Anthony Diaz 10/30/25 Anthony Diaz 10/30/25

Jesus’ Purpose

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. 1 Corinthians 1:18.

A reading of the Gospels will reveal that Jesus did not impose Himself upon those who felt self-sufficient, righteous, and self-confident. People must come to the point of realizing their need for God’s forgiveness and salvation. Those who feel capable of meeting life head-on and under their own power will never find Him. While the Bible declares that people cannot earn salvation, there is a critical step that everyone must take in receiving Christ. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). There must be a recognition and confession of sinfulness and spiritual need before there can be a response from Christ. He came to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance. The natural man cannot comprehend the things of God, so how can people understand what happened at the cross when Jesus took our sins upon Him? It is only when we understand that Christ died in the place of sinners, for sin, that we find the elements of forgiveness. Jesus was born with the cross darkening His pathway. From the cradle to the cross, Jesus’ purpose was to die so that mankind may live. Jesus stepped out of glory and picked up His cross for us. Follow Him; He will never lead anyone astray.

Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : Daily Devotions to Renew Your Mind and Inspire Your Soul (a 365-Day Devotional), Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-10-29 18:33:52.

Anthony Diaz 10/29/25 Anthony Diaz 10/29/25

Meekness

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5.

Eric Liddell, a missionary to China and an Olympic runner, was competitive and determined to use his abilities to the fullest. But his meekness, kindness, and gentle spirit won admiration even from people he defeated. He was described as “ridiculously humble in victory” and “utterly generous in defeat.” That’s a good definition of what it means to be meek. The world has been successful in convincing society that meekness is a weakness. This is not true at all. Meekness involves being yielded. The word yield has two meanings. It can mean to let go (be passive) or surrender for something greater. Eric Liddell let go of pride whenever he won a race, and he also gave honor and respect to anyone who beat him in a race. He was gracious. Jesus expressed this idea when He said, “He who loses [or surrenders] his life . . . will find it” (Matthew 10:39). When we surrender our will to the will of Jesus, it means that we let go of what we want and give ourselves to God to do whatever He wants for us. He blesses this obedience in ways that cannot be imagined, though it may not be what we anticipate. “He who believes in Him will not be disappointed” (1 Peter 2:6 NASB 1995). Pride comes from looking only at ourselves; meekness comes through looking at God.

Anthony Diaz 10/27/25 Anthony Diaz 10/27/25

Tapping Into God’s Power

I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans 7:18 NIV

Many Christians know they should be better people, and they struggle with all their might to change their behavior. But most of their attempts at self-improvement fail, and they end up frustrated and discouraged. They can echo the words of the apostle Paul when he said that he desired to do good but often failed. Why is this? The problem is that we rely on our own strength instead of the strength that comes from God’s power. We not only need to know how God wants us to live; we also need the power to achieve it. God gives us this power through the work of His Holy Spirit within us. He is our constant, unchanging companion; He is our Guide. This is His promise: “He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Possessing God’s Spirit within us isn’t a once-for-all event but a continuous reality every day of our lives. But we must tap into His truth—the Word of God—asking Him to lead and guide our every step, our every thought, and our every action. As we yield our lives to His lordship and give each day to Him through reading and believing His Word, and through prayer, we can look back each night and thank Him for fulfilling His promises to us.

Anthony Diaz 10/26/25 Anthony Diaz 10/26/25

Discerning Doctrines

God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. 1 Corinthians 7:23 NLT.

A comedian has said, “Enjoy as much as you can. Even if you live to be ninety, that’s not as long as you’re going to be dead!” We can laugh and throw it off, but there is a penalty to pay when God’s Word is disregarded. Death brings an end to physical life, but the life of the human soul lives on for eternity, in either Heaven or Hell. Godless influences are everywhere, persuading us toward idolatry and sexual immorality. Right moral living is not easy. We have at our fingertips every pleasure that mankind is capable of enjoying, and mankind has abused every gift God ever gave. Sinfulness and sensuality are inevitably destructive, dehumanizing, and demeaning to God’s creation. At times, they may create tension between what we want to be for God and others, and what we crave for ourselves. How do we overcome? By turning to God for His help by first repenting of sin and receiving His forgiveness. He enables us to live victoriously over sin that dominates the human heart. To His followers He says, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). He paid the penalty for our sin so that we can live righteously and bring glory to Him.

Anthony Diaz 10/25/25 Anthony Diaz 10/25/25

Victorious Living

God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. 1 Corinthians 7:23 NLT.

Anthony Diaz 10/24/25 Anthony Diaz 10/24/25

Sowing And Reaping

You will always harvest what you plant. Galatians 6:7 NLT.

How many decisions do we make in a day? How many of those will be big, important decisions? Sometimes we think our small decisions don’t matter, but all decisions have consequences. If we decided to eat nothing but junk food, eventually we would lose our health. The Bible warns us that a farmer harvests only what he plants. He doesn’t plant cabbage and get tomatoes. In the Old Testament, King Rehoboam stubbornly rejected wise advice and listened only to those who agreed with what he wanted to do. That caused conflict, and the nation of Israel split into two kingdoms. Part of the human makeup that distinguishes us from other creatures is our ability to reason and make decisions. We are free moral agents. Becoming “new” in Christ is a beginning, but it isn’t the end of our problems. It marks the beginning of our facing up to them. Being a Christian involves a lifetime of hard work and staying “in tune” with God. Life is filled with decisions. How will we make them? Often He puts us in the path of others who will give godly counsel based on His Word. But the most important thing is to seek God’s will in every decision. Pray. Turn to the Bible. The Lord waits to hear us call on Him, asking Him for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Anthony Diaz 10/23/25 Anthony Diaz 10/23/25

A New Path

No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV.

Whatever has happened in life so far—both good and bad—cannot be altered, and all the decisions and events that have made us what we are today are indelibly inscribed in the story of our lives. But hope for better days is attainable. How? By looking to the Lord. The future doesn’t need to be a copy of our past, nor does God want it to be. No matter what our lives have been like so far, God wants to put our feet on a new path—His path. And regardless of what we may think, His path promises joy, peace, and purpose—far beyond anything we could imagine. We all go through life building. We build upon learning and experiences, and just as a careful builder lays a solid foundation before constructing a building, so God’s Word gives us a solid foundation for building our spiritual lives. The first pillar of turning life around is to recognize our sin and repent of it, asking God to forgive us and save our souls. Through His sacrifice on the cross, sin was conquered. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the foundation of our hope, the promise of our triumph. We must make it our goal to build strong foundations for life—foundations constructed from prayer and the truths of God’s Word.

Anthony Diaz 10/22/25 Anthony Diaz 10/22/25

Always Near

“See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” Isaiah 49:16.

God could have created us and then abandoned us and forgotten all about us. There are many who believe this. They assume God isn’t interested in them—so why should they be interested in Him? To them, God is distant, remote, and unconcerned about the problems they face every day. But this isn’t true! God not only put us on this journey called life, but He wants to join us on it, if we will only let Him. The psalmist asked, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7). When we take a stand for God’s truth, some of our friends may drift away, not wanting to be reminded of the things of God. We cannot prevent them from walking away from us. But we can pray that they will not walk away from God. He will often use the life of a Christian to bring conviction to their hearts, which can result in them turning their hearts to Him. If we understand this truth, it gives us assurance that God will use us to lift up His name to others in spite of the ridicule we might encounter. No matter what happens, God will never abandon those who faithfully live for Him. Human friends may fail us, but God never will. Once we understand this, life is never the same.

Anthony Diaz 10/21/25 Anthony Diaz 10/21/25

The Greatest Need In The World

As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 NIV.

