No Condemnation..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 No Condemnation

Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 8:1-4

Some believers are plagued by feelings of condemnation. Either they think they'll never live up to God's expectations for them or they're nearly drowning in guilt over past sins. These men and women cannot seem to shake the sense that God is displeased with their puny efforts at being Christlike.

The book of Romans confronts this lie head-on: "There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). When the Savior went to the cross on our behalf, He lifted the blame from our shoulders and made us righteous before God. Those feelings of condemnation do not belong to us; they are from Satan. He amplifies our guilt and feelings of inadequacy and then suggests that's how the Lord feels about His "wayward child." Nothing could be further from the truth. Our sins are wiped clean, and we are chosen and loved by God.

Condemnation is reserved for those who reject the Lord (John 3:36). Sin is a death sentence (Rom. 6:23). Anyone who chooses to cling to sin instead of seeking divine forgiveness must pay the penalty, which is an eternity separated from God. Two synonyms of condemn are 'denounce' and 'revile.' Those words certainly describe Jesus' statement to unbelievers in Matthew 25:41: "Depart from me, accursed ones."

There is no condemnation for those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. The believer's penalty for sin is paid, and he can stand blameless before God. Trust in the Lord's love and let go of Satan's lie. God's beloved children are covered by His grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Being a Person of Peace..... Craig Denison

 

Being a Person of Peace

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

One of the most powerful marks of a believer is transcendent peace. This world offers us no reason to be peaceful. It offers us no reason to be without stress, burdens, cares, and total frustration. But we serve a God who offers us peace in the midst of any circumstance. We serve a God in whom all true peace finds its source. May you discover the heart of your heavenly Father to bring you peace this week.

Scripture:“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

Devotional:

One of the highest callings of God on the lives of his children is to be peacemakers. This world has no reason to have peace or give peace. While people are at war within themselves, striving to satisfy longings that can only be satisfied in God, we cannot expect them to bring peace around them. It’s for this reason that you and I are called to make peace at all costs.

Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” To be a child of God is to make peace with everyone around you, regardless of how they treat you. Jesus sought peace at every turn. Even his turning of the tables was a cry for peace between man and his Father in heaven. The passionate condemnation of sin in Scripture exists to rid that which separates us from the peace of God. The fight for heavenly peace in the lives of men is a cause worth sacrifice, unfair treatment, and even persecution. For example, Scripture teaches us in 1 Peter 3:9-11,

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”

This world has no defense for unmerited blessing. It has no defense for the people of God loving unconditionally. When we choose not to repay evil for evil or revile when we’ve been reviled, we bring heaven to earth around us. No man or woman can live a truly peaceful life apart from the help of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus said in Matthew 5:38-42,

You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

The next time someone does evil to you, remember that it was us who did evil to Jesus. The next time someone “slaps you on the right cheek,” remember that it was us who shouted, “Crucify him!” when Jesus had done nothing wrong. It was our sin that put Jesus on the cross, and yet he willingly sacrificed his life that we might know peace. It’s time for the people of God to choose to love others as Christ has loved us. It’s time for us to lay down our rights in this life that others might come to know the love we’ve been shown. May you be filled with the courage to love unconditionally today as you encounter God’s heart to fashion you into a peacemaker.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the call to be a peacemaker.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17

2. What consistently keeps you from being a person of peace? What sense of justice or fairness keeps you from turning the other cheek?

3. Meditate on the actions of Jesus when he was unfairly treated. Why didn’t he fight back? Ask the Holy Spirit to heal any wounds you have that keep you from loving unconditionally. Ask him to make you like Jesus that you would love people better today and make peace around you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” Matthew 5:38-42

“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.’” 1 Peter 3:9-11

Scripture never said that making peace would be easy. It also never said that it would come naturally. Being a peacemaker only comes from living out of a revelation of who Jesus is and who we are in him. It only comes from valuing God’s heart over our own worldliness. There are not some of us who are peacemakers and others who are fighters. There are not some of us who are just meek and mild and others who aren’t. We are all called to make peace. We are all called to turn the other cheek. We are all called to search out the will of God for our lives and choose his ways over our own or the world’s. To choose to make peace is to live a lifestyle filled with the Spirit and all his fruit. May you abide in your heavenly Father today and experience the abundant life that comes from making peace all around you.

Extended Reading: 1 Peter 3

Waiting for the Calm After the Storm..... MEREDITH HOUSTON CARR

 Waiting for the Calm After the Storm

MEREDITH HOUSTON CARR

“But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:38-39 (ESV)

On a recent trip to the coast, my family and I witnessed a massive tempest one evening. As the wind whipped my face, I watched bulbous clouds rise high into the eggplant sky. Thunder and lightning tangoed, delighting our eyes and ears. The sea churned and lashed with such ferocity that it looked like it would never return to serenity.

But the following day, we awoke to a bright calm. Peace settled over the deep blue water as it quietly lapped against the shore once again. Such a sight had seemed impossible just hours prior.

While I love thunderstorms, I’m far less fond of the metaphorical storms that roll into our lives and turn them upside down:

The wind of broken relationships that batters the heart.
The water of unmet expectations that floods the soul.
The waves of broken dreams that pummel the mind with thoughts like this will never pass.

When these storms hit, sinking seems inevitable and hope lost. I’m sure you’ve had your own share of storms in your life. Maybe you’re in one now.

As I watched the calm waters that morning, God brought to my mind a story from Mark’s Gospel when Jesus and His disciples set sail across the Sea of Galilee. A massive storm swept over them out of nowhere, leaving the disciples utterly terrified and convinced they would drown. Yet Jesus rested peacefully:

“But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:38-39).

I have echoed the disciples’ question in my most honest moments — Lord, do You not care that I’m hurting? How am I supposed to live in the middle of this chaos?

Because when the waters rise, fear easily overwhelms the soul, doesn’t it? Our human response, just like the disciples’, replaces trust in Jesus with all-out panic and doubt.

But dear one, there is a better way to wait out the storm! Unlike the disciples, we have the advantage of time and perspective. We know the end of the story. We know their sleeping Savior possessed resurrection power. Therefore, we don’t have to succumb to fear amid our storms.

Instead, we can draw hope from Scripture and anchor ourselves in three essential truths:

1. The storm is never outside God’s control. Jesus didn’t sleep because He was indifferent to the disciples’ plight. Instead, He held a calm trust that flowed from His divine dominion over creation. Indeed, He commands this power over every tempest we face. All things fall under His sovereign protection and watchful care — including your storm.

2. The storm won’t last forever. It may feel like calm will never come again. But just as physical thunderstorms surely pass, so Jesus will bring us through our storms. Jesus spoke peace over the wind and waves, bringing them to a standstill. Today, He speaks that same peace into your storm. His peace is your inheritance, even in the midst of rough waters.

3. The storm can deepen our faith. Our storms inflict pain, but they also churn up false beliefs, idols and other hindrances to our sanctification. With these obstacles removed, faith can flourish, and trust can deepen. Our eyes may see only wreckage, but God sees His tireless work of redemption on our behalf. On the Sea of Galilee, Jesus used the storm to call His disciples into a life of deeper trust. From the eye of the storm, He calls us into the same.

When we feel battered and Jesus appears silent, may we cling to these truths and allow perseverance to complete its work in us. Today, may we confidently trust that God is with us in the storm and patiently await the calm that’s coming on the other side.

Jesus, thank You for being our anchor through every storm. Help our hearts fiercely cling to the Truth of who You are. May we grow in faith as we wait for calm to come again. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How God Displays His Power in Our Weakness..... By Kia Stephens

 How God Displays His Power in Our Weakness

By Kia Stephens

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Throughout the Bible, God displays His power among weakness. One of the accounts occurs when Jesus healed the blind man in John chapter 9. As Jesus and his disciples went along they saw a man who had been blind since birth. Here in this passage, Jesus used one of the most unconventional healing methods known to medicine. John 9:6 (NIV) says, “After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.” The blind man and the disciples alike had a weak understanding. They had no idea what Christ was doing at this moment.

This is the case for many of us. When it comes to life's idiosyncrasies, we are weak in our understanding of how things are going to work out for our good. A financial crisis, a terminal illness, a job loss, and a broken relationship are all opportunities for God’s power to be displayed.

This is why Scripture reminds us that God’s ways are not like our ways in Isaiah 55:8. He is able to use people, circumstances, and difficulties in ways we cannot even fathom. When we are weak in our understanding we can trust in God who understands and controls all things. He can use the circumstances we do not understand to display His power.

Trust His Heart..... By Meghan Kleppinger

 Trust His Heart

By Meghan Kleppinger

"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.'" Psalms 31:14

Whether it be financial, relational, spiritual, or physical troubles (and don't they all seem to come at the same time?), it's easy to find ourselves questioning God and His plan for our lives.

Christian singer Babbie Mason's song, Trust His Heart, addresses these times of hardship. I heard this song for the first time when I was a preteen, and its moving lyrics continue to encourage me now in my adult years. I sing the chorus whenever I'm going through one of life's rough patches.

God is too wise to be mistaken
 God is too good to be unkind
 So when you don't understand
 When you don't see His plan
 When you can't trace His hand
 Trust His heart

These aren't just lyrics of a song, they're descriptions of God's character and reminders of His promises as told through scripture.

1. God is too wise to be mistaken
"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his." (Job 12:13) (NIV)

"But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. (Jeremiah 10:12) (NIV)

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33) (NIV)

2. God is too good to be unkind
"O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalms 34:8) (NAS)

"Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me." (Psalm 69:16) (NIV)

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2, 3) (NAS)

3. So when you don't understand, When you don't see His plan, When you can't trace His hand, Trust His heart

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6) (NAS)

"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) (NAS)

Isn't good to know that when we are afraid or in the middle of circumstances we don't understand, that we can trust the ways of our wise and wonderful God!

Intersecting Faith & Life: Commit scriptures to memory that reminds you of God's character and share the confidence you have in Him.

A Prayer for When Your Life Seems Overwhelming..... By Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer for When Your Life Seems Overwhelming

By Betsy de Cruz

“Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” - Joshua 22:5

Some days I look more like a chicken running around with its head cut off than a Jesus Girl. It’s hard to keep that peaceful, serene, filled-with-the-Spirit personality when you’re trying to do five things at once. Instead of feeling love, joy, and peace, I feel overwhelmed, tense, and anxious.

Perhaps you can relate. You have so much to do that you can barely hold yourself together. If you’re like me, you have more things on your list today than you could possibly accomplish. It’s hard to order your priorities when you have so many that you can’t even keep them straight.

We’re busy driving kids to activities, working at our jobs, supporting aging parents, and trying to make dinner each night. So many different responsibilities can make it hard to order our steps. When we get overwhelmed, Scripture reminds us to return to simple priorities.

Joshua’s call to the Israelites happened after a busy season of battle; they must have been bone-weary when they’d finished the task of conquering Canaan. God was calling them to a season of rest, but Joshua wanted to remind them of their most important assignment: to observe and keep God’s commandment.

What was that commandment? “To love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua’s words point us to our main priorities as well.

Friend, if you feel overwhelmed by life’s burdens and responsibilities, how about seeking a return to simpler living? Life becomes less complicated when we view success through the lens of loving and serving God each day.

What if we changed our to-do list so that it read like this?

• Love God
• Walk in His Ways
• Keep His commandments
• Cling to Him
• Serve him with our heart and soul

What could you do to unclutter your life today? How would your day change for the better if you made it your primary goal to love and serve God both at work and at home?

Let’s pray:

Lord, 

Help me remember my primary purpose in life. I want to seek you first and live for your kingdom, but sometimes I end up so overwhelmed by my commitments and responsibilities that I forget my true priority is to love you first. Forgive me for letting other things get in the way of my relationship with you. 

Help me see my life through your eyes and give me a sense of your priorities for me, so I can follow your design for my days. Give me a heart to love your word and a longing to obey it.

Show me today what walking in your ways and clinging to you looks like. Help me simplify my life, so that my main goal becomes loving you with my whole heart, soul, and strength.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.