Scripture for Thursday, December 15 (12/15)

The scripture for today, December 15, is Hebrews 12:15 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE Medium“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Bitterness can cause us to miss the grace of God. Bitterness only causes trouble for ourselves and others, and defiles us. Bitterness comes from our thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought (Romans 12:3), and forgetting that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Bitterness also leads to either bullying or shunning, and ends in broken relationships. It all causes us to miss the grace of God.

The opposite of bitterness is forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean we condone what someone else has done. It means we let go of it and let God handle it. It means we wish the best for the offending person or situation. We can wish even the most hardened criminal will some turn to God and turn his life around. God forgives us as we forgive others.

Forgiveness lifts weights off of us until we feel as though we could soar. Forgiveness takes the clouds away and brings back the sunshine. Forgiveness makes sure we do not miss the grace of God.

#bitterness, #resentment, #forgiveness

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Scripture for Sunday, October 30 (10/30)

The scripture for today, October 30, is Hebrews 10:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

inside-cover-medium“For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ “

In the Law of Moses, people were expected to avenge those who did not follow the law. Some things were even punishable by death.

But Jesus told us to forgive people so that God, in turn, will forgive us (Matthew 6:14).

What is forgiveness? It is not condoning the bad someone did. Forgiveness is letting go and letting God do any punishing that may be required. Forgiveness is wishing the other person well. You may not trust the other person to not do the bad thing again, and you may forever fear that person.

But you can always hope and pray that their lives and hearts will change for the better some day. No one is so bad that you cannot wish them well and pray for them. That’s forgiveness.

Vengeance only prolongs the pain; vengeance is hard on us. So, as the old saying goes, “Let go, and let God.” God will do his part ~ the hard part. He has left the easy part for us.

#Vengeance, #Pain, #Hurt, #Forgiveness, #Enemy, #Mercy

Forgiveness lets the SUN back in.

Forgiveness Lets Sun Back In.png

Scripture for Saturday, September 17 (9/17)

The scripture for today, September 17, is Nehemiah 9:17 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

REV-Cover-Kindle“They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore, you did not desert them.”

Such love! We rebel against God (who is only trying to save us from Satan and hell) over and over because we don’t want anyone telling us what to do, and God forgives over and over.

First Peter 3:9 says “The Lord…is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God could turn us all into robots and force us to obey him. But that wouldn’t be Love. God is Love, and he cannot go against his own nature. And so he follows us around and pleads over and over, “Follow my Son to safety!”

How he hurts when we do not; how he smiles when we do.

#Sin, #Forgiveness

Scripture for Wednesday, August 10 (8/10)

The scripture for today, August 10, is Nehemiah 8:10b as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:


“This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

After exile for 70 years for forsaking God, the Jews were led by Ezra and Nehemiah back to Jerusalem. On a special day, Ezra read the Law of Moses to all the people. And they wept. They were so embarrassed and so sorry they had betrayed God. The above scripture quotation is from that occasion.

But many people find it too humiliating to admit to others that they were wrong. Others find it easy to repent, but never regroup and pull themselves up so they can try again. Still, others say, “What I’ve done is so bad, God could never forgive me.”

God can perform miracles. That means he can forgive the greatest sinner. So grieve. Ask for forgiveness. Then start over fresh ~ innocent in the eyes of God. The joy of the Lord is your strength.

DISCUSSION QUESTION: HAVE YOU EVER ADMITTED TO GOD AND THEN REPENTED OF SOMETHING BAD YOU SAID OR DID? HOW DID YOU FEEL AFTERWARD?

#grief, #forgiveness

Scripture for Monday, August 8 (8/8)

The scripture for today, August 8, is Zechariah 8:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

PAUL COVER-KINDLE-“I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

The Jews had done terrible things against God. They had worshiped terrible idols that required ghastly things be done in their honor such as setting up brothels with so-called “priestesses” and sacrificing their children on an altar of fire. They had nailed the doors of the Temple closed. They had broken every one of God’s rules. They had sworn at him, rejected him, hated him.

So God punished them with 70 years of exile in Babylon. It was the boomerang effect. They had rejected God, so God rejected them.

