Aug 26 2024

Today's Bible Verse

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

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In this verse from James, we learn about the effects of sin on our relationship with the Lord. James addresses this verse to people who are committing adultery, but it applies to any type of sin. He writes that when we are friends with the world, we are making an enemy of the Lord. Sin and a relationship with God do not mix; sin is diametrically opposed to everything God stands for.

Our culture rejects this verse. It says that sin, especially sexual sin, is a way to find ourselves and there should be no consequences for doing wrong. But this is not in accordance with what God wants because sin separates us from Him. Even if we know Him, we cannot approach Him with sin in our hearts. It cuts us off from the very source of joy, peace, and love.

This is because the Lord is holy. His holiness means that sinfulness cannot be near Him; we are unable to come close to Him. When Adam and Eve sinned, they cut themselves off from the Lord because they had defiled themselves. There was no way that we could ever atone for our sins because we deserved death—our sin was the final closing of a door on our communion with the Lord.

However, in His love, the Lord made a way for us all to have a relationship with Him. Jesus died an innocent death, and His innocent blood was the perfect, single sacrifice that atoned for our sin. Through His death, our redemption became possible.

This is why living in sin makes an enemy of God: It is an active rejection of what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross. It says that we would rather have our sin than a living-giving, supernatural relationship with the Lord who created us. It says that adultery, cheating, lying, and stealing are better than being loved by God—and that pushes God out of our lives.

Yet repentance is always an option. When we forsake our sin and ask the Lord to give us life in Him, He will. He will forget that we ever turned away from him, and welcome us into His kingdom as His sons and daughters. We can have friendship with the Lord, even today.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for forgiving me of all my sins. Thank you for loving me beyond my own comprehension. Thank you for Jesus, who made it possible for me to be friends with you forever. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Aug 25 2024

Yesterday's Bible Verse

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. :

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Yesterday's Bible study

In Psalm 90, Moses prays to the Lord. He opens by saying that the Lord has been Israel's dwelling place, and then in today's verse, he emphasizes that truth. Before there were mountains, the earth, or anything else, the Lord existed. He is God from everlasting to everlasting—for all eternity. Today, we will think about what this verse means, and how knowing that the Lord is eternal affects our lives.

What does it mean for God to be eternal? It means there has never been and never will be a time when He does not exist. There is no second when His presence is not here; He is with us every single moment, guiding us for all of our days. Because He has always existed, we never have to fear His nonexistence. Our faith has a sure foundation because the Lord will never change.

This gives us confidence in all circumstances. Because the Lord is eternal, His attributes are as well: His love, His mercy, His grace, His kindness, and so many more. This means there will never be a time when the Lord will stop loving you. There will never be a time when the Lord says you've exhausted the amount of mercy or grace that He has for you. He will never stop being kind to you, and He will always receive you through Jesus.

There is nothing on Earth that promises an eternal guarantee like the Lord does. There is no better way to spend our lives than getting to know the God who was and who always will be. His eternality translates into infinite, gracious love for all of us. The Lord knows everything about us (and always will), and yet he loves us beyond our comprehension.

Today, if you are in a place of trial or questioning whether or not the Lord sees you, remember these words from Moses. The Lord is "from everlasting to everlasting." The Lord knows you, loves you, and will walk with you all of your days. Call out to Him, and He will meet you right where you are.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for loving me, especially when I could never earn your love. Thank you for being an eternal God, being present from everlasting to everlasting, and for speaking to me in this moment. In Jesus' name, amen.
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