Society is immersed in destruction brought about through slander, libel, and gossip. The strife in communities, families, business, politics, and even some churches is unbearable. What causes these behaviors? Sin. These are just samplings of what the Bible calls “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19–21). Rebellion, waywardness, lack of discipline, confusion, and conflict prevent happy relationships, happy homes, and contented hearts. God is interested in all of these things, and that’s why He has shown us the ideals for life on Earth. How can we change? How can we become peacemakers? The formula is simple. We must first make our own peace with God by repenting of sin and turning to Him and living according to His ways laid out clearly in Scripture. When we receive His salvation, He begins to work in our lives to produce the fruit of the Spirit, which the Bible lists as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). The trouble is that many want a society without God. When God is put aside, the result is indecency, bedlam, rebellion, and all that goes with it. Peace will be restored when individuals give God His proper place. The greatest need in the world is the transformation of human nature. We need a new heart emptied of hatred and greed, and this is possible through Jesus Christ.

Anthony Diaz 10/20/25 Anthony Diaz 10/20/25

Restless Hearts

He who heeds the word wisely will find good . . . happy is he. Proverbs 16:20.

This is the most entertained generation in history. Large-screen TVs pull in hundreds of channels. Sports teams take in (and spend) billions of dollars. Children are upset if they don’t get the latest games on their devices, and adults are always on their smartphones even when in a restaurant for a meal. There is a frantic search for entertainment, and it is a symptom of something deeper. Some have suggested that we are the most bored generation in history—and perhaps that is correct. Down inside is an empty place in our hearts—a restlessness, a search for inner peace. And the more we try to satisfy it with entertainment, the less content we become. People need something more to live for. Only Jesus can fill that empty space in our hearts, and He will, whether it is a child’s heart, a parent’s heart, or the hearts of the elderly. As we open our lives to Him and live according to His ways, He brings us opportunities to serve Him—and others—and we find that boredom goes away and joy fills our hearts. God’s Word points us to the future—to Heaven—where our hearts will be full and overflowing with thankfulness to God for what He has accomplished on the cross. And when we surrender to Him in this life, He fills us with peace and true contentment.

Anthony Diaz 10/19/25 Anthony Diaz 10/19/25

The Right Building Materials

That you may be . . . filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:10–11.

As an old man was dying, he told his grandson, “I don’t know what type of work I’ll be doing in Heaven, but if it’s allowed, I’m going to ask the Lord to let me help build your mansion, so be sure to send up plenty of the right materials.” This troubled the young man for some time until he realized what his grandfather was saying. “Store your treasures in heaven. . . . Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:20–21 NLT). Obviously the grandfather was sending a message to his young grandson that if he lives according to God’s Word, he will be sending up the right materials. God is busy at work preparing a place for each person who repents of sin and receives Christ as Savior. But what are these treasures? It is the fruit of our lives: obeying God, praying for others, witnessing to the truth of His Word, doing unto others in the name of Jesus. Storing up the truths of God’s Word in our hearts is also a key to walking in the right way. When we read and study His Word, it helps prepare us for whatever comes into our lives and helps us in the good and bad times. Walk with God and be faithful every step of the way.

Anthony Diaz 10/18/25 Anthony Diaz 10/18/25

God’s Secret Servants

Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word. Psalm 103:20.

In the late 1800s, a German composer and his sister wrote a musical version of the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. Early in the opera, Hansel and Gretel become lost one night in a dangerous forest. Before they finally fall asleep, they sing their evening prayers, and fourteen angels come to surround them and keep them safe throughout the night. Fairy tales come from fanciful imaginations, but angels themselves are God’s secret servants and never fail at the tasks God gives them. Often when people talk or write about angels, they don’t base their beliefs on what the Bible says about them. But angels are real and God has commanded them to watch over us. They are usually unseen and unrecognized, and only in Heaven will we know everything they did to keep us safe. Angels crisscross the Old and New Testaments, being mentioned directly or indirectly nearly three hundred times. We face dangers every day of which we are not even aware. Often God intervenes on our behalf through the ministry of His angels. But we are not to worship angels; for it is God who empowers them, and they worship and glorify Him and stand ready to do His will. We can be glad about their presence and thank God for the ways He loves and protects through His angels.

Anthony Diaz 10/17/25 Anthony Diaz 10/17/25

Leaping Over Walls

By You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. Psalm 18:29.

