April 5, 2020 Cogitation

Love received should be love expressed to others.

2 John 1:6 KJV “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.”

 

Love is God’s theme for mankind. He has shown His love for us by the many things that has been done. God will continue to show His love to us because we are His creation. However, we need to return love not only to God but also to the creation God has given us. Love is the overriding fruit of the Spirit because it is mentioned first in Galatians 5:22. Everything begins with love.

 

We need to show our dissatisfaction when there are things we don’t agree with. We need to be able to voice our opinion when it has its place. We need to be able to show that we function as normal people. However, we do it all in love. We must some how or some way be able to pull it all together as we live together this side of eternity. Our training since our youth has taught us what is right and what is wrong. Our obedience is defined by how well we do what we know we need to do. As this verse indicates, the one thing that needs to be done is to be examples as we express ourselves in love. When you get time please read John 13:34-35. Don’t just read the words as if reading a book but study them and realize that they are words for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Enjoy the day. Enjoy the blessings from God.

Serving because Jesus lives,
Pastor Dennis Wildman

April 4, 2020 Cogitation

Walk with your head raised high. You’re a child of the King.

3 John 1:4 KJV “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

This small book at the end of the New Testament was written to attest to the love the writer had for Gaius, Gaius’ love for the Lord, and Gaius’ dedication to serve.

 

I hope you are like me and continue to look forward to the blessings of each day as the Lord leads and guides us to discovering new opportunities for serving Him. As John was writing to Gaius, I can sense John’s approval of the way Gaius was walking each day with the Lord. God’s inspiration each day should continues to lead you to a closer walk with Him. I hope you have felt the Holy Spirit leading you to finding new and exciting ways for service also.

What’s it like to have joy in your life? That is a question you can only answer by maintaining the Christian walk of truth each day. Unfortunately, there are a number of people who are not experiencing joy as you read this devotion. Our prayer should be for them to soon find the joy that comes to those that love the Lord with everything God has given them.

Serving because Jesus lives,
Pastor Dennis Wildman

April 3, 2020 Cogitation

Helping people to understand God’s Word will save their life.

 

Titus 1:9 KJV “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus to encourage him as he ministered to others. I like studying verses of scripture in an effort to find a way to use them to make me a better person. I have been fortunate to receive invaluable teaching through classes I have attended, bible studies and other self-study activities. Each opportunity to learn has been uplifting and has helped me be a better person. God’s Word is an excellent tool to assist you in becoming the person God created you to be. Paul’s admonishment to Titus was to use what he had been taught. The old expression hold true, “Use it or lose it.” If it was good enough for me, it certainly should be good enough for others. So, both you and I can read the Word and allow it to influence our lives as well as others. We should continue to encourage each other to be dependent upon God and His Word to make it through life.

Serving because Jesus lives,
Pastor Dennis Wildman

April 2, 2020 Cogitation

Live for tomorrow by living today according to God’s will for your life.

 

Revelation 22:14 KJV “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

 

How important is it that we read all the Bible? Each and every verse of scripture is God inspired. I believe it and am challenged every day to find the meaning of each verse for the given situation I encounter. You see, I believe that God’s inspired Word has multiple messages for us as we read it given the situation or circumstances that led us to it. I can’t tell you the number of times I have been studying God’s Word and all of a sudden I realize a new truth from the passage(s) reviewed. So, what does this verse say to you today. I am challenged also to continue presenting the message God gives me from His Word. Thank you to those of you who have indicated that the daily devotionals received spoke to you about something that was going on in your life. That is the way God works in our lives. He uses each one of us to encourage or uplift another.

Serving because Jesus lives,
Pastor Dennis Wildman