The Reason

Wednesday, January 3, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: Titus 2:11-12

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and kow my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Today's reading:  Genesis 7-9 Matthew 3

Do You Live With The Reason?

1 Peter 3:15-"...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect..."

We all live with some sort of hope in our hearts. But does your hope give you peace? When faced with a great loss of family or friends, do you grieve with strength and hope or with weakness or emptiness or do you grieve full of hope? When there is a great tragedy, are you filled with fear or do you stand in God's divine stability? Do you trust God no matter what happens to the economy?

1 Peter 3:15 calls it the 'reason' for the hope that is in you. There is no hope without that reason and that reason, of course, is Christ Jesus in your life. But how real Christ is to you displays how strong your hope is. Your behavior will show the lost the hope they are looking for when you are walking as Jesus walked.

Do you live with the 'reason' for hope or do you just speak of hope?

Do you live in Christ or not?

Face God right now and tell Him the truth. He is your hope-the hope of us all-the hope that tells us that God is our protector and our provider and our eternal future-He is our joy.

When we live with His joy in our hearts and on our faces and in our words, someone will ask 'why' and so , we must be ready with God's answer-the reason we live with.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Great is Your name-ultimately more than my words. Your kingdom is perfect. Forgive me for lack of obedience and laziness. Give me today what You know I need. Lead me away from running from my responsibility to You.

Forgiving God of all truth,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen