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

"Everyone is Important to God"

Matthew 18:11-14  "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."

John 3:16, 17  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

1 Samuel 16:7b  "For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

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."

Insight: Everyone is important to God.  He cares about us and doesn't see us like others see us.  The awesome thing about Christianity is that anyone can please God, despite the things they cannot control.  Remember God's faithfulness and love and don't forget that you are important to Him.

Prayer: "Dear Lord, bless us and make us like You.  Thank you for loving us so much.  Remind us that we are all important to You.  Lift us up and encourage us.  Protect us from evil.  Help us to remember your love and your faithfulness.  Praise You for being such an awesome God who loves people that the world doesn't notice.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

On January 5, 1982, a balanced treatment law was overturned in Arkansas. Ten months earlier the governor had signed a bill which permitted the teaching of creation evidence alongside evolution in Arkansas public schools. This law was immediately attacked by the American Civil Liberties Union, liberal religious groups, and science professors from across the nation. Creation representatives were greatly outnumbered and also outspent by the opposition. Students were the real losers in this decision. They were denied the opportunity to study the creation alternative to naturalism. The spiritual dimension of the creation-evolution controversy is clearly evident in battles such as this.

This excerpt was taken from Donald DeYoung's book called, "365 Fascinating Facts From the World of Discovery."

(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.)

The fertilizer for spiritual growth is sound preaching.

There is formal and informal discipleship.

Pastors are to lead, guide, and direct.

Satan likes to try to make you replay the worst moments of your life.

Many people don't follow the Matthew 18 model of reconciliation.

Can you thank God for things you perceive as negative because He says to give thanks in all things?

Are you building on sand or on the solid rock?

There are some awesome, baffling mysteries in God's Word.

You can't act on convictions if you don't have them due to unholy living.

These quotes came from Howard Everett, Jason Gastrich, and the Holy Spirit.  If you'd like to read more quotes, you'll want a copy of Dr. Gastrich's book called, "10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings"!  It's the largest collection of Bible-based quotations in the world.