Tag Archives: Christian Discipleship

Devotion to God

Walk by the Spirit, Not by the Flesh

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh”(Galatians 5:16, NASB).

Beloved brothers and sisters, you have been called into the freedom of Christ—not a freedom that serves the flesh, but a freedom that submits to the Spirit! Have you not received the very presence of God within you? “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, NASB). If this is true, why do you still struggle against the fruit of righteousness?

The Spirit has been given, and His fruit is evident—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are not mere ideals but the very evidence of God’s work in you. Yet many still return to strife, to envy, to the empty boastings of the flesh. But “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24, NASB). If you are in Christ, then the old self is dead! So why would you return to what has been nailed to the cross?

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25, NASB). It is not enough to claim the name of Christ while walking in the ways of the world. Your conduct must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2, NASB). There is no room for arrogance, for provocation, or for envy among the people of God (Galatians 5:26). These things belong to the darkness, and “what partnership does righteousness have with lawlessness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14, NASB).

Examine yourselves, then! “Every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:17, NASB). Has the fruit of the Spirit increased in you? Or do you still find the thorns of the flesh rising up? Do not be deceived—a tree is known by its fruit. If the Spirit of God dwells within you, let Him produce a life that testifies to His power. Abide in Him, and He will abide in you! (John 15:4).

May the grace of Yeshua be with you, strengthening you to walk in the Spirit all the days of your life. Amen.

See Also

Love, The Pursuit

Love the Lord with Your Whole Being

What Does It Mean to Love God with Your Whole Heart? Loving the Lord with your whole being is a profound and transformative experience.

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one [the only God]! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being].” – Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (AMP)

God is not divided, nor is He one among many. He alone is the true and living God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and He calls for your complete devotion. The greatest commandment is not a suggestion—it is a call to love the Lord with every part of your being.

But do you truly love Him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength? Or have you offered Him only a portion while keeping the rest for yourself? God does not want lukewarm love; He calls for an all-consuming devotion. Jesus reaffirmed this in the New Testament, saying:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” – Matthew 22:37 (NASB)

Nothing less than everything belongs to Him.

God Held Nothing Back—Will You?

God gave everything for you. The proof is in Jesus Christ:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (NASB)

God did not hold back His only Son. He gave everything so that you might live. Will you now hesitate to give Him your whole life?

The Holy Spirit is still calling, still convicting, still transforming lives.

“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” – Hebrews 3:15 (NASB)

Yet the world tempts you to hold back—to divide your heart, to love God when it is convenient. But God demands your whole being. He is worthy of nothing less than your full surrender.

Jesus said:

“If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23 (NASB)

This is the love God desires—a love that lays everything down, seeks Him above all else, and forsakes sin to follow Christ completely.

Do Not Hesitate—Respond to His Call

Do not be one who hears and refuses to respond! If hell is real, if sin is death, if the blood of Jesus was the price of salvation—will you hesitate?

Tear down every idol. Forsake every distraction. Let your love for Him be total, consuming, and undivided. This is the only love worthy of the Lord your God.

Understanding the Command: A Word Study on Loving God

A deeper look into the original Hebrew words in Deuteronomy 6:5 reveals the full depth of God’s command:

1. “Love” (אָהַב – ahav)

  • Ahav is more than an emotional feeling—it is a devoted, covenantal love that includes loyalty and action.
  • It is the same kind of love God commands in Deuteronomy 6:5, which Jesus later reaffirms in Matthew 22:37.
  • Loving God is not passive—it is a wholehearted commitment that shapes every thought, decision, and action.

2. “Heart” (לֵבָב – levav)

  • In Hebrew, the heart is not just emotions—it includes the mind, will, and intellect.
  • Loving God with all your heart means surrendering every thought and desire to Him.
  • Scripture commands us: “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB)

3. “Soul” (נֶפֶשׁ – nephesh)

  • Nephesh means “life” or “whole being.” It includes emotions, personality, and the very breath of life.
  • Loving God with all your soul means giving Him everything that makes you who you are.
  • “Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” – Psalm 103:1 (NASB)

4. “Strength” (מְאֹד – me’od)

  • Me’od doesn’t just mean physical strength—it means “muchness,” intensity, and everything that you are.
  • It is a call to love God with all your energy, resources, time, and ability.
  • This is the kind of devotion seen in Luke 9:23, where Jesus says: “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Bringing It All Together: A Call to Total Devotion

Loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength is not optional—it is a command. It is a love that consumes everything in you.

This is the love Jesus demonstrated when He laid down His life for you. This is the love the Holy Spirit ignites when you surrender to Him.

God has given everything for you. Will you hold anything back?

