“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

Sparkling Advent #12: Every Good and Perfect Gift (James 1:17)

Merry Christmas! I hope that you are having a wonderful day celebrating the birth of Jesus. As presents are piled up around the tree, let’s remember today that every gift we have in this life is from God.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

Have you ever gotten a really bad gift? Maybe it was bad because you desperately wanted something else and were disappointed  or maybe it demonstrated the gift-giver doesn’t know you at all. Perhaps it showed a lack of care or disregard for your feelings. 

God does not give those kinds of gifts. His gifts are good and perfect. He doesn’t lurk in the shadows, pulling the strings of bad things happening. He is the Father of lights, showering us with gift after gift. 

He planned from the very beginning of creation to send the ultimate gift of Jesus because He knew we could not stay sinless and holy on our own. His care for us through the Savior was prophesied down to small details hundreds of times throughout the Old Testament. Jesus, the ultimate gift, fulfilled them all!

Action Step:

Read Luke 2:1-20 today and think about how many things had to happen at the right time in the right order for the prophecies about the Messiah to be fulfilled in Jesus and thank God for His ultimate gift!

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

 

14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

Follow @devoinaction on Facebook and join in the conversation about each post in this series. Please feel free to share a pic of your Bible entry and share your thoughts on the scripture in each devotional. Or, tag me @devoinaction on Instagram. The hashtag for this series is #sparklingadvent

Prayer:

Dear God, Open our eyes to the wonders of Your gifts to us that are good and perfect. Everything we have is from Your hand. Thank you for Your blessings and especially thank You for the gift of Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Check out the video on YouTube:

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The post Sparkling Advent #12: Every Good and Perfect Gift (James 1:17) appeared first on Devotion in Action.

“As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:36-39

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelations 12:11

Sparkling Advent #11: The Gift of Victory (Romans 8:36-39, Revelations 12:11)

I’m going to let you in on a little secret about me: I love to win. When I was growing up and even into early adulthood, no one ever wanted to play games with me even though I loved to play board games and card games. I would play to win like it was the most important thing in the world and was a sore loser. Victory at any cost! 

I have tried really hard to curb this tendency in myself when playing games with family and friends so I won’t be insufferable to be around anymore. In my spiritual life, I am learning that being victorious is not dependant on my abilities or strength. My victory in this life and the next is about what Jesus did far more than what i have done or will ever done. 

The Blood of the Lamb

Jesus allowed His blood to be spilled on my behalf. I am deserving of death because of my sin, yet Jesus took on the penalty of my wrongdoing. He is called the sacrificial Lamb in reference to the Old Testament sacrifice system. 

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelations 12:11

The Word of Our Testimony

The word of our testimony is powerful. What we say with our mouths is important. Our words carry weight and spiritual significance. 

“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

Our victory comes through a partnership that is established when we believe and confess that Jesus has paid the price for our sin through his death on the cross and has risen in victory over the grave. 

His nearness

We are more than conquerors, victorious in life, when we stay close to God. We stay soaked in HIs Word, connected to HIm in prayer, and aware that nothing can separate us from Him.

“As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:36-39

His nearness  is our secret weapon to winning. Our victory is a gift from God. 

Action Step:

Do you feel like you are winning at life? If not, maybe you need to take a look at how you define victory. Is it in material accomplishments or through staying connected to Jesus? Or, maybe you are trying too hard to do it all alone. Let’s remember His nearness that brings us victory and start sharing our testimony of His goodness to us. We can claim victory back again this Christmas!

Follow @devoinaction on Facebook and join in the conversation about each post in this series. Please feel free to share a pic of your Bible entry and share your thoughts on the scripture in each devotional. Or, tag me @devoinaction on Instagram. The hashtag for this series is #sparklingadvent

Prayer:

Dear God, Thank You for the blood of Jesus that paid for my victory over sin. Help me to use my words powerfully to affirm my belief in You. Remind me that You are always near and that nothing can separate me from Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Check out the video on YouTube:

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The post Sparkling Advent #11: The Gift of Victory (Romans 8:36-39, Revelations 12:11) appeared first on Devotion in Action.

