by George Runyan | Dec 10, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 1:18 – Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
People from previous ages had looked forward to this moment in time, when the woman’s seed mentioned in Genesis 3:15 would bring forth a Savior. From that time in the garden until this special generation, known as “Messiah’s Day,” there had been “enmity” between the seed of the woman and the serpent. In a very short period of time, this was all about to change. A man was about to be born who would fulfill God’s word given in Genesis 3 regarding, “crushing the head of the serpent.”
The Holy Spirit waited during the first creation for the Word of God so that He might bring order from the chaos of the elements. The Spirit was now moving again as the fullness of time had come. “When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-6).
The fullness of time had come as the Holy Spirit moved upon Mary and created the Holy Child Jesus in her womb. God’s means of salvation was being brought to birth. It is amazing to think about that glorious time. The world continued on as normal. Nobody in the Roman government knew what was about to happen. Some prophetic people in Israel knew the time was near for Messiah to be revealed. CLICK TITLE ABOVE TO READ MORE.
by George Runyan | Dec 9, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 5:19 – He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
I believe this to be one of the most profound Scriptures in the Bible. There is nothing more valuable than a soul. We know this because God gave His absolute best to redeem the souls of men. Once we have received redemption, the Lord makes us part of the solution to sin by enabling us to help other sinners become aware of God’s wonderful love. When one embraces the truth of God’s word, they begin to have an eternal perspective.
According to our verse, straying from the truth happens within the body of Christ. Persecution can tempt a large number of people to stray. There is always the enticement of the flesh. The influence of others can draw us away from our first love. It is important that we cover one-another’s backs. This is one reason why it is so important to be part of a small group. In the small group setting, we can share our challenges, temptations, and even our faults through confession.
James encourages those reading his letter that whoever turns a sinner from the “error” of his way saves a soul from death and will cover a “multitude of sins.” Let us never forget, Jesus came to save sinners. He did the work of redemption, but has chosen us to share His redemptive grace. I love the old hymn titled “I Love to Tell the Story.” Christmas time is such a great occasion to share with others the story of Jesus’ love. It is important for us to be reminded how many around us are perishing. As a believer, the power of God is in us to be used to turn the lost around. We have gotten away from that kind of thinking and speaking because of our sophisticated world. The Gospel is that simple: Christ came to save sinners. CLICK TITLE ABE TO READ MORE. THJS DEVOTIONAL BOOK WOULD MAKES AN AWESOME GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS. CLICK COVER TO ORDER.
by George Runyan | Dec 8, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 5:14-15 – Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
The Holy Spirit has anointed elders for the body of Christ. True elders carry many responsibilities regarding the care of God’s people. The early church ordained a number of men in each city who gave shepherding oversight to the Lord’s flock. James writes, the sick one “must call for the elders.” This calling for the elders does not seem to be optional. By the same token, the elders have a responsibility to pray over the individual. This seems to have been an ordinance in the New Testament church. The Holy Spirit has been restoring the healing ministry to the church for some time. Many local churches make it a practice to pray for the sick. In those churches where eldership is practiced, the elders lay hands on the sick and anoint with oil.
The anointing with oil is a very old custom which was practiced and adapted in the New Testament churches as they developed in the first century. Oil is seen throughout the Scriptures as a representation of the Holy Spirit. The elders are to pray the “prayer of faith.” Only prayer offered in faith has authority to bring results. To pray in faith means praying according to the instruction of Scripture. Note the strong assurance that their prayer “will restore the one who is sick.” James goes on to say, “the Lord will raise him up.” There is not only the promise of restoration, but forgiveness as well. TO READ MORE PLEASE CLICK THE TITLE ABOVE.
by George Runyan | Dec 7, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 5:7 – Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.
In the month of December, believers turn their attention toward celebrating the birth of the Savior. What a tremendous time of the year, as we remember all that the Lord has done for His people. James, in the fifth chapter of his letter, addresses the misuse of riches in verses 1-6. In the 7th verse James exhorts God’s people to be patient until the coming of the Lord. What James is addressing is relevant today.
There is a misery coming on those that are rich who do not regard our Lord and Savior. James makes a sobering statement when he says, “You and your silver have rusted; and the rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!” (James 5:3). Gold and silver don’t rust, so obviously the statement is an exaggeration to make a very important point. We now know that for that generation, the last days referred to the destruction of the Temple, the city of Jerusalem, and the Jewish society as a whole. Men were putting their confidence in “riches,” but those riches were about to perish.
The application is vital for our generation as well. We do not know precisely when the Lord will return, but it is evident we are closer than when we first believed. The culture we have known is on shaky ground. The world economic picture is changing and will continue to change as we approach the end of all things. The exhortation of James to be “patient” is a worthy thing to meditate upon. “Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door” (James 5:9). In all we do, let the return of Christ be fully central in our minds. Judge your actions as believers, knowing that one day all our actions will be judged by Christ. TO READ MORE OF THIS DEVOTION, CLICK TITLE ABOVE. TO PURCHASE YOUR COPY OR TO PURCHASE FOR A GIFT AT CHRISTMAS – CLICK COVER.
by George Runyan | Dec 6, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Proverbs 15:19 – The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
My father taught my brothers and me, “Don’t put off till tomorrow, what you can do today because tomorrow never comes, it is always today.” Delay in one’s responsibilities will cause a pileup of things to be done which will have a strong effect on your ability to think clearly. Procrastination causes great pressures in an individual’s life such as pressures in relationships, pressure regarding scheduling responsibilities, and pressure in one’s own emotional make-up.
Planning is vital for our spirituality. “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3). Planning begins with a life committed to God’s eternal purpose. Our time belongs to the Lord. We must learn not to be careless about how we use our time. As you plan your day, do it with the Lord. Ask the Father to be in charge of your plans. When you write down the things you need to accomplish, ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance. This is a sure way for your plans to be established. It is also good to ask for “divine appointments.” As we plan those natural appointments, know that the Lord may have some divine appoints He has prepared for you. TO READ MORE TO WHAT IS VITAL CLICK TITLE ABOVE.
by George Runyan | Dec 5, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 4:11 – Do not speak against one another, brethren.
The Gospel has as a major focus on relationship. Relationship is rooted in care for another. Mature relationship is the willingness to put another person’s welfare above your own. The greatest demonstration of this is revealed in Christ Jesus. God put His love for us first when He gave His Only Begotten Son to mankind. As Mary carried the “the Prince of Peace” in her womb, she carried the greatest expression of love that creation has ever known.
Jesus taught His disciples about God’s love when He said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The men the Father gave Jesus were about as diverse a group as one could find within the Jewish culture. In the natural, they did not have much in common. There were brothers in the mix, but even brothers can have deep-rooted issues in their relationship. It was the love of the Father in Christ that provided the spiritual substance for a new kind of love among people.
James instructs the body of Christ not to speak against one another. He helps us to understand that when we speak against our brother or sister, we are speaking against the law and judging the law. He goes on to say, if we judge the law, we are not a doer of the law, but a judge of the law. We need a proper biblical view. “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12). Making judgment about others is a dangerous proposition for kingdom people. According to 1 Corinthians 11, the wrong judgment of others in the body of Christ caused some believers to die an early death, while others were weak and sick as a result. TO READ MORE PLEASE CLICK THE TITLE ABOVE.
