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💜O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name; for You has done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. ✝️
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God's Good Plans
The Clay and the Potter
💜 Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before You!
As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make Your name known to Your enemies and cause the nations to quake before You!
For when You did awesome things that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled before You.
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways.
But when we continued to sin against them, You were angry.
How then can we be saved?
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
No one calls on Your name or strives to lay hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us and have given us over to our sins.
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the work of Your hand.
~Isaiah 64:1-8 ✝️
Devotional
Are there any broken places or spaces in your life? If so, God promises to pick up the broken pieces, mold them back together and then let His light shine through the gaps. For many, this can be too difficult to believe. Can God repair those situations where things appear to be shattered beyond repair? Shattered to the point of dust?
It's hard to hold dust. What was once something so very precious is now reduced to nothing but weightless powder that even the slightest gust of wind could carry away. We feel desperately hopeless. When our lives turn to dust we are tempted to despair, tempted to believe that the promises of God no longer apply to us. That the reach of God falls just short of where we are. And that the hope of God has been snuffed out by the consuming darkness all around us.
But what if repairing isn't at all what God has in mind for us in this shattering? What if, this time, God desires to make something completely brand-new? Right now. On this side of eternity. No matter how impossible our circumstances may seem. Dust is the exact ingredient God loves to use. When mixed with water, dust becomes clay, and clay, when placed in the potter's hands, can be formed into anything the potter dreams! God is the Potter, we are the clay, and we are the work of His hands (Verse 8).
Dust doesn't have to signify the end. Dust, from the very first story in the Bible, signifies a limitless beginning. We can trust our God. We can trust Him with our dusty and degraded lives. Our greatest disappointments and disillusionments, and the things that shake us and break us and make us wonder about everything, don't have to mean all hope is lost. We can place our lives fully in the hands of the Potter. We can dare to believe He is making something glorious even out of the dust of us.
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Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison
💜 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.
Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.
When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. ~Acts 12:5-17 ✝️
Devotional
Earnest prayer has power. It demonstrates that our hearts care passionately about the things that our Father cares about. 💜🙏 This is a fulfilling of Jesus' promise: 'If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.'
The idea for earnest prayer can be found in the word PUSH: `Pray Until Something Happens.💜🙏 Our Father in heaven wants His children to continue to pray until something happens. 🙂
It is possible to be so caught up in prayer that you don't even see that the thing you're praying for has been answered. (Acts 12:12-17) 😂
When we need God to show up in our lives, all we need to do is P.U.S.H..🙏 If we are struggling, we need to P.U.S.H..🙏 If storms are filling our lives, we need to P.U.S.H.. 🙏
We need to pray until something happens. Let us pray today, and keep praying with perseverance and power, until we see God move on our behalf! 💜🙏🙂
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Saul’s Conversion
💜 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.
He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
~ Acts 9:1-6 ✝️
Devotional
The conversion of Paul is one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible. It stands as a model to teach us that anyone can come to Christ, and that there is no sin too bad, no evil too wicked, that can prevent us from receiving the grace of Christ if, like Paul, we repent.
Like Paul, if we are to be truly converted, we must be humbled. We must come to the end of ourselves and open ourselves to a new life. If we do that, we will be accepted, however bad our sins may be. Paul became an apostle through his Damascus Road experience.
From today's story we learn that no one in this life is beyond salvation. It is possible to reject Jesus. Many people do. But in principle, no one is beyond saving. This should encourage us when we think of family members or friends who do not yet know Jesus. And it should also motivate us to continue to pray for them and share our faith with them. But at the end of the day, remember that it's Jesus who just keeps coming at us. 💜🙏✝️
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How to Develop Courage
💜 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
~Psalm 56:3-4 ✝️
Devotional
All of us want to be brave. However, for many of us, we don't quite know how to be. Developing courage is difficult.
Today, we're looking for answers.
"We Bought a Zoo" is a book written by former newspaper columnist Benjamin Mee. The true story recounts Benjamin's experiences of uprooting his family to the English countryside and purchasing a run-down zoo. The memoirs unpack the family's rollercoaster ride as they reopen the zoo while navigating financial difficulties, tensions and illness along the way.
Within the book, Benjamin shares a life motto: "Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."
