A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

22 November
The evil of unbelief
2 Cor. 6: 14-18
Unbelief is a damnable sin (cf. Rev. 21:8). God hates unbelief (cf. Heb. 3:17-19). Those who persist in it remain objects of His wrath (see Heb. 3:17-19). Unbelief and faith have nothing in common with each other (2 Cor. 6:14-18). One either believes or does not. There is no middle way between unbelief and faith (2 Cor. 6:14-18). Believers must not be yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-18). Unbelief serves no useful purpose. On the contrary, it is a mighty barrier between God and His blessings on the one hand, and the unbeliever on the other. In fact, anyone who persists in unbelief cannot receive anything from God (see Matt. 13:58; Jam. 1:6-8). The consequence of unbelief goes beyond this present life. According to the Scripture, those who persist in unbelief have no share or place in God’s Kingdom (Rev. 21:8). The only solution to the sin or life or unbelief is to turn from it to God (see Ezek. 18:30-32; Acts 3:19-20).
PRAYER: Father, please deliver and keep me from unbelief all the days of my life.

23 November
God’s own peace
Jn. 14:27
Peace is one of the blessings of God to His children (Ps. 29:11; Ps. 147:14; Col. 3:15; Phil. 4:7; Jn. 14:27). Everybody needs it for himself, his family and his community. No one can do without it. Its absence means chaos, wars, violence, terrorism, etc. Since peace is God’s reward to His children, we can contribute to our own peace and that of our community by living faithfully unto Him (Ps. 119:165; Prov. 16::7; Is. 32:17-20). Peace promotes good health (Prov. 14:30). God’s peace is unavailable to those who do not belong to Him or live for Him (see Is. 48:22; Is. 57:21). Unbelievers must first return to God before they can enjoy His peace (see Acts 3:19-20). It is important to state that only God can grant real peace (cf. Jn. 16:33; 1 Cor. 14:33). No one can find true peace elsewhere than in God. But there is a better peace, an everlasting peace that God also makes available through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1-2; Col. 1:20). It is enough to have earthly peace. One must seek and obtain eternal peace as well.
PRAYER: Father, please give me your own peace here on earth and in eternity.

24 November
Opening our spiritual eyes
Ps. 119:18
Our physical faculties are not adequate for understanding spiritual things (see Rom. 8:6-10). Like the Pharisees of the time of Jesus, we may claim to see whereas we are terribly blind with regard to spiritual matters (cf. Jn. 9:31-41). Jesus had to open the two disciples’ eyes before they could recognize Him, although they saw Him and were talking and walking along with Him (Lk. 24:31-32). We need our spiritual eyes to be opened so that we can understand spiritual matters. Unless our spiritual eyes are opened, we remain babies and novices in spiritual affairs. As Christians, we cannot afford not to have our spiritual eyes opened. Like the Psalmist (Ps. 119:18) and Paul (Eph. 1:18-21), to pray for our spiritual eyes to be opened is an indispensable and worthy prayer (Ps. 119:1; Eph. 1:18-21).
PRAYER: Father, please open my spiritual eyes.

25 November
Forgiveness
Col. 3:13
Many Christians find it difficult to forgive others. Yet Christians are commanded to forgive others (Col. 3:13; cf. Matt. 18:21-22). In fact, according to the Scripture, it is a divine duly for Christians to forgive others (Col. 3:13). God Himself is forgiving in His being (Exod. 34:6-7; Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17-18; Ps. 86: 5: Dan. 9:9; Lk. 23:34). The fact that our God is forgiving obliges us to forgive others (see Col. 3:13). Having been forgiven by Jesus Christ, we His followers have no reason whatever not to forgive others as He forgave us (see Col. 3:13). Forgiveness is not an exercise in futility. It is beneficial to the one who forgives. It is when we forgive others that we open the door for our own forgiveness by God (Matt. 6:14-15; Mk. 11:25; Lk. 6:37). On the contrary, God withholds our own forgiveness when we fail to forgive others (Matt. 6:14-15; Mk. 11:25; Lk. 6:37). Forgiveness must be from the heart, otherwise it is no forgiveness at all (Matt. 18:35). Forgiveness is not optional for Christians (see Col. 3:13). Our unwillingness to forgive hinders our prayers (see Mk. 11:25; Matt. 5:23-24).
PRAYER: Father, please make me forgiving, like you.

