Daily Devotionals

Comment

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 25, 2010 at 7:13am

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Are you making the most of every day? Or do you feel rushed with never enough time to get everything done?

God has given to each one of His children a measure of time to live on this earth. Every day is a gift from God… and every breath you take is from Him. He has prepared a specific plan and purpose for your life that He wants you to accomplish during the time that you have. But in order to do so, you need to be a good steward of your time and not waste it away!

Our verse for today encourages us to walk carefully—with precision, purpose, and determination. This is important because you only have one life to live, and you don’t know how long it will be. So it’s crucial to seize the day and live every moment to the fullest.

The Scripture tells us to “redeeming the time”… to use it up… not for yourself, but for the glory of God. That’s what Jesus did. He was never hurried, but lived a life of purpose and He accomplished so much. He said, “I have come to do Your will” and He prioritized His time according to what He had been called to do.

You and I must do the same thing. It’s easy to rush through life and think we don’t have enough time for everything. But the truth is the Lord has given us the time and ability to do all that He asks us to do. It’s up to us to give ourselves to the most important things in life.

You can‘t live in yesterday and you can’t live in tomorrow… you can only live today. So make it count and maximize every moment!

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 22, 2010 at 1:39pm

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; Isaiah 53:6

King David stands as the prime example of someone who lost their first love. We remember him rightfully as the man after God’s own heart—but we also remember David as a murderer and an adulterer.

We may ask the question, how could one who was known for his devotion to God fall so horribly? What were the steps that led to his demise?

David’s steps to losing his first love were subtle—but very real. When David sat on his rooftop watching Bathsheba bathe on that fateful night, he was not walking with the Lord as he once had.

We read earlier in the Psalms how David possessed this great devotion and passion for God. But at this particular point in his life, we don’t read of him worshipping or singing love songs to God. David was spiritually idle.

The Bible says that “at the time when kings go out to battle” 2nd Samuel 11:1, King David was sitting on his housetop. He was resting on his laurels.

When you stop progressing spiritually, you will soon be a train wreck waiting to happen. We must recognize that deep in our nature we all have a natural tendency to wander.

It is no coincidence that God compares us to wandering sheep. That is our natural tendency. And as an old hymn says, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” We are prone to wander.

So the first love Jesus speaks of in Revelation 2:5 is the very thing that will counteract our wandering. Our first love exists as the antidote to the wandering spirit we have. That passion is what keeps us engaged in our relationship with God.

If you make Jesus your first love, everything else will fall into its proper balance. Many are the times when I remember one of my Mother’s life verses found in Matthew 6:33, words from Jesus, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 21, 2010 at 12:40pm

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cates just now Delete Comment I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 3rd John 1:9

In the movie Rocky, boxer Rocky Balboa describes his relationship with his girlfriend Adrienne: 'I've got gaps. She's got gaps. But together we've got no gaps.' It doesn't matter how gifted you are - you've got gaps. What's the best way to handle your weaknesses? By working with others who have strengths in those areas. The New Testament Christians did this; as a result, ‘Great grace was upon them all.’ Acts 4;33

So why don't we work together more? Because of the 'Diotrephes spirit': Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. What did Diotrephes want? Control! He wasn't service-driven, he was ego-driven. He was afraid to have anyone challenge him. With him it was 'my way or the highway'. He didn't want a team, just a supporting cast. But 'stars' are insecure; they hold the reins tightly.

The trouble is, people who are afraid to trust others end up not being trusted. There's a level of success that they never get beyond, because they can't work with anybody. And when they stumble, they have no one to help them up. They stay weak in certain areas; they can't reach for the strength in others because they believe others 'are only out for what they can get'. Whoa! That's the person in the mirror talking to you! Will others disappoint you? Yes. But you'll get further with the help of others than you'll get without it

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 20, 2010 at 7:12am

Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:15

The sandals or shoes Paul describes in Ephesians 6 not only provide
stability to help the believer hold ground, they also provide mobility. These are not dress shoes that are uncomfortable or that you want to keep perfectly clean. These shoes will allow you to move at a moment’s notice.

