Luke

June 28th- Luke 17:4

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Luke 17:4

“And if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Even the strongest of Christian can find themselves stuck in a cycle of habitual sin. A repeated pattern of sinning, repenting, and sinning again. Yet thankfully, God’s forgiveness knows no limits. His love and mercy extend beyond our failures and weaknesses. No matter how many times we stumble or fall into the same patterns, God’s grace is always available to us. He understands our struggles and is patient with our journey of transformation. So each and every time we come to Him with a repentant heart, He forgives us completely and washes away our sins. God’s desire is not to condemn but to restore us, to set us free from the chains of habitual sin. So trust in His unfailing love and lean on His grace to empower you in overcoming habitual sin. Embrace the process of growth and transformation, knowing that through God’s mercy and our willingness to surrender, healing and victory can be ours.

June 28th- Luke 17:4 Read More »

June 25th – Luke 11:4

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Luke 11:4

“And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.”

Like it or not, seeking forgiveness from God and extending forgiveness to others is a package deal. You can’t have one without the other. Why? Because we are the Lord’s ambassadors on earth. And when we forgive those who have wronged us, we mirror God’s forgiveness in our own lives to a watching world. But along with that, God wants us to experience the freedom and restoration that comes from receiving and extending forgiveness. And the great blessing both bring. For as Jesus teaches, as wonderful as receiving forgiveness is, it’s an even greater blessing to give. (Acts 20:35) As Christians we receive the transformative power of God’s grace. And out of thankful hearts, we should embody that forgiving spirit towards others. God’s forgiveness goes hand in hand with forgiving others. So if we want to receive the abundance of His mercy, we need to abundantly give it to others.

June 25th – Luke 11:4 Read More »

June 22nd – Luke 7:43

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Luke 7:43

“Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven. You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.”

Some hurts run deeper than others, and some wrongs harder to forget. But in His parable about the moneylender, Jesus tells us that no matter how we’ve been sinned against, great or small, we are to forgive. That’s not to say it will be easy. Forgiveness can be an uphill battle. But God knows the healing that comes along with letting go of grudges, bitterness, and resentment. And the sweet freedom it brings. Because forgiveness allows us to let go of negative emotions and liberate ourselves from the burden of the past. Forgiveness frees us from the pain of guilt. And studies have shown that holding onto anger and bitterness affects our physical and mental well being. One of the hardest things God calls us to do is forgive. Especially forgiving those who have hurt us the most. No doable in our strength. But through the strength of the Holy Spirit of God living inside of us, nothing is impossible! (Luke 1:37)

June 22nd – Luke 7:43 Read More »

June 21st – Luke 23:34

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Luke 23:34

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

When we are wronged, betrayed, and hurt, we want swift and immediate justice. Yet in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” There isn’t anyone who was betrayed more than Jesus. Beat, tortured, spit upon, cursed, and hung on a cross of wood, Jesus could have called an army of angels to exact justice upon those who hurt Him. (Matt. 26:63) But despite being unjustly condemned, Jesus uttered the powerful words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” This act of forgiveness reveals Jesus’ boundless love and mercy. And it shows that forgiveness doesn’t depend on the actions or remorse of the wrongdoer. By extending forgiveness, we not only free ourselves from the burden of anger and pain but also create an environment of healing and restoration. Through Jesus’ example, we are reminded of the power of forgiveness over justice and its ability to foster love, compassion, and reconciliation in our relationships.

June 21st – Luke 23:34 Read More »

June 16th – Luke 7:48

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Luke 7:48

“Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

I love the quote that says we tend to look at others through a magnifying glass while looking at ourselves through rose colored glasses. When I read about Simon I immediately felt indignant at how he looked upon the woman at the feet of Jesus. I thought, “Typical Pharisee. Can’t see his own sins through his sanctimonious forest of the sins of others.” Right then and there, God laid a conviction on my heart. It turns out, Simon wasn’t so different from myself. The Lord revealed to me that all of this time, I have been looking at others through the self righteous eyes of Simon. Before if anyone had asked, I would have said that I had forgiven others for hurts of the past. And it’s true, that many times I have prayed for a heart that is free of bitterness and anger. But after some serious soul searching, I realized that although my lips said forgiveness, my heart did not. We all need to take stock of our heart attitudes and makes sure we are offering the forgiveness that the Lord so generously offers to us.

