There Is No Condemnation

The Lord Jesus, God from all eternity, took on human flesh and came to live on earth in person for a number of reasons. But the chief of them is to free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death, as the writer to the Hebrews puts it in the second chapter.

Jesus lived a replacement life for us, submitting to all laws of God and man and keeping them all perfectly. He offered his body to abuse and suffering, knowing that in this way the punishment that we deserved was being diverted totally upon him. Finally, he surrendered to death itself, and through the great exchange that happened on Calvary, our death became his death and his innocence became ours.

The upshot? "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1,2). Here is why you need never fear God again. Your sins were pardoned, all of them, objectively, freely, long ago, without reference to your performance. It is inheritance, not wages. It is yours--all who believe it have it.

God really means it--no condemnation means no condemnation. You can exhale now.
#YouversionBible

Are You Afraid of God?

It's all very well and good to hear beautiful promises about how good the believers have it and how their future will be even better. But what if you’re not sure if you've ever been a believer? Or worse--what if you once were an active believer and churchgoer and then lost interest?

What if you've closed up your feelings about God for a long time? What if you're terrified of actually facing up to the fact that you have ignored and defied your Creator, Owner, and Judge? What if you are afraid that any religious talk now coming out of your mouth will just sound like pathetic, self-serving hypocrisy?

Let that fear become repentance. Let these words come out of your heart and mouth: "O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me" (Psalm 38:1,2). The guilt and fear that you feel are not proof that you are condemned.

What they are is proof that the Lord is making you uncomfortable with your sinful choices. That’s good news for you--before he can fill you with his goodness, he must first empty you of your pride.
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God's Angels Are Everywhere

On the surface of things, it certainly seems as though Satan is lord of the earth, doesn't it? There are a half dozen major wars going on at any given time. Suicide bombers throw away their own lives to take as many others to the grave as they can. Drug merchants coldheartedly sell chemicals that enslave people and destroy their health and families. Little children are neglected and beaten; the unborn are killed by the hundreds of thousands each year.

That's what it looks like on the outside. Behind the scenes there is another reality. God is still in charge of every aspect of this sinful and broken world, and he is making everything work together for the good of those who love him. Behind the scenes his holy angels work to carry out his long-range plans, plans that always have a happy ending for all believers.

"He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone" (Psalm 91:11,12). Think of that! Nothing in your life happens by accident. You are under the constant loving surveillance of a God who guarantees your eternal happiness and has many divisions of angels ready to carry out his detailed instructions. Don’t be afraid!
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Afraid of All the Violence in Society

Have you ever had your car broken into? Have you ever been mugged or sexually abused? Has your home ever been broken into? Not only can sad events like those hurt you materially and physically, but they can leave you with more or less permanent fear. They can rob you of your feeling of safety no matter where you are and damage your ability to trust other people.

Our society has too many weapons. Too many unstable people roam the streets. There are too many people whose judgment is distorted by drugs, religious fanatism and alcohol. How can you not worry about your safety? How can you not be concerned about the world we are bequeathing to our children?

King David was not always the serene ruler on the throne of a peaceful kingdom. In his early adult life, he spent years on the run in the southern deserts, afraid for his life. In later years he suffered the humiliation of being driven from his throne and capital city by his son Absalom. It must have seemed to him as though the world had gone crazy mad with violence.

"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3).

See you tomorrow for God's assurance
#YouversionBible

God Can Be Trusted With Your Secrets

God's omniscience and omnipresence can be a terrifying thought. Someone can read my mind? Someone has watched all that I have ever done? Even believers in their weaker moments dread the realization that their thoughts and lives are an open book to the God who reads all and sees all. Does he despise me? Will he punish me? Will he see to it that all the dirt comes out?

It was just for this very purpose that the Son of God needed to come to earth in person. He came as a true human being, as human as you and I, but without the sin. His stainless life and innocent death were offered to God as the perfect substitute for our soiled lives. Through faith in him you are forgiven of everything--the obvious sins and the secret sins, the ones that show and the ones you are hiding.

