Blog Archives - Toni Writing for The Master

DAILY DEVOTION

3/31/2021

Christ’s Power
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:9-14

Scripture Quote: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16 NIV)

Jesus is said to be the image of God, and we are said to be made in the image of God. Since God is invisible, it is reasonable to conclude that nothing of God that appeared in Jesus, or that appears in us, could be a visible image. If it could be visible in Jesus, it could also be visible in the Father. Consequently, God's image in the Son must be invisible. This is that form of unutterable glory, that inaccessible essence, which none of us created humans can possibly comprehend - That divine nature which dwells in Jesus.

It is almost inconceivable to grasp that by His torture and humiliation, Jesus obtained pardon and salvation for us. The all-powerful Jesus accepted the brutal punishment for our sins upon Himself on the cross. Our Lord should be praised above all human and all created beings for His incredible sacrifice. Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things visible and invisible; of all things, whether they exist in time or in eternity - Yet, He suffered and died for us. Despite our sinfulness, Jesus loves us with a pure Savior's heart!

Today’s meditation: Christ's power and love are infinite and eternal.

Memory Verse: (Philipians 2:9 NIV) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

DAILY DEVOTION

3/30/2021

Christ’s Power Renews
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

Scripture Quote: Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns. 1Peter 1:6-7 CEV

The evil in our world will one day disappear like a bad dream is cut off by wakefulness. Only supernatural support will be available and only God's chosen will be renewed by Christ' power. During our journey through various joys and trials in our lifetimes, we will only truly understand how short lived it all is after we are able to compare our lifespans to eternity. Our perspectives are puny now and all we know is the short time we have experienced. But our time on earth could be compared to a minute point that is too tiny to measure, as opposed to something that has no end and can't be measured due to its enormity.

The Bible tells us that we may be hard pressed on every side, but we are not crushed. We may be very confused, but we need not despair. There will be an end to our suffering, no matter how hard our trials try to overcome us, we have only to endure them for a time - We will emerge matured and strengthened. In the meantime, our faith affords us wonderful blessings and more solid comforts than anything the world offers. We are Christ’s and He is ours - Our faith will be honored by Jesus when time stops and He welcomes all of His faithful home.

Today’s meditation: Look ahead to your forever home with Jesus.

Memory Verse: He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. Psalms 91:4 CEV

Daily devotion

3/29/2021

Christ’s Indwelling Spirit
By, Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Revelations 2:9-11

Scripture Quote: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

Life certainly has its ups and downs. Some of us know what it is like to be ill and seek healing, or maybe we are broke and the mortgage is due. Many of the hardships in life have taught us valuable lessons - Others still confuse us. Whatever the circumstance was, however, we can recall how powerfully the grace of Jesus supported us through it. By His mercy we are enabled to face down all our trials. By the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ, we are strengthened.

God knows everything that we have ever suffered. There are times when we intimately know and feel His help. Other times, we may have Lost sight of the depth of His love and support for us. When we allow the obstacle we face to overwhelm us, stealing our certainty in Christ's mercy, we flounder and fall, receiving the full force of the trial’s consequence. So, it comes down to one unwavering truth: God is our rock and our shield and a very present companion who extends His great arm of mercy as needed in the lives of His followers. We can stand steadfast on our Heavenly Father's promise to never leave us or forsake us.

Today’s meditation: Contentment survives any circumstance.

Memory Verse: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

3/26/2021

Daily devotion

3/25/2021

Choose Love Over Anger
By, Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-37

Scripture Quote: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:44-45 (NIV)

We can mull over and over an offense that provoked our anger, or we can suffer that offense quietly, leaving ourselves in the hand of God. Anger is totally opposite to the spirit and letter of the Gospel. When we indulge wrong tempers, we wound the spirit of love and mercy within us. When we stand steadfast in our good will, however, an enemy or hurtful situation is weakened. There is no strength in anger because it robs us of our power to choose loving hearts and minds. When a thief steals from us, he obtains our goods, which are here today and gone tomorrow anyway - But if we raise up in righteous indignation, we have then given the thief our peace and joy as well.

