Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ for gave you. Ephesians 4:32 Do you easily forgive others? Do you find it hard to forgive others? When you have hurt others, do you desire them to forgive you? “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” Micah 7:18 NIV Forgiveness is an important element of our Christian faith. When we ask God for his forgiveness, our sin is released through the blood of Jesus Christ. Since we are recipients of His forgiveness, God…
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Seeking Him More
I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. Acts 24:16 Today we are going to read Romans 2:12-16, Hebrews 9:11-14, 1 Peter 3:13-17, and 1 John 3:19-24. For as many, as have sinned without law will also perish without the law, and as many, as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the…
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Seeking Him
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24 If we have wronged someone, we must humble ourselves and do whatever is required to gain a clear conscience with God and the person we wronged. However, the person who was also wronged needs to make sure that they don’t counteract their hurt in the same way. They need to confront also in the way God tells us. Both sides need to be humbled and take…
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Reconciled with God and Others
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did you see a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. . . . . As you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” Matthew 25:37-40,45 Does Our triune…
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Seeking Him
Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and . . . be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and . . . put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4: 22-24 Apostle Paul shares important insights about the life – long process of pursuing holiness. As new creatures in Christ, we are to put off anything and everything that is apart of our old sinful life. This could be habits, attitude, impure motives, and so forth. We must daily put on the new self. These are the…
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Jubilation Of Holiness
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah. But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah. Offer right sacrifices and put your trust in the Lord. Psalm 4: 1-5 What words come to mind when you hear…
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The Heart of the Matter
This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worhsip me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men,’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” Mark 7:6b-8 Do you know where your heart truly is? Is it far from God or is it close? In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders were highly respected and were considered holy. They were the experts of the Old Testament law. The religious leaders prided themselves on keeping the law. Their outward behavior could not be critized. The only person that could was Jesus. He did call them out. True…
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Getting Ready
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27 My second son is getting married this year. There is a lot of planning going on. There is excitement! There is stress! However, on my part, there is peace with this union. I see God, working in both of these young people. They are getting ready both ceremonially and spiritually with all the feels. …
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Sanctifying Grace
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Titus 2:11-12 Once we have received God’s saving grace, we don’t automatically become perfect christians. We have not arrived and have it all together. As we grow our relationship with Christ and keep him at the center of our lives and continue to seek Him for help, He is shaping us into who He wants us to be. We need God’s grace every day to sanctify us and to conform us to the image of Christ. There are…
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Metanoeo: To Think differently
. Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 Before sin becomes an act, it forms first in a thought. This is what we call being tempted. This is when we should cry out to God for help resist the sin. If we don’t then we will fall into the temptation and sin. God has given us a means to escape from sin’s lure and grip. It is the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. He convicts us. He calls us to turn around and change the direction…