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Christian Devotional – March 17, 2026
Hope, Day 5 Freedom. Read 1 Peter 2:11-17. What does it truly mean to be free? Often we think of freedom as a reference to political ideals and policies. We talk about our rights and how we are able to exercise those rights. We get offended if we feel that someone is standing in the way of our rights. But, what does it actually mean to live the Christian life as a free person? Here, Peter is bringing up the question because the early believers were having a lot of arguments about what they were able and not able to do with their “freedom” in Christ. Some people were using…
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Christian Devotional – March 16, 2026
Hope, Day 4 Grow Up. Read 1 Peter 2:1-10. When first gave birth to my children, it was amazing all the things they didn’t know how to do. Babies are so helpless and fragile. They need assistance for literally everything. We have to help them eat. We change them. Over time, we show them new ideas and concepts, new skills and actions. Slowly, over time, they begin to mature. Most every parent has had moments where they wish their child would mature a little faster. But, in many cases, we start to see growth and maturity. Spiritual life is like that as well. Someone who just gives their life to…
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Christian Devotional – March 15, 2026
Hope, Day 3 Redeemed. Read 1 Peter 1:17-25. The idea of redeeming something is not a concept that we typically use a lot these days. To redeem something refers to gaining or regaining possession of something in exchange for payment. This is more than just purchasing something. Redeeming adds the idea of restoring the item being redeemed. In these verses, we see Peter discussing our lives and how we have been living them. We have been working through and living our lives with as much goal and purpose as we can. However, because of sin in the world, our lives are a disaster. The people then had been trying to…
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Christian Devotional – March 14, 2026
Hope, Day 2 Grace. Read 1 Peter 1:9-16. We saw yesterday the importance of having hope. But the question becomes, what are we supposed to place our hope in? What are we hoping on and for. As Peter continues sharing with the people, we learn that we are to put our hope on God’s grace. God and his grace are what we all desperately need. Our hope is truly in him and him alone. If we are hoping in the grace of God, then we will see we will never be disappointed. God’s grace is amazing and trustworthy. Are placing our hope in God and in his amazing grace today?
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Christian Devotional – March 13, 2026
Hope, Day 1 Hope. Read 1 Peter 1:1-9 Talking with believers of other religions is very interesting. Often, I hear them discuss their uncertainty around whether or not they have done enough in order to win the favor of their god. I’ve heard them discuss how they “hope” to receive the reward that they have been promised, but that they really can’t know for sure. How different this is from a relationship with Christ. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. That is the source of our hope. Through the years, many people have attempted to disprove Christianity and it all comes down to the resurrection. If Jesus wasn’t raised…
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Christian Devotional – September 5, 2024
Hope, Day 10 Hope together with others. Read Ezra chapter 10. As we read through this concluding chapter in the book of Ezra, we see that even in the midst of sin and repentance, Ezra was not alone. The people came. They supported him. They rallied around him. They repented from their sin and they sought to be better than they were. Hope is better together. When we have other people who have the same faith in God that we do, we will find encouragement as we hope together. Who do we need to surround ourselves with so that we have that support? Who in our lives does not provide…
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Christian Devotional – September 4, 2024
Hope, Day 9 Hope in repentance. Read Ezra chapter 9. If you are ever confronted with your sin and need an example of a prayer of deep, heart-felt, profound repentance, Ezra chapter 9 is your go to. Here we see Ezra learning that the people have continued to commit sin, and he is broken by this. He falls down on his face before the Lord to plead and beg their repentance. Ezra had a high level hope and faith and trust in God, but he recognizes just how deeply the people have sinned against God. And, he sees just how profound God’s judgment could have been against them. Recognizing what…
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Christian Devotional – September 3, 2024
Hope, Day 8 Hope lived out. Read Ezra chapter 8. Many of us have heard the statement, you better put your money where your mouth is. That is exactly the situation that Ezra is facing in this chapter. He has told the king about how awesome and powerful God is, and the king believes him. Now Ezra is having to make a dangerous journey with a lot of money. He needs to rely solely on God for his protection because if he asks the king for protection, it will look like he doesn’t trust God. When it comes down to it, do we really believe and live what we say?…
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Christian Devotional – September 2, 2024
Hope, Day 7 Hope lived out. Read Ezra chapter 10. Here we learn a little bit more about the prophet Ezra. We see his relationship with the king of Persia, and we understand more about how the king determined to allow the Israelites to follow through on what God had committed them to do. Interestingly we also see that Ezra was the embodiment of the hope that he had. Ezra studied what he need to do. He lived it out. He taught others to do the same. Our hope must be more than just something inside us. Our hope in Christ must be something that we are always wanting to…
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Christian Devotional – September 1, 2024
Hope, Day 6 Joyful hope. Read Ezra chapter 6. You know that point in the movie where you see the hero or heroine, who has been knocked down the entire show, rise up in victory and conquer their enemies? That’s the feeling I get when I read this chapter. The people of Israel have been vindicated for everything they were saying. As a bonus, all of their enemies ended up having to help them accomplish God’s will. Here at the end of the construction project, we see the people celebrating by offering sacrifices to the Lord and observing the holidays that God had instituted before. The people have joy. When…