Apr 18 2022

Today's Bible Verse

Let all your things be done with charity.

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In this verse from 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds us to do everything with charity, which means love. This is a very high demand, but the Lord will equip us to follow it. Let's look at how this command translates into our everyday lives.

Everything we do should be done in love. What this means is that our motivation for doing something matters just as much as what we actually do. It is possible to do the right things with the wrong motivations, and this isn't pleasing to God.

To be honest, I struggle with doing everything in love. Sometimes I get weary of working, of serving other people, or of giving my time to something. My work becomes a means to an end instead of something I do out of love. In situations like these, I have to take a step back from the work itself and think about what else is going on in my heart and mind.

Sometimes, I am no longer grateful for the work opportunity I've been given. Sometimes I am just tired and need a break. And at other times, I am simply disobeying Paul's command, forgetting that everything in my life has been given to me by God, who loves me deeply.

If we are struggling to do everything out of love, thinking about the love that the Lord has shown us can help us get back on track. Jesus gave up His life for us and endured death on a cross so we could have a relationship with Him. Now, we live in grace. Meditate on this fact throughout your day. Take time in your Bible study and prayer time to thank the Lord for the love that He has shown you. When we begin to internalize and truly walk in the love that He has first shown us, we will be equipped to live out our lives drawing from the current of His love.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to do all things in love. I don't want to do the right thing for the wrong reason or out of resentment. Instead, help me to be faithful in everything, including my own actions. I love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Apr 17 2022

Yesterday's Bible Verse

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.:

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Yesterday's Bible study

In this verse from 1 Peter, we are reminded that the suffering we face each day will soon come to an end. At the time the verse was written people were often martyred for their faith, just as people in some parts of the world today are martyred for their faith. Even if your suffering does not take this form, the Christian's life is difficult, and it can be easy to become weary. Peter's words are a comfort to us today.

Peter calls God "the God of all grace." This serves as a reminder that the Lord is full of grace, and our suffering does not change that. Clear evidence of this grace is the fact that He has called us unto "his eternal glory." We will enjoy His presence forever—a gift we could never have earned ourselves, but nevertheless are the beneficiaries of.

After we have suffered, the verse says that God will make us perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. That's a lot of promises! Making us perfect means that God will continue to sanctify us; suffering evidently plays a part in helping us live holy lives. Establish means that we will be rooted and grounded in the Lord. Strengthen means that the Lord will make us strong in Him, giving us the ability to follow Him, even when it becomes difficult. Settle means that we will have peace. Even if our own suffering may seem unbearable, we can remember that it is pointing to something better if we endure it unto the Lord.

Remember that God does not look down on us when we suffer. He is not watching us with indifference or wishing that we would endure it more faithfully. Much to the contrary, He stepped into suffering for our sake. He did not sit and watch; rather, He came to Earth and died on a cross for us. He endured tremendous suffering so that one day we could experience eternal glory in Him.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the promise of eternal glory. I look forward to the day when I will rest in your Kingdom perfectly forever. Thank you for being with me and guiding me every moment of my life. Thank you for your precious love. In Jesus' name, amen.
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