Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. – Matthew 20:32 (GW)
Have you ever taken some time to stop and think about what you’d like to see Jesus do in your life? Lots of times in life, we just take things as they come or get so busy that we forget we can go to Jesus with the things we need. This Bible verse encourages us to ask Jesus for what we want to see in our lives.
So what would you like to see in your life? Do you want Jesus to be more real to you? Do you need wisdom or help in any area of your life? Do you need healing from a hurt? Then do what this verse says and ask Jesus what you want Him to do in your life. When you ask Jesus to get involved with what you’re facing, you’re able to do much more than you could do on your own.
Today’s Truth: Don’t get so busy that you forget to go to Jesus with the things you need
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
– John 3:17 (NIV)
Have you ever thought about the fact that if anyone ever had the right to condemn people it would have been God. Yet, when He sent Jesus His Son into the world, He didn’t condemn people.
God’s desire was to save people.
And we see that desire all throughout the work of Jesus. Jesus continually loved the unlovely and went to great lengths to restore people back to Him.
We often feel that we should tell people what’s wrong with them and that knowing this will drive them to God. Yet, what they really need to know is that God loves them and went to amazing lengths to save them.
Thank God that today He did not condemn you but saved you. Realize you do not need to condemn others but to love them and let them know that God loves them too!
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
One of the hardest things to do is to be kind and forgiving to people. Especially when those people have done you wrong. When someone mistreats you, the normal response is to get back at them. To hurt them like they’ve hurt you, to give them the silent treatment, or just do something to teach them a lesson. That’s what is considered normal. That’s how most people live their lives.
The Bible stands that on its head and tells us as Christians to be different. We’re challenged to not get back at someone, but to forgive them, just like God forgave us. Doing this isn’t normal, and it isn’t easy, but its what’s right.
And we can do it because God forgave us. We didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness, yet He gave it to us anyway. That means that it’s not too hard for us to forgive those who have mistreated us too.
However, that doesn’t mean that you have to be best friends with someone that hurt you or was unkind to you. It means that instead of spreading rumors about that person, or trashing their locker at school, you choose to drop it and let it go. Forgiveness isn’t saying that what they did or how they treated you was right, it’s simply choosing to stop the cycle of unforgiveness and hurt.
Forgiveness is letting the love of Jesus shine through you even when it’s hard. So challenge yourself today to push past what’s easy and choose to be kind and forgive others.
Pray: God, today I determine to forgive those around me who have hurt me. I choose to not get back or get even with them but to simply love them with your love. With your help, I know I can do it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
When someone does you wrong, how do you respond? When most people are treated wrongly, they tend to blow up. Usually, they get angry, are mean, and want to get back at the other person. What happens when someone gets the part in the school play that you wanted? Do you get jealous and stop talking to them?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. – 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
However, in this verse, we’re encouraged in this verse to be patient, and to be kind. That means that when someone does better than us, we don’t get envious of that person. Acting like that is hard to do in our own strength and ability.
No matter how hard it might seem to love someone when you’ve been wronged there is good news. The Bible tells us God’s love is already in our hearts (Romans 5:5). So what we need to do is let that love dominate the way we act and treat others. The love is already there, its just up to us to bring it out!
[Tweet “Let God’s love dominate the way we treat others – @studentdevos”]
And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent. – John 17:3 (Message)
This Bible verse shows us something really amazing: God wants a relationship with you. You have the opportunity to know the one true God and Jesus Christ. That is great news!
Jesus wants to walk with you, to do life with you, and He’s made it possible for us to know Him. Not just to know about Him, but to really know Him. He’s ready to walk with you through the trials and troubles that you face and help you find a way out.
Today’s Truth: God Wants A Relationship With You
So instead of trying to do life in your own strength and ability, decide to get to know God. Spend some time today getting to know Him by reading your Bible and praying. Deciding to walk with God in life is one of the best decisions you can make.
[Tweet “God isn’t far away. He wants a relationship with you! – @studentdevos”]
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. – Hebrews 12:2
I played softball as a teenager. When I was playing, I always remember my coach telling me to keep my eye on the ball. For me to be a good ballplayer, I had to watch the ball so I could field it and hit it.
