This is the Weekly Devotional Message from

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

Devotions for January 10^th through 16^th

Monday "Our Great Gang"

James 2:5 "Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

2 Timothy 1:9 "He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began."

Philippians 1:6 "Be confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Prayer: "Thank you for choosing us from all walks of life, Lord! You are a perfect God. Thank you for our richness and diversity. Help us to appreciate that in one another. Thank you for saving us by grace and promising to finish the work You've started in us! There's no other God like You! Thank you for being so good and loving us so much. Transform our hearts and minds and make us like You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Tuesday "Challenge One Another"

Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching."

Titus 2:6-8 "Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you."

Titus 2:15 "Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you."

Prayer: "Thank you for telling us to challenge and encourage others! Give us boldness and confidence as we do this. Soften our words and make them easy to swallow. Prepare the hearts of the receivers of our challenges. Thank you for reminding us that while we challenge others, we must keep a high standard in our lives. Sanctify us and give us more godliness! Purify our hearts an motives. Give us great wisdom and understanding. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Wednesday "Woe!"

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up."

Matthew 23:14-15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."

Luke 6:24-26 "But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets."

1 Corinthians 9:16 "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!"

Prayer: "Thank you for your warnings, Lord! Remind us not to neglect Christian fellowship. Give us humility and love in our relationships. Make us genuine people. Help us to be sincere and honest, not hypocritical and fake. Let us be this way in front of You, first, then the world. Prepare us for hard times. Remind us how persecution comes to the godly. Help us preach the gospel often! Remove our fears and worries. Remind us of the reality of Heaven and Hell. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Thursday "We Must Believe"

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Matthew 13:57-58 "So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house. Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

Mark 9:23 "Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

Romans 3:3-4 "For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged."

Prayer: "Give us more faith, Lord! Thank you for being a real God and doing awesome works in our lives. Remind us that You can do mighty things when we believe and You may not do mighty things if we have little or no faith. Praise You for being faithful, no matter what! You are an awesome God! Thank you for being so merciful and patient with us when we have little or no faith. Forgive us and increase our faithfulness to You! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Friday "Think About This!"

Hebrews 3:1 "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess."

Psalm 77:12-14 "I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples."

Psalm 119:15-16, 27, 97-99 "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes."

Prayer: "Thank you for being so worthy of our love and devotion! You are our wonderful Lord and Savior! Remind us to think about You. Thank you for our busy schedules. Help us to make time to meditate on You, Your Word and what You have done. Thank you for doing mighty and awesome things all the time! There's no other God like You in all the universe. Bless us and give us peace and contentment, Lord. You are higher than us. Teach us your ways and how to apply your laws in our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Saturday "How Smart Are Unbelievers?"

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."

Proverb 17:28 "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive."

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

1 Corinthians 3:19-20 "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their own craftiness; and again, The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

Prayer: "Thank you for saving us, Lord! Thank you for giving us glimpses of You. Forgive us for our foolishness. Give us deeper understanding, knowledge and wisdom! Thank you that we understand what this life and this world are for. Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit and helping us live holy lives. Give us more discernment. Remind us that we are very different from unbelievers. Thank you for calling us out of the world, to be like You and go to Heaven! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Sunday "What Wise Words Do"

Proverb 15:7 "The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so."

Ecclesiastes 10:12 "The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;"

Proverb 10:11, 19 "The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked. In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise."

Ecclesiastes 9:17 "Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools."

Ecclesiastes 12:11 "The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd."

Prayer: "Thank you for teaching us what to say and what not to say. Give us the strength to be silent, when necessary. Thank you for the life that flows from the mouths of the wise! Let more positive things flow from my mouth, Lord! Give me patience with others. Help me to listen closely for wisdom and grab onto it. Let our wise words spur others on! Give us more grace in our speech and lives. Help us to be very loving and kind, not withholding truth or blessings. To You be all the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever! In Jesus' name, Amen."

Challenge

Get some exercise! I got a membership at the YMCA, on Saturday, and had a great workout. Our bodies were meant for exercise, but in a typical person's lifestyle, there isn't always a lot of time for working out. However, the therapeutic value of working out is immeasurable! It stimulates the brain, increases the metabolism, restores confidence, builds muscle and burns fat. I like listening to Christian cds as I ride the exercise bike. I'll pray and worship God and accomplish several things at once! If you don't have a gym membership, you could get one or exercise outdoors! There's a big, beautiful world out there. Have fun and God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

Quotations

God said it and that settles it.

Our conversations are like moisturizer on dry skin.

You lack nothing that God's grace can't give you.

The more time and effort you spend preparing your lessons, the better they will be.

Do you really know the people in your life?

I'm Jesus' sweetheart now.

Don't be discontent with God's gifts.

Like being married, being single is a gift from God.

Sheep go to Heaven. Goats go to hell.

Believe in the Lord. He believes in you.

We can't control other people, but we can encourage and pray for them.

