Am I righteous? Am I just?

 An Emoji Devotions for SUN 7th February, 2021

Topic: Am I righteous? Am I just?

By H.U. Wenger

The steaks for being righteous are high and most of us would probably answer very reluctantly and prudently to the question. We know too well about our biases, about our likes and dislikes and the small or sometimes big injustices that result from them. Normally I consider myself as a non-discriminating guy against others, but recently I have woken to a horrible truth about me that gave me the shivers. I sat in a preaching and it struck me as boring and without deep thoughts. I felt how my anger was stirred and I came to the conclusion that the guy is unfit for preaching. I reasoned that I could say much more even with absolutely no preparation. Right then he began to talk about our tendency for haughtiness, pride and self-conceit and he confessed, that he struggles with the very facts mostly in traffic, when he feels surrounded foremost by morons and people, who are totally unfit for driving. I was immediately convicted by the spirit of the Lord. A multitude of instances flooded my mind, in which my internal attitude was totally arrogant and self-satisfied. Sure, I did not utter words, but the Lord sees our heart our heart determines everything we are doing.

 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4, 23) After the sermon I had to repent immediately. I was crushed by the fact that under scrutiny, my behavior was not even just, let alone righteous.

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus says to his disciples: “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5, 20) If we want to know, who we really are and what we really want, we need to have a close look into what we are doing on a daily bases.

 To enter the kingdom of heaven we need to be righteous. It is not enough to be civil, decent and self-respecting. We need to be loving and merciful towards others as Jesus was, while walking the earth. The problem is that our fallen nature is unable to do all of that. Jesus gives therefore his own righteousness to everybody who wants to earnestly walk with him. Even more, he makes our hearts and souls to the temple of his Holy Spirit. We are made holy, not in our deeds, but in our estate before the Father in heaven. Jesus righteousness becomes my righteousness and this enables me to live already in the kingdom of heaven in the spirit.
 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. (Romans 3, 21-24)

As the preachers and my example show, the worldly spirit tries always to ensnare and to deceive us. We can fall into the trap of complacency and egomania without being alarmed by it. We can even consider ourselves as well balanced with the sins of pride, haughtiness and self-deceit, but we have lost the dynamics of being salt and light for the world. People around us are only drawn to God by encountering the liberating character of Jesus Christ. How should they encounter it, if I do not live it out wholeheartedly?

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your mercy and grace. You have given to me, your righteousness for free. Please help me live out your character and be salt and light for the people around me. Thank you for your forgiveness for my pride and arrogance. Without you, I cannot do anything of value. Amen.

Dangerous Family Politics

 An Emoji Devotions for Sat 6th February,2021

Topic: Dangerous Family Politics

Highlights:

As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."

Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?"
1 Samuel 18:7-8

You wonder why some family are shattered today? It's simply because the parents have made one of the siblings powerless by singing praise of the other. In the inward truth the plan is to stir up passion and to motivate the weaker one but in so doing, some brothers and sisters have hated each other. King Saul and David were not family by blood but by anointing.

What could he have more, some women (not all the women in the country) have sang praise of David more than King Saul and given to the king fewer credit to the shepherd boy.  In order words we must warn our family members to beware of praise singers of men who could cause rift between peaceful family. Christian elders should  beware of powerful factors in the causes which could lead to unhingment of mind in family.

King Saul later became mentally unbalanced and almost took David's life in the cause of taking back his credit. He totally lost it all because of political praise singers.

Prayer: Help me Lord to be mentally stable through peace found in the Salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bring God's presence

An Emoji Devotions for Fri, 5 February 2021

Topic: Bring God's presence

Highlights

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

This is how it works. When you want God's presence you should be determined that money will not control your feelings, actions and reactions.

Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

A needle eye is too small for a rich man or woman to pass because there is no red carpet and no paparazzi? That's the phrase. They cannot just squeeze themselves to stand a boring place. "No, I can't", "I need my bodyguards!" This is not a designer product" I'm allergic to body odor, My MakeUp is not enough! That car is not Porsche. Their hand shakes because they have no time to  pass a thread through the needles eye.

Some are sorrowful because they have no money and they become spiritually irresponsible because they are desperate for money. Many have lost their salvation because they cannot be trusted with money. They forgot God the giver of life and money.

When there's no more conscience because of money. What will you do when you get into trouble?

The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

Remember that what makes you a true Christian is when you bring God's presence to them. Do not let people regret having relationship with you because of money!

