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I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. RomansContinue reading “misled”

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.        Romans 8:5-6 What is yourContinue reading “shepherd or butcher?”

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43 I went to a funeral the other day. And it was a time of deep grief, sorrow, and wishful thinking. We’ve known him his whole life. Through various traditions, our families spent special times together over theContinue reading “dearly departed (part 2)”

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.   1 Thessalonians 4:13 I went to a funeral the other day. And it was a time of joy, laughter, remembrance, and confident hope.Continue reading “dearly departed (part 1)”

For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14 (This is a repost of my very first devotional—enjoy!) Before I became a Christian, I believed whole-heartedly that there were many ways to God—different paths, each as valid as the next. In fact, I was so vehement thatContinue reading “done”

For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.    Jude 4 The other day, during an early-morning gym conversation about spiritual things, I invited aContinue reading “the grace excuse”

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7Continue reading “refining pain”

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”  Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”The law is not based onContinue reading “lay down the law”

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 We received another one of “those” calls. No matter your age, you likely know what I’m talking about. It’s often “too early” or “too late” for the phone to be ringing—so you sense something is wrong. You answer, hoping beyond hopeContinue reading “crushed”

Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36 We all just celebrated the 4th of July—the birthday of this great nation we are blessed to live in. You may have gotten together with friends or family for a cookout, or perhaps you attended a baseball game. Depending on what stateContinue reading “dependence day”