It is bad to keep away from Christ, but worse to keep others from Him.

When we place our trust in God and relinquish control of our lives to Him, He provides for our needs and takes care of us.

Don't take advantage of people, even if you can.

If you were in God's shoes, what would you do? Remember that God is perfect.

The worst kinds of enemies can be the ones in your house.

God will never betray your trust.

Only God can be reliable 100% of the time.

We will see the total truth one day.

Nobody is right all the time.

Praise God for what He isn't.

At times, God needs to discipline us.

There are many answers to those who want them.

There is no place like God's house.

I have everything through the cross of Christ.

One day in Your house is better than a thousand outside of it.

Tell God your dreams. He can make them happen.

Believers should point people to Christ.

Who are the people God is placing on your heart to pray for, to witness to and to help?

Have you given up praying about something? If so, why?

You can't hurry God.

Impatience is the opposite of accepting God's perfect timing.

Does your job seem difficult? Remember that Gabriel had to announce a very special birth to an elderly couple and a virgin.

Do you want fish or power?

Treating people like baby believers, over a long period of time, may contribute to their delinquency and immaturity.

Christ-likeness keeps us from suffering from many psychological disorders.

Do you surrender to God after hearing from Him? We should surrender to His words like Mary did when she heard Gabriel's fantastic announcement.

Get to the end of your rope as fast as you can because that's where you'll find Jesus.

Some people have been made silent due to their disobedience.

Teach people what God has taught you.

God encourages and rescues His people.

Do you know someone who is hard to get along with? Find ways to be kind and gentle with them.

God gives peace and satisfaction to those who love Him, but He punishes the wicked for their sins.

Do you need to slow down? Why not leave Sunday agenda-free?

Do something you find relaxing.

Salvation begins with the acceptance of God's perspective on sinfulness.

Without God's intervention, we have no way to deal with sin.

Someone who has no salvation is totally depraved.

Join God's side.

What the prophets, apostles and even Jesus said was often harsh and convicting.

With an increase of spiritual strength comes fearless words and love. With fearless words and love comes persecution.

Spend uninterrupted time with Christ today. Tell Him your thoughts, dreams, worries and sins.

The journey away from sinful actions can be a process that takes time.

God hates sin and desires all to follow Him in word and action.

Jesus must be your Savior and Lord.

Accepting Christ is embarking on the journey of transformation.

When you're trying to be sanctified, don't compare yourself to heathens.

Boldly carry out your calling in the body of Christ.

The truth is suppressed by unrighteousness.

Holy living is a tool used by the Holy Spirit to convict people of sin and unrighteousness.

God has strategically placed us in our groups and circles.

Everyone has the potential of being carried away by their passions into degrading activity.

Fitting our cub-cultural norms is not a pre-requisite for salvation.

Any person who doesn't research the Bible or Bible teachers and simply accepts everything their church tells them leaves themselves open to criticism.

A church with false doctrines is like astrology. You can't fully trust it.

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

Beauty is not caused. It is.

God will take away the pain if you choose to let it go.

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, so don't worry.

Holding grudges wastes my time and thoughts, plus it's unbiblical.

For everything we see in the Bible, we should ask ourselves, "Why is this in here?" There is a very good reason for everything that God wrote.

God is the wind in my sails.

Create an environment where your students, friends or family members can be successful.

God will give you a wife in His timing.

One weak link can make the entire chain suffer.

There is a spiritual war going on and we're not just called to sit in the stands, but to get bloody once in a while.

Worrying doesn't change anything.

People who live by sight can get in the way of the people who live by faith.

A praying person wins no matter what.

God has revealed Himself in the Bible without error.

The Bible is literally filled with detailed prophecies that have been fulfilled with 100% accuracy.

No archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.

You can only bring something into a relationship if you have something to bring.

Information is power.

Why do we like rubbing peoples' noses in the mud so much?

Don't bring me down.

People are more likely to take risks in an environment they trust.

Model appropriate behavior.

The truth always rises to the top.

There is a lot of biased information available to us.

Who are you listening to?

Simply repeating doesn't teach something.

They make talking about dumb things look so cool.

Due to our biases, we may need to get someone else's perspective.

Can you think objectively?

Don't get too sad that good things are ending. There will be more in the future.

Our starting point doesn't influence our ending point too much.

There is always a way out of temptation. If we don't choose that way out, then we've made a choice to sin.

A teacher's work is measured everyday by the student's efforts, passion for learning, and demonstration of understanding and ability.

The power of a great teacher, in a student's life, is immeasurable.

Understand your power that God gives you.

Recognize the good things that people do and encourage them with positive words.

No matter who we are, it's nice to be recognized for something positive.

Ungodly men try harder to do mischief than would be needful to do good.

The world doesn't know the peace of mind a serious Christian enjoys, even in poverty and sickness.

Are you conscious of the way you portray yourself?

Guys offer girls a feeling of safety and girls offer guys a feeling of confidence.

Know why things are bad and why other things are good.