Love

August 23rd – Matthew 5:11

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Matthew 5:11

It’s a great feeling to be loved, respected, appreciated, and admired by others. We all want to feel valued, especially by the people closest to us. But Jesus gives us a completely different picture of what it means to be truly blessed. In Matthew 5:11, He tells us that we are blessed when people insult persecute and falsely say all kinds of evil against us because of Him.

That’s a hard truth to embrace, especially when the rejection comes from people we love. It hurts when someone we care about mocks what we believe, or distances themselves because we choose to follow the Lord. But Jesus reminds us that our worth isn’t determined by how the world receives us.

There’s something incredibly powerful about being able to rejoice when the world rejects us for standing with Christ. Because it means we value our relationship with Jesus more than we value being liked.

So when persecution comes, we can praise Him. When we’re mocked and rejected, we can refuse to become bitter. And people lie about us, we can remember that Jesus knows the truth.

No one rejoices because persecution feels good. We rejoice because it

reminds us whose side we’re on. Jesus endured rejection, hatred, mockery, and suffering for us. If following Him brings some of that same rejection into our lives, we can count it a privilege rather than a defeat.

The world may reject us, but heaven knows our name. And one day the approval of our Savior will matter infinitely more than the applause of this world.

August 23rd – Matthew 5:11 Read More »

August 19th – 1 Peter 5:8

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1 Peter 5:8

We live in a world where the Enemy is constantly looking for opportunities to discourage us, divide us, and damage our relationship both with God and with one another. He knows our weaknesses, and he will use whatever he can to stir up fear, temptation, doubt, and bitterness.

But we don’t have to live in fear of his schemes. We have been warned to stay alert, remain sober-minded, and stand firm in our faith. The Enemy may be persistent, but he isn’t victorious.

Jesus has already overcome this world. Satan may try to shake us, but he can’t take us out of the hands of our Savior. When temptation comes, we can run to Jesus. When discouragement comes, we can cling to His promises. And when the Enemy whispers lies, we can answer with the truth of God’s Word.

Sometimes the Enemy doesn’t attack us through obvious temptation. Sometimes he uses hurt feelings, misunderstandings, broken relationships, and offenses to create division between God’s children. He would love nothing more than to see us turn against one another. To hold onto bitterness, and lose sight of the love we are called to show. So let us be careful about what we allow to take root in our hearts and quick to surrender those hurts to Jesus.

Stay close to Jesus. Guard your heart. Stay rooted in Scripture and prayer, and don’t allow the Enemy to convince you that you’re fighting alone. The battle may be real, but so is our victory in Christ.

August 19th – 1 Peter 5:8 Read More »

August 13th – Hebrews 12:3

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Hebrews 12:3

Following Jesus was never promised to be easy. In fact, Jesus warned us that the world would hate us because we belong to Him. And standing firm in our faith can mean being misunderstood, mocked, rejected, or even hated. That’s why following Jesus isn’t for the faint of heart. But when those moments come, Hebrews 12:3 tells us to “consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Think about what Jesus endured for us. He was mocked, ridiculed, spit upon, beaten, tortured, and ultimately nailed to a cross. He was innocent, yet He willingly endured the shame and suffering that should have been ours. Jesus could have called down angels to rescue Him, but He chose to stay. Why? Because He loved us. He endured it all so that we could have life.

So when following Jesus becomes difficult, remember who went before you. When you’re criticized for standing on God’s Word, remember Jesus. When you’re rejected because of your faith, remember Jesus. And when you feel weary from trying to live faithfully in a world that doesn’t understand, remember Jesus.

We don’t follow a Savior who asks us to endure something He was unwilling to endure Himself. He walked the road of suffering first, and He walks with us now.

So don’t lose heart. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep standing firm, and loving others, even when they don’t love you back. And remember that whatever this world may throw at us, it can never take away the eternal life Jesus purchased for us with His own precious blood.

August 13th – Hebrews 12:3 Read More »

August 12th – Galatians 5:4

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Galatians 5:4

Religion makes us follow a long list of rules. And it tells us we have to try to prove that we’re good enough for God. But none of us could ever keep enough rules, do enough good things, or live a perfect enough life to earn our salvation. If we could save ourselves through our own efforts, we would never would have need of a Savior.

The truth is, we don’t have to work our way to God because Jesus made the way for us. His blood paid a price we could never pay, and His finished work is enough. Salvation isn’t something we can earn. Instead, it’s a free gift received through faith in Jesus Christ.

Following Jesus isn’t about checking off a list of religious requirements. It’s about having a personal relationship with the One who loved us enough to lay down His life for us. And it’s about receiving His grace, trusting His sacrifice, and understanding that the work of salvation has already been accomplished through His shed blood on the Cross.

And grace doesn’t mean that how we live doesn’t matter. Quite the opposite. When we truly understand how much Jesus has forgiven us and how freely He has loved us, our hearts should desire to follow Him. We obey not because we are trying to earn His love, but because we already have it.

There is such freedom in that truth. We can stop striving, stop comparing ourselves, and stop trying to prove that we’re worthy. So today rest in the finished work of Christ. Your salvation isn’t dependent on how perfectly you perform. It rests on the perfect Savior who gave everything for you.

August 12th – Galatians 5:4 Read More »

August 10th – 2 Peter 3:18

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2 Peter 3:18

Growing in Christ means that our relationship with Jesus isn’t meant to stay where it began. Just as a child grows into maturity, we are called to grow spiritually. To know Jesus more deeply, understand His Word more clearly, and become more like Him with each passing day.

We grow in grace when we learn to extend to others the same mercy, patience, forgiveness, and kindness that God has shown us. We grow in knowledge when we spend time in His Word, pray, ask questions, and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us. And as we grow, our faith becomes more than something we simply believe. It becomes something we live.

Why does this matter? Because the more we know Jesus, the more we recognize His voice, trust His heart, and understand His ways. We become better equipped to recognize what is true in a world filled with confusion and deception. We become stronger when trials come and more prepared to stand firm in our faith.

And perhaps most importantly, spiritual growth changes the way we live. The closer we get to Jesus, the more His character should begin to show in us. Our words become kinder, our hearts more compassionate, our choices more obedient, and our lives more reflective of the Savior we love.

We are all works in progress, and that’s okay. God isn’t asking us to be perfect today. He’s inviting us to keep growing. So don’t become discouraged by how far you still have to go. Look at how far God has already brought you, and keep moving forward. Keep opening His Word. Keep seeking Him, surrendering your heart, and keep growing in grace and knowledge.

August 10th – 2 Peter 3:18 Read More »

August 2nd – John 15:4

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John 15:4

Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you.” Those simple words hold the secret to the Christian life. In a world that constantly tells us to do more, be more, and rely on our own strength, Jesus reminds us of something different. Which is that our greatest need isn’t to strive harder but to stay close to Him.

Just as a branch can’t survive apart from the vine, we can’t flourish spiritually apart from Christ. We may be busy, productive, and even well intentioned. But without Him eventually we’ll become weary and spiritually dry. Because abiding in Jesus means being intentional. Intentionally making Him our daily priority through spending time in His Word, talking with Him in prayer, trusting His promises, and depending on His strength instead of our own.

The more we remain connected to Jesus, the more His life flows through us. That allows us to produce the fruits of the Spirit. Fruits including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and faithfulness.

So if you’ve been feeling exhausted or distant from God, maybe it isn’t because you need to do more. Maybe He’s simply inviting you to draw nearer and rest in His love. Stay connected to the Vine, and He will provide everything you need to grow, endure, and bear fruit for His glory.

August 2nd – John 15:4 Read More »

July 29th – 2 Peter 3:18

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2 Peter 3:18

We live in a world that encourages us to grow in almost everything. To grow in our careers, finances, appearance, social media following, and our achievements. While there’s nothing wrong with growing in those areas, God reminds us that the most important growth is spiritual growth.

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one day at a time as we spend time in God’s Word, talk with Him in prayer, obey His voice, and trust Him through life’s joys and struggles. Every trial teaches us to depend on Him a little more. Every answered prayer strengthens our faith. And every time we choose forgiveness, humility, or love over selfishness, we become a little more like Jesus.