“being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;” Colossians 1:11

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

“The Lord is my strength and my song,

    and he has become my salvation;

this is my God, and I will praise him,

    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:2

Sparkling Advent #10: The Gift of Power (Colossians 1:11, 2 Timothy 1:7, Exodus 15:2)

I was a musical theater kid and have always loved Broadway musicals. There is a song in the Lin Manuel Miranda musical In the Heights where the cast repeatedly sings, “We are powerless, we are powerless.” The lyrics carry a double entrendre since they are in the midst of a blackout and literally have no electrical power; while at the same time, as a minority group in the United States, they feel the cultural prejudices and inequities that make them feel powerless to change their futures.

Interestingly, it is in our powerlessness that we can experience the gift of power from God. Even though we are not naturally powerful or strong, we can be through the Holy Spirit within us. Paul prays for this gift for the church at Colossae in Colossians 1:11:

“For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;” Colossians 1:11

Power for endurance

This world can be a difficult place to be a Christian. All around us the culture is trying to disprove belief in God or get us to approve sin. We can only endure in the faith if we walk in the power of God’s Spirit rather than our own striving. We are not strong enough on our own. 

“being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;” Colossians 1:11

Power to fight fear, The Strength of self-control

We do not have to fear the culture around us, the negative things that happen in the world, or what might happen in the future. We have power through Jesus to hope for the future, to stand firm in the face of opposition, and to endure. The Spirit’s power enables us to love others and to exhibit self-control in the face of temptation. 

“Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7

The baby and the barbell

I love the printable this time! This little guy lifting this huge barbell is so funny and cute, but it illustrates such an important point. We do not have power in and of ourselves. The only way that a baby can lift a barbell is through a trick or because someone else is behind them lifting it for them. We have the gift of power not in ourselves. We are the baby, but in our weakness, God shows  His strength through us. Because it is obvious that we cannot accomplish all this on own, His power in us sparkles to the world around us!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Action Step:

As we are in the week of Christmas, you may be feeling overwhelmed with trying to get everything done in time for the holiday festivities. Sometimes, this particular part of the season leads to feeling like time and finances are tight. We can be tempted to be short-tempered with those around us. But God’s power in us can help us to exhibit self-control and love others in tough situations. If we have difficult family situations, experience frustrations this week, or things start to go sideways, we have an opportunity to rely on God’s strength in us empowering us to continue in love, sparkling for God.

Follow @devoinaction on Facebook and join in the conversation about each post in this series. Please feel free to share a pic of your Bible entry and share your thoughts on the scripture in each devotional. Or, tag me @devoinaction on Instagram. The hashtag for this series is #sparklingadvent

Prayer:

Dear God, Remind us right in the middle of those “tight” temptation moments to lean into Your power instead of our own. Help us to love others and control our own tendencies to defend ourselves or demand our rights. Let Your strength sparkle in our weakness. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Check out the video on YouTube:

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The post Sparkling Advent #10: The Gift of Power (Colossians 1:11, 2 Timothy 1:7, Exodus 15:2) appeared first on Devotion in Action.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 2 Corinthians 8:11

Sparkling Advent #9: The Gift of Good Works to Do (Ephesians 2:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 8:11)

Early in my Bible art journaling journey, a thought became the foundation of my experience with this particular way of interacting with God’s word. That thought is,

“Perfection in our art is not the point. The point is to spend time in the Word of God, so that He can transform us from the inside out. We are His masterpiece – He is working on us!”

His Masterpiece

This idea is based in Ephesians 2:10 – 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Good Works

We are the art that God is creating! Even so, that does not mean that we are not supposed to be doing anything. He created us on purpose. He has good works for us to do. 

You might be thinking, “Work? That’s not a blessing!” However, the work God has for us, He is empowering us to do. We are created to do those good works and they help us sparkle to others. 

