Blog Archives - Toni Writing for The Master

DAILY DEVOTION

10/28/2021

Enter Boldly

By Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:1-10

Scripture Quote: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." Hebrews 10:15-16 (NIV)

In order for us to be God's people, our iniquity must be pardoned, because God is pure and He hates sin. We call a Believer holy when his heart is conformed, as much as it is possible, to the image of God. And even in that state, man can only hope to have God's forgiveness if he has accepted Christ's sacrificial death as the singular means to his salvation. Christ died once for all and that is the only way by which we are able to approach our perfect Heavenly Father as His own.

Since sin has been pardoned by Christ's blood, there is no need of any more sacrifice for sin, which was previously always to be repeated by the high priests, along with a long list of human requirements that needed to be met in order to temporarily obtain God's forgiveness. By Jesus offering himself once for the forgiveness of all humanity’s sinfulness, he has perfected forever those set aside for God through faith. By the blood of Jesus, Christians can now boldly enter the Most Holy Place and being justified by His blood, we have a right to all the blessings of the eternal kingdom. Oh, how He loves us!

Today’s meditation: God is personally accessible to us.

Memory Verse: For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

10/28/2021

Endless Sacrifices
By Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10

Scripture Quote: “And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews.” 10:21-22 (NIV)

The legal sacrifices that were performed endlessly by the ancient priests, were insufficient to permanently remove the people's sin - If this were untrue, there would have been no need to repeat the sacrifices because the people would have been changed and would have stopped sinning. That's why God sent Jesus, who offered for all time, one sacrifice for sins. So, Jesus made perfect forever those of us who believe in Him. What an incredible phenomenon for us to get our finite brains around. The old sacrifices were imperfect but, Jesus ransom paid once for all, proves that His was perfect and complete.

God has always sent a message of immense concern for the welfare of His people through His very presence and through His many prophets. He has shown the world manifestations of His great love since the beginning of humanity. Jesus was God's greatest gift to His people. Jesus poured out salvation and grace in such a way as to make it so obvious to believers how holy and pure is God's love for us. Strive, Christian, to return that love to your God.

Today’s meditation: We are the blessed chosen.

Memory Verse: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

10/27/2021

Emmanuel - God With Us

BY TONI SMOTHERS

Scripture Reading for the day: Luke 2:5-21

Scripture Quote: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

           Jesus came to us as an infant, born through the power of the Holy Spirit to the Virgin Mary. Joseph, her betrothed, believed when the angel told him that Mary was truly a virgin and that he should take her to be his wife. The faith that Mary and Joseph demonstrated was tremendous.

           Jesus was born in a stable. He was wrapped in bands of material, and was laid where cattle were fed. Shepherds came from all around to see the baby the angels told them had come to be their Savior.

           Jesus had a very poor beginning, yet, because of His life, we have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness - when he sent Jesus to dwell among us, to teach us and show us by His example, how to love in its truest sense.

Today’s meditation: Celebrate Christ’s birth and what His coming has done for believers everywhere!

Memory Verse: “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

10/26/2021

Elected Child of God

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-8

Scripture Quote: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

While it’s true that if we use all our mental ability to realize our election as a child of God, it still boggles the mind, as well as the heart. Unless we do accept that we are His own, however, bought by the blood of the Lamb, we are still navigating on a slippery slope of religion-eez. An irritable person, still set on having his own way, doesn’t yet have the joy of adoption in his heart, which makes for a fence sitting Christian at best. God shouldn’t have to tolerate the hesitance in us, but find us full of spiritual vigor and joy. Our Father will allow us to refuse His grace, though that would never be His choice.

God will stand back, allowing the natural consequences of our actions, and the actions of others in our life, to play out - So free will can be a curse, as well as a blessing. We are not robots automatically following God's dictates. We may, and often have, chosen to make our own way, without the Holy Spirit's council. It is much better to seek first, and always, God's wisdom and purpose for our lives - Not as robots, but as His precious children.

Today’s meditation: The joy of the Lord is as real as we are.

Memory Verse: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

10/25/2021

Effects of Sin

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Genesis 37 & 39

Scripture Quote: "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.” Genesis 45:8 (NIV)

Temptation and sinful choices draw people into trouble and can damage relationships, even ruin lives. In Joseph’s story God didn’t let other people’s sin destroy Joseph - God made sure he prospered. But, that doesn’t always happen. We can’t always expect God to bail us out. Joseph did have to go through many trails until, through God’s help, he came out of them victorious. He was a treasured son, a hated brother, a slave, manager of Potiphar’s affairs, a prisoner, and eventually, a great leader.

Joseph first suffered from being tactless with his brothers,(sin)and his father’s favoritism,(sin), which caused his brother’s murderous jealousy,(sin). His servitude as a captured slave was exemplary so God blessed him with a great position. But then Potiphar’s wife, Zuleika, lusted after Joseph,(sin). He refused her and ended up unjustly imprisioned because of her lies,(sin). Except for bragging as a young man, all of Joseph’s perdicaments where the result of other people’s sinfulness. It’s like the ramifications of the sinfulness of Adam and Eve. Sin stains everything around it. As Christians, we must avoid temptations, of course, but we also need to avoid others that are living in sin.

