https://www.facebook.com/1389935834647528/

Devotions of Encouragement

Home
United States
Athens, GA
Devotions of Encouragement

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Articles of Faith
Article 1. Article 2. Article 3. Article 4.

We believe in one only true and living God, and that there are three in the God-Head – the Father, the son and Holy Ghost. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God and the only rule of faith and practice. We believe that God chose His people in Christ before the foundation of the world; that they should be holy and without blame before Him in love. We believ

e in the doctrine of original sin and man’s impotency to recover himself from the fallen state he is in by nature. Article 5. We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God only by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. Article 6. We believe that God’s elect shall be called effectively, regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and shall persevere in grace and never finally fall away. Article 7. We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ and to be practiced by His faithful children. Article 8. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and a general judgment and that punishment of the wicked will be everlasting, and the joys of the righteous will be eternal. Article 9. We believe that ministers of the Gospel are called by God to minister to those in need with love and encouragement. Article 10. We believe that God hath ordained good works; that His children should walk in them, and that good works are only such as God has commanded in His Word

06/07/2026

News Flash
Federal authorities are searching for 34-year-old man that escaped from the satellite minimum-security prison camp at the Federal Correctional Institution in Jesup, Georgia on May 26. Serving time for bank fraud and identity theft, he is known for a previous $11 million fraud scheme involving impersonation. He is considered armed and dangerous, with strong ties to Metro Atlanta.

It doesn't happen often, but we do hear in the news from time to time that someone has escaped prison while serving time for a conviction. Often the escape is due to a prisoner finding a time they're in a area not well fortified and no one is watching them closely. Rarely do we hear of a prisoner breaking down concrete reinforced walls to escape. There's a reason for that-the walls of a prison were designed to prevent break outs. They were designed to withstand many destructive forces and especially forces that had little access to tools designed for breaking through.
The man in the news clip above escaped without first being noticed because the facility he was in was an open, minimum-security facility rather than a high-security prison building. The escapee was classified as a "walkaway" rather than someone who breached walls or cut fences. He simply walked out while no one was looking.
In short, walls are effective at keeping the convicted separated from a free society and those that are escape risks usually reside behind said walls while doing their time.
Sinners have their walls and escape is impossible without Christ setting us free.
Ephesians 2 KJV
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Verse 13 and 14 tells us-
"Far off"-Refers to our separation from God due to our sin nature. "Made nigh"-Through Christ, believers are welcomed directly into the presence of God. The "wall of partition" formed by sin that separated people from God has been torn down
"By the blood of Christ"-This emphasizes the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. It signifies the forgiveness of sins and the ratification of a new covenant that allows you and I to approach God boldly.
Verse 14-15 -
Jews and Gentiles and all other groups with hostile relations are to be brought together in Christ and experience the peace He only can bring. Jesus has made all His followers that are part of the body united and no longer separated with a wall of hostility/hatred. We are all one in the body of Christ.
Verse 16-
"He might reconcile both"- This act of reconciliation repairs the broken relationship between the sinful human and a holy God. Through salvation, believers are integrated into a single, unified spiritual community.
"By the cross"-Christ's crucifixion serves as the legal and spiritual location where justice was satisfied. Jesus paid the price for human's transgressions in the past, present, and future. Peace was not or could never be achieved by human effort, but through the sacrificial death of Jesus. He gave Himself for us so we can be united with the Creator in Heaven.
God wants His children to be freed from the prison of sin and sent Christ to die on the cross to ensure that freedom for all that receive the gift of salvation. There's no escaping without Christ. No simple walking away on our own while no one is looking. Sin brings a death sentence we all are required to serve. Christ brings freedom, peace, and unity with God. Those that put faith and trust in Christ can walk free.

