December 4 Devotion - Jesus Christ keeps no record of wrongs

God is love.

^{1 John 4:8}

 

I and my Father are one.

^{John 10:30}

 

Therefore….Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love.

 

Jesus Christ (Love) is patient,

Jesus Christ is kind,

Jesus Christ does not boast,

Jesus Christ is not proud.

Jesus Christ does dishonor others not,

Jesus Christ is not self-seeking,

Jesus Christ is not easily angered,

Jesus Christ keeps no record of wrongs,

Jesus Christ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth,

Jesus Christ always protects,

Jesus Christ always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,

Jesus Christ never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

 

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
¹² As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:11-12

لانه مثل ارتفاع السموات فوق الارض قويت رحمته على خائفيه.

12 كبعد المشرق من المغرب ابعد عنا معاصينا

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:13-15

واذ كنتم امواتا في الخطايا وغلف جسدكم احياكم معه مسامحا لكم بجميع الخطايا.

14 اذ محا الصك الذي علينا في الفرائض الذي كان ضدا لنا وقد رفعه من الوسط مسمرا اياه بالصليب.

15 اذ جرد الرياسات والسلاطين اشهرهم جهارا ظافرا بهم فيه

As far as the east is from the west - As the east and the west can never meet in one point, but be for ever at the same distance from each other, so our sins and are removed totally from us through Jesus’ redeeming sacrifice for us on The Cross. Jesus therefore keeps no records of our sins once we repent and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour. Likewise love is not supposed to keep record of the wrongs of the loved ones.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in Your grace. Thank You Jesus that You have taken my sins and nailed them to the Cross, and remember them no more. Lord, please strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can erase the record of wrongs of others that I keep in the files in my mind. Help me to renew my mind and to bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

December 3 Devotion - Jesus Christ is not easily angered

God is love.

^{1 John 4:8}

 

I and my Father are one.

^{John 10:30}

 Therefore….Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love.

Jesus Christ (Love) is patient,

Jesus Christ is kind,

Jesus Christ does not boast,

Jesus Christ is not proud.

Jesus Christ does dishonor others not,

Jesus Christ is not self-seeking,

Jesus Christ is not easily angered,

Jesus Christ keeps no record of wrongs,

Jesus Christ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth,

Jesus Christ always protects,

Jesus Christ always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,

Jesus Christ never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

 

When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly.

1 Peter 2:23 Amplified Bible (AMP)

الذي اذ شتم لم يكن يشتم عوضا واذ تألم لم يكن يهدد بل كان يسلم لمن يقضي بعدل.

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. ¹³ And He said to them,

“It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

وَدَخَلَ يَسُوعُ إِلَى هَيْكَلِ اللَّهِ وَأَخْرَجَ جَمِيعَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَبِيعُونَ وَيَشْتَرُونَ فِي الْهَيْكَلِ وَقَلَبَ مَوَائِدَ الصَّيَارِفَةِ وَكَرَاسِيَّ بَاعَةِ الْحَمَامِ

13. وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «مَكْتُوبٌ: بَيْتِي بَيْتَ الصَّلاَةِ يُدْعَى. وَأَنْتُمْ جَعَلْتُمُوهُ مَغَارَةَ لُصُوصٍ!»

Matthew 21:12-13

Should we eradicate anger totally from our lives? Note that the scripture says (love) Jesus is not easily angered.

Ephesians 4:26 instructs us “in your anger do not sin” and not to let the sun go down on our anger. I believe the command is not to “avoid anger” (or suppress it or ignore it) but to deal with it properly, in a timely manner.

When Jesus cleared the temple of the moneychangers and animal-sellers, He showed great emotion and anger. Jesus’ emotion has been described as “zeal” for God’s house (John 2:17). His anger was pure and completely justified because at its root was concern for God’s holiness and worship. Because these were at stake, Jesus took quick and decisive action.

Another time Jesus showed anger was in the synagogue of Capernaum. When the Pharisees refused to answer Jesus’ questions,

“He looked around at them in anger, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts”

Mark 3:5

 Jesus’ anger had the proper motivation, He was angry for the right reasons. His anger had the proper control and duration. Jesus’ response was always to accomplish God’s will.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in Your grace. Thank You Lord that You are gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. Psalm 145:8

Jesus strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being not to be quarrelsome and contending, let me be slow to anger and be mild-tempered preserving the bond of peace. Teach me Lord to be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. Strengthen me so that when I am angry I do not sin and am able to deal with the situation promptly so that I do not let the sun go down on my anger. Strengthen me Lord to be merciful and able to empathize with others and build them up. Help me God to trust myself and everything to You because You judge fairly. Help me to bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ and to become Christ-like.In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

December 2 Devotion - Jesus Christ (Love) is not self-seeking

God is love.

^{1 John 4:8}

 I and my Father are one.

^{John 10:30}

 Therefore….Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love.

Jesus Christ (Love) is patient,

Jesus Christ is kind,

Jesus Christ does not boast,

Jesus Christ is not proud.

Jesus Christ does dishonor others not,

Jesus Christ is not self-seeking,

Jesus Christ is not easily angered,

Jesus Christ keeps no record of wrongs,

Jesus Christ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth,

Jesus Christ always protects,

Jesus Christ always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,

Jesus Christ never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Mark 10:45, Mark 8:34

لان ابن الانسان ايضا لم يأت ليخدم بل ليخدم وليبذل نفسه فدية عن كثيرين

ودعا الجمع من تلاميذه وقال لهم من اراد ان يأتي ورائي فلينكر نفسه ويحمل صليبه ويتبعني .

The definition of self-seeking is:  Pursuing only one's own ends or interests and with a determined mind to do so.

Jesus led a simple life. He chose to be born in a manger, not a castle. He was clothed in swaddling clothes not silk. He did not reside in palaces. He even disclosed to a would-be follower saying,

“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Matthew 8:20

فقال له يسوع 'للثعالب اوجرة ولطيور السماء اوكار .واما ابن الانسان فليس له اين يسند راسه'

When Jesus entered Jerusalem as The Messiah who could save all the people, He entered riding on a donkey.

Jesus accepted to die for us by the most degrading way, crucifixion. His simplicity and humility become even more impressive when we remember that He is the one who created the universe. By all rights, everything belongs to Him.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in Your grace. Thank You Jesus that while You did not have a place to lay Your head, You have given me a wonderful place to live in. Jesus, help me to be humble, help me to accept rebuke and welcome advice, help me to admit my mistakes and praise others. Strengthen me Lord to empathize with others and build them up. Jesus strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can deny myself, and take up my cross, and follow You. Help me God to bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ and to become Christ-like.In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory, the power, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

November 29 Devotion - Jesus Christ (Love) Does Not Dishonour Others

God is love.

^{1 John 4:8}

 I and my Father are one.

^{John 10:30}

Therefore….Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love.

Jesus Christ (Love) is patient,

Jesus Christ is kind,

Jesus Christ does not boast,

Jesus Christ is not proud.

Jesus Christ does not dishonor others,

Jesus Christ is not self-seeking,

Jesus Christ is not easily angered,

Jesus Christ keeps no record of wrongs,

Jesus Christ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth,

Jesus Christ always protects,

Jesus Christ always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,

Jesus Christ never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

 

Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

 طوبى للودعاء .لانهم يرثون الارض

Jesus was meek. A meek person would never dishonour another. The meek are among those so favoured that they will share in Jesus' inheritance of the earth.

There are so many words that I think I understand, but a deeper look reveals that I do not, because I am looking at what the world has taught me, not what Jesus meant and how He relates them to the Kingdom of God and in the depth and breadth of what He meant.

Meekness is considered one of the most difficult New Testament words to fully understand. This is so because Jesus elevated the word's common usage far beyond its normal application.
I find that I grew up resenting being meek because of the connotation given to being meek as being weak, needy lowly.  I grew up learning how the world worded Mathew 5:5: "Blessed are the strong, who can hold their own." The world favours the so-called heroic virtues. Those who are competitive, aggressive and assertive are the ones who receive recognition, admiration and reward. Do they not seem to end up on top of the pile, possessing the most and best despite flaws in their character?

I am learning that I need (and who knows maybe you too) to unlearn what the world has taught me, before I can learn what Jesus is teaching me and respect and accept being meek. I have a lot to gain when I do.   

Not to dishonour a person means to honour that person. According to the thesaurus, honour has these synonyms: "esteem, respect, pay homage to, assigning value to." In order to honour others we first need to start with an attitude of meekness.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in Your grace. Jesus, help me to unlearn the worldly beatitudes and teach me Your Beatitudes. Teach me to be meek and to honour You and my fellow man. Help me God to bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ and to become Christ-like.In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

November 28 Devotion - Jesus Christ Does Not Boast

God is love.

^{1 John 4:8}

 I and my Father are one.

^{John 10:30}

 Therefore….Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love.

Jesus Christ (Love) is patient,

Jesus Christ is kind,

Jesus Christ does not boast,

Jesus Christ is not proud.

Jesus Christ does not dishonor others,

Jesus Christ is not self-seeking,

Jesus Christ is not easily angered,

Jesus Christ keeps no record of wrongs,

Jesus Christ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth,

Jesus Christ always protects,

Jesus Christ always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,

Jesus Christ never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8–9

َإِنَّكُمْ بِالنِّعْمَةِ مُخَلَّصُونَ، بِالإِيمَانِ، وَهَذَا لَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ. إِنَّهُ هِبَةٌ مِنَ اللهِ،
 ⁹ لاَ عَلَى أَسَاسِ الأَعْمَالِ، حَتَّى لاَ يَفْتَخِرَ أَحَدٌ.

---

We have been “saved” through God’s grace when we accept, through faith, Jesus’ redeeming sacrifice for us at The Cross. No amount of good works can get anyone “saved”, lest anyone should boast.

