by George Runyan | Jun 27, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
John 14:16 – I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth.
The Holy Spirit is the One given by the Father and the Son to help us apply the Word of God. The word “Helper” could be translated Counselor. We should not need a human counselor because we have both the Holy Spirit and the “Counselor’s Manual,” the Bible, to instruct us. As we read and apply the eternal principles recorded in the Word of God, the Holy Spirit is present to help us by giving counsel. It is the Holy Spirit that breathes life on the Word and causes us to have understanding. Sometimes that understanding comes through others. Counsel can come through life experience. Other times, counsel can be given by a trained individual, such as a pastor or a licensed counselor. Our main source of counsel should be God’s Word and our relationship with God’s Holy Spirit.
One of the most powerful scriptures is found in 2 Timothy 3:15. Paul instructs Timothy by reminding him that from a child he had known the sacred writings, which are able to give wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE ABOVE
by George Runyan | Jun 26, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
John 5:39 – You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life.
Life is not found in the Scriptures, but in Christ, “the living word” of God. Jesus tells the religious leaders that the Scriptures “testify” about Him. The Scriptures are the testimony of our great God and king. They record His will. In the Old Testament, an innocent animal was sacrificed in order for the covenant to be exercised. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself gave up His life. Jesus freely offered His body as an acceptable sacrifice to God. His life was seen as acceptable to God because He was the perfect human sacrifice. He gave Himself totally to His Father’s will, fulfilling all that the Scriptures testified to. As John 5:40 instructs us, Jesus is the only one that can give eternal life. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE
by George Runyan | Jun 25, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
2 Corinthians 8:3 – For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord.
Paul is speaking about poor saints living in Macedonia who could have made excuses not to give to other needy saints. In their heart was the desire to give of what they could. Giving is related to our ability. The amount is not the issue; a heart of generosity is what the Lord desires. In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul speaks in terms of sowing and generosity. He underscores that God gives the most and quotes David who said of the Lord, “He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 112:9).
As I have walked with the Lord, I have experienced God’s faithfulness of supply. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE
by George Runyan | Jun 24, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:21 – Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, He established this principle of the heart. He was raising the bar for His covenant people Israel far beyond what they had ever learned from their religious leaders. Their religious leaders perverted the Law of Moses, and put heavy burdens on the people. Jesus came to free us from heavy burdens and give us His heart through the power of His Holy Spirit. A heart to obey God’s law, but with liberation power that causes the motives to be pure and not self-seeking.
Our heart is a tricky area to handle. In the natural man, the heart is deceptive and impossible to know (Jeremiah 17:9). In Christ, we are to receive the heart of God. Our heart is tied to our emotions so it can change quickly. We can choose to harden our heart against a person or situation, as many do. We can choose to allow our heart to be softened and touched by God’s compassion, reaching out to people when in the natural we would not do so. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE
by George Runyan | Jun 23, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
2 Corinthians 9:8 – God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have abundance for every good deed.
In chapter nine of second Corinthians, Paul addresses being prepared to give financially to poor saints. He reminds us that God is our source. He is able, through grace, to supply our needs. Jesus speaks a great deal about finances in His teachings. Finances are very closely related to the heart of man. Three times in the Sermon on the Mount (the Beatitudes), Jesus addresses issues of the heart as it relates to money and wealth. For example, in Matthew 5:2-4, Jesus teaches not to make our giving to the poor public, to be seen of men.
Three words that need close examination and meditation are covenant, motivations, and generosity. In our next few devotionals we will consider all three words. We will ask the Holy Spirit to establish us in covenant giving, right heart motivations, and generosity. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE
by George Runyan | Jun 22, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
John 5:24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
We learned yesterday that all judgment has been given to the Son. John 5:24 is an example of that judgment which Jesus possesses. Jesus emphatically decrees the one who hears His Word and believes what they heard has eternal life. He decrees that they do not come into judgment, but pass out of death into life. What an interesting way Jesus has of saying they are saved from eternal damnation.
Jesus creates the law of grace applied to the one who hears His word; the one who believes the Father sent Jesus “has eternal life.” Eternal life in Christ is a state of being. I was lost, but now I am found. Daily I thank the Lord, “I have eternal life,” not going to have it, but indeed I now have it because Jesus has judged it to be so. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE
