Posts Categorized: Devotional

Those Who Hate

Scripture

John 15:18-19 NRSV

“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you.”

Consider

Hate is a strong word. As a child, I was taught that to hate someone meant wishing they were dead. Although somewhat dramatic and simplistic, this axiom holds a grain of truth. Hatred is a declaration of enmity. “I hate broccoli” means I find broccoli revolting and never want to see it on my dinner plate.

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Who Are “The Wicked”?

Scripture

Psalm 36:1-2 NLT

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are.

Consider

God’s Word commonly distinguishes between two kinds of people, the righteous and the wicked. Other labels make the same distinction: children of God and children of the devil, the wise and the foolish, the sheep and the goats, believers and unbelievers.

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Easter Blessings

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! ~Luke 24:5-6 NIV   Wishing you peace and joy as you take hold of the life that is truly life! (1 Timothy 6:19)

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Delivered from Darkness

Scripture

Isaiah 61:1 NIV

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

Consider

How did the people who raised you handle hurts and offenses? If they had difficulty forgiving, chances are that you do, too. The behaviors that were modeled for us become our default reactions that kick in whenever we encounter conflict—unless we learn new habits.

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In Pursuit of God’s Heart

Scripture

1 Samuel 13:13-14 ESV

And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

Consider

Scripture tells us that God called David, King Saul’s successor, a man after his own heart. How could that be?

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