Tag Archives: Love

2016 Day 207 – Ephesians 2

25 Monday Jul 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

There is nothing any one of us can do to deserve eternal life. God’s grace is how we have come into salvation. In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul says, 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. God ultimately gives us the gift of salvation because He loves us and He knows we were incapable by our own power to live a life worthy of eternal life. It is a gift from Him which does not require anything of us. We may feel like we owe God something for this gift, but we don’t. His grace is sufficient.

2016 Day 204 – Philemon 1

22 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Philemon 1:16 describes all of us as believers in Christ: no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. Before we knew Christ and trusted in Him for our eternal salvation, we were slaves. After, we became magnitudes better than slaves; we became brothers. Nothing can bless us more than that.

2016 Day 197 – Acts 23

15 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Today we read about Paul and his dispute with the Sanhedrin, which were the religious leaders in Jerusalem made up of Pharisees and Sadducees. Paul was able to use their differences in belief to divide them and cause confusion among themselves. The unfortunate thing is that the same thing happens to our modern day Christian church. We have allowed ourselves to focus on items that mean little in the light of eternity. It divides us instead of unite us in the eyes of the world. If we look to God and understand our instructions are simply to love Him and love others, our lives would be much simpler and the world would be drawn more to what God has to offer. We are here to share God’s love, not His judgement.

2016 Day 196 – Acts 22

14 Thursday Jul 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

There are times we do all the right things and people still respond poorly to us. In Acts 22 Paul did everything right, but in the end the people chose to believe something else. This is how it is sometimes. We are called to obedience and to love others. It is not our job to force others into submission or to judge them for their lack of faith in the truth. Love God, love others: that is our calling.

2016 Day 194 – Romans 16

12 Tuesday Jul 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, ,

Today we have reached the end of the book of Romans. Paul takes the time to send greetings to several people and to thank them for their service. Paul also takes the opportunity to warn believers of those who choose to bring divisiveness into their midst. In Romans 16:17-18 Paul warns, 17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause division and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. When someone brings teachings and ideas that are contrary to the teachings of Christ, we should question them. Christ kept it pretty simple; Love God and love others. If it deviates away from this “golden Rule”, then we can be certain it comes from the mouths of men and not from God.

2016 Day 191 – Romans 14

09 Saturday Jul 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Let us not waste time arguing about things that matter little in the light of eternity. In Romans 14:1 Paul says, Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters. We are all in different places with our faith, and none of us are in a place to judge one another. God calls us to love Him and love others; nothing more.

2016 Day 169 – 2 Corinthians 9

17 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

God’s provision for us is not easily quantified. We see some of His work in our lives, but the full scope of His provision is difficult to fully see. In 2 Corinthians 9:15 Paul says, Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! These are accurate words to describe what God gives to us. We see very little, but He is always with us and He is constantly doing work in us. Thanks be to Him.

2016 Day 168 – 2 Corinthians 8

16 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Jesus gave up everything so that we could gain it all. In 2 Corinthians 8:9 Paul says, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Paul was not talking about monetary riches, but spiritual. He gave up His own access to God and His kingdom to sacrifice for us so that we would know eternity in Heaven with Him. Our debt for sin was paid and for that we must be thankful.

2016 Day 166 – 2 Corinthians 6

14 Tuesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

God calls us to love the world and be a reflection of His love, but He does not call us to be a part of the world. In 2 Corinthians 6:15 Paul says, What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? Belial is the name Paul give to Satan. When we are a part of God’s kingdom and have experienced His light, we can not mix with the darkness of this world. This does not mean we cannot bring others to a loving relationship with God, but we no longer have anything in common with a fallen world.

2016 Day 165 – 2 Corinthians 5

13 Monday Jun 2016

Posted by in Daily Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

God does not need us, but He chooses to use us in the fulfillment of His perfect plan and to share His love with the world around us. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul says, We are therefore Christ’s  ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. Just as an ambassador in a foreign land represents the United States and it’s interests, so are we ambassadors of God in this fallen world. Where we belong and who we belong to does not change, but we live here as representatives of Christ.