King David wrote, "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me" (Psalm 19:12,13). David nailed it. We can trust God for the forgiveness of our rotten past and imperfect present, and we can trust him to give us strength to overcome our sinful weaknesses.

Isn't it sweet to realize that your heavenly Father is more interested in building you up than in condemning you?
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God Will Give You Strength to Love

One of the sweet features of Christianity is that God never calls us to his way of living without also giving us the wisdom we need and the power and strength to carry it out.

He knows all about how hard it is to choose to love someone who is treating you poorly. God often compared himself in the Bible to a husband with an unfaithful wife (a metaphor for his often backsliding believers). He even instructed his prophet Hosea to marry an immoral woman as an ongoing visual aid: "The LORD said to me, 'Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods'" (Hosea 3:1).

True enough--some marriages can't be saved. But as we reflect on God's unconditional love and forgiveness for us, we are strengthened to love difficult people. As we reflect on God's tremendous patience with us, we find strength to be patient with the sinners around us. As we reflect on his optimism and hope in our future, we will find strength to stay positive as a sacrifice of praise to him.

To all who fear that their marriage has become loveless, know this: only the gospel changes hearts. Nagging, retaliation, and the silent treatment only make the angry angrier. Only love can create love. #YouversionBible

God Makes You a Winner No Matter What

God Makes You a Winner No Matter What

The Bible is full of stories about how Christ, the prophets, and the apostles used God's miraculous power to heal diseases, restore those with paralyzed and withered limbs, and drive out demons. But some people weren't cured; they lived out their lives with illness and disabilities, and some had lives drastically shortened because of them.

God may have miraculous healing for your physical brokenness. He may have "ordinary" medical solutions (i.e., modern-day miracles) for you. Or he may allow you to give him glory and advance his agenda by allowing you to struggle a lifetime with your weakness, as St. Paul struggled year after year with his "thorn in the flesh."

But we win either way. Even when we finally succumb to our final illness, we will bolt from our graves when the archangel Michael sounds the trumpet. Your disabilities are temporary; your complete physical restoration will be eternal. "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy" (Isaiah 35:5,6).

You are a winner no matter what. You will experience new health either now or later. In heaven, absolutely every weakness of body and mind will vanish. Fear not!

Sorry for the break in transmission. Have an amazing weekend!

A Witness That Shines: God’s stars pray

A Western tough guy explained to a padre why he didn’t pray much: “Prayin’ is beggin’. Ah don’t beg nobody fer nuthin’.” This hombre took self-reliance to a sad extreme. In fact, prayer is not beggary. Human dads love to hear from their children, and they love to help children in their time of need. How much more does our great heavenly Father absolutely love the intimate spiritual communication that he invented, blesses, and guarantees?

Here is the concept: the Master of the universe invites all believers to send messages to the throne via their Savior Jesus. He promises to answer all requests in the way that will do us the most good. He is loaded with good things to give us and is intentionally waiting to be asked. What do you need right now?

Here are St. Paul’s wonderful words of encouragement for you: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). Note to self: This ain’t beggin’. This is respondin’ to my Daddy’s sweet invitation.

A Witness That Shines: God’s stars forgive

Why is it so hard to forgive other people? There are many compelling explanations. Here’s one. As any accountant could tell you, a debt owed to you is a type of asset. If you are holding a debt that someone else owes you, you have moral leverage over that person. You can feel superior, nobler, better than that person. If you give it away for nothing, you could feel as though you just squandered an asset.

How pathetic our grudges must seem to the One whose boundless mercy forgave a world of sinners. The chasm he bridged to reconnect holy God with sinful people is far greater than any gap between people. Christian star-behavior looks like this: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

There’s a treat for you here. Forgiving other people not only shows obedience to a direct command of God. It also frees you from the prisons and poisons of your own anger.