05/31/2026

Blue and Purple Lighting
Ever noticed at night that some streetlights seem to be throwing out a seemingly blueish/purplish light? If so, don’t be alarmed. Your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. Some streetlights appear blue/purple due to a phenomenon called delamination of the phosphor layer in their LED bulbs. This layer, which converts the blue light emitted by LEDs into white light, degrades over time, causing it to detach from the LED chip. When this happens, the blue light from the LED chip is exposed, resulting in a purple or blue hue.
I think we can all agree being able to see things clearly and accurately as first intended is important and light has a way of revealing important details that would otherwise go unnoticed. That brings up memory of a quote that popped up on my internet feed when searching for something else. The source wasn’t given but it seems to be a great way to illustrate the path to darkness and light.
“Between ignorance and apathy lies the chasm of lost potential. Ignorance is the absence of knowledge, while apathy is the absence of action. Embracing either one leads to darkness, but transcending both is the key to unlocking the light of understanding and meaningful change.”
The obvious point made in the quote is about the results of ignorance and/or apathy and how the key to escaping both can be done with education, seeking of truth, and a passion for action. It would seem that this coincides with the Biblical teachings of darkness and light and the escape from one and deliverance to the other rooted in the knowledge of God and His marvelous gift in Christ while impressing that the latter should be embraced with passion rather than carelessly tossed away due to the darkness it will lead to for the life we live here on Earth and in the hereafter.
John 3 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The flesh doesn’t care for the light because details of evil wrong doings are revealed and imperfections that were once hidden become obvious. Pride doesn’t like that revelation and likewise hates the light and avoids it.
Those that embrace the light and humbly submit themselves to the good view it brings not only has the blessing of eternal life, but experience the joy that God intended for His children to partake of while waiting for Christ’s return.
Though our imperfections may be revealed, we are forgiven and made whole in Christ and saved by His work on the cross. The choice is ours-to embrace darkness and ignorance or to passionately seek God, the Gospel truth, and be delivered to the light of salvation in Christ.
Praying that all God’s children partake of the light and see clearly as God intended.

05/24/2026

Physics and Doctrine
Ouch! The hot piece of turkey burger patty burned inside my mouth. In hunger fed haste, I had failed to wait long enough for the extremely hot food to cool down. I suppose eating them straight off the burner wasn’t a great idea. Not to be too mean to myself, but to put it bluntly-Stupid should hurt. LOL Ignorance of certain laws of physics will hurt.
Anyone that’s fallen off a moving bicycle, been in a car wreck, hit their head on a tree limb, and/or smashed their finger with a hammer knows what is being stated here. There are basic laws of physics that we are subject to while in the flesh here on Earth and maintaining an awareness of these is paramount if we are not to let ourselves drift off into the danger zone and possibly being hurt.
All this said, it has to be stated that our Christian walk in the narrow path of faith faces similar basic guidelines that once out of bounds of, even ever so slightly, can transform into something entirely different than what God intended. Even something that the grace of God is in opposition to. It can become a thing that is nowhere near what Christ gifted us by His incredible sacrifice on Calvary.
Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians clearly defines faith here and it’s stated simply for our benefit-
We are saved through faith-Meaning faith alone in Christ and God’s work through Him is what delivers us from the bo***ge and death sin brings and brings us eternal hope, joy, peace, and life with the Father.
Not or yourselves-Meaning salvation comes from nothing our dead to sin flesh can do, has done, or will do.
It is the gift of God-Salvation is a gift God has in His Hands and under control of His will to give to His Children.
Not of works, lest any man should boast-Salvation isn’t a reward for good behavior, a paycheck for services rendered, or something we somehow earned by good deeds/labor. If it were, it wouldn’t be a gift.
Salvation is totally of God and totally of grace. Those that have faith and believe must thank Him and praise Him for being so merciful and loving. Those that yet show signs of faith are to pray and seek God as He loves His children and will not let those that want and need Him do without. (Hebrews 11:6)
"But," said the first speaker, "he could have wriggled out of his coat and got away in spite of you."
"Oh," said the other, "you misunderstood me if you supposed I was holding his coat; I was holding him."—Christian Courier.
The child of God is held by their very soul, not by external materials.
Ephesians 2 KJV
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
All the praise be to God! Thank Him that His love is so immense that He reaches out to a lost and dying world with salvation. Praying that all God's children seek Him and remember He give salvation to His Children no matter our position in life.

05/17/2026

Dry Times
I washed the Jeep, took off the soft top, and left it parked outside overnight. All because something inside of me had the idea it might influence the chance of rain. LOL
We’ve had some dry weather here in the southeast and in need of several inches of rain to catch up and get things growing as they should. It’s been so dry, that technically we are considered to be in a drought. Droughts aren’t too uncommon but if memory serves me right, they are uncommon this early in the year.
Praying other than believing superstition would be the best thing to do but many experiences sometimes distorts one’s idea of cause and effect. And that’s exactly what happens when someone is superstitious-
Superstition is an irrational belief or practice rooted in fear of the unknown, magic, or chance. It often involves interpreting unrelated events as omens, using charms to influence luck, or performing rituals to ward off misfortune.
Prayer is real communication with the omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God. Prayer is not a superstitious wish to a genie in the sky. God hears our prayers and considers our petitions with our best interests at hand.
1 John 5 KJV
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
In other words, we are to pray and look to God for things out of our control. Sure, learning to control certain situations with our talents, skills, and acquired knowledge is something God wants, but when we are unable and we look to Him for results, we are to expect results. We should pray for rain and go out with an umbrella in our hand in the morning. We should expect His intervention. We should know He can deliver miracles and respect His choice in whether or not He does.
Case at point-
Daniel 3-4 tells the story of the fiery furnace and how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared to King Nebuchadnezzar concerning his desire for them to worship his golden image-
“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound and thrown into the furnace by the furious King. The furnace was so hot that it immediately annihilated the soldiers who threw the three men into it. The three men were tied up and bound with their garments so as to have no possible escape. King Nebuchadnezzar must have been present because right after this he was astonished and asked his counselors that “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered, ’True O King’. He then answered and said, ’But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods’” (Dan 3:24-25). The king apparently recognized the fourth person as being a divine being.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the furnace, their clothes were not harmed, not a hair on their heads were singed and they didn’t even have the smell of smoke on them (Dan. 3:27). King Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed that he commanded everyone in the entire Babylonian Empire to give homage to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were close to God and knew His greatness. Without a flinch, they withstood the fiery trials of their faith with certainty God was big enough to save them.
To conclude, pray for rain with an umbrella in hand and expect God to not only be very able to provide, but keep in mind and heart that God wants His children to have what is best for them.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day
A Mother's job is extremely demanding. She holds a child in her womb for months and then presents them painfully to a new world. That's where it all begins. Diapers, feedings, late and sleepless nights of care lead the way to even more responsibility-teaching her child to care for themselves.
Probably one of the greatest things a Mother spends great time and effort doing, is teaching their children responsibility and the importance of making good choices in life. Choices that will pave the way for self actualization and independence. No, you couldn't convince me of that during much of my childhood and young adult years. LOL In that young mind, Mother was just a meany that was against any idea I could come up with all for the sake of her own personal pleasure. Amazingly, as adult years brought a field of view that was a little less self centered, Mother's intelligence and self sacrificing seemed to increase greatly. Thankfully Mother's hard and selfless work, taught the difference between right and wrong and enabled me to identify mistakes so as to turn toward repentance while seeking salvation in Christ.
Proverbs 22 KJV
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Today, I would like to say "thanks Mom for that training you so diligently gave me."
Good mothers make good choices much easier. The wrong choices, be it in business, diet, relationships, education, treatment of those around us, etc bring negative results in their time. Good choices that a good Mother has lovingly attempted to condition us toward brings positive outcomes that aid in a clear conscience.
A child that has been trained of the right path by a good Mother will continue to seek to follow that right path and as an adult.
I'm thankful my Mother taught me to be responsible and to attempt to make good decisions. I'm also thankful she pointed me toward the love of God and taught me that His love was a treasure to embrace for all of eternity. I'm thankful she impressed upon me the greatest of commandments as written in Mathew 22 KJV
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

05/03/2026

Traffic Tickets
There’s a small town in Colorado that allows for drivers to ticket other drivers for traffic violations. Can you imagine that? For me, the first thought that came to mind when discovering that was-would there be enough pages in my ticket book? LOL Then the thought came up-how that might affect my freedom? I can be an aggressive driver and even a little lax in abiding by some traffic laws so it could get rather interesting when the tickets started piling up. Driving around looking to be judged by all my fellow drivers might not be a very comfortable thing.
Anyway, due to a greater appreciation of the driving privilege, my driver’s record hasn’t been too bad in the last several years and I hope to keep it that way as the workplace demands an employee that is insurable.
All this civilian ticketing got me to thinking, do Christians sometimes have the mindset that we are walking around being constantly judged for our actions by our Heavenly Father above? Do we sometimes feel as if He’s sitting up there taking notes with ticket book in hand while writing things down we do wrong? Do we pressure ourselves expecting to be confronted with all those tickets and notes on our mistakes when we need help or when facing God after our time is done here on Earth?
Acts 10 KJV
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To Him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.
Peter tells the church in these verses that we are judged quick and dead meaning a person is either alive and saved through the Holy Spirit in Christ or they are dead in the flesh which suffers from being a slave to sin as passed down through generations from Adam’s transgression in the Garden. Peter goes on to say that whoever believes in Christ and His work on the cross will be judged in Him and forgiven.
To us, all this means one great day when Jesus returns, we will be judged perfect and acceptable in Christ or the sinful imperfect unholy flesh. We will be looked at and Jesus will know us through our faith and our sins will be far away from His thoughts, or we will be looked at as a dead creature and judged for every single thing we and the generations before us have done with no hope of eternal life in Heaven.
This truth of being judged in Christ and not every single action should not only be a great relief, but a very freeing and unburdening hope for all of God’s children. We are free to do our best, and when we mess up, we are free to try to improve and do better knowing that there is a much greater blessing in obedience.
Praying that all God’s children are set free from the load/burden of the law and operate freely in the faith that has been given to us so graciously by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