But it was not permanent. God is love and has no choice but to love and give people a second chance. Isn’t He amazing? The God of Second Chances?

DISCUSSION QUESTION: DID YOU EVER GIVE SOMEONE A SECOND CHANCE WHO HAD DONE TERRIBLE THINGS TO YOU?

#SecondChance, #Forgiveness

Scripture for Tuesday, August 2 (8/2)

The scripture for today, August 2, is Matthew 8:2 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

PAUL COVER-KINDLE-A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.’ “

People in Jesus’ day who had leprosy had to live outside of town in what we would call a leper colony. And if someone without leprosy started getting close to them, they were required to call out, “Unclean! Unclean!”

But here was a man who apparently pushed his way through a crowd where he didn’t belong. He didn’t ask Jesus if he could heal him; he asked if he was willing to. After all, he was “unclean”. Remarkably, Jesus said yes.

Then Jesus did another remarkable thing: He touched the man. He touched the leprosy. Not only was he willing to be seen with an unclean man, he was willing to touch him.

Jesus still does this today. When we come to him with a diseased heart wondering if we are good enough, Jesus reaches out across the centuries and touches us. And his voice echoes across the centuries and says, “I am willing.”

No matter how much sin mars your life, Jesus still today can say, “Be clean.”

DISCUSSION QUESTION: IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL SO UNCLEAN JESUS CANNOT HEAL IT?

Scripture for Wednesday, July 20(7/20)

The scripture for today, July 20, is Ecclesiastes 7:20 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

WORSHIP THE FIRST-CENTURY WAY-COVER-KINDLE“There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”

Many people believe if we don’t murder or steal, and if we help people poorer than ourselves, and aren’t mean to our family, God will have no choice but to let us into heaven. But it only takes one sin to be a sinner.

God ~ who is Perfect Goodness ~ cannot dwell with sin. But mankind has never figured out a way to be perfectly good. Remember, the cost of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So in Old Testament days, God allowed people to kill perfect animals as a substitute for paying the cost of our sins ~ temporarily.

Then Jesus came. He became that perfectly good person (Hebrews 4:15) ~ that perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29). Then he died in our place to pay the cost of our sins ~ permanently. Now all he asks is that we love him, thank him, worship him, follow his examples and his commands (there aren’t many). Then, God the Father will consider us perfect too. Then we will be accepted into heaven.

DISCUSSION QUESTION: Acts 2:38 says to be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, not because our sins have already been forgiven, but so they will be. It is no more water salvation than the cross was wood salvation. Have you been baptized for the forgiveness of your sins?  Why?

Scripture for Tuesday, July 19 (7/19)

The scripture for today, July 19, is found in Romans 7:19 as found in the New Testament of the Bible.

PAUL COVER-KINDLE-“For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do ~ this I keep on doing.”

Doesn’t this pretty much describe all of us in some area of our life? It may be eating too much, breaking the law by going over the speed limit, laughing at dirty jokes, habitual lying, stealing “little things” at work, cheating on tests, jealousy ~ any number of things. Sins of habit and attitude are hard to break.

So we go to God over and over asking him to forgive that which, deep down, we know we’re going to do again.

Perhaps this emphasizes the importance of us forgiving others who habitually do wrong to us. We do not know their battles any more than they know our battles.

Jesus said, “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14).

Satan wants us to quit trying to do better. And he wants us to quit forgiving each other. Let us not give in to Satan. Let us give in to God. God’s way leads to ultimate forgiveness.

QUESTION: When you think about your own sins you do over and over, how does that help you forgive others?  CLICK REPLY BELOW.

Scripture for Saturday, June 4 (6/4)

The scripture for today, June 4, is Psalm 6:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

PAUL COVER-KINDLE-“Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.”

Sometimes we walk away from God and can’t figure out how to make a turnaround and get our life back on track. When this happens, look behind you. Though you are walking away from God, he is still on the right track. All you have to do is call for him to come get you.

“Turn, O Lord! Turn! Deliver me!”

Why would God be so good to someone walking away from him? Because he loves you and is always listening for your voice. His love is unfailing.