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“Savior's Purpose Encourages Now, Daily (S.P.E.N.D)!”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

Editors Note: This devotional was originally sent through email on Thursday, November 05, 1998 at 12:22:38 p.m. to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) students and others who wanted to receive daily devotionals at the University of Pittsburgh while I was serving at IVCF! It is being republished on Pittsburgh Standard today.

SCRIPTURE:

"And he goeth up to a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach. And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils" (Mark 3:14-15)

This verse means so much to me because Jesus ordained twelve for one specific purpose than anything else. Every outcome follows from that purpose.

Purpose:  "That they should be with Him"

Outcomes:

            1. He might send them forth to preach.
            2. To have power to heal sicknesses.
            3. And to cast out devils.

It is wonderful to know that when Jesus calls us to be His, it is not just so we can have Salvation but for a much bigger picture. Jesus wants to spend time with us. Jesus wants us to be with Him. He wants us to be wanted and loved. Being with Jesus and learning from Him is the best experience any of us can have. We should not let anything crowd out our times with the Lord whether it be sleep, studies, jobs, activities, relationships, etc. Jesus knew the hectic schedule of his disciples too, for each of them had a profession to make their living. Jesus took them to a mountainside where I suppose it would be a quiet place that they might be with him. After spending time with Jesus, they would be ready to preach, to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.

A relationship with Him is what Jesus desires for each one of us. Without that personal relationship with Christ, everything we do in life will not have the same effect or meaning than it would with our personal relationship with Christ. He wants to spend time with you and He is the One that can empower us. He does not want us to ignore our studies, our jobs, our relationships, etc but He wants to be part of them and to help us through them. This will not happen unless we go to Him as the disciples went and were taught by Him.

Ministry or whatever we do in our life should be a out flowing of our relationship with the Lord. In life we need to be led, taught, and preached to by the Master Himself to be effective. I know I need to spend at the feet of Jesus and in His Word daily, praying and seeking Him if I want clear direction in life and to have strength to do what He calls me to do. It is not an easy process.

It was important for me to realize that I can do, do, do so much FOR Jesus thinking I am pleasing Him but you know that actually would not please Jesus as we may think it does. What would please Jesus is that we do, do, do things WITH Jesus. There is a major difference doings things for someone and doing things with someone. Jesus wants to be a daily part of our lives and wants us to do things with Him. Jesus loves us so much and desires to spend time with us.

Won't you take atleast 1 hour out of your 24 hr day schedule to spend with Jesus studying His Word, praying, and seeking Him?

I hope you do! What could be more important than giving your time to the One who created you, made you so special and knows what He wants for your life.

Your life will come to perspective as you will see the Lord's guidance in your life as you seek Him first. Ask Jesus to be part of your life and allow Him to lead you daily. You will draw so much strength and guidance from the Lord as the Lord has been guiding me. One of my most exciting times in the morning is to open up the Bible and see what God wants to speak to me today and prayer journaling before that. It can be so fruitful.

"I will instruct you and guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch your progress" says the Lord. (Psalm 32:8)

 This is God's promise for you that you can claim and cherish! 

"Savior's Purpose Encourages Now, Daily (S.P.E.N.D)"/"Why S.P.E.N.D time with Jesus daily?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us so much. Thank you Lord for dying for our sins and coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus that you want to spend time with us and you want to teach us a lot. Please Lord do forgive us when we let so many things crowd out our time with you. Lord, it can be hard sometimes to find that time to spend with you and we are sorry. Lord, help us to seek you first and allow you to direct the rest of our plans. Thanks Jesus. Lord forgive us please for we have not always followed you with our whole heart, we have not done the things that we ought to have done, and have done the things we ought to have not done. Forgive us Lord and show us your mercy. We come to you now and rededicate our lives to you. We acknowledge that we have sinned and we need you daily in our lives. We acknowledge you to be our Lord and Personal Savior and ask you to be in our heart to lead us and guide us. We want to have a personal relationship with you. Thank you Lord for making our heart your home, thank you Lord for living in us, and we will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of our lives. We give ourselves to you and the usage of your plan. Thank you Jesus we are your children and you are with us. No matter what our past sins have been you have washed us clean and we are set free and have a new beginning. Thank you you have heard us and will answer our prayers! In Your Name We Pray Jesus! Amen!

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help by His grace alone!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

2013 DEVOTIONALS:

Psalm 34:4: "What can you do with your F.E.A.R.S in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 07, 2013, 8:43 a.m.)

Psalm 33:4: "What will you do with F.A.I.T.H in your classes?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 05, 2013, 9:31 a.m.)

Mark 1:43-44: "What does your disobedience C.A.U.S.E for others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 03, 2013, 2:57 a.m.)

Mark 1:41-42: "What past do you need to be C.L.E.A.N from?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 31, 2013, 10:54 a.m)

Proverbs 29:25: "Where will you take a S.T.A.N.D without wavering?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 30, 2013, 07:43 a.m)

Matthew 18:21-22:"Why F.O.R.G.I.V.E when it will happen again?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 29 2013, 09:35 a.m)

Psalm 27:14:"How do you C.O.P.E with your hurt?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 27, 2013, 11:13 a.m)

John 12:24:"Who do you remember physically and spiritually on this M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L day?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 27, 2013, 11:13 a.m)

"What has the law P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D you to do but it goes against the Lord?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 09, 2013, 6:57 a.m)

"Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 08, 2013, 6:58 a.m)

"What has A.N.G.E.R done to your relationships?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 29, 13, 1:28 p.m.)

"How can the L.I.G.H.T impact your life?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 06, 13, 11:48 a.m.)