That’s why in practice after practice, he continually encouraged the team to keep our eyes on the ball.
Today’s Bible verse encourages us to do something similar. It tells us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Your focus in sports and in life is important. In life, as you focus on Jesus, the cares and concerns of life fade away. You begin to realize that with Jesus on your side there is nothing that you can’t face.
[Tweet “Keep your eyes on Jesus in each decision you make – @studentdevos”]
Jesus should always be a part of your decision-making process. In each decision you make, you should be keeping your eye on Jesus and wanting to make a decision with Him in mind. So today in the craziness of life, be sure to take some time to keep your eyes on Jesus. Spend some time thinking about Him and all He’s done for you.
What are some ways you’ve found helpful to keep your focus on Jesus?
who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. – 1 Timothy 2:4
This verse shows us that God cares for us in a deep way. He first cares about our eternity. He wants every person to have the chance to accept Jesus and to be saved. Not everyone will choose to do that, but God’s heart is that everyone would accept Jesus as their Lord.
The end of this verse goes even deeper. God doesn’t want us to get saved and then He forgets all about us. God wants us to get saved and then to learn more about Him. To learn the truth of who He is.
Remember today that God wants a deep relationship with you. He wants you to understand the truth written in the Bible. He cares about you and He also cares about those who have yet to know Him. So spend time getting to know God better and also begin thinking about who you might tell about Jesus. Be willing to be used by God to tell someone else about the truth!
From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. – 2 Cor 5:16 (HSCB)
Have you ever wanted to get to know a celebrity? Maybe you wish that you could be friends with them or get to hang out with them. But since you don’t really know them, you know them from a far. You know about them from what you read about them online or what you see in a magazine. But in reality, you don’t really know them.
That’s a lot like how your relationship with Jesus was before you became a Christian. You knew who He was, maybe even that He was a good person, but you didn’t really know Him.
Once you accept Jesus into your heart, you now get to know Him in a new way. You don’t know Him in a human way, but you get to know Him in a closer, deeper way. Start the new year off being grateful that you get to know God in a deep way! Make getting to know God one of your new year’s resolutions this year.
“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 CEV
Bad things happen to all of us. Right now it probably feels like a lot of bad things are happening all over the world.
The answer from the Bible is always the same- don’t worry, pray. We pray because nothing is too big or too small to give to God in prayer. Often we try to work things out on our own and sometimes make things worse. That’s why we need to come to God about what to do.
To hear from God, however, we have to turn off the phone, turn off the music, get alone with God, and get quiet enough to hear Him speak.
“With thankful hearts offer up your prayer and requests to God” Philippians 4:6b.
Before the request- stop and thank Him for who He is, what He has done for you. As you do that, you will sense His presence. Then out of respect ask Him your request.
Too often we barge in right away with a request- instead of listening to this verse.
Thank Him and then ask Him for the request. Then be quiet and listen for His answer. When He speaks it won’t be loud either. Sometimes when you get quiet and get the problem out of your mind and just tell God you love Him and need his help then out of your heart will come a thought or a picture of what to do.
His answer might surprise you. It might be just praying for the person and don’t say a thing. Or it might be “just take them a cupcake”. Or it might be “just study”. Or it could be a scripture that comes to mind. Whatever it is act on it.
Choose today to do what this verse says. Spend time going to God for help when you need it, it will make a big difference in your life.
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. – Mark 9:23 (KJV)
It can be really easy when you’re facing a difficult situation to want to give up. You might think that its impossible, or that there is no hope. However, Jesus said if we can believe that all things are possible.
What this means for us is this, if we find a promise in the Word of God about the situation we’re facing, we can stand on that promise and believe it. When we do this, we find that all things are possible for us. Most of us are wired to be impossibility thinkers. We always think that things are impossible. However, we need to train our thinking to line up with God’s word. When we get our thinking in line with God’s word we find that all things are possible for us.
[Tweet “When our thoughts line up with God’s word, all things are possible – @studentdevos”]
No matter what situation you’re facing, it can turn around. It’s up to you to train your thinking in line with God’s word. When you do this and believe all things are possible for you!