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In: Bible and Theology, Faith, God's love, God's promises, Prayer and Devotions

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) If God is for us, who can be against us? Will he who gave us his own son to save us not provide everything we need? These are great promises, but we must stop and consider the flip side. He who did not spare his own son the cross won’t spare us from all the trial, tribulation, pain and sorrow of this life, either. But none of these things can destroy our eternal soul and separateRead More →

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

“In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.” (Psalm 119:14) This falls towards the end of an eight verse set with a clear and simple message. Want to keep pure? Want to do right? Stay in the word, let it guard your heart, seek God with all of your being. Knowing the word, hiding it in our hearts, are the first steps to resisting the temptation of sin. The second step is stopping and recalling the word in the hour of temptation. Praying ahead of time about known issues is where we can best find the strength to standRead More →

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In: God's promises, Grace, Legalism, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130) Some view the bible as a random list of dos and don’ts we’re expected to obey for no other reason than, “God says so.” Others agree, but feel the blood washes the dos and the don’s away rather than our guilt for breaking them, and view the bible today as being a warm fuzzy book full of hope and promises of salvation, healing, protection from harm and our enemies, and promises if we have enough faith, we’ll be given every desire of our heart. Eventually, these latter “Arm Chair Christians”Read More →

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

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) According to James, we are deceiving ourselves about what we believe in our hearts when we read the bible, known intellectually what it says, and go out and ignore it in practice. So how do we not turn away from this uncomfortable mirror and promptly forget what we looked like and keep on as we are? In our instant culture and world, we often react by habit and by impulse. If our habits are godly, that is great. If our habits are indistinguishable from our impulses, that’s not so great. Contrary to whatRead More →

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

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:114) This verse follows the statement, “I love your law,” thus it is reasonable this sentence offers a reason why:  in the pages of scripture he finds shelter in  it’s consistent,  unchanging, dependable definition of right and wrong, and its testimonies of God’s actions in history on the behalf of his people, and the promises we inherit from our spiritual forefathers. Through this, and the hope/faith it builds in him, he finds protection and deliverance–from what? Likely, the double-minded, wicked evil-doers he wants away from, double-minded indicating they waver between twoRead More →