JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)

"Some Promises to Remember"

Matthew 28:20b  "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Romans 8:38, 39  "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 Corinthians 10:13  "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

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."

John 10:28-30  "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."

Insight: These are only some of God's awesome promises to humankind.  They include His faithfulness, love, deliverance, sanctification, and eternal life.  No one except God through Jesus Christ offers us such amazing promises!

Prayer: "Dear Lord, thank you for your amazing promises.  Praise You for being faithful to us and to all of humankind for thousands of years!  Help us to keep our promises to You.  There is no other like You in all of the universe.  Lift us up and bless us.  Make us like You, Lord.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

The Constitution of Illinois 1870, stated:

We, the people of the state of Illinois, grateful to almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which he hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generation.

If you'd like to have the citations for the footnotes above, please email us.  If you'd like to see more quotes from those who framed and founded America, please click here: http://jcsm.org/AmericasFounders/.

Make your goal next Sunday to worship God through active participation and listening.

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

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Dr. Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and gives over 4,000 answers to alleged Bible errors, regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.  There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)

Attendance at church cannot simply be a social obligation. It must be to get fed by the Lord.

The church is the bride of Christ.

Are you involved in a local church? Decide today to make a greater commitment to that church.

The church is walking in victory because our Captain lives.

Before you leave church, write one thing that you'll apply to your life.

Some of us are singing in church, but we aren't worshiping God.

During the week, call, write, or stop by the church office and share what makes this ministry helpful to you.

Demons can tempt people to pray and visit church when their spiritual life is meaningless to them.

Church membership and participation are an important part of the Christian walk.

Do you realize how much you contribute to or distract from the worship and worshipers in your church service?

A new church service doesn't automatically make people more godly.

Church-going, religious exercises, attention to ordinances, philanthropy, and altruism are the fig leaves which many today are weaving into aprons to cover their spiritual shame. However, like those which our first parents sewed together, they will not endure the test of eternity.

What would an on-fire church look like?

Our church should be a separate culture from the world.

Are you attentive in church?

Going to church doesn't mean you're going to Heaven.

Come to church wanting to seek God first.

I don't like missing church services because I miss a whole lot of stuff God is trying to tell me.

These quotes came from the chapter called "Church" in Dr. Jason Gastrich's upcoming book called, "10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings"!  It's the largest collection of Bible-based quotations in the world.