Finding Joy
 Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:1-10
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Scripture Quote:  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:16-17 (NIV)
 
Many brilliant nonbelievers have become harsh and wounded people because they have always relied only on their abilities over God's. We Christians have, on occasion, mistakenly listened to our own counsel too, leaving God's instruction behind. Following what our spirits know to be instruction from God can seem terrifying or even foolish at times. It always comes down to either stepping out in faithful obedience to God, or trusting in our willful pride.
 
Don't you wonder what God must think when He sees us waver in our faith, as so many before us have also done? God has to be saddened by our stubborn unfaithfulness, but His love and patience are boundless - He knows the consequences we will reap upon ourselves. Like our children who have refused our guidance and find themselves in trouble, God watches us with disciplined inaction, so that the bitter lesson is learned. Sacred knowledge and devotion to God are the only means by which we will find true joy in our lives. We can learn to suppress worldly ambition and choose to partake of His Devine Nature instead. God wants us to grow and become what we have not yet been: at peace!
 
Today’s meditation: God’s laws reap joyous and peaceful lives.
 
Memory Verse: The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. Matthew 10-24 (NIV)


Encontrar alegría

 Toni sofoca

 

Lectura bíblica: Hebreos 12: 1-10

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Cita de las Escrituras: Muy cierto, te digo que ningún siervo es más grande que su amo, ni es un mensajero más grande que el que lo envió. Ahora que sabes estas cosas, serás bendecido si las haces.

Juan 13: 16-17 (NVI)

 

Muchos no creyentes brillantes se han convertido en personas duras y heridas porque siempre han confiado solo en sus habilidades sobre las de Dios. Los cristianos, en ocasiones, hemos escuchado equivocadamente nuestro propio consejo, dejando atrás las instrucciones de Dios. Seguir lo que nuestros espíritus saben que es una instrucción de Dios puede parecer aterrador o incluso tonto a veces. Siempre se trata de caminar en obediencia fiel a Dios o confiar en nuestro orgullo voluntario.

 

¿No te preguntas qué debe pensar Dios cuando nos ve vacilar en nuestra fe, como tantos otros antes que nosotros también lo hemos hecho? Dios debe entristecerse por nuestra obstinada infidelidad, pero su amor y paciencia son ilimitados. Él conoce las consecuencias que cosecharemos sobre nosotros mismos. Al igual que nuestros hijos que han rechazado nuestra guía y se encuentran en problemas, Dios nos observa con inacción disciplinada, para que la amarga lección sea aprendida. El conocimiento sagrado y la devoción a Dios son el único medio por el cual encontraremos la verdadera alegría en nuestras vidas. Podemos aprender a suprimir la ambición mundana y optar por participar de Su Naturaleza Devine en su lugar. Dios quiere que crezcamos y seamos lo que todavía no hemos sido: ¡en paz!

 

La meditación de hoy: las leyes de Dios cosechan vidas alegres y pacíficas.

 

Verso de Memoria: El estudiante no está por encima del maestro, ni un servidor por encima de su maestro. Mateo 10-24 (NVI)

​Confession
 Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:6-10
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Scripture Quote: Proverbs 28:13-14 (NIV) Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
 
Do you ever get kind of comfortable with a particular sin and make up rationalizations to keep from calling it what it really is? We can be tricked by the enemy into thinking that what we are doing isn’t so bad. We still love God and claim to be His child. We are just fooling ourselves because when we are guilty of sin, it can pollute us and drag our spirits down. If we refuse to acknowledge that we are in a state of sin, things definitely get worse. If we try to cover or excuse our sin and discount the light of God's Word, we will find no mercy from our LORD. God would never bless a sinful, unhumbled soul - We will reap the consequence of our sin.
 
In order to get a clean heart we must know and feel the corruption our sin is causing. When we turn to God, we must deplore our sinfulness and know in our heart that we are truly nothing but a sinner. To be forgiven, sin must be confessed in good conscience. We must turn away from whatever has corrupted us and turn to our loving God for pardon and cleansing. God is merciful to an honest and repentant heart.
 
Today’s meditation: Be sincere with God and confess your sins often.
 
Memory Verse: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)

​Cling to Jesus
 Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:2-6
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Scripture Quote:  As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. Luke 24:28-29 (NIV)
 
Friends are so welcoming and generous. We lavish our friends with our affection, our time and our possessions. Just as we respond to friends, Jesus amply provides for those of us who have received His Gospel, with the necessities of life. We have a true friend in Jesus. In response to His wonderful friendship and provision, we ask that our ever blessed Savior will dwell in our hearts and stay with us always as we endeavor to learn and mature in our faith.
 
Ruth's profession of loyalty demonstrated that she was committed to her friendship with Naomi. She had a most extraordinary attachment with no apparent motive other than loyalty and love. Shouldn't every true believer in Jesus feel the same firmness of attachment to Him? Where Jesus goes we want to go and His people are our church body. His God and Father, is ours – So, in life and death we want to be with Him. Pray that we can hold him as close to us as our own breath, because He is so much more than our friend.
 
Today’s meditation: Jesus is our life - We need to cling only to Him.    
 
