Posts with the tag “grace”
Earthly and Eternal Rewards: The Blessings of Obedience
by Delman Coates on August 29th, 2023
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:17 A common misconception is that the rewards for obedience to God are solely eternal. While the promise of eternal life and heavenly rewards are indeed glorious, God’s blessings for obedience are not confined to the afterlife. They manifest in our e... Read More
0
Empowered to Break Free: Freedom from Sin through Christ
by Delman Coates on August 26th, 2023
“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” - Romans 6:14 One of the most liberating truths we can embrace as believers is that God has given us the power to be set free from sin. Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we have been redeemed from the bondage of sin and empowered to live in freedom. Sin, with its deceptive allure, can often make ... Read More
0
Consistency in Prayer
by Delman Coates on August 13th, 2023
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Prayer is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal, but its power is not fully harnessed when we only turn to it in times of need or trouble. Consistency in prayer is crucial for a thriving relationship with God. Consistent prayer keeps our hear... Read More
0
Unveiling the Power of Persistence
by Delman Coates on July 20th, 2023
"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." - Luke 18:1 In our journey of faith, prayer plays a vital role. It is through prayer that we commune with our Heavenly Father, seek His guidance, and lay our burdens at His feet. Yet, the importance of perseverance in prayer is often overlooked. Let us explore the significance of praying with unwavering ... Read More
0
Promoting Reconciliation in the Church
by Delman Coates on June 20th, 2023
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" - 2 Corinthians 5:18 As believers, we are called to promote reconciliation in the church. This means seeking to restore broken relationships with one another, just as God restored our relationship with Him through Christ. Reconciliation is not just a nice thing to do, it is an essential... Read More
0
Promoting Healing in the Church
by Delman Coates on June 19th, 2023
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." - Psalm 147:3 As members of a church, it is our responsibility to create a space where healing can take place. Many individuals carry heavy burdens, wounds from their past that have not fully healed, and mistakes that they cannot seem to overcome. However, we must remind ourselves that God's grace is available to all who ask for it. We serve... Read More
0
Valuing People Over Compliance
by Delman Coates on June 14th, 2023
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8 The church is meant to be a safe haven for all people, regardless of their past or current struggles. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Too often, churches become more focused on enforcing strict rules and regulations rather tha... Read More
0
Lift Each Other Up
by Ministry Support on June 9th, 2023
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 The Bible is filled with examples of people who lifted up those around them. One of the most notable examples is Barnabas. In Acts 4:36-37, we learn that Barnabas sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles to be used for the needs of the early church. But Barnabas did... Read More
0
Authenticity in the Church
by Ministry Support on June 7th, 2023
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." - Matthew 23:27-28 As followers of Christ, we are called to be a... Read More
0
Hope Gives Us Access
by Delman Coates on March 7th, 2023
“Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” - Romans 5:2 Godly hope is not just wishful thinking. It is not a groundless expectation. It is based upon the sure promises that God has given us in His Word; promises to be in us and promises to be for us. And when our lives are anchored in godly hope – in that whic... Read More
0
See It Themselves
by Ministry Support on February 9th, 2023
“Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” - John 11:40 Have you ever met someone who does not believe what you say until they have seen it with their own eyes? These people might label themselves as “cautious,” but in reality, they are just naturally skeptical. They refuse to believe until their own eyes have seen. These are the type of people t... Read More
0
When They Miss The Mark
by Ministry Support on January 8th, 2023
“They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’” - John 8:7 Over the past week, we have discussed the futility of perfectionism. As human beings, we are not and cannot be perfect. If we make perfection our goal, we are setting ourselves up for failure. God has set us free from the strenuous law of the Old Test... Read More
0
God Will Show Up
by Ministry Support on April 2nd, 2022
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” - Revelation 3:20As we discussed yesterday, God is not just “out there somewhere.” He is a personal God who wants a personal relationship with you. Unlike a doctor, when you need God, you do not have to go find Him. He will come to you. However, there ... Read More
0
Setup For A Comeback
by Ministry Support on December 28th, 2021
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28 Every March, one of the biggest sporting events of the year takes place—the NCAA National Basketball Tournament, better known as “March Madness.” People from all over the country, whether they watch basketball or not, fill out brackets and try to predict roun... Read More
0
Extending Grace
by Ministry Support on December 27th, 2021
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:8-9 Billy Graham was driving through a town one day and was pulled over for going ... Read More
0
Promoters of a Second Chance
by Ministry Support on October 31st, 2021
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9 As Christians, we should strive to be more like Jesus. One of the ways we can do this in a way that encourages, challenges, and strengthens other Christians, is to help release people to their future rather than holding them hostage to their past. Instead of punishing ... Read More
0
Are You Walking Away?
by Ministry Support on October 30th, 2021
“…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 3:22-24 Are you walking away from the church or removing yourself from a Christian friend group? Maybe you made a mistake (even a big one), and you cannot stand to hear the judgment and lectur... Read More
0
People…Or Precedence?
by Ministry Support on October 29th, 2021
“…But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still st... Read More
0
I’m Getting My Power Back
by Ministry Support on August 21st, 2021
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” - Isaiah 40:31 Earlier this year, a power outage gripped the state of Texas. There were massive utility failures, water and food shortages, and frigid temperatures that threatened the lives of citizens in one of the nation’s most popul... Read More
0
The Blessing Of Reward
by Ministry Support on April 14th, 2021
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11-12)As we wrap up our list of five blessings from the Son of God, I want us to consider the blessing of reward. Look at ver... Read More
0
Religious Perfectionism
by Ministry Support on February 3rd, 2021
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)Religious perfectionism was the dominant spiritual stronghold that people struggled with during the time of Paul’s ministry, and it’s an issue that many of us as believers still struggle with today. This kind of perfectionism was the... Read More
0
Pursue Depth
by Ministry Support on January 11th, 2021
Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Matthew 20:30-31) The two blind men in Matthew chapter 20 are proof that your breakthrough will come when you decide that you want s... Read More
0
The Church’s Impact On The Community
by Ministry Support on January 6th, 2021
They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:45-47) With so much division, conflict, and hatred infilt... Read More
0
Watering Fake Relationships
by Ministry Support on December 16th, 2020
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) A friend of mine has a 3-year-old daughter, and like all 3-year-olds, she does everything she sees her grandmother do. Her grandmother loves flowers, so my friend bought the little one a plastic flower set he saw in a toy store. What her dad did not know was that his little girl would take whatever liquid she could find and try to... Read More
0
We All Have Scars
by Ministry Support on October 18th, 2020
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. – Proverbs 4:25-26 If we want to experience true healing from our past pain and suffering, we must be willing to confront the brokenness of our lives with a sense of courage and a willingness to go through the process of change. Now I know what... Read More
0
Show Compassion
by Ministry Support on September 26th, 2020
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32) Yesterday we talked about Peter and John stopping to help the lame beggar outside of the temple. So today, I want us to take a closer look at a very specific part of this story, and ... Read More
0
Praying For Sinners
by Ministry Support on August 3rd, 2020
In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the foreigner and mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths. In you are slanderers who are bent on shedding blood; in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts. In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed; in you are those who... Read More
0
So What If You’re Not Perfect?
by Ministry Support on June 24th, 2020
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) In her book, The Gifts ... Read More
0
Our Need For God
by Ministry Support on June 15th, 2020
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8) What would your life be like if you were perfect? What would your day-to-day look like? How would you make your decisions? Who would you spend time with? Most likely, your life would look very different if you were perfect, because as of right now, you’re not perfect at all. But have you ever considered ... Read More
0
Living Hope
by Ministry Support on June 14th, 2020
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3) When we feel burdened by our sin, when we are overwhelmed with guilt and shame from our mistakes, it can be so easy to fall into feeling hopeless. We lose sight of what good could come from our terrible circu... Read More
0
Faults Aren’t Final
by Ministry Support on June 7th, 2020
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect... Read More
0
Don’t Disqualify Yourself
by Ministry Support on June 5th, 2020
God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3:15) In the passage preceding today’s key verse, Moses is standing before a burning bush telling God everything that’s wrong with himself. Think... Read More
0
A Compassionate And Gracious God
by Ministry Support on June 1st, 2020
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15) Have you ever taken the time to really think about how gracious God is towards you? Even if you tried to think about it, there’s no way you could fully grasp and fathom just how gracious, merciful, and loving the Lord is towards you and every other one of His children. This is su... Read More
0
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2023
January
The Disease of PerfectionismThe Perfect WaveJust StartJust the Way You AreYou Are FreeThe Blessing of ImperfectionDon’t Go Back!When They Miss The MarkSee It ThemselvesValueLove Your EnemiesQualified by GodCan You Just Enjoy the Trip?Greater is HeEveryone Has a Story to TellWho Needs Your Story?It All Has PurposeThe Shoulders on Which We StandRemember Your PastGreater Than UsAre You a Worrier?God is in ControlEven The BirdsHis WillHis WayHis TimeDo Not Be AnxiousLook Beyond the BarrierThank HimThe Peace of GodGuard Your HeartGuard Your Mind
February
Keep on TickingStoned but Not StoppedSomeone Needs Your EndingGuaranteed VictoryNext in LineYou’re That ImportantIt’s Not That EasyContinue in the FaithSee It ThemselvesAnyone Can Do ThatSeeing is Not BelievingHERE and NOWThings Not SeenNothing Can Stop YouWill You Stay in The Game?You Never ImaginedYou Can Live...With ItBounce BackYou Don’t Have to WaitYou Don’t Need PermissionHe Can Handle ItA God of ComfortHe Sees YouHe Secures YouHe Shows YouHiding in HolinessFreedom in ChristRoom For a Miracle
March
A God of HopeImpossible to PleaseAnything is PossibleA Powerful PostureUnfinishedHope Anchors Our LivesHope Gives Us AccessHope Enables PerseveranceWaiting With ExpectationStuck on What’s BehindTomorrow’s ScriptStill PossibleStill TrueYou Have Favor"I’m Good"You Missed ItThe Pain of RegretMissing JesusThe Back BurnerKnowledge Isn’t EnoughProfits and PromotionsThe One You MissGO NOWWhat Are You Looking For?Call on HimWorth the WaitHe is Not SlowWaiting on YOUDo You Still Believe?Remaining in God’s PresenceEverything You Need