Dan Gould

Tag: Daily Devotional

  • Colossians 3:1-17

    “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

    5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,[c] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,[d] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

    12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 1415 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

    16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” v. 1-17 (NLT)

    What does it mean to put on the new nature?  It means that your conduct should match your faith.  If you are a Christian, you should act like it.  To be a Christian means more than just taking the right actions.  This is a straightforward step that is as simple as putting on your clothes.  You must rid yourself of all evil practices and immorality.  Then you can commit yourself to what Christ teaches.  If you have made such a commitment to Christ, are you remaining true to it?  What old clothes do you need to strip off?

    In this passage Paul offers a strategy to help us live for God:

    1. Imitate Christ’s compassionate forgiving attitude
    2. Let love guide your life
    3. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart
    4. Always be thankful
    5. Keep Gods Word in you at all times
    6. Live as a representative of Jesus Christ

  • Ephesains 6

    “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” v. 4 (NLT)

    Being a Father is both fun and challenging.  I am learning as my boys grow they are picking up all the good and bad qualities that I show off in front of them.  The challenge as they develop is to lovingly teach them the way they should act.  How I do this has big returns in the way they respond.  For example, right now Josiah is starting to lie.  We are in the process of teaching him why he/we shouldn’t lie.  It’s a process that if we aren’t careful we could totally miss the opportunity to teach him this in a loving way and something he will struggle with his whole life.  My role as a dad has huge impacts on my boys.  Realizing this early will save me from heartache later.

    Something to think about:  When it comes to the way you interact with your kids, do you spend more time building them up or tearing them down?  Here’s what I mean, are you always pointing out things they are doing wrong or encouraging them in the things they are doing right?  I was encouraged and challenged yesterday by this thought.  As parents we should spend 90% of our time building our kids up and 10% of our time correcting behavior.

    It’s a great challenge that may seem unreasonable at first, but what do you have to lose if it does not work?

    Today, if you’re a dad, try to spend some extra time with your kids.  Encourage them by telling them the good things you see going on in their life.  Example, Josiah is only 4 but I try to encourage him daily with Words of Life.  Give it a try, it will bless you and them and bring your relationship closer.

  • Ephesians 4

    “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” v. 21-24 (NLT)

    Choices!  Let’s be honest, some are easier than others, but they all impact who we become.  The Bible says that we need to throw off all the things that are from our old life that keeps us from living in the New Life that Christ has given us.  There should be a difference and people should be able to see that difference in the way we live.  We are to be the light of the world.  Living the Christian life is a process.  Although we have a new nature, we don’t automatically think all the good thoughts and express all all right attitudes when we become new people in Christ.  But if we keep listening to God, we will be changing all the time.  The question we need to ask ourselves is this, “Am I more like Christ today than I was yesterday?”  This has been something I have really been focusing on this week since I challenged our students with it this last weekend.

    Today, let take some steps toward Chirst.  Lets throw off some of our old nature that keeps us trapped in sin and trust God to develop our new nature that has been given to us by Jesus.  Lets strive to become more like Christ today than we were yesterday!

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33

    “Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for ‘bad company corrupts good character.’” v. 33

    Paul addresses the debate about the Resurrection of the dead, claiming that the Resurrection has to happen or the faith we proclaim is a false faith.  In doing this he makes this statement about the people and environments we allow ourselves to be a part of.  These people and places have an affect on us.  They can be places of encouragement, inspiration, and accountability, or they can be places of trouble, selfishness, and disobedience.

    The fact is this, the people and places we spend our time influence what we do, say, and believe.  How are the people around you and the places you spend your time impacting you, your witness, and the Kingdom?

  • Acts 23

    “Gazing intently at the high council,[a] Paul began: ‘Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!’” v. 1 (NLT)

    What a statement!  Paul says he has a clear conscience, and he is not ashamed of the way he lives.  That’s confidence; and he has that confidence because he lives pure before the Lord.

    How about you?  Can you say you have always lived before God with a clear conscience?  Is purity something you pursue?  Lets take a test

    • Do you have a clear conscience about the things you watch on TV, the Movies you see, or the Music you listen to?
    • Do you have a clear conscience about the conversations you have publicly and privately?
    • Do you have a clear conscience about your actions and reactions to people or situations?
    • Do you have a clear conscience about your private life as well as your public life?

    I am sure the list could go on, but the goal for us is to become more like Christ!  Let’s begin and be reminded that we have this awesome opportunity to walk with God, to be used by God, and to see God do great things, but we have to be ready for it.  If we are living in ways that aren’t pure we limit our experience with God, lesson our effectiveness for His Kingdom, and live with out a clear conscience.  This in return steals our joy, peace, and confidence.

    Today, let’s examine ourselves, and begin to live pure in a dirty world!