Growing in grace also means extending to others the same patience, mercy, and forgiveness that God has shown us. And growing in the knowledge of Christ means more than just reading about Him. It means knowing Him personally, walking with Him daily, and allowing Him to transform our hearts.

No matter how long you’ve followed Jesus, there is always more to learn, more to surrender, and more of His love to experience. So don’t become comfortable where you are. Keep seeking Him, keep trusting Him, and keep growing. The closer we draw to Jesus, the more our lives will reflect His beauty, His grace, and His love to a world that desperately needs Him.

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July 28th – 1 John 2:6

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1 John 2:6

None of us is perfect, and God doesn’t expect us to be. He knows our weaknesses, our failures, and the battles we face every day. But while God doesn’t call us to perfection, He does call us to pursue Christ. Because if we say we belong to Jesus, our lives should increasingly reflect His character.

Walking like Jesus doesn’t mean we will never stumble. It means that when we do, we confess, repent, get back up, and keep following Him. It means choosing humility over pride, forgiveness over bitterness, kindness over anger, and obedience over compromise. As we spend time abiding in Christ, His Spirit gradually transforms us from the inside out.

Our relationship with Jesus should be more than words we speak on Sunday. It should be evident in the way we live, the way we love, and the way we treat others every day. Anyone can claim to know Christ, but a life that consistently grows in obedience, compassion, and love is the evidence that He truly lives within us.

We will never walk perfectly this side of heaven, but by God’s grace, we can walk faithfully. And every step taken in obedience brings us one step closer to becoming more like the Savior we love.

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July 27th – Lamentations 3:31

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Lamentations 3:31

I once read that the silence of God can feel like rejection, but feelings aren’t  always truth. Even when you can’t feel His presence, He hasn’t abandoned you. The Father who disciplines you is still the Father who loves you, and His love never lets you go.

No one goes through this life without hardship, suffering, disappointment, or seasons of discipline. There are times when God allows us to walk through painful valleys, and there are times when He lovingly corrects us because we’ve wandered from His will. In those moments, it can be easy to wonder if God has turned away from us or if our suffering means He no longer wants us.

But Lamentations 3:31 reminds us that the Lord doesn’t cast off His people forever. His discipline is never rooted in malice, cruelty, or a desire to destroy us. Even when He allows grief, His heart is still filled with compassion and love. A loving Father disciplines His children for their good, not to push them away, but to draw them closer and guide them back to the right path.

His correction may hurt, but His love never does. His discipline is temporary, but His faithfulness is everlasting. So if you’re walking through a difficult season today, remember that your pain is not proof that God has abandoned you. He may be refining you, correcting you, or teaching you, but He hasn’t forgotten you. The same God who allows the valley is the God who walks through it with you. His heart is compassionate, His mercy is great, and His love will never let you go.

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July 24th – Micah 7:7

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Micah 7:7

We are living in a time when moral decay, rising wickedness, and violence seem to be growing all around us. Everywhere we look, we see a world that appears to be moving further away from God and further away from the truth of His Word. Values that were once considered right are now called wrong, and what God calls sinful is often celebrated. Violence fills the news, families are hurting, hearts are growing cold, and many people are living without any desire for God.

It can be discouraging to watch. At times, it may even feel as though darkness is winning. But Micah gives us a powerful response to living in difficult times. He says, “But as for me, I watch in hope for God my Savior; I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

What a beautiful declaration of faith. Micah didn’t place his hope in the world getting better. He placed his hope in God. And that is where our hope must be found too. As we see the return of Jesus drawing closer, we don’t have to live in fear, panic, or despair. We can look up with expectation, knowing that our Savior is coming again.

Until that glorious day comes, we can trust that God is still with us. He sees the wickedness around us. He sees the suffering, the injustice, and the pain. And He hears every prayer we lift to Him. No prayer is wasted, and no cry goes unnoticed by our Heavenly Father.

So while we wait for Jesus, let us remain faithful. Let us continue praying, standing firm in God’s truth, loving others, and sharing the light of Christ with a world that desperately needs Him. The darkness may grow, but it will never overcome the light of Jesus. Our Savior is coming. Until then, we wait in hope, we pray in faith, and we trust in the God who hears us.

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