THE DUST ON HIS FEET!

Photo provided by Katrina Stevens

There are times when I am pondering on the scripture, 

praying for my children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters 

aunts, uncles and cousins that very unusual things 

come across my mind.  Today was one of those days.  

As I was praying the thought came to mind,
"Look at the dust on His feet" 

 I stopped the car and wrote the words down on paper.
After work I picked the paper up from my
console and began to ponder on them again. 

"So bizarre" I thought, "so bizarre," yet I couldn't 

get the words out of my thoughts.    

The great God of the universe loved us so deeply

that he sent his only Son to die on the cross for 

our sins.

If Jesus Christ lived now, in the  21st 

Century, even if he were poor, he might have have 

lived in a house, driven a car and worn 

closed in shoes.

Yet the God of the universe chose to send 

his only begotten Son during the period of 

time when men wore sandals and their 

feet gathered mud and dirt all day. 

He lived at a brutal time.in history. Years 

earlier, they didn't crucify people nor do they
now, but at the very time and place the Lord Jesus 

lived, these men were brutal and crucifixion 

was a normal occurrence.

  The Lord had told his disciples when they 

go into a city and preach the gospel and if the

people refuse to listen,to  "Shake the dust off

your feet." This meant they could wash their hands

clean and walk away as they had completed what 

the Lord had commanded even though the people
refused the call to repentance. 

The Lord however came to us during the era that he 

collected the dust.  As he walked up Golgotha he 

gathered more and more dust on his feet, as the 

sweat and blood dripped from his body onto the

sand he walked on, there was more and more 

dust and mud that gathered onto his feet.  

When they hung him from the cross he didn't

shake the dust off His feet.  He didn't ask 

anyone to wash the dust from His body. He just

left it there because of His deep love for us.  

He wanted us to know He was not washing His

hands and walking away to leave us in our sins.
He was going to hang there and leave the dirt on,
thus he also did with our sins.  He carried them 

all to the cross with Him so we could go free.

Our Savior came to this world to show us that 

he desires to carry all the weight of sin, all the dirt, 

all the mire upon Himself so that we can be set 

free of our ungodliness.   

Each night as you wash your feet be sure to ponder 

on the Savior's great love for us and remember what 

the dust on His feet means, "He was willing to
get His hands and feet dirty just for you."

WHO WE ARE TO GOD!

Photographer Robert Allen Hughes 

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, 

in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

II Corinthians 2:15

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Photo provided by Donna Wilkins

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have 

lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? 

it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be 

cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that 

is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do 

men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, 

but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto 

all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine 

before men, that they may see your good works, 

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

THE SUPERIORITY OF LOVE

Devotion by Steve Long
None of us can brag about our Spiritual gifts.

Paul writes:

And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Have you ever studied 1 Corinthians 13 in its context? It is surrounded by two chapters that talk about Spiritual gifts – particularly sign gifts.

Chapter 12 – Spiritual gifts.

Chapter 13 – Agape love.

Chapter 14 – More on Spiritual gifts.

Love is the middle of the Oreo. It is the tasty white cream that is packed between the two chocolate flavored cookies. In fact, the chapter comes back to the subject of gifts right here at the end of chapter 13 – the Love Chapter.

Regardless of your beliefs about the charismata, or charismatic gifts, there is no doubt that love supersedes them all. 

LOVE IS GREATER BECAUSE OF ITS ENDURANCE.

The gifts of prophecy, tongues (or languages) and the gift of knowledge (notknowledge per se but the gift of knowledge) are all temporary gifts, as are many other gifts from the Holy Spirit. They do not last forever. God is instructing the Corinthian church and the church today to not get too caught up with temporary blessings, but to latch onto that which lasts. The special gifts, he says, will fail, cease and vanish away. They will be removed and they will play out. Their use will be exhausted and completed. Sign gifts will have been replaced in their importance by a full and finished revelation (the completed bible). God’s word is saying that there will come a time when none of these gifts will be necessary and will cease to exist, but not so with love. Love will endure forever.

Love will endure because it is the mark of a mature church. The word “perfect” in verse 10 means “compete” or “mature.”

You can tell when a kid is growing up, he or she will start to put away their childish toys. You’ve seen the big kid who finally gives up the pacifier, the girl who packs away her little baby doll to give to her niece, or the teenager who trades his little bike for a set of car keys. At some point every boy (hopefully) will start to do “man” things and a girl will begin to conduct herself as a woman.

In its infancy, the church was heavy with special gifts from the Lord such as miracles and healings. In its maturity, the church needs to transition to the full revelation of scripture and also needs to transition to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5.22) over the gifts of the Spirit.

If you are a baby Christian, you will need to grow into a mature child of God. Childish ways will have to be left behind as you become a well developed grown up Christian.

The nation of Israel, during its journey from Egypt, ate manna[i] for nearly forty years but soon after they entered Canaan (the land of promise) the manna ceased. [ii]

And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. (Joshua 5.12)

Just as Israel no longer had need of manna but rather ate of the luscious fruit of the land; so we must shift from our emphases on gifts so that we may feast on the fruit of love, joy and peace.[iii]

Three things within the possession of the Christian outrank everything else. Those three things are faith, hope and love. They will “abide” for as long as we live on this earth. But the one trait, the one blessing from God that outweighs everything else in importance is love. Love is the one quality we now possess which we will take to heaven with us. Faith is “the substance of things not seen,”[iv] but when we get to the celestial city, we will see all clearly. Hope seen will no longer be hope.[v] It will have completed its course and finished its task.

