Written by Juliet Constantine, these devotionals share thoughts and blessings from on high to give you encouragement, wisdom, and strength to face life's many challenges. Juliet has authored two sets of devotionals: "At His Feet" and "Finding Jesus In The Scriptures". Select from all the devotionals below or choose a topic from the menus.
So, let’s do an unusual treasure hunt for a change. We will be hunting for souls. The experience is beyond comparison and will ‘blow your mind’. It promises satisfaction you’ve never known. The entire family can participate. How many stars will you place in your crown today? Your own soul should be your first star! Do what you can, and better your best effort. Let’s reach these true treasures for Christ.
We introduce ourselves with our names and sometimes occupational titles, and that’s okay. But what about your professed identity? Are you worried what persons might think? Accolades are okay; that’s your hard work. But being labeled a child of the King, a Christian, a candidate of Heaven carries more weight. From the outset, declare your hand. Do not hide behind political rightness.
Let us rebuild our family altars. In the morning when we rise, let our praise ascend heavenward in thanksgiving to our God. Let us keep Him with us throughout the day. And in the evening, let us turn off our electronics in favor of spending quality time, in thanksgiving to our God. When we spend time to call on God, He promised to hear and to answer. Needless to say, He delights to spend time with us. Let’s do the wise thing – repair the Lord’s altar.
So, if God’s blessings aren’t overtaking you as promised, you need to revisit your obedience to His commands. If economic recession has left you in an economic daze; if your bread basket is empty and the bills are piling up; if your enemies seems to be prevailing, it’s time for a introspect obedience check to God’s commands. Then like Nehemiah, cry out to God in confession and He will abundantly pardon. Speak His promises to Him in prayer.
He was unwilling to give up all to follow Jesus into full-time ministry. He could not envision himself as a full-time missionary with Jesus. He just wanted to continue doing the little he was accustomed to doing while enjoying his luxury and comfort. Yet, not all was like this young man. There were others who trusted God, left it all and followed Jesus.
The Bible records the story of Ananias who reneged on his vow to God and his wife as an accessory to the fact. Ananias had promised to sell his land and return all proceeds to God; but after the sale, he had a change of heart. He decided to lie about the sale price with the view of only giving part of the proceeds to the Church. His wife was in full support of this decision. He went to church and presented his offering, but the Holy Spirit told Peter that Ananias lied about the sale price. When confronted on the spot, his immediate punishment was death. The same punishment was meted out to his wife only minutes after his burial. A really harsh punishment for breaking a vow!!
Salt can loose its savor and when it does, it is good for nothing. No sensible person would use salt that cannot flavor. Similarly, as Christians, we cannot behave like the world. We must be different. While we mingle with the world, we must not allow ourselves to be led astray. Should this happen, there will be no sanctifying power to diffuse the darkness. As God’s children, we cannot be seen as whoremongers, murders, liars, sexual immoral, idolaters, or abominable. We cannot be like them. We should be the example, the light, the salt.
There is always a more excellent way. Jesus instructed us to “Lay up treasures in Heaven.” Heavenly treasures do not consist of banking your money in church, expecting to have many dollars to spend when you get to Heaven. Many would like you to think that the more you give, the bigger your mansion will be. But this is not so. We lay up treasurers in Heaven by investing our time, talent, and money in God’s work of transforming characters for eternity.
