DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 2
WORD OF WISDOM
One of the greatest regrets of life is what you could have done, should have
done, and what you did not do.
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DAILY DEVOTION
An Ongoing War
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the
things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the
law.
Galatians 5:16-18
In A.D. 711, the Muslim forces of the Umayyad Calihpate swept into Spain. In
a series of battles, they defeated the rulers and made Spain an Islamic
nation. A few years later, a battle to drive them out of the country began.
It was not a quick or easy process. What is now known by historians as the
Reconquista lasted until 1492-nearly 800 years. It is generally regarded as
the longest war in human history. Yet even that lengthy conflict pales in
comparison to the war between the flesh and the Spirit. That one has been
raging ever since Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden.
There are two key principles to understanding this conflict. The first is
that everyone is controlled by one or the other. There are no neutral
parties. There are no exceptions. Though it is a common philosophy in our
day, there are no independent operators or moral free agents. All of us are
under the direction and influence of God or Satan. The second is that we
cannot split the difference. We don't have the option of being partially
with the Spirit and partially with the flesh. Jesus warned, "No man can
serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or
else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
mammon" (Matthew 6:24).
The victorious Christian life can only be lived in submission to the Holy
Spirit of God. Unless we are willing to yield to Him, we are condemning
ourselves to living under the control of the lusts of the flesh.
As we yield ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit and His control, He
gives us victory in the Christian life.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Peter
John 13:1-20 Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus Washes His Followers' Feet
1 It was almost time for the Jewish Passover festival. Jesus knew that the
time had come for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. Jesus
had always loved the people in the world who were his. Now was the time he
showed them his love the most.
2 Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already
persuaded Judas Iscariot to hand Jesus over to his enemies. (Judas was the
son of Simon.) 3 The Father had given Jesus power over everything. Jesus
knew this. He also knew that he had come from God. And he knew that he was
going back to God. 4 So while they were eating, Jesus stood up and took off
his robe. He got a towel and wrapped it around his waist. 5 Then he poured
water into a bowl and began to wash the followers' feet. He dried their feet
with the towel that was wrapped around his waist.
6 He came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to him, "Lord, you should not wash
my feet."
7 Jesus answered, "You don't know what I am doing now. But later you will
understand."
8 Peter said, "No! You will never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "If I don't wash your feet, you are not one of my people."
9 Simon Peter said, "Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head
too!"
10 Jesus said, "After a person has a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs
only to wash his feet. And you are clean, but not all of you." 11 Jesus knew
who would hand him over to his enemies. That is why he said, "Not all of you
are clean."
12 When Jesus finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and went
back to the table. He asked, "Do you understand what I did for you? 13 You
call me 'Teacher.' And you call me 'Lord.' And this is right, because that
is what I am. 14 I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet. So you
also should wash each other's feet. 15 I did this as an example for you. So
you should serve each other just as I served you. 16 Believe me, servants
are not greater than their master. Those who are sent to do something are
not greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, great
blessings will be yours if you do them.
18 "I am not talking about all of you. I know the people I have chosen. But
what the Scriptures say must happen: 'The man who shared my food has turned
against me.' 19 I am telling you this now before it happens. Then when it
happens, you will believe that I Am. 20 I assure you, whoever accepts the
person I send also accepts me. And whoever accepts me also accepts the one
who sent me."