As 1 Peter 3:15 tells us, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” In the original language, these words communicate the idea of giving a defense, as in a court of law.

So we should always be ready to give a defense of what we believe. We need to be ready at a moment’s notice to seize opportunities to share the gospel.

Some people say, “The Lord never opens up opportunities for me to share my faith.” I think He does, but I think often we are not paying attention. Opportunities are all around us. Sometimes we simply need to push on that door of opportunity a little bit.

We need to talk to people. Jesus sat down with the woman at the well, asked her for a drink of water, began to converse with her, and transitioned into a spiritual conversation.

People rarely will come knocking on your door to ask what they must do to be saved. Generally there will be other kinds of opportunities, but you need to have your spiritual antenna up, so to speak, and seize the moment when it comes.

The armor of God is not only for holding ground; it is also for gaining ground. We gain ground when our shoes are on and we walk through the doors of opportunity God opens for us.

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 19, 2010 at 6:38am

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Our fixed attitude must always be 'Lord, show me Your plan'. Then, when we know what God desires, to do it! When we say 'yes' to God, He imparts the ability that we lack, to perform His will. Note, the Lord doesn't impart His ability first, then call us. No, He calls us, and as we step out in faith and obey Him, He imparts His ability.

The Bible says, 'walk worthy of the calling with which you were called' Ephesians 4:1. This word 'walk' does not refer to some sort of meandering stroll. It means to stay in step with the Lord, to catch the beat of the Holy Spirit, and to move precisely as He moves. When God acts, we act.

When God pauses, we pause. We must never think we can compartmentalize our life to the point where we say, 'In this category, in this season, in this circumstance, I am operating on my own. In this other category, or season, or circumstance, I am operating according to the power of the Holy Spirit within me.' The Holy Spirit does not come and go from our lives. He is always with us! 'In Him we live, and move, and have our being.' Acts 17:28

Once you begin to walk to the rhythm of the Holy Spirit, nothing is going to matter as much to you as keeping pace with Him. You will find that the direction that He takes you in is always the right direction, His timing is always the right timing, and the results you get are always the right results.

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 18, 2010 at 3:01pm

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me. Psalm 27:10

Zachary sat on the front steps, his chin propped up on his hands. His dad was busy with work around the house, and his mom was doing work she had brought home from the office. Neither one of them had any time for him anymore. There was always something else that was more important.

Zachary found himself spending a lot of time on his front steps.

Our world can be a lonely place when everyone is too busy to give time to one another. People get lost in the shuffle. Sometimes it happens to us.

God said He would never leave us or forsake us. We never have to worry about what is to come because our future is in His hands. He will be with us through the endings, the beginnings, and the journeys. We can always know He will be stable and with us.

We need the Lord in our lives so we never have to worry about being alone. The Spirit of God dwells within each one of His children, and for that reason, God is never far from us. When the pace of life threatens to bury you, remember the Lord and reach out to Him. He will not leave you lonely

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 16, 2010 at 9:03am

Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3

I read the other day that the average person will spend 15 years in front of the television during his or her lifetime. Can you imagine 15 years of sitting in front of that box, clicking away? What a waste of life.

On the other hand, the Bible speaks of many rewards in heaven for the person who faithfully serves the Lord during his or her lifetime, and even speaks of crowns that will be given. In fact, I think we might be shocked when the awards are presented in heaven.

We may expect them to go to all the big names that we know. But just imagine if most of the awards were given to someone named Maude Firkenbinder. You hadn’t heard about her. She never pastored a church. She never recorded Christian music. She never wrote a book or stood in front of a television camera. But she used the gifts that God gave her. Maybe God called her to be a person of prayer. Maybe she labored in obscurity somewhere. But God saw her faithfulness and rewarded her openly.