The definition of boasting according to Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology:
The concept of boasting is found frequently in both the Old and the New Testaments. The object of boasting determines its nature. If it is God or the commendable qualities of others, then boasting can be described as proper; if it is wrongly applied to oneself, then it is improper. To boast about oneself is to brag, or to speak with laudable pride.

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Jeremiah 9:23, Proverbs 27:1, James 4:16

هكذا قال الرب. لا يفتخرنّ الحكيم بحكمته ولا يفتخر الجبار بجبروته ولا يفتخر الغني بغناه

لا تفتخر بالغد لانك لا تعلم ماذا يلده يوم.

واما الآن فانكم تفتخرون في تعظمكم.كل افتخار مثل هذا رديء.

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

1 Peter 5:5-6

الله يقاوم المستكبرين واما المتواضعون فيعطيهم نعمة

فتواضعوا تحت يد الله القوية لكي يرفعكم في حينه

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant kindness, love and mercy. Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in Your grace. Lord, help me to only boast about what You have done in my life 2 Corinthians 10:17. I pray that out of Your glorious riches You teach me, help me and strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can eliminate all pride within me and be humble knowing that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from You Father James 1:17. Help me God to bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ and to become Christ-like.In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

November 27 Devotion - Jesus Christ is kind

God is love.

^{1 John 4:8}

I and my Father are one.

^{John 10:30}

 Therefore….Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love.

Jesus Christ (Love) is patient,

Jesus Christ is kind,
Jesus Christ does not boast,
Jesus Christ is not proud.
Jesus Christ does not dishonor others,
Jesus Christ is not self-seeking,
Jesus Christ is not easily angered,
Jesus Christ keeps no record of wrongs,
Jesus Christ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth,
Jesus Christ always protects,
Jesus Christ always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,
Jesus Christ never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

 Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Luke 6:35

Romans 2:4

Ephesians 4:32

بل احبوا اعداءكم واحسنوا واقرضوا وانتم لا ترجون شيئا فيكون اجركم عظيما وتكونوا بني العلي فانه منعم على غير الشاكرين والاشرار

ام تستهين بغنى لطفه وامهاله وطول اناته غير عالم ان لطف الله انما يقتادك الى التوبة.
وكونوا لطفاء بعضكم نحو بعض شفوقين متسامحين كما سامحكم الله ايضا في المسيح.

What is kindness? Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology defines kindness as: ‘An attribute of God and quality desirable but not consistently found in humans.’ In The Bible we see many examples of Jesus’ kindness and He leaves us with many lessons regarding how we should act in kindness following His example, in our quest to become Disciples of Christ.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant kindness, love and mercy. Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in Your grace. Lord, help me to be always kind to myself and others. Jesus I need the help of the Holy Spirit to be able to carry out Your teaching and example of being kind to my enemies and I pray that out of Your glorious riches You teach me, help me and strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can be kind to my enemies. Help me God to bring all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ and to become Christ-like, a son of The Most High. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. ‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.’ Ephesians 3:20-21

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

November 26 Devotion - Jesus Christ is Patient

God is love.

^{1 John 4:8}

I and my Father are one.

^{John 10:30}

Therefore….Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love.

But I obtained mercy for the reason that in me, as the foremost of sinners, Jesus Christ might show forth and display all His perfect long-suffering and patience for an example to encourage those who would thereafter believe on Him for the gaining of eternal life.

 1 Timothy 1:16

Amplified Bible (AMP)

لكنني لهذا رحمت ليظهر يسوع المسيح فيّ انا اولا كل اناة مثالا للعتيدين ان يؤمنوا به للحياة الابدية.

 

I understand the meaning of patience as described in the Bible to mean persevering towards a goal, enduring trials, and expectantly waiting for God’s will and His promises to be fulfilled in His time. Patience reveals our faith in God’s timing, omnipotence (unlimited power), and love.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in You. Thank You Jesus for being patient with me and allowing me to follow You in spite of my sins and shortfalls. LORD, bless me with the ability to be patient with myself, others and circumstances. Invigorate and strengthen me with all power according to the might of Your glory; so as to exercise every kind of endurance and patience with joy. I rejoice because Your peace God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus; in whose Holy Name I pray. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

November 25 Devotion - Jesus Christ is...

God is love.

^{1 John 4:8}

 I and my Father are one.

^{John 10:30}

 

Therefore….Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love.

Jesus Christ (Love) is patient,

Jesus Christ is kind,
Jesus Christ does not boast,
Jesus Christ is not proud.
Jesus Christ does not dishonor others,
Jesus Christ is not self-seeking,
Jesus Christ is not easily angered,
Jesus Christ keeps no record of wrongs,
Jesus Christ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth,
Jesus Christ always protects,
Jesus Christ always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,
Jesus Christ never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in You. LORD, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You teach me, help me and strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and become Christ-like. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.’ Ephesians 3:20-21

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein