Posted April 28, 2014 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Luke 6:12-13 (New Living Translation)
One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles.
Consider
Jesus spent a lot of time praying. Especially before making a decision or facing a specific task, he readied himself by seeking intimate company with his Father. The above passage tells us that Jesus prayed all night before choosing the twelve men who would become his inner circle of disciples.
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Posted April 21, 2014 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Matthew 5:38-39 (New Living Translation)
“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.”
Consider
Jesus taught his disciples to treat others as they would wish to be treated. Another way to phrase this Golden Rule might be, If someone slaps you on the right cheek, don’t slap him back. Don’t hurt others just because they have hurt you.
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Posted April 14, 2014 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Psalm 18:2 (New International Version)
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Consider
We get into trouble when we make another human being our refuge. We can and should turn to others for comfort and help and support, but even those who love us best will fail us because they are not God. We often saddle them with burdens they cannot possibly bear. We set up expectations that they fail to meet because they are humans like us with limited abilities, resources, and patience.
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Posted April 7, 2014 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Luke 6:37 (New Living Translation)
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.
Consider
Judgment is a tricky subject for Christians. On the one hand, we are told to be wise to the ways of evil and mindful of how our hearts can be influenced by false teachings and cultural values that lead us away from God. On the other hand, we are not to put ourselves in the place of God and judge one another.
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Posted March 31, 2014 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (New Living Translation)
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
Consider
On the day God redeems us, he redeems the whole package. From that moment on, every bit of us belongs to him: our spirit, our body, our soul—and our relationships! His desire is to make us holy and fully conformed to the beautiful nature of Jesus.
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