asks one question: “Do you love me?”

Once we have hurt someone we love, it is hard to look them in the face and it is harder still to be questioned about our true commitment. “How could you have done that? What were you thinking? Do you even love me at all?” But the questions must be asked and the answers must be given. And they must be repeated if the truth is to be fully told.

GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU TO FEEL GUILTY!

21/09/2015

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September 22, 2015 (Tuesday)

"“And their sins and their lawless deeds, I will remember no more.” - Hebrews 10:17

Remember when Peter failed (he denied Jesus Christ three times)? He was in charge of his own failure, but Christ took charge of restoring him.

Behind his story lies a wonderful, liberating, hope-filled truth: Failure is an event, not a destiny. This is good news because we all fail sooner or later, and if we are honest, we all fail over and over again. As Peter’s story abundantly proves, it’s not our initial failure that ruins us. It’s what happens next that matters.

Failure doesn’t mean you have blown everything. It means you have some hard lessons to learn.
It doesn’t mean you are a permanent loser. It means you aren’t as smart as you thought you were.
It doesn’t mean you should give up. It means you need the Lord to show you the next step.
It doesn’t mean that God has abandoned you. It means that God a better plan.

Only those who have greatly failed will truly appreciate his story. If you have only failed in small things, then you will not be deeply moved by his life story. But if you have known the shame of large failure, then listen up. His story is for you.

When we have failed, especially when we have failed those we love the most, our mind becomes a swirl of emotions–Embarrassment . . . Anger . . . Fear . . . Shame . . . Despair. We feel dirty and unworthy because we acted foolishly. When we have hurt someone deeply, we want to know if they still love us or have we blown everything?

Will they ever forgive me? Can I ever forgive myself?

Peter never forgot what happened when he denied Christ. As long as he lived, he never forgot that terrible night. Tradition says that he would start weeping whenever he heard a rooster crow. Tradition also says that he would wake up every night and pray during the hour when he denied the Lord… BUT THANK, HE IS FORGIVING & HE CONTINUALLY FORGIVES… AND FORGETS!