Blog Posts - Toni Writing for The Master

Daily devotion

3/21/2018

God Is Mighty to Save
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31
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Scripture Quote: He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
(Isaiah 40:22-23 NIV)

How can we ever imagine in what manner God created and holds all of the universe together? Isn't the creation proof of the wisdom and power of God? How can we even try to compare the majesty and glory of God to anything we have ever known? We cannot. God is sovereign over all the earth, yet He loves broken humanity. He is great and glorious and worthy of the confidence of His people.

Even the most powerful leaders in our culture today are as nothing compared with our incredible God. We are a busy, agitated, impatient multitude, spread out all over the earth as God sees and cares for each of us. It's almost impossible to believe, yet we do believe - His presence in the form of the Holy Spirit is always with us and confirms God's faithfulness to all who love Him. We bring nothing more to the table than our hearts and obedience, yet God has promised to be our provision and our strength. Like Psa 27:1a says, “The LORD is my light and my salvation-— whom shall I fear?

Today’s meditation: We can rest confidently in God’s might and love.

Memory Verse: Christ Jesus who died, more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34b NIV)

Today's devotion

3/21/2018

Faith Like Abram’s
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-9

Scripture Quote: The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1 NIV)

Think back to the last time you moved your entire household to a new place, perhaps in response to a new job or some other motivating factor. Does the memory hold a residual loathing for the strain and extent of details involved? Many of us can relate to the feeling of being out of our comfort zone. But even so, we’d have the realization that we were expected to arrive in this new place and will eventually work toward calling it home. Abram, however, is told to leave everything familiar – He’s to go to some unknown, far off place.

It was enough for Abram that God said He would show him where to go. Never mind that Abram is told that he will produce a great nation of people, while Abram is childless and he's 75 years old. He’s commanded to go, with the promise of many heirs. It's hard to admit but, how likely would one of us be to leave our country and family because we thought God had spoken to us? I venture we'd be spending more time convincing ourselves that we couldn't possibly be hearing from God. We'd rationalize that we were too old to have children or to make a big move. But, if we hold fast to the claim that we are Believers, do we get to second guess God, or negate His instruction? Think about it.

Today’s meditation: Go deeper - Recognize God’s voice and obey Him.

Memory Verse: Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7 NIV)

today's devotion

3/20/2018

Faith Like Abram’s
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-9
click here to read the scripture
Scripture Quote: The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1 NIV)

Think back to the last time you moved your entire household to a new place, perhaps in response to a new job or some other motivating factor. Does the memory hold a residual loathing for the strain and extent of details involved? Many of us can relate to the feeling of being out of our comfort zone. But even so, we’d have the realization that we were expected to arrive in this new place and will eventually work toward calling it home. Abram, however, is told to leave everything familiar – He’s to go to some unknown, far off place.

It was enough for Abram that God said He would show him where to go. Never mind that Abram is told that he will produce a great nation of people, while Abram is childless and he's 75 years old. He’s commanded to go, with the promise of many heirs. It's hard to admit but, how likely would one of us be to leave our country and family because we thought God had spoken to us? I venture we'd be spending more time convincing ourselves that we couldn't possibly be hearing from God. We'd rationalize that we were too old to have children or to make a big move. But, if we hold fast to the claim that we are Believers, do we get to second guess God, or negate His instruction? Think about it.

Today’s meditation: Go deeper - Recognize God’s voice and obey Him.

Memory Verse: Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7 NIV)

Daily devotion

3/19/2018

Christ’s Power
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:9-14
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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,

Today's devotion

3/19/2018

Daily devotion

3/16/2018

Believe In Miracles
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31
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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)

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Daily devotion

3/15/2018

We Are Predestined
Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
Click here to read the sceripture
Scripture Quote: For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29 NIV)

Isn't it great that the Gentiles were brought into fellowship with the Jews and that it was God’s plan all along? God has always had you and me in mind, even from the beginning of the creation. We were always meant for the salvation of our precious Jesus. God had us Gentiles as much in the contemplation of his mercy and goodness as he had the Jews and He always wanted us included in His plans. God dispensed the blessings of the Gospel so that we might all learn to be holy and without blame before Him. God still wants us all to love each other as He loves us.

Without any Mosaic rite, Gentiles were admitted to all the privileges of God's church and His eternal purposes. It's incredible to try to grasp that before the foundation of the world, God predetermined that we would be His own. We did not have any special goodness or merit in us - God calls His children according to the good pleasure of His benevolent will. He has pardoned the sins of all of us who have turned to Him with repentance and true faith. We will all be gathered into glory one day with our wonderful God. Praise Him with grateful hearts!

Today’s meditation: God has predetermined our calling and we are His.

Memory Verse: And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:30 NIV)

Daily devotion

3/14/2018

The Power in God’s Word
By, Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:8-13

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Scripture Quote: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

God's Word is alive, powerful, illumined and discerning of everything that touches our lives. We are continually nourished and guided by the wisdom we find within it. Scripture can lead us to healing, truth, and freedom. As the Divine Holy Spirit influences our hearts and minds, He sees and knows what we need to understand as we read. Certain lines of scripture can suddenly come alive before us and affect us as never before. Though we may have encountered those very words any number of times, they can suddenly speak to us anew. God is the ruler of His children's hearts and His Word can turn us where He pleases.

God knows our passions, appetites and our most secret struggles with sin - That's why it is said that the Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword that can only penetrate the body. God's Word will always accomplish what He intends as it pierces into our souls and spirits. Scripture will never become too old or be forgotten because it will always mold God's people, correcting our thoughts with His admonitions and penetrating our hearts with His truth and promises. The Word of God will stand forever.

Today’s meditation: There is incredible power in God’s Word.

Memory Verse: I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32 NIV)

Daily Devotion

3/13/2018

Judging Others
By, Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:1-6

Click here to read the scripture

Scripture Quote: You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. (Romans 14:10 NIV)

The Word directs us how to behave in reference to the wrong doing of others. We are not to act like the Pharisees, who were very rigid and severe - They condemned others and were proud and conceited. We should judge ourselves and our own acts, but we are not entitled to judge anyone else. Our judgement is usually uncharitable, unmerciful, with a spirit of revenge and a desire to retaliate. We so often justify our anger towards our brother and lack the grace to forgive. Do remember that plank in your own eye.

Wisdom and love prevent discord among people, which should be a believer’s goal. Not every Christian is at the same place spiritually. Some are not easily weaned from the sinful behavior that had once dominated their lives. How can we judge them when we also struggle with our own sinful nature? We are all broken people and should not let hurt feelings or pride make us judge others harshly. We can choose to develop a difference among ourselves that emulates Christ's goodness and mercy towards our neighbor.

Today’s meditation: Leave judgement to God – Show mercy instead.

Memory Verse: There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:12 NIV)

Daily Devotion

3/12/2018

Doing Good
By, Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:13-16
click here to read the scripture

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)

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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