Blessed

April 8th – Matthew 21:19

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Matthew 21:19

They waved palm branches high, shouting “Hosanna!” as Jesus entered Jerusalem, hearts full of expectation and excitement. The crowd welcomed Him like a King. But their idea of a king was one of power, not sacrifice. Days later, those same voices that praised Him turned to cries of “Crucify Him!” It’s easy to cheer for Jesus when life is good, when He’s doing what we expect. But what about when He doesn’t meet our expectations? When following Him requires surrender, sacrifice, and faith in the unseen?

Praise should flow from a heart committed, not just in moments of blessing, but in seasons of pain and confusion. As Easter draws near, we must ask ourselves this. Do I follow Jesus with my whole heart, or only when it’s easy? Am I a true disciple or just part of the crowd? He gave everything for us. Will we give our all for Him? This Holy Week, let our hosannas come from a place of deep love and unwavering devotion. Let them echo not just on Sunday, but every day we choose to follow our Savior.

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December 24th – Luke 1:45

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Luke 1:45

We all want to be chosen by God to do great things. But if He did appoint a task for us alone to fulfill, how would we feel? I often imagine how Mary must have felt hearing the glorious news she was to carry the Savior of the world. Was she scared, excited, overwhelmed? Did she laugh, cry, or stand frozen in shock? Of the many emotions Mary must have felt, the one she didn’t feel was disbelief. For after asking how this miracle would come to be and hearing, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35), Mary simply replied, “may it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) The example of strength and obedience shown by Mary is something to behold. Her unshakable faith led to God to bless her greatly. And just as He did for Mary, God will bless our faith as well!

 

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November 20th – Romans 4:8

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Romans 4:8 

I’m thankful the Lord never holds my sin against me

Oswald Chambers once said, “Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ.” There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t sin against God everyday. And not a person alive who doesn’t need forgiveness everyday. Lucky for us, we serve a God whose grace and mercy are boundless. One who promises that if we confess and repent of our transgressions, not only does He forgive them, He forgets them! For as Ps. 103:12 tells us, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” What does that mean? Did you know if you travel north, eventually you’ll end up going south. But if you travel east, never will you meet west. That’s how awesome our God is. Even though we deserve nothing, He gave us everything. Through His precious Son, Jesus Christ, God provided a way for our sins to be forgiven, and for us to be declared righteous!

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January 15th – 1 Peter 3:14

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1 Peter 3:14

No one is immune to the feelings of fear and anxiety. Not even the apostle Peter. Throughout the ministry of Christ, Peter was by His side helping, learning, and personally seeing the miracles our Lord performed. Even so, when confronted by an angry crowd after the arrest of Jesus, Peter denied knowing his Savior. And not once, but three times. Why? Because fear, even for a disciple, isn’t easy to overcome. Not easy, but not impossible when we work in God’s power instead of our own. It is God’s power that allows us to live differently from the world. For when we sanctify Christ in our hearts, we need ‘t be troubled. For the Lord gives us a peace that nothing and no one can take away. And by keeping our focus on God we can, like Peter, walk safely on the most troubled waters hand in hand with the Lord.

 

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August 10th – 1 Peter 4:14

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1 Peter 4:14

There is a quote by Dr. Charles Stanley that says, “Persecution can cause either growth or bitterness in the Christian life. It is our response that determines the outcome.” The early believers of the Asia Minor church were being persecuted because of their faith in Jesus. And now almost two thousand years later, Christians are still being persecuted. Following Jesus isn’t easy. And nowhere in the Bible does God say the life of a Christian will be smooth sailing. In fact He promises just the opposite. But we can let the trials of life make us bitter, or we can rejoice in the suffering we endure on behalf of Jesus. Bitterness turns us away from the Lord, and hardens our hearts. But joy reminds us that the Spirit of God dwells in us, and deepens our relationship with Him. And God promises that if we share in Christ’s sufferings, one day we will also share in His glory.

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More than enough – Luke 9

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Luke 9

After being sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel, the disciples returned to give an account to the Lord of all they had done. Wanting to hear their news and spend time alone with them, Jesus took the twelve to the city of Bethsaida. However, others were also eager for the teaching and healing of the Lord. And a large crowd followed. So instead Jesus spent the day ministering to the people. …

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December 13th – Matthew 5:9

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Matthew 5:9

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that those who make peace their calling card are blessed. For as the Prince of Peace, Christ came to bring peace to all who believe in Him. An internal peace of the heart based on faith, love, and the promises of God, and a peace that can never shaken by the forces of this world. As His ambassadors, we are too extend that peace to others. To share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and show them the way to finding that same peace for themselves. For God blesses us to be a blessing to others.

 

 

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