04/26/2026

No Joke
There’s a lot of jokes concerning death and many have hidden meanings-
“No one gets out alive.” Meaning don’t take life too seriously.
“I’ve never seen a U haul behind a hearse.” Meaning don’t place too much importance on material things.
“The trouble with quotes about death is that 99.9% of them are made by people who are still alive.” Meaning that no living person can really know about death.
Those witticisms hold much truth-We all die a physical death, material things are only temporal, and the only source we really have to tell us about our death and what happens to the human spirit is the Bible.

The Bible describes physical death as the separation of the soul from the physical body, returning the body to dust. It is the result of sin entering the world, making humans mortal, but for believers, it is a temporary sleep that leads to resurrection and eternal presence with God in Heaven.
Genesis 3:19 KJV
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Romans 5:12 KJV
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
1 Thessalonians 4:14 KJV
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

The Bible tells us death is the result of sin. Death entered in and was passed down to all flesh due to Adam's fall in the garden.
Separation of the body and soul is defined as the spirit departing from the body.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

A “Sleep” is the description given concerning the physical death of the body. Jesus and the apostles often described the believer's physical death as "sleeping," meaning it is a temporary state followed by awakening.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 KJV
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

The Bible tells us that death is not the final end. For believers, death is not annihilation; rather, it is a passage into Christ's presence.
2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Death is viewed as "precious" to God.
Psalm 116:15 KJV
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints

Physical death is ultimately considered an enemy that will be destroyed by Christ in the final resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:26 KJV 26
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

While everyone faces death, it is a reality overseen by a sovereign God.
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

For those that look to Jesus’s second coming, death is not the end.
Hebrews 9:28 KJV
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
For believers, death is a transition from earthly mortality to eternal life, fulfilling the promise of resurrection.
Prayers that all God’s children hold close the special meaning of death and what it brings for the faithful.

04/19/2026

Spring Cleaning
It’s finally Spring and here in the south east, that means the temperatures are summer like near the high 80’s. Somehow we went straight from Spring to Summer. LOL I’m not going to complain because I love warm weather that allows for me to get out of the house.
Spring and being out of the house also means it’s time for Spring cleaning has been a thing the last few weeks. That often includes things like yard work, house exterior cleaning, power equipment maintenance, washing and vacuuming of vehicles, and more. With there being so much to do and little time to do it with work and other things going on, every year I entertain the idea of hiring someone to do some of the cleaning. That idea is usually quickly dismissed because past experiences have led to the realization that no one else is going to do things the way I want them done which will lead to more time taken going back and redoing them. It’s like the old saying “if you want things done right, you have to do them yourself”.
When people are paid to clean someone else’s things, it seems that often there is what is commonly called a “just get by attitude” that just doesn’t include the pride of ownership and the desire to see things looking s**c and span the way the owner thinks they should.
This “just get by attitude” seems to be a problem in more than just cleaning. It would seem we can see it take place in various other things, such as-manufacturing of products, education, work ethics, and the list goes on.
Defined for clarity-A "just get by attitude" generally refers to a mindset where someone is content with a minimum level of effort and outcome, rather than striving for something more. It's a lack motivation to improve one's circumstances.
People with this attitude may not actively pursue opportunities for growth or progress. They may lack enthusiasm for trying new things or taking on challenges. They might fool themselves into thinking they are satisfied with their current situation and that there’s no need for improvement.
The drawback to the “just get by” attitude is that people, including themselves, are smart enough to know there’s a better way and in knowing so realizes they could do more. This leads to self loathing and other mental health issues. It nurtures a “sour grapes” sort of misery. You’ll see evidence of this in people that often find it impossible to be happy for the success of others.
The good news is, the lie the Devil brings with the “just get by attitude”, and it is of the Devil, can be obliterated with simply doing things right the first time and having a desire to do things as best possible. Let’s look to the Bible for the alternative choice.
Colossians 3:23 KJV
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
First of all, our motivation in doing things should be to please God which means we should pour our whole heart into it. This means doing the best we can because we know God isn’t pleased with slack efforts of just getting by.
Second, we can know by faith that God wants the best for us and come to realize doing things right the first time means we won’t have to return to do them again and again and in the grand scheme of things putting forth more effort. In other words, it really is easier to do things right the first time. Oh how I wished I had headed that advice in my younger years when trying to just get by with career education. LOL
We waist a lot of effort and misery if we don’t just do things right on the first attempt. God really wants us to reach our fullest potential. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to work heartily in all we do.
Praying that all God’s children enjoy their work serving God and do the best He has equipped them to so as to reach the full potential God has planned for them.

04/12/2026

Sheep Leg Info
There is a famous riddle Abraham Lincoln would ask someone he felt was confronting him with an assumption rather than a fact-
“How many legs will a sheep have if you call a tail a leg?”
“Five,” the man would answer.
“No,” Lincoln would reply, “he’ll still have four, because calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it one.”

There are certain rules of physics that just don’t permit changes. No matter how craftily words are devised in an attempt to deceive, the truth will come to light.
Proverbs 21 NIV
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.
28 A false witness will perish,
but a careful listener will testify successfully.
29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.

One of the most enormous lies man has attempted to portray, isn’t that there is no God, but that there is no need for one. It is this lie that is not only communicated to others in various divisive methods, but most persistently repeated to self. This pride motivated Adam and Eve to eat of the tree of knowledge in the garden in an attempt to be god like and to operate independently of the one and only God. It is this pride that motivates some people to yield into temptation for self pleasure rather than looking to God for the complete satisfaction He offers. It is this self pride that motivates many to believe the lie that they are victims of circumstances around them instead of rising up and putting forth the effort through faith needed to successfully conquer the problems they face. And, it is this pride that motivates some to just settle and give up without even trying to make a contribution to the world with the talents God has given us.
Facts can’t be imitated. The truth eventually comes to light. The consequences of believing a lie and the rewards of following the truth can’t be evaded.
Philippians 2 KJV
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus is King! He sits alive at the right hand of the Father preparing us a place and will return one great day to gather His children.
Praying that fact is believed by all God's children.

04/05/2026

Jesus Brought Huge Change
"Jesus Christ did not come into this world to make bad people good; he came into this world to make dead people alive"
-Lee Strobel
Jesus paid our debt for sin when He was crucified on the cross. He set us all free when He was resurrected and left the tomb empty. Jesus was victorious over death and lives at the right hand of the Father awaiting the day He can come and take the born again children of God home to be with Him in Heaven.
The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ huge change for His followers and a world that was condemned to the death sin brings.
How much difference can one man make? What long lasting positive or negative affect can one man have? Is it even worth considering? Can things be changed?
1 Corinthians 15 KJV-
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
By Adam’s choice to yield to temptation and directly disobey God, death came to all mankind. It entered in by one but spread as a disease to all born of his seed.
Likewise, as death came by one man, life through the resurrection came by one also. We are all dead in Adam but alive in Christ.
His kingdom will come, and he will rule with all authority and power over the earth. All enemies will be conquered including the last one of death.
In the beginning, God put man and woman in a perfect setting. No work and no effort to provide. All things were there. The weather was perfect. No rain was needed. No storms. No sickness. No troubles.
Adam and Eve changed all that for all of humanity. We had to suffer and work diligently to obtain the necessities of life. Sickness came. Troubles came. Death became a reality that was unavoidable.
But, as God planned before the world even began, a Savior was born and His sacrifice of life on the cross saved man. His resurrection brought ours through faith. The enemies of sickness and troubles in this world no longer had to steal our joy of knowing we are taken care of. The final enemy of death no longer has to have a hold on us.
One person’s choice to seek the will of the Father stamps out one person’s choice not to. One person’s choice brought salvation to all of God’s children. One person’s actions do make a difference.
Jesus Christ is Lord. He has risen. He is alive at the right hand of the father preparing those that believe a place in Heaven. He brings life. He makes a difference to a dying world.
Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Happy Easter!

Address

Athens, GA
30601

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Devotions of Encouragement posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your place of worship to be the top-listed Place Of Worship in Athens?