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Thursday, September 28, 2023
Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
What a wonderful hope you and I have, knowing that darkness is temporary, and that life is but a vapor. To someone who can only see the “here and now” the idea that life is short is an unsettling one. But we have assurance that there is not only life after death, but a joyful and abundant one at that. The God of peace will soon crush Satan, along with pain, stress, anxiety, and fear. And in the meantime, He is near to His children, granting grace, peace, and power to those who give up everything this life has to offer, and follow Him.
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Today, thousands of students across the nation will gather around their school flagpoles to pray for this country, this generation, and this world. Pray with them, that Christ would make His children salt and light in a dark and tasteless world, and that the Holy Spirit would be alive in believers like never before. Pray that the Word of God would return to schools, and that its effect would be felt. The Lord hears your prayers, and the prayers of everyone who is willing to seek Him with an earnest and humble heart. And not only does the God of the universe hear your prayers… He can answer them too.
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Genesis 1:31
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Earth is a broken paradise. It wasn’t originally designed to have pain, death and war be intrinsic parts of life. When God made this place, He said it was exceedingly good, and anything that wasn’t came after sin entered the world. The first man and woman rebelled against God and brought tragedy to His creation… and we can’t pin all the blame on them. If they hadn’t been deceived, eventually you or I would have been. But even so, from the very beginning, the Lord had a plan to rescue His children from themselves and bring them to a new Heaven and a new earth, where sin and death will have dominion no more.
Monday, September 25, 2023
Jeremiah 5:24
…Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.
If you’ve ever taken a flight on a plane, or stood at the top of a mountain, you have some idea of how incredibly vast the world is. You are so small and insignificant in comparison to the mightiness of the earth and nature that God has made. And yet, He didn’t die to save the mountains and fields and oceans; He died so that He could spend forever with you. We should be filled with awe and admiration for the God who gives rain, changes the seasons, and brings about the harvest. Not only does He hold the whole world in His hand, but He holds you too.
Friday, September 22, 2023
John 6:28-29
Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
People can say they “love Jesus” all day, but that doesn’t mean they’ve accepted Him as the Son of God. If you believe in Jesus, you should recognize the immense weight of who He was, and what He said. He wasn’t just a good man and a wise teacher; He was a perfect man, and the perfect sacrifice for your sins. The things He said weren’t just good tips, they were commands, and guidelines for life itself. To be living a good and God-pleasing way here on earth, you need to recognize and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ was non other than Lord and respect His commandments… not to earn grace, but because it was given to you.
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What is your mind full of? The content you consume through books, movies, and music can have a subtle but profound impact on the way you think about life, about others, and about the world. To keep your chin up and your eyes on Christ, the Bible tells you to fill your mind with good things. God’s immense love for you, the blessings He’s given you, the people He’s given you, and the beautiful world He’s surrounded you with. If you spend too much time focusing on the bad things, you’ll get bogged down… a futile state of mind, because one day in Heaven, bad things won’t matter anymore. So before you get there, focus on what’s good, so that the life you live can be one of peace and joy no matter the circumstances.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Hosea 6:6
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
The religious Pharisees and scribes of Jesus’ day were so obsessed with obeying God’s Law that they didn’t recognize the Lawmaker when He came. They thought they could earn God’s grace by doing enough, without realizing that grace was being freely given to them, if they would just trust Him. No matter how much good we do, it won’t change the fact that you and I are sinners. God doesn’t expect you to be perfect; only one man ever lived a perfect life, and He died so that you wouldn’t have to. Jesus wants you to love Him, and genuinely strive to be like Him. If your heart isn’t in it, your “sacrifices” are nothing more than a blank thank-you card: a nice gesture but lacking any real substance.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
God made it clear to His chosen people that by obeying Him, they would prosper. He led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and would soon hand the Promised Land over to them as long as they followed Him. But unfortunately, the people of Israel didn’t adhere to God’s laws nor His plan and rebelled against Him again and again. Because of this, God allowed calamity and tragedy to befall the once great Nation of Israel. Since those days, He sent His Son to die for the sins of all. Because of the cross, nothing can separate you from His love, but a sinful life can separate you from His blessing.
Monday, September 18, 2023
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Jesus preached that the words that come out of your mouth come directly from your heart, and that if your speech is rotten, part of your heart likely is too. I hope, and I pray, that the words of my mouth and the focus of my heart are good and acceptable in the sight of God. The people around you will measure you by what they see outwardly, but the Lord knows who you are at the deepest core of your being. What He thinks of you should matter more than what others, or even you, think of yourself. Ponder your desires, your tendencies, and what’s important to you deep down… and pray that if you have faults, that the Lord would help you overcome them.
Friday, September 15, 2023
Colossians 3:5
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
The Bible doesn’t say “tone down the evil desire” or “try not to be sexually immoral.” These things should be put to death, not because God expects you to be flawless, but because Christ was. If you truly believe that Jesus was and is Lord, it should be represented by the way you live. Put to death the things in your life that get between you and a closer relationship with Christ. Rid yourself of the things that grieve Him, driving the nails deeper into His hands. If sin isn’t worth getting rid of, it’s on a higher pedestal in your life than the Lord is, and that’s what the Word rightly calls idolatry. You may not always defeat sin overnight, but with His help, there is nothing that can’t be overcome.
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
There are a lot of philosophies and beliefs out there, and the same was true when Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians. Man is desperate to find purpose, and the conclusions they come to about morality, life and the universe are often far from the truth, because the truth is uncomfortable. The truth is that God is very real and very just, and according to justice, everyone has sinned, and deserves punishment. But God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, and whoever believes in Him will not be punished, but have eternal life. Believing in Christ means following Christ, letting go of sinful lifestyles in the process… and people want to believe anything but that. What do you believe?
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The world around you is made of material things, and material things can be lost just as quickly as they are gained. Jesus preached often about the futility of amassing wealth and “happiness” here on earth, where moth and rust destroy, because there are greater things to pursue than the things of this world. You aren’t going to live here forever. With the time God has given you, follow His commands, be kind to the people He puts in your path, and by doing so, you’ll build up treasure for Heaven. Keep yourself free from the stress and futility that comes with pursuing money, and instead, leave it in the hands of the One who has promised to never leave you, nor forsake you. What greater form of wealth can one have on earth than a relationship with Him?