July 28 Devotion - While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

 

When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" 17And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

 فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ يَسُوعَ يَأْكُلُ مَعَ الْجُبَاةِ وَالْخَاطِئِينَ، قَالُوا لِتَلاَمِيذِهِ: «لِمَاذَا يَأْكُلُ مَعَ الْجُبَاةِ وَالْخَاطِئِينَ؟»

 فَسَمِعَ يَسُوعُ، وَأَجَابَ:

«لَيْسَ الأَصِحَّاءُ هُمُ الْمُحْتَاجُونَ إِلَى

 الطَّبِيبِ، بَلِ الْمَرْضَى. مَا جِئْتُ لأَدْعُوَ أَبْرَاراً بَلْ خَاطِئِينَ! »

Mark 2:16-17

 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ أَثْبَتَ لَنَا مَحَبَّتَهُ، إِذْ وَنَحْنُ مَازِلْنَا خَاطِئِينَ مَاتَ الْمَسِيحُ عِوَضاً عَنَّا.

Romans 5:8

With God, through Christ, there is mercy to pardon the greatest sins, and grace to change the greatest sinners, and make them holy. Jesus came to help us sinners, and while we were still sinners, He died for us.

Living the Christian life is impossible on our own. Trying to live the Christian life by our own efforts is like a ship on dry land…just doesn’t work very well. For the ship to get anywhere, it needs to be resting on the water. And to enjoy the Christian life, we need to learn how to rest in God. Paul knew this:

 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

إِنِّي أَسْتَطِيعُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، فِي الْمَسِيحِ الَّذِي يُقَوِّينِي.

Philippians 4:13

 

Some people believe they must be good first before coming to Christ and they must be ready not to sin once they come to Christ. Jesus is telling us He came for us sinners and while we were still sinners, He died for us. We can only live the Christian life through Jesus strengthening us. We have been given someone to enable us to live the Christian life – the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of Christ – come to live in the body of every believer who has accepted Jesus as his/her Saviour and Lord over their life. Do not wait to be perfect to invite Jesus into your heart, it is through Jesus that you can be perfected.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, through Your Word and the guidance of The Holy Spirit help me to learn from Jesus and to take the Yoke Jesus offers. Jesus, come to me like You came to Your disciples walking on the water through the storm and redeem and strengthen me spiritually, emotionally, and physically and give me rest. Lord, I choose to see Your loving arms wrapped around me lifting me up to safety, provision, and peace. I thank You that You are a reliable and trustworthy God and You promised that You will never leave me nor forsake me, and I know that You are faithful. I choose today to concentrate on You, to hold fast my confession that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. Jesus, I trust and pray in Your Holy name. To Jesus be the power, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever . Amen.

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

July 25 Devotion - Apart from Jesus we can do nothing

 

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Psalms127:1

 

إِنْ لَمْ يَبْنِ الرَّبُّ الْبَيْتَ، فَبَاطِلاً يَتْعَبُ الْبَنَّاؤُونَ. وَإِنْ لَمْ يَحْرُسِ الرَّبُّ الْمَدِينَةَ فَبَاطِلاً يَسْهَرُ الْحَارِسُ.

 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

apart from me you can do nothing”

 

John 15:5

أَنَا الْكَرْمَةُ وَأَنْتُمُ الأَغْصَانُ. مَنْ يَثْبُتُ فِيَّ وَأَنَا فِيهِ، فَذَاكَ يُنْتِجُ ثَمَراً كَثِيراً. فَإِنَّكُمْ بِمَعْزِلٍ عَنِّي لاَ تَقْدِرُونَ أَنْ تَفْعَلُوا شَيْئاً.

 

I believe God runs everything in our lives. I also believe that God has planned every day of the life of each one of us before He created the world. If we preach to non-believers, unless God is there touching their hearts we are working in vain. The same applies to building anything or working on any project or defending our position we need God to bless our work to achieve the desired results. 

Jesus tells us that He is the vine; we are the branches.  Without an attachment to Him, we would be unable to do anything, including living and breathing.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and Your unfailing, deep, everlasting, and inseparable love for me. God, I also thank You for Your grace upon my life. Father God, I acknowledge that You are operating everything according to the counsel of Your own will.  Ephesians 1:11 Help me Lord to acknowledge You in all my ways so that You direct my paths. Proverbs 3:6 

Lord, even if I let my heart to plan my way, but I trust that You Lord will direct my steps. Proverbs 16:9 Jesus I acknowledge that I can do nothing without You please remain in me and help me to always remain in You. Lord I am blessed that You promised that You will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go; and You will guide me with Your eye. Psalm 32:8  In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the holy name of Jesus I pray to You Father God. To Jesus be the glory, the power, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

July 23 Devotion - I take refuge in You, LORD

 

God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.

اللهَ يَقُولُ: «لاَ أَتْرُكُكَ، وَلاَ أَتَخَلَّى عَنْكَ أَبَداً!» ويفرح جميع المتكلين عليك. الى الابد يهتفون وتظللهم. ويبتهج بك محبو اسمك.

 

Psalm 5:11, Hebrews 13:5

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. Psalm 5:11 Give ear to my words, O Lord, give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, For to You I will pray. Psalm 5:1-2 Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10 My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121 Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge. Psalm 16:1. I trust in Your promise God that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Father God, I praise You, glorify You and lift You up on high. Abba Father, thank You for Your unfailing, deep, steadfast, and everlasting love, Your abundant blessings, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. In the holy name of Jesus, I pray. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, to Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

يَأْتِي عَوْنِي مِنْ عِنْدِ الرَّبِّ، صَانِعِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ.

وَيَبْتَهِجُ جَمِيعُ الْمُتَّكِلِينَ عَلَيْكَ. إِلَى الأَبَدِ يَتَرَنَّمُونَ، لأَنَّكَ تُظَلِّلُهُمْ بِحِمَايَتِكَ، فَيَفْرَحُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ اسْمَكَ.

وَيَتَّكِلُ عَلَيْكَ الَّذِينَ يَعْرِفُونَ اسْمَكَ، لأَنَّكَ يَارَبُّ لَمْ تَخْذُلْ طَالِبِيكَ.  لكلماتي اصغ يا رب. تامل صراخي.

استمع لصوت دعائي يا ملكي والهي لاني اليك اصلّي.احْفَظْنِي يَااَللهُ ، فَإِنِّي مُتَوَكِّلٌ عَلَيْك                

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

July 22 Devotion - God's ways Are Greater

 

Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

فَقَدْ مَكَثَ حَيْثُ كَانَ مُدَّةَ يَوْمَيْنِ بَعْدَ عِلْمِهِ بِمَرَضِ لِعَازَرَ .

John 11: 6

 

 

Lazarus’ family was thinking of a healing. Jesus was thinking of a resurrection. Do you see the difference?

 

God’s ways are so different than ours. We may be praying for something but He may be preparing something much greater.

 

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

فَكَمَا ارْتَفَعَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ عَنِ الأَرْضِ، كَذَلِكَ ارْتَفَعَتْ طُرُقِي عَنْ طُرُقِكُمْ، وَأَفْكَارِي عَنْ أَفْكَارِكُمْ.

Isaiah 55:9

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and for Your unfailing, deep, everlasting and inseparable love for me. Lord please help me to release all of my cares and concerns to You knowing that You have a greater plan prepared for me. Teach me to be patient and to trust You fully. Help me realize that having extreme needs presses me closer to You and provides me an opportunity to see Your glory. God I praise You, glorify You and lift You up on high. In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the holy name of Your only begotten Son Jesus, I pray. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, to Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

July 16 Devotion - Devotion - Strengthen your Faith and be ready to receive

 July 16 Devotion - Strengthen your Faith and be ready to receive

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

 

إِنَّمَا خَيْرٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ يَتْبَعَانِنِي طَوَالَ حَيَاتِي،

  

Psalm 23:6

 

Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

 

وَسِّعِي فَسْحَةَ خَيْمَتِكِ وَابْسُطِي سَتَائِرَ مَسَاكِنِكِ، لاَ تُضَيِّقِي. أَطِيلِي حِبَالَ خَيْمَتِكِ وَرَسِّخِي أَوْتَادَكِ،

 

Isaiah 54:2

I believe that God has many blessings prepared for us. David had faith and was expecting God to supply goodness and mercy for the rest of his life, and was ready to receive the blessings.

Isaiah had faith and a vision and he enlarged his tent.

Have you enlarged your tent? Meaning: are you expecting abundance or scarcity? If you have a one litre container and God has a hundred litres to give you, the problem is not with the supply. The problem is that you don't have the capacity to receive the hundred litres. The container represents our faith and our ability to receive.

If we think we have reached our limits, the problem isn't that God doesn't have the resources or the ability. The problem is that our container is too small. We need to strengthen our faith and enlarge our vision to receive God’s blessings. Then with that kind of faith, we increase our capacity to receive so that we can live the abundant life Jesus came to give us, for Jesus Himself said:

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 

أَمَّا أَنَا فَقَدْ أَتَيْتُ لِتَكُونَ لَهُمْ حَيَاةٌ، بَلْ مِلْءُ الْحَيَاةِ!

 

John 10:10

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, I want to experience the abundant life Jesus came to give me. Lord, please enormously strengthen my faith and enlarge my vision of myself, my service to You, and my future. Lord, make me ready to receive all the blessings You want and are ready to give me. Help me to have a deep belief that goodness and mercy will follow me for the rest of my life. Thank You Lord for Your deep and everlasting love for me, Your abundant blessings, and for the riches of Your grace in my life. Jesus, I declare to the world that You are my Lord and Saviour and in Your name I pray to You Father. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty and the dominion before all time and now and forevermore. Amen.

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein