How Jesus Describes You!

An Emoji Devotions for Thu 14th January, 2020

Topic: How Jesus Describes You!

Highlights: 

See, darkness covers the earth

    and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

    and his glory appears over you. Isaiah 60:2

The world is warm right now and everywhere even seems dark. While people were running up and down then the Lord rises from His throne and set like a sun upon you. 

Through Christ in you a Genesis mystery has been resolved. 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the new YOU.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Let's see what you have become since when you have encountered Jesus Christ from Galatians 5:22

You are special and you enjoy showing heavenly love.

You have the glee and euphoria of salvation: because Christ lives in you there's hope for humanity.

You have freedom and peace in the midst of chaos because the greater one lives in you.

You have control over yourself. You know what is good for you and stop when it is right enough and because of this speciality, people always want you around them because you are tolerant and patient.

You are so friendly, generous and considerate

You are trustworthy a top quality for goodness that people see all the time.

You are constantly loyal in your service to others.

You are tender and mild-mannered.

And finally you are so so so self disciplined!

I agree with Jesus that the above description is the real YOU in this adulterated world. Keep working on it!

Prayer: Today I love myself more seeing how beautiful, gleeming and shiny I am. I am flattered Lord and am very grateful! Thank you Jesus.

Department of Women Affairs

 An Emoji Devotions for Wed 13th January, 2020

Topic: Department of Women affairs!

Highlights:

Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back,  Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, Genesis 27:5-6

It's still a new year and from my own sphere of view I will be advising you to handle women with positive caution. If you are single, divorce or married man or woman, my advise for you is to lead any relationship with caution.

Most important things are somehow hidden and this is not about judgement but an advise. According to the Bible most prominent events that turned the table of history was decided by women. Here are some examples:

1. Samson you fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.... Why did you do that? Judges 16:4 So you may learn how to be in an healthy relationship because Delilah ended Samson career. You can read Judges 16:4-28

2. Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.

Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 

Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ 2 Samuel 12:7-10

What? David I can't blame you, beauty can be very tempting. I pray for grace not to be so drunk in lust for beautiful women. Beware of lustful women you watch on TV and internet! It can cost you healthy fortunes!

3. So Herodias (an ambitious royal woman) nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to

Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. Mark6:19,21-24

A royal grudge between John the Baptist and an Ambitious woman called Herodias (a royal queen) got him beheaded. A little girl may be royal in her mind when she becomes ambitious to slay. Do not try them with your naughty goofs and think you will get away with it. They may remember your sin even on a Christmas day.

Having said all these. Take your time to see how far your relationship and your life has gone so far through women. If it's good. Hey! Congratulations and if it's gone bad, well you need to repent God for mercy and retrace your steps to the right counsel. I will leave you with Jesus attitude towards a condem prostitute. Some religious people brought her to Jesus. They knew that through a woman most prophets were taken down. They want to try Jesus. But Jesus would not condem her but gave her a second chance.

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:10-11

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. (Jesus never Condemn her) Luke 7:37-38

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 

You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke7: 44-48

Before you fall in love, learn from Samson, before you watch that lustful brunette woman or man learn from David

Before you speak against an ambitious woman learn from John the Baptist

Before you judge women learn from Jesus. Learn to give a repentant woman a second chance but run away from Delilah. Identify an ambitious woman and pray for guidance. Do not lust after beauty only and after you promised love do not betray a woman. Maybe you will then need to learn from this story:

Absalom's sister, who was also called Tamar, was raped by Amnon, who was their half-brother. Amnon was also David's eldest son. After the rape, Absalom waited two years, and then avenged Tamar by sending his servants to murder a drunken Amnon at a feast, to which Absalom had invited all the king's sons. (Who does that?) 2 Sam 13:20-39

Remember, do not lose control like the music you hear! Joseph took his heels from Potiphar's wife for him to live to see his dream fulfilled! 

Then one day Joseph went into the house to do his work. None of the men of the house were inside. She caught him by his coat, saying, “Lie with me!” But he ran out of the house leaving the coat in her hand. Genesis 39:11-12

There are six things the Lord hates,

    seven that are detestable to him:

(Watch out !)

  haughty eyes,

        a lying tongue,

        hands that shed innocent blood,

   a heart that devises wicked schemes,

        feet that are quick to rush into evil,

     a false witness who pours out lies

        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Proverbs 6: 16-19

For a prostitute will bring you to poverty,

    but sleeping with another man’s wife will cost you your life. Proverbs 6:26

I hope this year, you can walk in the right map and directions as you navigate through an unfamiliar region in your realms. If you are confused. Pray to God and ask for light. Remember that in His word is an opened eyes. Read your bible more to get an opened eyes! Psalm 119:18

It is my prayer that God shine his light in your heart. 

Love your neighbor as yourself with self control NOT with self destruct!

And remember sooner or later this department will beckon at you. The Department of Women affairs! 

Prayer: I understand my stand from this point that it is necessary I adjust myself within the control of your laws O Lord. I pray for grace to keep your Wonderful law concerning people around me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

https://emojidevotions.blogspot.com/2021/01/department-of-women-affairs.html

The King is coming – the King is here!

An Emoji Devotions for Tue 12th January, 2021

Topic: The King is coming – the King is here!

By H.U.Wenger

Highlight: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” Isaiah 42:1-4

Recently we celebrated Christmas, which is the reminder of the arrival of the King on earth, in his human form. He did bring justice to the earth but not in the form the Jews have expected it. Justice without grace would have meant that all human life would have been annihilated.

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 3, 22 - 26: “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus”.

 Jesus came to us and he did not make a revolution or riots. He lived a holy life and was engaged in seemingly unimportant relationships with seemingly unspectacular people. That way the bruised reed became strong and the smoldering wick started to spread a shining light. Bruised, abused and enslaved people, who mistreated, disregarded and suppressed others put their trust in Messiah and were absolved from their wickedness and got the righteousness of the king as a gift instead. The movement of Messiah became a grass root movement and it spread deep and wide.
Before Jesus went to the cross fulfill and legalize it all in front of the heavenly court, he prayed to his father: “As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John 17, 18) After his resurrection he meets them and says to them: “Peace be with you! As the father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20, 21)

You and me, we are called to carry on with the work he has established, started and fulfilled. We are not supposed to convince all the adversaries of the gospel. We are supposed to be in relationships and to pray that we find the bruised reeds and the smoldering wicks. It is the sick, who need a physician and as they grow strong, their recovery and change can convince even the strongest enemies.

Brothers and Sisters, we have the privilege to live in the time, within which many prophetic words are fulfilled in front of our eyes. Let us be diligent in relationships and in telling the people around us that the king has come and is about to come again to gather his disciples for eternity.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me before the creation of the world.” (John 17, 24)

Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to serve you as you have served me and let me invite the people in my relationships to you, so that you can heal and save them. Thank you that you are already present in my life. Nevertheless I am welcoming you to come back and take me there, where you are.

Cheap Grace on Sale!?

An Emoji Devotions for Mon 11th January, 2021

Christian special – cheap grace on sale!?

By H.U. Wenger

Highlight:  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.

These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3, 3 – 8)

Jesus Christ calls all those, who are weary and burdened to him and promises them rest. He has mercy on them and wants to give them rest for their souls (Matthew 11, 28 -30).

His mercy gives them what they have never deserved as he makes them to his children and heirs with the gift of life eternal. His grace, earned by him himself through his becoming human and through his sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, redeems them with the Father.

 Jesus has paid the death penalty that is upon all of us and although we have deserved it, he takes it away from us by his grace. Additionally he gives us the Holy Spirit to indwell us to guide us to a holy life. This is the good news, this is the gospel. What we deserve is taken away from us and what we have never deserved is given to us freely. What a change, what a blessing that is! Praise be to our great God for his grace and mercy!

In my family it was very clear that the Sunday belonged to God in its entirety. So it was normal that there has not been one Sunday without attending one or two church services. The emphasis was then not on the great deed and gift of God, but rather on the part of exhortation. The preachers used to stress rather the fact that the believer has to be very careful to lead an immaculate life. It was clear to me at that time that I would never qualify as a good Christian. Later the tide has turned and today the emphasis is totally upon the generous gift of God and it gets rarely mentioned that Jesus said: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart”, or Paul writes to Titus: “I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.”

Both parts are important but always in an encouraging way. Yes, there is no cheap grace and we are called to be followers of Christ and as such we are again and again invited to come to him as weary and burdened. There is no room for liberality, but there is grace for each one, who comes back to Jesus. King David often erred from the straight way, but he always turned back to God and this made him to a man after God’s own heart.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help me today to learn from you and to do what is good and helpful to spread your kingdom. I humble myself before you, help me to live a worthy life according to your gospel.  I need you! Amen

Journal of the Meek and Merciful

 An Emoji Devotions for Sun 10th January, 2021

Topic: Journal of the Meek and Merciful

By H.U. Wenger

Introduction:

Christian meekness and mercy is nothing but their inability for vice!?
This is what the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche pretended. Is he right?

Highlight from Jesus:

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luk 6:35 – 37)

The contrast between Nietzsche and Jesus could not be any greater. The meekness and the mercy of God go far beyond pity or being emotionally moved about somebody’s predicament or suffering. It cuts right through to our inability to view our fellow human being as a wonderful creation of our heavenly Father, which we are to love as our brother or sister. We envy, we hate, we try to use and to abuse, we quarrel, we search to destroy and eventually we are killing, be it in the natural like Cain, be it with words, like Jesus mentioned it in Matthew 5:21.22.

For being a murderer it is enough to be angry with someone or to call him or her a fool. I am personally taken back by how easily I am judging people I do not really know by their behavior, by their looks or by their deeds. I have been running for an example, now I am in a hurry and feel bothered by the other participants in traffic. I am disturbed by them and I am very critical about them.

They do not keep the speed limit, they slow down at a green traffic light and it bursts out of me: “Where have you learned how to drive, you fool?” It is so easy and natural for us to feel better than “them”. It does not take us any strength to be prideful and to be head and shoulder above them.

To judge others is so quickly done and we have lost the remorse over our virtual killing of fellow human beings. Jesus calls us back. He wants me to be as merciful to others, as my heavenly Father is merciful to me. The first time that truth dawned on me as I, together with two other young men, was on the road in the car of an old and wise preacher. Suddenly another driver crossed our way and we thought that he would surely hit us. The preacher slammed the breaks and as the cars came to a halt, they stood bumper to bumper, but none was damaged. The three of us just wanted to badmouth the driver, as the wise old man said with a calm clear voice: “Dear Lord Jesus, bless that man and guide him safely home, despite his driving style.” We sat there speechless and felt that the car was filled with the glory of God.

Nietzsche was dead wrong. Whoever can be meek and merciful has learned from Jesus how to love and how to cling to meekness and mercy of our Lord. Here is virtue that can only come from love and goodness. The Apostle Paul makes in Romans 2 clear that nobody who judges others can escape the judgment of God. He writes in verse four: “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Whoever can be meek and merciful has overcome vice with the love of God and is destined to spread the great gospel of Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I do thank you and praise you for your mercy and meekness towards me and your invitation to learn from you. You know my tendency to be judgmental and I pray for the strength to see through the imperfection of my fellow humans, so that I can discover your wonderful creations with which you have surrounded me and blessed me. Amen

How do I love God?

 An Emoji Devotions for Sat 9th January

Topic: How do I love God?

By H.U.Wenger

Introduction:

Most of the time we do know, how to love our spouses, our kids and even the people around us, especially those, we like. We know, how we can give them joy and appreciation. But how can I love God as I am supposed to?

Highlights:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22: 36 – 40)


We cannot see the Father and his Son with our physical eyes. We cannot have a dialog with them the same way we can communicate with the people around us and many do therefore not believe that we can love God wholeheartedly, with all our emotions and with our thinking. This attitude is, however, just a mistake of how many of us look at God and at the world. Because so many injustices and crimes happen among men, we think that God is rather distant and largely indifferent to all that happens among people. This is fundamentally wrong. Whenever we consider how God loves us as human beings, we will be flabbergasted with what he has done and is doing for us. We will be overwhelmed by his love and by how his mind is set to save everybody, who calls upon him. He became one of us to learn firsthand about all our afflictions and troubles. He remained victorious in all of it and paid all our iniquities and sins with his flesh and blood on the cross of Calvary. When he died there, he did it for you and for me. Whoever calls upon his name and is willing to learn from him shall be saved for eternity. In him our death is undone and life eternal is offered and freely given. In considering these facts, our love to him will grow and be deepened every time we bring our mind to recall the facts. Jesus told us: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14, 23) It is his love that is fundamental not our love! “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. We love because he first loved us.” (1. John 4, 9.19)

Another chance to love God, is to love the people he gave around us regardless how much we like or dislike them. This is often not as easy as it sounds, but whenever it is done, it is victorious.

A Christian Chinese Rice farmer had his rice field on the top of a mountain. Right beneath him a ruthless neighbor had his field. Every day, our farmer pumped his field on the top of the hill, full with water. When he was done, his neighbor went and made a hole into the separating wall and so all the water flowed down to his field. One day our Christian farmer could not take it anymore and he went to the pastor for counsel. The pastor had much understanding for the farmers frustration, but he told him that tomorrow, he should pump first the neighbors field full and then his own. The farmer did not like the counsel much, but lead by the spirit he promised to do it. After two more days had passed, the ruthless neighbor visited the pastor, telling him that he could not take it anymore and that he wants the same strength and power like his Christian neighbor.

Prayer: Dear God, help me to understand your love to me more deeply, so that I can love you wholeheartedly with all my soul and mind and my neighbor as myself. Help me to win the people around me for you with the depth of your love. Amen

The Bible From Heaven

 An Emoji Devotion for Fri 8th January, 2020

Topic: The Bible From Heaven.

By C.C. Thompson

Highlight:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7. 

God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do this work. He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was intrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, none the less, from Heaven.... The obedient, believing child of God beholds in it [the testimony of God] the glory of a divine power, full of grace and truth. 

The writers of the Bible had to express their ideas in human language. It was written by human men. These men were inspired of the Holy Spirit. Because of the imperfections of human understanding of language, or the perversity of the human mind, ingenious in evading truth, many read and understand the Bible to please themselves. It is not that the difficulty is in the Bible.

The Scriptures were given to men, not in a continuous chain of unbroken utterances, but piece by piece through successive generations, as God in His providence saw a fitting opportunity to impress man at sundry times and divers places. Men wrote as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost.

There is not always perfect order or apparent unity in the Scriptures.... The truths of the Bible are as pearls hidden. They must be searched, dug out by painstaking effort. Those who take only a surface view of the Scriptures will, with their superficial knowledge, which they think is very deep, talk of the contradictions of the Bible, and question the authority of the Scriptures. But those whose hearts are in harmony with truth and duty will search the Scriptures with a heart prepared to receive divine impressions. The illuminated soul sees a spiritual unity, one grand golden thread running through the whole, but it requires patience, thought, and prayer to trace out the precious golden thread.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for Your inspired written Word. Please help us to live them out in our daily lives, in Jesus Name. Amen.