  • Acts 22

    “‘Brothers and esteemed fathers,’ Paul said, ‘listen to me as I offer my defense.’ 2 When they heard him speaking in their own language,[a] the silence was even greater.” v. 1-2 (NLT)

    The power of a Story!  When standing in front of the crowd Paul shared his story of how he came to faith in Christ.  The crowd was silent and listened intently, until he declared that God had told him to go to the Gentiles.  Upon hearing this the crowd was angered and wanted to kill Paul.  They rejected the fact that God would send someone to the Gentiles, therefore they rejected Paul and the message.

    Sometimes when we share our story, people may reject it, or even reject us.  However, that shouldn’t stop us from sharing.  I don’t know if the stat is still true, but it was said, that it takes a person 7 times to hear the Gospel before they put their faith in Christ.  Every time you share the Gospel, remember it not you who saves that person, it’ Gods work.  We are simply supposed to be faithful and share so God receives the Glory.  If they accept Jesus as their Lord, praise God!  If they reject Jesus as Lord, pray for them that someone else would share with them the good news.  Let’s do our part and let God do his part!

  • Acts 17

    “So Paul, standing before the council,[e] addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way,  for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.” v. 22-23 (NLT)

    Paul explained the one true God to these educated men of Athens; although these men were, in general, very religious, they did not know God.  Today, we have a “Christian” society, but to most people, God is still unknown.  We need to proclaim who He is and make it clear what He did for everyone through His Son, Jesus Christ.  We cannot assume that even religious people around us truly know Jesus or understand the importance of faith in Him.

    Here are some things that might help:

    1. Be observant (Paul noticed all the idols around the town)
    2. Create a common ground (the people of Athens were very religious, but they didn’t know God)
    3. Tell them about Jesus (Paul talked about some of their religious beliefs and used it to tell them about Christ)
    4. Leave the details up to God (Paul had some believe, but others rejected the message and him)

  • Acts 14

    “The same thing happened in Iconium.[a] Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.” v. 1-4 (NLT)

    As the Gospel began to spread many people were coming into a relationship with Christ while others were turning away and rejecting the teachings and testimonies about Jesus.  Paul and Barnabas were resilient in telling others about the Lord.  One day they would be favored and the next they would be hated by the same people.  In either case, praise or cursing, or in their case stoning, Paul and Barnabas didn’t hold back from sharing.  They knew it was more important to please God than to be popular with the people . . . even if that cost them their life.

    These two men not only went to share the Good News, they developed leaders to take on the role of leading a church.

    “After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. 23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” v. 21-23 (NLT)

    Questions: Who is the next generation of leaders in The Church?  How am we, you and I, helping them take on that leadership with passion for Christ?  How could God use us to empower the Church today and tomorrow?

    God wants to use us.  Sometimes we feel inadequate, but the reality is that He can take the ordinary and do extraordinary things with them.  That’s good news for you and me.  Today, lets ask God how we can make a difference for the Kingdom today and tomorrow, for this generation and the next!

  • Acts 13

    “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.” v. 2-3

    In this passage we see Gods special calling for two men, Saul and Barnabas.  They were to go and share the good news!  Please understand that all of us have the same calling but God does appoint specific people for specific tasks.  The local church commissioned them by laying their hands on them and praying for them.  This was a special time dedicating them to Lord and encouraging them with prayer.  It doesn’t take long for them to run into challenges.  We see early that Paul has boldness and is not afraid to stand for the truth when confronting false teachers and/or devout Jews.  In both situation, Paul and Barnabas did their part, they went and shared the good news, and left the details, changing of the heart, to God.

    Today, think about what God has called you to do.  Are you doing it faithfully?  Are you giving %100?  How do you handle opposition or false beliefs and/or teachings?  All of these things play into your effectiveness of fulfilling that of which God has called you!

  • Acts 10

    “In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer[a] named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. ‘Cornelius!’ the angel said.

    4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. ‘What is it, sir?’ he asked the angel.

    And the angel replied, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.’”  v.1-5 (NLT)

    From this passage we learn that Cornelius is a God fearing man who prays and gives to the poor.  It would be easy to assume that he had a relationship with God.  As we read further, we find out that he doesn’t and in response to the message of Christ, Cornelius and his family receive the Holy Spirit and are baptized to identify themselves with Christ.  This is huge for the early church.  Perhaps the greatest barrier to the spread of the Good News in the first century was the Jewish-Gentile conflict.  Most of the early believers were Jewish, and they thought it scandalous to even think of associating with Gentiles.  But God told Peter to take the Good News to a Roman, and Peter obeyed despite his background and personal feelings.  God was making it clear that the Good News of Christ is for everyone!  We should not allow any barrier – language, culture, race, geography, economic level, or educational level – keep us from telling others about Christ.

    Cornelius was religious, devoted, generous, respected, and sincere.  However, he was still spiritually separated from God.  Because he needed to understand the Gospel, God sent Peter to present to him the truth about salvation.  Be careful not to equate earnestness with righteousness before God.  We are brought into right standing with God by faith in Christ alone.  Have you trusted in Jesus?  Are you sharing with others, even those who seem religious, the truth that Christ is the only way to God? – NLT Life Application Study Bible