It's an inspiring perspective. Courage, Mee suggests, is a powerful virtue in short bursts. Even if you don't think of yourself as brave, you can at least stir yourself for 20 seconds. And that could change everything. Courage starts small.
What do you make of that idea?
In today's Psalm, David articulates a different - although not mutually exclusive - formula for developing courage: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you" (Verse 3). Within one verse, he gives us a three-step guide for becoming braver.
"When I am afraid" reminds us of the importance of acknowledging our fears to God. Courage is not the art of pretending we're not scared. God never asks us to suppress our fears or put on fake smiles. That's not courage. Courage is the ability to acknowledge our fears and live boldly anyway. Having fear is not shameful or "un-Christian". It's a normal human instinct. If you're feeling scared today, take your fear to Jesus. He awaits you with open arms.
I put" is the next part of David's declaration. Although brief, it makes a valuable point. "I put" is an active verb. It's an intentional choice by David to shift His fear. Rather than sitting scared, David makes a move. He employs faith. While it's normal to experience fear, you don't have to stay there. Choose to step out from fear into faith. Move towards Jesus today.
My trust in you" completes the phrase. Once David has made an active decision, he lands His trust in God. God is the object of our faith. He's our antidote to fear and source of peace. We can't live by trying to "stop being scared". We must replace our fear with something, or Someone, greater. Trust in God and watch fear flee.
Acknowledge your fears. Employ your faith. Trust in God. Repeat. This can provide a pattern for you as you develop your own courage. It's worth doing. In verse 4, we learn where all this leads: "I am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" That's where we want to end up!
Choose to resist fear today. If you're finding it difficult, employ Benjamin Mee's tactic and start small. Live in 20-second chunks of courage. It can transform you! 🙏
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Where To Find Courage
Joshua Installed as Leader
💜 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:
“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
~Joshua 1:1-9 ✝️
Devotional
These past weeks, we've been contemplating seven heavenly virtues.
Heavenly virtues are character traits that we're invited to grow in as Christians. Over the next seven days, we'll be exploring the final virtues: Courage and wisdom. These are skills we all need for life. Why not join us each day?
Courage is the ability to confront fear, uncertainty and intimidation. It's the strength of character that enables us to endure adversity. In today's tension-filled culture, we regularly find ourselves requiring this virtue.
Courage is the very thing which holds our faith, hope and love together as we navigate rough times. It's critical.
Do you feel courageous today?
Pause and reflect. Would you like to grow in courage?
As God commissions Joshua in today's passage, He gives him what is essentially a movie-level team talk. This is the "comeback" moment. The half-time speech that changes everything. You can almost imagine the epic soundtrack swelling up behind God's words as He exhorts Joshua to step into Canaan. There's much we can learn.
God's advice centers around one repeated phrase: "Be strong and courageous." The message is clear. Stepping into God's promise won't happen by accident. It will require fortitude.
Today, we will not accidentally" do God's will. Rather, we need Spirit-filled intention and courage to see God's Kingdom come in our lives. If we're to experience God's promises, we must step out boldly. We cannot sit back!
Thankfully, God didn't only instruct Joshua to be courageous. He also told him where to find courage. Here's three tips:
First, meditate on scripture. God spoke to Joshua: "Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you..." (1:7). Slow down and soak it in! The Bible, with all its truth and promises, is a wellspring of courage. It gives us an eternal perspective and reminds us who our almighty God is. As you contemplate God's living word, you'll discover strength to face tough circumstances.
Secondly, obey God's ways. God tells Joshua that obedience is the root of courage and the path to success. Resolve to do life God's way. Pick what is right, even when you feel like running. Stand firm in pursuing good, even if it means rejection. Tell the truth when you're tempted to lie. Choose God today and watch your courage multiply.
Finally, live from God's presence. The world tells us to find courage by looking inward, but the Bible tells us to find courage by looking upward. As God tells Joshua "the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go," we learn this is our ultimate source of strength. When you realize God's with you, you'll find courage to persevere. Jesus is everything you need!
So take heart today. Breathe in deeply, inhaling the strength that comes from God's presence. Then breathe out slowly, exhaling all your fear and anxiety. Choose courage this week. 💜🙏🙂
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Leading with Justice
💜 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.
Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.
If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
~Proverbs 29:1-9 ✝️
Devotional
During national disasters, global pandemics, and unforeseen crises, we are inspired and encouraged by the examples of individuals and organizations that care deeply about justice and the poor.
There is so much in the Bible about issues of poverty and justice. The 'Poverty and Justice Bible' highlights over two thousand verses that wake us up to these issues. Justice really matters to God.
In today's passage we read that it is by justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes can just as easily tear it down. A leader of good judgment gives great stability; whereas an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste and destruction.
Of course, no justice system on earth is perfect. It is terrible to live in a place where bribery of judges and politicians is conventional and expected.
The consequences of not championing justice from places of influence is shown in this Proverb: "when the wicked rule, the people groan." However, when the righteous thrive, the people will rejoice. In other words, when godly people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is evil, everyone longs for change.
What does it mean to be a righteous person as it pertains to justice? A righteous person has a clear conscience, a clarity of mind about what needs to be done, and an inner conviction brought about by the Holy Spirit that compels them to speak for the oppressed. Whereas an evil person is snared by their own sin and iniquity. (Verse 6).
Ultimately, as Christians, seeking to follow Jesus' way, we are to care about justice for the poor (verse 7), as it is a mark, a signature stamp of a righteous life. The good-hearted person understands what it's like to be poor, whereas the hardhearted are ignorant and do not want to step into people's stories.
Justice matters to Jesus. His eternal kingdom is a place where justice prevails, so we cannot love Him without loving the justice He prizes. Let's be faithful to influence and reach those that have fallen and are forgotten, so we can reveal the faithfulness and goodness of God in their lives. 🙏💜🙂
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Persistent Prayers for Justice
💜 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
~Ephesians 6:18-20 ✝️
Devotional
In the grand story of God's eternal purposes, there will be many footnotes written and carved in stone by unsung heroes, unappreciated servants, and unacknowledged saints who are the reason behind every Kingdom headline that glorified God, revealed His Son, and attracted people into His Presence.
These divine footnotes are prayers. As we focus on the footnotes of prayer, God will continue to write the headlines in our lives, in our world, and in our mission to erase and eradicate injustice.
It is our prayers that impact and influence the eternal story of God. Our prayers, quite literally, change things. What often discourages us, however, is our inability to discern and delineate between praying for something, and the need to pray through something.
In today's passage, the writer to the Ephesians instructs us to stay alert, and be persistent in our prayers (Verse 18). Why, we ask - is there a delay between the prayers persistently prayed, and God giving us the answer?
Oftentimes, it's because the request we pray also comes with our own suggestions for God as to how He should answer. However, God almost always answers our requests in bigger, and better ways than we could ever fathom or imagine.
Other times, He invites us to be the answer to our prayers. Especially when it comes to seeking justice. He uses His people to rescue the oppressed, to restore the broken, and to renew the weary heart.
One early church father suggests that a Christian who is not passionately pursuing justice is an oxymoron. Because worship and justice are two sides of the same coin. Jesus doesn't just want songs of worship to be sung on a Sunday, He wants justice for the people on earth Monday through Saturday.
If you are overwhelmed by the size of the challenge, the sheer scale of the need, remember, we fight for freedom and contest for justice, but we battle and do combat with different weapons: Anointed hands. Hands that point up in prayer, and hands that reach and help, in love and service.
As the Church of Jesus Christ, let us remember this week to:
Share the gospel. Share ourselves. And share God with others! When we, the church, aren't for the suffering, broken and oppressed, then the church isn't living for Christ. 💜🙏
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Don't Give Up on Praying for Justice
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
💜 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.
And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.
And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
~Luke 18:1-8 ✝️
Devotional
Jesus gives us a parable in today's passage that is told to help us learn how to pray, and also shows us we must always pray and not give up.
Jesus teaches about a judge in verse 2 who has no compassion on other people, and contrasts him with a widow in verse 3, who has a need. Widows were left alone. They had no other means of support. Lacking provision and lacking protection. But this woman had an additional need - she had a need for justice.
Someone had evidently taken advantage of her and treated her wrongly. So she repeatedly comes to the judge saying:
"Grant me justice against my adversary." Yet because of this judge's lack of compassion - he refused. Huge need meets huge neglect.
But then, in verse 4, something changed. The judge is worn down by her persistence. Day in, and day out, she kept coming. She gets her justice, and the judge receives his peace! Jesus uses it as a picture to show us to never give up in our prayers for justice!
Many people assume the judge represents God in this passage, but this is incorrect and an incomplete interpretation. God our Heavenly Father is nothing like this judge, who lacks compassion and simply gives justice because he sees the widow's daily demand like a mosquito that needs to be swatted!
God's door doesn't need to be hammered down before he'll do something.
God doesn't need persuading to take an interest in our situation.
God will do what is right, but He still asks us to persist in prayer.
Our persistent prayers focus our attention. When we pray over and over, it's not to remind God of our need, it is to remind us that God is the source of our answer. Maturity is discerning the difference between a delay and a divine denial.
There is a difference between 'no' and 'not-yet.' Let's resist imposing our scheduled deadline onto God's divine timeline and surrender to His outcome, while remaining faithful in obedience. Choose to trust your Father over your feelings! He is honorable, just, faithful, and answers all who call to Him. 💜🙏😊
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Capturing Love
💜 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
~1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ✝️
Devotional
At the beginning of the week, we set out to delve deeply into the heavenly virtue of love. We posed two exploratory questions:
What's your understanding of God's love for you? How can you grow in your love for others?
Over the past seven days, we've used 1 Corinthians 13 as a launchpad to develop our view of love. The journey has taken us across the New Testament - reassuring us, encouraging us and expanding our thinking. You can jump back on the app if you've missed any.
Today, we're here to bring everything together and reflectively evaluate our answers to the two questions.
Slow down for a moment and listen again to the transformative facets of love we've uncovered in God's Word.
As you listen, pick the one thing that stands out to you the most. Just one!
Ask yourself: "Why is this one impacting me so much?"
Without love, everything else becomes meaningless. Love requires slowing down. It demands patience.
Pride quenches love.
Humility multiplies it.
Love is expressed through sacrifice.
Forgiveness is the foundation of love.
Generosity sustains it.
Love delights in authenticity.
Honesty is the key to healthy relationships.
Which thought captured you?
Contemplate on what it teaches you about God's character and what it would look like for you to love others more deeply.
All these truths, we've learned, find their fulfillment in the mysterious but stunning reality that "God is love". Love is all those things because God is all those things.
To bring this truth home, we're going to read our passage once more, but this time, we're going to replace the word "love" with "God".
As you hear it, let the truth of Christ's love wash over you. Rest in it today as you close out your week.
God is patient, God is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. God does not dishonor others, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails.
How does that reading of the passage make you feel? Let it land.
This is the God who loves YOU.
This is the God who pursues you.
This is the God who never gives up on you. This is the God you follow and serve. His love is eternal. His love is "always".
As you return to your day, you carry God's transformative love with you. Don't let the power of His presence stop with you. Share it with others. Just start somewhere, even if it's something small. As God's people awaken to the truth of His love, it can fill every corner of the globe - reaching the lost, the least, the marginalized and the broken. The best time to love is now. So get out there! 💜🙏🙂
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Putting Truth Into True Love
Love in Action
💜 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ~Romans 12:9-13 ✝️
Devotional
Have you ever been lied to?
A journalist once asked parents to share lies they have told their children. The responses were both impressive and shocking. One parent wrote: "I told my kid that when the ice-cream truck's music was playing, it meant they had run out of ice-cream."
Lies, unfortunately, are part of life in this world. While some of the lies we're told have little lasting impact, others go far deeper.
Pause and consider: When has someone close to you lied about something significant? How did it make you feel?
Of all the emotions you're recalling, "loved" is unlikely to be one of them.
Uncovering dishonesty in a relationship is a universal red flag. We instinctively recoil if we discover someone has been stretching the truth around us. It taints everything. We lose our trust and intimacy soon follows. Honesty makes or breaks relationships.
When Paul writes "love must be sincere", then, we intuitively know what he's getting at. Inauthentic love is no love at all.
Today, let's contemplate this: How can we love more sincerely? Answering this question will deepen every relationship you have.
Sincerity is defined as "the absence of pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy". It speaks of integrity in thought, word and action. Sincere love is honest love. It operates at face-value. There are no secret agendas or mind-games. Sincere love commits to building healthy relationships that last. Its concern is primarily with doing right by God and right by others.
Put another way: Sincere love rejoices at the truth. It delights in authenticity. It's real.