June 16th – Luke 7:48 Read More »

May 31st – Luke 23:21

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Luke 23:21

Have you ever been disappointed by Jesus? You’re probably saying to yourself right now, “What!?  Of course not!” But if we’re being honest, wouldn’t the answer be yes? Because the truth is, Jesus doesn’t always meet our expectations. He doesn’t promise a life free from suffering, nor to give us what we want. But what He does promise is to be our shelter in the worst of storms, and to provide for our every need. How do you handle the disappointments life throws your way? Do you trust in Jesus, His infinite wisdom, and His love for you? Or like the crowds in Jerusalem do you reject Him, turning away in bitterness and anger? Philippians 4:19 reminds us, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ.” As followers of Jesus, we can have confidence that God knows best. And He knows what we need, when we need it. So trust in Him and His great love for you. And when you look back on life’s disappointments, don’t be surprised to find that they are in fact blessings that ended up being far greater than you could have ever expected!

May 31st – Luke 23:21 Read More »

May 27th – Luke 10:19

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Luke 10:19

I love the quote, “Give the devil his due, but don’t over pay him. ”Spiritual warfare is a serious business. But what many Christian’s fail to realize is that although the devil has power, he has no authority. As followers of Jesus, we have both power and authority over the enemy. That means the only dominion Satan has in our lives is what we give him. Oh he may throw opposition, adversity, and spiritual forces our way that seek to hinder our faith and well-being. However with the authority given by Jesus, we can stand firm and resist every attack. Think of how hard the Enemy pursued Jesus. Yet not once did the Lord give Satan victory. Not once did Christ fall for his lies. And we don’t have to either. Know who you belong to and who you are in Christ. Through Him we can do all things. Because He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) And from the Lord’s greatness and authority, we can have peace, happiness, and joy, despite what the devil wants.

May 27th – Luke 10:19 Read More »

March 7th – Genesis 12:2

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Genesis 12:2

The idea of paying it forward isn’t a new fad. In fact it was God Himself who came up with the idea. Throughout the Bible we find that God blesses us to pay it forward and be a blessing to others. Why? Because when we use what God gives us to help and serve others, we show God’s love to the world. The blessings we receive from God, whether they be material possessions, skills, or talents, come with the responsibility to use them for good. For as we’re told in Luke 12:48, to whom much is given, much is required. Most of all, being blessed to be a blessing is a way of fulfilling God’s call to love and serve others. It reminds us that our blessings are not just for our own benefit, but are gifts that we can use to help others and make the world a better place. Look  at Abraham. Through him came the greatest blessing of all, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

March 7th – Genesis 12:2 Read More »

February 23rd – Luke 6:35

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Luke 6:35

The world is full of difficult people. And the last thing we want to do is love them, do good things for them, and pray blessings into their lives. Yet that’s what Jesus calls us to do. To love our enemies as He loves us. So how do we get past our hard feelings? First, by bearing one another’s burdens. (Gal. 6:2) Second, by remembering we all fall short of God’s glory. (Matt. 6:23) Third, by never giving up on doing the right thing. (Gal. 6:9) All Jesus did wasn’t for His benefit, but for ours. For once we too were poor, in need, and enemies of God. Having a debt we could never pay, Christ came to ransom His life for ours. And out of thankfulness for His unmerited grace, He wants us to pay it forward. To extend the same to others. Continuing to sow seeds of love and goodness, remembering God promises what we give will be given back to us. (Luke 6:38)

February 23rd – Luke 6:35 Read More »

February 3rd – Luke 6:44

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Luke 6:44

Jesus says that each of us is a fruit bearing tree. And the way in which we live our lives, meaning the decisions we make, the words we speak, and our actions towards others, determine the goodness of our bounty. The world is starving for the ripe, filling, spiritual fruit of God. And I want my tree to be one that produces an abundant harvest for the Lord. To do that I need to dig deep in the dirt. Fertilizing my roots with God’s Word to get firmly planted in Him. My branches need to stretch far and wide in the hopes of providing love and comfort for others. My trunk needs to be healthy and strong before I notice the flaws in another’s. And my leaves need to seek the light of God’s presence. Trusting in Him alone to provide the warmth and nutrients I need for my fruit to grow and ripen. Doing all, “in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of the Lord.” (Col. 1:10)

February 3rd – Luke 6:44 Read More »