Mar 17 2022

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Most of us would feel uncomfortable if every moment of our lives were on display for everyone to see. The world wouldn't just see the best of us, but also all the times we compromised and showed our personal weaknesses.

There is Someone who sees even the parts of our lives that we hide from the world: our Heavenly Father. He sees everything we say and do, including the bad as well as the good, and He continues to love us unconditionally.

In the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul explains the gift of salvation we have received when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This gift isn't dependent on anything we have done because we could never do enough. It is given to us because of God's great love for us.

When we accept Christ, our past is in our past. Even if we still suffer consequences for our actions, our Savior no longer condemns us for our sin. As Psalm 103:12 states: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

God has freed us from the eternal ramifications of our sins. This freedom doesn't mean that we continue to sin, knowing that God will forgive us. Instead, we should live in gratefulness and grace that we receive and then give to others as we become more like Christ.

Dear God, when my mind reminds me of every sin I've ever committed, I pray that you will give me peace. Your forgiveness and grace now have a home in my heart, so I no longer live in condemnation. Please help me extend your grace to others and remind me not to hold what they have done against them. In Jesus's name, amen.

Mar 16 2022

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. :

From as early as eighteen months of age, we begin to form relationships with others. Throughout our lives, we learn a great deal about relationships, from the benefits of godly friendships to the destruction that can result from bad influences.

Friendships provide companionship and help fill a space in our lives that is otherwise filled with loneliness. After all, God intended us to live life in community with others. We were never meant to live all alone on this Earth.

It is vital that we seek relationships with those who help us grow closer to God. This can come in the form of an older, more seasoned follower of Jesus—or new believers whose excitement about their newly discovered relationship with God is contagious.

It takes maturity in our faith to realize which foolish relationships in our lives should be ended. In the end, no friendship is worth damaging our fellowship with God.

These ungodly types of relationships often reveal our blind spots: the areas in our lives that we can't see, and that don't reflect the image of God. Blind spots are weaknesses, and some relationships seem to magnify these struggles.

We can ask God to send people into our lives who bring out the best in us and help us pursue godly character. If we desire to become wise, we should make it our aim to walk with the wise. These friendships can help us become aware of our blind spots and grow closer to God.

Dear Lord, I'm so grateful for my relationship with You. I pray that as I know You more that You would guide me in my friendships with others. If there are those who pull me away from following after You, help me understand what to do. Lead me to wise people who I can learn from and let me grow in wisdom. In Jesus' name, amen.


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