Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.
Read Romans 6:16; 8:15–17, 26–28; Galatians 5:22–23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23 NASB)
Good news! You don’t have to serve our old master, sin, any longer! By the Spirit‘s filling, evidences of our new nature emerge.
Read Galatians 5:16–17, 19–21
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. (Galatians 5:16–17 NASB)
Read Romans 6:12–13, 7:24, 8:1
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. (Romans 6:12–13)
Read John 14:12; Romans 12:1–2
“Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these will he do; because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12 NASB)
After relating the shocking, supernatural changes that resulted from the Spirit taking up residence inside the early followers of Jesus, I’m compelled to ask you: Is the Spirit of God being allowed to transform your life? In case you think that’s an irrelevant question, read the opening words of Romans 12:
Read Acts 5:27–32
Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” (Acts 5:27–29)
Read Acts 1:8, 4:13
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
The original disciples were a handful of unlikely misfits. But the remarkable fact is that they were the same ones who later “turned the world upside down,” according to the testimony of people in the first century. How can anyone explain the transformation?
Read Acts 5:28–32, 41–42
The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:41–42)
Read John 14:1–6, 16–18
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
(John 14:1–5)
Read John 10:10
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10)
Read Romans 8:26–28
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:26–28)
Sign up to receive Chuck Swindoll’s Daily Devotional in your inbox seven days per week.
Insight for Living is committed to excellence in communicating the truths of Scripture and the Person of Jesus Christ in an accurate, clear, and practical manner so that people will come to an understanding of God’s plan for their lives, as well as their significant role as authentic Christians in a needy, hostile, and desperate world.
1-30445 Progressive Way • Abbotsford, BC • V2T 6W3
info@insightforliving.ca
1.800.663.7639