Today’s meditation: Sin builds like a snowball – Stay out of it’s way.
Memory Verse: “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.” Genesis 41:39 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

10/22/2021

Drunkenness

By, Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading for the day: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11,

Scripture Quote: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.” 1Peter 4:1-3 (NIV)

Those who drink alcohol, pouring it repeatedly until they are drunk, will be filled with shame in the end, instead of the great immediate fun they anticipate. The cup from the LORD's right hand is coming around to them, and disgrace will follow. Drunkenness and excess lead to corruptible desire. Such indulgence has a tendency to excite lust by removing the barriers of God's standard of moral behavior.

God wants us to retain His truth and live according to its dictates, especially if it seems difficult to our flesh to do so. We are His children and answerable to His vision for our lives. We are all guardians of the talents entrusted to us by our Heavenly Father. So, if we who are called Christians are guilty of drunkenness, there could be no difference except in profession, between us and the most abominable of the nonbelievers.

Today’s meditation: God's grace is sufficient to enable the casting aside of ungodly desires.

Memory Verse: “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.”
Romans 13:13 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

10/21/2021

Don’t Stand Next to Sin

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 2:1-5 (All Scripture Quotes are CEV)

Scripture Quote: You have been trusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you.
(2 Timothy 3:12)

It’s easy to sometimes feel tempted to compromise with those in the world we care for - We make excuses for them, coming alongside them with the hope of showing them our love for Jesus and the truth in His Gospel. The only trouble is that we can lose our way, if we get our own focus mixed up. We make a huge mistake if we rationalize ungodly behavior because we want to be helpful to someone. We make a huge mistake if we rationalize ungodly behavior because we want to be helpful to someone.

Loving others is certainly a very high priority for a Christian, but following the mandates of the Lord is always the absolute priority - We do well to never forget that because Christians have no immunity to the propensity to fall into sin. We can’t be helpful to others without the constant rejuvination by the Holy Spirit within our hearts and minds. So, we must first point our intent in God’s direction to be the beneficiary of His strength and truth. Compromise is too dangerous for any of us. Showing Christ like behavior will keep us safely within God's circle of blessing, so that we may be in a proper position to reach out and invite others to join us.

Today’s meditation: Sharing the Gospel takes deliberate preparation.

Memory Verse: He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth. (James 1:18)

DAILY DEVOTION

10/20/2021

Doing Good

By, Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

Scripture Quote: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

We were created by God as a living human being and were therefore the creatures of God at our birth. Again, by His incredible power we were recreated by faith in Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection. He has saved us and given us the Holy Spirit so that we can demonstrate to the world God's truth and love. We weren't saved to simply sit around and bask in His great love for us. We are not saved by our goodness or good works, but we are saved by God's free mercy - As a consequence of that, we are now called to do good works to glorify God and show kindness to one another.

God treats us much better than we deserve. In ourselves we have nothing to brag about. That's why God sent Jesus to save us. He has set us apart to abide in us through His Holy Spirit. Every day, every minute, we need to lean on Him. From the first inspiration of God upon our souls, we began to love goodness and holiness and have since yearned to walk in them to glorify God. Obedience to the will of God means doing whatever good we can, whenever we can.

Today’s meditation: We were created for good works.

Memory Verse: For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

10/19/2021

Does Prayer Have Real Power?

Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading for the day: 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

Scripture Quote: For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4
     The bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:18 that the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. All through the word we read that prayer is the way to communicate with our Heavenly Father. Unbelievers think that prayer is ineffective and silly, but I believe God’s word, not the opinion of the unsaved sinner. Actually, those are people that need you to pray for them.

     You may be like me, with less than super credentials. No matter how much or little we know, as believers in Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection, we have been given the gift of prayer. Use it and seek the power of God in your life for yourself and for those you love.

     Do we really believe that our prayers are powerful? Well, modesty aside, “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but they have divine power to destroy strong holds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)We have a mighty God who gives us all the power we need to fight the enemy and cover those we pray for, if we will only believe.

Today’s meditation: When we connect with God through prayer, His power is given to us. Have faith in your prayers and watch God move mountains.
Memory Verse: The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

DAILY DEVOTION

10/18/2021

Does Christ Offend You?

Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:2-11

Scripture Quote: Therefore, dear friends, since you have been warned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 2 Peter 3:17 (NIV)

When Jesus walked on earth, he offended many people, even including John the Baptist, who pictured a fierier Messiah. Thank God that Jesus still continues to offend us. Christ offended John the Baptist by His gracious dealings with sinners. He rebuked the religious leaders of His day who prized pious rules overextending themselves in love to their fellow sinners. Christ continues to unnerve us today by saying that we must die to self, take up our cross and follow Him.

The rich young ruler was offended by Christ's admonition to sell everything that he had and give it to the poor. The Jews were scandalized by a dying Messiah and the Gentiles were confused by a God who would lay down His powers to descend to the level of humanity - And on and on it goes: many today are offended about Christ's teaching against divorce. In a world where over 60 percent of marriages end in divorce, this is an offensive teaching. Nevertheless, we are Christians and compelled to acknowledge all of God's teaching as infallible. Since we trust in a Savior that actually gave His life's blood to return us to the Father, we can choose not to be offended, but repent and be obedient to his law, resting in His joy and peace.

Today’s meditation: Be offended by evil, but learn from God’s Word.

Memory Verse: Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the LORD. Psalms 4:5 (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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