“Jesus lived out the same spiritual calculus he had taught, not only about self-denial and self-sacrifice, but specifically about the cross.”
David Mathis shows us how true joy overshadows real sacrifice.
David Mathis shows us how true joy overshadows real sacrifice.
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“We must avoid two extremes: one is to hate the person for the sin’s sake; the other is to love the sin for the person’s sake.
“On the one hand, we would condemn the folly of someone who hated an exquisite portrait because it had a smudge of dirt on it—or of someone so excessively fond of the rare workmanship that they loved the stain itself!
“On the other hand, we would commend the wisdom of someone who liked the picture while disliking the defects.
“In like manner, people are foolish who direct their anger toward a person formed in God’s own image because the image is stained with sin, or who approve of the filthy corruptions that deface God’s image.
“But they are truly wise who hate the stains of sin but love the excellent workmanship of God and esteem it so highly that they are displeased with the pollution that deforms it.”
— John Downame
“On the one hand, we would condemn the folly of someone who hated an exquisite portrait because it had a smudge of dirt on it—or of someone so excessively fond of the rare workmanship that they loved the stain itself!
“On the other hand, we would commend the wisdom of someone who liked the picture while disliking the defects.
“In like manner, people are foolish who direct their anger toward a person formed in God’s own image because the image is stained with sin, or who approve of the filthy corruptions that deface God’s image.
“But they are truly wise who hate the stains of sin but love the excellent workmanship of God and esteem it so highly that they are displeased with the pollution that deforms it.”
— John Downame
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Do not confuse tone-policing with discernment. Sometimes the issue is not how the truth was said.
Sometimes people just hate the truth.
Sometimes people just hate the truth.
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It is one thing to know sin to be the greatest evil, and another thing to feel it to be so; to know the excellency of Christ’s love, and to taste the sweetness of it.
—Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 8:46
—Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 8:46
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“My peace and joy now are when Messiah, in his infinitely precious righteousness, rises to my view as my shield and hiding-place; my refuge and my deliverer;
“when in spiritual faith I see the Father reconciling me unto himself, searching all my heart and meeting all my case;
“telling me that he can be righteous in freely loving me, a lost, rebellious, polluted sinner; and that I can be safe and blessed in fully trusting him, the Just and Holy One.”
— Hugh Martin
“when in spiritual faith I see the Father reconciling me unto himself, searching all my heart and meeting all my case;
“telling me that he can be righteous in freely loving me, a lost, rebellious, polluted sinner; and that I can be safe and blessed in fully trusting him, the Just and Holy One.”
— Hugh Martin
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June 24: It’s Simple
#Devotional
Nehemiah 7:66–8:18; 1 John 5:6–12; Psalm 110:1–7
I tend to complicate matters. Determined to understand the nuances of a problem, I spend more time constructing a solution than I need to. Often, delaying a simple solution is my way of avoiding action that requires me to be courageous, intentional, or perhaps admit I’m wrong.
John’s first letter addresses a complication of the gospel message. False teachers were causing division in the community by spreading incorrect doctrines about Christ’s humanity and divinity. Without understanding that Christ is both man and God, some people in the community were in danger of diminishing Christ’s saving work and confusing the gospel. John spends the greater portion of the letter guiding his readers through the murky doctrines the false teachers had introduced.
However, John’s climactic point at the close of his letter is far from complex. First John 5:11–12 contains a statement about belief that is both simple and decisive: “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” As John leads the doubting recipients of his letter back to the truth, he shows them the simplicity of the solution: Through the Son, God has provided a way out of sin. This simple truth requires a simple response: belief in the Son.
Where in your life do you complicate an obedient response to God?
@StudyBibleFam
#Devotional
Nehemiah 7:66–8:18; 1 John 5:6–12; Psalm 110:1–7
I tend to complicate matters. Determined to understand the nuances of a problem, I spend more time constructing a solution than I need to. Often, delaying a simple solution is my way of avoiding action that requires me to be courageous, intentional, or perhaps admit I’m wrong.
John’s first letter addresses a complication of the gospel message. False teachers were causing division in the community by spreading incorrect doctrines about Christ’s humanity and divinity. Without understanding that Christ is both man and God, some people in the community were in danger of diminishing Christ’s saving work and confusing the gospel. John spends the greater portion of the letter guiding his readers through the murky doctrines the false teachers had introduced.
However, John’s climactic point at the close of his letter is far from complex. First John 5:11–12 contains a statement about belief that is both simple and decisive: “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” As John leads the doubting recipients of his letter back to the truth, he shows them the simplicity of the solution: Through the Son, God has provided a way out of sin. This simple truth requires a simple response: belief in the Son.
Where in your life do you complicate an obedient response to God?
@StudyBibleFam
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June 24 - The Golden Rule Summarized
#LifeOfChrist
“‘In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 7:12).
The perfect love of the heavenly Father is most reflected in His children when they treat others as they themselves wish to be treated. This verse is a summary of the Law and the Prophets. It’s also a paraphrase of the second great commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). How we treat others is not determined by how we expect them to treat us or by how we think they should treat us, but by how we want them to treat us.
Man’s basic problem is preoccupation with self. In the final analysis, every sin results from that preoccupation. We sin because we are totally selfish, totally devoted to ourselves rather than to God and to others. Unregenerate humanity can never reach the standard of selfless love on its own.
