Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Romans 6:10-11
The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

For centuries, God’s people had sacrificed sacred animals to atone for their sins, but they could never pay for it all themselves. So, in His love, the Lord provided the ultimate, spotless sacrifice: His one and only Son. But unlike other sacrifices, this one came back to life. In the same way, when you accept Christ’s payment for your sins and make Him the anchor of your life, the old you “dies,” and the new you “lives.” Do not live for yourself, but for God, the one to whom you owe your life. The Word encourages you to think of yourself as dead to sin, and alive before the Lord, ready to be who He made you to be, and to do what He wants you to do, one step at a time.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Luke 12:7
Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

How can you know that God’s love is personal, and not professional? Is it possible He just loves Christians as a whole, and not necessarily as individuals? If that were true, the hairs on your head would not be numbered. The shepherd would not leave the ninety-nine to go after the one, and the heavens wouldn’t rejoice when one sinner repents. God’s love for you and you alone is tremendous. He knew who you would be before you were born, and He thought of you as nails were driven through His Son’s hands. Jesus made time for individuals; for the sick and the desperate, and the lowest of the low. He loves His children, everyone, and He calls them by name: the same name that is written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Monday, June 5, 2023

Monday, June 5, 2023
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

You and all other human beings are inherently sinful, tending toward selfishness and deserving of death. You are a broken creation, true… but at the same time, you’re His creation. You were made in the image of the Almighty King of the Universe; a God so far outside of time, space, and everything we call familiar that to even try to imagine Him is impossible. You were made to look like Him, and to walk with Him. The Lord of heaven and earth cares for you like His own child, enough to die for. And He did. So no matter how lowly, insignificant, or unlovable you may feel at times, see through the lies the enemy tries to tell you, and remember this truth: you are the Creators masterpiece, and you were worth dying for.

Friday, June 2, 2023

Friday, June 2, 2023
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Responsibility is not only taking care of the things God has given you but accepting your shortcomings and fighting against them. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin haunts us on a daily basis, and we will stumble… but that’s no reason not to watch where you’re walking. Accept that you’ve made mistakes, even big mistakes, and learn from them. Confess your sins, ask God’s forgiveness, and pray that He would help you defend yourself against temptations and struggles. The more wrong you purge from your life, the more you’ll begin to look like the image of Jesus, and that’s exactly the kind of person the Father wants you to be.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Thursday, June 1, 2023
James 4:17
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

“Doing the right thing” doesn’t always mean taking the shopping cart back to the store, or rounding up your total to give to the children’s hospital. Those small acts are wonderful gestures of kindness, and you should take advantage of them whenever you can… but there’s a lot more to doing the right thing. When the Lord gives clear signs that you’re supposed to do something, it might push you out of your comfort zone. His missions aren’t easy, and like Jonah, you can run in the opposite direction. But when God opens a door, you’ll feel the Holy Spirit’s tug. When that happens, don’t waste the opportunity to do what you know is right.

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Wednesday, May 31, 2023
1 Corinthians 12:12
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Remove one part of the body, and suddenly you’re in trouble. Without eyes, you can’t see. Without ears, you can’t hear. Take away any single one of your fingers, and suddenly even the simplest tasks become a whole lot harder. The Bible describes the Christian community as the “body of Christ” for that exact reason: each person has their own role to play based on the talents, gifts and abilities God has given them. Some are eyes, some are ears, and some are fingers, but all are equally important. You may not know for sure what part of the body you are, but if you’re willing to be brave and give Him the wheel, rest assured that the Lord can and will use you to tremendous effect.