With Jesus as your example and the Holy Spirit as your helper, you can build sincerity into your relationships. Here's three starters:
First, lead by example. Just as Jesus went first, modeling authentic love to us, so we can go first for others. Creating a truthful space in relationships requires courage. Someone has to step out. Be honest with someone today.
Secondly, prioritize communication. Just as God's Word speaks truth daily into our souls, so we need to prioritize communicating truth to others. Your relationships will flourish as you commit to authentic communication. Don't suppress your emotions. Thoughtfully tell people how you feel.
Thirdly, don't rejoice in wrongdoing. While sincere love doesn't hide sin, it creates a safe space for people to fall - even when it's painful. When someone has failed or let you down, don't judge them. Rather show them the overflowing grace Christ has shown you.
Through building sincerity into your relationships, you will point to truth. Not just some temporary truth, but the eternal truth: Jesus. Truth in Scripture is not merely a concept or "correct" facts; it's a person Jesus Christ.
Augustine summarized the thought beautifully in his Confessions: "Now the happy life is joy in the truth; and that means joy in you, who are the truth, O God."
Rejoice in Jesus, the Truth, today.
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Wiping the Slate Clean
Peace and Hope
💜 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
~Romans 5:6-8 ✝️
Devotional
Whether you've seen it in others or experienced it yourself, you'll know what I mean when I describe the "thrill" of a new relationship. When two lovers first spend time together, they can do no wrong in each other's eyes. Even annoying traits are considered "adorable". Mistakes and tensions are quickly forgotten amid the blindness of romance.
Have you been there?
It's fair to say that new love "keeps no record of wrongs." This seems like a principle we can all manage. For at least a month.
The challenge, of course, comes with longer relationships. As time passes, it becomes harder to ignore someone else's flaws. A deepening bond exposes vulnerability and human frailty. As a person gives away their heart, it leaves more room for it to be deeply hurt, broken or let down.
C.S. Lewis wrote: "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal."
True love hurts. This is a deep reality of life, whatever romantic movies might tell us. It's because we're all flawed. We're all selfish. We project our brokenness onto those closest to us. Love is never easy.
The question today is not whether someone you love will hurt you. That's a given. The question is how will you respond?
Jesus guides us in this journey. The extraordinary claim of Christianity is Jesus died for us when we were at our worst. He didn't just forgive us while in the throes of some new relationship. He forgave us while knowing our darkest thoughts and every evil. Every wrong we've ever committed and ever will commit were central in his sights when He went to the cross.
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Verse 8)
Jesus demonstrated that His love keeps no record of wrongs - for eternity. True love, we learn, continues to forgive, even when it has been let down countless times. That means you're forgiven too!
As we continue to ponder, though, we're led to a difficult task. Just as Christ has forgiven us, so we must forgive others. Just as Christ has not kept record of our wrongs, so we must relinquish our records of others' wrongs.
The virtue of love is underpinned by the act of forgiveness.
Take a pause. Where are you keeping a record of wrongs today?
As you contemplate Jesus' generosity towards you, ask God to enable you to forgive others. This is never easy, but it's the substance of real, resilient and enduring love.
It's why Jesus taught us to pray: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). This is love's economy: constant forgiveness. Choose to tear up your record of wrongs today, and rejoice as it liberates you. 🙏🙂💜
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Loving Through Sacrifice
God’s Love and Ours
💜 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. ~1 John 4:7-12 ✝️
Devotional
This week, we're talking about love.
Begin by thinking of someone you love deeply.
When was the last time they made you laugh? Go back to that moment. Are you smiling? Love is a powerful force. Even a glimpse of it can change your day.
Now, contemplate this: Beyond the things love does, what exactly is love?
Understanding love in its deepest sense is difficult. Today's passage helps us. The author, John, reveals a fundamental truth about God's nature that transforms how we see love. God doesn't only show love. He is love. Consequently, we can only know what love is by knowing who God is.
Let that resonate.
The revelation is so profound, it's almost overwhelming. John Climacus, a 6th century monk, wrote: "God is love. So he who wishes to define this tries with bleary eyes to measure the sand in the ocean." His point is relatable. He's saying God's nature as love is so deep that comprehending it is nearly impossible. Don't be worried by that, though. Just because we may never fully understand God's love, it doesn't stop us experiencing it. We follow a relational God who, by nature, overflows with love for us. Our entire faith walk is encircled by love.
What, then, does this love look like?
In a culture where "love" is used for everything from "I love burgers" to "I love my parents", we must be clear how we're defining the concept. Otherwise we'll end up with a confusing picture of the God who "is" love.
After John drops the bombshell that God is love, he helps us grasp it: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (Verse 10).
This statement bestows today's key reflection: Love sacrifices.
Christ's death on the cross taught us that love is not self-seeking.
Instead it gives of itself for the welfare of others. If we're to be like Jesus, our love can never just exist with words. It must be supported with action. This is non-negotiable. There's no true love without sacrifice.
Although this is a challenge, it is also an encouragement. With the right attitude, it can spur you on today. As you sacrifice for love in whatever arena you find yourself within, you're representing the Glorious One who first sacrificed for you. That's a stunning privilege.
To the parent who works overtime to feed their child, you're reflecting Jesus.
To the person who gives their time night after night to sit with their struggling friend, you're reflecting Jesus.
To the exhausted teacher who keeps turning up for class, you're reflecting Jesus. The list could go on.
Today, friend, stay the path of sacrificial love. Love radically. Give yourself to others and encounter the God who gave Himself to you. He'll never leave you empty.
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Defeating Pride
Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
💜 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
~ Colossians 3:12-14 ✝️
Devotional
Begin by centering yourself in God's presence.
If you're able, plant your feet squarely on the ground.
Begin breathing slowly, in and out.
Draw in God's grace, then gently exhale out tension, stress and fear. Join with me and say: 'I receive God's love today. I release all fear. I am not alone. I am loved.'
This week, we're exploring Jesus' radical and counter-cultural love as the greatest of virtues. Love, we learn, binds everything good together. It's the glue that sustains our worldview. Love is why you're here.
One word in today's passage particularly captures the essence of Christ-like love is humility. This is today's focus. As 1 Corinthians 13:4 says: Love "does not boast, it is not proud."
The children's book "Fool Moon Rising" tells of a cosmic crime. It recounts the tale of the moon who, blinded by pride, boasts of his ability to shine, change shape and swell tides. However, all is not as the moon thinks. A sudden ray of sunlight shatters the moon's delusions and reveals the real source of his radiance. The moon is humbled: Forced to reconsider everything. No longer focused on himself, he learns to boast instead of the sun, finally acknowledging his position in the solar system.
This fable depicts a journey of illumination and humble self-understanding. If we're to understand God's love and learn to love others better, we must follow a similar process.
How, then, can we be "like the moon"?
First, just as the moon realized he was not the source of his own light, so we must realize we're not the source of love. Rather than boasting in ourselves, we must instead acknowledge that everything we have comes from God. Love is a divine gift. We only love because Christ first loved us. When we try to conjure love from nothing, we're like a car trying to drive without gasoline. We have nothing to give and quickly run out of selflessness and empathy. We cannot love others well by ourselves. We need Jesus.
Secondly, just as the moon shifted his perspective, so we must shift ours. To resist our pride, we must intentionally take our eyes off ourselves. We must look to Jesus. As we gaze upon Christ's beauty, our selfishness evaporates. God's self-sacrificial love flows into us and through us. We become reflectors of His amazing grace. His compassion never runs dry.
Finally, just as the moon learnt his place, so we must find ours. In losing our pride, we learn to live in the peace of knowing where we fit in the universe. We're not God. We're God's beloved children: His masterful creation. We have a God-given identity. It's from this security that we're able to love others generously and sustainably. Knowing who we are in Christ frees us!
Remember this today: Pride quenches love. Humility multiplies it.
Let's finish with a simple reflection: Where is your pride hindering you from loving others? How can you change that today?
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Learning Patience
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
💜 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
~Ephesians 4:1-6 ✝️
Devotional
Impatience is a defining mark of our culture.
A poll of 2,000 adults, conducted in the UK in 2021, revealed our modern hatred for waiting. Nearly half of the study's participants considered themselves as having an "I want it now" attitude, blaming advances in technology. Slow walkers, transport delays and waiting for the internet were particularly condemned as clear annoyances.
Wherever you're based today, the picture is probably similar. There's no denying it: We live in an age of instant gratification. We want everything and we want it now. Do you feel the hurry?
While our culture's obsession with speed is at times advantageous, problems arise in the soul-level, more relational areas of life: The things that ultimately matter in eternity. Such "deeper works" rarely come quickly. Instead, they require time, nurturing and commitment. Any attempts to create shortcuts only result in counterfeit versions of the real thing. Consequently, we feel consistently unfulfilled.
Love is a profound example. It's a virtue that's impossible to rush. Love and impatience do not go together. They cannot.
Impatience is a corruptor of love. It undermines everything love tries to achieve. By pursuing its own gratification, impatience relegates the welfare of others. It pushes people away rather than drawing them close. Impatience is quick to anger and quicker to give up. It resents sacrifice and constantly shifts blame. In truth, impatient love is barely love at all.
We've all probably experienced impatient "love" and, being real, we've all probably loved others impatiently. That's ok. Today isn't about condemning ourselves or others. It's about recalibrating and moving forward differently. It's also about remembering that this imperfect, worldly love is not Christ's love. Impatient love is an impostor. It's not how God treats us.
Jesus' love is defined by patience. It's faithful and everlasting. This is the love Paul encourages us to practice in today's passage. Patient love bears with others, even when they've frustrated or disappointed us. It takes the long way round and commits to the whole journey, whatever it takes. Patient love lasts forever.
Pause and reflect.
When have you experienced patient love? How did it make you feel? What would it look like to slow your pace down for long enough to love well today?
If you want to grow in love, you have to grow in patience. It's a hard truth but it's real. You have to resist your urge for instant gratification. You have to slow down.
Hear it again: You have to slow down. Create some margin.
True love, patient love, builds deep. The payoff, though, is huge: It establishes relationships that last forever.
Today, commit to Jesus' radical revolution of patience. Resist the culture and embrace waiting instead.
As you return to your day, breathe deep and say this with me: "Jesus is patient with me." "I will be patient with others."
Resolve to play the long game of love today. 🙂🙏💜
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Discovering Real Love
💜 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
~1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ✝️
Devotional
Let's start today . . . by stopping. It's a new week. Pause.
Ahead of you are new opportunities, challenges and experiences.
Become mindful of your breathing for a moment. As you inhale, receive the peace of God afresh. As you exhale, release any worry or fear that's built up inside of you.
Use this space to prayerfully invite God in:
💜 "Jesus, thank you for being with me. I commit my mind, body and soul to you today. I receive your love and grace. Give me the strength to live unashamedly for you this week. Amen." ✝️
We're continuing our mini-series on heavenly virtues. Over the next seven days, we're diving into LOVE, which is God's way.
Take a moment to reflect on these two questions. We'll be exploring them across the week:
What's your understanding of God's love for you? How can you grow in your love for others?
1 Corinthians 13 has been described as the defining standard for real love. On the one hand, it paints a beautiful picture of the God who doesn't just show love but actively is love. On the other hand, it acts as a measuring rod by which we can examine ourselves to see whether this love resides in our hearts and manifests itself in our lives. It's both a reassurance of how deeply we're loved, and an invitation to grow in love.
This week, we'll use 1 Corinthians 13 to propel us towards a thematic understanding of God's radical, counter-cultural love throughout Scripture. We'll also consider how we can imitate that love ourselves. Love is more than talk and feeling. It's action.
Today establishes the baseline: Without love, everything is meaningless. As Christians, this is particularly challenging. Religious "chat" or good behavior won't cut it. Raw, genuine and sacrificial love has to exude from everything we do.
Pause and consider the best gift you've ever been given.
For most, this is an interesting process. Often we start with the expensive presents. However, as we continue reflecting, other less flashy contenders appear. Things like our child's first painting. Or the time our friend traveled cross-country to surprise us. This, we realize, is the real stuff.
Instinctively, we all know that when something is done with love, it carries more meaning. If anything, however lavish, has been done as an afterthought, it feels empty.
There's no point being a Christian if we don't act with love. We can go to church. We can give generously. We can talk about righteous-sounding topics. But if we're not overflowing with love, we've missed the point. We've missed Jesus.
When we use God's gifts without love, all value is lost. Love is that important. Living a Christ-centered life is less about what you do and more about the heart with which you do it.
As we commence this week, why not join our love journey? Ask God for help, then contemplate how you can practically grow in this transformative virtue. Stir your hunger. How can you experience and showcase God's never-ending love this week? 🙏💜🙂
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