A Witness That Shines: God’s stars model Jesus’ love

People use the word "love" all the time. Generally they mean that they respond favorably to things and people who are lovable. People love flowers, chocolate, sports, and cars. People love other people when they are nice or good-looking.

Jesus’ love is different. Jesus loves the unworthy, the dirty, the broken, the failures. Jesus didn’t “fall” in love with us. He chose to love us. His love is unconditional, universal, and free. His love is not a reward for our worth. His love gives us worth.

He invites--commands--his sisters and brothers to reflect and radiate that kind of love out into our loveless world. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). Jesus’ sad prophecy was that over time the love of most would grow cold. What an absolutely marvelous way for his stars to bear witness--to love as he loves.

Look around you. Who needs your love today?

A Lifestyle That Shines: God’s stars see the finish line

Ever think, “What am I doing here?” Maybe you’re a husband trapped in a long afternoon of shopping with your wife. Maybe you’re a wife trapped in a long evening of drinking and sports television at someone else’s home. Maybe you’re a teenager trapped in a visit to relatives where no one is your age.

You know what’s worse? Wondering what you are doing on earth in the first place. A distressingly high percentage of people I’ve met have no clue that their lives have--or should have--purpose. They drift through life and wonder why nothing satisfies in the long run.

There’s a better way. Do you know where you are going? Do you see the finish line? St. Paul has some words of inspiration for you: “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14).

The purpose of my life is not to get rich, get famous, or get pleasure. The purpose of my life is to get close to my Savior Jesus and give him glory. What finish line are you heading for?

A Lifestyle That Shines: God’s stars live like travelers

Do you possess your possessions? Or do your possessions possess you? I can always detect materialism in other people, but I don’t see it quite so readily in myself. The only reason I’ve stopped acquiring more stuff is that my house is already overfull. Think how many people have to park in their driveways because their garages are packed full of other stuff!

Some people have lives uncluttered by possessions because they are poor. Poverty does bring some spiritual advantages, doesn’t it? Much harder, isn’t it, to travel light when you have much. St. Peter calls us aliens and strangers in the world. How can you be that when your life is so loaded down with stuff?

Here is some wisdom from St. Paul: “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Having stuff is not evil in and of itself. The real questions: Where is your heart? What do you value most in life? Since we must leave behind absolutely every material possession, let’s keep looking up and traveling light.

Have a nice weekend!  #stayblessed

A Lifestyle That Shines

Christian talk without a Christian life to ba A Lifestyle That Shines ck it up just makes the talk sound like religious gas. The words may well be true. But without the matching actions, others will be turned off and find reasons to ignore your words. If people think you are a hypocrite, it doesn’t matter how true your words might be. St. James tells us bluntly, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).

People are starved for real Christianity. They are not necessarily impressed by traditions, rituals, labels, forms, arguments, majestic buildings, or family loyalties. They do notice and respect acts of compassion, generosity, acceptance, and unrepaid kindness. The hot-button words today: "real," "authentic," "genuine."

Are you up for throwing a little more starlight into a sin-darkened world? Let’s let God’s Word challenge us to grow our Christian lifestyle in several wonderful ways. Ready?

Speech That Shines: God’s stars encourage others

How I love kind words from other people! Kind words bandage up my wounds. They give me hope when my day has been bleak. They restore my self-confidence when I have been crushed. They make me feel as though I’m valuable when I have been feeling worthless.

You know, I don’t need any personal training in how to lap up praise. Where I could use improvement is in building other people up. It is slowly dawning on me that one of the reasons for my earthly existence is to be an encourager. I need your praise and you need mine.

St. Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, by his later years had become a masterful recruiter and encourager of others. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

Ready? Let’s practice: “Nice job!” “Love your hair.” “Don’t worry--get it next time.” “Great outfit!” “Thank you for everything you do around here.” All of a sudden you’ll wonder why you have so many friends.

Happy new month to YOU