Author: Justin Oakes
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Devotion: Richer Than We Realize
Scripture:John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” Many believers live spiritually like poor people even though they possess unimaginable riches in Christ. Jesus promised that His followers would not face life alone but would receive the Holy Spirit as…
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Devotion: Doing the Word
Scripture: James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Knowing and believing the Word of God must eventually lead to action. Obedience is where the truths of Scripture move from theory to reality. When we act on what God has revealed, we experience His presence and…
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Devotion: Believing the Word
Scripture: Hebrews 11:6 “For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” It is possible to read the Bible without truly believing it. Many people know the words of Scripture, yet they never allow those words to shape their hearts or…
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Devotion: Knowing the Word
Scripture: Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” If we are going to obey Christ’s commandments, we must first know what they are. That means we must spend time in the Scriptures. God has revealed His will and truth through His Word, and it is there…
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Living In The In Between (Part 1)
John 14:15–31 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15 We are finally returning to our study of the Gospel of John. We have been several different places over the last few months. We lost track of the study when we had our baby, and when we returned it was right around Thanksgiving,…
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Devotion: Love That Obeys
Scripture: John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Jesus connects love and obedience in a way that cannot be separated. Loving Christ is not simply a matter of emotion or confession; it is demonstrated through obedience. When we truly love Him, we desire to follow what He has said. Sometimes believers try to…
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Devotion: Living In The In Between
Scripture: John 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” Believers live in what might be called the “in-between.” We look back to the cross where Christ defeated sin and death, and we look forward to the resurrection and the new creation where everything will be made right. Yet today we…
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Devotion: Holding Possessions With An Open Hand
Scripture: “Nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” — 1 Timothy 6:17 God gives richly for our enjoyment, but never for our worship. Possessions are tools, not masters. When we begin trusting in wealth for security or identity, we have misplaced our faith. The…
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Devotion: Investing In Eternity
Scripture: “Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come…” — 1 Timothy 6:19 When we give, we are not losing. We are investing. Scripture speaks of real reward in the life to come. The sacrifices made for Christ are not forgotten. They are remembered and repaid. Too often we…
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Devotion: Rich In Good Works
Scripture: “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” — 1 Timothy 6:18 God does not condemn the rich for having wealth. Instead, He commands them to be rich in something better: good works. Wealth becomes a powerful instrument in the hands of someone who views…
