Category: Daily Devotional

From Bill – Reading a great book today called Activating the Power of God’s word by Kyle Winkler. I recommend it. In it he describes the mental struggles of a person called Linda. Many of us will resonate with the attack’s of the evil one. It starts with evil Bombarding the mind with lies, doubts, and what-ifs • then Satan offers an object (money, fame, career), a substance (drugs, alcohol), or a person (an unhealthy, codependent relationship) as the means of relief • then When the person succumbs to the pressures, Satan follows up by giving intense guilt & shame. It becomes a cycle reinforced by habit also called a stronghold. This can be quite debilitating. There will be enough truth in these “arguments” to convince you they are true or perhaps they are what God thinks. An obvious example is reminding you of an intentional sin you once committed & telling you that you cannot be forgiven. Or a tragic event that happened that you were involved in. Or when you are once again tempted with a familiar issue, he tells you that you must eventually give in & there is no hope. Starting another cycle of guilt & shame just for the temptation. You can be rendered totally incapacitated and ineffective if you stay in that place. So how do we escape this? Tune in tomorrow. —Just remember, he tempted our Savior too, who overcame all temptations! We too can overcome! It is a war! Prepare to do battle! Love Mel

From Bill & Mel —Information Borrowed from Compelling Truth and Got Questions websites. Covenant theology examines the Bible within the context of the Bible’s covenants. The two covenants typically of focus include the covenant of works & the covenant of grace. These two covenants are seen as extensions of the seven covenants in Scripture (Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Palestinian/Land, Mosaic, Davidic, and New). Covenant theology simply explained begins with the covenant of works that began in the Garden of Eden. Adam & Eve were given one command, with a clear consequence for disobedience. When Adam & Eve failed to keep God’s commandment, God established the covenant of grace. This covenant of grace is seen clearly in Jesus Christ, with salvation offered as a free gift of grace by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Other covenants are similarly broken by humans yet kept by God’s grace. Abraham failed God at times, yet God’s grace was sufficient. The Davidic Covenant was fulfilled despite David’s sins. In the New Covenant, Jesus fulfills the law & offers salvation to those who turn to Him. He fulfills the covenant both as a human & as God. All the earlier covenants find fulfillment in Jesus, who claims not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). —For by Grace we have been saved! Grace is the love from our God because He is love & not based on our behavior! How great would it be if we learned to love like that! Now That is & would be worth celebrating! Love Mel

Information Borrowed from Compelling Truth & Got Questions websites. The Davidic Covenant was an unconditional covenant, found in 2 Samuel 7:8-16, which promised to bless David’s family line & assure an everlasting kingdom. Jesus is from that family line of David (Luke 1:32-33) & as the Son of David (Mark 10:47), is the fulfillment of this covenant. It amplifies the “seed” aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant. The promises to David in this passage are significant. God is always using His power to bring about wholeness for His people eternally.
THE NEW COVENANT found in Jeremiah 31:31-34,  promised that God would forgive sin & allow a close, unbroken relationship with His people. The promise was first made to Israel & then extended to everyone who comes to Jesus Christ in faith (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:15). Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) & create a new covenant between God & His children. Now that we are under the New Covenant, both Jews & Gentiles can be free from the penalty of the Law. We are now given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). Praise the Lord & believe that He is working out all that is wrong in this world! Preparing the way to a better one! Love Mel

From Bill & Mel —Information Borrowed from Compelling Truth and Got Questions websites. Palestinian (or Land) Covenant amplifies the land aspect that was detailed in the Abrahamic Covenant. This unconditional covenant is found in Deuteronomy 30:1-10. It shows God’s promise to scatter Israel for disobeying God & to restore them at a later time to their land. This covenant has been fulfilled twice, with the Babylonian Captivity & subsequent rebuilding of Jerusalem under Cyrus the Great; & with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., followed by the reinstatement of the nation of Israel in 1948. —The Mosaic Covenant – “The Law” WAS a conditional covenant, found in Deuteronomy 11 & elsewhere which promised the Israelites a blessing for obedience & a curse for disobedience. Much of the Old Testament describes the fulfillment of God’s judgment for sin & blessing when God’s people repented & returned to God. Part of the Mosaic Covenant was Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) & the rest of the Law, which contained over 600 commands—roughly 300 positive & 300 negative. — Our God loves it when we seek Him & do what He asks!! Now that sounds like most parents!! Along with obedience comes blessings, so in my mind that is worth pursuing! Stay tuned for “The Best Covenant” is coming!! Love Mel

From Bill & Mel —Information Borrowed from Compelling Truth & Got Questions websites. Unconditional Covenants are an agreement between two parties, but only one of the two parties has to do something. Nothing is required of the other party. The Noahic Covenant was an unconditional covenant between God & Noah (specifically) & humanity (generally). After the Flood, God promised humanity that He would never again destroy all life on earth with a Flood (see Genesis chapter 9). God gave the rainbow as the sign of the covenant, a promise that the entire earth would never again flood & a reminder that God can & will judge sin (2 Peter 2:5). In the Abrahamic Covenant God promised many things to Abraham. He personally promised that He would make Abraham’s name great (Genesis 12:2), that Abraham would have numerous physical descendants (Genesis 13:16), & that he would be the father of a multitude of nations (Genesis 17:4-5). God said Abraham’s enemies would be His enemies & his supporters would be blessed. God also made promises regarding a nation called Israel. In fact, the geographical boundaries of the Abrahamic Covenant are described in the book of Genesis (12:7; 13:14-15; 15:18-21). Another provision in the Abrahamic Covenant is that the families of the world will be blessed through the physical line of Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 22:18). This is a reference to the Messiah, Yeshua, Jesus, who would come from the line of Abraham. — Our God is a covenant keeper! Love Mel