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“ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2-3) The bible likes to turn our expectations upside down. Trials equal pain and pain equals avoid and even loathe. Not joy. Right? Trials often mean sorrow and suffering and other things we’d much rather not go through and even would not wish on our worst enemy. But James gives a really good reason we should see joy in trials. To put it another way, the saying is “growing pains”, not “growing pleasures.” It’s in the seasons of trial thatRead More →

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“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) We often get this one backwards. We want to lash back in kind, or worse, do to them before they do to us. Instead we need to ask, if we were in that person’s position, how would we want treated? And do likewise unto them. In other words, we need to use a little empathy. Forgive us, Lord, for we have often followed the world’s golden rules rather than yours. We pray we would be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgivingRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Lord, deliver us from fear, bitterness, the lust of the eye, the desire of the flesh. Strengthen us to overcome and endure temptation. Open our eyes to see your way of escape.  Enable us to, in love, obey your word. Bring to our minds in the hour of temptation the exact bible verse that speaks to ourRead More →

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“Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” (Philippians 2:14-16) This is another one that leaves me a bit puzzled at first. Grumbling is a bit of a no-brainer for students of the Word. Scripture is clear God has as strong a dislike for grumbling as heRead More →

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“That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20) This passage is often thought of in terms of evangelism, but it struck me today that Paul was not writing to unbelievers, but to the church in Corinth, who were already Christians. Yet Paul writes “be reconciled to God.” Why? Hasn’t a Christian, and the Corinthian church, already been reconciled to God? Puzzled byRead More →