by George Runyan | May 3, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
I WILL ONLY SPEAK OF WHAT CHRIST HAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ME
Romans 15:18-19 – For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit.
Some may think it is an egotistical statement by Paul to speak only of what Christ has done through him. One day, I received a letter from a sister in Christ, who felt she needed to write and tell me I was bragging of what Christ had done through me. Of course, I wrote her back, and thanked her for bringing this to my attention. I mentioned to her that I had taken her letter and shared it with other well-known pastors in our city. My purpose was to inquire of these pastors to find out if this might be true. They did not agree with her perspective and affirmed the reports of what the Lord had been doing.
by George Runyan | May 2, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
AS LIVING STONES YOU ARE BEINGBUILT UP AS A SPIRITUAL HOUSE
1 Peter 2:5 – You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We read in Peter about a work of the Holy Spirit. He is building a spiritual house for a holy priesthood. 1 Peter 2:4 speaks of Jesus as a living stone. Men rejected Him, but in God’s eyes, He is “choice” and “precious.” O that the Holy Spirit would help us see Jesus as the Father does. He is our Lord and Savior, our friend, but He is so much more. He is the stone that is perfect. He is the corner stone that is the foundation for the building which God is raising up. Remove Him and the building collapses. Jesus cannot be a small part of one’s life. He cannot just be the God of Sunday morning. As the Scripture says, “in Him we live and move and exist” (Acts 17:28). He is called a stone, which represents something that does not move. In Him “there is no variation or shifting” (James 1:17). READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | May 1, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
PUT ASIDE THE CORRUPTNESS OF YOUR HUMAN NATURE AND LONG FOR GOD’S PURE WORD
1 Peter 2:1-3 – Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
This Scripture reveals that the human nature with its corruptness does not just disappear when we are saved. Peter says to “put aside” these evil behaviors. The five areas that Peter named are summed up in the word “wickedness.” Put aside all wickedness and become like newly born infants. What does a newborn want? Pure milk! As we begin our walk in Christ, the Holy Spirit begins to create an appetite for the pure milk of God’s Word. We must nurture that desire. This is our first step of cooperation with the Holy Spirit. We begin to think, “I need to read the Scriptures.” We choose to put aside other things and make room for the reading of His Word so we may begin to learn God’s will for our lives. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Apr 30, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
LIVE FEARFULLY DURING YOUR TIME HERE ON EARTH
1 Peter 1:17 – If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.
This is a powerful statement and reveals why we always need the Helper, the Holy Spirit. It is a serious thing to call God “our Father.” Receiving salvation, in and of itself, is an awesome thought. But it is even more awesome to realize that God has given us “power” to be His children. The implications are more than our finite minds can take in. He is no respecter of persons. To think that He made me alive in His Son through the power of His Holy Spirit causes me to take things very seriously. As a child of God, I have the personal responsibility to live and conduct myself in a manner that is fitting to the name I carry. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Apr 29, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
BE QUICK TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, AND SLOW TO ANGER
James 1:19 – This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
Did they know? James seemed to think they did. He lists three things that he felt they knew. First, is to listen carefully. The word “quick” means “alive.” In other words, be alive and pay attention. Secondly, be slow to speak. I learned a long time ago I should try to be the last one to speak in any discussion if I want my point to stick. So listen carefully and don’t just say the first thing that comes to your mind. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Apr 28, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
THE WORD OF TRUTH
James 1:18 – In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
God exercises His will, motivated by His nature of love. The will of God is always rooted in truth and righteousness. There is no deception or hidden motive in what our Lord does. God has fully revealed His motives in His Word, the Bible. If that was not enough, He revealed Himself by sending Jesus, His only begotten Son. Both would have been sufficient, but He also chose to send His Holy Spirit to indwell the believer and reproduce what He created in Christ Jesus. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