Memory Verse: Ruth answered, "Please don't tell me to leave you and return home! I will go where you go, I will live where you live; your people will be my people, your God will be my God." Ruth 1:16 (CEV)

​
Unconditional Love
 Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading: Romans 12:17-21
 
Scripture Quote:  But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Matthew 5:44 (CEV)
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It's almost an automatic response for us to avenge ourselves and to push back those who exert force on us. It seems that, left to our corrupt character, we are naturally hostile and violent people. There is nothing nobler than to imitate Christ in doing good to those who have hurt us in some way. We can see that all the beauty in nature that God created and continues to sustain, is given to both good and bad people to enjoy. Also, God loved us while we were lost sinners and He still made us His children. Since we are partakers of His Divine nature through Christ, we do have the ability to bless those who treat us badly and to forgive, as God has forgiven us.
 
Okay, so we know that God wants us to always be forgiving, but it isn't a simple matter because it is contrary to self-love - Our narcissistic tendencies strain hard against such selflessness. The only way we can ever hope to forgive everyone is to stay connected to the mind of Christ. Nothing but His great love, shared with us through the Holy Spirit, can enable us to practice forgiving grace. Christ’s anointing is key to loving deeply and forgiving freely.
 
Today’s meditation: Love others, even if they are unkind to you.
 
Memory Verse: Don't be hateful to people, just because they are hateful to you. Rather, be good to each other and to everyone else.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (CEV)


​Amor incondicional

 Toni sofoca

 

Lectura bíblica: Romanos 12: 17-21

 

Cita de las Escrituras: Pero te digo que ames a tus enemigos y ores por cualquiera que te maltrate. Mateo 5:44 (CEV)

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Es casi una respuesta automática para nosotros vengarnos y hacer retroceder a aquellos que ejercen su fuerza sobre nosotros. Parece que, dejado a nuestro personaje corrupto, somos personas naturalmente hostiles y violentas. No hay nada más noble que imitar a Cristo en hacer el bien a quienes nos han herido de alguna manera. Podemos ver que toda la belleza en la naturaleza que Dios creó y continúa sosteniendo, se da a las personas buenas y malas para disfrutar. Además, Dios nos amó mientras éramos pecadores perdidos y aún nos hizo Sus hijos. Como somos partícipes de Su naturaleza divina a través de Cristo, tenemos la capacidad de bendecir a aquellos que nos tratan mal y de perdonar, como Dios nos ha perdonado.

 

De acuerdo, entonces sabemos que Dios quiere que siempre perdonemos, pero no es un asunto simple porque es contrario al amor propio. Nuestras tendencias narcisistas se esfuerzan mucho en contra de ese desinterés. La única forma en que podemos esperar perdonar a todos es permanecer conectados con la mente de Cristo. Nada más que su gran amor, compartido con nosotros a través del Espíritu Santo, puede capacitarnos para practicar la gracia del perdón. La unción de Cristo es la clave para amar profundamente y perdonar libremente.

 

La meditación de hoy: ama a los demás, incluso si no son amables contigo.

 

Verso de Memoria: No seas odioso con las personas, solo porque te odian. Más bien, sean buenos para los demás y para todos los demás.

1 Tesalonicenses 5:15 (CEV)

Turn from Foolishness
Toni Smothers


Scripture Reading: Psalms 49:7-14
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Scripture Quote: Wisdom shouts in the streets wherever crowds gather. She shouts in the marketplaces and near the city gates as she says to the people, "How much longer will you enjoy being stupid fools? Won't you ever stop sneering and laughing at knowledge? Proverbs 1:20-22 CEV


Christians can sometimes feel aimless and uncommitted, making many mistakes, or be frozen, afraid to make any mistakes - Either way, we can be unsure of ourselves. Maybe we have been followers of the crowd, timidly accepting the prevailing opinion. Conversely, when we are fixed in our opinions and want nothing new in our lives to change us, we are foolish and unteachable. We might hold a certain belief that has become comfortable and we'd rather no one challenges it. At times we may have all been there - Able to relate to human foolishness.


There comes a time in life when we have to evaluate our beliefs. Christian faith demands that we believe every word that God has inspired. Maturity does come with a cost. We do have to be willing to confess our weak thinking and ask God to renew us with His Word. Of course that is supposing that we read His Word and know where we need to make changes and ask for help. We can take a serious look at each thing in our life that hinders our spiritual growth. One at a time, we can unload our foolish beliefs at Jesus’ feet. He will help us become Believers who increase in wisdom as we grow closer to His heart.


Today’s meditation: Protect your spiritual life from growing stagnant.