Prayer:

Lord I pray, do not let your presence leave me for life and help me to transmit your presence in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Battles on Bottles

 An Emoji Devotions for Thu 4 February, 2020

Topic: Battles on Bottles

Highlights: 

Remember your Creator

    in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

    and the years approach when you will say,

    “I find no pleasure in them Ecclesiastes 12:1

Before you open that bottle remember you are going for a battle because wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades;

when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint, when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Remember your creator on when you are still looking good and reasoning rightly so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in you, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:4

Prayer: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be sufficient for me. Amen

Don't kick against the goads

 An Emoji Devotions for Wed January 3, 2021

Topic: Don't kick against the goads

Highlights:

We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' Acts 26:14

When a stubborn ox attempts to kick back against the goad that is causing it discomfort, the ox will actually inflict more pain, driving the pointed end deeper into its flesh. Your body is the temple and God has set parameters. The real you, is a soul housing the body. There are rules to obey if the the soul still wants to control it's body. A little flu could be life threatening. It is a pointless battle when you break the rules of your body and still wants to enjoy it. Kicking against the goads is like going against the master plan.

As a Christian who has received Christ into our lives. We have been identified with Christ. As He is pure so we must be pure. We must filter out substances of spiritual impurities that leads to kicking against the set down goads. Christ spirit is now dwelling in you and there is a master plan. (That Christ will find you if you are lost)

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people

Same way Apostle Paul was cautioned by our Lord that he id truly fighting for God he need not to persecute God's people. Paul's intention was misunderstood by his soul while he persecute Jesus's disciples. Then God said if you are God's temple, Come out from them (hypocrisy) and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.

That might be you, you love the Lord but seems to misunderstood your objectives as a child of God. Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you." Luke 9:50

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven. You own time and the master plan. Help me in my objectives and grant me grace and mercy to be on the right path in Jesus name. Hallelujah. Amen

Day before the day

An Emoji Devotions for Tue 2nd February, 2020

Topic: Day before the day.

Highlights:

I saw a dream and it made me fearful; and these fantasies as I lay on my bed and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. Daniel 4:5

Somehow I believe that dreams shows us future events. Day before the day those important event would unfold, there was a warning that's probably not observed. In Matthew 2:13-14 There was a time King Herod would have his bad plan to kill little Jesus, When they (The three wise men) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” The next day Joseph took his family at night and they left for Egypt.

For some reasons, tomorrow is certain for everyone but God is the greatest one who holds tomorrow.  While some  eventually make their dream a reality, it takes God grace to sustain their dreams.

 Example was King Nebuchadnezzar who had his dream interpreted through Daniel the prophet and yet fell into the pit of his omen. He failed to recognise God as the supreme controller of life and universe. "Look at Babylon! I built this great city. It is my palace. I built this great place by my power. I built this place to show how great I am".  Daniel 4:30

In moments of euphoria, Nebuchadnezzar forgot he was warned in his dream Day before the day. He lived in a great city and he acclaimed all glory to himself. As he was yet speaking His dream was instantly fulfilled. Daniel 4:31-32 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox.... At the end of the time, Nebuchadnezzar praised the most high. (Verse Dan 4:33-35)

Time will not permit me to talk about Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Nathan, Ezekiel, Amos and so on who had dreams. I am here to tell you three things. Always be thankful to God for yesterday and glorify him for tomorrow. Look into the future through his word (The Holy Bible).

The Bible contains information about past, present and future of creation and it's inspired by the Holy Spirit. Today, the Bible have been given to us all. Once you devote your time to read the Holy Bible, God will speak to you. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing (reading and watching) by the word of God. Romans 10:17

I do tell people that the solution to their problems is all written inside the Bible only if they had the power to open and read it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, am thankful for yesterday, today, and forever. Thank you very much for all you have done for me. Give me grace to hear from you through the Holy Bible. I am very grateful to you in Jesus name. Amen.

The Build-up

 An Emoji Devotions for Mon February 1, 2021

Topic: The Build-up

Highlights

Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Matthew 24:28

Beware when the vultures begin to gather. This is a spiritual term indicating that a sin has caused a spiritual lightening. When your mind is pushing you to do what you know is wrong, vultures will gather. Vultures don't know who is who, all they want is feed on dead bodies. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

When things has already gone and the lightening has struck, you only need to remember the encouraging words of the prodigal son, "I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you." Luke 15:18

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; Ephesians 6:16

Prayer: Lord I hid my life in Jesus. Let your spirit guide and protect spirit. I trust in you. Amen