Hello!

Yes, the devotions are early this week!  I'm heading for Ireland on Friday morning and I won't be at a computer.

My trip to England has been great.  We have seen some of London and the surrounding area.  I've taken lots of pictures and will be uploading them, soon.

It is awfully cold here!  Our home in San Diego is about 75 F and it's about 45 F here.  We have learned to dress warm and spend very little time outdoors.

I haven't had much time to work on the Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained.  Unfortunately, the airplane was unable to power my laptop computer.  I did have plenty of time to work on my seminary course in Revelation, though!

Would you like a free, audio cd of the book of Revelation?  I have all 22 chapters on one cd.  They are spoken from the NIV Bible.  I'll send free copies to the first five people that email me about this free offer!  Even if you read this paragraph in 2003, please email me because I will likely have an extra copy and be able to send it to you!

I've been reading the Word from the "Tim LaHaye's Prophecy Study Bible" and it is excellent.  I've never read a Bible with such complete notes on Bible prophecy.  I highly recommend getting a copy of it.

JCSM's gospel message is now on MP3.com!  It took them about two weeks to approve it; which was undoubtedly a bit of spiritual warfare.  Now, you can both stream and download the gospel message in either 24 bit mono or 128 bit stereo (cd quality)!  If you don't have a free MP3.com membership, you will have to get one before you can hear the gospel.  This is the same, eight minute message that is on SermonAudio.com.  The only difference is that MP3.com will stream it in cd quality (opposed to 16 bit mono only).  Here is the link: http://mp3gospel.jcsm.org.

I have recorded an acoustic version of "More Love, More Power".  This song was recorded in London and I have received a license from Mercy/Vineyard Music to record and play it.  I just uploaded it to MP3.com and I'll let you know when it's available!  I'm very happy with this recording and look forward to encouraging you with it.  It's the first song on my next album called, "The A - Sessions".

Are you using the Netscape browser?  If so, would you mind emailing me?  I'm an Internet Explorer user, so I'd like to know how a couple of our web sites appear on Netscape.  If you have a minute, please email me.  Your troubleshooting assistance will be appreciated!

Please pray for my friend in India, his wife and their newborn.  He is a minister and could surely use your prayers.

God bless you!  I hope you are in the "Christmas spirit" this week.  Don't forget to celebrate Jesus' birthday!  He will bless you as you love Him and others.

An interesting JCSM link: JCSM's Salvation Poll - http://spoll.jcsm.org - This poll is brief and it simply asks why/how you are saved!  Please take a minute to give us your feedback and see what everyone else wrote.

This is your ministry, so please feel free to link to JCSM and forward these devotions to your friends and family. On the JCSM website, there are over 5000 links (pictures, forums, midis, Bible lessons, humor, proverbial stories, links, devotions, poetry, prayer journals and much more!) and it has registered over 95,000 visits!

JCSM has encouraging sermons and debates online that you can freely stream and download!  Come and hear them on SermonAudio.com!  Here is our site: http://www.sermonaudio.com/jcsm.

Welcome to the new readers of this message! Here are the devotions, challenge, the Hebrew Bible word of the week and the quotations for the week. Have a fantastic week and God bless you!

Love in Christ,

Jason J. Gastrich

The Weekly Devotional Message

Day 1: "One Name"

John 10:27-30  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

Acts 4:10-12  "Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Insight: There is only one way to Heaven.  Just like God was very specific about the way to have forgiveness in the Old Testament, He is very specific in the New Testament.  Jesus Christ is the Savior in the New Covenant - the covenant that is extended to every human being - Jew and Gentile.  If this means that Christianity isn't politically correct, then so be it.  We either live by God's way or by the world's way; we cannot have it both ways.

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us salvation through your perfect Son!  Thank you for giving us what we do not deserve, Lord.  There is no other God like You.  Bless us, increase our ministry, lay your hand on us and keep us from evil.  Thank you for reaching for us and loving us.  Thank you for chasing us down and revealing yourself to us.  Forgive people for hiding and running.  Forgive people for being afraid of what they do not know.  Thank you for giving us your Word.  Help people to understand You be reading it.  Help people to admire You and stand in awe of You by reading the Scriptures.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 2: "Trouble In Their Own Eyes"

Isaiah 5:21  "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!"

Deuteronomy 12:8  "You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes—for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you."

Judges 17:6  "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

Proverb 12:15  "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise."

Proverb 16:2  "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits."

Proverb 26:16  "The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly."

Proverb 26:12  "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for him."

Romans 1:18-23  "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."

Insight: Apart from God's wisdom and God's truth, humans are not wise.  Avoid human logic at the expense of godly wisdom.  Embrace the Maker and love Him for He alone is wise and perfect.  Seek wisdom in God's eyes and not simply in the eyes of the fallen creation.

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us a new heart, a new spirit and wisdom that can only come from You.  Help us to distinguish between worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom.  Thank you for keeping us safe.  Thank you for helping us make better decisions.  Increase our wisdom, Lord.  Increase our knowledge of You, too.  Thank you for changing our lives so radically!  Help people to realize how better their life will become with more of You and less of them.  Thank you for giving us wisdom through your Word and your Holy Spirit.  Let us be sensitive to your Holy Spirit and reject blasphemies that contradict You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 3: "Our Savior, Jesus Christ's Birth"

Isaiah 7:14   "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."

Matthew 1:18-25  "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.'  Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus."

Insight: Today is the day we celebrate Jesus' birthday!  It is through Him that we have an awesome covenant of salvation with God.  Enjoy your time and remember the true meaning of the holiday!

