Sat, 01 Feb 2025 05:50:43 -0800WeeblyTue, 05 Jan 2021 01:44:20 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/january-04th-2021

Romans 2:1–16 (NAS):  1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
 3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:
 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,
 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
 11 For there is no partiality with God.
 12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
 
     It is not the words that people say but rather the actions which are performed that define eternal destiny.  All of us sin and break the Law of God.  Those that acknowledge this fact are much closer to repentance than those that do not.  Pointing out someone’s sin while denying ones’ own sin is very far from repentance and in fact will lead to destruction.  While denying sin will lead to destruction, in many regards it does so very insidiously, almost unnoticed, especially when pointing out another sin appears to hide personal sin.  If you happen to spend most of your time focusing on what others are doing wrong, it would be wise to pause and ask yourself whether you are acknowledging and repenting of your own sin. This internal examination is an essential action to ensure we focus on our standing before a Holy God-we will be judged for our actions, not the actions of others.

]]>Mon, 04 Jan 2021 00:34:29 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/evident-from-the-beginningRomans 1:18–32 (NAS):  18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

     
     The truth about God’s existence has been clear from the beginnning of time.  More than that, God can be known by Man.  Since God can be known, there is a responsibility for each individual ever created to acknowledge God.  Failing to acknowledge God is the beginning of troubles for people.  Troubles result, when God, because of unbelief of an individual, allows and turns the individual over to their own will and ways.  An individuals’ will and ways, apart from a knowledge of and a lived relationship with God ultimately leads to a blindness.  This blindness results in individuals being unable to do good in the sight of God and leads to sin that further separates the individual from the God that created them.   The good news of the Gospel is that the relationship can be restored through repentance and turning towards and acknowledging God as sovereign ruler of their life.  


​]]>Fri, 29 Nov 2019 13:09:38 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/november-29th-2019 Romans 1, 7-17
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

     The Apostle Paul first thanks God for the church at Rome.  Paul then goes on to pray for the church.  This is a typical pattern throughout Paul's writings.  It is is right for us to also be thankful to God for the people in our lives as well as for our local church.  We are also to pray for one another and the church.  Paul then goes on to state his desire to visit Rome with the purpose of imparting a spiritual gift to believers.  Notice too, that Paul had wanted to go to Rome on a number of occasions and yet he had not been able to go.  The time would come when he would go to Rome, but God knew that this would ultimately lead to Paul's death and God wanted Paul to continue to spread the Gospel.  God's will and purposes are always higher than our own.  As we spread the Gospel, and tell people about the good news of the Gospel, we impact the spiritual and eternal life of those who truly hear the message.  That impact is brought about through the work of the Holy Spirit.  It is the power of God to bring about salvation in all who believe.  The Gospel call and offer of salvation is meant for all.   The direction of the road to salvation is therefore set. 

]]>Thu, 28 Nov 2019 15:18:11 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/the-beginning-of-the-roman-road-thanksgivingRomans 1, 1-6
"1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:"

​     On this Thanksgiving day, we have many things and blessings for which we are thankful.  Paul in this first chapter of the book of Romans, reminds us of our most precious blessing, that we are called to be of Christ.  Importantly, as part of the calling to be of Christ, we are to be obedient to the faith.  This obedience to the faith includes spreading the gospel among the nations.  We are thankful for this privilege, and pray that through our obedience, we will honor God.  

]]>Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:17:40 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/the-plan-unfolds31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; 32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.  33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.  34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.  35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.  36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

     You can see how evil Joseph’s brothers had been.  They not only didn’t care for Joseph, they deeply hurt their father, Jacob.  But as is always the case, God can turn even the evil intents of men into good.  We begin to see God’s plan for Joseph unfolding in verse 36.  Joseph became a servant of the captain of guard for Pharaoh.  This would start in motion an amazing series of events.  

]]>Sat, 01 Feb 2014 23:37:38 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/a-plan-gone-awry23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;  24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.  25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.  26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?  27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.  28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.  29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.  30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? (Genesis 37:23-30)

     Joseph’s brothers didn’t anticipate someone else finding Joseph and selling him.   In a strange twist of irony, they didn’t get anything for Joseph.  Joseph’s brothers sinned greatly and profited nothing.  All of a sudden Reuben (the oldest), realized that they had made a huge mistake.  Unfortunately though as we will soon learn, they didn’t respond well, but rather sinned further.  This is often the case; in the process of hiding sin, people often sin further.  

]]>Fri, 31 Jan 2014 23:27:18 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/already-accounted-for19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.  20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.  21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.  22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again (Genesis 37:19-22).

     The plan of Joseph’s brothers was pretty much spineless.  They were planning to leave him to die.  They would then, in their minds, have plausible deniability.  They could appear concerned about their brothers’ whereabouts and when he was found dead, able to proclaim that they didn’t kill him.  There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of thinking going on here, Joseph’s brothers were acting in an irrational and evil manner.  They were blind to their own sin, at least it would seem.  But God works even with human sin, in that God’s plan always accounts for it and in fact is centered around the fact of human sin.  God as deliverer, deals with sin.  

]]>Thu, 30 Jan 2014 23:13:54 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/god-is-in-control-even-when-it-seems-desperate12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.  13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.  14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.  15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?  16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.  17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.  18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him (Genesis 37:12-18).

      Jacob sent Joseph to his brothers.  Joseph was to give a report of the well being of his brothers.  But Joseph’s brothers planned to kill Joseph.  The other children of Jacob were acting wickedly, they were jealous of Joseph and tis led to plan an evil act.  But we know that God was looking after Joseph and in fact had a plan to ultimately protect him.  Even when things seem desperate remember that God is in control. 

]]>Wed, 29 Jan 2014 23:12:37 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/jacob-observed-the-saying9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.  10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?  11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying (Genesis 37:9-11).

     Jacob initially appears to be upset by Joseph’s dreams and rebukes Joseph.  But over time it seems Jacob began to take stock in what his son had said.  It could have been that Jacob knew that Joseph was good.  Additionally, Jacob himself had been previously visited in dreams, so he may have considered the possibility that Joseph’s dreams were from God.  In time, Jacob would realize the full meaning of God’s provision through the work of Joseph.  

]]>Tue, 28 Jan 2014 23:05:16 GMThttp://createdthroughhim.com/blog-and-daily-devotional/god-knows-best5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.  6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:  7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.  8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words (Genesis 37:5-8).

     God had told Joseph that he would ultimately reign over the rest of his brothers.  This did not sit well with Joseph’s brothers.  They perceived Joseph as arrogant and they further despised him.  But it is important to realize that Joseph’s brothers were by proxy despising God and it was God’s plan all along for Joseph to reign over the other sons of Jacob.  Interestingly it would be for the good of all of Jacob’s family that this would be so.  God knows what is best.  

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