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Christian Devotional – December 12, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 10 How do we live the Christian life? Read Ephesians chapter 4. As we read through these great instructions, one thing becomes very clear. We cannot live the Christian life. In fact, many times Paul explains that we need to put off our sinful nature and put on Christ. Why does he tell us this? Because we cannot live the Christian life on our own. We can never be good enough or righteous enough. The only way we can live the Christian life is to surrender and let Christ live that life through us. Are we willing to surrender? Will we admit that we don’t…
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Christian Devotional – December 11, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 9 Confidence and freedom. Read Ephesians chapter 3. As Paul continues to share, we see just how amazing our relationship with Jesus Christ is. Because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we can come into his presence with confidence and freedom. We cannot fully comprehend just how amazing God is. He is the creator of the universe and all that is. The very fact that we can come into his presence is truly a miracle. And yet, we can do so with confidence and freedom because of the relationship that we have with Christ. Do we understand and experience the freedom and confidence that God…
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Christian Devotional – December 10, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 8 Close relationship with God. Read Ephesians chapter 2. As we learn more about our relationship with Christ, we understand better how we become close to Christ. Interestingly, it has nothing to do with how hard we work at it. We can try and will never be able to meet up with God’s expectations and requirements. When we take a look at the verses in this chapter, we understand that salvation truly is a gift from God to us. Are we seeking to surrender to God more?
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Christian Devotional – December 9, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 7 What do we pray for when we pray for ourselves? Read Ephesians chapter 1. As we move to the 2nd of the four letters of Paul that we will be covering, we see Paul’s writings to the church in Ephesus. This book has always seemed so hopeful to me. There’s so much encouragement to be found as we read through this letter. While I was reading today, what stuck out to me from this chapter was this verse. Paul was praying this for the Ephesians. He wanted them to be able to know Christ better. He wanted them to have a greater revelation of…
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Christian Devotional – December 8, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 6 The Christian life is hard. How can we help each other out? Read Galatians chapter 6. As this book comes to a conclusion, we see Paul addressing how we treat one another. We are to never tire in doing the good works that we are to do toward each other, and we are to help carry one another’s burdens. When we help carry each other’s burdens, that means that we are actually putting forth effort toward moving the burden in a positive direction. How do we help each other stand up under the pressures and difficulties of life? It can be challenging to know…
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Christian Devotional – December 7, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 5 Faith and hope. Read Galatians chapter 5. The Holy Spirit and His work in our lives is allows us to hope. Because of the Spirit, we can patiently wait for God’s work in our lives. When we think about all that God does for us, we have reason to hope in Him.
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Christian Devotional – December 6, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 4 Not a slave, an heir. Read Galatians chapter 4. It’s all about relationship. When we read this chapter, we see that the rights if the slave and the rights of the heir are only different because of the relationship that the individuals have with the master. As an heir, we are his children and we are able to enjoy the inheritance. If we’re did not have ther relationship then we would have no right to enjoy anything of ther master’s. What is your relationship to God? How do you relate to all that he does? Are you following God as a slave follows his…
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Christian Devotional – December 5, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 3 Jesus Christ completed the work of salvation. Read Galatians chapter 3. Paul is explaining the importance of the gospel. Jesus Christ came and through his life, death, and resurrection, we can experience salvation. The people Paul was speaking to understood this, however they were also trying to make the law fit in with this as well. As a result, Paul calls them foolish. How can we start something through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ that somehow we finish through our own efforts and works? The law was given for the sole purpose of helping us to understand just how sinful we truly…
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Christian Devotional – December 4, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 2 Do we seek the opinions of some more than others? Read Galatians chapter 2. Paul is continuing to explain his criteria and qualifications for being able to preach the gospel. As he explains, he came to Jerusalem to share with them what he had been preaching to the gentiles. He explains that he met with certain people who would have been considered celebrities in the church during that time. Still, even meeting with people that were of that high esteem, that didn’t change his message of truth. God had provided him truth through the scripture, and Paul wasn’t going to deviate for that, even…
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Christian Devotional – December 3, 2022
Four of the Letters, Day 1 Paul wrote many letters, but somehow I always put Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians together. They are written to 4 different groups of people at 4 different times in Paul’s life, but the messages are still so consistent. We’re going to read through these 4 over the next several days. Read Galatians chapter 1. Paul is giving his testimony and explaining what God has done in his life. He finishes with this statement. The people were praising God because of Paul. Do you seek to have people praise God because of you or just have people praise you? As we read through these letters…