February 5, 2024 … Sharing God’s Forgiveness

February 5, 2024 … Sharing God’s Forgiveness   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Matthew West singing … Forgiveness …  poignantly and powerfully singing of how we Christians must be willing to share Christlike forgiveness with others.  

Sharing God's love mends broken hearts ... 

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Highlight Passage: … John 8:10 [NLT] … 

10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”            

… Jesus confronts the reality that all of this prostitute’s accusers were no longer present  since Jesus had confronted them with the challenge for any of the accusers who were sinless to cast the first stone.   

Highlight Passage (in context): … John 8:1-11 … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows mercy and forgiveness to a prostitute accused of adultery.                                   

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:14-15 [NLT] …   USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus strongly teaches to His followers in the Sermon on the Mount to forgive those who have sinned against them (us).   

Reference Passage: … Mark 11:25 [NLT] …   

25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too  

… Jesus teaches His disciples to have a forgiving heart as we pray for one another.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:31-32  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to extend Christlike forgiveness to others just as He has extended His love with all sinners who believe in Him as Lord.  

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 8:12 [NLT] …   

12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.   

… The Author of Hebrews quotes from Jeremiah 31:31-34 (linked), … God’s prophesy of forgiveness of sin from God’s New Covenant to His remnant of believers.  

Reference Passage: … 1John 1:9 [NLT] …   

9 But if we confess our sins to Hm, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 

… The Apostle John relays God’s promise to forgive and cleanse any sin confessed before God’s throne of grace.             

My Devotional Journal: Today’s  Our Daily Bread  Author , Tim Gustafson -  AT THIS LINK -   Tells about a young lady, named Maggie, who invited a prostitute to church and when the young woman came, it was obvious that she was inappropriately dressed.  But Maggie graciously asked the young lady if she was cold, offering her Maggie’s shawl to help her feel more comfortably dressed.       

And the ODB entry today made me wonder if I would have an attitude like Maggie … or even more like Jesus … when the guilty prostitute was cast at His feet, sharing His love and grace with the woman.  What about it, fellow Christian readers, … do we have the heart of Christ <b>(see photo)</b>, … offering His love and grace to others with our hearts of forgiveness?  Oh, how I pray that is my heart!  How about you?     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your Spirit of love and grace to share with others.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to offer Your love and grace-filled forgiveness to others today.      Amen  

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

February 4, 2024 … Gratitude for Grace

February 4, 2024 … Gratitude for Grace     

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Brandon Lake singing … Gratitude …  poignantly singing of how we Christians should  ALWAYS be lifting our praises to God in gratitude for all that He has done for us.

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Highlight Passage: … Psalms 103:2 [NLT] … 

2 Let all that I am praise the Lord, may I never forget the good things He has done for me.           

… David sings praise to God for all the LORD had done for David in the past. 

Highlight Passage (in context): … Psalms 103:1-8, 17 … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings his praises to God, full of gratitude for what God had done for him.                

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Reference Passage: …Psalms 136:1 [NLT] …   

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  His faithful love endures forever.  

… Jesus teaches that the greatest act of love is being willing to give one’s life for a friend.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 5:20 [NLT] …   

35 And give thanks for EVERYTHING to God The Father in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to offer their (our) prayers of gratitude for all that The Lord has done for us. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:15-17  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul once again charges fellow Christians to ALWAYS offer our praise to God with thankful hearts. 

Reference Passage: … 1Thessalonians 5:18 [NLT] …   

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  

… Paul, once again, charges fellow Christians to be thankful in ALL circumstances 

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 12:28 [NLT] …   

28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. 

… The Author of Hebrews also calls on Christians to offer up prayers of gratitude to God for bringing them (us) into God’s kingdom.            

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author , Monica La Rose -  AT THIS LINK -  Shares the story of Christina Costa, who was diagnosed with brain cancer and hearing of those who took on the “fight” of battling their cancer decided to wage her battle with an attitude of surrender and gratitude to the Lord; and later was victorious in her gratefulness to God for all He had done for her.      

And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, as I have, …  I’m convinced and convicted that I need to surrender more of my attitude in praise to God for saving me and sanctifying me with His love and grace.  What about you?     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for all that You do for me every day.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to offer up our grateful praises to You, Lord, for all that You do for us.    Amen  

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

February 3, 2024 … God’s Gift of Love

February 3, 2024 … God’s Gift of Love   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Matt Boswell and Matt Papa singing … The Everlasting Love of God …  poignantly singing of how Christians can  ALWAYS rely on the everlasting love of God to share with others thru our lives. 

Bride gives away her dream wedding dress ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Proverbs 11:24 [NLT] … 

24 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything  …            

… Solomon imparts God’s wisdom on sharing God’s love freely.  

Highlight Passage (in context): … Proverbs 10:12, 24-25 … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Solomon, imparts Godly wisdom, showing that giving away God’s love and being generous to others overcomes all offenses.                                                                     

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Reference Passage: …John 15:13 [NLT] …   

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.   

… Jesus teaches that the greatest act of love is being willing to give one’s life for a friend.  

Reference Passage: … Acts 20:35 [NLT] …   

35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus:  ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”   

… Paul quotes Jesus in teaching on the value of sharing and giving to others.

