Anthony Diaz 7/17/25 Anthony Diaz 7/17/25

The Transforming Work Of God

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:3

People cannot change their past. But with God’s help, they can change the future. This should bring comfort to every hopeless heart. The future doesn’t need to be a copy of the past, nor does God want it to be. No matter what life has been like so far, God wants to set our feet on a new path—His path. His path holds promises far beyond anything imaginable. But this doesn’t just happen. An architect draws up plans for a new building—but it still has to be built. A composer writes a new piece of music—but it still has to be played. A chef devises a new recipe—but the ingredients still have to be cooked. In the same way, God has given us a blueprint for living—but we must know what it is and then put it into action, and God does not leave us to do it alone. He wants to be with us every step of the way, guiding and helping us (and even correcting us when necessary) to keep us walking right. No matter what age a person may be, it is never too late to turn to God. When we come before Him with a humble spirit and in truth, admitting our sin and our willingness to turn from sin with His help, He will do a transforming work in our lives.

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 2025-07-16 16:29:14.

Anthony Diaz 7/16/25 Anthony Diaz 7/16/25

Idol Worship

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14.

The apostle Paul stood before the people of the city of Athens and directed their attention to the unknown God. He had been walking through the city, observing the customs of the people. This pagan society had a niche for every god in the world, yet their moral corruption was revealed by the hundreds of idols at a place called Mars Hill in ancient Greece. Paul spoke with power before this congregation and acknowledged all their gods and even the unknown God, who is none other than God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was . . . considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22–23). Our culture is saturated with the worship of sports, sex, and pleasure. While we are busy humanizing God, we are deifying man. Our idols are not statues of gold and marble; our idols come from the things we love the most: celebrities, behaviors, etc. One who truly follows Him will have a hunger to worship Him and His Word. Life does not have to be filled with such emptiness, but we can fill our minds and hearts with the things that bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anthony Diaz 7/14/25 Anthony Diaz 7/14/25

The Gift Of Animals

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6.

God’s creation story is the first miraculous account in the Bible, which includes His creation of animals. While the Bible does not specifically answer the question of animals in Heaven, no one can miss God’s creative work in the animal kingdom. His written Word provides us with a snapshot of His original handiwork: “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle. . . . and everything . . . on the earth. . . . And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:24–25). Animals are fascinating creatures, and the variety seems endless. We know that God gave them to us for a purpose, because in the days of Noah, before the great flood, God preserved every species—male and female—on the ark so they would inhabit the land again. Animals are among God’s many diverse gifts to man. Who doesn’t smile while watching chimpanzees mimic one another, or marvel at the monstrous whales in the ocean, or be inspired to watch swans gracefully move through the waters? Scripture speaks of the future messianic kingdom that captivates our imaginations: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them” (Isaiah 11:6 NIV). One day perfect peace will reign, and everything that has breath, including animals, will praise the Lord.

Anthony Diaz 7/13/25 Anthony Diaz 7/13/25

Learning Patience

The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control. GALATIANS 5:22–23.

Learning patience is not easy for most. The Bible calls patience an attribute of God, and we are to pray for it and practice it with the strength that God gives us. While it is important to consider the needs and thoughts of others, it doesn’t mean that people should let others take advantage of them. But we must also guard against selfishness. Patience is not simply “teeth-clenched” endurance. It is an attitude of expectation. The Bible says, “Be patient. . . . See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth. . . . You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7–8). The farmer patiently watches his barren ground because he knows there will be results. As we strive to live for the Lord, we must exhibit patience, knowing that our obedience to Him will result in good fruits that He will accept in eternity. Patience also speaks of a person’s steadfastness when irritated or experiencing conflict. Enduring ill treatment without anger or retaliation is a fruit of the Spirit, referred to in Scripture as self-control. Our lives are to be characterized by patience, for it is important in developing stable character and integrity. This is why God allows difficulties, inconveniences, trials, and even suffering to come our way: they help develop the right attitude for the growth of patience in our lives.

Anthony Diaz 7/12/25 Anthony Diaz 7/12/25

A Better Way

With my whole heart I have sought You. Psalm 119:10

Attaining success in life is not wrong, but if we go about it without obedience to God’s Word, it can lead us down the wrong path. The Bible tells us that God’s thoughts are different from our thoughts. The psalmist’s pen presents a view of life that is the exact opposite of what the world around us promotes. “Live for yourself,” the world proclaims. “Have a good time; indulge your senses; pursue every pleasure; strive for success. And if you do,” these voices add, “then you’ll be happy and blessed.” But God calls us to another way—His way. The Bible says, “Blessed are those who keep [the Lord’s] testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” (Psalm 119:2). Blessing, He says, comes only from following Him. Every other way promises what it cannot deliver—and delivers exactly the opposite of what it promised. Some of the most miserable people are those who are highly successful in the eyes of the world. Don’t fall into the world’s trap. It can happen without you even being aware of it. Our job in life is not to be successful but to be faithful. Regardless of our cleverness, our achievements, and our gadgets and devices, we are spiritual paupers without God. Make sure Christ is first in your life, and make it your goal to live according to His Word. For then you will know true contentment.

Anthony Diaz 7/11/25 Anthony Diaz 7/11/25

The Church

Know how . . . to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God. 1 Timothy 3:15

. Going to church doesn’t make one a Christian, nor does every church building represent Jesus Christ. Satan often invades Sunday school and Bible classes, and even the pulpit. Many people sit in some churches week after week without hearing the whole gospel and learning what it is to be born again. The true church on Earth is made up of individuals who have repented of sin. Jesus established the church for the purpose of fellowship and instruction on how to live in obedience to God and His Word. The Lord didn’t design the church to cater to people’s needs, establish community programs, or blend into the community by embracing what the world enjoys. When this happens, the world’s ideas and interests infiltrate the church. The Bible warns of this: “For certain [people] have crept in unnoticed . . . who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4). The Lord breathed life into the church to proclaim His truths. The church is a storehouse of spiritual food whereby the inner man is fed, nourished, and developed into maturity. If it fails in this, it is not fulfilling its purpose. We must pray that the Lord will lead every believer into fellowship with others who desire to glorify God in everything we do.

Anthony Diaz 7/10/25 Anthony Diaz 7/10/25

Humanism

[They] worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. Romans 1:25.

Humanism is the worship of man. It has taken on the form of religion, glorifying self and taking God out of His rightful place. This has always been prevalent in the world and is called by many different names. Humanism has become for many a polite name for a vocal and aggressive movement against God’s truth to advance its own brand of social influence. Humanism is not new; it emerged in the Garden of Eden. It is the yielding to Satan’s first temptation of Adam and Eve. He told them they could be gods (Genesis 3:5). Mankind continually rejects the revelation of the Bible concerning the true and living God, substituting gods of its own making. Many intellectuals have come to believe that the human mind can understand everything eventually. This is nothing but total rebellion toward God, and Satan is behind it all. The underlying principle of all the devil’s tactics is deception. The Bible warns, “The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him” (1 Peter 5:8–9). The Lord will help us stand strong in the face of deception if we will stay in the Word of God and pray that He will give us discerning minds. The important thing for all of Christ’s followers is to live “in Christ” as the Bible teaches (2 Timothy 1:1).

Anthony Diaz 7/9/25 Anthony Diaz 7/9/25

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

“He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.” John 15:5

No one who is a Christian is perfect, but there are people who claim to follow Jesus yet are far from His teaching. At the same time, it is dangerous for others to let what they perceive as hypocrisy in others divert them from Christ. Christians will sometimes falter in their walk with Christ, but Christ never falters. We must not put our trust in people. The object of our faith is in Christ alone. Christ never brings disappointment. We grow in Christ not by following other people but by following God’s Word. Understand His teaching and examine His life. We must not get sidetracked with disappointment in others. We must live our lives consistently. We must always ask ourselves if our life reflects the things of Christ: His love, joy, and peace. Jesus Christ is the complete fulfillment, example, and demonstration of perfection. While we will never attain perfection in this life, we are told to walk in His footsteps and strive to please Him in everything we do. This is only possible when we stay connected to the Source of all things good. When a true believer stumbles and sins, God’s Holy Spirit brings conviction and turns the individual to repentance. This is what restores our souls and clears the way for fellowship with Him. We must never put our eyes on people but on God.

Anthony Diaz 7/8/25 Anthony Diaz 7/8/25

From Myth To Truth

You were bought at a price. 1 Corinthians 6:20.

The apostle Paul appeared before King Agrippa and presented the truth of Jesus Christ, but the king said, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28), but not even Paul could convince him. Our job as Christians is to tell others about Jesus Christ and the hope we have because of His death on the cross for our sins. God sent His Son, who gave everything to purchase the souls of men, women, and children for the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus rose from the grave by the power of God to confirm Heaven’s reality. Believing in Christ settles the question about Heaven. Many young people are convinced that life after death is just a myth, and because of it they live in darkness and despair, without hope. While young people may not give life after death serious thought because they are young, healthy, and energetic, it doesn’t mean that life after death is not a reality. They fool themselves. The greatest discovery we will ever make is to know the love of God, which was fully demonstrated by His Son’s sacrifice on the cross for us. This is the power that transforms man’s myth into Christ’s truth. Jesus did not die on the cross for people’s sin so that we would believe in Heaven—but that we would believe in Him. Heaven does not save souls—it collects them.

Anthony Diaz 7/7/25 Anthony Diaz 7/7/25

Unlimited God

“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40.

If God can be fully proved by the human mind, then He’s no greater than the mind that proves Him. Humans are limited in every way, and that’s why it takes faith in “Someone” more powerful than mankind to set our hearts right. His name is almighty God. There’s no limit to God. There’s no limit to His wisdom. There’s no limit to His power. There’s no limit to His love. There’s no limit to His mercy. We cannot confine God or measure His works; that would be like trying to measure the water in the ocean. Most of us know “about” God, but that’s quite different from knowing God. He hasn’t only revealed Himself to the human race from the beginning of time; He cared so much for our suffering that He sent His only Son to walk among us. Every word that Jesus spoke is historically true. Every word that He spoke was scientifically true. Every word that He spoke was ethically true. His ethical vision was wholly correct in the age in which He walked on Earth, and correct in every age that has followed. If you want to know God, take a look at Jesus Christ. He is the great Gift God has given to the world to prove the reality of His love.

Anthony Diaz 7/5/25 Anthony Diaz 7/5/25

Cleansing And Refreshment

May the LORD give strength to his people! Psalm 29:11 ESV

. Science has confirmed what the Bible taught centuries ago: There is a close relationship between our minds and bodies. Proverbs puts it this way: “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (17:22). But there is also a close relationship between our mental and physical health and the health of our spiritual lives. Guilt, fear, jealousy, bitterness, futility, escapism—these and a host of other problems are spiritual ills, brought about by the disease of sin. Like poison, they can sicken us in mind and body. There are many things that cause depression, but anxiety is certainly one culprit, and the more you feed anxious thoughts, the more they grow. But when Christ comes into our lives, He removes our guilt and takes away our fears. He gives us love for others and a new purpose in life. His joy and peace neutralize sin’s poison—and that promotes emotional and physical health. Does that mean our emotional and physical problems will vanish? Not necessarily. But like a spring of pure water, God’s peace in our hearts brings cleansing and refreshment to our whole being. The Bible is filled with passages that bring comfort and joy. Read them and dwell on them. If you want comfort in sorrow, light in darkness, peace in turmoil, and rest in weariness, the Lord offers it all through His Word.

Anthony Diaz 6/30/25 Anthony Diaz 6/30/25

Not My Will

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3.

When we become God’s obedient children, He helps us walk with Him every mile of our life’s journey. God commands that we first submit our lives to Him. He equips us to carry out His plan for our lives. God also puts His desires down in our hearts and minds. If a person excels in mathematics or biology, there is nothing wrong with going into finance or medicine, for instance. When a person begins pursuing such a pathway, the Lord will open and shut doors as a way of guiding. God doesn’t expect us to be paralyzed when it comes to making decisions about our futures. Neither does He give us what we always want, because it may not be for our good or according to His will. We mustn’t ask for our will to be done but for God’s will to be done (Matthew 6:10). He reveals His wisdom to us through the reading of His Word and through prayer. Some people pray they will pass a test without studying. Others fail to pray about their choice of college or their career or their future spouse and do what pleases them. Many pray only when they face a crisis. The Bible tells us to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6). God is concerned about every detail of our lives, both big and small.

Anthony Diaz 6/29/25 Anthony Diaz 6/29/25

Faith Rooted In The Word

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. Romans 15:13.

Faith not rooted in the truth of God’s Word has no power. Power comes from the Source of faith, and that is in Christ Jesus the Lord. The Bible says, “Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). How do we get that power? When we humble ourselves before God, He gives us the gift of faith to believe. Faith is belief in someone greater than ourselves, and it is Jesus Christ and Him alone. The Bible teaches that faith is the only approach we have to God. No one has sins forgiven, no one goes to Heaven, no one has assurance of peace and contentment until we exhibit faith in Jesus Christ. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). What does this mean? It means that we are convinced that Jesus is who He claims to be—God in human flesh, sent to save us from our sins. “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2).

Anthony Diaz 6/28/25 Anthony Diaz 6/28/25

Our Friend In Grief

He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:8.

Grief can kill a person emotionally and physically. An onslaught of grief can cause people to think they’re losing their minds. The grief-stricken person can lose the ability to concentrate, which adds to panic. This may lead, then, to emotional paralysis. Guilt, anger, resentment, and panic are some of the faces of grief. Like soldiers going into battle, we need to be prepared for grief, but the culture of today does not prepare us for it. What we need more than anything else during times of grief is a friend who stands with us. Jesus is that Friend. The Lord prepares us to weather life’s storms. He tells us to have faith in Him. He has told us that He will be with us always and “never leave [us] nor forsake [us]” (Hebrews 13:5). Often it takes that “knife in our heart” to drive us to Him. Our faith is dependent upon God, and when we enter the valley of grief, we need His help. When we belong to Christ, He offers forgiveness and strengthens us to overcome our failures and sin. We can take our cares to Him and He’ll see us through. The Bible says to fill our minds with things that are true, honorable, pure, and lovely and “His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NLT).
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 2025-06-24 16:22:51.

Anthony Diaz 6/27/25 Anthony Diaz 6/27/25

Gospel Mandate

The gospel is bearing fruit. Colossians 1:6 NIV.

There’s a familiar passage often quoted that motivates humanitarian work found in Matthew 25:40: “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Meeting the needs of others is much more than just meeting physical needs. The work of the Lord Jesus Christ is wrapped up in this: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace . . . who proclaims salvation” (Isaiah 52:7). Meeting just the outward needs has no lasting effect if we do not preach God’s truth. The Word of God is the all-important action. Meeting people’s needs without the message is known as the “social gospel,” but there is no such thing as a “social gospel.” There is only one gospel. “If anyone preaches any other gospel to you . . . let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9). The gospel, not humanitarian aid, is the Christian’s mandate. Reaching out to others with the gospel shows people their emptiness and bestows on them love. It shows them their bondage and supplies the hammer to knock away their chains. It shows them their nakedness and provides them the garments of purity. It shows them their poverty and pours into their lives the wealth of Heaven. It shows them their sins and points them to the Savior. This is the heart of Christ and the reason why His followers reach out to others.

Anthony Diaz 6/26/25 Anthony Diaz 6/26/25

The Eternal Name

For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy. Isaiah 57:15.

The names of politicians, sports figures, inventors, and others from all walks of life come and go. While their names may continue in history, their impact is not lasting. Only one name is eternal and worthy of our praise and attention; the name of the Lord God, Jesus Christ. The prophet Daniel who served the king of the dominant power in the world declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His” (Daniel 2:20). The strength of nations is not found in the names and personalities of men and women, but in God alone who is sovereign. No form of government has been able to establish righteousness, justice, and peace, the three elements without which we can never have continued national prosperity or international peace. Our government is certainly going to fall like a rope of sand if unsupported by the moral fabric of God’s Word. The moral structure in our country grew from Judeo-Christian roots. When those values are applied, they produce moral fruits. Our government needs prayer. Our leaders need prayer. Our schools need prayer. Our families need prayer. We must be people of prayer and express thankfulness for the blood of Christ that purchased men for God from “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9 NIV).

Anthony Diaz 6/25/25 Anthony Diaz 6/25/25

A Warning Light

Keep your conscience clear. 1 Timothy 1:19 NLT.

And the LORD God formed man . . . and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7 KJV). Likewise, the “conscience also bear[s] witness” (Romans 2:15). God has put within us something that cries against us; it bears witness whenever we do that which we know to be wrong (Romans 1:19, 2:15). The conscience is the detective that watches the direction of our steps and decries every conscious transgression. It’s not imagination but rather a vigilant eye before which each imagination, thought, and act is held up for either censure or approval. Every human being is a living soul with a conscience: a warning light to go on inside when we do wrong; this is our conscience. It wants to steer us away from evil and toward good. Even when the conscience is dulled or darkened by sin, it can still bear witness to the reality of good and evil, and to the holiness of God. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, once stated that there were two things that filled him with awe—the starry heavens above and the human conscience within. Continual sin can dull or even silence our conscience. On the other hand, continual attention to God’s Word will sharpen our conscience and make us more sensitive to moral and spiritual danger. We are instructed to “cleanse” our conscience, “not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God” (Hebrews 9:14 NIV; 2 Corinthians 1:12).

Anthony Diaz 6/24/25 Anthony Diaz 6/24/25

The New Nature

Make no provision for the flesh. Romans 13:14.

So many people react with disappointment when they learn that someone they have loved and respected ended up with a regretful past. When we come to respect someone, there are usually good reasons for it, and we must reconcile the fact that people can change and be converted. This is actually the truth about what salvation in Jesus Christ has done for mankind. Every person has a past of sin, but when Christ comes into our lives and cleanses our sinful hearts, a transformation takes place. The Bible is filled with such testimonies. Saul, the Pharisee, sought and killed Christians until he was transformed by Christ and spent the rest of his life serving God and proclaiming the gospel. He became known as the apostle Paul. Most of all, we must remember that we, too, are sinners. Those who repent and turn from sin and surrender their past to the Lord Jesus will experience the amazing love of God that turns darkness to light and despair to joy. The greatest need in the world is the transformation of human nature. We all need a new heart. We must feed the new nature on a steady diet of the Word of God. We must starve the old nature, our sinful past, and no longer make provision for such things. The Lord will empower us to turn away from sin and look to Him.

Anthony Diaz 6/23/25 Anthony Diaz 6/23/25

An Illuminated Mind

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7.

The mind is the devil’s favorite avenue of attack, always striving to put doubt in people’s minds that leads to doubting God and His creation. We must trust God our Maker, submit wholly to Him, and not allow Satan to bring confusion as he did to Eve. If we are not under the loving care of Jesus Christ, we will be influenced by Satan, who thrashes about in people’s lives hoping to capture as many souls as possible before his inevitable end. Don’t be caught in his trap. The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. Sin is the reason we have afflictions and wrong affections. The demons that serve him are busy writing pornographic literature and producing sexual materials that pollute the mind. He has infiltrated our education system, teaching hedonistic and permissive philosophy. The culture is bombarded by a sexual tempest. Table talk these days centers not only on sexual perversion but every sinful thought and deed. It is true that society has become so obsessed with sex that it seeps from all the pores of our national life. The converted person will love the good he once hated, and hate the sin he once loved. Be filled with the Spirit of God, which illuminates the minds of people, causing us to yearn for God.

Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : 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 2025-06-17 15:16:13.

Anthony Diaz 6/22/25 Anthony Diaz 6/22/25

Strength To Flee Temptation

“Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Luke 22:40.

An important lesson can be learned by experimenting with magnets. Children often do this, placing two magnets a distance apart and then moving just one toward the other. One magnet will draw the other closer until they adhere, making it difficult to pull them apart. Temptation is something like that, and it often begins with giving in to peer pressure. The more we dwell on what we are being tempted to do, the more likely it is that we will succumb. Giving in to temptation brings about sin. The Bible says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). This is what God promises. Now what is our responsibility? We must not toy with such things in our minds. The Bible says to flee. Joseph is an example. When he was tempted by his master’s wife, he said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). Joseph recognized the temptation and fled. When we sin we not only hurt ourselves and others, but most importantly we sin against God. But what gave Joseph the strength to flee? The Bible says, “The LORD was with him” (Genesis 39:3).