And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25 NKJV
 
God created Adam the first man. He created Eve the first woman from one of Adam’s ribs. God created them to live together in the Garden of Eden. He created them to love each other. God created them to be loved by Him and to return His perfect love. 
 
Sin and death had not yet entered the world. Adam and Eve lived a simple life that was based on God’s great love for them. They trusted God to meet their needs. They did not know they were naked because God had not told them they were naked.
 
Why is it significant that they were naked and unaware of it? Adam and Eve accepted God’s definition of good and what is evil. They did not lean on their own understanding for moral guidance. They did not decide for themselves what is good and what is evil.
 
Eve saw that the tree was desirable to make one wise. She took the fruit and ate it. She gave the fruit to her husband. He ate it. God told them not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They disobeyed. They ate from the tree. They sinned!
 
Their eyes were opened. Adam and Eve realized they were naked. They began to make their own moral judgments. They became separated from God. They no longer depended on God for guidance and direction. They no longer accepted His definition of good and evil.
 
Adam and Eve began to live as if they had more wisdom and knowledge than God. They lived as though they could make better decisions for themselves than God could.
 
People all over the world are living as Adam and Eve did after they became separated from God. They live like they have more knowledge and wisdom than God. They believe they have better resources to make decisions that the Lord!
 
God’s greatest judgement is to leave us to ourselves. If God turned His back on us that would be the greatest punishment He could inflict on us. God did not leave Adam and Eve to themselves. He did not turn His back on them. He will never turn His back on us! 
 
The Lord is pleading with us to turn back to Him for guidance and direction. God is saying come let us reason together. He is drawing us back into relationship with Him in loving-kindness. The way back to relationship with God is through His Son Jesus!
 
The Lord made a way for us to be restored to a loving relationship with Him today. Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life with God the Father. Jesus Christ is the doorway that leads into the presence of God!
 
The greatest blessing of God is to live our lives according to His good and perfect plan for our lives. Choose wisdom. Choose to obey the Word of God through faith in Jesus!
 
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Genesis 2:18 NKJV
 
God created the Heavens and the Earth. He created the sun to provide light in the daytime and the moon light at night. He created the animals that creep along the ground and all manner of cattle. He created the birds that fly through the sky.
 
God created a man in His own image and likeness. He blessed the man and gave him dominion over the Earth and all the creatures that dwell in it. The man was the crown jewel of God’s creation. He alone was created in the image and likeness of God!
 
Why did God wait to create the first women? God wanted Adam to realize his need for a helpmate. God wanted Adam to realize the animals had companions, but he was alone!
 
My wife and son are 180 miles away in a hospital. My son is weak. His body is wracked with pain. My wife is doing everything she can to make sure he is cared for. We decided I would drop them off at the hospital and return home.
 
I am at home while my wife cares for my son. I felt like I should be with them. I am at the hospital with my son! My helpmate who is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh is with my son. I am there as well. The Lord created us to be one in Him today!
 
I take my wife for granted. I get irritated and short tempered with her. There are times when I have even wondered if I married the right person. I need to repent before the Lord. I should thank Him for the good and godly wife He blessed me with!
 
I do not have to do everything myself. My wife has my trust and confidence. Her heart belongs to the Lord. My trust and confidence in my wife is a reflection of my trust and confidence in Jesus.
 
It is not good for men to be alone. We need the influence and assistance of godly women in our lives. We need older brothers in the Lord to come along side and help us on our journey through life! We need Jesus to lead us and guide us into His perfect will for our lives!
 
If the Lord has blessed you with a godly wife you are blessed indeed! If you are single wait for the Lord to bring the helpmate He chooses for you!
 
If you are a married woman your husband has needs only you can meet. He needs your love and encouragement. If you are a single lady ask the Lord to form His heart in the husband He has chosen for you.
 
Man, or women married or not do not forsake the gathering of God’s people. Jesus designed us to live in loving relationships with each other. Gather with likeminded people and lift-up the name of Jesus!
 
The Great Shepherd wants His flock to love each other as much as He does. Tell someone you love that Jesus loves them!
 
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27 NKJV
 
You did not evolve from primates. You were not deposited here by aliens from a more advanced planet than ours. Your ancestors did not crawl out of the primordial ooze.
 
God created you in His image and likeness. The Lord created you to be loved by Him. He created you to love Him!
 
In what way did God create us in His image and likeness?
 
My earthly father and I are very different. If you saw us together you would know we are father and son. I resemble him. I act like him. I have his DNA. I carry his name. I picked up some of his habits. I carry on some of the things that were important to him.
 
We will never be exactly like God. He is unique. He has no beginning and no end. He has no equal. The Lord did not create us to be His equals. He created us to be His children. He created us with the capacity to love Him and each other. 
 
The capacity to receive and return God’s love is a gift we can overlook and take for granted. The capacity to receive and return love from each other also a gift we can take for granted.
 
We were created to be extensions of God’s authority. He created us to represent Him. It was His intention from the beginning for us to have dominion over the earth. Not as sovereign rulers but as caretakers of God’s marvelous creation.
 
Jesus wants us to pick up some of His habits. He wants us to carry on with the work that is important to Him!
 
God created the heavens and the Earth. He created the universe and the creatures who live within it. God created us to be special and unique. The Lord created us to be set apart for His glory and honor.
 
You are God’s greatest creation!
 
Only mankind was created in God’s image and likeness. No one exactly like you has ever lived before. No one exactly like you will ever exist again. God created you for a purpose. He has given you everything you need to represent Him today.
 
The day God created you He was very pleased. Jesus was pleased because He loved you even before you were born. Jesus loves you today and always will!
 
Share the love of God with people who need to know how much Jesus loves them!
 
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 NKJV
 
These are ten of the most important words ever presented to mankind. Whether or not you believe them will determine how you live. Either God created the heavens and the Earth, or He did not. Either God has done all He claims to have done or He did not. God is who He declares Himself to be or He is a liar!
 
The truth of God is under attack today.
 
The book of Genesis is attacked by people who do not believe in the God of the bible. The bibles infallibility is questioned by people who claim to believe in God but deny His Word. People who claim to be Christians pick and choose the portions they agree with! 
 
Some people believe they have a level of knowledge that exceeds the revelation of God. 
 
This verse does not describe the beginning of God. They describe our beginning. The Triune God existed in a perfect loving relationship before He created the heavens and the Earth! 
 
Some people say God must have a beginning to His existence. God has no beginning and no end. He is not constrained by time in any way.  God created time. He lives outside of it. We exist because God exists. The universe is held together by Jesus.
 
Only the Word of God can explain how the heavens and the Earth were created! 
 
Some scientists say an explosion created the universe. Explosions do not create they destroy. If nothing existed before creation what caused it? Some believe cosmic germs were deposited on the Earth. Life evolved from them. Aren’t germs something we should avoid?
 
It takes more faith to believe mankind crawled out of the primordial ooze than it does to believe God is who He claims to be!
 
God created the heavens and the Earth. He created us. God created us to live in a perfect loving relationship with Jesus. He created us to love Him perfectly! 
 
We live in a fallen imperfect world today. One day we will be perfected into the image of Jesus Christ. We will live with our Heavenly Father in blessed perfection. We will love Jesus perfectly! 
 
Do not be deceived. God created you in His image and likeness to live with Him in a perfect loving relationship.
 
The bible reveals that God wants to bless you with His love! Jesus Christ is the way to God the Father. Jesus is the truth of God. Jesus is the doorway that leads to eternal life!
 
If you have ears to hear listen to this, the One True God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ loves you! You have the freedom to love Him!
 
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 NKJV
 
So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27 NKJV
 
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So, the evening and morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 NKJV
 
Do you believe God created the heavens and the earth? Do you believe God created the first man and woman in His own image and likeness? Do you believe God was pleased with His creation?
 
These verses tell us about the nature of God. They tell us why God created us. They also tell us who the Lord created us to be!
 
My wife and I watched the movie Expelled with Ben Stein. Ben interviewed Scientists, Astronomers and Educators. He discovered there is a deliberate effort to conceal the fact very few of them believe the current theories of how the universe was created.
 
Some people say there was a very large explosion. From that explosion the planets, stars and eventually life evolved. The problem is they cannot explain who or what caused the explosion! 
 
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out there must be some sort of first cause for an explosion. You do not have to be an Astronomer to know explosions do not create.  They destroy. Common sense tells us an explosion cannot occur in the vacuum of pre-creation!
 
The God who is revealed to us in the bible created the heavens and the earth!
 
God created you in His image and likeness. He created you for the purpose of loving you. God created you so you could love Him. The Lord created you to live in an eternal loving relationship with His Son Jesus! 
 
Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Sin and death entered the world. Satan was given a measure of authority over the earth. God has an enemy who seeks to destroy the Kingdom of God. The devil cannot destroy God. We are the object of his wrath.
             
God is restoring His creation one heart and soul at a time! The Lord wants you to partner with Him today! Jesus wants to bless you today! He wants to use you to bless other people today!
 
Do not be deceived by the far-fetched fantasies of people who are wise in their own eyes. Almighty God created the heavens and earth. The Lord created you in His image and likeness. God was pleased when He created you. It pleased the Lord to demonstrate His love through the birth, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ!
 
You can please the creator of heaven and earth today through faith in Jesus Christ!
 
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has directed the spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice?  Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding? Isaiah 40:12-14 NKJV
 
Have you ever been in an earthquake? Have you felt a ship rock from the power of a wave? How far away is the sun? God uses it to provide heat and light for us.
 
How many stars exist in the vastness of outer space? God calls them all by name.  Imagine the awesome power it took to create them. 
            
God is omnipotent. His power is immeasurable. God is omniscient. He knows all things past present and future. God is omnipresent. He is in every place where His people gather together in Jesus’ name. 
 
This all powerful, all knowing, ever present God loves you. He desires your love.
 
If God gave His only beloved Son as a sacrifice for sin is there anything He will not do for you?
 
God is calling you by name today.
 
The Lord is saying, “I Love You”. “You are My beloved son. You are My precious daughter. I created you in My image and likeness. Will you withhold from Me what I desire above all things?” “Will you withhold your love from Me?”
 
God stands at the crossroads of your life today. He offers us two paths. One leads to eternal separation from His great love. The other leads into His presence where there is fullness of joy!
 
You have the freedom to choose. Will you choose eternal life with God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ?
 
Our destiny is determined by the choices we make. God did not wind up creation like a clock and move on to more important things. He did not take a vacation after His work was completed. God is not dead. Jesus is with us today!
 
Some of us were not trained to make good decisions. The God of compassion and mercy saved us. He is leading and guiding us as only our Heavenly Father can. Be still before the Lord. Obey His righteous commands. Receive His perfect love!
 
God’s Spirit rides the wind searching out people who seek Him. Be wise. Seek the God of everlasting wisdom and perfect justice all the days of your life!
 
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2 NKJV
 
A Christian’s life should be filled with loving relationships. The foundation of our lives should be built on relationship with Jesus Christ!
 
A radio bible teacher visits a friend’s house once a month. He hosts a question and answer session. Everyone is welcome to ask questions. My wife and I attended a couple of times. We decided against attending those meetings.
 
The teacher has different views on theological issues and doctrines than I. That is not the reason we decided not to attend. He is much smarter than I am. He has much more knowledge than I do. He knows the bible and biblical history much better than I do.
 
The reason we decided not to attend is that we do not leave feeling as though we have spent time with Jesus. We do not leave feeling as though we got to know Jesus better!
 
In these verses John is talking about Jesus. Jesus is the Word of God! The scriptures are fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ! Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s promises!
 
When I go to church or a bible study I expect to leave feeling like I have spent time with Jesus. When I read my bible or pray I expect to feel as though I have spent time with Jesus. Time spent in the bible and prayer is time spent with Jesus!
 
God the Father, Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God and the Holy Spirit lived in a perfect loving relationship since before time began. God created us to join that perfect loving relationship!
 
There will be times when I do not feel like God is with me. There will be times when I go to church simply because that is what I do on Sunday. Sometimes my time spent in the scriptures will not be as fruitful as I would like. There will be times when I feel as though my prayers are going no higher than my ceiling.
 
We all miss the mark from time to time. 
 
There is a God in heaven. He loves you. He wants to spend time with you. You can spend time with Him today. If you seek Jesus you will find Him. Look for Him in the pages of the bible. Jesus is the Word of God!
 
Pray to your heavenly Father. Read your bible. Go to a bible study during the week. Go to church on Sunday. Do it to spend time with Jesus. Do it to know Jesus better!
 
Your Heavenly Father loves you more than the number of the sands on the seashore and the stars in the night sky. Jesus is waiting for you to seek Him. Jesus is waiting to spend time with you. Get to know Jesus better by spending time with the Word of God every day!
 
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Mark 2:17 NKJV
 
Jesus saw Matthew sitting at a tax office. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Mathew arose and followed Jesus. Matthew became an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He turned his back on privilege and status. Matthew devoted the rest of his life to following Jesus.
 
What will it take for you to follow Jesus? 
 
Jesus dined at Matthew’s house. Many sinners and tax collectors joined them. The scribes and Pharisees saw Jesus breaking bread with them in fellowship. They asked the disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
 
We should examine ourselves before the Lord and ask, have I taken on a critical spirit?  Do I look down on the lost? In that culture they were sinners and tax collectors. Today they might be drug addicts, alcoholics and homeless people. 
 
We can be critical of other people for their sins and make excuses for ours. We can ask God to judge other people for their sins and forgive ours. When we look down on people who are in bondage to sin we are guilty of breaking the law of God.
 
We should not tolerate or excuse sin. We should remember all people sin, including us. We should remember Jesus sacrificed Himself on a cross for all of us!
 
Jesus wants all people to be saved. Jesus wants to set all of us free from bondage to sin and unbelief. Jesus calls us to hate sin as much as He does. Jesus also commands us to love sinners as much as He does.
 
We can never love people as much as Jesus does. We can let Jesus love people through us!
 
Jesus is calling each of us to take up our cross and follow Him today!
 
Taking up our cross means taking up the instrument of death to self. It means putting on the mind of Christ so He can form His life in us and live out His life through us.
 
If we cannot admit our sin and our need for a Savior we have no part in Jesus!
 
If we do not think of ourselves more highly than we should Jesus will be with us. Jesus will be with us when we meet people who need to hear the Gospel. Jesus will be with us as we live in faith for the glory of God.
 
Take up your cross today!
 
Ask the Lord of the harvest to give you His heart for His people. Be about the Father’s business today. Follow Jesus Christ everywhere He leads you!
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. 
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV
 
I woke up last night with this portion of scripture on my mind. Jesus speaking to me. 
 
Do you want to know God better? Do you want to know His will for your life? He reveals Himself in His Word (the bible). He is revealing His will for your life and mine today. 
 
This is what is known as the great commission. It is God’s commandment to every follower of Jesus Christ!
 
God has a specific plan for your life. Regardless of what that plan is it includes sharing your faith with other people. It includes teaching other people the things Jesus teaches you! 
 
The commandment to go and make disciples of all the nations is not for the spiritual elite. It is for people who know the love of God. It is for people who love the Lord.
 
The names and faces are always changing. Today Reverend so and so is sharing the Word of God. Tomorrow it’s Pastor what’s his name. Someday it may be you. The message remains the same. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life!
 
When Jesus fed the five thousand He asked His disciples, “How many loaves do you have,” they answered, “Five and two fish”. Jesus took what they had and multiplied it. Jesus used it to meet the needs of the multitude.   
 
Jesus is sending you out to meet the needs of the multitudes today!
 
Are you willing to go? You do not need go very far. You do not need very much. Make what you have available to the Lord. Jesus will use it meet needs in amazing ways! 
 
Go in the name of the risen Lord. Follow His commands. Go where Jesus sends you. Speak the words Jesus gives you.
 
Make disciples for the Lord of Lords and King of Kings today and every day!
 
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​

And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Matthew 28:18 NKJV
 
This verse of scripture is part of the great commission.
 
Jesus wanted the disciples to know they could fulfill their calling as His representatives on the earth. All authority in heaven and earth belongs to Jesus. Jesus was sending them to the people of the earth. Jesus would be with them to the very end. 
 
God is speaking the same Words to us. Jesus wants us to go into all the world and make disciples for Him today.
 
Jesus wants us to teach the Word of God to people so they can know Him. Jesus wants us to teach the Word of God to people so they can obey Him. Jesus wants us to teach the Word of God to people so they can be set free from bondage to unbelief.
 
When I worked in a prison I taught our clients the rules they were expected to follow in the program. I explained that if they couldn’t follow the rules they are not ready to be released. They would probably end up coming back to prison.
 
I spoke very bluntly to my clients. I felt very comfortable doing it. I felt comfortable because I cared about them. I wanted to see them set free from prison.
 
The world is full of people who need to be set free from bondage. We will not be alone when we share the Word of God with people. The Holy Spirit will be with us. The Holy Spirit will show us who to speak to and what to say to them.
 
The heavens and the earth belong to God. He wants us teach other people who He is. The Lord wants us to teach people what His desires are for them.
 
We can accomplish the Lord’s purpose for our lives because He is God. He will be with us every step of the way. Jesus will be with us every where we go in His name!
 
When our motive is love we can speak the truth to people without fear. Perfect love casts out fear. Jesus wants us to love His people enough to feel comfortable speaking truth to them.
 
You and I cannot love people perfectly. We can introduce people to the one who loves them perfectly. Ask Jesus to give you a heart for His people. Ask Jesus to fill your heart with His perfect love. Speak the truth to people who need to be set free from bondage!
 
Go out into your world in the authority and power of Jesus mighty name!
 
http://www.joyfor2day.com
https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day
#Joyfor2daydailydevotional
​