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:8 [NLT] …   

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 

… Paul shows fellow Christians the extent God was (and IS) willing to share His love with others.         

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 13:1-3  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows any/all Christians that giving to others without God’s love being shared means nothing to God.   

Reference Passage: … 1John 4:19  [NLT] …   

19 We love each other because He loved us first.    

… The Apostle John shows fellow Christians that we can share God’s love with others because God has shown His love for them (us).      

        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author , Patricia Raybon -  AT THIS LINK -  Shares the story of Gwendolyn Stulgis on her wedding day wearing the wedding dress of her dreams (see photo).  However, after the wedding, Gwendolyn felt that it would be selfish to simply put away the dress in a sealed bag to gather dust, never being worn again.  So she decided to give the dress to someone else to wear; and that began a website where brides can share love with others by giving away their wedding dresses to other brides.       

Really this story is a real-life illustration of God’s chosen believers being willing to share God’s love with others because of God’s willingness to share His love with us by giving up His Son to die for us.  And taking in the linked song and the Scriptures above certainly motivated me to do what I can to share the gifts and abilities God has given me to share with others.  Will you join me to share what God has given us, thru His grace, to share with others as He gives us opportunity today … and then again tomorrow.     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your love to share with others today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to go out, as You give us opportunities, Lord, to share Your love with others.     Amen  

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

February 2, 2024 … Real Friends

February 2, 2024 … Real Friends     

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Alan Jackson singing … What A Friend We Have In Jesus …  poignantly singing of how Christians have an inseparable friendship with our Lord, Jesus. 

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Highlight Passage: … 1Samuel 18:3 [NLT] … 

3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.   … 

… Jonathan made a pact of friendship with David because he loved the future king as he loved himself. 

Highlight Passage (in context): … !Samuel 18:1-4 … USE THIS LINK … 

… David and Jonathan, King Saul’s son, had a covenant friendship, sealed by Jonathan giving his armament to David.                                                                   

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 17:17, 18:24, 27:9   [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon sharing God’s wisdom about the meaning of REAL friendship.  

Reference Passage: … Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon also teaches on the value of have true friends to rely on in troubled times. 

Reference Passage: …Luke 6:31 [NLT] …   

31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.   

… Jesus teaches what is demanded from real friends … that we do to others as we would have them do to us.       

Reference Passage: … John 15:12-15  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows that real friends would be willing to die for one another as He would do for would do for them (and for us).  

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:10  [NLT] …   

10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to show Christ’s love for one another.     

        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author , Sheridan Voysey -  AT THIS LINK -  tells of the long-standing and loyal friendship of two 17th century physicians, John Finch and Thomas Baines, which was honored by a plaque in the Chapel of Christ’s College in Cambridge, England, … the two friends having worked together in research and traveled together, sharing their their knowledge and work with others for over 36 year.      

That kind of friendship, along with the biblical illustration of the covenant friendship of David and Jonathan (see highlight passage), shows what comes out of a deep/abiding friendship with the Lord.  Oh, how I’m blessed to have friends who would be willing to die for me as my friend, Jesus was - AND IS - my Friend forever.  How about you?  Is Jesus your friend?    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your deep/abiding friendship, … as my Lord.             

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to thank You, Lord, for Your friendship, …  being willing to die for those of us who believe in You.   Amen  

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

February 1, 2024 … Humble Like Christ

February 1, 2024 … Humble Like Christ    

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Sara Groves singing … Abide With Me …  poignantly singing of how we Christians find our way in life by humbly abiding in/with Christ.  

Humbly Serving The Lord ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Philippians 2:6-7 [NLT] … 

6 Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  7 Instead, He gave up His divine privileges, He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  …            

… Jesus chose to empty Himself of His privileges as the Son of God and become a human.  

Highlight Passage (in context): … Philippians 2:1-8 … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians how Jesus humbled himself to become a man and to die on a cross to save mankind from their (our) sin.                                                                   

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Reference Passage: … 2Chronicles 7:14 [NLT] …   

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land...   

… God’s call, thru Solomon, is for His chosen people to humble themselves in repentance before God’s throne of grace so that HE can heal their (our) land. 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 11:2, 22:4  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Solomon, calls in believers to humble themselves (ourselves) to find Godly wisdom and honor.       

Reference Passage: … Micah 6:8 [NLT] …   

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.  

… God’s call, thru the Prophet Micah, for believes to walk humbly with God. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:2  [NLT] …   

2 Always be humble and gentle,  Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other’s faults because of your love.   

… James, calls on fellow Christians to always be humble and gentle with one another as was Jesus. 

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:5-6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter charges fellow Christians to humble themselves before their Elders, … i.e, those who follow Christ, … so that they (we) can attain God’s empowering grace.    

        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author , Jennifer Benson Schuldt -  AT THIS LINK -  tells of a young basketball star who, after a game was found humbly helping the clean-up crew clean the arena from all the trash after the game where this young man had been cheered as a star.      

And along with this ODB illustration of humility, today’s linked song and the Scriptures shared above helped remind me that God is calling al of us who declare Christ as our Lord, to humbly follow Christ’s example of being a humble servant (i.e., “slave”).   The question is … ARE WE?      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling me to humbly serve others as You did.            

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … in seeking to humbly serve others, as You did, Lord.     Amen  

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.