A Prayer of Total Surrender

Holy Spirit, search me and expose every place where my love is divided. Let me not be deaf to Your voice or resistant to Your transforming power. Fill me, consume me, and make me wholly devoted to the One who alone is worthy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

See Also

Spiritual

Are You Living in the Fullness of God’s Grace?

Beloved, have you considered how deeply God has equipped you for His purposes? Living in the fullness of God’s grace means recognizing the Scripture filled with testimonies of His power to transform, enrich, and empower His people. In 1 Corinthians 1:5-7, the Apostle Paul reminds us that in Christ, we are “exceedingly enriched in Him, in all speech and in all knowledge” and that “you are not lacking in any spiritual gift.” This grace is not theoretical—it is active, practical, and transformative. The question remains: Are you using the gifts God has poured into your life?

God’s Power in Speech and Knowledge

When God called Moses, He reminded him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” (Exodus 4:11). God is the One who empowers our speech and understanding. Just as He touched Daniel’s lips, enabling him to speak (Daniel 10:16), and opened Zechariah’s mouth to proclaim His glory (Luke 1:64), He has given you the ability to declare His truth boldly. This is part of living in the fullness of God’s grace. Will you speak as the Spirit leads, trusting His words to flow through you?

The early church understood this. At Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4). Peter, who once denied Christ in fear, stood boldly and proclaimed the gospel because the Spirit empowered him (Acts 4:31). Just as Joel prophesied, “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh… your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17), God has poured His Spirit into you to proclaim His greatness. This is the essence of living in the fullness of God’s grace.

The Call to Excellence in Faith and Action

Paul challenges us to excel in every grace, including speech, knowledge, and love (2 Corinthians 8:7). These gifts are not for personal glory but to reflect the glory of God. Jeremiah understood this when God said, “If you return, I will restore you—before Me you will stand; and if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman” (Jeremiah 15:19). God refines and empowers those who faithfully obey.

Isaiah declared, “Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy” (Isaiah 35:6). This is not just a future promise but a present reality for those who trust in Christ. When you open your mouth, God gives you “a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict” (Luke 21:15). Will you trust Him to speak through you and embrace living in the fullness of God’s grace?

The Invitation to Walk in the Spirit

To live in God’s fullness, you must eagerly desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1). Pray for opportunities to share His Word and for boldness to speak the truth. Paul himself prayed, “Pray also for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). When you align yourself with God’s will, He will open doors for His message to be shared (Colossians 4:3).

The psalmist said, “They will overflow [like a fountain] with the fame of Your abundant goodness and will sing aloud of Your righteousness” (Psalm 145:7). Beloved, this is your calling—to overflow with the goodness of God by living in the fullness of God’s grace, to speak boldly, and to act faithfully.

A Challenge to Act

Today, I challenge you to:

  1. Pray for boldness to use your gifts in speech and action.
  2. Meditate on God’s Word and seek His wisdom, just as the Spirit gave insight to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:27).
  3. Speak courageously, knowing that God’s power works through you (Acts 10:34).

God is faithful, and He has called you into fellowship with His Son (1 Corinthians 1:9). You lack nothing in Christ. So, step into His grace, trust His Spirit, and commit to living in the fullness of God’s grace and for His glory. The time is now to let His light shine through you. Will you rise to the challenge? Speak, act, and trust that He will sustain you to the end!

See Also

Humility

Boast in the Lord and Walk in Divine Favor

Embrace God’s Grace and Divine Favor

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, today, I call you to deeply reflect on the abundant grace that God has poured out upon us through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches us a powerful truth: our boasting should be in the Lord alone. This call to boast in the Lord is not simply a suggestion; it is a divine mandate for everyone who has experienced the transformative power of God’s grace. In a world that often glorifies self-promotion and personal achievements, the Bible redirects us to a different kind of boasting—one that honors God and magnifies His divine favor.

The Biblical Foundation of Divine Favor

From the beginning of the biblical narrative, we see the unmistakable mark of God’s favor upon the lives of His chosen people. Consider the story of Abel. His sacrifice was acceptable to God because of the favor upon him (Genesis 4:4). Then, there is Noah, who was preserved through the flood—not because of his own merit—but because he found favor in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). Abraham, our father in faith, received the promise that through him, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). These examples clearly show that divine favor is not something we can earn through human effort; it is a gift, a manifestation of God’s sovereign grace and mercy.

