Daily Devotional By Archbishop Foley Beach

Christianity Is Not a “Holy Club” Nor “Exclusive”; Christians Should Embrace All Who Follow Jesus

MESSAGE SUMMARY:  We need to welcome these new excited followers of Jesus as members of our Non-Exclusive global fellowship as a Christian. Those of us who have been brought up in the church or have been in the church for a while can get caught up in our personal righteousness. We get used to the presence of God and His peace in our lives. However, we then encounter a new follower of Jesus. This new Christian, before their conversion, was living in the ways of the world without God’s peace. Now, this new believer is so excited with their new life. However, their outward manifestation of their conversion may not “fit” with our personal Christian behavioral norms. Sadly, too many modern Christians judge and condemn these new, excited believers for their enthusiasm rather than loving, encouraging, and embracing these new followers of Jesus. We can learn from Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees, who exhibited similar non-supportive behavior of Christians in Matthew 5:20: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”.

 

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Heartlessness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit’s fruit of Kindness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f).

 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 7:45-47; Matthew 5:20; Luke 11:38-39; Psalms 49b:11-20.

 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/

 

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Some Christians Easily Walk Away from God, But God Rejoices When They Return", at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

 

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Are You Committed to Spending Personal Relationship Time with God Through Prayer?”: www.AWFTL.org/watch

 

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Other Than Your Relationship with God, Your Wife Must Be Your Relationship Priority

MESSAGE SUMMARY:

Other than your relationship with God, your wife must be your relationship priority – what your whole life-focus should be about. In Genesis 2:24, God established the framework for the relationship and life-focus between husband and wife: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”. Paul, in Ephesians 5:25, expresses God’s expectations for the husband in his relationship with his wife: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”. Faithfulness to your wife involves the quality of your relationship, but it involves all aspects of your relationship -- adultery is the ultimate act of unfaithfulness. In Mathew 19:4-7, Jesus repeats God’s instructions from Genesis 2:24; but Jesus makes clear, in Matthew 19:6b, that Marriage demands: “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”. Many things can get in the way of your relationship with your wife; therefore, your wife must be your relationship focus. The world, the country, your friends, and your family have so many issues and hurts for which Jesus and His Gospel are the answer; but we keep this good news a secret by our unwillingness to live a visible life walking the talk of the Gospel and sharing the Gospel. Do you have the faith and courage and are you willing to share the Gospel? If you do, then pray for God’s guidance to you for His will and role for you.

 

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will seek God’s perspective on my situation. For I know that in all things God works together for good to those of us who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (From Romans 8:28).

 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Genesis 2:24-25; Mathew 19:4-7; Ephesians 5:25-33; Psalms 22a:1-16.

 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/

 

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Stop Making Excuses for Not Following Jesus and Follow Him Without Reservations", at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/.

 

WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Becoming God’s Broken Vessels to Serve the Needs of Others”: www.AWFTL.org/watch

 

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB