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Christian Devotional – August 31, 2014
Read Esther chapter 3 VERSE: Esther 3:5–When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. TRUTH: Oh, the fury of an ego scorned. Haman had huge pride and he wanted everyone to honor him. Mordecai would only bow down to God, and that infuriated Haman. Are we so worried about what others think of us that we feel anger toward others who don’t feed our ego? We are to be point others toward God, not ourselves. RESPONSE: Father, keep my ego focused on You only. I only want to hear from You and I only want to exalt You, not myself. Keep me…
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Christian Devotional – August 30, 2014
Read Esther chapter 2 VERSE: Esther 2:9–She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. TRUTH: Esther was in a difficult position. She was forcibly taken to the palace, yet she kept a sweet spirit about her so that she was seen and remembered and favored by all those around her, even the other servants. When we find ourselves in difficult situation, how do we respond? Do we maintain a positive and humble spirit that reflects our…
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Christian Devotional – August 29, 2014
Read Esther chapter 1 VERSE: Esther 1:17–For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ TRUTH: Every decision we make has far-reaching consequences. For Queen Vashti, she made a decision to not obey the king, but the advisors were more worried about that decision affecting the rest of the kingdom. We don’t know the reason that Vashti chose to disobey, but we see the result. Do we consider the far-reaching results of the choices we make? RESPONSE: Father, help me to be obedient to You…
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Christian Devotional – August 28, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 14–I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. TRUTH: Personal connection and the peace of God: they go together. We have a great opportunity to experience and share that peace with others every single day. When we connect with others, do we convey peace and assurance that God has everything worked out? We can work together to strengthen each other and to experience God’s perfect peace. RESPONSE: Father, I am stronger together with other believers than I am apart. Your peace is more easily…
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Christian Devotional – August 27, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 13–I have much to write to you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. TRUTH: In today’s world it is so easy to send an email or text and think that takes care of everything. We use written words to communicate a lot of things. However, even back in this day and time, John recognized the need for personal connection. How much time do we spend face to face or voice to voice with others? We can create such strong connections with people if we will take the time to actually call or meet with others. Do we show…
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Christian Devotional – August 26, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 12–Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone–and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. TRUTH: A lot of people are speaking well of Demetrius, but the main one listed is that the truth speaks well of him. Demetrius is lining up with the truth. It doesn’t matter who speaks well of us, if we are not following the truth and having the truth speak well of us, we have missed it. As the old saying goes: please God, and those who please God will be pleased with you. All you can do…
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Christian Devotional – August 25, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 11–Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. TRUTH: Sometimes we try to make things so complicated, yet following Christ is really this easy. We are to imitate what is good and through Him working and moving in our lives, we will do what is good and what is of God. Who or what are we trying to be like today? God is to be our example for how to respond in every situation. RESPONSE: Father, You are good and everything…
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Christian Devotional – August 24, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 10–So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. No satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. TRUTH: John goes into more detail about the situation he brought up in the previous verse. Diotrophes is spreading lies, refusing hospitality, and then throwing out of the church those who are being hospitable. What is John going to do? He plans to confront Diotrophes and call out what he is doing wrong. There are sins and evil in…
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Christian Devotional – August 23, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 9–I wrote to the church, but Diotrophes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. TRUTH: It’s hard to imagine a church leader like John not being welcome in the church, yet that is exactly what he writes here. Instead, a prideful and arrogant man refused to welcome him. You see, when someone loves to be first, they will turn away anyone who might threaten their number 1 position. Do we think more highly of ourselves than we should? That pride can blind us to people and circumstances around us. Do we love to be first? If so, we will always turn away…
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Christian Devotional – August 22, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 8–We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. TRUTH: “Show hospitality,” “work together,” and “for the truth” are all phrases that really stand out in this verse. Do we actually act out and demonstrate the kindness of hospitality? Do we foster and encourage Christians to work together and when we work together is it for the purpose of sharing the truth of Jesus Christ? These are great questions that we can ask about everything that we do. As we examine our life today? What are the answers? RESPONSE: Father, give me a spirit of…