Morning Devotion
January 7, 2021
Today's Bible Verse
Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.<br><br>
Today's Bible Study
In this verse, we are reminded of the importance of being kind and forgiving to one another. Paul knows these qualities will encourage a spirit of unity among church members, and he emphasizes that the root of this behavior is that Christ has forgiven them.
To adjust our mindset and ensure that our hearts are in the right place, it's a good idea to meditate on the reality of the forgiveness that the Lord has shown us. Consider this: We were utterly hopeless in our sin. We had no way of overcoming how we had turned against the Lord. We were unrighteous and could never approach a holy God.
Yet the Lord made up His mind to forgive our sin long before any of us sinned. He had a plan for redemption in place before it was ever put into action. And when the time came, He sent Jesus to live and die so we could know Him and be cleansed from our sins by His blood. This is the forgiveness that He has provided each of us.
To adjust our mindset and ensure that our hearts are in the right place, it's a good idea to meditate on the reality of the forgiveness that the Lord has shown us. Consider this: We were utterly hopeless in our sin. We had no way of overcoming how we had turned against the Lord. We were unrighteous and could never approach a holy God.
Yet the Lord made up His mind to forgive our sin long before any of us sinned. He had a plan for redemption in place before it was ever put into action. And when the time came, He sent Jesus to live and die so we could know Him and be cleansed from our sins by His blood. This is the forgiveness that He has provided each of us.
We cannot believe the Gospel and remain unchanged—it touches every aspect of our lives. The Gospel changes the way we see ourselves and the way we see the Lord. It paints us as unworthy but beloved beneficiaries of grace, and the Lord as a loving redeemer. Knowing that God is so, so good to us changes the way we respond to other people and to our own circumstances. Instead of looking to ourselves in times of trouble, we look to the Lord in faith for deliverance.
Because God has been tenderhearted and forgiving to us, we should naturally become more and more tender to other people. This will happen as we grow nearer to the Lord. Over time, we will become more and more like Him, living out this verse in Ephesians as we spend more time with Him.
Because God has been tenderhearted and forgiving to us, we should naturally become more and more tender to other people. This will happen as we grow nearer to the Lord. Over time, we will become more and more like Him, living out this verse in Ephesians as we spend more time with Him.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I am so grateful that you saved me. I needed you more than I will ever really understand, and you met that need. Help me to show your love to other people around me. Create in me a tender and forgiving heart. I thank you for your kindness to me. In Jesus' name, amen.
If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.
-C.S. Lewis
God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.
-Elbert Hubbard
The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.
-C.S. Lewis
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
-Dorothy Parker
Yesterday's Devotional
January 6, 2021
Yesterday's Bible Verse
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. <br><br>
Yesterday's Bible Study
In this verse, we get a picture of what happens when Christians walk together in the light. Today, we'll look at what walking in the light means and how it transforms our human relationships.
Walking in the light means we live blameless lives. We reflect the perfection of God when we live in a holy manner, which pleases the Lord. Our lives are no longer characterized by gossip, lying, taking advantage of people, or a sharp tongue. Instead, we're generous, encouraging, kind, and gracious. Our response to sin in our lives isn't to dig deeper into it, but instead to come to the Lord in true repentance. We avoid the darkness by getting out of it quickly as the Holy Spirit prompts us. We walk in the light, sharing the love of God with other people.
When we live pure and holy lives, we will be able to have the kind of genuine human fellowship that we were all meant for. When we don't have to question whether or not someone truly loves us and wants the best for us, we're able to be open and vulnerable to each other. When we're vulnerable, we make it possible for other people to encourage us in deep ways that draw us closer to each other.
Walking in the light means we live blameless lives. We reflect the perfection of God when we live in a holy manner, which pleases the Lord. Our lives are no longer characterized by gossip, lying, taking advantage of people, or a sharp tongue. Instead, we're generous, encouraging, kind, and gracious. Our response to sin in our lives isn't to dig deeper into it, but instead to come to the Lord in true repentance. We avoid the darkness by getting out of it quickly as the Holy Spirit prompts us. We walk in the light, sharing the love of God with other people.
When we live pure and holy lives, we will be able to have the kind of genuine human fellowship that we were all meant for. When we don't have to question whether or not someone truly loves us and wants the best for us, we're able to be open and vulnerable to each other. When we're vulnerable, we make it possible for other people to encourage us in deep ways that draw us closer to each other.
Christian friendships look different from worldly friendships because we have been cleansed from sin through Jesus Christ. When our relationships are rooted in opportunities to encourage each other in the Lord, they become like pieces of heaven on earth. They are glimpses of the kind of human relationships we will have in the future!
As we walk in the light and God puts people across our paths to minister to and befriend, we can experience His love and power through others… just as He intended.
As we walk in the light and God puts people across our paths to minister to and befriend, we can experience His love and power through others… just as He intended.
Yesterday's Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you so much for friendship and fellowship with other believers. Help me to walk in the light and to know you more and more with each passing day. Help me to be a minister of the love of the Lord always, drawing others closer and closer to you. I love you. In Jesus' name, amen.