Purity of Speech

This week's devotional comes from James Chapter 3. The verses read:

5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

These verses talk about the evils that we create with our words.  We cannot praise our Lord with the same tongue that we use to insult, bully, and speak down to others around us.  When we speak with hatred, hatred spreads to other parts of our lives as well.  People no longer trust us, no longer look up to us, and no longer follow us. However, if we purify our speech, the other aspects of our lives are purified as well.

This week, let us be challenged with controlling our tongue, letting it be a tool for praise rather than harm.

Peace In Christ

This week's devotional was from Philippians 4:6-7. The verses read:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

This is a conditional promise from God. The verses say that we need three things in order to cure anxiety and have perfect peace.

First, we need prayer-devotional and worshipful communication with God.

Second, we need supplication-requesting something. We need to let God know what we’re worried about and what we feel like we need.

Last, we need thanksgiving- thanking God in all circumstances.

These weeks are a tough few weeks. It’s campaign week, and applications are out for almost every organization on campus. Everyone is starting to have tests, philanthropies are booming, and volunteers are needed in everything. But, we must remember that we can have a perfect peace in all of this. Prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving to our God will bring us this peace. 

Dear God,

Thank you for bringing us all here safely tonight. Help us to remember your promise to us, and for us to do everything to bring about the peace that you promise us. God, keep us strong throughout the rest of the week. Hope that we can remember you in all circumstances. We thank you for the lives that we’re living, even if we feel anxious at times. We pray this in your Son’s name. Amen.

If y'all want to read more commentary on these verses, visit rondaniel.com!

Being A Child of God

This week's devotion came from 1 John 3:7-10.  The verses read:

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

We have all sinned, but these verses are saying something in addition to that. While we are sinners, people who are in Christ are not going to continue to accept sin into their lives. We are not going to say," I'm a horrible influence on the people around me and don’t spend time worshipping God, but at least I haven’t killed anyone." Oftentimes we think," I’ll sin just this one time even though I know it’s wrong; Jesus died for my sins, He’ll forgive me anyways." Instead, we are going to continue to grow in Christ, being an example to those around us, transforming our lives instead of letting “anyone lead us astray.”

This is a very powerful message and we must all remember that the Bible is the truth; it is the Word of the Lord. It is not something to be taken lightly. It is not a book of happy, always joyful quotes that we can reference when we are feeling God-like. It must consume every aspect of our lives. We can’t choose certain times when we want to be a part of God’s kingdom.  

Trusting and following the Lord will make us a part of that Kingdom, and through our love and devotion to Jesus Christ, we will be cleared of all sin.