Your trials are not a sign that God has forgotten you. He is using those difficult times to shape you into the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:28-29). Trust his good plan for your life.
❤2
June 19 (Friday)
Dear Daughter,
Friday check-in: How is your marriage growing this summer? 🔍
Thank God for progress. Adjust where needed.
End the week in gratitude and prayer.
'Examine yourselves' (2 Cor 13:5).
What growth are you seeing?
#DearDaughter #FridayCheckIn #StrongMarriage
@StudyBibleFam
Dear Daughter,
Friday check-in: How is your marriage growing this summer? 🔍
Thank God for progress. Adjust where needed.
End the week in gratitude and prayer.
'Examine yourselves' (2 Cor 13:5).
What growth are you seeing?
#DearDaughter #FridayCheckIn #StrongMarriage
@StudyBibleFam
❤2
The fear of being disliked has silenced many Christians more effectively than persecution ever could.
❤4
June 19 (Friday)
Friday gratitude: Look back on this week with thankfulness! 🙏
God has been faithful in your marriage — celebrate His goodness! Ps 136:1 ❤️
What has God done in your marriage this week? #StrongMarriage #June
Friday gratitude: Look back on this week with thankfulness! 🙏
God has been faithful in your marriage — celebrate His goodness! Ps 136:1 ❤️
What has God done in your marriage this week? #StrongMarriage #June
❤5
These are the biblical things the blood of Jesus can do:
- Forgive sins of believers completely once and for all
- Justify sinners before God
- Reconcile us to God
- Bring peace with God
- Secure eternal redemption
- Give believers bold access to God
- Establish the New Covenant
These are the things the blood of Jesus cannot do:
- Act like a magic spell by "pleading the blood of Jesus"
- Be "applied" through man-made rituals
- Guarantee health, wealth, or earthly success
- Cover a physical nation or group
- Override repentance and faith in unbelievers
- Protect unrepentant people from judgment
- Be manipulated through formulas or declarations
- Replace obedience, prayer, and holiness
- Function like a mystical force disconnected from Christ Himself
- Forgive sins of believers completely once and for all
- Justify sinners before God
- Reconcile us to God
- Bring peace with God
- Secure eternal redemption
- Give believers bold access to God
- Establish the New Covenant
These are the things the blood of Jesus cannot do:
- Act like a magic spell by "pleading the blood of Jesus"
- Be "applied" through man-made rituals
- Guarantee health, wealth, or earthly success
- Cover a physical nation or group
- Override repentance and faith in unbelievers
- Protect unrepentant people from judgment
- Be manipulated through formulas or declarations
- Replace obedience, prayer, and holiness
- Function like a mystical force disconnected from Christ Himself
❤3
“Without holy affection there is no true religion.
“No light in the understanding is good which does not produce holy affection in the heart.
“No habit or principle in the heart is good which has no exercise of holy affection.
“And no external fruit is good which does not proceed from exercises of holy affection.”
— Jonathan Edwards
“No light in the understanding is good which does not produce holy affection in the heart.
“No habit or principle in the heart is good which has no exercise of holy affection.
“And no external fruit is good which does not proceed from exercises of holy affection.”
— Jonathan Edwards
❤5
The Gospel humbles every man before it comforts him.
❤3
Christians, stop looking for happiness in the things of this world. God created us for something far greater than temporary pleasures. Our souls can only find true rest in him.
❤4
Christ is building His church and nothing can stop Him.
❤4
Every regenerate Christian is a victorious Christian, a conqueror of the world.
—John Cotton, Works 2:564
—John Cotton, Works 2:564
❤4
“It is the proper order in believing, first to accept the person of the Lord Jesus:
“Heaven is no doubt very desirable, but Christ is more: ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee?’ Psal. 73:25.”
— John Flavel
“Heaven is no doubt very desirable, but Christ is more: ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee?’ Psal. 73:25.”
— John Flavel
June 20: Man vs. Nature
#Devotional
Ezra 9:1–10:44; 1 John 4:7–12; Psalm 107:23–43
As a teenager, I devoured stories about men and women at odds with nature. These man vs. nature struggles always told of a battle of wills. Nature was always at its most magnificent and most frightening: untamed, unwieldy, and heartless. The characters seemed to be living on the edge of human experience—they were not focused and resolute, anticipating the next turn of events like a typical Hollywood action film, but frightened and helpless before an uncaring force.
If we read Psa 107, we’ll find this genre isn’t unique to contemporary novels. Biblical writers also used the man vs. nature theme to show battling wills. Psalm 107 reads like a riveting short story: “Those who went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the high seas; they saw the works of Yahweh, and his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and raised up a stormy wind, and it whipped up its waves. They rose to the heavens; they plunged to the depths. Their soul melted in their calamity. They reeled and staggered like a drunkard, and they were at their wits’ end” (Psa 107:23–27).
When faced with uncontrollable forces, people make choices that mean life or death. In the stories of my youth, the characters were sometimes able to use their wits to get to safety. But most often, they died trying. The English idiom used in this psalm, “their wits’ end,” is actually a rendering of the Hebrew idiom, “their wisdom was swallowed up.” The men in this psalm weren’t just flustered; they were helpless. Their resources and smarts couldn’t battle this power.
Yet the men didn’t meet only a cold, deadly force when they came to the end of their own strength. “Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distresses” (Psa 107:28). Submission in the battle of wills leads to Yahweh’s love and care. He is more than willing to guide us to the safe harbor (Psa 107:30).
When faced with difficult circumstances, do you rely on your own strength, even when it’s insufficient? If you cry out to God, do you believe that He will answer?
What are some ways you are providentially positioned to do God’s work? How have you led while following His leadership?
#Devotional
Ezra 9:1–10:44; 1 John 4:7–12; Psalm 107:23–43
As a teenager, I devoured stories about men and women at odds with nature. These man vs. nature struggles always told of a battle of wills. Nature was always at its most magnificent and most frightening: untamed, unwieldy, and heartless. The characters seemed to be living on the edge of human experience—they were not focused and resolute, anticipating the next turn of events like a typical Hollywood action film, but frightened and helpless before an uncaring force.
If we read Psa 107, we’ll find this genre isn’t unique to contemporary novels. Biblical writers also used the man vs. nature theme to show battling wills. Psalm 107 reads like a riveting short story: “Those who went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the high seas; they saw the works of Yahweh, and his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and raised up a stormy wind, and it whipped up its waves. They rose to the heavens; they plunged to the depths. Their soul melted in their calamity. They reeled and staggered like a drunkard, and they were at their wits’ end” (Psa 107:23–27).
When faced with uncontrollable forces, people make choices that mean life or death. In the stories of my youth, the characters were sometimes able to use their wits to get to safety. But most often, they died trying. The English idiom used in this psalm, “their wits’ end,” is actually a rendering of the Hebrew idiom, “their wisdom was swallowed up.” The men in this psalm weren’t just flustered; they were helpless. Their resources and smarts couldn’t battle this power.
Yet the men didn’t meet only a cold, deadly force when they came to the end of their own strength. “Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distresses” (Psa 107:28). Submission in the battle of wills leads to Yahweh’s love and care. He is more than willing to guide us to the safe harbor (Psa 107:30).
When faced with difficult circumstances, do you rely on your own strength, even when it’s insufficient? If you cry out to God, do you believe that He will answer?
What are some ways you are providentially positioned to do God’s work? How have you led while following His leadership?
❤2
June 20 - Of Dogs and Swine
#LifeOfChrist
“‘Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces’” (Matthew 7:6).
It is clear from this verse that Jesus doesn’t exclude every kind of judgment—here He commands a specific type. But to obey His command, you need to know who the dogs and swine represent.
In biblical times dogs were largely half-wild mongrels that acted as scavengers. They were dirty, greedy, snarling, and often vicious and diseased. No responsible Jew would ever throw to a dog a piece of holy meat that had been consecrated as a sacrifice in the temple. Since no man was allowed to eat this meat, how much less should it have been thrown to wild, filthy dogs.
Swine were considered by the Jews to be the epitome of uncleanness. Like the scavenging dogs, those swine were greedy, vicious, and filthy.
Dogs and swine represent those who, because of their great perversity and ungodliness, refuse to have anything to do with the holy and precious things of God except to trample them under their feet, turning and tearing God’s people to pieces.
Jesus’ point is that certain truths and blessings of our faith are not to be shared with people who are totally antagonistic to the things of God. Such people have no appreciation for what is holy and righteous. They will take that which is holy, the pearls of God’s Word, as foolishness and an insult. We need not waste God’s holy Word on those who both reject it and mock it.
Ask Yourself
What are some specific situations in your own daily experience where the wisdom of this statement really comes into play? What should you watch for in others to see whether they’re perhaps becoming receptive to Christ and His Word? Until then, what’s the best way to stay true to your faith in their presence?
#LifeOfChrist
“‘Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces’” (Matthew 7:6).
It is clear from this verse that Jesus doesn’t exclude every kind of judgment—here He commands a specific type. But to obey His command, you need to know who the dogs and swine represent.
In biblical times dogs were largely half-wild mongrels that acted as scavengers. They were dirty, greedy, snarling, and often vicious and diseased. No responsible Jew would ever throw to a dog a piece of holy meat that had been consecrated as a sacrifice in the temple. Since no man was allowed to eat this meat, how much less should it have been thrown to wild, filthy dogs.
Swine were considered by the Jews to be the epitome of uncleanness. Like the scavenging dogs, those swine were greedy, vicious, and filthy.
Dogs and swine represent those who, because of their great perversity and ungodliness, refuse to have anything to do with the holy and precious things of God except to trample them under their feet, turning and tearing God’s people to pieces.
Jesus’ point is that certain truths and blessings of our faith are not to be shared with people who are totally antagonistic to the things of God. Such people have no appreciation for what is holy and righteous. They will take that which is holy, the pearls of God’s Word, as foolishness and an insult. We need not waste God’s holy Word on those who both reject it and mock it.
Ask Yourself
What are some specific situations in your own daily experience where the wisdom of this statement really comes into play? What should you watch for in others to see whether they’re perhaps becoming receptive to Christ and His Word? Until then, what’s the best way to stay true to your faith in their presence?
❤2
“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.” Psalm 119:37
Glitzy yes.
But do they give life?
Titillating yes.
But how deep, how long the pleasure?
and give me life in your ways.” Psalm 119:37
Glitzy yes.
But do they give life?
Titillating yes.
But how deep, how long the pleasure?
All we can do for our lost loved ones, is earnestly pray...
Believers, we must show the love of Christ to our enemies. It is easy to love those who love us, but Jesus calls us to a higher standard. Pray for those who mistreat you.
The local church is not optional decoration for the Christian life. It is where believers are taught, corrected, shepherded, strengthened, and equipped for the ministry that God Himself has for them do.