Uniquely Created

You might have the gift of hospitality, ready to open your home to others at a moment’s notice. You could be a really good cook or baker, who could share food with those who have been in the hospital or are going through a rough patch. You might sing like an angel and have a gift for leading worship. Maybe, you have a ministry of making cards for the elderly like one of my readers. There are so many ways God can use us to sparkle for Him in our world – ways for which we have been uniquely created. 

I like to write and create art, so even though there are many others who are better at it than I am, God is using me to run this blog. Sometimes, we just need to be the one willing to say yes. I have a really good friend who always stays late at church functions to make sure that things are cleaned up and the burden doesn’t fall entirely to the church staff. Another friend of mine leads a Bible study for women and checks in with “her ladies” in between meetings. My sister has a ministry/business helping to connect businesses and her community through social media. 

What are your good works?

What opportunities do you see God opening up for you? Do you have skills, talents, or things you have learned that could benefit others? Do you see a need that you could help to fill? God’s mercy and love blesses us with good works to do so we have purpose and direction. His Word equips us and empowers us! 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Never too old

Some people I have met think that they have “aged out” of doing God’s work. I have news for you – we never retire from a calling to do the good works for which God created us. They may change through the years, but there is always something for us to do to sparkle in our own sphere and draw others to Jesus. 

Action Step:

Today’s action step is to identify the good works God has you doing or what you could/should be doing on behalf of His kingdom. It doesn’t have to seem “big” to you – every good work is important in God’s Kingdom. We can sparkle in whatever role He has for us!

Follow @devoinaction on Facebook and join in the conversation about each post in this series. Please feel free to share a pic of your Bible entry and share your thoughts on the scripture in each devotional. Or, tag me @devoinaction on Instagram. The hashtag for this series is #sparklingadvent

Prayer:

Dear God, Show us the blessing of the good works You have prepared for us to do. Direct us in how You have equipped us to sparkle for you while serving others in our communities. Help us to see our good works as blessings from You and not just work to be done. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Check out the video on YouTube:

Don’t miss out on all the freebies!

For access to the free printables to use in Bible art journaling, click here: https://www.devotioninaction.com/resourcelibrary/

If you don’t have access yet to the Resource Library, find out how to get free access HERE!

The post Sparkling Advent #9: The Gift of Good Works to Do (Ephesians 2:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 8:11) appeared first on Devotion in Action.

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”  Galatians 3:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:8-10

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

    who walks in his ways! Psalm 128:1

Sparkling Advent #8: The Gift of Blessing (Galatians 3:8, 2 Corinthians 9:8-10, Psalm 128:1)

This Christmas season I have actually seen two different performances of musical versions of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In both versions, the famous line that Tiny Tim pronounces was turned into a song: “God bless us, everyone!” He invokes God’s blessing, which the Bible says we have as believers in Christ. 

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

    who walks in his ways! Psalm 128:1

The idea of blessing is confusing at first. In our modern culture, we don’t go around blessing others often (unless you count when your friends are sneezing). God’s blessing is a bit of a foreign concept. 

Blessing

However, back in the Old Testament, blessing was a cultural norm. Fathers blessed children in specific ways. God has always been in the business of blessing. 

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3

God’s blessing of Abraham was contingent upon Abraham’s obedience. In a similar way, our blessing is dependent on our belief in Jesus. When we choose to believe and follow Jesus, we are included in the blessing of Abraham. 

The Blessing of Abraham

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”  Galatians 3:8

Those of us who are not Jews are a part of “all the nations” who are blessed through the lineage of Abraham. This verse from Paul’s letter to the Galatians says that this blessing is preaching the Gospel. It is a prophecy of Jesus. Through Jesus, we are blessed with the favor, protection, and approval of God which we do not deserve.

Different kinds of blessings

Blessings can be large intangibles like favor, protection, and approval, or they can be seemingly small gifts. When I first went away to college for the first time, I was in the middle of a study called Experiencing God (Henry Blackaby). I was growing closer to God like never before and starting to pray about everything, big and small. That first semester God blessed me with good parking spots, hot water in the community bathrooms for showers, direction when I didn’t know where I was going, and more – all of which I prayed for. He grew my faith by responding quickly to small prayers – little gifts straight from heaven to remind me that I was loved and His child.

