SUNDAY
What Will I Put On Today?
One of our first decisions of the day is what we will put on. It is determined in part by what we are planning for the day. We have clothes that we wear to work, clothes for church, clothes for vacation, and clothes for different seasons. So, sometimes this might be a long, drawn-out decision. When I used to go help my Dad work in the fields, or around the barn, I didn’t wear the same clothes I would wear if Mom and I went shopping. I want to begin these devotions on “The Valley Of Decision”, with some verses in the Bible that tell us some things we should put on. Just as we choose what we will put on to wear in the morning, we can choose to put on these things from God’s Word. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27) The clothes we wear, the words we say, the things we do, the places we go, should all reflect Christ! “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31)
MONDAY
Put On The Armor Of Light
Paul told the church in Rome that it was “high time to awake out of sleep.” We could say that same thing emphatically today, “It’s time for us to wake up!” The world is in darkness, and we are to put on the armor of light. We can see the Apostle’s urgency in these words. If it was important for them, “knowing the time,” back then, just think how much nearer we are to the Lord’s return. The world is dark, but we have the Light of the Lord. Just as we choose to put on the right clothes in the morning, let’s also choose to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and walk in His Light.
“11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:11-14)
TUESDAY
Put On The Whole Armor Of God
Many are familiar with the armor of God in Ephesians 6. I just want to share a few thoughts. In verse 10, notice that our strength and power is in the Lord and His might. We have no power in ourselves against the evil in this world. The next verses remind us that we are not enemies against one another. We need to keep our focus on the real enemies of Christ. In verse 13 we see that we need the whole armor of God, and sometimes it takes all we have, just to stand. What do we do then? “Stand therefore…” Paul continues with the armor, wrapped around us in truth, with a breastplate of righteousness. Our feet prepared to take us to spread the gospel of peace and a shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. Let’s not forget our helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Just as a soldier would not go into battle without his armor, let’s not go through our day without the armor of God, always praying and watching.
“10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:10-18)
WEDNESDAY
Put On The New Man
When I reach into the closet to find what I want to put on, I usually pull out the same skirts and tops. I have had them for years and years and although they may look a little worn, they are so comfortable I wear them over and over. Eventually, they get so worn or torn or stained that I can’t wear them anymore. When I finally buy something new to wear it feels good to wear a new outfit. When we get saved we have to “put off the old man with his deeds”, and “put on the new man”. Paul has some really great examples of what we are to put off, and what we are to put on. Then he says, “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” I hope you will take time to read the verses below and strive to put off the old man and put on the new.
“8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:8-17)
THURSDAY
The Shepherds’ Decision
Do you realize that Christmas is only three months away? I want to look at the Christmas story found in Luke 2. We see that the shepherds were not hesitant in their decision. They were in the field keeping their sheep at night when the angels came unto them suddenly. The angels proclaimed that a Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born. The shepherds were not hesitant to go to the Savior. They said, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” They were ready to go “now”, “even unto Bethlehem”. It didn’t matter the hour or the distance. Next, we read, “And they came with haste…” They were quick to make the decision and quick to go to the Savior. And after they saw Him, they told others and all “wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” If you have never met Jesus, the Savior, I pray that you will call on Him now. Don’t wait until it is too late. Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, came from heaven to be born and live and give His life to pay for our sin. Don’t let anything keep you from coming to the Savior now. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin and believe on Him. That decision would make this your best Christmas ever.
“8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” (uke 2:8-18)
FRIDAY
Moses Made The Right Choice And Changed Lives
Today we see a man of vital importance that God used to make a difference in the lives of the Israelites. They were in bondage, working as slaves in Egypt to build cities for Pharaoh. The Old Testament, from Exodus to Deuteronomy, is filled with scriptures following the life of Moses. Jochebed, Moses' mother, hid him in a little ark in the river and placed his sister, Miriam, there to watch over him. The princess found him, and Miriam said she would get someone to take care of him for her, and went to get her mother. When he was old enough the princess took him to live and study in the palace. Because his mother had taught him of God, Moses knew to make the right choice. Look at these verses in Hebrews 11:23-27.
"23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."
Moses fled from Egypt after killing an Egyptian and God called to him from the burning bush, while he watched the sheep on the backside of the desert. With the rod of a shepherd, God used Moses and Aaron his brother, to bring the great plagues on Egypt and convince Pharaoh to let His people go. And as a shepherd leads the sheep, Moses led the Children of Israel through the wilderness. Moses chose to follow God, "as seeing him who is invisible" and came to know Him "face to face". "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel." (Deuteronomy 34:10-12) When we make the choice to follow God, "than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" then it will make a difference in our lives and the lives of those around us.
SATURDAY
The Prodigal Son Chose To Go Back Home
We have a great example of a son who made the wrong decision and left home with his inheritance, and wasted it all. “When he came to himself”, he made the decision to go back home. His father was waiting for him and rejoiced to see him and celebrated his return. This is a great lesson for us today. If you have strayed away from your heavenly Father, please know that He is waiting for you to come back home. You may have made some wrong decisions and gone away from the Lord, or you may have just neglected the things that matter and now find that you aren’t as close to the Lord as you used to be. He is waiting for you. We can’t undo decisions we made in the past, but we can make the right decision today.
“11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:11-24)
ven in a chariot of fire. “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (II Kings 2:11) Elijah never died. We don’t understand why some of our prayers are not answered, but we have a faithful God who always knows what is best for us!
