Posted October 17, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
John 17:22-23 (NIV)
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Consider
Unity among believers is an important theme stressed repeatedly in New Testament writings. The glory that Jesus received from the Father and gave to his disciples is the radiant, beautiful, and powerful presence of God.
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Posted October 10, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Proverbs 24:28-29 (NLT)
Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them. And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”
Consider
Thirst for revenge is a natural instinct. Everyone knows that nasty little spirit who whispers, “You don’t have to take that insult lying down—get even!” Consequently, there is no stronger witness for our faith than responding well to a personal injury or offense.
Life repeatedly presents us with opportunities to choose God’s way or the way of the world.
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Posted October 3, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Philippians 2:3-5 (NRSV)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
Consider
Living for Christ means living as Christ would in our daily circumstances. We are each given a sphere of influence—friends, family, coworkers, neighbors—and our job is to make Christ visible by the way we act and speak and make decisions.
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Posted September 26, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Acts 5:17-21 (NIV)
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
Consider
The Jewish religious leaders arrested the apostles because they were filled with jealousy.
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Posted September 19, 2016 | Judith Ingram
Scripture
Psalm 103:12-14 (NRSV)
As far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
Consider
Imagine that picture: as far as the east is from the west. To gaze upon the east, you must completely turn away from the west. You cannot look at them together.
So it is with grace and sin. To look at one is to turn your back on the other.
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