Prayer: "Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to come to Earth, show us the way, die for our sins and rise from the dead!  Thank you for your love for us.  Thank you for having a great plan since before the foundation of the Earth.  Thank you for launching your awesome plan as soon as the first sin happened.  Remind us that You are faithful.  Remind us that You love us deeply.  Thank you for giving us direction and truth, Lord.  Help us to understand what You did for us.  Thank you for redeeming us - taking our sins and fallen condition and making us whole and righteous.  Thank you for giving us your righteousness!  There is no other God like You.  You are the reason for this awesome season because You love us and wanted to save us.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 4: "The Wicked Heart"

Proverb 10:20  "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little."

Isaiah 53:6  "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Psalm 14:2, 3  "The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, No, not one."

Romans 5:12  "Wherefore, through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned."

Romans 5:8  "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Insight: All humans have sin - imputed sin from Adam and personal sin.  Therefore, all humans need forgiveness and redemption.  Jesus Christ is our Savior and provides both to all people!  Even while we were sinners, Jesus Christ died to save us!

Prayer: "Thank you for loving us, despite our wickedness.  Help people to realize the vileness of sin.  Help people to understand that sin is rejecting God and the opposite of His perfect and righteous character.  Remind us of your hatred for sin by revealing to us your heart in the Old Testament scriptures.  Thank you for your chastening that causes us to repent.  Thank you for loving us before we love You.  Thank you for giving us eternal life through Jesus Christ.  We love You, Lord, and thank you for giving us what we do not deserve.  Remind us that You reached for us before we reached for You.  Thank you for wanting to redeem fallen humankind.  You are an awesome God with an awesome plan.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 5: "Angels Reflect God's Glory"

Numbers 22:31  "Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face."

Psalm 34:7  "The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them."

Psalm 103:20  "Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word."

2 Kings 19:35  "And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead."

Matthew 25:31  "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory."

Luke 15:10  "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Luke 22:41-43  "And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.'  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him."

Insight: God's created angels reveal His power and majesty.  They are lower than Him, but they do His will and show His glory.  We aren't to worship angels, but we are to be conscious of them.  They are all over the Earth!

Prayer: "Praise You for having angels that show your power.  Thank you for being such an awesome God.  Thank you for the angels that fight the fallen angels in your name.  Thank you for the angels that protect us.  Bless us and make us strong, Lord.  Remove our fears and worries.  Strengthen us and cause us to look up.  Remind us that You are more powerful than all!  Thank you for winning the battles and promising us that You will win the ultimate battle in Revelation.  Let us rest in your promises.  Let us have complete and total faith in You, Lord.  You are an awesome God and true to your promises.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 6: "The Best Beauty"

Proverbs 6:25, 26  "Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids.  For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life."

Proverbs 31:30  "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

2 Corinthians 10:7  "Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s."

1 Peter 3:3, 4  "Do not let your adornment be merely outward - arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel - rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

Insight: Does your definition of beauty align with God's?  Is there any greater beauty than inner beauty?  And NO, that isn't something that ugly people say!  It is obvious that outer beauty fades.  Whether or not you are beautiful on the outside or not, develop your inner beauty!

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us godly beauty, Lord.  Thank you for giving us the beauty that is perfect and eternal.  Forgive us for putting too much emphasis on the temporary things that our eyes see.  Help us to cherish and value eternal things and inner qualities that come from knowing You.  Thank you for the beautiful people that have touched our lives.  Thank you for making us beautiful, from the inside out.  Bless us and lift us up, Lord.  Change our hearts and make us like You.  Cleanse us and purify us, Lord.  We love You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Day 7: "Right Now!"

Proverb 12:24  "The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor."

Proverb 13:4  "The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich."

Matthew 4:19, 20  "Then He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' They immediately left their nets and followed Him."

Matthew 8:21, 22  "Then another of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.'  But Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me, and let the (spiritually) dead bury their own dead.'"

Luke 9:61, 62  "And another also said, 'Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house. But Jesus said to him, 'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'"

Insight: Jesus doesn't call us to follow Him later.  Jesus calls us to follow Him now!  Drop what you are doing and obey Jesus - anything less will be unsatisfactory.  I've heard people say that it "wasn't God's time for them" to repent from a certain sin.  Rest assured, it is God's will that you stop sinning, immediately, and follow Him.

Prayer: "Thank you seeking us and calling us, Lord.  Thank you for wanting us to be on your team.  Forgive us for our foolishness.  Forgive us for our apathy and hesitation.  Help people to obey You, today.  Help us to confess all of the sins we can think of and repent.  Thank you for being worthy of our immediate attention and devotion.  Thank you for loving us more than we imagine.  Help us to fathom your greatness.  Praise You above all others!  Praise You in the highest Heaven.  Let us follow You with all of our heart and put You first.  To You be all the glory, honor and praise.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Make a list of every unconfessed sin you can recall and ask for forgiveness!

This is a simple exercise that I like to do.  If we give it 5-10 seconds, we probably won't think of much.  However, if we give it 5-10 minutes, we will recall all kinds of "little" things that we have done wrong over the last year. 

The result of this exercise is: 1) to obey God by asking for forgiveness and repenting, 2) to draw closer to God, 3) to experience the joy of forgiveness, 4) to experience reconciliation with God (and possibly others).

God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

LORD: Jehovah - self existent or eternal, the Jewish national name of God, the Lord

There are no new quotes this week.  Please see our huge archive for thousands of wise, biblical quotes!  Link: http://quotes.jcsm.org.

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