Extreme sports, like snowboarding and rock climbing, are difficult and risky. Athletes do tricks in midair or climb steep, smooth rock formations and count on their skills to help them survive. They wouldn’t be able to take on the challenges of their sport if it weren’t for all the time they’ve spent practicing and all the help they’ve received from coaches. In one of his psalms, King David wrote, “By my God I can leap over a wall.” We all can jump over some barriers in life by our own efforts. But some “walls” we face are higher and more challenging. There are some people who have serious health problems or disabilities. Some deal with anger or anxiety. Others lose jobs, or worse, a loved one. We try to jump over these walls but repeatedly fail. Can we overcome our anger or losses, instead of constantly being overcome by them? Yes! With God’s help, we can overcome. Scripture reveals that even the apostles dealt with defeat, but they became “over-comers” when they began living life under the power of God (1 John 2:13). Jesus can give us power to overcome every sin and habit that besets us. He can break the ropes that bind us, but we must repent, confess, commit, and surrender to Him. When we put Him first, He fills us with joy.

Anthony Diaz 10/16/25 Anthony Diaz 10/16/25

Not Just Another Great Book

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28.

Simply put, the Bible is the source of all knowledge. It says, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 NLT). The Word of God is called the sword of the Spirit, and God Himself has provided His truth to mankind. He has given us His precious Word because He wants us to know Him, love Him, and serve Him. Most of all, He gave it to us to convict us of our sin against Him and repent and receive Him as Lord. The Bible isn’t just another great book. The Bible interprets the Bible. It tells how it came to be written—and it has stood the test of time. The Bible is actually a library of books—sixty-six in all. Behind each one, however, was the Author, the Spirit of God. Someone has written, “Sin will keep you from God’s Word—or God’s Word will keep you from sin!” Which will we choose? While people today are searching for answers to life’s problems, only the Bible has the answer to the deepest needs of men, women, and children. The secret of the power of Christianity is not in its ethics. It is not in Christian ideas or philosophy; the secret is found in the Lord Jesus Christ and His truth.

Anthony Diaz 10/15/25 Anthony Diaz 10/15/25

Reflexive Action

“You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12.

We’ve all had a doctor take a little rubber hammer and tap it on our knee to test our reflex. The lower leg gives a gentle kick, showing the reflex is good. It is a reflexive action that occurs automatically, and it is the same every time that nerve gets hit. It’s often the same when troubles come our way. Trials strike a nerve within us and our inner self comes forth. Our reflexive action tends to follow the pattern we’ve nourished. Many panic, react with anger, express confusion. Others react with an assurance that God is leading and giving a spirit of calmness. The Bible writer James reminded us of what our reflexive action should be when trouble strikes. He wrote, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. . . . The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:13, 16 NIV). Prayer is an acknowledgment of our helplessness. Prayer is also an acknowledgment of God’s power and love. We are not trying to manipulate God when we pray; but we are looking for Him to help us according to His perfect will. When troubles come, may prayer be our automatic response. For those who follow Christ daily, our attitudes and actions in seasons of difficulty show a watching world that we truly believe the promises given to us in Scripture.

Anthony Diaz 10/13/25 Anthony Diaz 10/13/25

Doing Good

Encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV.

Dr. Alan Redpath was pastor at the great Moody Church in Chicago. On the wall of his office, he had this inscription: “Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.” There is always something to do. We can do good things, but we can also do better things. Often the answer to our dilemma is right in front of us—doing the better thing may solve a conflict. It could be that those who attend activities at church would be willing to move the activity to a person’s house to minister in ways that reflect their desire to be used of the Lord. Today, many people are looking for ways to comfort others, and this is commendable. There are shut-ins who need to see a smile. There are lonely people who long to hear a knock at the door. There are hospitals and nursing centers filled with long-term patients who could flourish if they only had someone who cared. And then there are many people looking for ways to reach out to others, providing the warmth of a handshake, a word of comfort, a message of hope. This can lead to one-on-one evangelism; it can also provide Christian fellowship. And as believers, we must reflect on wisdom from Scripture: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds . . . encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV).

Anthony Diaz 10/12/25 Anthony Diaz 10/12/25

Rest In The Lord

The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. Joshua 21:44.

