Bible (Bible)

[Ranb2khz]

Resisting Anxiety

~ Trusting God to provide all we need enables us to both live and pursue His will in peace.

Scripture Reading: Luke 12:22-34

A modern poet described the time we live in as an “age of anxiety.” Our lives have only become more anxious, in part because the world has become characterized by the need for “more.” Advertising and information flood our senses and emotions, so when it comes to material goods, enough seems to be just out of reach.

We may think this is unique to our lifetime, but is it?

In Luke 12, Jesus’ assessment of His audience could have been written today. “Do not worry about your life,” He says. Specifically, He says not to be concerned about where food and clothing will come from. He urges us to consider the birds and the lilies — if God feeds them and clothes the grass of the field so gloriously, He will certainly provide for our needs!

What Jesus says may at first sound naïve to our ears — we know that food and clothing don’t appear out of thin air. Unless we work hard, we won’t have what we need.

But Jesus’ teaching isn’t a license for laziness. It’s an invitation to work as only God’s children can. Thinking that our work alone will provide for our needs is a wrong view of God and His kingdom. Jesus says, “[Our] Father has chosen to give [us] the kingdom” (v. 32). If we can see Him as a loving Father who is able and willing to provide all we need, we can trade fear and anxiety about our life for patience and trust.
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/resisting-anxiety






•

[Ranb2khz]

The Hawk

"Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour." ~ 1 Peter 5:8

I've often watched way above my head as a hawk apparently had it's prey in it's grip. One or two smaller birds would dive bomb the hawk as he soared out of sight. The smaller birds would give up and disappear.

We had a block party yesterday down the hill from our house. We were sitting around chatting in the shade with a cool breeze after a delicious meal centered on a succulent pig that was roasted in one of the neighbor's front yards. For a brief time, all was right in the universe.

Out of nowhere, birds were screeching and there was a tremendous commotion about 15 feet in the air across the street There was a lone hawk that dwarfed the ten or twelve small birds that were squawking and taking their shots at the him. Suddenly, he released the little bird from his talons and flew away from his attackers.

The little bird dropped with a thud but sprang up and flew away and joined his rescuers. Two hawks continued circling high in the sky as we broke up our party a couple of hours later.

I thought on this all evening thinking how Satan is always circling, always on the prowl. He's usually looking for the most vulnerable. When Christians see one fall into Satan's grip they usually pray for a season and, for whatever reason, acknowledge defeat and move on with their lives. But for Christians who see that one taken, and pray persistently for him/her, not giving up, victory is theirs in Christ. He is our ultimate Rescuer, but we are His warriors.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" ~ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
________________

~ Author Unknown

~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager






•

[Ranb2khz]

Renewal of Mind and Soul:

"Spend time reading God’s Word, allowing it to change you and lead you to obedience. You must experience renewal in areas of your life that are not aligned with God’s Word. You have to spend time allowing yourself to be shaped and transformed by what God says is best for you. So much of being renewed by God is choosing to believe His Word over our experience of what we feel is true."

~ Jim Denison






•

[Ranb2khz]

Shouts of Joy in Hard Times

God often speaks to me early in the mornings in a word, a phrase, or at most one sentence. One morning my impression was simply “Psalm 30”. These promptings are always jewels to pursue.

The first time I read the psalm, what jumped out at me is who God is in the verbs telling what he does:

v 1 - lifter and deliverer
v 2 - answerer of prayer and healer
v 3 - preserver and life-giver
v 4 - holy name
v 5 - favor, comforter, and joy
v 6 - provider, prosperity, and security
v 7 - protector and strength
v10 - One who hears, has mercy, and helps
v11 - One who turns mourning into dancing and sackcloth to joy

But in the midst of these wonderful attributes, David referred to enemies, sickness, near-death experiences. He had real emotions of depression, weeping, desperation, dismay at unanswered prayer, mourning, and the sackcloth of fasting.

Notice that David began the psalm with praise, praised God and gave thanks in the middle, and ended with praise and thanksgiving. In all his trials and adversity, he kept his eyes on God. None of the “bad” was bigger than God.

And that’s the point. When God delivers us, He brings us through life circumstances, not necessarily around them. And that’s worth a shout of joy.
________________

~ by Sylvia Gunter (www.thefathersbusiness.com)

~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager






•

[Ranb2khz]

The Hard Truth:

A person has no right to the claim that he or she is a Christian when their lifestyle is in direct contradiction to the truth of the Scripture. The Word (Bible) teaches us that “all” Scripture is breathed-out by the Holy Spirit of God:

“All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately — behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man, woman, or child of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP)






•

[Ranb2khz]

The Daily Article – September 22, 2023

~ Andy Stanley’s controversial Unconditional Conference and how to live biblically in a post-Christian culture.

As Andy Stanley's church and public profile have grown, the pastor has become an increasingly controversial figure in Christian life. His attempts to make the gospel attractive to the lost appear to come from a genuine desire to help people know the Lord, but too often he crosses boundaries that end up drawing people to a god that stands in contrast to the God of Scripture.

As such, perhaps it should not come as a surprise that he and his church are in the news once again in the buildup to the "Unconditional Conference" that they will host next week.

The "Unconditional Conference" is an event “for parents of LGBTQ+ children and for ministry leaders looking to discover ways to support parents and LGBTQ+ children in their churches.” They promise that those who attend “will be equipped, refreshed, and inspired as you hear from leading communicators on topics that speak to your heart, soul, and mind,” adding that “no matter what theological stance you hold, we invite you to listen, reflect, and learn as we approach this topic from the quieter middle space.”

How they define that “middle space” has been the primary point of contention for many.

“Normalizing the LGBTQ+ revolution”

Al Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Seminary, remarked that “the promise of ‘the quieter middle space’ might appear attractive, given the volatility of cultural discourse on LGBTQ+ issues, and a conference designed to help parents of LGBTQ+ children and ministry leaders work through these issues in clearly Biblical terms would be a welcome development. But the advertising for the Unconditional Conference indicates clearly that this event is designed as a platform for normalizing the LGBTQ+ revolution.”

Mohler went on to point out that many of the event’s speakers — such as David Gushee, Justin Lee, and Brian Nietzel — have made clear their stance on this issue. As such, Mohler argues that “this conference is not really ‘quiet,’ nor is it ‘middle space.’ It is structured as what most evangelicals would quickly recognize as a departure from historic normative Biblical Christianity.”

And it is difficult to disagree with his assessment.

While the list of breakout sessions and description of the event make it seem as though the event truly is focused on giving parents and ministers advice on relating to LGBTQ+ youth, it also appears that such advice will be given from a foundation of acceptance for that lifestyle.

Still, it would be presumptuous to pass firm judgment on the content of an event that has yet to take place, and both Andy Stanley and the group behind the conference have not spoken clearly on the details of those sessions to this point.

It’s possible that we will address the conference once again after it takes place, but for today I would like to focus instead on the way these conversations tend to occur and how we can engage with this subject in a way that does the greatest good for the kingdom.

How do you speak biblically to someone who doesn’t believe the Bible is true?

One of the most common mistakes Christians make when discussing LGBTQ+ issues is speaking the same way to non-Christians as we would to fellow believers.

When writing to other Christians, as Al Mohler was doing, grounding our argument for a biblical view of sexuality in the truth of Scripture is both right and relevant. We should be able to assume — though it is, unfortunately, not always the case — that those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior will give weight to His Word. We can have honest disagreements about how certain passages should be interpreted and applied to a modern context (see “What does the Bible say about homosexuality?”), but a basic foundation of biblical authority should provide common ground for discussion.

With non-Christians, however, that is not the case.

The lost are unlikely to be convinced by an argument for a biblical view of sexuality that is based primarily in Scriptures that they do not see as relevant or authoritative. Moreover, it should not come as a surprise when God’s truth is difficult to accept for those whose minds "the god of this world has blinded":

"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:4

We should be prepared to speak the truth about what the Bible teaches regarding sexuality and to do so with the confidence, love, and grace that Christ showed throughout His ministry, but we also shouldn’t linger on the subject any longer than we have to.

The truth is, until a person embraces God, they have little reason to care about what His Word says on this — or any — subject. As such, helping them to know and accept Jesus needs to be our primary focus.

So how can we do that?

The most important step we can take in helping people come to accept Christ as their Savior is to live a life that draws people to Him.

Maintaining such a witness doesn’t mean achieving a perfection that is, ultimately, impossible this side of heaven, but there are steps each of us can take that could help, and blind spots that we must address.

Take social media, for example. We may like, share, and post content with little thought to how it might impact the way other people see us. The truth, however, is that our digital persona is often the primary expression of who we are for most of the people we know. After all, how many magnitudes more friends do you have on Facebook than you interact with in real life?

To better understand the impact of your digital profile, ask a friend or family member to spend a few minutes going through your Facebook page, X (Twitter) feed, or other social media as if you were a stranger to them. Then ask for an honest assessment of how they would characterize the person whose content they'd just read.

• How easy would it be for the person they described to tell someone about the love and grace of Christ?
• What would the gospel sound like coming from them?

Whether it’s issues of sexuality, politics, or any other controversial topic, endeavor to make sure that the person you present to others — either in person or online — is someone who could present the good news of Jesus without the words sounding foreign or hypocritical to those who need to hear them. And while we must never shy away from defending biblical truth, we also need to recognize that we can’t have those discussions the same way with people who don’t care about the Bible.

So the next time you’re given the opportunity to comment on or discuss a topic where the biblical view stands in contrast to the culturally acceptable perspective, take some time to recognize with whom you’re talking and who else might be around to hear or see it. Then ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to the path best suited to helping others come to know the God of Scripture.

Helping others know Jesus — the real Jesus — must remain our highest priority.

Is it yours?
_______________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/andy-stanleys-controversial-unconditional-conference/






•

[Bigfootbud]

Jesus Love to all!!! :) ❤️

[Ranb2khz]

Doing Good Work

~ The harvest is coming! So when you’re tired, ask God for the strength to carry on.

Scripture Reading:

"So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith." ~ Galatians 6:9-10

There are at least two kinds of waiting. We wait passively at times — while we’re in the car, on the phone, or in a checkout line. But we also wait actively — for the weekend, for summer, for retirement. We typically continue our work as we wait for these times of leisure and refreshment.

These experiences color our understanding of the Old Testament’s refrain to “wait for the Lord” (in Psalm 131:3, for example). Through Zephaniah, God Himself tells Israel, “Wait for Me” (Zephaniah 3:8).

What kind of waiting is this?

At times it may seem passive, like standing in line. But generally, our waiting for God is the kind of waiting a gardener does. He plants seeds and keeps working as he waits for the harvest. Paul encourages the Galatians to do this — to keep working as they wait. “The harvest is coming,” he says, “so don’t allow weariness to discourage you from what you do.”

And the heart of this work, Paul says, is to live out the gospel’s promises where we are. “While we have opportunity,” Paul continues, “let’s do good to all people” (v. 10). Doing good comes naturally when we believe the gospel’s promises about the future. As we wait for the Lord’s return, let’s look for opportunities to be a blessing to others. And we can trust God will be faithful to bring a harvest “in due time” (v. 9).
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/doing-good-work






•

[Ranb2khz]

Psalm 23 - Defined

The Lord is my Shepherd - That’s Relationship!

I shall not want - That’s Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - That’s Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters - That’s Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul - That’s Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - That’s Guidance!

For His name sake - That’s Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That’s Testing!

I will fear no evil - That’s Protection!

For Thou art with me - That’s Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - That's Discipline!

Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - That’s Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil - That’s Consecration!

My cup runneth over - That’s Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That’s Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - That’s Security!

Forever - That’s Eternity!
__________________

~ Author Unknown

~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager






•

[Ranb2khz]

Living in Harmony

~ May God give us wisdom, and empower us to walk the path of humility and love as we seek to live in harmony today.

Harmony in music is this beautiful, fleeting occurrence that most singers and musicians work their entire lives to continuously experience. It requires diligence, patience, humility, and unity between people pursuing the same goal of making beautiful music. And when musical harmony is achieved, it touches not only those singing or playing, but everyone listening as well. Living in harmony with one another in everyday life isn’t too different than musical harmony. For most of us it’s a target just as elusive and fleeting. But like musical harmony, it’s worth fighting for. Like musical harmony, it produces joy and life in those who pursue it and touches those around them. All throughout the New Testament, we find exhortations to live life in unified, harmonious community. Scripture is clear that unity in the body is foundational to the Christian life. So, let’s look more deeply today at how we can grow in unity and open our hearts to the Spirit’s work to fill us with the desire and ability to pursue harmony with one another.

Romans 12:16-20 says:

“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Not only does Paul offer us the important exhortation to live in harmony, but He also provides practical ways to achieve harmony. Romans 12 teaches us that harmony requires humility, grace, the pursuit of peace, not fighting for our own justice, and blessing those who hurt us. What would our communities, churches, and families look like if we all committed ourselves to these virtues? What would your relationships look like if you strived to obey these commands? God doesn’t ask you and me to pursue these virtues; He commands us. It is a command because God knows that pursuing a life lived in harmony with one another will lead us to the abundance of joy, peace, and purpose we are created to experience. As our good Father, He wants His children to experience the peace that can only come from living in harmony with one another.

Not only do unity and harmony provide a better life for all involved, but they also glorify Jesus.

Romans 15:5-6 says:

“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When we love each other well and offer grace and forgiveness, we demonstrate Christ’s power to change hearts to the world. When we live in harmony together, we worship with our lives in one beautiful, unified voice. The power of the gospel is that God will always love us in our pride and transgressions, but He doesn’t intend to leave us there. God works in the hearts of His people, knitting them together in harmony like a beautiful tapestry of transformed lives. You and I are written into the pages of God’s beautiful narrative. We have an important place in His eternal story of redemption. Spend time in God’s presence today allowing Him to fill you with the desire and ability to pursue harmony with others. Pursue unity with the people God’s placed in your life. And experience transformation in your relationships as God works through you to produce unity and joy.
______________

~ published by: First 15



When you remove from yourself the burden of appearances, you will experience a joy and peace that cannot be found in any other lifestyle than humility. Caring what people think is exhausting! Climbing the ladder in your work, society or relationships will never lead you to more satisfaction. There will always be another step to take, always another person to surpass. Choose to pursue harmony, unity and love with those around you. Count them as more significant than yourself. If you will live your life in the pursuit of glorifying God instead of yourself, you will gain more satisfaction in this life.

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/living-in-harmony-2023/






•

[Ranb2khz]

God Deserves Our Reverence

~ Have you forgotten just how amazing our great God is? Spend time remembering today.

Scripture Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

“My daddy is stronger than your daddy!” “My mom makes the best food in the whole world!” Have you ever noticed little children instinctively trust their mother and father and often speak of them with pride? To an innocent toddler, no one is smarter, prettier, or funnier than his or her parents.

But at some point, things start to change. As children grow up and observe the world around them, the unwavering admiration they once had begins to falter — especially by the teenage years. Then, perceptions of parents can shift, causing indifference and ingratitude. What happened? Teens naturally want to feel independent, which leads to questioning parental views and discovering that Mom and Dad are fallible human beings.

Take a moment to check your heart right now. Jesus said that we should be like little children (Matthew 18:3). Do you adore and admire your heavenly Father? Do you talk to others about Him with the same reverence and joy as when you first believed? If any of that delight has faded, ask Him to help you rediscover it. Then spend time in His Word, watching for His personal encouragement to you.
_________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/god-deserves-our-reverence






•

[Ranb2khz]

Be Fervent in Spirit

~ May God fill all our hearts with His love in a meaningful, authentic way. And may we find the courage in Him to live our faith passionately.

God shares with us, His disciples, an important command in Romans 12:11. Scripture says:

“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

Do you ever feel slothful in zeal? Here, Paul is talking about feeling sluggish in your relationship with God. He’s describing a feeling of laziness, a lack of desire. Do you ever feel like your spirit is anything but fervent? The word fervent here is better translated as “boiling over.” Do you ever feel like your spirit is more like stagnant water? Let’s look today at how we as followers of God can stir up our affections for the Lord. Let’s make space for God to put fire under any area of our spiritual life that feels stagnant that it might boil over in Him.

Foundational to understanding Romans 12:11 is the knowledge that God will never ask you to do something or be something without His help. You are never alone in your spiritual growth. Your job is simply to create space in your heart for God to mold and shape you. Your job is to engage with Him and let the Spirit teach, lead, and fill you. Your heavenly Father is near to you. He has a perfect plan to guide you into spiritual growth and fervor. So, in light of that understanding, how can you engage with God and allow Him to mold and shape you into a person of greater fervor and zeal?

Psalm 19:7 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” And Psalm 19:8 says, “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.” Scripture makes clear that to be zealous and fervent in your service to God, you must spend time allowing His Word to inflame your spiritual fire. Spending time reading about the depths of God’s love for His people, the length He will go for you as His child, and the example of lives empowered by the Spirit will assuredly fill you with passion and zeal. When you spend time in God’s Word, you are not only reading incredible stories, but hearing the voice of your living and active heavenly Father. Spend time with His Word, allowing the voice of God to direct your soul to finding its rest and passion in Him.

When you spend time with God, you will naturally be filled with a desire and passion to serve Him. Reflect for a moment on how different you feel when you are inflamed with passion in comparison to feeling slothful. You have the power to choose how you will live life every day. You have the choice to engage with God, read His Word, spend time in His presence, and allow Him to mold and shape you. You also have the power to live a passionless life. The choice is yours. But know God is faithful to fill you with His Spirit every day if you will make space for Him to do so. He has total grace for the times you feel sluggish; at the same time, He has a perfect plan to lead you out of that state into being “fervent in spirit.” Engage with God today in prayer. Meditate on His Word. Let Him fill you with the power and anointing of His Holy Spirit.

The Message translates Romans 12:11 as saying, “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant.”

May you experience today the life of a “cheerfully expectant” person “fueled” and set “aflame” by the love and leading of God.



Finish up the time you spend alone with God today by simply asking His presence to linger with you. Ask Him to continually fill you with the flame of His love. Know that wherever you go today He will be there. Whenever you feel sluggish in spirit, He is there to fill you up. Continually engage with Him and live today with His grace and love as your foundation and fuel.
__________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/be-fervent-in-spirit-2023






•

[Ranb2khz]

God’s Patience

~ Our Savior wants everyone to experience His grace, mercy, and everlasting love.

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Some people imagine God getting frustrated every time they make a mistake. As a result, many of them live in constant fear of doing something wrong. But that’s not who God is at all. Instead, He has endless patience and mercy for His children.

The Lord knows we have a fallen nature, and He completely understands our struggle against it (Hebrews 4:15). Just as a toddler learns obedience, God’s children also learn to walk in His ways. Because our Father takes pleasure in watching us do what is right, He allows us time and room for mistakes.

Now, if we repeatedly reject the salvation God provides, then we’ll experience His judgment one day. That choice is real. But keep in mind that Jesus came into the world specifically to save sinners. He wants everyone to be saved—and with great patience, mercy, and grace, He generously gives everyone time to come to Him.

God is always waiting and ready for us to return to His loving embrace, just like the father of the prodigal son. Is there anything you want to confess to the Lord today?

Repentance will open a blocked line of communication. Remember, God is slow to anger, and He enjoys spending time with you.
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/god-s-patience






•

[Ranb2khz]

Equipped for the Valley

~ God's Word builds the foundation we need for withstanding life’s storms.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 27:1-14

It is tough to remember everything we learn from the Bible, but the more we retain, the more wisdom we’ll be able to recall during tough times. And toward that end, writing can become a powerful tool in our spiritual walk. Putting words on paper etches wisdom deeper into the heart and mind, which helps build a solid biblical foundation.

Consider King David, who wrote many of the psalms. He had a consistent habit of recording truths about God. As a result, he was equipped for hardship. In yesterday’s psalm, for example, David said that he did not fear evil (Psalm 23:4). What did he have to be scared of when the One who controls everything was on his side (Psalm 27:1)? How could he be stifled by anxiety while in the Spirit’s comforting presence (Psalm 34:4)? David held God to His promises, but he had to know those assurances in order to rely on them.

Writing is not necessary for our walk with God, but when we’re struggling, it can help us remember valuable truths — such as the fact that God is upholding us (Isaiah 41:10) and our hardship has purpose (Romans 5:3). As we recall these spiritual realities, our faith is strengthened. Then we can face subsequent challenges with a more solid foundation of trust.
_________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/equipped-for-the-valley






•

[Bigfootbud]

Lord Jesus bless all here, today, and for ETERNITY!!!!!!!

[Ranb2khz]

Clean-up Time

"For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God." ~ Romans 3:23

Have you ever used hydrogen peroxide to clean an open wound? I have, and I always thought it was cool that you could see it working by the foaming action. You see, what the hydrogen peroxide does is to draw out the impurities that might otherwise infect your open wound. It could be a paper cut or a scraped knee, but it still serves the same function: to draw the impurities and to clean up the wound so that any further damage or infection can be spared.

In the same way, when we accept God into our lives, a change or "drawing out" or "drawing away" from impurities must take place. God knows what's best for us, and we should accept His help. His help includes drawing out our impurities or sin that causes destruction and damage in our lives. Romans chapter 6, verse 23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

• How long are you going to wait to put hydrogen peroxide on your wounds?
• Will you wait until the infection of sin has become advanced, like an infected open wound, or will you accept the help and gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and let Him take care of your impurities?

Stop sin from infecting and standing in the way of your relationship with God and a better life today. Ask Jesus to be your "spiritual hydrogen peroxide", and He will clean up the sin in your life to prevent further damage and infection to your soul.
_______________

~ by Rachel Garrett

~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager






•

[Ranb2khz]

Full of Justice and Mercy

~ Because of His great love for us, God made a way for us to know Him personally.

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:21-26

Today’s verses and many other Bible passages tell us that God is just. What this communicates is that He’s true to His own principles. It also means that God, who is holy and perfect, cannot be one with a sinner. Instead, “the soul who sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). It’s a frightening thought for imperfect people like us, isn’t it?

That’s why our heavenly Father provided a solution for all mankind. Jesus Christ, who was sinless, took our sin upon Himself and died in our place — so that we could be reunited with our Creator. The Lord continues to be just and holy, and we are declared a righteous child of God. As Paul wrote to the Romans, our Father is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

Notice that our righteousness and unity with God has nothing to do with our efforts — it was a gracious and merciful decision made by the Lord. Our good works will not earn the Lord’s favor, because every person inevitably sins. But Jesus’ death made it possible for those who believe in Him to have a relationship with the Creator. In the end, it’s because of God’s justice and mercy that we could be reunited with Him.
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/full-of-justice-and-mercy






•

[Ranb2khz]

A Biblical Christian

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell [road that leads to destruction] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” ~ Matthew 7:13-14

There are many professing “Christians” throughout the world. I believe that a majority of those professing Christianity truly believe that they are Christians, but in reality, are being deceived by the evil one. There is only one true type of Christian in the world – and that is a “Biblical Christian”.

A Biblical Christian believes that the Bible (Old and New Testament) is the divine Word of God, and is the roadmap to salvation and our daily walk to living the Christ-centered life that God, the Father, requires of His children. By faith, a born-again child of God accepts this truth, and endeavors to live out their lives accordingly. It is a lifelong process, and we will never truly obtain the goal of becoming like Christ until we receive the “life eternal” promised to those who do believe and walk by God’s instructions as found in the Holy Scriptures.

To Summarize:

1. Christians must believe that the Bible (Word) was written by the divine inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
2. Professing Christians must daily die to self-will, and strive to live by the God-given direction as found in His Word.
3. God’s Laws are recorded within the whole Bible (Old and New Testament).
4. Biblical Christianity is the only way to eternal life with God.

If you are not in agreement with the 4 summarization bullets, then you are being deceived by the evil one, and will not be counted among those whom God calls "His own" on judgement day.

“…it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment” ~ Hebrews 9:27

“Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’” ~ Matthew 7:21-23





•

[Ranb2khz]

Living by Faith

~ May you find the strength and courage to trust in Him today with all that you are.

Key Scripture Verse:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7

Living by faith is the key that unlocks the door to the fullness of God’s promises. There is no doubt that God will always be faithful to His promises. Scripture is clear in 2 Timothy 2:13 that “if we are faithless, He remains faithful — for He cannot deny Himself.” Faithfulness is within God’s nature. But, without faith we will not experience the fullness of what is available to us in God’s promises. God does not force emotion on us. He does not force us to receive the joy and peace that comes through trusting Him. He does not force us into the fullness of relationship available to us in faith. And He does not force His purposes on us. Faith is the vehicle by which we experience all that God longs to give us. Specifically, faith is the avenue on which we experience the fullness of God’s promises for intimacy with Him, purpose in this life, and freedom from sin.

Hebrews 10:19-22 says:

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

By faith we walk into God’s presence. In faith we believe God desires to be with us.

Experiencing the fullness of restored relationship with our heavenly Father requires a heart full of faith and trust that God longs to tangibly be with us, His children. Without faith we will live solely for the pleasures this world has to offer and miss out on all the satisfaction of living this life for and with God above all else. In faith we can experience all the intimacy available to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Hebrews 11:32-34 says:

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets — who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”

We’ve been sent out by Jesus to make disciples of all nations. We’ve been given a command to bring light into the darkness everywhere we go. You and I have been given a purpose of eternal value and of great importance to our Lord and King. And Hebrews 11 is clear that it is by faith that the works of God are done.

• When we live by faith, we bring the kingdom of God into every dark corner around us.
• When we live by faith, we invite the Holy Spirit to work in and through every situation to draw others to Himself.

It’s in faith that we find our purpose.

And finally, Ephesians 6:16 says:

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”

It is through faith that we walk in the freedom from sin available to us by the promise of God. As children of God wrapped up in the finished work of Christ, we have been set free from the bondage of sin. By the power of Jesus’ death on the cross, you and I never have to sin again. But Paul teaches us in Ephesians that it is through faith that we extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one. If we don’t trust God at His Word that we who were completely entangled to the schemes of the enemy by sin are now considered the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), we will not walk in freedom. It is through faith that we renew our mind and experience the wonderful freedom from sin available to us.

We all need a greater measure of intimacy with God, purpose, and freedom from sin. Not one of us has experienced all that is available to us through faith. May you seek out all that God has in store for you if you will take Him at His Word and trust Him in response to His faithfulness. Spend time in prayer receiving all that God longs to give you by faith.

May you be filled with hunger for the deeper things of God today. And may you have the courage and tenacity to seek out everything God has in store for you. If you will pursue Him with all your heart in faith you will discover all that your heart has been searching for. He has adventure, excitement, joy, fulfillment, and love for all who live by faith. Today is the day to live in the newness of life Jesus died for you to have.
________________

~ by Craig Denison

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/living-by-faith-2023/






•