Christ being risen from the dead, assures us that our hope is not in vain. He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Praise God!
"Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He shall be held by it." (Acts 2:24)
"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:25)
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." (Galatians 2:16)
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26)
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. (Romans 6:4-5, see Romans Chapter 6 in its entirety.)
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)
A Prayer:
Thank You Lord for reconciling us to God; for the hope of eternal glory; for being our Great High Priest, who intercedes for us. For being our forerunner and the anchor of our souls. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
Jesus Christ, Son of God, willingly gave of Himself, to be the perfect sacrificial Lamb, for the sins of the world.
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7)
All thanks and praise to our gracious God, for His love and tender mercies. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (See John 3:16-21 and 2 Peter 3:9)
Recognizing that Jesus had done nothing worthy of condemnation, one of two criminals, who hung next to the Lord, said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)
O, the blessings of God's grace! Whosoever will may come, receive a pardon and be set free from sin, become slaves of righteousness.
A Prayer:
Thank You risen Lord, for teaching us in the ways of God; for bearing our sins in Your body on the cross; for Your offer of salvation, and faith to believe. Draw souls by Your Spirit, to the Light that is You. May Your word run swiftly and be glorified. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
The one, true and living God, the everlasting King, made the heavens and the earth and everything in them, by His great wisdom and power. Not the gods that are a lie and shall perish.
All God's works are done in truth; He is the truth. In Him, there is no falsehood or margins of error.
Being enticed by the devil, the first man and woman sinned and sin led to death, physically and spiritually. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, the second Adam from above, to reconcile us to God.
Jesus declares in John 14 verse 6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
To follow Christ, is to walk in truth and be set free. For whom the Son sets free is free indeed. (See John 8:31-59)
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:7 & 8)
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regards to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:20-23)
For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (The Third Epistle of John, Chapter 1:3 & 4)
A truly liberated and fruitful life, brings glory to God. Abide in Him and eat His words.
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
Related Bible Readings:
John 1:14 & 17; John 4:23 & 24; John 7:14-29; John 8:31-59; John 14:6 and John 14:15-17; John Chapter 15 in its entirety; John 16:12-15; John 17:3 & 17; John 18:37; First Epistle of John in its entirety; 1 Corinthians 13:6; 1 Corinthians 5:8; Galatians Chapter 5; Ephesians 6:10-24; 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2; 1 Timothy Chapter 4; 1 Timothy 6:3-6; 2 Timothy 2:15-19; Hebrews 10:26 & 27; James 5:19 & 20; Second Epistle of Peter in its entirety; Epistle of Jude; Genesis Chapter 3; Psalm 25:4, 5, 10; Psalm 33:4; Psalm 43:3; Psalm 85:10-13; Psalm 86:11; Psalm 89:14-18; Proverbs 3:3 & 4; Proverbs 23:23; Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah Chapter 44; Isaiah Chapter 61; Jeremiah 10:1-16
The Keeper of our souls, the Lord Almighty, is He who loves and cares deeply for His "Vineyard." He causes it to blossom and bud, and fill the world with its fruit. He is zealous for its preservation.
"I, the LORD, keep it, I water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day. Fury is not in Me. Who would set briers and thorns against Me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." (Isaiah 27:3-5)
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
God gives His people power in the valleys, to walk on the high places, to drink of His rivers and streams, to walk in the light of His Word, to walk in the Spirit. With Him is the fountain of life.
Praise His holy name!
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
Related Bible Readings: Psalm 23; Habakkuk 3:19; Psalm 18:30-36; Psalm 32:8; Psalm 36:5-9; Psalm 119:105; John 8:12; Romans Chapter 8 in its entirety.
Having the knowledge and the assurance, that the Great God of heaven and earth is with us wherever we go, we are encouraged to be strong and of good courage. Life's journey is not an easy road we travel, but with our faithful God leading and guiding the way, and our trusting in His Word, meditating in it day and night, we can possess His promises, and enter into His perfect rest. God who commands and controls the seasons, never fails. Follow on.
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
Related Bible Readings: Joshua Chapter 1; Exodus 13:21 & 22; Exodus 33:12-17; Numbers 9:15-23; Deuteronomy 31:6; John 16:12-15; Hebrews 4:1-11; 1 Peter 5:10 & 11; 2 Peter 1:1-11
Praise and thanks be to God, for His marvelous grace which brought us salvation, through Jesus Christ. He offered up Himself for the sins of the world, by whom those who believe are justified and sanctified.
Daily walking with the Lord, God's finished work transforms and perfects us, as we yield to the Holy Spirit.
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11)
Our humble gratitude is exemplified in praise and thanksgiving to God, and the way we conduct ourselves in a sinful world, from which we were called. On the altar of God, we present ourselves daily as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. (See Romans 12:1 & 2)
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
Related Bible Readings:
Romans Chapter 5; Romans Chapter 8; Titus Chapter 2; Ephesians Chapter 4; Philippians 2:1-18; 2 Timothy 3:1-17; Galatians 2:16-21; Hebrews 13:1-21; The Book of James
Related Bible Readings: Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews Chapters 11 and 12; Colossians 2:6 & 7; Romans 1:16 & 17; The Epistle of James; Ephesians Chapter 3
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
It is God, all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, in whom we live and move, and have our being. He holds our breath in His hands. Who but God knows what is best for us?
It would be fruitless, not to mention perilous, to live life lacking the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God's will. The Holy Spirit who proceeds from God, knows what is the will of God, and leads and guides us into all truth. If one has not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, such a one is spiritually dead, and in need of enlightenment.
As we submit our wills to the will of God, we will find rest for our souls. We learn to trust Him in all life's circumstances, knowing that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
What a beautiful transformation: Walking in the light of God, and seeing things from His perspective.
God's love is perfect. It is complete, and overflows the heart with confidence and security. One cannot add or take away from the love of God. It never ceases, cannot be altered, neither improved upon. It's far-reaching and free to all.
We were created in the image and likeness of God, who is love. Everything he says and does, stems from love. The sin and transgression of Adam and Eve, resulted in grave and perpetual consequences throughout the generations of humanity. But in the fullness of time, Christ, the second Adam from above, who knew no sin, became sin for us, and bore the penalty in human flesh.
The Apostle Paul prayed to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-21)
Such wondrous love! Enjoy, walk in, be surrounded by and infused with His unfailing love.
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
Merciful and gracious God, is He who stands ready to forgive, pardoning sin and purging iniquity. Oh, that men would serve Him and worship Him only, the Healer and Restorer of broken lives. He delights in the beautification of His people, whom He has called for His glory.
Bible Reading:
I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do anymore with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. (Hosea 14:5-9)
A Prayer:
Plant Your Word in our hearts, Lord God. Let it find good soil and sprout; grow and produce an abundance of fruit of the Spirit. Lead and guide us in the paths of Your righteousness. Be thou glorified! In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
