"Remembering His Sacrifice"

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

A friend and I were talking one day and she shared with me that before she became a Christian she knew of Christians that would meet for prayer around five o'clock every morning. She didn't understand how they could do that and that was something she would probably never do. But then she went on and said that after she became a Christian her opinion and the way she looked at that changed. She realized that after what Jesus did for her that was such a small sacrifice for her to make for Him.

Today we are celebrating Memorial Day- a time for remembering the sacrifice that countless numbers of men and women have made in this nation's history by giving their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we have.

Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins. He laid down His life so that we could have life and freedom. Christians are called to be living sacrifices to our God and before the world. I don't see much "sacrifice" portrayed by those professing to know Christ. One reason, I believe, is because we have forgotten the sacrifice of Christ. We have forgotten what He did for us. We have forgotten that He shed His blood and died. We have neglected to remember that the horrific beating, the cruelty, the mocking, the pain that He suffered was underserved by Him. He only did it for us, because we were the ones with the need.

When we truly consider, and remember, all that He did for us we will be willing to make sacrifices. No price of obedience is too big or small for us to pay. No act of gratitude will be left undone. We will want to do all that we can for Him and to glorify Him out of loving appreciation because He paid the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Have a great day. When I remember the great sacrifice Jesus made for me, no sacrifice that I make for Him is too big.

For further reading:

John 3:16; 10:18
Hebrews 12:2

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Be At Peace In His Peace"

 

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

There are times when we all find ourselves in a "struggle". We struggle when faced with a decision as to what is the right thing to do or which direction we should take. The Bible does tell us that it is not within us to direct our own steps. We don't have that ability. We don't know which way is the right way without the help of God. There is a way that seems right to us but it often leads to destruction. We can't see into the future so we don't know the outcome ahead of time to help us make a wise choice.

Having said all that, I really feel impressed by the Lord to give a word to someone this morning. You are struggling with a decision. You don't know what to do. It looks good, it seems like the right thing to do, but you aren't sure. The peace you need seems to elude you. Each time you think you have the answer settled, something else comes up to make you doubt or wonder if it truly is the right thing. At that point you start trying to lean to your own understanding. The Lord wants to speak to you from the verse above this morning. This is His word to you. Don't let your heart be troubled- don't let it be anxious and burdened. He has promised to guide you as you acknowledge Him in all your ways. You are His sheep, you do hear the voice of your Good Shepherd. Let Him give you His peace. Let His peace settle it for you. Let His peace give you the faith to know, that you know, that you know this is the right decision. And once you make it enveloped in and directed by His peace, then just stand in it. Stand at rest in His peace even when confusion tries to come and steal it from you later and make doubt this is the right thing.

Have a great day. Stop struggling, let God's peace guide you, then stand in His peace.

For further reading:

Jeremiah 10:23
Proverbs 3:5,6; 16:25

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business

"His Word Is His Answer"

"Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." Luke 7:22

Have you ever noticed while reading the Bible that when asked a question, Jesus never gives a "yes" or "no" answer? When John sent his disciples to Jesus to ask if He truly was the Messiah, Jesus didn't say "yes, I am", He answered with an Old Testament scripture.

Today, the Lord still very seldom answers our questions with "yes" or "no" but what He does do is answer us with His word. Every answer to every question we get from Him will be in accordance with His word-- His word will be our answer.

For example, He is not going to tell you that it is all right to live with that guy/girl you are not married to. He is not going to tell you that it is all right to cheat on your taxes. He will not tell you that you have the right to harbor bitterness and unforgiveness against someone who did you wrong. Why? Because to tell you that it is all right is in opposition to His word.

If He goes against His own word, then He is like a house divided against itself and won't stand. If He goes against His own word, then He is going against His own nature-- He does not lie, He is not the author of confusion. If He goes against His own word, the whole universe would crumble, there would be no stability or foundation under it or us because all things consist and are held together by the power of His word.

So don't expect God to make an "exception" for you by answering your prayer, or directing you, outside of His word. He won't do it. His answer will not only line up with His word, it will be His word.

Have a great day. God's answer may not be cut and dry- yes or no- but it will always line up with His word.

For further reading:

Matthew 24:35; 12:25
Luke 18:18-20
Isaiah 29:18
Numbers 23:19
1 Corinthians 14:33
Hebrews 11:3

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Against You"

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

Are there things that come against us? Are there people who set themselves against us? Are there circumstances that rise against us? The answer is yes, yes and yes. The fact is that no matter how closely you live to the Lord, how long you have been saved, how many Bible verses you can quote or how many church services you attend there will always be something that is "against" you.

We have a very real enemy who is against us and desires to destroy us. There are people who the enemy uses to rise against us to make our lives miserable. Then there is fear, it is against us. Poverty is against us. Sickness, disease, our emotions, unbelief, depression, hate, confusion are all enemies that are working against us to steal our faith and rob us of our joy.

While they are very real and a very real part of life, the destruction that they have planned for us does not have to succeed- they can't succeed. Why? Because if God is for us, who can be against. Because if God is for us, even though they are against us the Greater One is in us. Because if God is for us, they have no power over us. Because if God is for us, then we are never alone.

Are things coming against you today? Fear, dread, sickness, confusion, frustration, temptation? It may form against you, but it cannot prosper because God is for you. That means He is with you, He is watching over you, He causes all things to work together for your good and He is still in control.

Have a great day. While we are living in this world, things will come against us. But because God is for us, they can't destroy us.

For further reading:

Hebrews 13:5
1 John 4:4
Isaiah 54:17
Romans 8:28

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"Feeling Condemned?"

"For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things." 1 John 3:20

 

After the Lord so graciously saves us there are times when we may still sin. We know we did something wrong, something displeasing to Him, or we disobeyed. When this happens, not only does the devil (the accuser of the brethren) come and condemn us, but our own heart will condemn us as well. We will "beat" ourselves up emotionally. We will carry around guilt and condemnation even after we have repented and asked for forgiveness from the Lord.

I have good news for you this morning. If your heart condemns you because of what you did, God is greater than your heart. God does not condemn us. He forgives us. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. He removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. He throws them into the sea of forgetfulness never to be remembered against us any more.

We tend to keep "feeling guilty" over what we did. We think that we are suppose to feel guilty. We aren't. We are suppose to accept and embrace His forgiveness and cleansing and walk in it.

Is your heart condemning you because of something you did, or didn't do? When the scripture says that He is greater than your heart, what it means is that what God says overrides what your own heart/feelings say. Your heart may say one thing but God says another, and what He says is the final word on the matter. Your heart may be saying, "guilty", but God says, "not guilty". What He says holds more weight than what your heart or feelings say. What He says has more power behind it than what you say. What He says is the truth, not based on feelings. What He says is the final word.

The Bible says happy is the man who does not condemn himself in that which he allows. He is happy- not sad, depressed, feeling guilty, under condemnation- because when he goes to God, God forgives and declares him clean and forgiven. That should make him "happy", at peace and guilt free. It will if he will accept it. If he will accept the fact that what God says is greater than what he says about himself or the condemnation that he is placing on himself. So accept God's judgment over your judgment, accept what He says about your sin over what you say about it, because His judgment is greater.

Have a great day. You do not have to keep feeling condemnation over confessed sin because God says you are forgiven and what God says about the matter overrides what your feelings say about it.

For further reading:

John 3:16,17
Romans 8:1; 14:22
1 John 1:9
Psalm 103:12

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.