Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 15

Devotion for Friday in the Third Week in Lent

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

~ Romans 9:14-18

God’s ways are far above our ways and far above our understanding. We don’t understand why He does what He does, but we can trust in His mercy and compassion. Why did He harden Pharaoh’s heart? He used Pharaoh’s hard heart to show His power to save His people.

Thank You, Lord, that we can trust in Your mercy and compassion even when we don’t understand why You do what You do. Give me total faith to not question what I don’t understand. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.

Devotion for Thursday in the Third Week in Lent

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

~ Romans 9:6-8

God chose Israel as His people, but no one is part of His people by mere biology. God’s people are those who accept Jesus Christ, descendant of Abraham by promise, as Lord and Savior. Abraham was far too old to have a child naturally, but God enabled him to father Isaac when Abraham was almost a century old—something that could happen only by divine intervention.

Almighty God, Father of all who call on the name of Jesus, thank You that You orchestrated many miracles over thousands of years so I could be Your child. Help me to live in a manner befitting the child of the King. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.

Devotion for Wednesday in the Third Week in Lent

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~ Romans 8:35-39

How encouraging to read these words! God loves us always and forever, regardless of anything that is happening to or around us, regardless of how it feels in the moment, regardless of what we do. Sometimes, we think we have done so awful that God couldn’t possibly love us—but He does. Sometimes, we think we are going through such difficult experiences that God wouldn’t let these things happen to us if He loves us—but He does. Sometimes, we think there are so many things between us and God that He can’t possibly send His love through all that—but He does.

Father God, what a blessing to know that nothing can separate us from Your love. No matter what we do, no matter what difficult times we go through, no matter how much there seems to be blocking us. You are always near, and You always love us with a love deeper than we can imagine. Empower me by the Holy Spirit to return that love, even though my love for You will be weak and small compared to the magnitude of Your love for me. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.

Devotion for Tuesday in the Third Week in Lent

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

~ Romans 8:26-30

My favorite Scripture verse is in this passage. I especially like the New American Standard version: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” This puts the action in the hand of God (“God causes all things to work together …”) where the English Standard Version is less definitive of the source (“all things work together…”). As I look back over my life, I can see God’s hand working for good in things that I thought were awful at the time. Remembering those times brings me consolation when I’m in the midst of difficulty and tragedy—I know that even in trouble, God will cause all things to work together for good.

Thank You, Father God, that You work all things together for my good. Even when the world looks dark and I can see no way good can come from a situation, You are working that situation together with other things in my life to bring a good result. When I am looking at hard times, remind me of the many times you’ve brought good out of evil. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.

Devotion for Monday in the Third Week in Lent

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

– Romans 8:22-25

Knowing that the whole creation is groaning together is a comfort when we’re groaning. We have the hope—the assurance—of everlasting life, but sometimes the challenges and pains of this earthly life make it hard to see the eternal future. But this passage tells us that, because of our hope, we can wait patiently even as we groan. If we could see eternity now, we wouldn’t need to hope. But even if we can’t see it, we have hope because we have assurance of what awaits us. Even if we don’t know exactly what it looks like, we know it will be far more amazing than we can imagine.

Lord God, thank You that I have the hope and the assurance of eternity with You. Although I may groan along the way, I know that the groaning, pain, and doubt will end in glory. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.

Devotion for the Third Sunday in Lent

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

~ Romans 8:14-17

Abba! Daddy! We are the children of a loving Father Who loves us far more than any earthly father ever could. We are fellow heirs with Christ “provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” We want to be God’s children and to be glorified with Christ, but we aren’t usually as enthusiastic about suffering with Him.

Thank You, Lord, that I am Your beloved child, an heir to Your glory. Give me strength and endurance and faith to suffer when it’s required. Let me consider it joy to suffer for You. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost forever and ever. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.

Devotion for Saturday in the Second Week in Lent

But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

~ Romans 8:10-11

Our bodies are dead because of sin, yet the Holy Spirit gives life to our bodies. We will physically die and be buried, but that is not the end. Praise God! If we follow Jesus, we will live forever in resurrected bodies. We don’t know what those bodies will be like, but they will be real and they will be glorious. But those who don’t love the Lord and take Jesus as their Savior will live forever in agony. That part is easy to ignore, but that doesn’t affect its truth. I pray for those in my life who don’t know Jesus, so we will not be separated forever.

Lord God, when someone I love dies, I miss them. I still miss my parents and Jack, though they have been dead for years (nearly twenty-four years for my dad). But I feel Your peace knowing that one day we will all be together and will never be separated again. Thank You for giving us eternity with our loved ones and above all with You. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.

Devotion for Friday in the Second Week in Lent

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

~ Romans 8:1-2

No condemnation! The world condemns us. The enemy condemns us. The self-righteous holier-than-thou contingent condemns us. But the only One who matters, the only One who has a legitimate right to condemn us, the only One who is truly holier than us, does not condemn. Instead, God gives us grace and forgiveness.

Gracious and forgiving God, my actions deserve Your condemnation. But I belong to Christ Jesus, and He has taken on the condemnation and punishment for my sins. I can stand before You in holiness and righteousness, not of myself, but through the Blood of Jesus. I praise You and thank You and worship You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.

Devotion for Thursday in the Second Week in Lent

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

~ Romans 7:22-25

I would love to be righteous on my own, but like Paul and the rest of the descendants of Adam and Eve, the law of sin rules my flesh. Thanks be to God that Jesus saves us! We are all justifiably under the sentence of death, but that sentence has been carried out by Jesus Christ. He died to pay for our sins, to deliver us from this body of death. Praise God!

Father God, You are a just God and must punish sin. Yet You are a merciful God, full of grace and love, not wanting any of us to die. So You sent Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, to take my punishment for me and demolish death. I know that every decision from the Trinity is a consensus from all three Persons—You, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost—because You are one God in complete union and harmony. I thank and praise You for my salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.

Devotion for Wednesday in the Second Week in Lent

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

~ Romans 7:14-20

Even Paul, who was dramatically converted when personally called by Jesus and who wrote a huge chunk of the New Testament, said he did evil that he didn’t want to do. The sin that dwelled within him did the evil he didn’t want rather than the good that he did want. How true that is of all of us! We want to do what is right, but in our own power we cannot. That is why we need a Savior.

Lord God, I want to do Your will, but the sin within me does the wrong I don’t want to do. I am unable to help myself. I know I need a Savior who is stronger and more powerful than the sin that dwells in me. In the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.