Memory Verse: Wisdom makes life pleasant and leads us safely along. Proverbs 3:17 CEV


Cambiar de tontería

Toni sofoca


Lectura bíblica: Salmos 49: 7-14

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Cita de las Escrituras: la sabiduría grita en las calles donde se reúnen las multitudes. Ella grita en los mercados y cerca de las puertas de la ciudad mientras le dice a la gente: "¿Cuánto tiempo más disfrutarás siendo tontos estúpidos? ¿Nunca dejarás de burlarte y reírse del conocimiento? Proverbios 1: 20-22 CEV


Los cristianos a veces pueden sentirse sin rumbo y sin compromiso, cometer muchos errores o quedarse paralizados, temerosos de cometer errores. De cualquier forma, podemos estar inseguros de nosotros mismos. Tal vez hemos sido seguidores de la multitud, aceptando tímidamente la opinión predominante. Por el contrario, cuando nos fijamos en nuestras opiniones y no deseamos que nada nuevo en nuestras vidas nos cambie, somos tontos e imposibles de aprender. Podríamos mantener una cierta creencia que se ha vuelto cómoda y preferiríamos que nadie la desafíe. En ocasiones, todos pudimos haber estado allí: capaces de relacionarnos con la necedad humana.


Llega un momento en la vida en que debemos evaluar nuestras creencias. La fe cristiana exige que creamos cada palabra que Dios ha inspirado. La madurez viene con un costo. Tenemos que estar dispuestos a confesar nuestro pensamiento débil y pedirle a Dios que nos renueve con Su Palabra. Por supuesto, eso es suponer que leemos su Palabra y sabemos dónde necesitamos hacer cambios y pedir ayuda. Podemos analizar seriamente cada cosa en nuestra vida que obstaculiza nuestro crecimiento espiritual. Uno a la vez, podemos descargar nuestras tontas creencias a los pies de Jesús. Él nos ayudará a ser creyentes que aumenten de sabiduría a medida que nos acerquemos más a su corazón.


La meditación de hoy: protege tu vida espiritual del estancamiento creciente.

Versículo para memorizar: la sabiduría hace que la vida sea placentera y nos lleva de manera segura. Proverbios 3:17 CEV​

​Tell Others
 Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
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Scripture Quote: My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too. Matthew 11:27 (CEV)
 
Just as the Word tells us that faith is dead without works, knowledge is dead without practice. It is not enough that we have faith in the Word, because we also must bring that faith to life. It's not just about persevering until the end. We must also grow better and walk more closely with God in the now. Our knowledge of the Word needs to be practiced with accompanying actions that live it out in our day to day existence. To talk about our faith but not to live it out will never get us into heaven or help anyone else. The aim and ambition of every Christian should be to please God by our actions and to be accepted by Him as we share what we learn with others.
 
Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord help us to keep on growing and actively contributing. This is the blessing held out to us in the Gospel. We are given justification through His blood, sanctification by His Spirit, and eternal glory because of His intercession. His Word breathes life into all who receive it and its up to us to keep it alive for the generations to come - Pass your faith on.
 
Today’s meditation: Share the Word by living it.
 
Memory Verse: You protect ordinary people, and when I was helpless, you saved me. Psalms 116:6 (CEV)

​Reward and Punishment

 Toni Smothers

 

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 12:14-24

 

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time of creation, everyone has known that sinful people are happy for only a while. Though their pride and power may reach to the sky, they will disappear like dust, and those who knew them will wonder what happened. They will be forgotten like a dream. Job 20:4-8 (CEV)

 

A nonbeliever who is weak and lacks self-disciple is foolish and easily angered - He speaks whatever comes into his mind, and is not concerned with the pain he inflicts with his injurious speech. Conversely, this person is easily offended, with little turning into his good. Those who honor evil and cruelty act without judgement and listen to no one. All people are rewarded or punished for what we say and do. The wicked are defeated in death and gone forever into a disastrous eternity, but no one who obeys God will be separated from Him by death or any other evil scheme.

 

God makes those who study His Word to be gradually changed by it. As we walk in the path of obedience we increase in goodness, and consequently in the favor of the Lord. Christians know that all things work together for good to those who love God and live according to His purposes. Whatever happens in the lives of believers, whether good or bad, God turns it to our advantage and His glory at some point. God's Plan makes His children as secure as a tree with very deep roots.

 

Today’s meditation: God’s grace gives our lives purpose and security.

 

Memory Verse: Losing your temper is foolish; ignoring an insult is smart. Proverbs 12:16(CEV)

​Rejoicing with the Prodigal
 Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:14-28


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Scripture Quote: But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.” Luke 15:29 (NIV)
 
The prodigal son's brother was envious and void of affection for him. Rather than share in his father's joy, the older brother reacted with anger. He had always been an obedient son who worked his father's fields. He neither requested his inheritance early, nor recklessly squandered it away, so he felt slighted by the exuberant attention bestowed on his delinquent brother. He reminds us of the Pharisees who claimed to be righteous, religious experts. But, they were also filled with jealousy over Jesus’ tremendous popularity with the people.
 
The father's property had been divided. What remained belonged to the older son. He was heir to it all and had a right to use it any way he chose. Therefore, the older brother had no right to complain. And though we may understand that he was jealous, it was the father's affection and forgiveness that the older brother craved. Christians are all prodigal children who have returned repeatedly to the mercy and forgiveness of our heavenly Father. We are so privileged to be able to repent of our sins and run to Him as often as we fail, with the full assurance that He will receive us.
 
Today’s meditation: There is always hope for the prodigals among us.
 
Memory Verse:  "'My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” Luke 15:31 (NIV)