When we rise above our fury, or seething resentments, we move closer to God and His grace purifies and renews our hearts. We more closely resemble our Savior who has also given us the most profound grace in human history. He died under the ignorant, brutally cruel hand of man, yet he used His last dying words to pray forgiveness over all of us.

Today’s meditation: Love can overwhelm anger.

Memory Verse: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” Luke 6:32 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

3/24/2021

Children of the Living God
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: John 1:6-14

Scripture Quote: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--that is, to those who had faith in his name: John 1:12 (NIV)

John the Baptist, was sent by God from his conception in Sara's womb, with the sole purpose to bear witness to the coming of the Messiah. God often uses plain, or even eccentric people, to speak truth to us in our own lives. John had been sent from God to deliver a message. It was John's strictness and purity of his life and doctrine that made others believe him, even without dramatic miracles, eloquent delivery of his message, or any other kind of tangible proof.

Christ's light doesn't need anyone's testimony, but our current secular society does. Christians can show others the likeness of His light so that they can see Christ through us. Unlike John, who foretold His coming, we already have Christ's light within us. That precious gift is not intended to be selfishly hoarded, but shared with those who are currently asleep in the dark of night. Make a deliberate choice to live your faith out loud, trusting that God will make us sensitive to when we should share Christ and his gospel. Only God can make a heart awaken to His light, but He often uses His children to plant an opportune seed. Be open and depend on God's grace to teach you how to be ready to proclaim His message of eternal salvation.

Today’s meditation: Share His light with the sleeping world.

Memory Verse: From his full measure we have all been given grace on grace. John 1:16 (NIV)

daily devotion

3/23/2021

Charity Instead of Vengeance

Scripture Reading for the day: Genesis 26

Scripture Quote: “So Isaac prepared a great feast for them, and they ate and drank in preparation for the treaty ceremony.” Genesis 26:30 (NLT)

            Isn’t it sad that the most common response to poor treatment from others is to plot something bad to befall them? We automatically seek vengeance to sooth our inevitable pride. We seek public sympathy and privately think hateful things. This kind of behavior really has no place in the life of a follower of Christ.

            Actually, if we are honest, we can think of as many wrongs that we have dealt others as have been dealt to us. We like to rationalize these facts away in the mist of our indignant tempest. Isaac, who had good reason to be bitter, didn’t respond with anger. Instead he showed mercy and charity to King Abimelech who had previously been jealous of Isaac’s wealth. He had Isaac’s wells filled with dirt and drove Isaac away. Still, Isaac chose Christ’s peaceful way to treat King Abimelech.

We can be just as receptive to those who want to make peace with us. Often, God’s influence in our lives draws others to us, even enemies - We can take those opportunities to reach out to them with God’s love.

            Isaac compromised for the sake of peace. Would you be willing to forsake your pride to keep peace? Is it hard for you to humble yourself in front of others?

Meditation for the day: The trouble with taking revenge when we are mistreated is that none of us can claim complete innocence.

Memory Verse: “We can plainly see that the LORD is with you. So we decided we should have a treaty, a covenant between us.” Genesis 26:28

DAILY DEVOTION

3/22/2021

Can We Decide to Love?

Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:36-40

Scripture Quote: “To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." Mark 12:33 (NIV)

When Jesus explained the Father’s greatest command, He told His truth plainly. As Christians, we know what sinful behavior looks and feels like. We try to live within limits that sometimes don't translate into success, but we press on. We take special care to stay on the narrow path, as we struggle internally with all kinds of flaws. We are weak and vulnerable believers, all the while trying to emulate Jesus - That would be great, if it weren't so laughable.

