Posts with the tag “love”

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32   As recipients of God's boundless forgiveness, we are called to extend that same grace to others, even when it seems undeserved. Forgiveness is not about excusing or condoning someone's actions; rather, it is a reflection of the mercy and love that God has shown us. In Ephesians 4...  Read More

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." - Psalm 103:12   Too we often find ourselves tangled in the threads of sin and shame, feeling unworthy of the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father. Yet, in His infinite grace, God extends forgiveness to us—time and time again—removing our transgressions as far as the East is from the West. The truth is, we ca...  Read More

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." - 1 Peter 4:10   There are moments in each of our lives when someone desperately needs us to show up. Have you considered who in your life needs your presence right now? It's time to reflect on how God is calling you to be there for someone in their time of need. Thin...  Read More

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." - Philippians 2:3-4   In your journey of faith, selflessness stands out as an act of Christ-like virtue. God calls us to emulate the sacrificial love modeled by our Savior. Today, let's explore the beauty of selfl...  Read More

"You are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you." - Isaiah 43:4    I want you to pause for a moment and let these words sink deep into your soul: You are precious and honored in God's sight, and He loves you. This love, expansive and boundless, defies human comprehension. It's a love that surpasses the heights of the heavens and reaches into the depths of your being. Consider the vastnes...  Read More

"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world." - John 15:19   God often reminds us that we are not meant to conform to the patterns of this world. Instead, He commands us to be of Him: set apart, distinct, and aligned with a higher purpose. The words of Jesus in John 15:19 illuminate this divine callin...  Read More

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9   One of the most beautiful aspects of our faith is God's unconditional forgiveness. Through Christ, we are offered the gift of forgiveness, where our sins are washed away, and we are reconciled to our Heavenly Father. But what happens when we struggle to forgive ours...  Read More

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16   As we approach the Christmas season, our hearts naturally turn to thoughts of gifts. We make lists, exchange presents, and delight in the joy of giving and receiving. While this is a beautiful aspect of the holiday, it's crucial to remember the most exc...  Read More

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6   Have you ever played tug of war? It's an intense battle of strength and willpower, each side pulling with all their might to gain control. Life can often feel like a never-ending game of tug of war, with us desperately clinging to ...  Read More

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18   As we step into December, a month synonymous with gratitude and reflection, let us take a moment to thank God for the beautiful souls He has placed in our lives. Our journey through this world is not a solitary one; it is a collective experi...  Read More

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11   Have you ever wondered what would happen if you truly went all in on Jesus' plan for your life? It's a question that can spark deep reflection and challenge you to consider the incredible transformation that awaits on the other side of that decision. Ima...  Read More

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." - Romans 12:2   As followers of Christ, we are called to be different from the world around us. Our faith invites us to a life that stands out, marked by love, grace, and a commitment to living according to God's Word. To be different means embracing the challenges that come with doing hard things and n...  Read More

"But where sin increased, grace increased all the more." - Romans 5:20   Have you ever questioned whether your sins are too great, whether you've strayed too far from the path of righteousness? It's a struggle many face, feeling that they've fallen beyond redemption. But today, be reminded that you can't “out-sin” God, for His grace is always greater than your sins. Romans 5:20 speaks of a profoun...  Read More

"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love." - Psalm 33:18   In the hustle and bustle of life, it's easy to forget that you are never truly alone. Even when you think no one is watching, someone always is. The question you must ask yourself today is, "Who is watching you?" Throughout your day, there are countless eyes upon you, whether you rea...  Read More

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30   God, our Creator and Sustainer, deserves nothing less than our very best. When we offer our wholehearted devotion, we align ourselves with the greatest commandment—to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Just as a precious gift re...  Read More

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." - 1 John 4:7 (NIV)   In our journey of faith, we are called not only to love God with all our hearts but also to love one another deeply and unconditionally. Taking our relationships with others to the next level in a spiritual sense requires us to embrace the Spirit of Love, wh...  Read More

Ephesians 1:7 (NIV) - "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."  Our mistakes can leave us feeling broken, ashamed, and unworthy. However, in those moments, God's grace and forgiveness shine brightly. He can use our mistakes to reveal the depth of His love and the richness of His grace. It is not about us and our failures;...  Read More

1 John 3:5 (NIV) - "But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin."   The impact of 1 John 3:5 on our lives is immeasurable. This verse reminds us of the transformative power of Jesus' sacrifice and the profound implications it has for our sin-stained lives. Through His appearance, Jesus came to take away our sins and offer us the gift of forgiveness and r...  Read More

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10b   Life in Christ is more than mere existence; it is a vibrant and abundant journey. When we are united with Christ, we experience a transformative awakening, where we move from spiritual death to eternal life. Let's explore what it means to be alive in Christ and embrace the fullness of the abundant life He offers. Befor...  Read More

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." - Psalm 147:3   In a world that offers countless remedies for our brokenness, there is still hope we can cling to as we remember this truth: only God can fix you. The things of this world may provide temporary relief, but true healing and restoration can only be found in the hands of our loving Creator.  Only God can heal because He understan...  Read More

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." - Matthew 16:25   Picture this: You're standing at the edge of a vast ocean, ready to dive into the depths of an adventure that surpasses your wildest dreams. But to embark on this extraordinary journey, you must surrender your life to the greater purpose that God has in store for you. As believe...  Read More

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” - John 13:34  When you serve others and put others first, God changes your heart. I have seen this happen so many times. It is amazing how people’s lives change when they step out and realize the world isn’t all about them. When we shift our focus from ourselves to others, we n...  Read More

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” - 1 John 3:17-18  Yesterday, I asked this question: What is happening around you? Do you know what’s going on in your kid's lives? In your best friends’ lives? What about your aunt that liv...  Read More

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16  Yesterday, we discussed a concept that is contrary to the way we naturally think. When it comes to salvation, rewards, or blessings, our minds start thinking the way they do with everything else we try to obtain: we have to earn everything. To be gifted someth...  Read More

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15  Are you doing your best? Are you becoming the best version of yourself? Are you trying to be the version of yourself that God created you to be? Yesterday, we looked at how God created you exactly as He meant for you to be. We learned that we shou...  Read More

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” - Ephesians 5:2  Earlier this month, all around the country, people celebrated LOVE. More specifically, they celebrated a romantic love for a partner. Love always seems to be on the brain a little more than normal when February rolls around. So what better time than this month to stop and t...  Read More

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” - Philippians 2:3-4  Have you ever wondered how you can make a greater impact for God’s Kingdom? For some believers, it might be something they rarely think about. But for those who are on fire for God...  Read More

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13  I want you to stop and think about the people you love most in this world. It might be your husband or wife. It might be a mother or grandmother. It might be a close friend or sibling. Whoever it is, think about the person or people who mean the most to you.  Now I want to ask you a question: to what...  Read More

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” - Proverbs 10:12  Are you struggling to forgive? We have talked over the last couple of days about forgiveness. If you are a believer who has spent any serious amount of time in the Word, you already know what the Bible says about forgiveness.  You say, “But pastor, you don’t know what they did to me.” You are right, I don’t. And you know wha...  Read More

“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” - 1 John 4:10  Over the last few days, we have gone into detail about how Jesus is most definitely real. The Bible along with our own personal relationships with Him make this very easy to believe. If you haven’t developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then you might ...  Read More

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” - Romans 8:28  Has God given you clarity in your life? Has He made it clear what you need to be doing and what path you should be pursuing? You might say, “Yes Pastor, God has made it clear but...” And that is where the fear comes in.  We can get so creativ...  Read More

“When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers. Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves?” - 1 Corinthians 6:1-2  When you find yourself in an argument ...  Read More

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” - Mark 12:30  Over the last couple of days, we have talked about obedience. If you want to honor God and live your life for Him, it all starts with obedience. You say, “Okay pastor, I am all in. I want to follow God, I want to obey Him fully and carefully, just as you have said. But now ...  Read More

“This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” - Matthew 13:13   Over the last few days, we have been pushing you to share what Jesus has put on your heart. And I do not want to stop today because this is such an important topic of conversation. As a believer, Jesus designed you for a specific purpose. As a HUMAN, Jesus d...  Read More

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” - John 15:18-19   As we continue to look at this idea of a “prophet,” you must understand something. Remember, you do not have to prophesy something out of the b...  Read More

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” - Proverbs 3:5-6   If you want to live your best life and not the “YOLO, I’m just having a good time” type of life, then you need God. Specifically, you need to follow His plan. We call this “God’s will.”   His will is what He desires to happen. We...  Read More

“But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.” - Matthew 5:37   When you hear the word “sincere,” what do you think of? Who do you think of? The Bible talks about Timothy having a “sincere faith.” It was actually Paul who said this, as Timothy’s faith reminded Paul of Timothy’s mother and grandmother.  See, the Apostle Paul took three missionar...  Read More

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7   As we continue to look at 2 Timothy 1:7, we now know that it is not God who has given us a spirit of fear. Instead, He gives us a spirit of POWER, LOVE, and SELF-DISCIPLINE. Yesterday, we looked at the spirit of power that we can claim as His children.   Today, we look at another gi...  Read More

“One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” (Revelation 17:1-2)Revelation 17 tells the story of a prostitute. Not a specific prostitute, but more of a...  Read More

“Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.” (Revelation 15:7-8)If you have read any of the devotions in this series on Revelatio...  Read More