| Today's Bible Verse |
| "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
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Romans 8:1 King James Version (KJV)
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| Today's Bible Study |
When our children were young, we often recorded movies and children’s television specials for them to watch. This was convenient and gave us the added feature of fast-forwarding through commercials.
Of course, the commercials were still recorded on the tape. So were news bulletins, weather alerts, and other messages that ran during the time we were recording.
Thus, when in the heat of August, we sat down to watch a movie taped in January, we were sometimes surprised when a printed message slid across the bottom of our screen warning us to expect from four to six inches of snowfall before midnight. Programs taped during thunderstorms were often interrupted to allow the National Weather Service to warn viewers of upcoming danger.
These warnings, though not real threats, scared our four-year-old son.
After several explanations of how taped recordings operate, he understood that the warnings were not for him. Soon he learned to grab the remote control and fast forward through them.
Many times, we are frightened by memories of past sins of which we have repented and for which we have been forgiven. Satan plants these thoughts, hoping to cause believers to doubt God’s promise to forgive. That doubt cripples us in our work for God.
I have learned in these situations to address Satan with these words: “Jesus has taken care of that matter. You’ll need to talk to Him about it.” Blessed truth!
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| Today's Prayer |
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| Lord, thank you for the forgiveness You gave me through Jesus. I didn’t earn forgiveness and can’t repay You for it. But I trust Your promises. Amen.
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| Yesterday's Bible
Verse |
| "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
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1 Peter 3:9 King James Version (KJV)
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| Yesterday's Bible
Study |
It has been said: Hurting people hurt people.
This means when people hurt me, they often are acting out of their own hurt. Their hurt does not, of course, give them a license to hurt me. It does, though, make their unkind behavior easier to understand.
We must not allow people’s bad treatment of us make us bitter, hateful people.
Consider the story of Joseph in Genesis 37. As a young man, Joseph was sold by his own brothers into slavery.
Those brothers were angry. They didn’t receive from their father the special treatment Joseph enjoyed. In addition, Joseph claimed he had dreams that foretold greatness for him. He suggested that his brothers would one day serve him.
Those words hurt the brothers.
When Jacob’s brothers sold him, they were hurting men hurting Joseph.
Joseph was certainly a hurting man too. But Joseph chose forgiveness over retaliation. He was one hurting person who chose not to hurt in return.
You and I are hurting people living hectic, frenzied lives among other hurting people. Sometimes we get bumped. We hurt. But we must not choose to hurt people because we ourselves are hurting.
We must be like Joseph and choose love and forgiveness over retaliation.
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| Yesterday's Prayer |
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| Lord, this is a hard lesson. Help me remember the example of Jesus, who suffered but responded with love and forgiveness, not retaliation. Amen.
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