So the dynamic for living this supreme ethic must come from outside our fallen nature. It can come only from the indwelling Holy Spirit, whose firstfruit is love (Gal. 5:22). In Jesus Christ “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5). Only Christ’s own Spirit can empower us to love each other as He loves us (John 13:34).
Selfless love serves for the sake of the one being served, and serves in the way it likes being served—whether it receives such service or not. This level of love is the divine level, and can be achieved only by divine help.
Ask Yourself
Sometimes we find ourselves grappling with such deep biblical matters that we overlook the most simple—like the Golden Rule. Try being more deliberate in the coming day to heeding this basic teaching of Jesus. See how it alters the way you approach even your routine interactions with others.
#LifeOfChrist
“‘In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 7:12).
The perfect love of the heavenly Father is most reflected in His children when they treat others as they themselves wish to be treated. This verse is a summary of the Law and the Prophets. It’s also a paraphrase of the second great commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). How we treat others is not determined by how we expect them to treat us or by how we think they should treat us, but by how we want them to treat us.
Man’s basic problem is preoccupation with self. In the final analysis, every sin results from that preoccupation. We sin because we are totally selfish, totally devoted to ourselves rather than to God and to others. Unregenerate humanity can never reach the standard of selfless love on its own.
So the dynamic for living this supreme ethic must come from outside our fallen nature. It can come only from the indwelling Holy Spirit, whose firstfruit is love (Gal. 5:22). In Jesus Christ “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5). Only Christ’s own Spirit can empower us to love each other as He loves us (John 13:34).
Selfless love serves for the sake of the one being served, and serves in the way it likes being served—whether it receives such service or not. This level of love is the divine level, and can be achieved only by divine help.
Ask Yourself
Sometimes we find ourselves grappling with such deep biblical matters that we overlook the most simple—like the Golden Rule. Try being more deliberate in the coming day to heeding this basic teaching of Jesus. See how it alters the way you approach even your routine interactions with others.
DAY 24: What were the sources for the writer of the Chronicles?
https://telegra.ph/DAILY-BIBLE-06-24
https://telegra.ph/DAILY-BIBLE-06-24
Telegraph
DAILY BIBLE
Reading for Today: 1 Chronicles 11:1–12:40 Psalm 77:16-20 Proverbs 19:17-19 Acts 7:1-21 Notes: 1 Chronicles 12:18 the Spirit. A temporary empowerment by the Holy Spirit to assure David that the Benjamites and Judahites were loyal to him and that the cause…
Christ’s commendations to today’s church:
1. Keep your first love alive (Rev 2:2)
2. Stand strong in suffering and persecution (Rev 2:9)
3. Uphold and teach the truth (Rev 2:13)
4. Demonstrate love, faith, and perseverance (Rev 2:19)
5. Maintain purity and holiness (Rev 3:4)
1. Keep your first love alive (Rev 2:2)
2. Stand strong in suffering and persecution (Rev 2:9)
3. Uphold and teach the truth (Rev 2:13)
4. Demonstrate love, faith, and perseverance (Rev 2:19)
5. Maintain purity and holiness (Rev 3:4)
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“The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. . . .
The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:1, 9
The human will is essential, not decisive.
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. . . .
The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:1, 9
The human will is essential, not decisive.
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Lord God, I pray that we boldly come before You and focus on You instead of our problems. You are the solution to every difficulty we face. I also ask that You move in us today so that we are courageous in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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All creation glorifies God.
His fingerprints are on everything.
His fingerprints are on everything.
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Dear Daughter,
Choose closeness over comfort every day 🕊️
When tired, still connect. When hurt, still pray together.
Real intimacy is forged in these moments.
Song of Songs 2:14
When did you choose closeness recently?
#DearDaughter #ChooseCloseness #StrongMarriage
Choose closeness over comfort every day 🕊️
When tired, still connect. When hurt, still pray together.
Real intimacy is forged in these moments.
Song of Songs 2:14
When did you choose closeness recently?
#DearDaughter #ChooseCloseness #StrongMarriage
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God is to be trusted when His providences seem to run contrary to His promises.
Thomas Watson
Thomas Watson
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June 24 (Wednesday)
June encouragement: Don’t grow weary in doing good! 💪 Your consistent love and faithfulness are producing eternal fruit! Gal 6:9 ❤️
Where do you need endurance right now? #StrongMarriage #June
June encouragement: Don’t grow weary in doing good! 💪 Your consistent love and faithfulness are producing eternal fruit! Gal 6:9 ❤️
Where do you need endurance right now? #StrongMarriage #June
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“Preaching the gospel is to us a matter of life and death; we throw our whole soul into it. We live and are happy if you believe in Jesus and are saved. But we are almost ready to die if you refuse the gospel of Christ.” —Charles Spurgeon
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Fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in Your love! 🙌
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“If sin is punished by those in authority, God will not punish the nation for it;
“but if magistrates wink at sin and neglect their God-given duty, the Lord will take the sword of justice into His own hands
“and punish not only the offending malefactor but the neglectful magistrate, and indeed the whole nation that is stained and polluted with their sins.”
— John Downame
“but if magistrates wink at sin and neglect their God-given duty, the Lord will take the sword of justice into His own hands
“and punish not only the offending malefactor but the neglectful magistrate, and indeed the whole nation that is stained and polluted with their sins.”
— John Downame
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