As I grew in my faith, I didn’t need the constant reinforcement from Him. He still answers my prayers. However, for my own good, my own growth, my own maturing in the faith, God delays sometimes or says no to me. Those are blessings too. 

Gifts from God

When we open our eyes to the many ways God is blessing us everyday, our gratitude enlarges. We start to see the presents He is sending down from heaven on us as believers. God’s gifts empower us to sparkle in good works that He has planned for us. 

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:8-10

Action Step:

Look for how God has been sending the gift of blessing your way – the provision, the favor, the protection, the approval, the answered prayer, the character growth, the empowerment, and more! Then pray for the blessing of someone else. As Tiny Tim says, “God bless us, every one!”

Follow @devoinaction on Facebook and join in the conversation about each post in this series. Please feel free to share a pic of your Bible entry and share your thoughts on the scripture in each devotional. Or, tag me @devoinaction on Instagram. The hashtag for this series is #sparklingadvent

Prayer:

Dear God, Thank you for the gift of Your blessing. We can’t even see all that You have blessed us with, but we know that we are blessed. Help us to sparkle with gratitude and to bless others. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Check out the video on YouTube:

Don’t miss out on all the freebies!

For access to the free printables to use in Bible art journaling, click here: https://www.devotioninaction.com/resourcelibrary/

If you don’t have access yet to the Resource Library, find out how to get free access HERE!

The post Sparkling Advent #8: The Gift of Blessing (Galatians 3:8, 2 Corinthians 9:8-10, Psalm 128:1) appeared first on Devotion in Action.

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See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16-17

Sparkling Advent #6: The Gift of Sonship (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:16-17)

I am the youngest daughter in my family…by a lot. My brother and sister are 10-12 years older than me. Growing up, I had a lot of “only child” tendencies because of this large gap. I also benefited from older parents who had more time to spend with me. I treasure the memories of my father reading and talking with me at breakfast or learning to sew and bake with my mother. They passed down wisdom to me. My name, Amanda, means “beloved” and I truly felt loved as their child. 

Blessed

When I think about the difference between my experience growing up and that of some people I know who were separated from their parents or had abusive childhoods, I am so grateful for my family and home. 

However, when I read today’s scriptures, I was struck by the idea that no matter what our backgrounds are, we are all blessed because God calls us His children. 

What kind of love?

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1

God’s love for us is so deep and so far beyond our comprehension that He, the Creator of the Universe, accepts us as His kids. What kind of love is this? It is hard for me to wrap my brain around this marvelous mystery. 

The Holy Spirit in Us

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:16-17

The Holy Spirit in us that we talked about in the last post – He connects with our spirits, reassuring us that we are children of God. He can remind us that we are no longer slaves to our natural desires or to sin. As believers in Jesus, we have been given the gift of sonship (or daughter-ship!).

Heirs

This passage in Romans goes one step farther. We are not just children, but also God’s heirs with Christ. When we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we accept all of it – the suffering and the blessing. However, we know that even if our lives on this fallen world are filled with sadness and misery, our lives in eternity are full of the inheritance that we share with Jesus as children of God. 

Action Step:

Some of us act like we are slaves instead of sons. We walk around with our heads hanging down, assuming that we have no options or no power, but that is not how God sees us. He calls us His children and lavishes His gifts on us. We can stand tall and sparkle in this world because we know what is waiting for us in the next. 

Follow @devoinaction on Facebook and join in the conversation about each post in this series. Please feel free to share a pic of your Bible entry and share your thoughts on the scripture in each devotional. Or, tag me @devoinaction on Instagram. The hashtag for this series is #sparklingadvent

Prayer:

Dear God, Reveal to us the depth of the blessing of this gift of sonship. Help us to see ourselves as you see us, our value in You. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Check out the video on YouTube:

Don’t miss out on all the freebies!

For access to the free printables to use in Bible art journaling, click here: https://www.devotioninaction.com/resourcelibrary/

If you don’t have access yet to the Resource Library, find out how to get free access HERE!