Does all that struggle have value when we so often seem to skip over God's most imperative dictate to love Him and other people as our primary goal? Jesus wasn’t referring to romantic love, which comes easily to us. Instead, God wants us to make love a decision, without payback and without reservation. His people, who are selfish, independent, judgmental, carnivores by nature, have been given this mandate to simply love - We are to love God above all else and one another as much as we do ourselves. We can choose to love even the unlovable, because God first loved us. Thank God His mercies are new every morning!

Today’s meditation: Press forward emulating Jesus’ love for everyone.

Memory Verse: “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

3/19/2021

Can I Get a Witness?
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 1:20-33

Scripture Quote: At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered. Daniel 12:1 (NIV)

There are many people who aren’t named in the book of life, who will be condemned to an endless lost and brutal fate. Believers know that our eternal destiny is thoroughly dependent on Christ's sacrificial death for our salvation. We can choose to become luminaries in the kingdom of Jesus Christ by sharing the Gospel message with skeptics. Sometimes we are even blessed by witnessing a sinner’s conversion from condemnation to the love of Christ - Or not.

We can claim an inability with words, or fear of a hostile response, if we were to explain the Gospel uninvited. But if fear for another's eternal damnation does not motivate us, we might want to reconsider our commitment to loving our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said to make disciples of all nations and to be salt and light - Salt that loses it saltiness is no longer good for anything and light that is hidden illuminates nothing. Let’s keep the rich flavor of our faith, while shining brightly for Christ. We all have a testimony worth sharing.

Today’s meditation: Lead another to Christ before it’s too late.

Memory Verse: Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:20 (NIV)

daily devotion

3/18/2021

Can I Get a Witness?
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 1:20-33

Scripture Quote: At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered. Daniel 12:1 (NIV)

There are many people who aren’t named in the book of life, who will be condemned to an endless lost and brutal fate. Believers know that our eternal destiny is thoroughly dependent on Christ's sacrificial death for our salvation. We can choose to become luminaries in the kingdom of Jesus Christ by sharing the Gospel message with skeptics. Sometimes we are even blessed by witnessing a sinner’s conversion from condemnation to the love of Christ - Or not.

We can claim an inability with words, or fear of a hostile response, if we were to explain the Gospel uninvited. But if fear for another's eternal damnation does not motivate us, we might want to reconsider our commitment to loving our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said to make disciples of all nations and to be salt and light - Salt that loses it saltiness is no longer good for anything and light that is hidden illuminates nothing. Let’s keep the rich flavor of our faith, while shining brightly for Christ. We all have a testimony worth sharing.

Today’s meditation: Lead another to Christ before it’s too late.

Memory Verse: Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:20 (NIV)

2 Timothy 3:16-17New International Version (NIV) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work

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Bio: Toni Smothers has written articles for “Total Health”, “Let’s Live”, “People In Action” and “The North American Mentor” magazines. She is a member of the Faithwriters.com writing community and was previously the editor for the teen section of their on-line magazine. She has written many programs, sermons, and skits and has edited several websites. Additionally, she has answered hundreds of questions for GotQuestions.org, a biblical resource site. Here is just one of their many testimonials: "Thank you for this insightful website! I was able to look up many questions I have asked over the years since becoming saved. The site is easy to navigate and gave me so much biblical background for answers that I feel my armor has been strengthened. You and your staff be encouraged to continue to speak the truth for God's glory." When Toni is not writing, she can usually be found cuddling with her 10 pound, furry, Morky muse, 'Sweet Pea.' Toni Smothers studied homeopathy extensively and became a proficient layman. She wrote about homeopathy for “Total Health” and “Let’s Live” magazines. Smothers describes her experience befriending a refugee family from Laos in her article published in the travel magazine, “People in Action.” Additionally, “American Mentor” magazine has published some of her poetry. Smothers drew upon her fun experiences as a youth pastor to provide the needed insight to function as the editor of the teen section of “Faithwriters” magazine and she is a member of the Faithwriters.com writer’s community.

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