For those who belong to Christ and have Him at the center of life, God is near. When we struggle, fight, and strive for our way, we are not “resting” in the Lord. “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret” (Psalm 37:7). We must let go of inner tensions that life sends our way, trusting in God moment by moment. A victorious Christian is confident that God is in control. Reliance on the Holy Spirit gives us physical and emotional rest as we set our minds on Christ. The Bible tells us: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him . . . because they are spiritually discerned. . . . But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:14–16). We are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that God the Father would send His Spirit to help us in all things. We must admit our weakness so that we can ask Him to take over. Standing with Christ means that we stand aside and let Him have His way in our hearts and minds. What a comfort to know that our Savior is constantly praying for us. “[There is] no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). This should be a tremendous encouragement to every follower of Christ.

Anthony Diaz 10/11/25 Anthony Diaz 10/11/25

The Converted Will

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 NLT

Thousands of people speak of having some form of emotional experience that they refer to as conversion, but they have never been truly converted to Christ. If a life does not conform to the Word of God, then there are reasons to doubt possessing true salvation in Jesus Christ. Certainly, there will be a change in the elements that make up emotion when a person receives Christ as Savior. Someone who has been converted begins to hate sin and love righteousness. Personal affections will undergo a revolutionary change, and devotion to the Lord will know no bounds, and love and faithfulness will begin to grow. Intellectual acceptance of Christ or an emotional experience is not enough. There must be the conversion of the will! There must be that determination to obey and follow Christ. Self must be nailed to the cross. Our main desire must be to please Him. When a person is convicted of sin, the Holy Spirit sheds His truth in the heart and the face of sin is dealt with. When mankind opens its heart, a miracle of the new birth takes place and a new creation replaces the old creation, bringing to each redeemed soul a new beginning. Believers partake of God’s own life, and Jesus Christ, when the Spirit of God takes up residence in the human heart.

Anthony Diaz 10/10/25 Anthony Diaz 10/10/25

Freedom To Choose

When you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will. Leviticus 22:29.

God set us apart for fellowship with Him. But He also gave us free will that was put to the test. One tree in the luscious Garden of Eden symbolized the knowledge of good and evil, and God said, “You shall not eat.” Adam and Eve ate and violated what they knew to be God’s will (see Romans 5:12–19; Genesis 3:1–8; 1 Timothy 2:13–14). God could have created human robots who would respond mechanically to His direction. But instead, God created us in His image, and He desires that the creature worship the Creator as a response of love. This can be accomplished when “free will” is exercised. Love and obedience which are forced do not satisfy. God wants obedient followers, not machines. A pastor friend once told of his son who was attending a state university and becoming “very wise.” “Dad,” he said to his father one day, “I’m not sure that when I get out of school I will be able to follow you in your Christian faith.” The father looked at him with compassion and replied, “Son, that is your freedom—your terrible freedom.” Freedom to choose results in God’s blessing or the consequences of disobedience to His will. We can exercise our freedom to love God with our obedience or we can rebel and build our lives without Him. Choose to follow Christ.

Anthony Diaz 10/9/25 Anthony Diaz 10/9/25

The Lord’s Ministering Spirits

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7.

The operation of angelic glory eclipses the world of demonic powers, as the sun does the candle’s light. Throughout Scripture, God uses angels, and the Bible says, “Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word” (Psalm 103:20). It is God Himself who empowers angels to do His will. Angels speak. They appear and reappear. While angels may become visible, our eyes are not constructed to see them ordinarily any more than we can see the dimensions of a nuclear field, the structure of atoms, or the electricity that flows through copper wiring. Demonic activity and Satan worship are on the increase in all parts of the world. The devil’s demonic influence can turn many away from true faith; but we can still say that his evil activities are countered for the people of God by the Lord’s ministering spirits, the holy ones of the angelic order. Angels have been endowed with authority by virtue of their relationship to God through creation and continuing obedience. People are not yet perfect and therefore need what the Holy Spirit alone can give. We can be thankful for God’s care over those who belong to Him, and we must always give the glory not to the angels but to Him who empowers them.