Thursday, April 20, 2023

Thursday, April 20, 2023
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Someone claiming to be a follower of Christ who doesn’t control their tongue damages not only others, but themselves and their reputation. What are people supposed to make of your beliefs if the things that come out of your mouth are so different? How could someone speak with such hate toward one person, and with such love to another? The Word says that the tongue is dangerous; like a tiny match, it can easily set a whole forest ablaze. Taming your words is hard work, but the perfect example of gentleness is one prayer away. Ask Christ to give you the same grace for others that He gives to you daily, and He will show you how to love them as He does.

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jesus seemed to have a calming presence, even when He said things that shook people’s worldview and left them wondering. He spoke with authority, but He wasn’t harsh. He spoke the truth, but He didn’t condemn others. He was gentle with His children, and He commanded His children to be gentle to each other. He isn’t a cruel Savior, and the gift of salvation isn’t one you have to struggle for. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Christ is right there with you on the battlefield, but He’s also with you in the quiet moments as a gentle hand on your shoulder, and a tender voice to calm the storm.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Tuesday, April 18, 2023
2 Timothy 2:24-25
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

Human souls are the most valuable things in all Creation; precious enough that the Lord sent a part of Himself to die so that they could be saved. If that’s true, it makes sense why the way we treat others matters so much to God. This brief window of time we call life is where the eternal fate of souls is decided. A person’s experiences, the decisions they make, and the people who influence them are all factors that can affect if they come to Christ in their lifetime. Who are we to treat them poorly? Treat others with love and with gentleness; the same gentleness that Jesus would’ve shown you if He were here right now. You might be the only good look at Christ that someone will ever get. Make it a good one!

Monday, April 17, 2023

Monday, April 17, 2023
Proverbs 29:25
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

God intended for life to be peaceful forever. Thanks to mankind’s original sin, it’s not… but that doesn’t mean peace is no longer a priority. God wants His children to have lives that are rich with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and all the Fruits of the Spirit. By living a life that makes your Creator smile, you make the world around you look that much more like He originally intended. Live gently, nurturing good things in life and taking care of what God has given you. You won’t have this life forever, but while you do, live it the way He wants you to.

Friday, April 14, 2023

Friday, April 14, 2023
Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

“I Am” was the name the Lord gave Himself when asked by Moses, and I can’t think of a name more fitting. All things came from God, all things exist through God, and all things belong to God. You can’t separate even one particle of creation from the Creator, and not one moment of time either. We serve a truly amazing God, who made a universe full of good, meant for good, and destined for good. And yet, even though it’s been plagued by sin and ruined by people, the Lord had a rescue plan, and His name was Christ. To God be the glory forever and ever, from whom, through whom, and to whom are all things.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Thursday, April 13, 2023
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Chances are you either struggle with self-esteem, or you have too much of it. Nobody is perfect, and certainly nobody is without faults, shortcomings, and sin. 1 John tells us that “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” But therein lies the beauty of God’s grace: that even while you were a sinner, Jesus died for you, and even though you have weaknesses, He uses them for His glory. His strength and never-ending love are most obvious when they’re present in a broken life, taking who some would call a lost cause, and using them to do great things.