Boasting in the Lord: Paul’s Example

When we look at the life of the Apostle Paul, we see a man who fully understood the importance of boasting in the Lord. Paul, who was once a zealous persecutor of the church, became one of its most passionate apostles—not by his own strength—but by the grace and favor of God. He recognized that all his achievements and accolades were insignificant compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. Paul’s life serves as a living testimony of what it means to boast in the Lord and to live under the shadow of divine favor. In his letters, Paul constantly exhorts the early church to glory not in themselves but in the cross of Christ, by which they were crucified to the world, and the world to them (Galatians 6:14).

A Call for All Believers

This call to boast in the Lord is not just for the apostles or the early church; it is for all believers. As we trace the theme of divine favor throughout the Scriptures, we see a consistent pattern. Joseph, for example, was favored by God even when he was sold into slavery and thrown into prison. Despite his difficult circumstances, Joseph prospered because the Lord was with him (Genesis 39:21). Similarly, Moses found favor in God’s sight and was chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, despite his feelings of inadequacy (Exodus 33:12). These stories remind us that God’s favor is not dependent on our circumstances or abilities. Instead, it is His gift to those He has called according to His purpose.

Responding to God’s Favor: A Life of Praise

The psalmist beautifully captures this truth when he says, “In God we have boasted all the day long, and we will give thanks to Your name forever” (Psalm 44:8). This verse highlights that the proper response to God’s favor is a life filled with continual praise and thanksgiving. When we recognize that everything we have—our salvation, our blessings, and our very breath—is a result of God’s favor, our natural response should be to boast in Him alone.

Boasting in the Lord in the New Testament

In the New Testament, the theme of boasting in the Lord continues to unfold. Jesus, our perfect example, grew in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). His life was marked by humility, obedience, and a deep reliance on the Father. As followers of Christ, we are called to walk in this same favor. The early church experienced tremendous growth and impact, not because of their strategies or plans, but because “the hand of the Lord was with them” (Acts 11:21). This divine favor was evident in their preaching, their fellowship, and their witness to the world.

How to Boast in the Lord Today

So, what does it mean for us today to boast in the Lord and walk in His favor? First, we must recognize that everything we are and everything we have is a gift from God. Our talents, opportunities, and successes all result from His favor. Therefore, our boasting should not be in our achievements or status, but in the Lord, who makes all things possible.

Living a Life That Honors God

Walking in divine favor means living a life that honors God. The Scriptures are clear that God’s favor rests upon those who seek Him, walk in His ways, and live in obedience to His Word. Proverbs 3:4 tells us, “So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.” This favor is not just for our benefit; it is meant to glorify God and draw others to Him.

Embrace Humility in Boasting

Finally, boasting in the Lord and walking in His favor requires a heart of humility. The Apostle Paul reminds us that it is by grace we have been saved, through faith—and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). We have no grounds for pride or self-glory. Our only boast is in the Lord, who has done great things for us.

A Call to Action and Prayer

As we reflect on these truths, I call you, dear brothers and sisters, to live lives that boast in the Lord. Let your lives be a testimony of His grace and favor. In a world that values self-promotion and personal glory, let us be a people who point to Jesus as the source of all that is good in our lives. Remember that our boasting is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, who works in us to will and to act according to God’s good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts, acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes from You. We thank You for the divine favor that You have lavished upon us, not because of our righteousness, but because of Your great love and mercy. Teach us, Lord, to boast only in You, to glory only in the cross of Christ. May our lives be a reflection of Your grace, a testament to the world of Your favor.

Father, we ask that You strengthen us to walk in the path You have set before us, filled with Your Spirit, living under the shadow of Your wings. Let our every word, thought, and action declare Your glory. And as we go forth, may we always remember that it is not by our might, nor by our power, but by Your Spirit that we live and move and have our being.

We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

Referenced Scriptures:

  1. Genesis 4:4 – “And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering.” (NIV)
  2. Genesis 6:8 – “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (NIV)
  3. Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (NIV)
  4. Genesis 39:21 – “The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” (NIV)
  5. Exodus 33:12 – “Moses said to the Lord, ‘You have been telling me, “Lead these people,” but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, “I know you by name and you have found favor with me.”‘” (NIV)
  6. Galatians 6:14 – “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (ESV)
  7. Psalm 44:8 – “In God we have boasted all day long, and we will give thanks to Your name forever.” (NASB)
  8. Luke 2:52 – “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (ESV)
  9. Acts 11:21 – “The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” (NIV)
  10. Proverbs 3:4 – “So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.” (NASB)
  11. Ephesians 2:8 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (NIV)
  12. Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (NIV)

These verses provide a solid foundation for understanding the profound themes of divine favor and boasting in the Lord. Each scripture reflects the rich tapestry of God’s grace throughout history and how His favor continues to manifest in the lives of those who trust in Him.