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| Ryker's Dream Orphan Ministry and Relief |
| James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. |
Reaching and equipping people for Christ
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. Colossians 1:21-22 Have you ever been shut-out of fellowship and relationship with someone? Maybe a friend, perhaps a co-worker, a son or daughter, or even a spouse? When someone shuts down that relationship and fellowship, we experience a loss of intimacy with that person we love and trust; it is very disheartening. Being shut out of fellowship is the very alienation Paul is referring to here, in this passage from Colossians. Prior to giving my heart to Jesus, that is exactly where I was -- alienated and shut out of fellowship with God. But I wasn’t alienated because I didn't pray enough or because I didn't do enough good deeds. No, I was alienated because I was an enemy of God in my mind. And it is in the mind that the devil can attack us so often. Who, reading this, does not have a radio in their car, a television in their home, or a newspaper delivered to their door? Those things are not designed to speak to your feet or your hands; they are designed to speak to your mind. So often radio, TV, movies, the internet, and the newspaper can fill your mind with things that alienate you from God. Let me ask you, do you spend more time during your day keeping your mind in harmony with God, building up your relationship and fellowship with Him, or do you let your mind get filled with things that alienate you from God? God sent Jesus down to earth to die on a cross because He no longer wanted you to be alienated from Him, but wanted to have that relationship and fellowship restored. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8). This devotional message is provided by Horizon Christian Fellowship. © 2009 Mike MacIntosh. All Rights Reserved. |