But love – God’s agape love, will go forth throughout eternity. At the Father’s throne in heaven it will continue dwelling in our hearts without end. The Lord God will always love us, we will always love him and we will always love one another.

This is why we should love one another with a pure heart, fervently ... right now.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1Cor 13.8-13)

BY WISDOM THE LORD FOUNDED THE EARTH

Photo provided by Geoff Fierce 

The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; 

by understanding hath he established the 

heavens.  By his knowledge the depths are 

broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Proverbs 3:19-20

Check out Geoff's beautiful photography

on the links provided below.

Geoff Fierce Blog

Geoff Fierce Website

THE LORD THY GOD IS MIGHTY

Photo provided by Geoff Fierce 

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; 

he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he 

will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

HE WILL TURN AGAIN, HE WILL HAVE COMPASSION

Photo provided Robert Allen Hughes 

He will turn again, he will have compassion 

upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and 

thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths 

of the sea.

Micah 7:19

DEATH HAS NO POWER OVER THE BELIEVER

Photographer Robert Allen Hughes 

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, 

where is thy victory? The sting of death 

is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the 

victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye 

stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding 

in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye 

know that your labour is not in vain 

in the Lord.

I Corinthians 15:55-58

MY HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD

Photographer Robert Allen Hughes 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, 

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD, 

which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be 

moved: he that keepeth thee will 

not slumber.

Psalm 121:1-3

RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BE REVEALED

Photographer Robert Allen Hughes 

Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, 

and do justice: for my salvation is near 

to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Isaiah 56:1

DEEP AND SECRET THINGS

Photographer Robert Allen Hughes

He revealeth the deep and secret things: 

he knoweth what is in the darkness, 

and the light dwelleth with him. I

thank thee, and praise thee, O thou 

God of my fathers, who hast given me 

wisdom and might, and hast made known 

unto me now what we desired of thee…

Daniel 2:22-23 

SLOW TO ANGER

Photographer Robert Allen Hughes  

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; 

and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Proverbs 16:32

REVIVE THE HEART

Photo provided by Renie Brandow

 For thus saith the high and lofty One that 

inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; 

I dwell in the high and holy place, with 

him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, 

to revive the spirit of the humble, and to 

revive the heart of the contrite ones.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will 

I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail 

before me, and the souls which I have made.

For the iniquity of his covetousness was 

I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was 

wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way 

of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal 

him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts 

unto him and to his mourners.  I create the 

fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far 

off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; 

and I will heal him.  But the wicked are like 

the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose 

waters cast up mire and dirt.  There is no 

peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Isaiah 57:15-21

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND

Photo provided by Geoff Fierce 

 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear 

the words of this prophecy, and keep those things 

which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 1:3

Check out Geoff's beautiful photography

on the links provided below.

Geoff Fierce Blog

Geoff Fierce Website

THY WORD ENDURETH FOREVER

Photo provided by Pennie Beth Saum 

 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory 

of man as the flower of grass. The grass 

withereth, and the flower thereof 

falleth away: But the word of the Lord 

endureth for ever. And this is the word 

which by the gospel is preached unto 

you. Wherefore laying aside all malice, 

and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, 

and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, 

desire the sincere milk of the word, that 

ye may grow thereby:  If so be ye have 

tasted that the Lord is gracious.  To 

whom coming, as unto a living stone, 

disallowed indeed of men, but chosen 

of God, and precious,  Ye also, as lively 

stones, are built up a spiritual house, 

an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual 

sacrifices, acceptable to God by 

Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:24 - 25:5

ARE YOU NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THE BIRDS?

Photographer - Geoff Fierce 

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, 

what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for 

your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more 

than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the 

fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they 

reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father 

feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one 

cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought 

for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how 

they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon 

in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the 

field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into 

the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, 

O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, 

saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we 

drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) 

for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have 

need of all these things. But seek ye first the 

kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and 

all these things shall be added unto you.  Take 

therefore no thought for the morrow: for the 

morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. 

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 6:25-34

Check out Geoff's beautiful photography

on the links provided below.

Geoff Fierce Blog

Geoff Fierce Website

I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THY LAW

Photo provided by Geoff Fierce 

The bands of the wicked have robbed 

me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Psalm 119:61

Check out Geoff's beautiful photography

on the links provided below.

Geoff Fierce Blog

Geoff Fierce Website

DRAW NEAR TO GOD

Photo provided by Kristin Cooke

But it is good for me to

draw near to God: I

have put my trust in

the Lord GOD, that

I may declare all

thy works.

Psalm 73:28

THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART

Photographer -Geoff Fierce 

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God 

is the strength of my heart, and my 

portion for ever.

Psalm 73:26

Check out Geoff's beautiful photography

on the links provided below.

Geoff Fierce Blog

Geoff Fierce Website

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

Photographer - Geoff Fierce

To every thing there is a season, and a 

time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Check out Geoff's beautiful photography

on the links provided below.

Geoff Fierce Blog

Geoff Fierce Website

MORE DESIRABLE THAN GOLD

Photo provided by Tammy Stein Dore 

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, 

than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey 

and the honeycomb.

Psalm 19:10

THE LORD MAKETH ME DWELL IN SAFETY

                                                           Photographer - Geoff Fierce 

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: 

for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Check out Geoff's beautiful photography

on the links provided below.

Geoff Fierce Blog

Geoff Fierce Website