The post Sparkling Advent #6: The Gift of Sonship (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:16-17) appeared first on Devotion in Action.

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Sparkling Advent #5: The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 6:19)

Have you ever been reading the Bible and thought, “I wish I could have been there to see that!” I have several places in the Bible where I feel that way. One of them is in the second chapter of Acts. Jesus had told the disciples to wait for something that the Father would send. In fact, He said that it would be better for the disciples for Him to leave them so that they could receive this incredibly valuable gift. 

Suddenly!

So, his disciples are waiting, all gathered together in one place. They are hanging out together, just waiting, when BAM! 

“And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:2-4 ESV

Can you imagine?

I mean, can you imagine? Tongues of fire showing up on their heads as the Holy Spirit descends as this incredible gift from the Father! Fire! It had to be a sight to see! That fire is a symbol even today of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised would come arrives with an unforgettable entrance to fill the disciples. However, the Holy Spirit is not just all flash and no substance.  He helps us remember the word of God, teaches us all things, empowers us to do God’s will, prays for us, and more…

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 ESV

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26 ESV

Temple of the Holy Spirit

It says that the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. Just like the temple was the earthly dwelling place of God for the children of Israel, each believer’s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit – He dwells in and through us. 

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The Dove

Fire is not the only symbol of the Holy Spirit. He is also represented by the dove.

“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”” Luke 3:21-22

What an amazing endorsement! Jesus comes out of the baptism waters and the Holy Spirit lands on Him like a dove, then the voice of God the Father from heaven assures that He is the Son of God! That would have been so cool to see!

The Gift

This Holy Spirit – the fire and the dove – the teacher of all things – the power – the indwelling presence of God – is a gift to us!

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

He is a gift to those who believe in Jesus. We can have the assurance of His presence in us, his power and wisdom guiding and directing us. 

Action Step:

Let’s ask ourselves a few questions:

-Do I live like the Holy Spirit of the Living God is inside me? 

-Do I ask for the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit when I don’t know what to do?

-Am I relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will?

-Does the Holy Spirit sparkle through me to everyone around me?

I know I can do better at these things. I forget sometimes that I have a Helper with me all the time. I try to do everything on my own and feel weighted down by the burden of it all. I need to rely on Him for my strength and sparkle on a daily basis. Maybe you do too!

Follow @devoinaction on Facebook and join in the conversation about each post in this series. Please feel free to share a pic of your Bible entry and share your thoughts on the scripture in each devotional. Or, tag me @devoinaction on Instagram. The hashtag for this series is #sparklingadvent

Prayer:

Dear God, Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to rely more and more on Him. I want to love and speak wisdom and sparkle through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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The post Sparkling Advent #5: The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 6:19) appeared first on Devotion in Action.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Advent #4: The Gift of Purpose (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

One of the worst feelings in the world is to not know why you are doing something. This is the source of so many midlife crises. We start to feel like we are not making a difference in any arena of our lives. Maybe we are not married when we want to be, or we feel like we aren’t connecting with our spouse like we used to. Perhaps we see no purpose in our day-inday-out jobs. We simply go to work, put in our time, and go home. We drift through life increasingly depressed when we can’t see purpose in our lives and actions. 

Our Creator

God knows this about us. After all, He created us. So, He has given us the gift of purpose through Jesus. He has given everyone of us a ministry. We don’t have to be pastors, Sunday School teachers, televangelists, etc. Ordinary people who are saved by God’s grace have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. 

“Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18 CSB

All that we have

We will barely scratch the surface of all the gifts that God has already given us. Literally, “Everything is from God.” All that we have is because of His generosity. He is our source. We sometimes delude ourselves into thinking that we have earned our money and possessions or that we deserve something. The truth is that it is God’s mercy that we don’t receive the punishment we deserve. His grace allows us to have everything that we do. 

Reconciliation

Like we talked about in the last post, God has given us the open door of salvation, reconciling us to Himself through Jesus. Reconciliation is only possible because there is a problem in the relationship to begin with. All people are separated from God because of the sin of Adam. We are born with a sinful nature that can’t possibly be perfectly free from sin. 

