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Christian Devotional – February 14, 2017
Ezekiel chapter 11 is a chapter of 2 extremes. First we see the judgment and destruction of the leaders who have been leading Israel astray. Then we see God’s promise to restore the people and return to them. We know that God is both judgment and mercy, yet we have difficulty reconciling that in our mind. How can the God who is so holy allow mercy and restore people? How can a God who is so loving allow such destruction? Since God is both and does not contradict Himself, we must come to the place where we accept that it is possible to be both. It is possible to love…
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Christian Devotional – February 20, 2016
Read John chapter 13 VERSE: John 13:35–By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. TRUTH: When people look at us and our lives, would they see us as His disciples? Would they be able to tell, based on our actions alone, that God is the sole desire of our hearts? When we allow God to be at the center of our lives and our hearts, then our actions will display His characteristics and people will be able to see and identify Him in us. Do we love others with the love of Christ so that the world can see Jesus through us? RESPONSE:…
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Christian Devotional – December 30, 2015
Read Genesis chapter 15 VERSE: Genesis 15:6–Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. TRUTH: When we read the promises of God in the Bible, do we believe that they are true? Often we read them as we would a fiction story, assuming that this was just something nice that doesn’t really happen. Yet, these were written as truths that we can learn from and use as examples and idea in our lives. We need to know that as we are reading God’s Word, we can believe the promises that are there. We can know that God will do all that He has said He will…
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Christian Devotional – October 17, 2015
Read James chapter 2 VERSE: James 2:12–Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. TRUTH: Earlier in the chapter, James explained that there is the law of love that we are to be following. Since we are all guilty of breaking the original law that god established (the 10 commandments), he explained that we are to be living under the law of love. Interestingly, the law of love encompasses all of the 10 commandments and so much more. If we are truly loving other people as God loves them, we will not allow them to stay in their sin and in…
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Christian Devotional – October 15, 2015
Read James chapter 2 VERSE: James 2:10–For whomever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. TRUTH: This verse goes directly against one very popular idea that many people have. Often, you will hear people talk about how they’re a pretty good person and they think they’ve done enough good things to get them to heaven. This verse indicates that it’s not about doing most things right, it’s about doing EVERYTHING right. If we stumble at just one spot; if we sin just one time, then we are guilty of breaking the entire law. We must realize that if we…
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Christian Devotional – October 14, 2015
Read James chapter 2 VERSE: James 2:9–But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. TRUTH: Showing favoritism and showing love can’t co-exist. You can’t be loving to people while you are favoring one above the other. Love, as Christ show it, is to be equally shared among all people, reminding everyone that we are all loved by God. As a result of His love, we can be made right and through His love, God shapes us to be more and more like Him every day. If we are not showing God’s love to others, we are guilty of breaking the law of love…
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Christian Devotional – June 5, 2015
Read Psalm chapter 136 VERSE: Psalm 136:1–Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. TRUTH: This verse kicks off an entire chapter that discusses the enduring love of God. God is good and we are to give Him thanks. No matter what we do or where we end up, He loves us. God’s love is a powerful and amazing aspect of who He is. Do we take for granted the love of God? Or, are we daily thankful for all that His loves means to us and for us? RESPONSE: Father, Your love endures no matter what is going around me and because of that,…
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Christian Devotional – April 24, 2015
Read Psalm chapter 98 VERSE: Psalm 98:3–He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. TRUTH: God remembers His love and faithfulness. He knows what He has done and He is mindful of all that He is going to do. Because of all that God has done, the earth has seen the salvation that god provides. No one has an excuse that they didn’t know God or were ignorant of what God has done. Do we recognize that God’s salvation is evident throughout the world? God has not forgotten His children and He has not forgotten…
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Christian Devotional – March 22, 2015
Read Ephesians chapter 3 VERSE: Ephesians 3:19–And to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. TRUTH: When God comes into our lives, He doesn’t want to just fill us a little bit. He wants to fill us completely. The most amazing thing about this as that we aren’t even the standard of measurement for how full He wants to fill us. He doesn’t seek to fill us full with all the fullness of us. He fills us full with all the fullness of God. We can have all of God as we go through every single day.…
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Christian Devotional – February 23, 2015
Read Psalm chapter 48 VERSE: Psalm 48:9–Within your temple, O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love. TRUTH: Similar to yesterday, do we take time to meditate on the Lord, His love, and all that He has done for us? In today’s society, as we rush around seeking the completion of the next thing on our “to-do” list, are we recognizing how God’s love permeates all that we think and do. I like the work “marinate” as a reference point for meditation. Do we spend time allowing the truths of God’s Word and His love to soak in and flavor every aspect of our life? His love changes lives. Has…