DEVOTIONAL

Prayer: Father thank you for all that you have done in my life so far. Thank you for this new day. Help me to live in such a way it will bring glory to your name and will you please speak to me and lead in the path of righteousness and Father God, I come before your throne of grace and mercy, I confess and acknowledge I have sinned against you in thought and deed, today I ask to forgive me and, in your grace, purify my heart, cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. And in your great love lead me and help me to walk in the paths of righteousness, so that I may bring glory to you the one triune God. Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy. I now receive your forgiveness and mercy in the name of my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ 

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: Psalm 62:1-2

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will never be shaken.”                                                       

Worship Song Sung or Said: I Give You My Heart (Reuben Morgan)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHMjhz8aHTw

This is my desire
To honor You
Lord, with all my heart
I worship You
All I have within me
I give You praise
All that I adore
Is in You

Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for you alone
And every breath that I take
Every moment I'm awake
Lord, have Your way in me

This is my desire
To honor You
Lord, with all my heart
I worship You
All I have within me
I give You praise
All that I adore
Is in You

Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for you alone
Every breath that I take
Every moment I'm awake
Lord, have Your way in me

And I will live
And I will live for You
And I will live

And I will live for You

Oh and I will live
And I will live

And I will live for You

Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soul, I live for You alone
Every breath that I take, every moment I'm awake
Lord, have Your way in me

Have Your way
Have Your way, have Your way

God’s Word for Today: 1 Corinthians 2:2 

"he said For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” 

Devotional/Study: (Part 1)

I love reading Pauls letters because you discover his love and passion for God, His people, and the gospel. His desire was to know Christ. Over the last year or so, I have been reading some of the letters of Paul the apostle and have grown to love and appreciate his teachings and really admire how is passion overflowed into every area of his life and ministry. His passion for God and His love for Jesus and the church compelled him to proclaim Jesus throughout the Roman world even though it would mean many hardships, trials, and persecution and even death. 

We read in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 "24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.” 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move.” I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.” 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” 

Paul was an amazing person, even before he encountered Christ, he was full of passion for his faith. In Galatians 1:14 he said, "I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.”

His love and passion for the Lord made him willing to suffer and die for Jesus. It was this passion that motivated him to sacrifice everything for the sake of the one he loved and followed the Lord Jesus. 

How passionate are we for the Lord?

Paul lived for Christ and everything he did while on earth was in the name of Jesus and to glorify Him. He said in Colossians 3:16 "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.”

It seems to me Paul’s passion and desire was to glorify Jesus and for Jesus to be exalted in everything he did in his life and even in his death. I was wondering when we look at our lives, do we do everything for the Glorify of God.  Do we seek to honour in our words and deed?  A Christian leaders said We should live in order to display the supreme worth and beauty and glory of God. (John Piper). I think it is good to evaluate why do we do what we do and what we do why do we do it. 

Pause for prayer: Everything we do in life; does it glorify Jesus? In what ways can we bring glory and honour to Jesus?

For Paul, nothing was more precious than knowing Jesus. When he was imprisoned in Rome, he said to the Christians in Philippi in Philippians 3:8 "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

Paul’s passion and greatest desire was to know Christ and make Christ known in the world. His desire and passion were to know Jesus more and more. In Philippians 3:10 He said, "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection.” I love that song that Graham Kendrick wrote many years ago 'Knowing You Jesus.' These are some of the words.

All I once held dear, built my life upon. All this world reveres, and wants to own, all I once thought gain, I have counted loss Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing You, Jesus, Knowing You, there is no greater thing You're my all, You're the best You're my joy, my Righteousness and I love You, Lord. Now my heart's desire is to know You more to be found in You and known as Yours,

To possess by faith what I could not earn All-surpassing gift of righteousness.

All Paul wanted in his life was to know Jesus. Paul had determined that his relationship with Jesus was more important to him than anything else in life. As I was thinking about this, I began to think about my life with God and asked myself what is my passion and desire, what is that I want most in life? What about you what do want most in life

Personal Prayers