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“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15) Quite a bit packed into this one verse. First,  Peter reminds us Christ isn’t like us. He’s holy, not a sinner, and should be honored as such. If we don’t watch ourselves, we will project our sinful thinking onto Christ to justify our pet sins, since, obviously, Jesus would think that is okay (often we pull out our sinful version of love here.)Read More →

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In: Bible and Theology, God's Character, God's promises, Lament, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness, Suffering

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Some like to quote this verse to hurting people asking why God allows suffering. They’re misapplying it a bit. The immediate context for this statement is: Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to ourRead More →

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In: abuse, Bible and Theology, God's Character, God's love, God's promises, Grace, Prayer and Devotions

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) As we observed yesterday, Paul is long winded, so for the full scope of what he is saying, we need to read chapters seven and eight of Romans in one sitting, or at least 8:26-39. Today’s verses are merely finishing the thoughts from yesterday’s verses. But today lets focus on the traditional emphasis and primary thoughtRead More →

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“O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 97:10) What does it mean to hate evil? We know the Lord does not contradict himself, and Christ commanded us to love our enemies. So how do we reconcile this? I would cross reference both verses with Romans 12-19-21: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; forRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, God's Character, Prayer and Devotions

“ I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:1-2) God is strong to carry us through any storm, a firm foundation to withstand any shaking, a hiding place where we are protected from the enemy of our souls. He is able to shield us and protect us and save us from all the wiles of the evil one. Let us not be ashamed.  Let us not run from God today, but to God. Lord,Read More →