Here is a thought to ponder. It is a tough one for me.

When you get to heaven, what will you have to show for your life on this earth? How much of our time was spent in a worthless way.

Did you have more passion or excitement for your career or for a sport or for your possessions than you had for the things of God?

Will it all come to nothing. Wasted hours. Wasted days. Wasted years.

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 15, 2010 at 7:33am

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... Matthew 6:20

Heaven is a place in the future of every Christian, and I want to know—are you prepared? Are you really ready to go? I don’t just mean, do you have the hope of heaven? That’s part of it. Trusting in Christ also means recognizing that your life on earth should count for something and you should lay up for yourself treasures in heaven.

Every thing you have on earth will be left behind. But Jesus told us if we were wise, we would “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:20–21. I guess this means as Christians we will one day receive rewards for our faithful service to the Lord.

What are you doing for Jesus? Are you using the gifts He has given you? Are you serving Him?

I have found one of the best ways to live the greatest life in this world is to be more concerned with the next one. C. S. Lewis said, “Aim for heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither.”

So as you aim at heaven, as you are thinking about fellowshipping with the Lord, earth will be thrown in. You can have the greatest life on this earth—not because you are trying to obtain happiness or fulfillment, but because you are trying to walk with God and please Him.

The fringe benefit of living life for the next one is we can have a happy, fulfilled life doing it.

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 14, 2010 at 7:11am

A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

How are your relationships going these days? As you evaluate them, maybe you realize you’ve hit a snag with a close friend, spouse, co-worker, or neighbor. If so, what will you do about it?

Whether you’re single or married, a child or an elderly person, solving problems in relationships is one of the most important skills you will ever learn. It not only makes for a successful family life, it also makes for a successful career, a successful education, and a successful social life. Unless we have these skills, we’ll never be truly happy.

When we have a problem with someone, we have to learn to state that problem in a gentle, soft, positive way. A simple and positive problem statement is important because if you don’t start right, you’ll have little hope of ending right. If in a kind voice, you say something like “I feel this way when you do such-and-such,” the other person can discover how you react to certain statements and actions (regardless of what that person may have intended). Instead of responding angrily, respond in kindness—“a gentle answer turns away wrath.”

We also need to listen actively and not interrupt. Summarize what you heard, and allow the other person to rephrase things if you didn’t quite understand. Listening in this way is really just applying the golden rule.


Next, brainstorm with the other person a mutually agreeable solution. Offer suggestions: “Well, we could do this, or we could do that.” Don’t criticize anyone’s suggestions (for example, avoid saying, “That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard!”). Criticism freezes the brain and destroys our ability to develop creative solutions.

Once you’ve brainstormed some options, weigh the pros and cons of these potential solutions, and agree on one that is mutually acceptable. Implement it, and later evaluate its effectiveness.

Perhaps you desire reconciliation with someone who matters to you. Can you take the first step and give that person a “gentle answer” today?

Comment by Bishop Christopher Cate on October 13, 2010 at 11:39am

You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Psalm 17:3

A teacher would often leave the class room for a few minutes, just to see who the problem children were going to be. The teacher would exit and then would return suddenly and catch the children in all stages of misbehavior. There were the exceptions, of course. Some children sat quietly whether she was in the room or not. Those children were treasures, and would help the teacher to keep some form of sanity.

All of us behave differently when we think we're being watched. Usually, we are on our best behavior when we know that someone else is around.

I once heard that character is what we are in the dark.
I guess you could say character is what we are when we think the teacher has left the room.

The funny thing is, somebody is always with us: God. Is God pleased when He sees the way we act when we're alone? It is a wise person who tries to live righteously all the time, both when others are with him or her as well as when he or she is alone.

If we are saved, the Lord will help us be the people we are meant to be, if we will only ask. No one is more deserving of our best behavior than God.

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