Blog Archives - Toni Writing for The Master

DAILY DEVOTION

11/25/2020

Choose Love Over Anger

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

11/24/2020

Children of the Living God

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

11/23/2020

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

11/20/2020

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

11/19/2020

November 18th, 2020

11/18/2020

Brag On Jesus

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:21-25

Scripture Quote: Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4 NIV

We live in a sinful world which continually draws many people away from God. The goodness of God that has manifested so often in each of our lives, gives us good reason to be steadfast in our loyalty to God. Even when trials and trouble come to us, we can rest in the knowledge that we belong to God, which means that our outcome is guaranteed.

Are we grateful for all the blessings that we have received from God's provision? Do we give God the worship he deserves? Or do we spend more time stumbling off the narrow path, only to be put right again by God's hand of mercy? We children of the most high God can understand the allure of the world on the unsaved because it often tempts the saved as well. Let us truly imitate the heart of our perfect Savior by feeling the grief over the lost that He most certainly does. Our great God wishes that none be forever doomed to eternal separation from Him. We can use our intimate knowledge of our Savior to offer grace to the lost and we can speak up for Jesus and plant seeds in their hearts that might lead to their eventual redemption.

Today’s meditation: Do we truly care for the lost?

Memory Verse: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2Peter 3:9 NIV

DAILY DEVOTION

11/17/2020

Boldness in The Spirit

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Scripture Quote: "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love," Ephesians 4:1-2 (NRSV)

The apostle Paul did not seek his own glory, but God’s glory, through the preaching of salvation through Christ's Gospel. Paul knew how precious each soul was that was won for God’s glory. The day is coming, the bible says, when the Lord will come like a thief. Everything on earth will be disclosed. Man's judgement is coming and it will be swift. It will be too late for us to influence anyone for Christ. Believers should feel an urgency for our lost family and friends and a boldness to find ways to talk about the gospel now, while we still have the chance.

We that are found with the testimony of Christ in our hearts, conscientiously believing and obeying, God will confirm as His very own. We can speak to others by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, praying for courage and confidence. We who have received the Spirit should have faith that the Spirit will speak through us to reach another’s heart. In the day that He comes to judge the world, may we have done everything conceivable to speak God's truth into those we know to be without it.

Today’s meditation: Be worthy of your privilege in Christ, Jesus.

Memory Verse: “He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:8 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

11/16/2020

Believe In Miracles

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31

Scripture Quote: Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4 NIV)

The act of restoring sight to the blind, turning water into wine, or any of the many other miracles that Jesus performed, all demonstrated His power and divinity. Christ himself was of course the most glorious of God's miracles. Some Christians today think believing in Jesus back when they saw firsthand how Jesus behaved and heard what He taught, that acceptance of His message should have been a slam-dunk. We can say that Jews in Christ's day were extremely rigid and reluctant to believe, but are we any different? Miracles still occur all around us and many for our personal benefit, yet some still say that these occurrences are either coincidence or wishful thinking.

Jesus was from the beginning with the Father and has since been seen with human eyes as a man that was touchable and accessible. The Word of Life, our Lord, came to show us the way to the Father, God. We could well be like the blind man, afflicted with a different kind of blindness, but still unable to see what God has for His children. Believing in Jesus and His miracles both then and now, has required the same leap of faith. Jesus Christ's divine power has not diminished with time and it never will.

Today’s meditation: Miracles are still happening all the time.

Memory Verse: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17 NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

11/13/2020

Believe God’s Word

Scripture Reading: James 1:1-8 (NIV)

Scripture Quote: "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:23-24 (NIV)

In order for us to obtain wisdom that contains a practical knowledge of God, of our salvation and even a more intimate understanding of ourselves, we must study God's Word - We can only find this deep kind of truth when we spend time studying and seeking God as our teacher. We need to ask for Divine teaching. God is actually willing to give generously to those who understand their lack and desire His teaching above all else.

It's the asking and not doubting part that messes us up. Unwavering faith is a rare commodity, yet that is exactly the currency God demands. We have to first understand our need, then realize that God is good and desires good for His children. If He tells us in His Word, which He does, (James1:5),that we can ask for wisdom, then that should be good enough for us. We must trust God's infallible Word. But He does qualify our requests - We must absolutely believe that He is ready to impart to His children whatever they need.

Today’s meditation: Ask in faith, believing God's Word.

Memory Verse: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

DAILY DEVOTION

11/12/2020

Be Reborn and Live

Scripture Reading: Psalms 139:12-17

Scripture Quote: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. (Isaiah 53:3,5 NIV)

Jesus was despised by many of the religious Jewish scribes who desperately feared His radical teachings - They felt threatened by Christ's profession of love for one’s enemies. They were angered when Jesus spoke boldly about repentance and forgiveness of sins, which were things only animal sacrifice and the involvement of the scribes could accomplish. Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry and performed miracles that proved His divinity, but the Jewish leaders were more interested in preserving their own status.

Jesus spoke of a loving God who wanted to heal and restore humanity to fellowship with Him. Because the people flocked to Jesus, the scribes became violently adamant about plotting His demise. Jesus knew that His life’s purpose was to become a sacrificial offering for the sins of His people. His message was repentance, forgiveness of sins for all who would believe in Him and His great love for them. His resurrection was proof of His divinity and is our hope that we will one day be with Him in paradise.

Today’s meditation: We must be reborn into God’s forgiving grace.

Memory Verse: Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24 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 5 pound, furry, Chihuahua muse, “Princess 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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