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” Romans 5:12 NLT

Reconciliation means that relationship and peace are restored to a relationship that is broken. 

“That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 ESV

The whole world in His hands

God’s hands are stretched out toward the world, yet the world can’t see it without messengers of reconciliation. I remember an old song that we sang when I was a child, “He’s got the whole world in His hands…” God’s hands are big enough for everyone in the world to be safe within them. However, not everyone has heard about the incredible gift God is extending to us all. 

That’s where we come in! We have been given a job and purpose: we are ambassadors bringing Christ to the world. We have a job to do, but we are not reliant on our own power. God is working through us. 

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”” 2 Corinthians 5:20 CSB

God-Given Purpose

God has not only given us a purpose for life – sharing the gift of Jesus with others – but He also empowers us and does the work through us. He gives us the shimmer of Jesus and calls us to sparkle in this world for His glory and the reconciliation of people to Himself.

Action Step:

Is there a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation? We can sparkle by bringing peace to our earthly relationships. In our world today, it is unusual for people to live in harmony with those around them. How we handle our relationships can be a light for others. 

Is there someone who came to mind as you were reading or listening to this devotional? You are an ambassador of Christ to this person! You have purpose and calling to help them reconcile to God. Sparkle in their direction by lovingly sharing the gift of Jesus with them. 

Follow @devoinaction on Facebook and join in the conversation about each post in this series. Please feel free to share a pic of your Bible entry and share your thoughts on the scripture in each devotional. Or, tag me @devoinaction on Instagram. The hashtag for this series is #sparklingadvent

Prayer:

Dear God, Help us to embrace the purpose you have given us in Jesus. Give us wisdom about when to speak and what words to say. Sparkle through us for Your glory. Enable us to bring peace and reconciliation in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Check out the video on YouTube:

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The post Sparkling Advent #4: The Gift of Purpose (2 Corinthians 5:18-21) appeared first on Devotion in Action.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Sparkling Advent #3: The Gift of Eternal Life (Romans 6:23)

With Jesus, we receive so many gifts. We will dig a little deeper into several of those gifts with each post. However, we touched on the greatest of these gifts last time – eternal life. 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Sin = Death

Sin yields death. It leads us down a path that may feel good here on earth but is headed directly to hell, and eternal separation from God. He is holy and our sin creates a chasm between us and Him. We cannot conquer our sin on our own because none of us is perfect. 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

“As it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

    no one understands;
    no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good,
    not even one.” ” Romans 3:10-12

Connection Between Heaven and Earth

Yet, God made a way to bridge the gap between us that was created by our sin. That gap between heaven and earth is impossible for us, but nothing is impossible for God. He established Christ Jesus as the stairway between people and Himself.

“Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” “ John 1:51

God’s Gift of Eternal Life

Jesus even said that He is the Way! 

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” “ John 14:6

We come to God the Father through the staircase of Jesus, and He mends our broken relationships with God. He is the only way to heaven, and eternal life. 

Free Gift

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

God’s gift to us is eternal life. It is free and we just need to accept it. 

Action Step:

If you have already accepted God’s gift of eternal life, take some time today to think about what an amazing blessing and gift that is for us. 

Follow @devoinaction on Facebook and join in the conversation about each post in this series. Please feel free to share a pic of your Bible entry and share your thoughts on the scripture in each devotional. Or, tag me @devoinaction on Instagram. The hashtag for this series is #sparklingadvent

Prayer:

Dear God, We are overwhelmed by the gift that we do not deserve. Eternal life in Your presence is more than we can imagine. Thank you for Jesus, the Way to You. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Check out the video on YouTube:

Don’t miss out on all the freebies!

For access to the free printables to use in Bible art journaling, click here: https://www.devotioninaction.com/resourcelibrary/

If you don’t have access yet to the Resource Library, find out how to get free access HERE!

The post Sparkling Advent #3: The Gift of Eternal Life (Romans 6:23) appeared first on Devotion in Action.