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Christian Devotional – July 25, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:20-21–Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. TRUTH: Our relationship with God is reflected in our relationship with others. If we are not loving toward our fellow believers, that is reflecting a bigger problem in our relationship with God. We can see and interact on a physical level with other believers and, as this verse says,…
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Christian Devotional – July 24, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:19–We love because he first loved us. TRUTH: This verse explains both the why and the how of love. Why do we love others? We love because he first loved us. How do we display love to others, even when they seem unloveable? God loves us first and through His living in us, He is able to love others through us. Because of God, we are both loveable and able to love. RESPONSE: Father, You loved me, even when I was in the midst of sin. You love me still. Every single day I am a part of Your wonderful love. I…
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Christian Devotional – July 23, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:18–There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. TRUTH: Fear and love cannot co-exist. Either we are fully resting and trusting in God’s love, or we are paralyzed by fear. Because of God’s love and His promise to live in us an through us, we don’t have to fear. Is there an area of our life where we are afraid? We can turn that over to God and choose to live in His love instead. RESPONSE: Father, when I am afraid,…
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Christian Devotional – July 22, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:17–This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. TRUTH: As it says in the previous verse, God is love and living in love means living in God and vice versa. This is how love is made complete. When we are living in God and allowing Him to live in us, we can have confidence that no matter what we face, we are exactly where God has us and doing His work. In that way, we are like Jesus, living in love each and…
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Christian Devotional – July 21, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:16–And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them. TRUTH: Do we rely on God’s love? God is love and He loves us, but it’s not just a question of knowing God’s love, but also relying on His love to lead us and guide us. Are we living each day relying on God’s love? RESPONSE: Father, You are love and only by relying on You and Your love will I be able to live in love. I will choose to live in You today.
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Christian Devotional – July 20, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:15–If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. TRUTH: The message of salvation is simple to understand. If we will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the perfect Son of God and admit that we have fallen short of God’s expectations of us, then allow Jesus to take control of our life, we will experience the joy of having God living in us. Do we have that close, personal relationship with God today? RESPONSE: Father, I know that Jesus Christ is God and I have asked Him to be the Lord of my…
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Christian Devotional – July 19, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:13-14–This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. TRUTH: Two things testify of the relationship we have with Jesus: our words and our actions. God has given us His Spirit who lives in those who have believed in Him. Through the Spirit, we are able to act in such a way that displays our relationship with God. Secondly, the Spirit gives us the words to speak so that we…
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Christian Devotional – July 18, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:12–No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete. TRUTH: We don’t have to see God to know and feel His presence and His love in our lives. God is love and any time we love others or demonstrate love, we are displaying God for them to see. God’s love is amazing and He allows us to live in His love each and every day. RESPONSE: Father, You are love and when You demonstrate love through me, You are showing the complete circle of who You are. I will…
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Christian Devotional – July 17, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:11–Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. TRUTH: God showed us what love is because He Himself is love. Because we know what love is through Him, we are able to demonstrate that love to others. Not only are we able to do it, but we ought to do it since Christ lives in us and is able to love others through us. Will we let Christ love others through us today. RESPONSE: Father, You love me and have shown me that time and time again. Now use me today to show Your love to…
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Christian Devotional – July 16, 2014
Read 1 John chapter 4 VERSE: 1 John 4:10–This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. TRUTH: Without God sending Jesus to demonstrate love toward us, we would not know what love truly is. Because He sacrificed His Son, we are able to love others. God loved us even when we were at our most unloveable: buried in our sin and separated from God. Even then, God still showed us His love. Do we love others as God loves us? RESPONSE: Father, if I’m not loving others as You loved me, I’m not really…