Author: toddclifton

Devotions, John 1

Do You Believe AND Receive Christmas?

Most people, generally speaking, like the Christmas season…of course minus the frantic shopping and the overloaded spending and schedules and such.   Despite all that, most people also see it as a season of cheerfulness and giving. Christians see it as such, but even so much more.

Many believe that Christmas signifies the time when the Savior of mankind…Jesus…God in the flesh, became human.   While this is true, it is also true that you can know this fact without it making any true impact in your life.   You may say you believe in it…but have you really RECEIVED it?

READ:  John 1:9-12

Did you see the distinction in the words receiving and believing?  Why do you think that is there?

Imagine a kid at Christmas so excited about a gift he sees under the tree.   He even figures out what it is based on the size of the packaging and by the “shake test”, and he becomes even more excited about knowing he is going to get this gift.   But, how strange would it be on Christmas morning if the kid decides he is not going to open it up and play with it?   He just knew it was offered there to him, but he didn’t receive it.

Just like that kid, we must not only believe….but we must receive the gift.

How will you RECEIVE Christmas this year? (write you response below)

PRAY:  Jesus I pray that you will help me see that you are the Greatest Gift I should receive this Christmas.   Forgive me that for too long I have known You are there for me but I have never received You into my life.   Please show me how to do this.

NOTE:  If you feel like you really want to know how to receive Jesus into your life, please don’t hesitate…but let someone you trust who knows Jesus, help show you how to do that.

1 Corinthians 10, Devotions

What it means to be a Christian athlete…

Does praying before a game help you win?   Whose side is God on?  Click the link above to read a thought.  Then…

READ:  1 Corinthians 10:31

PRAY:   God thank you that you love me.  Thank you it is not based on my performance…but Yours.   I choose to train, play games, and live life today not for my own glory… but Yours.   I know that when I do this, whether I succeed or fail today, I will be a true champion because I did it for You.

What it means to be a Christian athlete…

Devotions, John 2

Jesus Likes Your Party

Did you know Jesus cares about what you care about?   And when asked to help, He will, as long as it ultimately gives Him glory.

READ:  John 2: 1-11

Did you see it?

  • Jesus loves to be around people.
  • He likes to have fun and to celebrate.
  • He cares about what you are dealing with even though His plans have a greater and more ultimate purpose.

You maybe thinking, “but why did he say: ‘Woman, why do you involve me?  My hour has not yet come.”?     In that culture, to run out of wine at a wedding was a big taboo.  You see Jesus was foreshadowing how his death and own blood would be like the wine he made to “save the day” at the party.  His blood would be a sign of the new promise of a way for all of us to be made right with God.  He wants to “save the day” for you and me!

That’s a real reason to party!

Devotions, John 18

What is The Truth?

Have you ever wondered if what you were taught was really the truth?

Back in college I had to decide if my faith was just a cultural thing or did it have real truth to it.   I grew up going to church, so I wanted to explore if what was said about Jesus was really true.  Was it really the truth?

Many have wrestled with the same question.

Today let’s look at a person who was very powerful, smart and influential but that didn’t have the church background and knew very little about Jesus.

READ: John 18: 28-38

One of the things I like about Jesus is he gets you to think….(kinda like that one teacher that gets on your nerves a little but you really respect because you feel like you are really learning something). Jesus response was:
  • “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” (John 18:34 NIV).
    • Jesus asked this because our response to who Jesus is has eternal consequences. 
  • “Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to me.” 
  • If we really care about the truth to life’s biggest, life impacting, and eternal questions…then we need to find out everything Jesus said!

PRAY:    God I really want to know the truth.   If it is true that how i respond to who Jesus is has eternal consequences, please continue to reveal to me why this is so.   Help me to diligently read the Bible regularly to find out everything Jesus said.  

Articles, Devotions

Who Are You Following?

championsdevotion:

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Everyone follows someone. Even if you think that “someone” is only yourself, all of us have admired certain people along the way and either intentionally or unintentionally modeled certain aspects of our life after them. A wise man eventually evaluates on a daily basis from whom is he is…

More thoughts…

When John the Baptist called out “look, the Lamb of God”, that was a bold and world altering statement.   You see if you grew up in that culture you would know that the Jewish people throughout history where hoping for God to do something big.   And before God did this, He told to them to perform a ritual that would cover over their sins and help them remember what God was going to do.   This ritual consisted of finding a perfect unblemished lamb and sacrificing it.   They had to do this over and over again for the sins they committed.   Imagine if you and I personally had to do that for the wrong we have done; that would be a lot of lambs!  So, it was a big deal that John declared Jesus as the Lamb of God because that meant that God was bringing a Lamb instead of them bring a lamb to be sacrificed.   It was no longer what they were doing, but what God was doing!  That’s a big deal!
Our motives in anything are important.   So, when Jesus asks what Andrew and John wanted, He wanted to see what they would vocalize as their motive for following Him.   Their response showed that they wanted to be with Jesus.   They wanted something different for their life.   And they sensed that Jesus could be the answer for that.
Do you believe Jesus is worthy enough to follow?  If not…why not?  If so…are you?

Who Are You Following?

Devotions, John 1

Who Are You Following?

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Everyone follows someone.   Even if you think that “someone” is only yourself, all of us have admired certain people along the way and either intentionally or unintentionally modeled certain aspects of our life after them.   A wise man eventually evaluates on a daily basis from whom is he is picking his “modeling cues.”

Check out some guys that did that exact thing.

READ:  John 1:35-39

Ask yourself these questions…

  • Why did John the Baptist say “look, the Lamb of God”?
  • Why do you the first thing out of Jesus’ mouth to the two disciples (Andrew & John) was “what do you want?”
  • Why do you think they responded the way they did?   Did that have any deeper meaning beside just wanting to see where Jesus was staying?
  • What do you think it was like to “spend the day with Jesus”?   What are the things you think they “saw” by being with Him?
PRAY:
God thank you that you have done and are doing some big things in my life.  Jesus, I am beginning to see more and more that You are someone that I should follow.   I am excited to learn what you want to reveal who You are as well as who I am! 
Colossians 1, Devotions

Why is Jesus a Big Deal?

If you have ever wondered “why do people make such a big deal about Jesus?”  then the following text gives some pretty good insight.
PRAY:  God this is incredible that I don’t have to guess what you are like… Jesus is made in your image!  I see now that since Jesus made me and if I seek to know Him, I will find my true purpose in life.  Thank you that you have been holding my life “together” all these years even when I was unaware of it.
Devotions, Ephesians 2

Why are you on this planet?

Seriously?  Have you really thought about it?

READ: Ephesians 2:10 and ask yourself the following questions.
What purpose were you created for?   What “good” things might that be?
What does it mean to be “created in Christ Jesus”?
PRAY: God thanks that you call me your “handiwork”.  With all that is on this planet and in the universe above, that means you really think a lot of me.  Thanks that when I believe and live out what Jesus has done for me, I can truly do “good” things.  Please help me to do that today!
Devotions, Isaiah 43

Why were you created?

imageThe truth is that you and I…everyone on this planet for that matter…were created for a purpose.

How would you define “glory”?   Have you ever met someone that seemed to really reflect the “glory” of God?
PRAY: God it totally makes sense now why I sense there is something more to the routine that I find myself in.  Thank you that the greatness I desire for my life is from the fact that you are the Great one…..and you made me from out of that greatness!