26 November
Remember how much Jesus suffered for us
Matt. 27:26-44
Jesus suffered so much for us mankind. He was flogged (Matt. 27:26). He was stripped of His clothing (Matt. 27:28). He was given a crown of thorns (Matt. 27:30). He was struck on the head with a staff again and again (Matt. 27:30). He was insulted (Matt. 27:39-40). He was crucified (Lk. 23:33). No one has ever suffered like this for another or others (cf. Rom. 5:7-8). But the question is, what have we done for Him in response to how much He suffered for us? Do we live our lives for Him? (Phil.1: 27-28). Do we tell others about His love for all mankind? (Matt. 28:18-20). Do we obey Him fully? (Jn. 14:15, 23-24). Do we give generously to Him and His cause? (See Acts 4:32-37). Do we speak or stand up for Him and His cause? Do we even remember that He suffered so much for us? We owe Him an unfailing duty to love Him back by obeying Him fully (Jn. 14:15, 23-24), by living all of our lives for Him, including suffering for Him if and when necessary (Phil. 1:29-30). We owe Him an unfailing duty to remember and take account of how much He suffered for us in all our affairs. One of the worst things to happen to anyone is to forget how much Jesus suffered for him.
PRAYER: Father, please enable me to remember always how much Jesus suffered for me.

27 November
Never deny God
Matt. 26:69-75
Anyone can deny God, his years in the Christian Faith notwithstanding. Peter, one of the pillars of the early Church, did (see Matt. 26:69-75), even after vowing that he will never do so (Matt. 26:32-35). He repented of it immediately (Matt. 26:75). We may claim that we have never denied God. But we have denied Him in several ways. We deny Him when we fail to identify or associate with Him and His cause. We deny Him when we refuse to speak or stand up for Him. We deny Him when we refuse to carry out His commands. We deny Him when we serve or worship other gods than or in addition to Him (Matt. 4:10). We deny Him when we refuse to live in complete holiness and faithfulness to Him (see Heb. 12:14). Anyone who denies God becomes an apostate or an unbeliever, unless he repents (see Matt. 27:1-5; Acts 1:18-20). And the one who denies God forfeits or forgoes his status with God as well as God’s favours and blessings (cf. Deut. 28:15-68; Matt. 27:1-5; Acts 1:18-20). To deny God is a terrible sin. The solution to it is to repent immediately and return to God for forgiveness and restoration. This is exactly what Peter did (see Matt. 26:75; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 3:19-20).
PRAYER: Father, please enable me never ever to deny you.

28 November
The believer’s strength
Ps. 29:11
Every Christian needs strength to live the Christian life from the beginning to the end. There is no aspect or moment of the Christian life that strength is not needed. Our frail human nature underscores this need. But where can our strength come from? God Himself is the strength of His children (Exod. 15:2; Ps. 18:1; Ps. 28: 7-8; Ps. 29:11; Ps. 46:1; Ps. 59:17; Ps. 118:14). His strength has always been the secret behind the successes and victories of His children. Therefore, believers must find strength in Him alone (Ps. 105:4). His strength alone is unfailing (see Ps. 127:1). With His strength believers can accomplish all things (Phil. 4:13). There can be no success or victory for the Christian without God’s strength (cf. Jn. 15:4-5). The strength of man is helpless and worthless (Ps. 108:12).
PRAYER: Father, please strengthen me.

29 November
The evil of unbelief
2 Cor. 6: 14-18
Unbelief is a damnable sin (cf. Rev. 21:8). God hates unbelief (cf. Heb. 3:17-19). Those who persist in it remain objects of His wrath (see Heb. 3:17-19). Unbelief and faith have nothing in common with each other (2 Cor. 6:14-18). One either believes or does not. There is no middle way between unbelief and faith (2 Cor. 6:14-18). Believers must not be yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-18). Unbelief serves no useful purpose. On the contrary, it is a mighty barrier between God and His blessings on the one hand, and the unbeliever on the other. In fact, anyone who persists in unbelief cannot receive anything from God (see Matt. 13:58; Jam. 1:6-8). The consequence of unbelief goes beyond this present life. According to the Scripture, those who persist in unbelief have no share or place in God’s Kingdom (Rev. 21:8). The only solution to the sin or life or unbelief is to turn from it to God (see Ezek. 18:30-32; Acts 3:19-20).
PRAYER: Father, please deliver and keep me from unbelief all the days of my life.

30 November
God’s own peace
Jn. 14:27
Peace is one of the blessings of God to His children (Ps. 29:11; Ps. 147:14; Col. 3:15; Phil. 4:7; Jn. 14:27). Everybody needs it for himself, his family and his community. No one can do without it. Its absence means chaos, wars, violence, terrorism, etc. Since peace is God’s reward to His children, we can contribute to our own peace and that of our community by living faithfully unto Him (Ps. 119:165; Prov. 16::7; Is. 32:17-20). Peace promotes good health (Prov. 14:30). God’s peace is unavailable to those who do not belong to Him or live for Him (see Is. 48:22; Is. 57:21). Unbelievers must first return to God before they can enjoy His peace (see Acts 3:19-20). It is important to state that only God can grant real peace (cf. Jn. 16:33; 1 Cor. 14:33). No one can find true peace elsewhere than in God. But there is a better peace, an everlasting peace that God also makes available through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1-2; Col. 1:20). It is enough to have earthly peace. One must seek and obtain eternal peace as well.
PRAYER: Father, please give me your own peace here on earth and in eternity.

 

Our Daily Key: A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

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